The moment you enter through the gates of Chelster Hall, a grand home in Oakville, Ont., it feels like you’ve entered a retreat where all stress and worry seem to disappear. Once you’re past the wide front doors, a magnificent chandelier comes into view. Hanging from a domed ceiling some 30 feet above you, it’s in perfect elegant symmetry with the custom oval Persian carpet underfoot. Just ahead of you are vistas of Lake Ontario sparkling in the distance. On a cold winter day, you can see the mist rising from Niagara Falls.

When it comes to selling that all-important investment, your home, there are many factors to consider. In addition to freshening up the paint — a must before you list — here’s what savvy real-estate brokers across Canada recommend.

There’s more to a quality home wet bar than an extensive liquor collection. Having on hand the right sleek, smart-looking gadgets to dispense and mix your drinks, and keep them ice cold, will make entertaining guests even easier. These devices will have you and your guests drinking in high style.

Whether it’s a country home or more permanent abode, many urbanites have entertained the idea of owning farmland outside the city. If you find that your daily commute is routinely filled with daydreams of greener pastures, it may be time to start getting serious about making your farmstead fantasies a reality. One property located in the idyllic New Jersey countryside makes a serious case for a rural retreat.

For land-scarce metropoli like New York, architectural innovations tend to scale vertically: without a place to spread outwards, development takes to the skies. Meanwhile, in Amsterdam, innovation can be found at sea. A district of water homes located on a string of artificial islands adjacent to the city’s historic canals feels distinctly Dutch: dubbed the WaterWonen project (translates literally to living in water), modern houseboats are moored at a harbor conceived by Danish architecture firm Monteflore (responsible for designing one of the city’s most luxurious hotels). The independently-sailing vessels include homes—like this spacious steel converted cargo ship—that invite guests to come down out of the clouds and enjoy the delights of open water.

What makes a house a home isn’t just the interior—equally important is the setting of your home and the way the exterior inspires you. You’ll find yourself picking up gardening or learning tennis just for the chance to spend more time outside on these properties with remarkable acreages.

Montreal’s culture is a vibrant, eclectic mix of English and French, old and new, high-end and working-class. Whether you’re moving to the city or just planning a visit, the city’s walkable neighbourhoods, including thoroughfares, side streets and alleyways, are best explored on foot. Don’t let the winter put you off—the city’s snow-clearing chops are top-notch, and today’s parka design is quite fashionable.

There is nowhere quite like the Sapphire Residences – an exquisite collection of apartments and penthouses boasting uninterrupted panoramic views overlooking the Indian Ocean and the Beira Lake. Inspired by the famous Sri Lankan blue jewel, Sapphire Residences has been meticulously designed for those who expect the best things in life.

One of Toronto’s quirkiest homes, the angular blue property at 1 Bond Ave. that made waves in cookie-cutter Don Mills when it was built in the late ’90s, is on the market. The house, along with its fraternal twin property at 3 Bond Ave., drew the chagrin of neighbours when it was built at the turn of the millennium.

Whether you’ve always dreamed of owning a vineyard or have only recently considered making one your home, there are many benefits to living and working among the vines. From European-style estates in California to a historic homestead in South Africa to a West Coast–style winery in Canada, there is no shortage of opportunities to make the dream a reality. Owning a vineyard is not only about running a business or winning acclaim—though those things are a major plus—it also offers a host of unexpected upsides. So whether you’re an enthusiast looking to bottle the next award-winning merlot, a hobbyist in pursuit of a weekend fascination, or a casual browser on the hunt for an idyllic vacation property, vineyard ownership is an adventure waiting to be discovered.

Toronto’s housing market showed more signs of stability in October as prices for condos and semi-detached homes jumped even as unit sales were little changed. The average selling price rose 1 per cent last month from September to a seasonally adjusted $810,881 (US$619,419), the first gain in three months. The benchmark price, which adjusts for the types of houses sold, rose 2.6 per cent from the same month last year.

How consumer trends in personal luxury goods open up new possibilities for luxury real estate. The personal luxury market is in a constant state of flux. From art to watches to wine, the luxury market responds to increasing consumer demands for accessibility, personalization and secure service. Here’s how today’s agents can respond to what consumers are looking for next.

Toronto Real Estate Board President Garry Bhaura announced year-over-year increases in home sales and average sale prices reported through TREB's MLS® System in October 2018. Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 7,492 sales through TREB's MLS® System in October 2018 – a six per cent increase compared to October 2017. On a preliminary seasonally adjusted basis, sales were down by one per cent compared to September 2018.

A new report released today by Mustel Group and Sotheby’s International Realty Canada reveals the impact of rising housing costs on young families across the country’s major metropolitan real estate markets, highlighting the significant contrast between the home ownership aspirations and realities of this demographic.

While it's easy to think that a few slow weeks are a sign of something larger, a more thorough analysis reveals that the Toronto market is still very strong. There have been many news articles about the slowdown of the Toronto housing market, and many industry prognosticators are predicting a crash. While it's easy to think that a few slow weeks are a sign of something larger, a more thorough analysis reveals that the Toronto market is still very strong. This is more likely just a temporary pause, and here are five reasons why prices and activity in the housing market will soon bounce back and continue to climb.

The cold weather months are a time to head indoors. And what better way to ensure your home is a cozy oasis than by embracing the tenets of rustic luxury? This trending interior design style is made up of everything good about rural living: exposed beams, crackling firesides, warm blankets, and ample room for relaxed conversation. Curated properly, this look can pair well with minimalism: it doesn’t take much to make an elegant, unaffected statement. You also don’t have to be outside the city to bring a bit of the country in—assemble your rustic mix from this selection of pastoral recommendations.

Fewer homes for sale and growing demand means upward pressure on prices, once again. The Toronto Real Estate Board says the housing market is becoming "tighter" as the number of new listings across the Greater Toronto Area dropped in September, while home sale prices climbed compared with a year ago.

It goes without saying that when it comes to real estate, location is everything. Whether it’s a neighborhood, suburb, or arrondissement, many of us place a premium on location, and search carefully for the perfect home in just the right place. But there is another solution: why not build around your ideal lifestyle? A raw plot of land presents the ultimate blank slate on which to craft the home of your passions, whether they include making wine, rearing cattle, or enjoying leisurely solitude by the sea. Below, these five plots present striking possibilities for building your dream home from the ground up.

When it comes to home design, inspiration can be found in any era. Whether contemporary or colonial, Tudor or Victorian, the tastes of the past have a way of influencing the present. Reviewing architectural conventions can be a great way to curate your preferences when it comes to selecting your next home. Below, eight popular home styles explained.

The price of a new construction single-family home fell 7.1 per cent — about $85,000 — year over year in September to $1.1 million on average. Condo prices, meanwhile, have continued to climb — up 19.4 per cent to $789,643 — an increase of $128,455 in a year.