How to give up renting without going broke

DIANNE NICE Globe and Mail Blog No matter how many stories I read about housing price bubbles and rising interest rates, there’s no way I would go back to renting, and most Canadians feel the same way. For three long, miserable years, my husband and I rented a unit attached to our landlord’s sprawling house […]

ROYAL LEPAGE: TOP 10 TIPS FOR SELLING YOUR HOME THIS SPRING

TORONTO, May 11 /CNW/ – Spring is upon us and the housing market is set to enter its busiest time of the year. With winter a mere memory and lots of sunshine on the way, many potential homebuyers will be out and about looking for the perfect home to suit their needs and budget.  If you’re […]

Easing the tax hit for investment property owners

Whether it’s a duplex, a cottage or a Florida getaway, a second property can be a rewarding investment over time. But if you’re not careful, it can prove taxing as well. A little planning goes a long way. The following are some common mistakes financial planners see in their practice, as well as some tips […]

Buying a vacation home: 10 things to know

Buying a vacation home: 10 things to know The first question to ask when buying a vacation property is how you plan to use it. Big gatherings, or quiet getaways?Dick Loek/Toronto Star file photo Real Estate: T.O’s priciest home is $27M Tighter mortgage rules here 2010’s best-read housing stories Be careful when buying U.S. property […]

Rising mortgage rates are worse than you think

Whether you own a house or are looking to buy, rising mortgage rates are your enemy. You think you know that, right? With Monday’s announcements that Toronto-Dominion Bank and CIBC are raising some of their fixed-term mortgage rates by as much as one-quarter of a percentage point, let’s see if you do. Rising rates will […]

Get smart: Ottawa plans crash courses on financial literacy

As consumer debt levels soar and baby boomers approach retirement, the federal government is looking at adopting a long list of measures designed to prod Canadians into making smarter financial decisions. The measures recommended by a federal task force cover a wide range of initiatives. Employers who offer pensions would be required to automatically enroll […]

Worst mistakes first-time home buyers make

When Chris Kiskuna bought her first house in 1985, she was so anxious to close the deal quickly, she skipped the home inspection – a decision she paid for the first time she turned on the tap in the bathroom sink. “The water’s running and I’m hearing it run everywhere and thinking, ‘What’s happening here?’ […]

2011 housing drop seen less severe

The Canadian Real Estate Association has raised its sales forecast for the rest of the year, calling for a smaller decline than it originally expected as low interest rates keep buyers in the market. The association now expects sales to fall by 1.6 per cent in 2011, compared to its November call for a drop of […]

‘Wild card’ props up Canadian housing markets over past decade

Tighter inventory levels helped to make the last decade one of the healthiest periods on record for Canadian real estate, insulating markets in major centres from the peaks and valleys characteristic of past decades, according to a reportreleased by RE/MAX. The RE/MAX Housing Barometer Report measured monthly sales-to-new listings ratios in 18 major centres across […]

Canadians open to shorter mortgage term: Poll

More than half of Canadians would consider a shorter term for their mortgages to save on interest costs in the long run, according to a BMO survey. Those aged 35 to 44 were the most open to shorter amortizations, with 77% saying it was something they would consider. The survey also found 70% of families […]

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