• Expert: Priorities That Should Guide Ontario’s Housing Reform

    Expert: Priorities That Should Guide Ontario’s Housing Reform

    Housing affordability is a critical economic issue, yet Canada, especially Ontario, remains far from resolving its crisis. Home prices now exceed seven times annual income in many markets, making ownership unattainable for many. Rising taxes, fees, and regulatory barriers significantly increase costs, with development charges alone adding tens of thousands to home prices. Key reforms include making tax relief and charge reductions permanent, streamlining approvals, updating building codes, revising outdated policies, and eliminating land transfer taxes to improve affordability and supply.

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  • Canada Housing Could Look Very Different in 2027

    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.

  • Do You Need a Property Survey?

    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.

  • Renovations That Raise Resale Value

    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.

  • Ontario: Do You Owe Professional Cleaning?

    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 of August 2026

    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

  • Ontario Buyers: Check Electrical Permits First

    Ontario's slower housing pace is giving buyers and sellers more time to look past finishes and confirm electrical work was permitted and inspected.
    Request electrical permit records in Ontario, since missing records can signal unapproved or unsafe work, while passed jobs receive an acceptance certificate useful for resale.
    If you hire someone for electrical work in Ontario, the law requires a licensed electrical contractor, so ask for a licence number and verify it.
    Check major systems like the stove, dryer, and water heater, note whether they use electric or gas, and consider age before planning upgrades.
    A standard home inspection may miss electrical issues, so consider a dedicated assessment to spot hazards early and help avoid costly surprises after closing.

  • Global Renovations Buyers Reward Most

    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.

  • Secondary Suites Can Lower Ontario Home Costs

    In Ontario, buyers often add a secondary suite to narrow affordability gaps by living in one unit and using rent to offset mortgage costs.
    For established multi-unit homes, buyers can count at least half of rent to qualify. Owner-occupants with one added suite may count all gross rent.
    Owner-occupants may also qualify with a much smaller minimum down payment than non-owner investors, which can make a multiplex purchase more accessible.
    Before converting, buyers should price mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancies, and renovation costs carefully, and update home insurance so coverage stays valid.
    Ontario generally allows up to 4 residential units on most lots without zoning changes, but permits, separate access, and local standards still require careful planning.

  • Mississauga home prices remain flat at $898,510 in August 2026

    Mississauga home prices remain flat at $898,510 in August 2026

    The average home price in Mississauga was $898,510 in August 2026, nearly unchanged from July and August 2025. Sales rose 2.1% to 435, with active listings down 8.1% to 2,361. Detached houses averaged $1.28 million, up 1.5% monthly but down 6.4% yearly. Semi-detached, attached houses, townhouse-style, and apartment-style condos all saw monthly and yearly price declines. Prices have increased about 45.7% since August 2016.

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