Market Media Monday - May 4, 2026

A curated list of recent headlines relevant to real estate in Canada or locally, with short excerpts. Click each headline link to read the full article on the source site.

[ The Bank of Canada is holding the interest rate at 2.25%, here’s what that means for the housing market ]
"The maintenance of the interest rate was announced on Wednesday, prompted by economic uncertainty caused by changing trade relationships and the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. The bank says it is watching out for the impacts of the war, including the effects on oil price increase on inflation. If these keep going up, the rate could also be hiked moving forward."

[ Bank of Canada Downgrades Housing, Warns of Small Condo Glut ]
"The Bank of Canada (BoC) left its key overnight rate unchanged at 2.25% at this morning’s rate announcement. The move was expected, but the housing downgrade in the BoC’s April Monetary Policy Report (MPR) is the real story. Housing received the largest negative revision in the 2026 GDP breakdown, and is expected to weigh on real GDP growth. The central bank suggests it’s not just an issue of rates, with weak investor interest and an epic glut of small condos also weighing on activity."

[ Will Canada's real estate market heat up with the Bank of Canada holding its key interest rate? ]
"Realtor Tom Storey talks about how the Bank of Canada holding its key policy interest rate at 2.25 per cent impacts the housing market."

[ Why timing the bottom of Canada's roller-coaster real estate market may be harder than you think ]
"Everyone connected to Canada’s housing market is asking the same question as the spring market, historically the busiest time of year, gets underway: Have we hit the bottom? From realtors to economists to lenders to developers — not to mention would-be home buyers and sellers — all are looking for signs of whether the real estate market will finally see a turnaround from declining prices."

"I get my deposit back, right?"

When making an offer on a property with some conditions - maybe mortgage or home inspection - one of the common questions a buyer may ask is to confirm that they will get the deposit back if the conditions don't work out and the purchase falls apart.

Most standard offer conditions* include wording that if conditions are not fulfilled by a certain time frame then "this Offer shall be null and void and the deposit shall be returned to the Buyer in full without deduction."

So in short, the answer is that you will get the deposit back.  

However, there are some qualifications to the answer a buyer should be aware of.

First, you have to be acting in good faith.  Having a condition on a home inspection does allow a way out.  And with the usual wording* indicating that the inspection report must be acceptable in the buyer's sole and absolute discretion, there is a LOT of wiggle room on why the buyer might back out after the inspection.  [Courts have agreed that buyers can cancel on what sellers would feel are insufficient reasons] because it is in the buyer's sole and absolute discretion..  BUT the buyers do have to be seen as acting in good faith, too.  One can not cancel the contract based on an inspection condition if one has not even attempted to do a home inspection. The courts can take a dim view of someone trying to use a condition to back out of a deal outside of the parameters of the condition.

Second, buyers should be aware of the trust nature of the deposit.  When money is put into a brokerage's trust account, it is being held 'in trust'.  Essentially the money belongs to no one and can not be released by the brokerage without the express written consent of both parties (or court order and a couple other exceptional situations) or according to the contract, such as when a sale closes and it is applied toward purchase price.  So when a buyer wants to cancel a purchase after a condition has legitimately failed, the seller still has to sign off on returning the deposit. You may have a legal right to it according to the contract, but the brokerage is not allowed to release it without that written consent from both sides. If the seller decides to be unreasonable, then it may come to litigation. Their agent and lawyer should be cautioning them about this, so it's unlikely they will remain too obstinate about it. 

Having said all that, I have never personally had an issue with a deposit being returned to a buyer client, but we know strange things happen out there. But for all practical purposes and in most times and places, the answer should be, "Yes, you will get the deposit back." 

* the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) has a library of standard clauses and conditions which real estate professionals use in drafting contracts. One must be careful to check the wording of every offer, especially if professional REALTORS®  are not involved, because it is easy to alter wording and drastically alter meaning and end results.

Terminology Tuesday: Easement

An easement is a common but often misunderstood concept in Ontario real estate. In simple terms, an easement is a legal right that allows someone else to use a portion of a property for a specific purpose—even though they don’t own it.

In Ontario, easements are most often seen with utility companies. For example, a hydro or gas provider may have the right to access part of your land to install, maintain, or repair infrastructure like power lines or pipelines. Municipalities may also have easements for things like stormwater drainage or sewer systems. In some cases, neighbouring properties may benefit from an easement—such as a shared driveway or a right-of-way to access a landlocked parcel.

It’s important to understand that while you still own the land, your use of the easement area can be restricted. You typically can’t build permanent structures over it or do anything that would interfere with the purpose of the easement. For instance, building a shed or planting large trees over underground utilities could cause issues down the line.

Easements are registered on title and will appear during a title search, which is why reviewing these details is a key part of any real estate transaction. Buyers should take the time to understand how an easement might affect their use and enjoyment of the property. Sellers, on the other hand, should be aware of any easements on their property and be prepared to disclose them.

If you’re unsure how an easement impacts a property you’re buying or selling, working with a knowledgeable REALTOR® can help you navigate the details and avoid surprises.

Market Media Monday - April 27, 2026

A curated list of recent headlines relevant to real estate in Canada or locally, with short excerpts. Click each headline link to read the full article on the source site.

[ From where the deals are to where prices dropped most, 5 key things to know about the spring real estate market ]
"Spring is traditionally when Canada’s housing market shifts into high gear. But this year it’s idling, despite four consecutive years of price reductions nationally. Home sales held essentially flat in March and listings remain subdued according to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). At the same time, new data from real estate company Royal LePage show conditions diverging sharply across regions with certain markets still seeing price growth while others remain under pressure."

[ Where Canada's condo market is headed: FP Video ]
"FP Video puts real estate in focus this week with an investment manager’s take on the best buys in REITs and an update from Urbanation on Canada’s crumbling condo market. Trade lawyer Mark Warner fills us in on the latest in Canada, U.S. trade negotiations."

[ Rate cuts seen as more likely next move for Bank of Canada: TD ]
"Just as inflation and interest rates began to settle, trade tensions with Canada’s largest trading partner resurfaced. Now, higher fuel prices driven by conflict in the Middle East are fuelling renewed inflation concerns, while the growing impact of AI is casting a shadow over the labour market."

[ Mortgage debt rising fastest among Canadians nearing retirement, data show ]
"Canadians nearing retirement are taking on more mortgage debt, with those aged 55 to 64 posting the fastest growth in 2025. Statistics Canada data show mortgage balances for that group rose about 6% year-over-year, as many tap home equity to fund investment purchases or help younger family members enter the housing market."

Market Media Monday - April 20, 2026

A curated list of recent headlines relevant to real estate in Canada or locally, with short excerpts. Click each headline link to read the full article on the source site.

[ Canadian Real Estate Association downgrades housing market forecast due to 'oil shock' ]
"The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has downgraded its housing market forecast following a jump in fixed mortgage rates and weaker than expected housing sales in the first three months of 2026. CREA had been forecasting higher sales based on the idea that pent-up demand would emerge, especially from first-time buyers. But in the second half of March, inflation caused by a spike in oil prices raised the odds of a Bank of Canada rate hike, which raised bond yields and caused a jump in fixed mortgage rates."

[ Commercial real estate market at turning point as vacancies drop: report ]
"Canada’s commercial real estate sector could be at a turning point after the national vacancy rates for both office and industrial properties simultaneously declined for the first time since 2020, a new analysis has found."

[ First-time homebuyers have returned to the market—with a little help from their parents ]
"First-time homebuyers living in this city depend more on their parents to cover their mortgages and interest payments than ever before, according to a new Bank of Canada report. It found that the percentage of Torontonians who co-signed with a parent is 13.8 per cent, up from 4.1 per cent in 2004."

[ Fixed or variable? Four experts weigh in as volatility clouds the decision ]
"With two-thirds of homeowners feeling uneasy about their upcoming renewal, and about a third of prospective buyers planning to make a purchase in 2026, according to the TD survey, we reached out to several mortgage experts to ask for their product recommendations. "

Market Media Monday - April 13, 2026

A curated list of recent headlines relevant to real estate in Canada or locally, with short excerpts. Click each headline link to read the full article on the source site.

[ Why timing the bottom of Canada's roller-coaster real estate market may be harder than you think ]
"Everyone connected to Canada’s housing market is asking the same question as the spring market, historically the busiest time of year, gets underway: Have we hit the bottom? From realtors to economists to lenders to developers — not to mention would-be home buyers and sellers — all are looking for signs of whether the real estate market will finally see a turnaround from declining prices. "

[ Canada’s housing market outlook gets a downgrade from TD ]
"The past six months of weakness in Canada’s housing market have led to one of the nation’s big banks downgrading its forecast for the rest of the year. TD Economics released a revised housing market outlook at the end of March, updating its original predictions for 2026, which were released in December."

[ These forces could push up Canada's home prices later this year: FP Video ]
"This week FP video looks at the chance of real estate prices escalating in the second half of the year, the impact of oil market volatility on the agriculture sector, why the geopolitical tension has been good news for Canadian bonds, and why investment managers are optimistic about this earnings season."

[ Toronto real estate market finally showing signs of life but prices are still sliding ]
"Toronto's real estate market showed a split picture last month as sales increased for the first time in several months while prices continued to fall, according to the latest report from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB)."

[ Mortgage rates are rising: why breaking your mortgage could cost more ]
"Government of Canada 5-year bond yields have been rising since the start of the war in Iran, pushing fixed mortgage rates higher — but posted rates have not always moved in step."

Terminology Tuesday: Chattels

In real estate, the term “chattels” refers to items that are not permanently attached to a property and can be removed without damaging the home. In simple terms, they’re the things you can pick up and take with you when you move.

Common examples of chattels include appliances like refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers (unless built-in), as well as furniture, area rugs, and even things like window coverings if they’re not permanently installed. Because chattels are considered personal property—not part of the real estate itself—they are not automatically included in a sale unless specifically written into the agreement.

This is where things can get important for both buyers and sellers. If a buyer falls in love with a particular item—say, a sleek stainless steel fridge or custom bar stools—they need to make sure it’s listed as an included chattel in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale. On the flip side, sellers should clearly identify anything they intend to take with them to avoid misunderstandings.

The key takeaway? Don’t assume anything. In real estate, what stays and what goes should always be clearly spelled out in writing—because when it comes to chattels, if it’s not included, it’s not coming with the house.