GTA Living

Power of Sale vs Foreclosure in Ontario: How Bank Sales Really Work (and Whether They’re a Bargain)

In Ontario lenders almost always use power of sale, not foreclosure. Here's the Mortgages Act process, the timeline, and what a buyer gives up — and why deep discounts are mostly a myth.

Converting from Oil to Gas Heating in Ontario: Costs, Permits, Tank Removal, and Resale Impact

An Ontario guide to oil-to-gas heating conversion: in 2026 there's essentially no government rebate for switching to gas (the big rebates — up to $7,500–$12,000 — go to heat pumps), typical conversion runs ~$4,500–$10,000, the Enbridge connection process and 6-month activation rule, TSSA-registered contractors and mandatory removal of buried oil tanks, and how oil heat affects home insurance and resale. Sources: TSSA / Enbridge / NRCan (2026).

Why an Old Roof Can Kill Your Home Insurance (and Your Closing) in Ontario

An Ontario guide to roof age and home insurance: asphalt shingles last ~15–25 years, insurers care from 15, limit or decline coverage past 20–25, old roofs settle on Actual Cash Value not Replacement Cost (IBC cites payouts as low as ~25%), wear-and-tear is never covered, and no insurance = no mortgage advance = no closing. Sources: IBC / ThinkInsure / Ratehub (2026).

How Your Ontario Property Tax Is Actually Calculated — and Why Toronto’s Rate Beats the 905

How Ontario property tax is calculated: MPAC assessed value (still frozen at Jan 1, 2016) × municipal rate + province-set education rate. Toronto's total rate is 0.767311% — one of the GTA's lowest — versus Markham's 0.700278%, with a worked example. Source: ontario.ca / mpac.ca / toronto.ca / markham.ca.

New GTA Homeowner’s Guide to the Bills That Keep Coming: Electricity, Water, Gas & Property Tax

A newcomer-friendly GTA guide to the four recurring home bills: electricity (OEB Time-of-Use, Tiered, ULO), water, natural gas (Enbridge), and property tax (MPAC assessment). Includes 2025-2026 official rates and setup steps.

Toronto’s Vacant Home Tax (VHT): The Annual Declaration Every Homeowner Must File

A complete guide to Toronto's Vacant Home Tax: who must declare, the April 30 deadline and portal, how a home is deemed vacant, the 3% CVA rate, exemptions, penalties, and how the VHT differs from Ontario's NRST. Source: City of Toronto.

Icicles on the Eaves, Water on the Ceiling? Ice Dams Aren’t Bad Luck — They’re Attic Insulation and Ventilation Done Wrong

Why do you get eave icicles and roof leaks in winter? It's an ice dam: attic heat melts roof snow, the water refreezes at the cold eaves and piles up, and meltwater backs up under the shingles into the home. According to CMHC and others, the key to preventing ice dams is the attic trio: air sealing + insulation + ventilation. Here's how ice dams form, how to self-check the attic, and how to read it at a sale.

What Does a Sump Pump Actually Do? Your Basement’s First Line of Defense Against Groundwater — Do You Need One?

What is a sump pump for, and does your home need one? A sump pump discharges groundwater collected in a sump pit to the outside, preventing it from seeping into the basement through foundation cracks or the floor — separate from sewer backup, which a backwater valve handles. According to the City of Toronto, installing a sump pump qualifies for the basement flooding subsidy (up to $2,250 plus $300 battery backup). Here's how it works, whether you need one, maintenance, and sale considerations.