How To Adapt To Canada’s Rising Interest Rates

November 20th, 2017

In one of the more hotly anticipated economic moves this past summer, the Bank of Canada raised interest rates for the first time in 7 years, lifting its benchmark interest rate to 0.75 per cent from 0.50 per cent I talked in my summer forecast for Toronto real estate (click here and… Read Full Entry

How To Maintain Your Home And Garden: Essential Tools

October 27th, 2017

Attention: New Property Owners! To maintain your home’s asset value, you need to be on top of maintenance in its many facets. Not only that, but having your property look its best and in good repair will enhance your own enjoyment of 'Home'. When you are stocking up on home… Read Full Entry

How To Survive Home Renovations

September 14th, 2017

Home renovations are a commonplace activity in the city of Toronto, especially given the age of many of the homes in question, and the growing phenomenon for Buyers to buy homes in their current price point, with the intention to place their own personal stamp on them over time. But… Read Full Entry

How To Know If You’re Up For A Fixer Upper

August 29th, 2017

Given the age and the sky-high prices of Toronto's vintage housing stock, pretty much every Buyer is faced with the reality that property in their price point may require substantial work. Although your housing choices may rely heavily on a budget and a checklist of must-have needs and wants, have… Read Full Entry

How To Prepare Your Home For Emergencies

July 27th, 2017

To keep your house and the asset that it represents in great shape, you need to take every step to make sure that you are prepared to manage in the event of an emergency and to mitigate potential damage to your property. In many cases, some ongoing maintenance and mindful… Read Full Entry

How To Reconcile Your Dream Location With Your Dream Home

June 29th, 2017

Like all solid, long-term decisions, there is an element of trust in your instincts when buying a home. To draw a parallel, when you select your mate, you assume that you are going to be together forever based on a number of criteria that you’ve assessed. But even though you’ve… Read Full Entry

Household Asbestos: What Homeowners Need To Know

May 29th, 2017

As housing buzzwords go, there are few that cause the kind of alarm that asbestos does. And since we're in renovation season, this topic becomes particularly important! Given the age of the housing stock in Toronto, encountering asbestos is not uncommon. Prior to 1990, it was used largely used in… Read Full Entry

How To Embrace Sustainability In The Home

April 26th, 2017

In an ideal world, housing should be producing energy rather than consuming it. Our shelter should be healthy, be easily maintained, produce food and water, cause no pollution, and preferably be self-sustaining. While this is far from the reality we live in, it's never too late to start. Even small… Read Full Entry

How To Plan A Successful Home Renovation

March 28th, 2017

If you've been searching for a freehold property to purchase in the original City of Toronto, you've now discovered the age of the city's housing stock ranges anywhere from 70 to 160 years, which means the condition of a lot of dwellings can be marginal at best. Compound this reality with… Read Full Entry

How To Find The Loft That’s Right For You

February 22nd, 2017

Welcome to February's Homewatch post. In this installment, we compare and contrast an element that has become an integral part of the Toronto property landscape over the past three decades: the loft. We discuss its history, types, features, and how you can find one that fits you perfectly! This month is… Read Full Entry