Real Estate Blog - real estate market

Renting vs. Buying: The Pros and Cons for First-Time Homebuyers

For many Canadians, the decision to rent or buy a home is a significant financial decision. With the cost of housing on the rise, especially in urban areas, it can be challenging to decide what's right for you. In this article, we'll explore the pros and cons of renting and buying a home for first-time homebuyers and those looking to transition from renting to owning.

Pros of Renting:

1. Flexibility: Renting provides more flexibility than buying since you aren't tied down to a long-term commitment. You can easily move from one rental to another without worrying about selling a property or finding a new buyer.
2. Lower upfront costs: Renting typically requires lower upfront costs than buying. You won't need to save for a down payment or pay for…

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A Guide to Buying Your First Home

As a first-time homebuyer, navigating the Canadian real estate market can be a daunting task. With fluctuating interest rates and housing prices, it’s essential to do your research and be prepared before making any significant investments. Here’s a guide to help you buy your first home in today’s market.

Determine your budget

Before you start looking for a home, it’s crucial to establish your budget. You should consider your income, debts, and other monthly expenses when determining how much you can afford to spend on a home. Experts suggest that your monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 30% of your income.

Check out our mortgage calculator!

Save for a down payment

Typically, you need a down payment of at least 5% of the…

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The Best Home Renovations for the Biggest ROI

Pandemic living has changed how Canadians think about renovations: according to the RE/MAX 2021 Renovation Investment Report, more than half of Canadians renovated their homes during the year. While only 16 per cent explicitly renovated to increase their home’s market value, nearly 60 per cent said they still considered the return on investment.

Prepping your house for sale can often require an investment to bring it up to current standards and help it compete in the hot real estate market. Especially if you’ve lived in the house for several decades, you may be blind to your home’s shortcomings. Here, we examine the top home renovations to ensure your return on investment.

Paint

…

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Real Estate Negotiation Tips

Real estate negotiations can be a tricky process, but with the right approach and mindset, you can come out on top. The key to successful negotiations is to be prepared, confident, and flexible.

Do your research

Understand the market and the comparable sales in the area to determine a fair price for the property. Set a budget, and determine your must-have features. It's also essential to have a good understanding of the market conditions in the area where you're looking to buy or sell.

Be prepared

Have all necessary documents and information ready, such as your pre-approval letter and proof of funds. It's also important to consider all aspects of the deal, including closing costs, contingencies, and other terms. The necessary documentation…

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What Does the Future of Home Sales Look Like in Canada?

Real estate experts have been predicting how the Canadian housing market will fare in 2023 since the beginning of 2021. With current trends pointing towards a steady increase in home sales, it’s no wonder that many are eager to know what the future holds. With new trends and economic shifts, the landscape of home sales can be difficult to predict. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at why home sales are expected to continue to rise over the next few years, and what buyers and sellers can expect from the markets in 2023. 

How We Got Here 

Before we can look into the future, it’s important to understand how we got here. The Canadian housing market has seen an unprecedented surge over the past year due to both COVID-19 safety measures and…

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How Blockchain Technology Can Help Improve Canada’s Real Estate Market

Blockchain technology is everywhere. It is in the banking system, in supply chain management, in high-tech enterprise security. Blockchain technology is also firmly implanted in the Canadian real estate market.

So, what role does blockchain, cryptocurrency, and all of the underlying technology play in the real estate sector anyway? Let’s explore!

How Blockchain Technology Can Help Improve Canada’s Real Estate Market

The first question many Canadians have is: What exactly is the blockchain?

Blockchain is an encrypted record-keeping system that stores data on a “block.” Every record is stored on a block and has a unique identifier. The blocks are linked together through a chain and must be synced to function…

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8 Tips for Selling in a Buyer’s Market

In a buyer’s market, getting your property to stand out form the rest will take some creative know-how. A seller’s market occurs when real estate listings outnumber the number of potential purchasers. This means sellers will have to work a little harder to attract offers to their home. Here’s how you can help tip the scales in your favour, and hopefully get that sale contract signed!

Low Down

When the amount of real-estate inventory matches the number of buyers shopping the market, people tend to be pickier about the price they’re willing to pay. Really hone in on the listing price you’re comfortable with — if you want to sell quickly, consider listing it on the lower side.

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How Do Rent-to-Own Programs Work?

The Canadian real estate market is showing signs of slowing, now that interest rates are rising. Despite sales activity sliding and prices moderating, the country’s housing sector is still leaving many hopeful homebuyers sitting on the sidelines.

According to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), national home sales tumbled at a monthly rate of 3.9 per cent in September. The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) declined by 1.4 per cent month-over-month but was still up 3.3 per cent year-over-year. Meanwhile, the actual (not seasonally adjusted) national average sale price declined 6.6 per cent year-over-year, to $640,479.

New residential listings fell 0.8 per cent month-over-month, and months of inventory edged up slightly…

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Sold Over Asking – What Does This Mean?

When the Canadian real estate market peaked in February, this was undoubtedly the key question on prospective homebuyers’ lips, whether a single-family home in rural Ontario or a condominium unit in downtown Vancouver. It was also a hot topic – and goal – of home sellers from coast to coast.

The “pandemic boom” was certainly a housing market that many people will never forget, especially in the major urban centres such as Toronto and Montreal. Even Atlantic Canada got in on the enormous gains, thanks to notable population increases as a newfound freedom to work remotely opened up options on where to buy a home.

One notable trend accelerated in Canada’s housing market as it built up to its peak: homes sold over asking.

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What’s Happening in the Atlantic Canada Housing Market?

The Atlantic Canada housing market has been sizzling since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. But what differentiates the real estate markets in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador is how they have held steady, even as the broader Canadian real estate market experiences a correction.

Although there have been forecasts suggesting that the eastern provinces could join the downturn, the numbers so far show that real estate activity in this part of Canada is not imploding.

So, what do the data show? Let’s look at the latest trends in Atlantic Canada.

What’s Happening in the Atlantic Canada Housing Market?

Here is a look at the four major Atlantic Canada real estate…

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