Market Watch | May 2019 - Toronto Real Estate Board President Garry Bhaura announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported a substantial year-over-year increase in home sales in April 2019. The number of residential transactions jumped by 16.8 per cent to 9,042 compared to 7,744 in April 2018. On a preliminary seasonally adjusted basis, sales were up 11.3 per cent compared to March 2019.

The Andaz Hotel Coming to The One Residences | Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with Mizrahi Developments to build a 160-room luxury Andaz hotel at the prestigious address of One Bloor Street West in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Market Watch | April 2019 | Toronto Real Estate Board President Garry Bhaura announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 7,187 residential sales through TREB's MLS® System in March 2019. This result was inline with 7,188 sales reported in March 2018. For the first quarter of 2019, sales were down by one per cent compared to Q1 2018.

The Well Toronto | Three Million Square Feet and Over 7.8 Acres of Office, Retail, Condominium and Rental Residential Space in Toronto's King West Area. Live at the Well | Green spaces, an open-air public promenade and an atmosphere of discovery come together in inspirational, centrally-located residences that offer an extension of the King West lifestyle.

2019 Top-Tier Spring Outlook | Population growth and revitalized consumer confidence in the country’s largest real estate market is expected to drive Canadian top-tier real estate performance in spring 2019. New data compiled by Sotheby’s International Realty Canada reveal that Greater Toronto Area top-tier sales have stabilized from previous years’ unpredictability, with sales over $1 million down a nominal 2% year-over-year in the first two months of 2019. A shortfall in inventory over $4 million, as well as a shift of luxury real estate transactions to off-market and private channels resulted in a 38% decrease in MLS® sales compared to the first two months of 2018; however, demand for luxury housing remains robust leading into spring. While buyers’ market conditions remain entrenched in Vancouver as the city started the year with 52% and 50% declines in sales over $1 million and $4 million respectively, pent-up demand and a positive shift in market confidence are palpable.

Potential home buyers in cities with white-hot real estate markets got some relief in Tuesday’s federal budget with an incentive program that could lower mortgage payments for households making less than $120,000 per year.

The government unveiled a multi-pronged approach to housing affordability that centres on the incentive plan, but beefs up an existing initiative that allows buyers to withdraw money from their RRSPs, and a variety of measures to boost the supply of homes on the Canadian market.

March 2019 | Market Watch - “The OSFI mandated mortgage stress test has left some buyers on the sidelines who have struggled to qualify for the type of home they want to buy. The stress test should be reviewed and consideration should be given to bringing back 30 year amortizations for federally insured mortgages. There is a federal budget and election on the horizon. It will be interesting to see what policy measures are announced to help with home ownership affordability.” said Mr Bhaura.

Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC today reported that in 2018 its affiliated brokers and sales professionals achieved more than $112 billion USD in global sales volume, the highest annual sales volume performance in the history of the brand. Additionally, 27 affiliated companies surpassed $1 billion USD in sales volume in 2018.

Market Watch | January 2019 - TREB President Garry Bhaura announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 4,009 home sales through TREB's MLS® in January 2019 – up by 0.6 per cent compared to January 2018. On a preliminary seasonally adjusted basis, sales were up by 3.4 per cent compared to December 2018.

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.