Mortgage Stress Test
Yesterday the Toronto Real Estate Board has asked the government to look at whether the mortgage stress test is still necessary. The stress test was brought out last year to protect buyers from rising interest rates but have impacted the ability for some to qualify for mortgages, especially first time home buyers. Last winter, Toronto […]
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Looking Forward to the Fall Market
There was a definite lack of inventory this summer as sellers held off, hoping to return to 2017 prices. Trying to time the market is always tricky. “Past experience has shown that markets begin to stabilize after about four to six months following the implementation of major changes to housing policy,” says Derek Burleton, TD’s […]
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Parents Helping Hands
There is a new trend happening in Toronto. As more and more younger Canadians are being priced out of the market in the GTA, they are turning to their parents for help. There is a stigma there that kids shouldn’t be using “the bank of mom and dad” but reality is that things are different […]
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Single Woman’s Guide to Buying a Home
Buying a home in Toronto can be one of the best long term investments you can make. Like the saying goes, you can pay your mortgage or you can pay someone else’s. It can also be nerve wracking to do it on your own though. Here are some tips on how to minimize stress and […]
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Condos: the New Starter Home for Toronto Families
Raising children in Toronto is a choice that more and more parents are making. For families, a commute time of minutes means more time spent together. The right neighbourhoods can provide good schools, parks, entertainment and shopping all within walking distance. More and more families are choosing affordable condos over long drives home. A huge […]
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Fixer Uppers
I admit it, I’m a fixer-upper. I just love finding bargains that get overlooked. Old kitchens and baths can be renovated, patios can be landscaped. You’d be amazed what a great architect can do to a facade. New windows, floors, tearing out pokey cupboards, you name it, I’ve done it. The only thing I would […]
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Surviving a bidding war
This month my life is all about bidding wars. Housing sales have soared 11.3% in February from a year ago. In some prime Toronto areas there are few homes even coming to market. Keep Calm and Carry On Don’t let yourself fall in love. Yet. There is only one winner in a bidding war. Remember […]
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How will I EVER afford a house in Toronto?
I just read an article from the Globe and Mail about how Toronto home prices are expected to continue to rise thanks to the falling gas prices. Having saved and rented for years to get into a home of our own I understand how frustrating and ominous that sounds to buyers looking to get out […]
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