Upsizing in Markham, Ontario typically means bridging a gap of roughly $400,000 between a starter condo, semi, or townhome and a full detached house - and the neighbourhood you choose matters more than the house, because school catchments, GO station access, and lot vintage drive resale here more than finishes do. For most move-up buyers, the practical shortlist comes down to six communities: Berczy, Wismer, Cornell, Greensborough, Cathedraltown, and Markham Village — with Unionville as the stretch goal. This guide breaks down what each one actually costs, what you get for it, and the street-level details that don’t show up on a listing sheet.
Last updated: July 6th 2026 · By Brad Macdonald, Broker, The MAC Team — RE/MAX All-Stars Realty Inc.
Which Markham neighbourhoods are best for upsizing into a detached home or townhome?
Here’s the comparison most buyers spend three months assembling on their own:
What does upsizing actually buy you in Markham right now?
The move-up ladder in Markham has unusually distinct rungs. This is the spread between them:
| Neighbourhood | Freehold townhome | Detached (main segment) | Lot character | Nearest GO | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berczy | $1.15M–$1.35M | $1.7M–$2.2M | 2000s, 36–45 ft lots | Centennial / Mount Joy | Pierre Elliott Trudeau H.S. catchment |
| Wismer | $1.1M–$1.3M | $1.5M–$1.9M | 2000s–2010s, 30–40 ft lots | Mount Joy | Bur Oak Ave corridor, parks every few blocks |
| Cornell | $1.05M–$1.25M | $1.4M–$1.8M | New-urbanist, rear laneways | Markham (via Cornell Terminal) | Hospital, Rouge Park at the doorstep |
| Greensborough | $1.05M–$1.25M | $1.45M–$1.8M | 2000s, 36–42 ft lots | Mount Joy (walkable) | Best GO-walkability per dollar |
| Cathedraltown | $1.1M–$1.3M | $1.6M–$2.1M | 2010s, compact prestige lots | Hwy 404 instead | Cathedral landmark, 404 commuters |
| Markham Village / Raymerville | $1.0M–$1.2M | $1.35M–$1.7M | 1970s–80s, 50 ft+ mature lots | Markham | Biggest lots per dollar in the city |
| Unionville (stretch) | $1.3M–$1.6M | $2.1M–$3.5M+ | Mixed vintage, premium streets | Unionville | Main Street, Toogood Pond, Unionville H.S. |
Source: TRREB MLS® data, trailing 90 days. Bands are orientation, not appraisal.
| Rung | Typical price | Gap to next rung |
|---|---|---|
| Condo townhome / stacked town | $850K–$1.0M | +$150K–$250K |
| Freehold townhome (often POTL) | $1.05M–$1.35M | +$300K–$450K |
| Link / semi-detached | $1.25M–$1.5M | +$200K–$400K |
| Detached, 30–36 ft lot | $1.45M–$1.8M | +$250K–$400K |
| Detached, 40–50 ft lot | $1.7M–$2.2M | — |
Two structural notes upsizers consistently miss:
The townhome-to-detached gap is the expensive jump. If your end goal is detached, an intermediate move into a freehold town often costs more in total transaction friction (see our complete upsizing cost walkthrough) than waiting one more year and jumping directly.
“Freehold” townhome usually means POTL here. Most post-2005 Markham townhomes are Parcel of Tied Land: you own the home freehold but pay a monthly common-element fee (commonly $75–$150/month) for the private laneway, visitor parking, and snow on shared surfaces. It’s not a red flag — but it is a condominium corporation on paper, which means your lawyer should review a status certificate before you firm up. If that sentence surprised you, you’re in the majority.
Neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood: the upsizer’s read
Berczy: is it worth paying the school premium?
Berczy trades at a premium of roughly 5% over near-identical homes in adjacent Wismer, and the honest explanation is four words: Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School. The catchment premium is real, durable, and priced in — you don’t make money buying it, you preserve money owning it, because catchment demand puts a floor under resale in soft markets.
What to know on the ground: the housing stock between Bur Oak Avenue and 16th Avenue is early-2000s builder stock, mostly 38–45 ft lots, and the streets off The Bridle Walk are where the larger floor plans cluster. Verify the catchment address-by-address with YRDSB before you waive conditions — boundaries in this part of Markham have been reviewed before as schools filled, and “in Berczy” does not automatically mean “in the Trudeau catchment.”
Wismer: the practical default for detached upsizers
If Berczy is the school play, Wismer is the value play with 90% of the same daily life. Same builders, same era, same Bur Oak Avenue retail spine (the plaza-and-park rhythm along Bur Oak is genuinely walkable in a way most of suburban York Region is not), Mount Joy GO on the Stouffville line at its edge, and Bur Oak Secondary School serving most of the community. Detached inventory here turns over steadily, which means more choice per season than Berczy and less bidding pressure per listing.
Cornell: the townhome capital — with one thing to check
Cornell is Markham’s new-urbanist experiment that actually worked: rear-lane garages, porches to the street, and the densest concentration of well-designed freehold townhomes in the city. It’s also home to Cornell Community Centre, Markham Stouffville Hospital, the Cornell Bus Terminal, and it backs directly onto Rouge National Urban Park — trail access from a townhome price point that nothing west of McCowan can match.
The thing to check: laneway townhomes vary enormously in garage configuration and functional parking. Some blocks have double garages plus a lane apron (effectively 3–4 spots); others have a single garage and a no-parking lane. For an upsizing family with two vehicles, this single detail should filter your Cornell townhome shortlist before price does.
Cornell Village, Markham, Ontario
Greensborough: the GO-walk neighbourhood nobody prices correctly
Much of Greensborough sits within a genuine 10–15 minute walk of Mount Joy GO, yet it trades at a discount to Berczy and roughly at par with Wismer. For a household where one earner commutes downtown on the Stouffville line and the other drives, this is arguably the best-priced detached quadrant in Markham. Inventory skews 2000s, 36–42 ft lots, with family-sized floor plans concentrated between Bur Oak Avenue and Major Mackenzie.
Cathedraltown: for the Highway 404 commuter
Cathedraltown, at Major Mackenzie and the 404, is the choice when the commute is by car, not by train. The neighbourhood is instantly recognizable — it’s built around the Cathedral of the Transfiguration, and yes, that is a giant stainless-steel cow (“Charity”) on a plinth that residents have debated since it went up; you’ll have an opinion within a week. Lots are compact for the price tier, so you’re paying for architecture, location, and the 404 on-ramp rather than backyard square footage. Best fit: upsizers leaving a townhome who care more about the house than the lot.
Markham Village & Raymerville: the mature-lot arbitrage
The oldest trick in the Markham upsizer’s book: a 1970s–80s detached on a 50–60 ft mature lot in Markham Village or Raymerville often costs the same as — or less than — a 2010s detached on 36 ft further north. You trade modern layouts for land, trees, and proximity to Main Street Markham and Milne Dam Conservation Park (the largest green space in the city that isn’t Rouge Park, and locals’ default for trails and the fall salmon run on the Rouge River). Budget honestly for updating: kitchens, windows, and wiring of this vintage absorb $150K if the home hasn’t been touched.
Unionville: the stretch goal, priced accordingly
Unionville is the destination neighbourhood - Main Street, Toogood Pond, Varley Art Gallery, Unionville High School’s arts program - and it’s priced like one. For upsizers, the realistic entries are the townhomes and links on the neighbourhood’s edges at $1.1M–$1.3M, or older detached needing work. If Unionville is the goal, start with our Unionville page — the dynamics there deserve their own article.
Main Street Unionville, Ontario
Inside-local knowledge: what only showings teach you
The Stouffville GO line is the spine of upsizer Markham. Four stations serve the city — Unionville, Centennial, Markham, and Mount Joy, south to north. Parking pressure differs sharply by station; if the commuting spouse drives to the GO, test the actual lot at 7:40 a.m. on a Tuesday, not on a Saturday viewing trip.
Viva Purple runs dedicated rapidway lanes along Highway 7 — relevant if you work along the 7 corridor, and a genuine amenity for teenagers who don’t drive yet.
Bill Crothers Secondary School has no catchment. It’s application-based (athlete-focused), so no house purchase gets you in — don’t pay a premium a listing agent attaches to “near Bill Crothers.”
Catchment maps move. Fast-growing communities here have seen boundary reviews as schools hit capacity. Confirm the current YRDSB/YCDSB boundary for the specific address in writing during your conditional period.
POTL fees are per-corporation, not per-neighbourhood. Two visually identical townhome rows a block apart can carry fees $60+/month apart depending on how much private road each corporation maintains. It’s on the status certificate; read it.
Aaniin Community Centre (south) and Angus Glen Community Centre (north) bracket the city — proximity to one is a daily-life factor families weight heavily after moving in, and almost never during the search.
Detached vs. townhome: the honest trade-off table for upsizers
| Factor | Freehold townhome (POTL) | Detached |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $1.05M–$1.35M | $1.4M+ |
| Monthly carrying extra | POTL fee $110–$180 | None (all maintenance is yours) |
| Snow / lawn | Shared surfaces done for you | Yours, entirely |
| Lot / yard | Minimal | The point |
| Resale liquidity | High — biggest buyer pool in the city | High, segmented by lot size |
| Legal wrinkle | Status certificate review | Standard freehold |
The next step (no pressure version)
If you’re within 12 months of making this move, the most useful thing we can offer isn’t a sales call — it’s the Markham Upsizer’s Street-Level Shortlist: a custom map built for your budget, school priorities, and commute pattern, marking the specific streets (not just neighbourhoods) that fit, plus our current watchlist of coming-soon and off-market homes in those pockets that haven’t hit MLS®. Request it through our getting-started page — it takes us about two days to build and it’s yours either way.
The MAC Team — RE/MAX All-Stars Realty Inc., 5071 Hwy 7, Unit 5, Markham. Market figures are drawn from TRREB MLS® data and are illustrative; for current numbers, request a valuation or browse our latest market takes.
IndyCar Is Coming to Markham - What the Race Means Beyond Race Weekend
REMAX Joins Forces with The Real Brokerage - What It Means
By now, you may have seen the headlines. On April 27, The Real Brokerage announced plans to acquire REMAX Holdings in an $880 million deal — one of the most significant transactions in the history of residential real estate. As agents with REMAX All-Stars Realty here in Markham and Unionville, we wanted to share our perspective on what this means and why, on balance, we see this as a genuinely positive development for everyone involved.
What's Actually Happening
The two companies will merge under a new holding company called Real REMAX Group, combining brokerage, franchising, fintech, and ancillary services — including integrated mortgage and title offerings. Critically, REMAX and Motto Mortgage will continue to operate under their existing brands and franchise models. The name stays. The brand stays. The network stays.
The combined company will support more than 180,000 real estate professionals and their clients across more than 120 countries and territories. That's not a smaller organization — it's a significantly larger and better-resourced one.
Why We See This as a Good Thing
Better technology for agents and clients. Real Brokerage was founded in 2014 specifically as a technology-first, AI-powered brokerage. The newly formed entity will unite Real's AI-powered brokerage platform with REMAX's iconic brand and global reach to deliver a differentiated home buying and selling experience. For agents, that means access to tools that can streamline everything from transaction management to client communication. For clients, it means working with agents who have more support, better data, and faster systems behind them.
The REMAX brand isn't going anywhere. The transaction pairs Real's agent-first, mobile-first technology platform with REMAX's global franchisor footprint and brand recognition — it doesn't replace it. REMAX has spent 50+ years building one of the most recognized names in real estate. That equity doesn't disappear. It gets a modern engine underneath it.
Franchisees and agents are explicitly protected. REMAX CEO Erik Carlson framed the deal in terms of what it delivers for the people in the network — the combination is designed to give franchisees and agents "greater choice, higher productivity and expanded support" by layering Real's technology stack on top of the existing REMAX network.
Scale creates strength. The combined company would support more than 180,000 agents across more than 120 countries and territories — including more than 100,000 in the U.S. and Canada. A larger, better-capitalized organization has more negotiating power with vendors, more resources for training and tools, and more ability to invest in what agents and clients actually need.
What Changes (and What Doesn't)
The deal is still pending regulatory and shareholder approvals, with the transaction expected to close in the second half of 2026. Until then, both companies operate independently — nothing changes on the ground.
Our Take
The real estate industry is evolving fast. Technology is reshaping how homes are found, marketed, and sold. This deal positions REMAX agents to compete at the highest level — with a tech platform purpose-built for modern real estate, under a brand that clients worldwide already know and trust.
We've always been proud to be part of the REMAX family. This next chapter looks like a strong one.
Questions about what any of this means for your buying or selling plans? We're always here to talk.
The MAC Team | REMAX All-Stars Realty Inc., Brokerage
Sources: REMAX official press release (news.remax.com) | HousingWire | Inman | Bloomberg, April 27, 2026
Markham Home Sales Rise as Prices Fall — What March 2026 Means for Buyers and Sellers
Market Update | April 2026 | The MAC Team, REMAX All-Stars Realty
The Greater Toronto Area housing market is showing early signs of a shift heading into spring 2026. According to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), resale home sales climbed year-over-year in March for the first time in six months — while selling prices continued to ease, creating a notable window of opportunity for buyers.
Sales Are Up — But So Is Your Negotiating Power
GTA REALTORS reported 5,039 home sales through TRREB's MLS System in March 2026, a 1.7% increase compared to March 2025. GlobeNewswire It marks a meaningful turning point after months of declining activity.
At the same time, the average selling price fell 6.7% year-over-year to $1,017,796, while the MLS Home Price Index composite benchmark — representing the typical home — was down 7.4%. CBC News
For buyers, that combination is significant. TRREB Chief Information Officer Jason Mercer noted that buyers currently benefit from "substantial negotiating power" on price, adding that if market conditions continue to tighten as they did in March, selling prices could start to level off as 2026 progresses. BNN Bloomberg
Supply Is Tightening
While buyers hold the upper hand on price today, supply is quietly shrinking. New listings entered into the MLS System totalled 14,442 in March — down 16.7% year-over-year. GlobeNewswire Total active listings across the GTA also decreased 8%, sitting at 21,596. CBC News
That declining inventory, combined with rising sales, suggests the balance of power in this market could shift faster than many expect.
What This Means If You're Buying
This may be one of the stronger buyer's windows the GTA has seen in several years. Prices are down from their peak, inventory — while shrinking — still offers selection, and mortgage rates have improved from their highs. Waiting for the "bottom" is a strategy that often costs more than it saves.
What This Means If You're Selling
Pricing strategy is everything right now. Homes that are priced correctly for current market conditions are moving. Overpriced listings are sitting. If you've been waiting on the sidelines, understanding your home's true value in today's market is the critical first step.
City of Toronto Snapshot
Within the City of Toronto, there were 1,913 sales in March — a 0.9% increase from March 2025. BNN Bloomberg Activity is picking up across the board, though the pace remains measured.
Thinking about buying or selling in Markham, Unionville, or the broader GTA this spring? The MAC Team at REMAX All-Stars Realty is here to help you navigate the market with confidence. Get in touch today.
Source: TRREB — GTA Home Sales Up and Selling Prices Down in March
Ontario Expands HST Rebate on New Homes - Up to $130,000 in Savings for Buyers
By Popular Demand: Our New Podcast
Welcome to the Unnamed Real Estate Podcast
Based on feedback we’ve received from many of you after seeing more of our content on social media, we heard a consistent request for longer-form, more in-depth conversations about real estate and the local market.
In response, we’re excited to introduce our new video and audio podcast, where we take the time to explore market trends, development news, random thoughts, and practical insights that don’t always fit into a short post or reel. This is a casual chat between Brad and Tony, that is meant to be an interesting and entertaining peek into our world of real estate - this isn’t going to be a statistics and listings kind of thing.
Our first episode is now live and available to watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify. You’ll find the links included below, and we’d love for you to check it out and share your feedback!
What Homeowners need to know: Ontario Building Code changes
If you are a Landlord with rental properties, take note - you must ensure all of your properties are compliant with the NEW building code regulations as of January 1st 2026! Mandatory Carbon Monoxide detectors MUST be installed, or face fines.
Ontario's Building Code is being updated, with major changes to carbon monoxide (CO) alarm requirements taking effect January 1, 2026, mandating alarms on every floor of homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages, expanding from just near sleeping areas, and applying to multi-unit buildings too, making compliance a legal requirement with significant fines for non-compliance.
Key Changes Effective Jan 1, 2026
Every Floor: Alarms must now be on every storey (level) of a home or dwelling unit.
Expanded Triggers: Applies to homes with fuel-burning appliances (furnaces, water heaters, stoves, fireplaces), attached garages, or heating from an outdoor furnace.
Multi-Unit Dwellings: Rules extend to apartments/condos, requiring alarms in units and sometimes public corridors near fuel systems or garages.
Scope: Covers single-family homes, townhouses, and multi-unit residential buildings (apartments, condos).
What You Need to Do
Install Alarms: Place CO alarms on every floor and next to each sleeping area if you have a furnace, fireplace, or attached garage.
Check Your Appliances: Ensure all fuel-burning devices (furnaces, hot water tanks, stoves) are properly vented and inspected annually by a professional.
Buy Certified Alarms: Look for alarms meeting Canadian performance standards (ULC certified).
Test Monthly: Test your alarms monthly and replace batteries as per manufacturer instructions (even plug-in models need battery backup).
Why the Change?
Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that can cause headaches, dizziness, and death, making early detection crucial. These new requirements provide broader, earlier warning for residents.
Responsibilities
Homeowners: Responsible for installation and maintenance in single-family homes.
Landlords/Building Owners: Responsible for compliance in rental units and multi-unit buildings.
Penalties
Failure to comply with the Ontario Fire Code is an offence, with potential fines up to $50,000 for individuals and $500,000 for corporations for a first offence.
If those compliance costs have you weighing whether to keep or sell a rental, it helps to know where the property stands first. We offer a free home value consultation for owners across Markham, Unionville and Stouffville.
What the 2025 Federal Budget Means for Home Buyers and Sellers
The 2025 Federal Budget puts housing front and center with new initiatives aimed at tackling affordability and boosting supply across Canada.
Markham Real Estate Market Update 2025
What’s really happening in the Markham and Unionville real estate market right now? Brad Macdonald from RE/MAX breaks down the Fall 2025 GTA housing market — including the latest price trends, interest rate effects, and what it all means for buyers, sellers, and investors across Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, and the York Region area.
Insight: Rental Market Reform
Landlords and tenants can both agree that the current Residential Tenancies Act is a major barrier to an equitable and fair rental marketplace. The LTB is seen as a major headache for everyone involved, both prospective Landlords, Tenants and new homeowners. OREA has been proposing a report that outlines achievable updates and goals for a revised RTA, that truly encompasses the realities of today’s rental market.
The goal being to have a fair system that allows for more rental units to be available, with fair market pricing, tools to enable the removal of bad players from the system, and streamlining of the court system to reduce the unrelenting delays that are causing major financial harm.
OREA’s report is summarized below.
Creating Modern Legislation That Works
Ontario’s outdated Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA), no longer reflects the realities of today’s rental market. Modernization is essential to reducing tribunal backlogs, expanding rental supply, and creating fairer outcomes for both tenants and landlords.
Action-Ready
Create a dedicated N12 process for buyers’ personal use to speed up timelines and reduce delays.
Strengthen monitoring, enforcement, and penalties against bad-faith N12 evictions.
Develop clear, accessible resources to educate both landlords and tenants on their rights and responsibilities under the RTA.
Mandate the equal treatment of all individuals under the Condominium Act, 2016, to be inclusive of diverse families.
Long-Term
Review and modernize the RTA to reflect today’s rental market.
Reform rent control by implementing a phased-in approach to balance tenant protections with incentives for new rental supply.
2
Fixing the Broken Landlord and Tenant Board
Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) is overwhelmed by backlogs and delays, eroding trust and discouraging new rental supply. Urgent reform is essential to restoring fairness, accessibility, and timely justice for both tenants and landlords.
Action-Ready
Move away from the current digital-first strategy and restore in-person hearings as the default.
Improve legal aid support for tenants.
Remove financial barriers for tenant maintenance complaints filed in good faith.
Establish a timely LTB application screening process to identify and remedy errors early.
Long-Term
Find new opportunities to support mediation services between landlords and tenants at the LTB.
Improve LTB adjudicator training, recruitment, and retention strategies.
3
Building a healthy and diverse housing supply
Ontario’s rental supply has fallen far behind demand, leaving families with too few affordable options. Tackling high costs, zoning barriers, and stalled purpose-built development is critical to ensure the market meets the needs of people in every stage of life.
Action-Ready
Reduce government-imposed costs on new rental projects.
Streamline the permit process for new construction.
Promote and help scale innovative approaches to affordable housing development.
Investigate legislative changes needed to provide rent-to-own programs in Ontario.
Provide tax incentives for small landlords who provide new rental units in rapidly growing markets.
Provide a rental renovation tax credit for smaller, independent landlords who invest in specific improvements to their rental properties while keeping monthly rent costs consistent.
Long-Term
End exclusionary zoning across Ontario.
Invest in building 99,000 community housing units over the next 10 years.
Market Update: Stability Returns, But Caution Remain
GTA Market Holding Steady Amid Shifting National Trends
As we head into the summer months, the Greater Toronto Area real estate market continues to demonstrate resilience, with new signs of balance emerging across several segments.
Inventory Levels Signal a Balanced Market
In Toronto, we are currently seeing approximately 4 months of inventory. This level is widely recognized as indicative of a balanced market, where conditions do not strongly favour either buyers or sellers. This provides some welcome stability after the volatility of the past few years. However, when we focus on the condo sector, months of inventory trend higher, as sales volumes continue to lag behind the freehold market. This segment may offer greater opportunities for buyers to negotiate or invest strategically.
National Numbers: A Mixed Bag
According to CREA, national home sales rose 3.6 percent from April to May, marking the first month-over-month increase since November 2024. While that is an encouraging sign of renewed buyer activity, it is important to view it in context:
Sales remain down 4.3 percent year-over-year, comparing May 2024 to May 2025
Average home prices are down 1.8 percent nationally, with Ontario seeing a larger decline of 4 percent
This reflects a still-sensitive landscape where affordability and borrowing costs continue to influence decision-making.
Interest Rates in a Neutral Zone
The Bank of Canada held its benchmark interest rate at 2.75 percent during the last update. This is considered a neutral rate, meaning it is neither overly restrictive nor particularly stimulating for the housing sector. We are hedging toward the BoC maintaining rates at the upcoming meetings, as our inflation rate has started to creep back up in recent weeks. While stability is generally welcomed by the market, a slightly lower rate would likely encourage more activity among both buyers and builders. This could help support inventory growth and new construction starts, particularly in higher-demand areas. Market watchers are paying close attention to upcoming announcements.
Trade Talks May Impact the Broader Outlook
Beyond interest rates, broader economic forces are also shaping the market outlook. A finalized Canada–U.S. trade agreement would provide welcome stability for key sectors including construction, manufacturing, and finance. In turn, this would help reinforce consumer confidence and support both urban and suburban real estate markets.
Toronto Real Estate Market Update: May Brings a Slower Spring and More Buyer Power
Sales Slowdown Creates Opportunity
This past May marked one of the slowest spring real estate markets Toronto has seen in over two decades. According to new data from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), just 6,244 homes were sold across the GTA — a 13% drop compared to the same time last year.
With the exception of May 2020 during early pandemic lockdowns, this is the lowest number of May sales since 2002. And it’s worth noting: our population has grown by over 35% since then.
Home Prices Edge Down Across the Board
The average sale price across the GTA in May was $1.1 million, representing a 4% decline year-over-year. Different property types experienced varying levels of price correction:
Semi-detached homes: down 8.4%
Condos: down 7.3%
Detached homes: down 5.6%
Townhomes: down 3.3%
Lower prices combined with slightly reduced borrowing costs have improved affordability, but many buyers remain hesitant due to broader economic concerns.
Inventory Rising, Confidence Lagging
New listings are on the rise. Nearly 22,000 properties came to market in May — up 14% year-over-year. With more listings and fewer sales, the sales-to-new-listings ratio sits at 28%, confirming a buyers’ market. That means:
More choice for buyers
Greater negotiating power
Slower pace = more time to make decisions
Interest Rates, Trade Tensions & What's Next
Market activity continues to be shaped by economic uncertainty, especially around trade with the U.S. and Bank of Canada interest rate decisions. While some expect a rate cut in the near future, the central bank has so far held steady.
Still, we are seeing early signs of recovery: both sales and prices increased slightly compared to April on a seasonally adjusted basis. That’s two months in a row showing a positive trend.
Final Thoughts
For Buyers, this is a rare moment of leverage — more supply, less competition, and room to negotiate.
For Sellers, pricing strategy and strong marketing are critical to stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Whether you’re looking to move soon or just want to better understand your home’s current value, I’m here to help you navigate today’s evolving market.
How Could U.S. Tariffs Impact the GTA Housing Market?
With the impending U.S. tariffs on Canadian exports, many are wondering what this could mean for the real estate market, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area. While it may seem like an issue confined to international trade, these tariffs could have a direct impact on housing costs, construction, and market trends.
Higher costs for key building materials such as steel, aluminum, and lumber could push up construction expenses, leading to increased home prices and potential delays in new developments. If suppliers redirect their products to the Canadian market to offset the effects of tariffs, this won’t necessarily drive prices down. Instead, material costs may rise due to continued demand and potential supply shortages.
Another factor to consider is the Canadian dollar. If tariffs weaken Canada’s export sector, the loonie could decline against the U.S. dollar, making imported materials and construction equipment more expensive. Higher costs, combined with potential supply chain disruptions, could further drive up the price of new homes.
Beyond materials and currency fluctuations, there’s also the broader economic impact. If key industries like manufacturing and forestry face setbacks due to trade restrictions, job losses and economic uncertainty could slow housing demand. At the same time, inflationary pressures may prompt the Bank of Canada to raise interest rates, making mortgages and construction loans more costly. Developers may delay or cancel projects in response, further constraining housing supply.
For buyers and sellers, this creates a complex landscape. If supply tightens and costs continue to rise, affordability could become an even greater challenge. However, economic uncertainty might also lead to a temporary slowdown in demand, which could present opportunities for those ready to make a move.
The real estate market is always evolving, and staying informed is key. If you’re considering buying, selling, or investing, now is the time to have a strategic conversation about your next steps. Reach out to discuss how these changes could impact your real estate goals.
Social Media Evolution
It is interesting to note how consumption of our marketing materials slowly changes over time — and as should be no surprise to anyone, social media platform engagement evolves as our ‘new buyer’ demographic slowly changes. It’s been interesting to see how longer-form video and marketing material has started to give way to shorter-form ‘quick hits’ — YouTube engagement is a bit lower, while Instagram Reels / Facebook Stories are on the rise.
We are experimenting with doing more short form videos to engage with our audience - and we would love to hear your feedback! We’re starting to create some non-listing-specific video content that is much more general info on the marketplace, with great results so far. Have an idea or suggestion for a video, let us know in comments on any of the platforms you connect with us!
If you didn’t know - check us out on Instagram - @homesresource - https://www.instagram.com/homesresouce
Canada’s New Tax Law on Home Sales: What You Need to Know
A recent Canadian tax law aims to curb speculative real estate sales by penalizing homeowners who sell a property within 365 days of purchase. Introduced in the 2022 federal budget and effective from January 2023, this law requires that any profit from such a sale be reported as business income, making it ineligible for the primary residence exemption. This could result in significant taxes, ranging from 28% to 53% of profits, depending on the seller's income bracket.
Exemptions to the Law
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) offers exemptions for homeowners forced to sell due to one of nine specified circumstances, including:
Death, illness, or disability
Marriage breakdown
Job relocation or involuntary job loss
Safety concerns or property expropriation
These exemptions are intended to support Canadians facing unavoidable challenges.
Additional Impact on Pre-Sale Condos and Assignments
The new rules also apply to pre-sale condos, where assignment sales are now subject to HST. Under the new policy, the CRA no longer needs to prove the seller intended to flip the property; any sale within a year automatically qualifies as business income unless an exemption applies.
CRA Monitoring and Penalties
The CRA has four real estate audit teams focused on high-risk areas in Ontario and British Columbia to ensure compliance. Non-compliance can lead to steep penalties, including a 50% surcharge on the tax owed and interest if false information is filed.
Tips for Homeowners
To avoid being taxed as a business, homeowners who want to sell should wait until after the 365-day mark to benefit from the primary residence exemption. Selling on day 366 could save substantial tax costs.
Timing is only part of a good sale. You can see how recent sellers in Unionville and Markham have done and what a well-run sale looks like.