January 2010

Strong year-end sales put a crown on a year that started slow but ended big. We entered 2009 with a global recession at our backs and a real estate meltdown to the south. However consumer confidence started to return in the second quarter and the real estate market was the first place in the country to show signs of the recovery.

"After a slow start to the year, existing home sales rebounded during the second half of 2009,” said Tom Lebour, President of Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB). “As consumer confidence improved, many households moved to take advantage of affordable home ownership opportunities. The strong residential real estate sector was a key contributor to overall economic recovery in Canada.”

“In 12 months, we went from the worst

Condominium units have become a wise alternative to owning a home. This is not surprising, as living in a condo is more convenient that living in a house. A condo is ideal for individuals living alone, small families and older people. And because condos are smaller, they are less expensive to maintain.

Condominium sales are booming in many urban areas in Canada especially in large cites such as Toronto and Vancouver, with several buildings being set-up. Today, condominiums continue to appreciate in market value at a rate that is almost as fast as that of single-family residences which make them a good investment.

Buying a condo with features that are in high demand will maximize the profit on your real estate investment and create an enjoyable

Being earth-friendly doesn't require going solar or growing all your own food. Making your home a little greener is easy but will have a great impact on the environment. A few simple changes in your house can go a long way to combat both high energy bills and global warming

There are plenty of easy ways to make a big difference, consider these 10 tips and save money. 

1. Use CFLs 
Replace your incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). By replacing even your five most frequently used light bulbs, you'll save $100 per year because they use 66% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer.

2. Program Your Thermostats 
Watch the temperature and

Home ownership is the cornerstone of financial independence and security. It may seem a daunting prospect to younger people or first-time buyers, but it is achievable!

Like many would-be homeowners, you may be wondering how you can possibly afford to buy your first home. Even if you think you couldn’t afford a home, these saving tips and financing strategies can take you there sooner than you think and turn you from a renter into an owner.

Develop a culture of saving
The first priority for you should be to develop a culture of saving, this is not only helps you in budgeting and planning for the future, but also to satisfy banks and other lending institutions that you have a clear commitment to save.

Start an automatic saving plan
Saving for a down