Top 6 Home Design Trends To Watch in 2023 Over the past few years, many of us have spent extra time at home—and that means we appreciate the personal design touches that make a house cozy and comfortable more than ever. Some of us have adapted our dwellings in new ways, from creating functional home offices to upgrading the appliances we use most.  But while it’s important to make your home your own, it’s also smart to think about the long-term impact your... [read more]

My Home Didn’t Sell! Now What?   When it comes to listing your home, most home sellers want three things: 1) to make a lot of money, 2) to put in minimal time and effort, and 3) to sell quickly. But the reality is, selling a home is rarely that simple. And homeowners who try to do it themselves—or receive bad advice—can end up stuck (months later) with a property that hasn’t sold.  If that’s you, don’t panic! We’ve outlined the... [read more]

GREATER TORONTO AREA HOME SALES AND LISTINGS DROP IN FEBRUARY 2023 Uptick in Home buying Expected Later This Year February sales in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) were down substantially from the pre-rate hike levels of early 2022. However, the number of new listings also dropped substantially year-over-year. The result was that the average selling price and MLS® HPI continued to level off after trending lower through the spring and summer of last year. “It has been... [read more]

How to Become a Homeowner on a First-Time Buyer’s Budget It's not easy being a first-time home buyer right now. At the end of last year, housing affordability hit an all-time low.1 Additionally, mortgage rates have risen significantly since 2021, while inventory remains tight for many property categories, but especially for starter homes. Even lower-priced condos are harder to snag these days, as investors and downsizers muscle out first-timers by offering stronger, often... [read more]

7 Common Homebuyer Regrets (And How To Avoid Them)  To avoid buyer's remorse, be sure to consider your future self when shopping for a home.  Most new homebuyers don't regret becoming homeowners. In fact, according to a recent survey by Zolo, 80% of Canadians who purchased a home during the pandemic say they're glad they bought their current homes.1 But that doesn't mean newly-minted homeowners don't have any regrets about their buying... [read more]