The Ontario government hinted last week it would offer something “small” to first-time homebuyers in its fall economic statement and it didn’t disappoint. On Monday, the Liberals announced that starting January 1, 2017, the maximum provincial land transfer tax rebate for first-time homebuyers will double from $2,000 to $4,000. If you’re buying a home in […]

Last week CBC Marketplace aired an eye-opening episode on the wild, world of Toronto real estate. In the episode entitled, “Real estate: How some agents break the rules,” the show’s journalists went undercover with hidden cameras to investigate real estate agents for wrongdoing. And what they found was downright shocking. Is the Deck Stacked Against […]

Besides the U.S. election, another popular topic of discussion at dinner parties these days is housing. There’s no easy way to put it: Canada is a country obsessed with real estate. We love spending money on home renovations – whether it’s granite counter-tops or stainless steel appliances – and we like our homes big. Canadians have […]

If you’re buying a home with less than a 20 percent down payment, the rules of the game have changed. In an effort to avoid a U.S.-style housing crash, the federal government has introduced a new set of mortgage rules designed to cool the real market and orchestrate a “soft landing.” The government is once […]

Are you financially better off not owning a home? That’s the question CBC News reporter Sophia Harris debated in her latest article. Sophia profiled Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung, who retired in their early 30’s and travel the world. (Kudos to this young couple for achieving financial freedom and living out their dreams.) How did […]

Do you aspire to be a homeowner? A large down payment helps you afford your dream home, but it’s not the only important factor. In my upcoming book, Burn Your Mortgage, I reveal the four mortgage qualification factors. One of those factors is your credit score. Your credit score is that all-important number the lenders […]

My millennial cohorts seem to be wearing rose-coloured glasses . Whenever I read a news headline about home prices hitting a new record in Toronto, I thank my lucky stars I’m a homeowner. At today’s sky high home prices, there’s no way I could pay off my mortgage in three years by age 30. That’s […]

Are you feeling financially squeezed? You’re not alone. While high home prices may be good for baby boomers who bought their homes decades ago, it’s not so great for Canadians in their 40’s struggling to buy their first home. Canadians are constantly told that homeownership is the cornerstone of financial success, yet it’s out of […]

With home prices rising faster than inflation, first-time homebuyers are finding it hard to afford a home in Canada’s major cities. If you’re feeling discouraged by rising housing prices you’re not alone. The good news is, it’s still a fantastic time to buy your first home. I was fortunate enough to sit down with the […]

Affording a home in Toronto, Canada’s second most expensive housing market, was tough. With home prices skyrocketing, many first-time homebuyers start out as condo buyers before eventually upsizing to a house. Despite being single, with a sizable down payment of $170,000, I had the luxury of choosing between a house and condo. Here are some […]