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Apparently as many as 2/3 Canadians have converted to a new religion known as “Bubbleology”. To the faithful Bubbleologists, Housing Bubble is the mighty Devil and his coming is imminent. Because certain unscrupulous profiteers have provoked the wrath of the Lord. However, Housing Bubble is no Armageddon, it’s not the end of the world yet. It’s just that there will be great suffering among ordinary folks whenever Mr. Bubble Housing comes visiting. They believe the time is nigh, they believe the Great Suffering will take place in 2018, that’s when proponets of the “Great White Short” will be laughing their way to the banks… Open living area designed in a circular fashion and semi-enclosed by rotating glass panels in this home located in Hollywood Hills.  A Canadian Housing Bubble? Two-Thirds Say It’s Real Nearly half of Canadians are worried about what interest rate hikes will do to their mortgage payments. A majority of Canadians say...

Given how much time most of us spend at home, it’s a shame most of us live in small, boring homes or apartments. If home is where the heart is, these interior design ideas will ensure that your heart stays happy! Some of these interior design ideas are grand, sweeping, expensive installations, but for those of us without the money to spare, there are smaller ideas too that are still doable and will give your home a unique and personal touch. And for those of us who live in city apartments, there are also plenty of ideas that will help you save space! Bright, open kitchen features dark grey cabinetry, skylights and a rustic wooden table serving as a workspace in this 1927 craftsman heritage home in West Vancouver. Kitchen and dining area uses contrasting colors and textures to create a sense of separate spaces in this loft apartment in TriBeCa. My dad just showed me this picture of his darkroom he created in his basement in 1975.  Living room, as seen from the kitchen, features lar...

By Handy Joe Did you know, patios can increase your home’s value by 10 percent or so? Now that it’s summer, you’re busy making plans for vacations and backyard barbecues. While you’re at it, you might want to also consider remodeling projects that will increase your home’s value. Investing a little time and money in your residence now can seriously pay off if you decide to put it on the market down the road. Improving your home is an investment, and not knowing where to spend your money for the best value is a common issue for many homeowners. It’s important to consider your needs in the present and plan for the future, as in, how will this improvement pay off in the end? Knowing how to invest your money into your home is a valuable lesson—literally. Outdoor Living After the brutal winter, you’ll surely want to spend as much time outdoors as you can. If you enjoy being outside but you don’t feel like you have a place to do so, consider upgrading your outdoor spac...

By Handy Joe Thinking of increase your home’s value with remodeling? Right on. But be strategic, because not all updates increase an appraisal. The next thing is you may want to consider to make use of apps to help with your DIY remodeling projects. While apps can’t replace a full set of tools, only a fool would wield a crowbar much less a power saw before designing, measuring, calculating quantities of materials, ordering supplies, or finding qualified professionals to handle the job. Smartphone apps for home improvement help primarily with the planning and designing phase, making them handy first installations for any home remodeling project. What can you do with home renovation smartphone apps? look for inspiring remodeling ideas measure your space calculate the number of tiles you need find the perfect paint color locate an interior designer who speaks to your style rearrange the furniture without dragging it around hang a mirror even if you don’t own a level The following hom...

We didn’t say that. This what Khaleej Times say. And this also echoed by Seeking Alpha. Some folks tend to believe the local media are inclined to parrot what the local business/government wanted you to hear. It’s for this reason, opinion by foreigne experts are somewhat influential because it is assumed experts from abroad may see what the locals couldn’t see. It’s also usually assumed foreign experts typically have no vested interest in Canada’s real estate, their opinion is therefore “impartial”. Regardless, our advise is take everything with a pinch of salt. For exmaple, if the media tells you the inflation rate is 1%, you should assume the actual figure could be as high as 10%, or if they tell you condo prices in Canada is still at a steal price because it’s still cheaper than those in Manhattan, you shouldn’t look at the price but compare other factors to see if Canada is even Manhattan to begin with? You know, this world is fu...

While real estate Vancouver is doing pretty well in June, Toronto on the other hand sinks deeper into the red: – Home sales in GTA plunge in June Greater Toronto Area home sales plunge 37.3% in June despite a jump in listings The average price of a home sold in the Greater Toronto Area was $793,915 in June, an eight per cent decline from a month earlier, according to data released Thursday from the Toronto Real Estate Board. On a year over year basis, On a year over year basis, June average prices were still up 6.3 per cent from a year ago … Fall in home Toronto home prices ‘a big surprise,’ says broker » Financial Post Significant Toronto Real Estate Price Drop in June A Big Surprise?  Not quite.  One of the main reasons is because Toronto is no Vancouver whereby we have said it all along, that Vancouver should be happening again in a matter of time – “ New Taxes On Foreign Buyers Will Not Affect Vancouver Real Estate Sales In The Long Run “. B...

Already nearly half of the folk surveyed feel they can’t afford a home, Upper, middle and low-income Canadians worried about housing prices: poll A new poll found about half of respondents who consider themselves poor or working class believe that the cost of local housing is beyond their means. The rate was 38 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively, with respondents who consider themselves middle or upper class. A new poll suggests that just over two in five Canadians believe housing in this country is not affordable for them, a finding that cuts almost evenly across income levels. The poll by EKOS Research appears even more bleak in some of Canada’s hottest housing markets, where only a small sliver of respondents said they believe homes are affordable… CBC Here comes another blow … The cost of home ownership is going to be higher: – Bank of Canada may hike interest rate for 1st time in 7 years next week After keeping rates low since 2010, central bank ma...

Doom, sorry, not yet. Boom, still going on. SOLD 31 Garden Avenue – RONCESVALLES Listing Price: $1,299,000 Selling Price: $1,550,000 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom detached house with a 2 car garage at 31 Garden Avenue in Roncesvalles. It was listed at $1,299,000 to invite bidding war. It worked. It sold 5 days later for $1,550,000. SOLD 72 First Avenue – RIVERSIDE Listing Price: $999,000 Selling Price:  $1,450,000 3 bedroom, 4 bathroom semi with 2 parking spots on a 16.60 x 126.00 foot lot at 72 First Avenue in Riverside. It was a flip. A pretty good flip listed at $999,000. Apparently someone offered f $1,350,000 – rejected . Instead, the price was increased to $1,499,000. Well, one month, this house finally sold for $1,450,000. SOLD 140 First Avenue – RIVERSIDE Listing Price: $1,049,000 Selling Price: $1,255,000 3+1 bedroom, 1 bathroom house with 1 parking spot on a 15 x 123.67 foot lot at 140 First Avenue. 2+1 bedroom in reality because the 3rd bedroom is really an o...