Compared to the sizeable price fluctuations that the Toronto real estate market has been used to since April 2017, we are pleased to see that the Toronto condo market is shaping up for a strong and consistent summer season. Using the Condos.ca Market Report, we’ve compiled sales activity and condo sold price data from the month of May for a closer look at how the condo market will be performing in the summer 2018.

And now an obligatory post in which we showcase the many (perhaps obvious, perhaps not) reasons why it’s great to own your home. Yay! While we would never put down renting as an option for affordable living, especially in cities like Toronto or Vancouver, we do believe there are real benefits in home ownership for anyone in a position to buy. We could think of eight.

With the recent closure of tech real estate brokerage TheRedPin, it’s become clear that Toronto’s affordability crisis is putting pressure on all areas of real estate, from buyers to brokerages.

Toronto’s affordability crisis began when the city saw an unprecedented surge in housing prices in the winter of 2017. That surge came just after B.C. introduced a 15% tax on foreign buyers in 2016, setting a new precedent for government intervention and changing real estate in Canada in a big way. Is it fair to say that B.C.’s foreign-buyer tax was the spark for our affordability crisis?

Do you hear that? That’s the sound of 20,000 people crying out for better rental affordability in Toronto. And it really can’t be denied, the Toronto rental market is out of control. An average condo is leasing for $2,361/month and competition for affordable units in desirable locations is fierce and fraught with disappointment. It’s a struggle for everyone involved, but even harder these days for people with bad credit.

In light of increased pressures and difficulties for renters in Toronto, we wanted to update this post.

If you’re thinking of buying a home, whether a freehold house or a Toronto condo, there is a huge benefit in getting pre-approved for a mortgage before you begin your search.

Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of certainty in their life? Getting pre-approved for a mortgage means you’ll sit down with a professional Mortgage Broker. This person will take everything into account when reviewing your home financing, and you’ll find out exactly how much you can afford, sometimes more and sometimes less than what you expect. Sure, there are convenient online mortgage calculators out there, but they will provide you with only a base monthly payment. Until a mortgage specialist really takes a deeper look, you’re stuck with assumptions instead of complete certainty.

As technology moves on, people are constantly finding new ways to make their lives a lot easier. One of the best uses of technology right now is the invention of smart homes. A smart home is basically a home that uses technology to perform basic tasks that the homeowner would normally take on themselves. This makes living in one of these homes a lot more convenient and we are sure that the technology is only going to get more advanced as time goes on. If you would like to know more about why you should invest in a smart home or why you should add some smart technology to your Toronto condo, make sure to keep reading this article.