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What Do Tariffs and Development Charges Have in Common?
First, let’s define the two. Tariffs are taxes imposed by governments on goods imported from another country. The importer pays the tariff, but the cost can ultimately be absorbed by the business, passed along to consumers through higher prices, or shared somewhere along the supply chain. Development charges are, in simple terms, a form of…
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Two Headlines. Both True. Both Misleading.
We are at the end of another month, which means it’s time for me to do what I do every month: dig into the numbers and figure out what is really happening in the real estate market. I am a self-confessed “stats hound,” and I wear the title proudly. But today, I’m going to poke…
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What Tariffs and the Pandemic Have in Common
A memory from 2020 came back to me this weekend after the latest tariff news involving Canada. Not because tariffs and a global pandemic are the same thing. They obviously aren’t. But they do have one important thing in common. They scare the hell out of people. And scared people have a remarkable ability to…
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Human Nature vs. Opportunity
I remember a conversation I had while driving around with a buyer very early in my real estate career. I was green and still learning the business, but even then I had a sense that real estate moved in natural cycles. Markets heated up, cooled down and eventually changed direction, usually influenced by the broader…
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When Is It Time to Move On?
Over the weekend, I listened to a radio discussion about people who repeatedly run for political office but never win. They were described as “perennial” or “serial” candidates. We have a local example of someone who has run for mayor, regional chair several times, and as a Progressive Conservative candidate in a provincial election, without…
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The Most Expensive Decision Buyers Make Is Deciding They Can’t Buy
A recent New York Times opinion piece explored how Generation Z views ambition, careers and the future. Many younger adults no longer believe in the traditional formula: study hard, build a career, sacrifice today and eventually enjoy financial security. Boomers were told to climb the ladder. Younger generations are asking whether the ladder is leaning…
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The Tax Arizona Homebuyers Don’t Pay
I recently had an interesting conversation with a Realtor friend in Arizona. The subject of land transfer tax came up. She looked at me blankly. “What is land transfer tax?” Fair question. Arizona does not have one. In Canada, every province and territory charges buyers something when ownership of a property is transferred. Five jurisdictions…
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Fast, Cheap or Good? What Really Sells a Home
I was listening to an interview with Tom Waits recently when he shared a piece of advice from one of his mentors. “Fast, cheap and good… pick two.” If it’s fast and cheap, it won’t be good. If it’s cheap and good, it won’t be fast. If it’s fast and good, it won’t be cheap.…
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We Want It Now. Even When It Comes to Buying a House.
I was listening to a podcast recently about how instant gratification has quietly become the default setting for almost everything we buy. Hungry? Tap an app and dinner arrives at your door. Need a phone charger? Amazon has it on your porch tomorrow. Need a ride? Uber shows up before you’ve finished your coffee. We’ve…
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Needs vs. Wants: The Hidden Force Behind Every Real Estate Negotiation
In real estate, price is often determined by supply and demand. Negotiations, however, are often determined by something entirely different: needs and wants. Most of us understand the difference. We may want a new vehicle, a larger home, or a backyard swimming pool. Those are wants. A need is different. A need creates urgency and…
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