Ottawa, Jan 17, 2012 -- With weaker outlooks for Europe and the U.S., the Bank of Canada announced earlier today  that it is keeping its key policy rate steady, exactly where it's been since September 2010, which makes this the longest recorded rate pause.

In its statement the Bank noted that "the recession in Europe is now expected to be deeper and longer than the Bank had anticipated", and that the "U.S. recovery will proceed at a more modest pace going forward."  The Bank noted that while the Canadian economy "had more momentum than anticipated in the second half of 2011, the pace of growth going forward is expected to be more modest than previously envisaged, largely due to the external environment."

The prime rate at most

Real estate transactions are complicated and can be costly if completed incorrectly. Selling or buying a property is a process that is bound to be a little nerve-wracking and emotional. Buying or selling a property requires in-depth knowledge and experience in a wide range of disciplines.

A real estate agent is more than a "sales person". He or she is a trained professional that acts on your behalf and provides you with a clear understanding of the legal issues and potential pitfalls. After all, one wrong move could result in unnecessary costs and frustration.

Working with a reputable real estate agent that you trust can be the deciding factor in whether your house selling or buying experience is positive or negative. There are

Regardless of how easy a home improvement project may appear, there are usually snags along the way. Ask people who have completed do-it-yourself (DIY) projects and they will tell you that the project took at least twice as much time and three times the money they thought they would spend. The basic reason is that DIYers usually make a lot of mistakes that end up making home improvement projects more expensive and time-consuming.

The key to a successful project is usually the result of things that happen well before you pick up a tool. Careful planning, patience and an optimistic mindset are all that's needed to successfully complete any project.

By answering the following questions before starting your project you can put

When you decide to sell your home, setting your asking price is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Depending on how a buyer is made aware of your home, price is often the first thing he or she will look at. Many homes are discarded by prospective buyers as not being in the appropriate price range before they even have a chance of a showing.

Your asking price is often your home's "first impression", and if you want to receive the most money you can for your home, it's imperative that you make a good first impression.

Setting the asking price of your property is as much about knowing how buyers think as it is about how much the property is worth.

1. Price it right
In order to set the right price, check out

The Canadian real estate market continued to show increases in listings, sales and average sale price when compared to the same month last year, according to statistics released today by the REALTORS® Association.

The average annual rate of price growth remained strong in the third quarter, despite the upward trend in completions and active listings. The pace of sales remained brisk, keeping sellers' market conditions in place.

Ontario - Healthy fall market continues in November

Toronto, December 6, 2011 - Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 7,092 residential transactions in November – up 11% compared to November 2010. At the same time, the number of new listings was up by 14% compared to last year.

While the

According to statistics released recently by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), national resale housing activity picked up this autumn.

“The Canadian housing market remains a bright spot against a backdrop of mixed headline news about the global economy,” said Gary Morse, CREA President. “Low mortgage rates continue to draw buyers to the housing market, while recently tightened mortgage regulations are working as intended. That said, housing market trends often diverge from national trends due to local factors, so buyers and sellers should talk to a local REALTOR® to understand housing market trends at play where they live.”

The number of newly listed homes nationally was little changed from each of the

Being debt free is the ultimate financial goal for most people. There are many articles advising us how to get out of debt, that we may automatically assume that debt is a bad thing. However, not all borrowing is bad.

There are many occasions when debt can actually be a good thing, here are a few examples.

1. Buying a home
Many people cannot afford to buy a house without borrowing.  A mortgage is a big debt, but it is a better financial proposition than renting. Getting a mortgage is like having an investment for the future. It offers the prospective of living debt free in 25-30 years. Furthermore, because it is secured against the value of your house, the interest rate is likely to be relatively low.

Carefully consider how

As the winter season approaches and the air become crisp, it's time to start thinking about preparing your house for the season. The winter season means spending more time indoors, hence roofs need to shed rain and snow, windows and doors need to reject the cold, and the heating system needs to keep rooms comfortable. If any of these components don't hold up, you might be faced with scrambling around in the wet, cold and dark to fix them.

By handling these important yet reasonably easy tasks now, you can avoid considerable grief later.

Outdoor Preparation

• Check the roof for cracked or missing shingles, bald spots on shingles, missing or damaged flashing, and other conditions that might allow leaks. Replace any roof shingles

Buyer's remorse is an emotional response that many home buyers experience during the course of a real estate transaction. The response can take various forms such as feelings of regret, fear, depression or anxiety. Many doubtful questions may arise: Did I buy the right house? What if I lose my job? What if home prices drop? Did I overpay? Is this really the neighbourhood I want to live in? Can I really afford the mortgage payments?

There are hundreds of questions that will run through your mind during the period leading up to closing: the day you actually become owner of the home. Most of the questions will be simple ones that are easily answered, but sometimes doubts creep in, making you uncertain if you want to proceed with the