Canada's largest real estate board is calling on Ottawa to revisit whether a stricter mortgage stress test introduced last year is still needed, arguing that the policy has negatively impacted the economy and Toronto's once red-hot housing market.

"While we saw buyers return to the market in the second half of 2018, we have to have an honest discussion on whether or not today's homebuyers are being stress tested against rates that are realistic," said John DiMichele, chief executive of the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) in a statement Wednesday.

Toronto Real Estate Board President Garry Bhaura announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported a total of 77,426 residential transactions through TREB's MLS® System in 2018. This result represented a 16.1 per cent decline compared to 92,263 sales reported in 2017. Total new listings entered into TREB's MLS® System were down by 12.7 per cent over the same period to 155,823.

The overall average selling price for 2018 transactions, at $787,300, was down by 4.3 per cent year-over-year for all home types combined across the TREB market area.

According to a report released today by Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Eastern Canada’s major metropolitan areas led the nation in top-tier real estate performance in 2018, as Western Canadian markets buckled under pressure from local stressors ranging from taxation and regulatory interventions in Vancouver, to strained economic conditions in Calgary. Buoyed by population gains and steady economies, sales over $1 million in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) strengthened over the course of 2018, while Montreal’s luxury real estate market posted new records. Vancouver and Calgary’s top-tier real estate markets retreated further into buyers’ market territory, as excess supply overtook consumer demand. Across the country, markets continued to face headwinds of rising interest rates and tightened mortgage guidelines.

Bank of Canada announces interest rate decision | The Bank of Canada left its trend-setting interest rate unchanged at 1.75% on Wednesday as the sharp decline in oil prices temporarily dims its economic outlook for the coming months. Before long, however, the central bank expects the economy to expand with renewed vigour. More rate hikes, it stressed, will be necessary “over time”.

Toronto's Safest Neighbourhoods | Frequently called one of the world’s most livable cities, Toronto ranks high on lists of the most desirable cities for many reasons. Not only is it one of the most walkable cities in Canada, it’s also one of the safest, despite having a population of 2.7 million people (with 5.9 million residing in the Greater Toronto Area, or GTA). If you’re looking for a new neighbourhood to discover, for a visit or for a forever home, your personal safety and the safety of your loved ones is a high priority. These areas have been ranked as some of the most secure neighbourhoods in Toronto, making them a great place to start looking when deciding where to reside.

Traveling is about more than finding relaxation and getting away from it all—it’s also about connecting with a new place and striking a balance between adventure and serenity. With the advent of eco-luxury travel, which prioritizes environmental sustainability while maintaining a standard of high-quality experiences, there’s never been a better time to engage with the world’s history and culture. Belize has become a top spot for eco-conscious travel, in large part due to the country’s efforts to protect the Caribbean coastline
and the Belize Barrier Reef.

The average employee receives 121 emails per day—just shy of 32,000 per year. It’s no wonder this staggering number has leading psychologists urging us to put away our phones. But as nice as a digital detox sounds in theory, it isn’t always the easiest to execute. Cue the wellness retreat: healing destinations designed to help the mind and body escape the stressors of everyday life. With different centers specializing in everything from ancient ayurvedic medicine to cutting-edge relaxation technologies—often in a stunning natural environment—a digital detox suddenly becomes not just enjoyable, but a deeply gratifying experience. Below, four destinations that make the case for putting down the phone.

Whether a rare feature or unexpected detail, it takes something truly unique to distinguish a home as one-of-a-kind. From an architectural waterfall of steel and glass to a centuries-old hacienda, these six properties are true individuals.

Toronto Real Estate Board President Garry Bhaura announced the continuation of moderate price growth in November 2018 compared to November 2017. The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark was up by 2.7 per cent year-over-year. The average selling price was up by 3.5 per cent year-over-year to $788,345.

Flying over the southern Pacific coast of Mexico, travellers get a bird’s-eye preview of the topographical contrasts awaiting them at their final destination. A magnificent panorama of rugged mountains dotted with farms and villages gives way to pristine beaches and the jewel-toned waters of the aptly named Emerald Coast.

One of the reasons the Hollywood set loves filming in Vancouver — aka Hollywood North — is because this Canadian city is blessed with bountiful natural beauty. Lovely movie-set locales aside, however, a slew of other factors ranks Vancouver right up there among the best places in North America to live in, as well as to visit.

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.