Latest News & Blogs

You can make any living space look like a luxury home through smart use of textured surfaces. According to Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates, integrating stone and mineral accoutrements like a ledgestone fireplace or a quartz countertop can add upscale character to a living room or kitchen. Even slate or concrete flooring can add unique, hyper-modern ambiance. To learn more, visit inman.com. ...

20% of mortgage refinancing in the Toronto area in the second quarter of 2018 was provided by private mortgage lenders, according to Bloomberg News' Natalie Wong. A 67% jump from the first quarter of 2016, this rise shows the impact of higher interest rates and lending standards on Canadians in their 30s-40s, who accounted for almost half of all private mortgage transactions. To learn more, read the full article at business.financialpost.com. ...

While many are understandably concerned about Bank of Canada's recent interest rate increases, doomsayers and skittish home buyers should keep in mind that mortgage rates were once much, much worse. In the '80s, Canadian home buyers had access to cheaper housing, however, they also had to face mortgage rates ranging from 15-18%. If you're worried about mortgage rates of 3-5% on your home, watch this piece from the CBC archives to understand current rates within historic...

Everyone has a home reno horror story, usually starring a lazy, greedy, and/or just plain incompetent contractor. That's why it's important to work with professional contractors, with industry accreditations like RenoMark. RenoMark verifies that a given contractor is a member of a home builders' association and even provides a two-year warranty on their work. Learn more about why you should work with RenoMark contractors from Maria Perketa of Probuilt Design + Build at B...

The Bank of Canada has raised the benchmark interest rate once again, up to its highest level since 2008, at 1.75%. Reflecting the growing strength of the economy, this hike will affect all borrowing rates from personal loans to mortgages. However, according to CBC's Pete Evans, there will likely be more incremental rises to come as the BoC tries to push rates back to pre-recession levels. To learn more, read the full article on cbc.ca. ...