The increased cost of borrowing over the last two years has forced millions of Canadians to reconsider or readjust their plans to purchase a home. Since the Bank of Canada began raising its key lending rate in March of 2022, more than a quarter of the country’s adult population (27%) has been active in the market, and more than half of them (56%) say they’ve been forced to postpone their property search as a result of rising interest rates, according to a recent Royal LePage survey, conducted by Leger.1 With the rate of inflation having come down over the past year, close to the desired 2% ta ..read more

More and more, people are adopting greener lifestyles, whereby daily choices are made to significantly improve not only personal well-being, but the health of the planet too. Homeowners are embracing the eco-friendly movement by making conscious decisions about the products they bring into their homes. This includes cleaning supplies, as they are known to contain chemicals that are harmful when ingested, inhaled, or come into contact with our skin. If you’ve been thinking about switching out commercial cleaning products for a greener cleaning solution, then keep reading. We’ve got you covered ..read more

Window coverings can make or break the aesthetic in any space. Curtains are a great way to change the appearance of a room, making it feel brighter and even bigger. However, choosing the wrong curtains may have the opposite effect. Here is a guide to picking the right curtains for your space: To Add Width If your window is narrow or you want to widen the look of your space, extend your curtain rod on either side of the window to cover an area of 10 to 12 inches outside the frame. Avoid slat blinds or Roman blinds if you’re trying to make your windows look wider. These options will sit inside ..read more

Spring isn’t only a time of renewal for us. As the days get longer, your houseplants are beginning to wake up from their winter dormancy. Now is the perfect time to give them the tender love and care they need to thrive all year long. Follow these tips for happier houseplants: 1. Repot: This is the ideal time to give plants a bit of extra space to grow by repotting, allowing their roots to stretch out and absorb more fertilizer. If your plants still have room for growth, add some fresh soil to the top. 2. Prune: Most indoor plants take well to pruning. In fact, pruning often encoura ..read more

Your home should be the safest place in the world. Whether you live in a condo, apartment, townhome, or detached home, there are plenty of devices that can help you monitor and protect your home, helping you feel safer than ever. Use smart cameras to monitor indoor and outdoor spaces Home security cameras are more connected than ever. Most of today’s smart cameras allow you to monitor your home from anywhere in the world using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections. Aim to cover your front, back, and living areas for basic coverage. Cameras can go near windows, on flat surfaces or be mounted on the ..read more

Nationally, median house price forecast to rise 2.9% in 2024 as interest rates are expected to stabilize or moderate. Activity in Canada’s winter recreational home markets has cooled from pandemic-era highs with fewer buyers putting pen to paper and inventory levels rising modestly, amid concerns over rising interest rates and the higher cost of living. With borrowing rates widely expected to remain stable or dip slightly next year, property prices for homes in Canada’s sought-after winter playgrounds are expected to rise marginally.  According to the Royal LePage 2023 Winter Recreationa ..read more

The Bank of Canada announced on October 25th it would be holding its key lending rate at 5.0%, the second consecutive hold since two quarter-point increases were made over the summer. Since March of last year, the central bank has imposed an unprecedented number of rate hikes in an effort to reduce pandemic-fueled inflation, taking interest rates from historic lows to a more than two-decade high. While approximately three quarters (74%) of Canadian mortgage holders currently have a fixed-rate agreement in place, higher interest rates have had a major impact on those with a variable-rate and h ..read more

Moving can be a very exciting time for a family. The anticipation of new surroundings, opportunities and a fresh start can be quite enticing. However, moving is considered a major life event, and affects all children differently. If you are a parent who is looking for ways to help your child handle the moving process and adjust to their new environment, read these five tips on how to help them cope with the transition. 1. Communicate Communicating with your child about the move will help them feel supported. Share with them the reasons behind the move and how you’re feeling about it. Sit with ..read more

Canadians continue to grapple with the increased cost of living, and the Bank of Canada’s latest hike to interest rates this week will add more pressure to variable rate mortgage holders, as well as those looking to qualify for lending. While buyers who have secured a rate hold are anxious to make a purchase before it expires, some sellers have hit the pause button on listing their homes until economic conditions stabilize, further contributing to a lack of available inventory. Additional demand pressures will ensure that home prices will remain stable through the expected decline in sales ac ..read more

Summer Home Maintenance Checklist June, 2020                     Spring freeze-thaw cycles and heavy snow can wear away at your home. Take advantage of warm weather and longer days to tackle your home maintenance chores.       Repair your roof Do a walk-around of your home. Replace warped, cracked, or missing shingles. It's better to address minor issues now than deal with major headaches such as leaks - or even whole roof replacement.       Check your detectors If you missed your spring check up, now is ..read more