Did you know that April 24th is Administrative Professionals’ Day this year? If you’re a busy realtor, chances are you have (or have had) an administrative assistant supporting your day-to-day business operations. Today we honour the real estate administrative professionals in our lives, often the unsung heroes of any real estate brokerage. We spoke with Ashley Wilson from Abundance Haven Real Estate Services and Rachel Wakaluk from Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate Team, based in British Columbia, to get a glimpse into the day in the life of a real estate administrative professional.    ..read more

76 per cent of Canadians who bought a home within the last five years say they have no regrets despite rising interest rates and mortgage payments, according to a recent Wahi survey. Ontario homeowners were found to have the least amount of regret, while British Columbia homeowners indicated the most. “While some homeowners are undeniably facing challenges today, there are a variety of reasons for them to feel confident in their decisions,” says Wahi CEO Benjy Katchen. “Owning a home is deeply ingrained in the culture, as Canada’s homeownership rate sits at 66.5 per cent.” Here are some key ..read more

In an era where economic uncertainties loom large and real estate prices soar to unprecedented heights, the dream of property investment seems increasingly elusive for many. However, a solution emerges from the challenges faced by aspiring investors: Investium, a pioneering platform, aims to democratize real estate investment by fostering partnerships among like-minded individuals. Investium addresses a common dilemma many prospective real estate investors encounter: the lack of time, experience or capital to reach success in the market. As the gap widens between the desire for real estate i ..read more

Sotheby’s International Realty Canada recently announced that Ken Mazurek, regional managing broker, Southwestern Ontario, has been awarded the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA)’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) Leadership Award. The award is given annually to a young professional in real estate who has shown outstanding commitment to the industry, exemplary leadership qualities and a dedication to innovation and community service.   ‘Set an inspiring example within the real estate industry’   Don Kottick, CEO and president, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, indicates t ..read more

Recently, RBC Economics and Thought Leadership released its report, The Great Rebuild: Seven ways to fix Canada’s housing shortage which discusses factors that led to Canada’s housing crisis and policy ideas to address it. The organization’s research found that one million of 1.9 million new households by 2030 won’t be able to purchase a home if affordability remains near where it is now. On top of this, over 40 per cent of those households also won’t earn enough to afford market rent prices.   Source: RBC Economics   “The current affordability crisis has been driven by a massive ..read more

The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB), with the Renfrew County Real Estate Board, Rideau-St. Lawrence Real Estate Board and Cornwall and District Real Estate Board, recently announced their adoption of PropTx, a technology platform with tools, insights and applications that provide a secure real estate transaction process. The Kingston and Area Real Estate Association says it too will adopt PropTx. Several other Ontario real estate boards and associations are currently using the platform. The move will help OREB in its mission to provide its 4,000 members with “leading-edge resources to achiev ..read more

As a seasoned real estate professional for the past three decades, I’ve watched the Toronto city skyline morph and navigated the ins and outs of the city’s ever-evolving condominium market. And I’ve seen it all — from multiple recessions to the unprecedented detour that was COVID-19 in 2020. But in all the ups and downs, one thing remains clear: the need for affordable housing in our city is more pressing than ever. The rise of micro-units presents a promising avenue to address this pressing concern amid Toronto’s housing affordability crisis.   Size isn’t everything when it comes to ur ..read more

The Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers (QPAREB) has unveiled its latest data on the residential real estate market in Quebec, showcasing significant growth in the first quarter of 2024. According to the report, province-wide residential sales reached 21,337, marking a 17 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Despite this surge, sales levels remain just below historical averages for this time of the year.   First quarter since 2021 with double-digit rise in sales   “This is the first quarter since 2021 to have posted a double-digit rise in sales ..read more

Welcome to Ask A Stager, your regular staging advice column designed exclusively for real estate professionals. Whether you’re grappling with how to enhance the visual appeal of your listings or seeking innovative strategies to captivate your target audience, you’ve come to the right place. Ask A Stager offers you the opportunity to pose any and all staging-related questions and receive expert advice, for free. No query is too big or small — if it’s about elevating the look of your real estate, we want to hear it and we want to help! Email your questions to ninadoiron@isodesign.ca   In ..read more

On April 12, the federal government announced its new housing plan. The plan will be supported by investments from Budget 2024, announced Tuesday. “Canada can and will solve the housing crisis, and we’re going to do it by getting every home builder, not-for-profit, mayor, city councillor and premier pulling in the same direction to build the homes Canadians need,” The Honourable Sean Fraser, minister of housing, infrastructure and communities, says. The housing plan outlines a strategy to obtain 3.87 million new homes by 2031, including at least 2 million net new homes in addition to the Can ..read more