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Gerry’s Blog

Rents in Alberta Growing Fastest in Canada

With Alberta’s population increasing at a rapid pace, housing inventories are tightening up, resulting in affordability challenges across the province. So, it is no surprise that rent prices are growing faster in the Western province than in any other place in the country. According to the latest figures from Rentals.ca, the average rent for a…

Financing Options: What Every Move-Up Home Buyer Should Know

Whenever the Canadian real estate market topic comes up in conversation, it typically surrounds how first-time homebuyers are struggling to get their feet in the door. Whether the challenges of putting together a down payment or qualifying for a mortgage, aspiring homeowners have many hurdles to overcome. But while these labours of Hercules are undoubtedly…

What to Know About Buying a House with Friends

In the face of an ever-challenging housing market, Canadians are getting creative with how they acquire their first homes. Recognizing the hurdles of high property prices and the complexities of securing a mortgage individually, many first-time homebuyers are now exploring the prospect of buying homes with friends. This trend represents an inventive approach to homeownership,…

Financial Planning Tips for First-Time Home Buyers

Canadian homebuyers were taken by surprise after it was reported that the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) terminated the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive, also known as the FTHBI. As of March 31, the CMHC announced that “no new approvals will be granted.” While a chorus of industry experts asserted that the program possessed its…

Canada Will Not Apply Capital Gains Tax to Primary Residences in New Budget

The federal government will not apply the controversial capital gains tax hike to primary residences, Ottawa announced on April 16 when unveiling the 2024 budget. For weeks, there had been speculation that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government would introduce a levy on homeowners. Ottawa released the $450.8 billion federal budget for 2024,…

RE/MAX Named 2023 CMN Hospitals Canadian Partner of the Year

RE/MAX is honoured to have been named Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations 2023 Canadian Corporate Partner of the Year. “In neighbourhoods across Canada, RE/MAX agents are active in their local communities in many ways, including the RE/MAX Miracle Home Program,” says Adam Starkman, President and CEO of Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations, official manager of CMN partners…

2024 Federal Budget: Key Takeaways for Housing

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government unveiled the $480.5 billion federal budget for 2024. Inside the 400-page-plus budget includes more than $52 billion in new spending over five years that courts a wide array of voters heading into next year’s election. While the budgetary blueprint proposes various support payments, tax increases, and finance…

Negotiating Tips for Sellers: Getting What You Want

Now that mortgage rates could finally be easing from their two-decade highs, you are considering posting a ‘for sale’ on your front lawn. Many Canadian real estate market experts believe that now is an opportune time for homeowners to list their single-family homes or row houses on the open market, with more buyers returning to…

Navigating Emotional Hurdles During Home Downsizing

Downsizing your home usually signifies a major transition, often driven by a need for a simpler life, financial considerations in retirement, or the nest becoming empty as children move out of the house. When selling your home, it’s not merely the physical task of moving or getting rid of possessions that makes this process daunting;…