RE:MAX Real Estate Agents voted #1 Most Trusted in Canada

According to Canadian consumers, RE/MAX is the brand with the #1 Most Trusted Real Estate Agents in Canada*. The results of the 2022 BrandSpark® Canadian Trust Study are based on a survey of 7,857 Canadians – one of the largest studies of its kind – to gauge their honest opinions of what brands they trust most and why. BrandSpark analyzed brands in 64 different categories, spanning Finance & Insurance, Health & Fitness, Retail & Restaurants, Telecom & Home, Travel, and Apps & Websites.

“We’re honoured to be the real estate brand that is most trusted by Canadians,” says Christopher Alexander, Senior Vice President at RE/MAX Canada. “Behind every successful real estate transaction is a foundation built on trust.”

Adds Elton Ash, Executive Vice…

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When you pause to admire a beautiful kitchen, where do your eyes go first? The sparkling countertops? The shiny appliances? The geometric tile floor? You can be honest—your attention probably isn’t captured by the cabinets. 

They take up the most space, yet kitchen cabinets seem to go largely unnoticed when you’re appreciating a well-designed kitchen. If you’re looking to breathe some fresh life into your space while on a budget, or are planning your next big renovation project, don’t overlook them! Especially not when these current kitchen cabinet trends are sure to impress your guests and turn the kitchen into your favourite room in the house (if it’s not already).

Image via Rachel Claire from Pexels

Neutral no more

Trade in your bright whites…

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In the upside-down world, a weak economy is great for Canadian home prices — and people are betting on it. The majority of mortgage debt issued in August has a variable interest rate. This is when a borrower’s interest paid is attached to market rates, as opposed to a fixed rate. Experts, including the central bank, are warning rates will begin to make a sharp rise next year. Whether homeowners realize it, they’re betting experts are wrong about the recovery.

More Than Half Of Canadian Mortgage Debt Issued Is Variable Rate

The majority of mortgage debt lenders have issued, have variable interest rates. The value of the segment reached $24.6 billion in August. This represents 54.3% of funds lenders delivered to mortgage borrowers that month. A…

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Renting out your property is a great way to bring in income. However, finding the right tenant can be a tricky process. Whether you are handling the process on your own or delegating the task to an agent, here are the seven main things to look out for when screening potential tenants.

Proof of Income

The first thing you need to check is whether your future tenants will afford to pay rent. Ideally, their monthly income should be at least three times the rent. Pay stubs, tax returns and even bank statements would confirm whether the figures add up. But if it looks like your tenant will be spending more than 30% of their income on rent, they may encounter difficulties making payments later on.

Credit Score

A tenant’s credit score…

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Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or a seasoned property owner, shopping around for a mortgage lender can feel daunting.

With multiple companies, interest rates, and options to look over, finding the best lender for your specific needs can appear overwhelming. However, mortgage brokers and specialists have the tools and knowledge at their fingertips to help borrowers make informed decisions about their home financing.

Image via Pexels

To tell us more about what to look for when choosing a mortgage lender, we recruited the advice of Carrie Cardinal from Realtyone Real Estate Services Inc. and Ryan Mollberg with M Realty, both of whom are Saskatchewan-based mortgage brokers and REALTORS®. 

Types of mortgage lenders and how a broker can help

…

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Canada’s unemployment fell and things sound a lot better, but it might not be what it seems. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows the unadjusted unemployment rate fell in October. A deeper dive shows a drop in full-time employment was made up by a rise in part-time employment. Also, the drop in unemployed people? It was nearly the size of the number of people who dropped out of the workforce.

Canada’s Unemployment Rate Fell To 6% Last Month

The Canadian unemployment rate fell to pre-pandemic levels showing recovery is near. It might not look (or feel) the same as it was before the pandemic though. The unemployment rate fell to 6.0% in October, down from 6.3% the previous month. It was the lowest rate since February 2020, the last full month…

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Why Should You Start Composting?

Composting reuses biodegradable waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Although some areas have composting programs in place, most waste is usually either incinerated or allowed to rot in landfill sites. Unfortunately, both these practices release harmful pollutants into the air, such as methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and more.

By having a compost bin in your home or garden, you are effectively upcycling kitchen or yard waste. You’re transforming this waste into a great source of nutrients for your garden or indoor plants. In the process, you also help reduce your carbon footprint as well as your impact on the environment. As far as both you and the planet are…

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There’s no doubt Canada’s real estate market has been in flux since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, from home buyers migrating to outer-city areas, to soaring demand and prices across the nation. 

While the homeownership landscape has transformed, the Canadian rental market has seen its fair share of changes too, including the shifting preferences and priorities of tenants. Whether its location, unit size, or rental prices, those looking to lease have adjusted their needs and wants based on current market conditions.

Conrad Rygier, a Toronto-based broker and REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty Inc, tells us more about how priorities for Canadian renters have changed as of late.

Image via James Bombales

What has happened with Canada’s…

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Canadian home sales are falling, and that’s turning into a drag for home building intentions. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows September permit values made a monthly increase. Despite the bump, values are still generally trending lower. Soft housing demand has residential permit values currently in a correction.

Canadian Building Construction Investment Is Trending Lower

Construction intentions bumped higher from a month before but didn’t break the trend. Building permit values reached a seasonally adjusted $10.1 billion in September. This is 4.3% higher than a month before and 4.9% higher than last year. Leaving it there, things would sound pretty good. However, there is a lot to unpack with this number.

Canadian Building Permit…

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Canadians might see much higher borrowing rates in the not-so-distant future. Scotiabank chief economist Jean-François Perrault has forecast up to 8 rate hikes within 2 years. He sees elevated inflation backing the Bank of Canada (BoC) into a corner on the issue. Inflation appears to be a lot less transitory than thought. If that’s the case, the central bank will be forced to move, and address the highest inflation rate in decades.

Canadian Interest Rates Forecast To Rise 200 Basis Points

The bank’s economists are calling a very sharp climb for Canadian interest rates. They have forecast an increase of 100 basis points (bps) in the second half of 2022. It would be followed by another increase of 100 bps in 2023. An overnight rate of 2.25% would…

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