Home Buying

Is a Studio / Bachelor Condo Worth Buying? The Real Math on Resale, Rent and Financing

Is a Toronto studio/bachelor condo a smart buy? A broker breaks down the thin resale pool, lagging appreciation, and lender minimum-size rules (~400-500 sqft), plus investor vs. end-user math.

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.

High-Ratio Mortgage Default Insurance in Ontario: The Under-20% Down Payment Guide

Put less than 20% down in Canada and your mortgage is high-ratio, requiring CMHC, Sagen or Canada Guaranty insurance. Premiums run 0.60%-4.00% of the loan, added to the mortgage, but Ontario 8% PST is paid in cash.

New Build vs. Resale in the GTA: Price, Warranty, Risk and Carrying Costs Compared

New build (builder / pre-construction) vs. resale home in the GTA: a full comparison of deposit structure, HST and the New Housing Rebate (plus the federal first-time buyer GST rebate under Bill C-4), Tarion 1/2/7-year warranty, closing costs and delivery risk — with a buyer-by-buyer decision framework. Source: Tarion / CRA / Ontario.

Toronto Co-op Apartments Explained: Cheaper Than a Condo, Much Harder to Finance

A plain-English guide to Toronto/Ontario co-op (co-operative) apartments: you own shares plus an occupancy right, not title like a condo; governed by the Co-operative Corporations Act, not the Condominium Act; why banks won't give a normal mortgage; share loans and board approval; what the maintenance fee really covers; resale liquidity and the price discount. Source: Ontario Co-operative Corporations Act / Legal Line / CHF Canada.

The First Home Savings Account (FHSA), Explained: $8,000 a Year, Deductible In, Tax-Free Out

The FHSA explained: $8,000 annual / $40,000 lifetime limits, deductible contributions, tax-free first-home withdrawals, carry-forward, eligibility, and stacking with the RRSP HBP. Source: CRA (canada.ca).

Ontario + Toronto Land Transfer Tax Explained: How the Brackets Work and What First-Time Buyers Get Back

How Ontario and Toronto land transfer tax brackets work, plus first-time buyer rebates (Ontario up to $4,000, Toronto up to $4,475) and a worked GTA example. Source: ontario.ca / toronto.ca.

The Final Walkthrough Before Closing: An Ontario Buyer’s Pre-Closing Visit Guide

A complete guide to the final walkthrough before closing on an Ontario resale home: the OREA clause that gives buyers pre-closing visits, the best timing, a room-by-room checklist (appliances, HVAC, chattels, fixtures), and what to do if you find a problem — holdback or abatement.