Author: Joeann Chabrol

Ontario's building code still makes this housing scale difficult to design efficiently.
In Ontario, houses need only smoke alarms and no barrier-free access, while four-storey apartment buildings require elevators, fire alarms, and sprinklers, even with few units.

CMHC expects housing conditions to improve gradually in 2027 as incomes and economic growth strengthen.
Sales should recover, but CMHC expects activity to remain below the typical levels seen during the previous decade.
CREA forecasts only modest national price growth, suggesting stabilization rather than another major price surge.
Higher inventory and weaker demand in some markets could continue giving buyers more negotiating room.

A property survey identifies legal boundaries using title records, registered plans, and on-site markers, helping show where land begins and ends beyond visible fences.
Title insurance helps manage problems after closing, while a survey can reveal boundary issues earlier, giving buyers time to renegotiate, request repairs, or walk away.
Most typical homebuyers may not need a new survey, but one is often worth it before building, renovating, severing a lot, or resolving disputes.
Older surveys can still show legal boundaries, yet they may miss newer fences, decks, pools, or additions, so confirm whether existing documents still fit.
Across Canada, most residential surveys cost $1.6K-$3.5K, and drones may aid mapping, but legal boundaries still require a licensed surveyor’s on-site certification.

For sellers, the strongest renovations balanced personal use with resale strategy. Experts said buyers responded most to turnkey homes with instant appeal and emotional resonance.
Start with foundational updates first: fresh paint, refinished cabinets, and repaired or upgraded flooring helped unify spaces so kitchens and baths stood out.
In kitchens, natural-stone countertops and better appliances were highlighted as high-impact upgrades, especially when they refreshed the space without requiring a full renovation.
Small details also shaped first impressions: a welcoming front door, layered lighting, and purposeful flex spaces helped buyers picture entertaining, relaxing, and recharging.
Outdoor upgrades matter most when started early, since plantings need time to mature, while expert styling can lift appeal, sale price, and market readiness.

In Ontario, tenants are not legally required to hire or pay for professional cleaning when moving out, even if a lease says otherwise.
Provincial tenancy law requires units be left in ordinary cleanliness, often described as broom-swept, not spotless, and that standard applies throughout the tenancy.
If excessive dirt creates damage, pests, fire hazards, or health and safety risks, landlords may seek compensation through the board, and serious cases risk eviction.
Lease terms demanding professional cleaning or cleaning fees generally cannot be enforced when they contradict provincial tenancy law, so tenants can refuse those demands.
New Ontario tenants can expect an ordinarily clean unit, ask landlords to address cleanliness problems, and pursue remedies through the board if needed.

King City — Most Expensive homes for August 2026.

Listings (sorted by price):
1. Listing N13415604 — $18,800,000
2. Listing N13442706 — $11,450,000
3. Listing N13146044 — $10,800,000
4. Listing N12553150 — $9,900,000
5. Listing N13237190 — $9,498,000
6. Listing N13093046 — $9,298,000
7. Listing N13237862 — $7,998,000
8. Listing N12837050 — $7,990,000
9. Listing N13571670 — $7,900,000
10. Listing N13636888 — $7,688,000
11. Listing N13238710 — $7,489,900
12. Listing N13171996 — $6,999,000
13. Listing N13712102 — $6,790,000
14. Listing N12728250 — $6,650,000
15. Listing N12659894 — $6,280,000