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The Real Estate Party Is Over. So What Does Normal Look Like?
When did taking three weeks to sell a home become a sign that something was wrong? Or when did negotiating a purchase price, including a home inspection, or taking a few days to make a decision become unusual? Not so long ago, these were perfectly ordinary parts of buying and selling real estate. Then came…
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A Quarter-Point Increase. But What’s the Bigger Picture?
Another Bank of Canada announcement. Another round of headlines. And another reason for buyers and sellers to wonder what on earth is happening with the real estate market. Last week’s quarter-point interest rate increase was widely anticipated. But the bigger question isn’t why it happened. It’s what it means for your next move. The Bank…
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Everyone Wants a Buyer’s Market. Until They Get One.
In 2022, paying $100,000 over asking price was a badge of honour. In 2026, buying a property for $80,000 under asking barely raises an eyebrow. What connects these two very different real estate markets? Human nature. I remember overhearing a buyer in 2022 proudly announcing that they had paid $100,000 over asking price for their…
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Foreclosure, Power of Sale or Short Sale. What’s the Difference?
There is an old saying often heard in gyms: “You can’t out-exercise a bad diet.” When it comes to real estate, think of the mortgage as the diet and the exercise as your ability to make the payments. If one gets out of balance with the other, eventually something has to give. With homeowners continuing…
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Heat Pumps… With Strings Attached
As with many incentives offered by the federal and provincial governments, when you take a closer look, things are not always quite what they seem. They do, however, make great headlines. The latest example is the government rebates being offered to homeowners installing electric heat pumps. On the surface, the incentives sound impressive. But before…
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Ontario’s Housing Crisis Is Changing: More Rentals, Fewer Homes to Own?
Ontario still has a housing crisis, but the nature of that crisis is changing. For years, the conversation focused on a shortage of homes, rising prices and the difficulty first-time buyers faced getting into the market. Today, another issue is emerging: Ontario may be building more housing, but an increasing share of that housing is…
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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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The Cost of Standing Still
A recent survey found that 67% of real estate brokers believe today’s buyers are more risk-averse than they were before 2022. Despite lower mortgage rates and lower home prices than we saw at the peak of the market, many buyers remain concerned that values could decline further. The topic came up during a conversation at…
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Renovations: Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later
I write a regular column for a local online newspaper and, like most opinion pieces, it often generates comments from readers who see things differently. Some articles seem to attract more debate than others. A recent article focused on investing money in your home and whether renovations truly increase value. I looked at the different…
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Are there Zombies in Real Estate?
You’ve seen them. You just didn’t know what you were looking at. They drive nice cars, dress the part, and post constantly on social media. New listing. Coming soon. Just sold. It creates the impression of momentum, of a business that is both active and lucrative. But here’s the twist: a “Zombie Real Estate Agent”…
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