Canada’s recreational property market appears to be bouncing back from a recessionary lull as buyers seek to capitalize on equity and stock-market gains, Re/Max says in a report Monday. Demand rose 78% in the 46 markets across the country covered by the realtor’s Recreational Property Report, while sales had risen or were on par in […]

 The TD Bank says Canadians can expect borrowing costs to remain near record lows for the rest of the year. That’s because the pace of the economic recovery is expected to slow sharply in Canada, the United States and much of the world. As such, the Bank of Canada will likely refrain from raising its […]

VANCOUVER – Canada’s housing market is entering overheated territory and many Canadians could be financially hurt once interest rates begin to rise, Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney is warning. The central banker on took his case for moderation on Wednesday to Vancouver, the epicentre of Canada’s hot housing market where he says home prices […]

The European sovereign debt crisis, a potential hard landing in China, weak U.S. economic data, and the U.S. debt ceiling debate have provided investors with plenty to worry about. Since none of these problems look like they will be resolved in the immediate future, don’t be surprised if global financial markets continue to be in […]

Statistics Canada says Canadian households slid deeper into debt in the first quarter as the use of credit outpaced income growth. The ratio of household debt to disposable income rose to 149.47 per cent from 147.64 a year earlier. That means Canadians owe $1.49 for every after-tax dollar they earn. Credit market debt grew by […]

1. Moncton, N.B. For the second year running, Moncton tops our list as the best place in Canada to buy real estate. Not only are houses here very affordable — with an average price of $163,000 — but household incomes average a respectable $72,093. This year, it was the only city out of 35 that […]

OTTAWA – Canada’s economy expanded an impressive 3.9 per cent in the first three months of this year, but there was little cheering in markets with the performance. Not only was the number slightly below the four per cent consensus expectation, but the elements of growth clearly signalled a sharp braking in the economy ahead. […]

Buying a house in the city or suburbs can be complicated enough, but buying a cottage or vacation property outside of town requires even more due diligence. In town, you probably wouldn’t ask if the water coming out of the tap is drinkable. Nor would you wonder if the plumbing was hooked up to the […]

Housing starts and sales will fall more into line with “demographic fundamentals” this year and next, according to the latest housing outlook from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The crown agency said it expects housing starts will range between 166,600 to 192,200 units in 2011, with a point forecast of 179,500. That’s a slight […]

This week on an abbreviated Big Picture podcast (co-host John Shmuel is off in parts unknown): If you’ve been in the market looking for a home the past few years, you’ve likely griped about how seemingly far out of whack prices have become. This is especially true if you happen to live — or want […]