Coldwell Banker - R.M.R. Real Estate, Brokerage *'s blog

For most Canadians, buying a home is the most significant investment of their lives. Housing inventory is moving up in most major centres across the country, leading to a more balanced market.  Historical data demonstrates that purchasing a home has proven a sound long-term financial investment. However, homebuyers – especially first-time buyers -- are often understandably anxious when it comes time to making what could be the largest purchase in their life.

During the hot days of summer, many Canadians open their energy bill with a sense of dread. While it may be tempting to run your air conditioning at full capacity for weeks on end, you can't do it without paying a price – in more ways than one. High energy consumption is not only a costly proposition for individual homeowners, it also carries a high cost in terms of pollution that's created as we generate power to meet today's high demands.

Here are a few tips to help you beat the heat as you save on your energy bill:

The weather’s heating up and so is the real estate market. The warmer temperatures are bringing Canadians out in droves to view a wide range of properties.

If you’re a serious buyer and are viewing properties by appointment, you’ll be accompanied by your sales representative. You’ll have someone there who knows your needs and is looking out for your best interests. In situations like that, you feel free to be completely open and candid with your salesperson. But what if you’re visiting an Open House?

Published March 11, 2015

If you're looking to get into the housing market, a listing that's advertised as requiring little or no money down can sound like a great deal. But is it really?

In today’s changing market, many Canadians are wondering whether it’s still a good time to buy or sell a home.  The truth of the matter is, there’s no one right answer to that question.  The real question to ask is whether it’s the right time for you.  

Canada 's housing market has been on a record-breaking pace and that's good news for home sellers. Buyers on the other hand, can find that their choices are limited in a market that has been so strong for such an extended period. In fact, when demand is so high for attractive, well-priced homes coming on the market, the result can even be “bidding wars” where more than one prospective buyer places competing offers for the same property.

Until recently, the term “greenhouse” meant a building made of glass, where plants are cultivated.   But for today’s prospective homebuyer, the terms “green” and “house” can conjure up very different meanings—that of a home that uses sustainable building materials and energy efficient design.  And now, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), the growing green housing movement is significantly changing how property is marketed and managed.