Real Estate Blog - Canadian real estate

Property Taxes: What to Expect

In Canada, everyone has an opinion about property taxes. Whether city dwellers or rural folk, each side will argue that the other is not paying enough in property taxes, making for a heated and spirited discussion about levies on the residence you worked hard to purchase.

That said, aside from discussions over what the property tax rate should be, this is an important subject since many prospective homebuyers do not consider their annual tax bill as part of their ongoing expenses, whether they own a condominium or a single-family home, which could hurt their wallets in the future.

Planning for annual property tax payments is just as important as researching the rate on your mortgage or determining what your closing costs…

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Housing Affordability in Canada: 2022 RE/MAX Report

Relocation, relocation, relocation: Canadians love their neighbourhoods, but will move to achieve housing affordability

• For 64 per cent of Canadians, relocation is among the top sacrifice they’d be willing to make in order to achieve housing affordability; however, half (50 per cent) agree that the farthest they would go would be less than 100 kilometres
  • 56 per cent say that moving to a different neighbourhood/community would be one of the top three sacrifices they would make
  • 38 per cent would make the sacrifice of moving to a different city/province/region regardless of distance
• 38 per cent of Canadians define housing affordability as a home they can afford that meets their basic needs, and includes some…

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How to Navigate Multiple Offers – for Buyers AND Sellers

Is the pandemic housing boom slowing down? With the Canadian real estate market recording its first price drop in about two years, there is a growing expectation that the country could be on the cusp of a serious correction. But while it could be some time before sales activity returns to pre-crisis levels, many major urban centres and smaller markets that experienced impressive growth could still endure many of the same characteristics of a bullish housing market. Be it competition resulting in bidding wars, or homes selling over asking price, the lack of housing supply means multiple offers will likely remain a factor in the current market.

So, how do you even navigate this type of real estate market anyway?

How to…

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Everything You Should Know About Buying Vacant Land in Canada

When buying a home in the Canadian real estate market, many commonly assume that the bulk of the cost is for the home, but in reality it, it is the land that the house is built on that is of most value.

The housing market is all about the land since, especially in hyper-dense cities, is ostensibly finite. While Canada is one of the largest countries in the world by land mass, and are are still plenty of development opportunities from coast to coast, it is also one of the most expensive markets on the planet.

But whether you purchase an empty lot in the middle of Toronto or vacant land in the outskirts of Saskatchewan, it is an entirely different process than buying a conventional property.

So, what do you need to…

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What Happens When a Buyer Backs Out of a Real Estate Deal?

When housing markets begin to cool after record highs, some homebuyers get cold feet. Imagine you buy a home for $1.2 million. When it comes time to close after you have signed your purchase agreement, you notice a comparable home down the street sells for $855,000. What happens when a buyer backs out of a real estate deal?

Some homebuyers choose to walk away when it comes to closing day, despite agreeing to purchase the property. Another common scenario occurs when a homebuyer backs out after overbidding in a hot market and going over budget. Once it comes time to close, the bank completes an appraisal and refuses the entire mortgage amount. The homebuyers need to come up with hundreds of thousands of dollars to close. They walk away because they…

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What Just Happened to the Canadian Real Estate Market?

Are the effects of the Bank of Canada’s (BoC) tightening cycle being felt in the Canadian real estate market?

For at least two years and probably longer than that, the nation’s housing market has been sizzling, with nearly every pocket of the country experiencing soaring prices and impressive sales activity. The laws of supply and demand have been in full force since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic – inventory is low and demand has been strong – but historically low interest rates have also played a significant role.

When rates are low, prospective homeowners can take advantage of monetary conditions to increase their purchasing power and outcompete other buyers who may be interested in the same property. Now…

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What Does a Real Estate Lawyer Do?

The world of real estate can be a little confusing. With so many players involved in the process of buying a home, keeping everyone’s role straight can be a little challenging. However, by educating yourself on what each professional does and how they can each help you on your home-buying journey, you can make sure that you get the best experience possible. In this article, we’ll answer the question, what does a real estate lawyer do?

While it’s fairly common knowledge that employing a real estate agent to help you find your dream home can make the process run much smoother, it is less understood how a real estate lawyer can benefit you.

Hiring a real estate lawyer in Canada is required to close the deal on a home,…

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The Advantages of Putting 20% Down on Your Home

Is it possible to have a down payment strategy in today’s sizzling Canadian real estate market? From the Prairies to Atlantic Canada, it is clear that all kinds of residential properties are rising in value. And while there are obvious advantages of putting 20% down on your home, current conditions are posing challenges to many homebuyers.

When you factor in higher interest rates, rampant price inflation, and accelerating price growth for single-family homes and condominium units alike, it can be a challenge for prospective homebuyers to find a place.

One of the biggest hurdles for buyers to overcome is the down payment.

According to the federal government’s rules, homebuyers need a minimum of five per cent down…

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Things To Consider in the Face of Rising Interest Rates

The Bank of Canada (BoC) has said it will be use its monetary policy to tamp down inflation, which currently sits at a 30-year high, joining the chorus of central banks worldwide trying to grapple with the rapidly escalating cost of living. So far this year, the BoC has already moved forward with rising interest rates three times, and Governor Tiff Macklem is preparing the financial market for more quantitative tightening in upcoming policy meetings.

But while the objective is to garner a stranglehold on a surging consumer price index (CPI) and producer price index (PPI), rate hikes will lead to financial pain for borrowers, investors and homebuyers.

Indeed, the Canadian real estate market is seeing the effects of a…

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The Evolution of Open Houses

REALTORS® have been conducting open houses for decades. They’re an opportunity for real estate professionals to grow their business, network with other agents, and meet with potential buyers. But over the years, open house culture has shifted. 

Open houses used to be simple—a real estate professional would promote the event, have visitors sign-in, offer brochures and marketing materials, and chat and mingle with potential buyers, agents, and visitors. Now, REALTORS® have adapted to the changing expectations of clients and created open houses that are more of a social event, providing benefits to everyone in attendance. 

The benefits of open houses

In a competitive market, an open house is an opportunity…

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