Canadian housing starts increased 5 per cent in September to 193,627 units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  The trend in Canadian new home construction edged up slightly to 188,440 units SAAR over the past six months, a rate that is roughly in-line with Canadian household formations.  On a year-over-year basis, housing starts were down 11 per cent.

New home construction...

“How I can be mortgage free sooner?” All homeowners ask this all the time! Of course nobody wants to pay more for their own home. Here are some tips that can help you become mortgage free and even raise the level of equity in your home faster!

For example, let’s assume that I have a mortgage of $200,000 at a 3.99% interest rate with 25 years amortization was well as a monthly payment...

The BCREA Commercial Leading Indicator (CLI) rose for the second consecutive quarter, increasing 1.2 points from the first quarter of 2013.

The index is currently sitting at 113.4. On a year-over-year basis, the CLI is 0.2 per cent above the second quarter of 2012. The index reached an all-time high of 116.1 in the second quarter of 2007.

An increasing CLI in the first half of 2013 offset a sharp decline...

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its 2013 Third Quarter Housing Forecast Update recently.

BC Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales are forecast to increase 3.9 per cent to 70,300 units this year, before increasing a further 6.1 per cent to 74,600 units in 2014.

The five-year average is 74,600 unit sales, while the ten-year average is 86,800 unit sales....

Long-term mortgage rates have burst higher by almost ¾ of a percentage point in the short time span of a couple months!

Are these hikes are sustainable? How will they affect the overall housing market?

TD Economics weighed in on these points in a report last week. Here’s a quick overview of the implications TD foresees, and some observations of our own…

Future...

One of life's big milestones: The First Apartment. 

It's a symbol of young adult life, of freedom from your parents, of complete reign over what and when you eat for dinner! But with this beacon of independence comes a list of things to be weary of. Don't be blinded by the excitement of the experience! Here are the 7 Deadly Sins of First Time Renters.

1. Underestimating the Cost...

It's very easy for any home-buyer to become caught up in  the barrage of options, numbers and features that tend to come with each new listing they come across. New home buyers are especially at risk of being overwhelmed by it all. That heart stopping view might distract you from the lack of updated amenities necessary for a comfortable lifestyle. From my experience dealing with multiple houses...

Although you may already know a lot about investing in real estate, there's still more for you to learn. There is a wealth of information that you can learn about real estate. Even buyers with years of experience are constantly reading up on new real estate tips. This article provides several important tips that you should keep in mind when purchasing real estate. Utilize them to make the best choices....

As with any other high-stakes transaction, you need to know what you are doing before you sign on the dotted line. Knowledge will empower you to make choices that help your family and you for years to come. This article is here to guide you in your real estate transactions.

Before you sign a lease agreement for a rental in the future, you should ensure you talk to the future landlord you will have about...

Because a real estate purchase in Vancouver can change your life, the experience of buying it can be very stressful. However, the stress involved with buying a home in Vancouver can be mitigated through knowledge. When you read the tips below, you can be better prepared and turn the home buying process into a positive one.

Make sure you qualify for a loan before you start looking for a home. You don't...

People are afraid when purchasing real estate for a few reasons. Some fear the current unstable real estate market, while others are intimidated by the legal aspects of purchasing real estate. There are many different factors that play into the decision to buy property. They key to surviving is getting informed and learning as much as you can before you actually invest.

Request a checklist from your...

Before you start shopping for a new house, take a look at what's in your credit report. Once you've gotten a copy of the report, examine each entry to find out if there are any mistakes. You want to ensure that you have the best credit possible when applying for a home, you can help yourself secure a mortgage by doing this.

When you're ready to buy a home, you're aware of the asking price. However, figuring...