Real Estate Blog

How to Choose Your Ideal Bathtub

You’ve probably heard the term “self-care” a lot in the past few years. The World Health Organization offers a broad definition, but at its core, self-care is about “the individual person who acts to preserve health.”

Everyone’s version of self-care will differ, but taking a luxurious bath is a popular choice—and one that’s scientifically backed. Baths can help with sleep, mood regulation, and easing muscle tension, and one Lakehead University researcher is even conducting a study into how a warm bath could help with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. On a lighter scale, baths can help your overall mental state–a quiet space with relaxing scents and softer lighting can help ease your mind–and, if it’s your thing, promote meditation.

If…

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Top 10 Winter Plants for Your Garden

Keeping your garden looking stunning during the cold season can be a challenge. But, with the right winter plants, you can enjoy gorgeous blooms even as the snow falls. Here are our picks for ten cold-hardy perennials and one annual plant, guaranteed to make your garden pop with color in winter.

Snowdrops

Snowdrops are usually associated with springtime, but did you know they can bloom as early as December? Start by planting some bulbs in the fall in any part of your garden that gets light shade. These plants don’t take long to grow, and before you know it, they will add a touch of springtime to your winter garden.

Japanese Camellia

Image: sei.N / Shutterstock.com

This is a fantastic…

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How to Prioritize Home Renovations

Whether you’ve bought a fixer-upper, or your property simply needs an update, homeowners may find themselves confronted with multiple renovations at a time. Upgrading your home can also be  contagious—once you update one room, it can feel tempting to do them all. If you’re looking at several home renovations on your to-do list, where do you even start? How do you decide what projects come first and what tasks can sit on the back burner? 

Rebecca Hay, president and principal designer of Rebecca Hay Designs, gives us some pointers on how to prioritize home renovations.

How to decide where to start

You have several areas of your home that need a renovation—the kitchen is dated, the entryway isn’t functional, and the bathroom…

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Canadian Real Estate Markets Have Seen A “Typical” Home Increase Up To $400,000

Canadian real estate prices are soaring at the fastest pace ever, yet the national numbers downplay growth. Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) data shows home prices continued to soar in December. Over just 31 days, a “typical” home added up to $40,000 in one market. Over the past year, prices have increased more than ten times that monthly surge.

A Typical Home Across Canada Increased $16,700 Last Month

Canadian home prices are rising at one of the fastest rates ever. The composite benchmark (a.k.a. a typical home) reached $798,200 in December, up 2.1% ($16,700) compared to a month before. The benchmark is now a whopping 26.6% ($167,500) higher than last year. Both are large gains, but this is the index — many markets outperform even…

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10 Tips for Getting the Best Mortgage Rate in Canada

When you purchase a home, a down payment is typically applied to the purchase price, and the balance is to be paid off over your term of the mortgage. The loan you receive from a lender in order to pay for the house is called a mortgage.

Simply put, a mortgage is a legal and binding agreement between a lender and a borrower for a specific amount of money that must be paid back within a predefined amount of time. The mortgage is a secured loan in that the house you are buying is collateral for the loan. This means that, should you not meet your mortgage repayment obligations, the lender has the right to take the property.

Purchasing a home and taking on a mortgage is a big commitment. In addition to the amount borrowed,…

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13 Pet-Friendly House Plants

Image: Natali Kuzina/Shutterstock.com

House plants are a fantastic way to liven up your home decor by adding a natural touch and a splash of color to any room. However, if you’re a pet owner, you’re probably aware that some plants are toxic to your furry friends. The good news is that there are plenty of safe options that look stunning. So, check out our top picks for pet-friendly house plants.

Calathea

Image: nnattalli/Shutterstock.com

All Calathea or prayer plant varieties are safe for cats and dogs. With their stunning range of leaf colors, sizes and patterns, we’re sure you’ll find one that suits your home decor. They grow best in medium light, high humidity and need filtered or distilled water to keep the leaves glossy and healthy.

…

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Moving Interprovincially to Atlantic Canada

Perhaps it’s the real estate options, the laidback lifestyle, or the scenic vistas—whatever the reason, more Canadians are making the Maritime move and trading their city views for the east coast lifestyle. 

​​It’s safe to say the COVID-19 pandemic inspired a nationwide collective of re-evaluating living spaces and a newfound desire to connect with the great outdoors. Considering the east coast offers no shortage of year-round adventures, bustling food and culture scenes, and numerous career opportunities for driven professionals in all industries, it comes as no surprise more and more Canadians are considering a relocation to the east coast. 

In fact, record numbers of Canadians moved to Atlantic Canada in Q2 of 2021, this according to RBC…

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How High Will The Bank Of Canada Hike Rates?

Canadians have never had so many monetary policy questions, especially homebuyers. Our crystal ball is in the shop, so we can’t tell you what interest rates will be. However, we can do the next best thing — present you with the Canadian Overnight Rate Sentiment Index. We polled the country’s top economics and finance experts for their Bank of Canada (BoC) forecast. We then de-biased it by disassociating the expert’s name, and plotted the forecasts. While we can’t tell you the future (yet!), we can help you understand where the best of the best see things heading. 

A Quick Note On Forecasting

It might seem obvious what a forecast is, but it’s worth repeating for those who don’t work with them regularly. A forecast estimates a future…

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Hidden Costs of Home Ownership

Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases you will make in your lifetime. While the initial purchase of a home is a big cost, it is important to keep in mind the expected – and unexpected – costs of owning a home. From maintenance fixes and utilities, to insurance and emergency costs, it is important to be aware of the hidden costs of home ownership that might not always be obvious.

Take a look at these hidden costs of owning a home that you might not be aware of.

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Work Hard, Play Hard in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador

Located near the border of Quebec, and fueled by the region’s rich iron ore reserves, is Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador, the second largest hub in Labrador after Happy Valley-Goose Bay. With a population of a little more than 7,000 people in a remote area, you may be surprised to learn about all this small town has to offer. From world class skiing,golfing and hiking, to quality medical facilities, and education and work opportunities, there’s plenty to experience in this corner of Canada.

What to know about Labrador City 

“It is our chance to stand on our own feet, to do something ourselves,” said the first Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Joey Smallwood, during his 23-year tenure from 1949 to 1972. Smallwood was referring to…

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