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Gerry’s Blog

Where the Hamilton-Burlington Housing Market is Expected to be in 2024

Higher interest rates have been impacting prospective homebuyers and even sellers who are interested in listing their homes for sale to acquire another residential property. With the Bank of Canada (BoC) potentially finished raising rates, resulting in six per cent fixed-rate mortgages across the country, elevated borrowing costs have slowed sales activity nationwide. However, some…

A Guide to NB Property Tax

New Brunswick is attracting more people looking for a new home, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a place where you can enjoy a high quality of life without the high cost. The province is one of Canada’s safest, and its close-knit community vibe makes it easy to settle in and feel part of…

Money in Your Pocket: Calculating Your Own ROI from Your Properties

In today’s Canadian real estate market, is it possible to maximize your investment returns? Gone are the days of easy money floating throughout the national economy thanks to the Bank of Canada’s (BoC) historically low interest rates, fuelling the 2020-2021 housing boom that led to exorbitant residential property valuations. Now that conditions have normalized, investors…

What Home Buyers Need to Know about HOAs

In Canada, Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) are not as widespread as in some other countries, like the United States, but they do exist, particularly in certain types of residential developments. HOAs are more commonly found in planned communities, condominiums, and townhouse complexes. Properties within an HOA enjoy added benefits like enhanced amenities and community management. HOAs…

How to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Winter is a season that brings along chilly temperatures, snow, and icy conditions. While it is a beautiful time of year, it is crucial to take certain precautions and make necessary preparations to ensure that your home remains warm and cozy during this period. As you take the time to prepare your home for winter,…

The Top Commercial Real Estate Investment Strategies in Canada

Although often touted as a safe haven when compared to the stock market’s volatility, over the past 25 years, Canada’s S&P/TSX composite index has actually generated annual returns equal to, or better than, even key Canadian real estate markets such as Toronto and Vancouver, which have experienced skyrocketing increases in residential real estate prices over…

How to Choose the Right Location for Your Business

Location is crucial to any business’s success, but the commercial real estate needs of a restaurant, retailer, consulting firm, mechanic or manufacturer will all be very different. For a restaurant that opens for lunch but serves food until the wee hours of the morning, the best location might be a buzzing downtown with a mix…

Interest Rate Announcement: Holding Steady at 5%

Bank of Canada’s Interest Rate Announcement: Steady at 5% In its final interest rate announcement of 2023, the Bank of Canada has held its overnight rate at 5%. The non-move was widely expected, marking the third announcement in a row that the benchmark rate hasn’t budged, amid an economic slowdown, which is “reducing inflationary pressures…

Real Estate Definition: What is a Chattel?

As you navigate the Canadian real estate market, you might have come across something called a chattel. But what is a chattel? And what is a chattel in real estate? Put simply, a chattel is a movable personal property not permanently affixed to the land. Some examples of chattel include furniture, appliances (dishwashers, dryers, stoves,…