How to break free from the vicious circle of renting
We recently listed a few new condo developments that first-time buyers may actually be able to afford. One problem that we did not address was the fact that tenants living in downtown Toronto are caught in a vicious circle of renting. They want to live
New condos that first-time buyers can afford
Last summer, we highlighted a few new condo projects in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) that first-time buyers could actually afford. With the recent rental series from CBC, which highlights personal stories from Toronto tenants about the struggles of
CMHC releases an updated "road map to homeownership"
According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), purchasing a home can be a challenging and confusing experience, and they’re right. From unfamiliar mortgage calculations to words you’ve never heard before, every step of the homebuying
Taking a closer look at capital gains tax
Since October, subtle changes to the Principal Residence Tax Exemption (PRE) have meant that Canadian sellers and buyers must disclose transactions on their principal residences to the government. Somehow I missed until recently that the administration
How to deal with your home buyer’s remorse
So you just bought a new home - congratulations! What? You don’t feel as excited as you were the second you signed the Agreement? Don’t worry, this feeling is common. It’s like when you buy a sweater then instantly regret it when you try it on at home in
First-time buyer says Daniels “made buying easy”
When Daniels FirstHome™ Sunny Meadow in Brampton launched in fall 2016, first-time buyers flocked to it. Very rarely do first-time buyers have the opportunity to purchase a new low-rise home in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), especially in a hot market
First-time buyers remain confident despite rising prices
The Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) released its resale housing figures for January 2017, announcing that last year’s inventory shortage will probably continue through the year, causing prices to surge. Despite this, first-time buyers remain
The lowdown on purchasing your first home together
Thinking of buying your first home? We had the opportunity to catch up with a couple, Joan (31) and Larry (27) (names changed for privacy), who recently purchased their first home together at Minto Westside at Front and Bathurst in Toronto. Joan and
Perform post-holiday CPR on your savings account
No matter what you celebrated last month, the holidays are notorious for mercilessly squandering savings. After all, it’s hard to stay on budget when you’re faced with parties, potlucks and pricey gift exchanges, all packed into two weeks. Now that the
CMHC increasing mortgage insurance premiums
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) just announced that it is increasing its mortgage loan insurance premiums, effective March 17, 2017. Don’t worry, it shouldn’t affect your ability to afford a home. Mortgage loan insurance is necessary
