Are there too many condos in Toronto? Real estate wiz Brian Persaud takes on this contentious issue


    The following is a guest post by Brian Persaud, a Toronto based real estate agent, investor, analyst, TV show host, producer and author of the forthcoming book "Investing in Condominiums". He is a provider of Toronto condominium information and a good friend to the folks of BuzzBuzzHome. Read more

    A day at the Beach in November? You better believe it! Beach Club Lofts holding exclusive preview event this weekend [PICS]


    Those temperatures won't be going back up any time soon, so a day at the beach might seem like a "strange" concept at the moment.But it's not too hard to imagine spending a day at the Beach Club Lofts, the boutique residence by Zen Homes that's only Read more

    We're feeling like nobility just looking at these new renderings from The Royal Collection


    When you're searching for homes in a place like King City, we're guessing you might be looking for something with a hint of royalty. Well, this project by Zancor Homes registers pretty high on the royalty scale, so high in fact, that they simply named it The Royal Read more

    MARKET

    Americans moving towards mixed-use communities (literally), ULI says

    Posted on | buzzhomeblog Posted in MARKET

    new orleans magnusbrathMixed development is in: more than half of Americans prefer neighborhoods with easy access to stores and public transportation, according to a new study released by the Urban Land Institute.

    ULI partnered with Belden Russonello Strategists to conduct a statistically representative survey of 1,202 adults living in the United States.

    They discovered that 62 percent of Americans planning to move in the next five years would prefer to settle in mixed-use communities, which are defined by shorter commutes, smaller homes, proximity to retail and offices, variety of incomes, readily available public transportation and variety of homes. Read more

    Generation Y faces far different home ownership obstacles than Boomers

    By | Posted on | Monika Warzecha Posted in MARKET

    CalgaryOn the path to homeownership, Generation Y faces three main roadblocks – and they’re not necessarily the same issues their parents experienced when buying their first home.

    TD Canada Trust published new research that highlights the differences in the challenges Millennials say they face as first time buyers compared to the challenges Boomers recalled from when they first entered the market.

    The findings point to big shifts in Canadian real estate in the last 30 years. Read more

    Frank Margani becomes Executive Vice President at Fortress Real Developments

    By | Posted on | Sean MacKay Posted in MARKET

    frank-marganiEarlier this month we reported that Frank Margani was set to leave MCAP, an independent mortgage financier, for Fortress Real Developments.

    Today it was made official, as Fortress circulated a press release announcing that Margani was joining their team as Executive Vice President, Strategy and Development.

    He will assume his role at the rapidly expanding Richmond Hill-based real estate developer on May 13th.

    “Frank is one of the most sought-after experts in the industry,” said Jawad Rathore, President and CEO, Fortress Real Developments. ”His knowledge of high value real estate development projects and underwriting will help Fortress strengthen our developer and builder client relationships and expand our footprint in Canada.”  Read more

    The ideal habitats for the four breeds of Snow Birds you’ll find in Florida

    By | Posted on | Monika Warzecha Posted in MARKET, WATER COOLER

    Cape San Blas Has Become a Very Popular Spot for July 4th Holiday Flickr photo By Old Shoe Woman Though Canadians are often characterized as a hardy, flannel-wearing, winter-loving lot, it’s no secret that countless citizens migrate to warmer climes during the colder parts of the year.

    And a recent report from the Bank of Montreal suggests that a sizeable amount of the population is wintering in Florida in particular: 500,000 Canadians have flocked south and purchased property in the sunshine state.

    But not all Snow Birds are the same. Sure, they might all arrive on the Gulf Coast seeking a reprieve from parkas and snow ploughs, but many of the similarities end there. Some breeds come for the Miami night life while others plan to retire in the warmth of the sun somewhere in the Keys. Read more

    Real estate regrets: Don’t rent — buy big and remodel, says Trulia study

    By | Posted on | Joyce Chen Posted in MARKET, WATER COOLER

    regretReal-estate regret? It happens. To 52 percent of people, to be precise.

    With inventory dipping to almost a 12-year low and spring housing fever in effect, buyers can experience waking-up-in-Vegas remorse — although not as often as renters do, according to Trulia’s most recent consumer survey.

    Harris Interactive on behalf of Trulia surveyed 2,130 adults ages 18 and older; of the people in the study, 1,370 were homeowners and 706 were renters. Read more

    US homebuilder confidence falls for third straight month in April

    By | Posted on | Joyce Chen Posted in MARKET

    construction materials weconsciousUS homebuilder confidence fell for the third straight month in April, driven by increasing costs for building materials and concerns about the supply of developed lots and labor.

    Builder confidence in the market for newly constructed, single-family homes dropped two points to 42 this month, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, released today. Read more

    Median sale price of Washington, DC home hit all-time high in March

    By | Posted on | Joyce Chen Posted in MARKET

    old bacon street condosThe median price of a home in Washington, DC reached an all-time high last month, according to data by RealEstate Business Intelligence, an MRIS company.

    The median sale price rose to $460,000 in March, a year-over-year increase of 13.6 percent. The overall region’s median sale price also experienced gains, with an annual increase of 8 percent from $345,000 in March 2012 to $372,500 last month. Read more

    Build, baby, build: US housing starts up, but inventory down

    Posted on | buzzhomeblog Posted in MARKET

    shelves by timtomA good home is hard to find — and as the housing market gradually recovers, buyers are facing a lack of inventory.

    First, the good news: US housing starts rose nearly 28 percent from February 2012 to February 2013 to a 917,000-unit annual rate, the Commerce Department announced this week. Permits for construction increased 4.6 percent to an annual rate of 946,000 units, the fastest pace since June 2008. Read more

    Teranet House Price Index shows a small overall increase in national prices

    By | Posted on | Monika Warzecha Posted in MARKET

    Quebec CityIt looks like the United States’ housing price gains are outpacing Canada’s growth.

    The latest Teranet-National Bank National Composite House Price Index points to a slow down in the massive equity gains Canadian homeowners have been experiencing in the last few years.

    Over the year ending in February 2013, house values saw a 2.7 per cent bump nationally. While prices did rise, the increase matched January’s smallest 12-month gain since November 2009. Read more

    Want a deal? The most affordable housing markets are in Texas

    Posted on | buzzhomeblog Posted in MARKET

    dallas texas catamoreIf you’re looking for a deal on housing, you should mosey over to Texas.

    The Dallas-Fort Worth area topped a list of the 10 most affordable housing markets of 2013, according to a report by ZipRealty. Read more