Real Estate

HALIFAX - Two years after moving to Halifax from Ireland, Sarah and Nick Moriarty began house hunting.After losing multiple bidding wars, the couple offered $50,000 over the list price on a house - and included a handwritten letter by their seven-year-old daughter who was excited to plant vegetables in the...

162 Holladay Dr., Aurora, Ont.Asking price: $1,149,000Selling price: $1,137,999Previous selling price: $561,265 (2017)Taxes: $5,949 (2020)Days on the market: 14Listing agents: Ira Jelinek and Stefan Stepien, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd.Agent Ira Jelinek was apprehensive about listing this two-storey residence about 40 kilometres north of Toronto in mid-July. But five or...

122 Ivy Jay Cres., Aurora, Ont.Asking price: $1,249,000Selling price: $1,210,000Previous selling price: $497,613 (2007)Taxes: $6,804 (2019)Days on the market: nineListing agents: Ira Jelinek and Josh Howard, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd.With pandemic restrictions in force, buyers were cautiously welcomed into this two-storey house in Aurora, about a 20-minute drive north...

122 Ivy Jay Cres., Aurora, Ont.Asking price: $1,249,000Selling price: $1,210,000Previous selling price: $497,613 (2007)Taxes: $6,804 (2019)Days on the market: NineListing agents: Ira Jelinek and Josh Howard, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd.As Canadians faced with a pandemic began sheltering in place, buyers were cautiously welcomed into this two-storey house about a...

As expected, the federal budget released Monday afternoon contained measures to, at least ostensibly, cool runaway prices in Canada’s housing market.Most notably, the government is introducing a 1% tax on non-residents that’s believed will generate $700 million in revenue through four years beginning in 2022-23. Additionally, the budget will apportion...

Toronto’s condo rental market is showing signs of strength, according to a Q1 Urbanation report that revealed, at 11,928 units leased, transactions surged by 70% over Q1-2020.Listings declined by 12% from Q4-2020 and brought the ratio of quarterly condo leases-to-listings to 61%—the highest since the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March...

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) recently announced it’s revisiting the stress test on conventional mortgage loans (i.e. at least a 20% down payment on a purchase or refinances), slated for June 1 implementation.Currently, borrowers are stress tested against the current mortgage qualifying rate of 4.79%, or...

35 Mariner Terrace, No. 2112, TorontoAsking Price: $999,000Taxes: $3,814 (2021)Size: 1,200 square footMonthly maintenance fee: $831Agent: Cliff Liu, Broker, Slate Realty Inc.Long before the pandemic upended our national life there were people who dreamed of breaking the shackles of city living and getting closer to nature. Rohan Sachdev was one...

71 Batson Dr., AuroraAsking price: $975,000 (March, 2021)Selling price: $1,210,000 (March, 2021)Previous selling price: $685,000 (May, 2016)Taxes: $4,788 (2020)Days on the market: TwoListing agent: Bill Thom, Re/Max Realtron Bill Thom Group Realty Inc.This side-split house was unlike its neighbours in the mostly two-storey, single-family neighbourhood of Aurora Village, an hour’s...

U.S. housing starts rebounded sharply in March to the highest since 2006, exceeding forecasts and indicating residential construction is getting back on track after a winter storm-related setback.Residential starts jumped 19.4 per cent last month to a 1.74 million annualized rate, according to government data released Friday. The median estimate...

Real estate buyers are regaining a sliver of control in the areas surrounding Toronto as listings rise and the “fear of missing out” diminishes slightly. Or maybe buyers are just exhausted.Houses in the small towns and suburbs are still selling at a fast clip, but some buyers are able to...

1313 Dundas St. E., TorontoAsking price: $799,900Selling price: $861,000Previous selling prices: $731,313 (2017); $345,000 (2009); $350,555 (Aug. 2007); $207,000 (June 2007)Taxes: $3,239 (2019)Days on the market: SixCo-op agent: Mary Jo Vradis, Royal LePage Estate RealtyClients of agent Mary Jo Vradis were set on buying a condominium suite in the Danforth...

117 Walpole Ave., TorontoAsking price: $948,000Selling price: $1.1-millionPrevious selling price: $610,000 (2015)Taxes: $4,176 (2019)Days on the market: sixListing agent: Paul Grisé, The Weir TeamBefore most restrictions were imposed to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus, plans were already under way to list this semi-detached house the week after March...

68 Curzon St., TorontoAsking price: $1,325,000Selling price: $1,375,000Taxes: $5,319 (2020)Days on the market: SevenListing agents: Paul Maranger and Christian Vermast, Sotheby’s International Realty CanadaThis row house is the end unit on a row of five houses built 23 years ago and set far back from a short, one-way street. The...

2 Prust Ave., TorontoAsking price: $1,099,000 (February, 2021)Selling price: $1,592,000 (February, 2021)Previous selling price: $261,500 (May, 1999)Taxes: $4,612 (2020)Days on the market: SevenListing agents: Irene Kaushansky and Philip Brown, Keller Williams Portfolio RealtyAbout 134 shoppers passed through this Leslieville Edwardian in 30-minute increments between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. over...

A new survey of Canadians across the country revealed that over half don’t shop their mortgages around for more competitive rates, indicating that they’re likely paying more than they have to.The HOMEWISE poll showed that only 49.1% of the 750 respondents aged 25 to 44 sought out better rates, while...

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) is implementing yet another stress that’s slated to take effect June 1 and the likely result will be a surge in mortgage originations in the alternative channel.Although the comment period for the implementation of Guideline B-20, as the stress test is...

RELNKS has enhanced its platform with the introduction of a function that enables users to find realtors who can help them with their home purchase.According to Ryan Poyntz, RELNKS’s vice president of strategic partnerships, the value proposition is a two-way street.“For realtors, it’s a great way to connect with consumers...

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's first federal budget projects deep deficits for years to come as it promises to support people through the pandemic crisis and make Canada's economy greener and more cognizant of working mothers' daycare needs.Chrystia Freeland's first budget is as promised In more than two years, the first...

Toronto intersections, especially major ones, have personalities. Think about it: King and Bay is confident, yet slightly aloof; Yonge and Dundas is glib, scattered, and show-bizzy; suburban Kennedy and Lawrence is a smooth-talking salesperson wearing off-the-rack clothing; and Yonge and Eglinton – at least how I remember it – is...