what-every-first-time-home-buyer-should-know
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What Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Know

BySharon Jung

The Recipe You Need to Succeed Attend our seminar where we’ll give you real answers, home-buying strategies, and a recipe for success proven by our clients. We will provide you with a step-by-step guide with everything you need to know when it comes to buying your first home. Even if you are not a first-time buyer, all buyers are welcome! Our First-Time Home Buyer Seminar will offer you the perfect roadmap for your buying journey, where you can expect: In-depth insight into market trends A comprehensive understanding of the buying process, including where to start Clarity on what you can afford and how to prepare your finances At the end of the seminar, you will also connect one-on-one with our award-winning agents. With your dedicated guide, you can ask all your questions and receive valuable tips that reflect your unique circumstances. Whether you are looking to buy a pre-construction or a resale property, our GTA-Homes agents are prepared to walk with you while connecting you with other reliable real estate professionals you will need to have on your team. Decision to Rent or Buy Although buying a home may seem out of reach, most renters don’t realize how much money they’re actually spending each year on someone else’s mortgage and profit. Owning a home almost always comes out ahead because your monthly rental payments could have been helping you build equity in your own home instead! It also helps to factor in tax benefits, property appreciation, and other incentives when you buy. Let’s compare the numbers to give you a clear picture. If you are currently renting at $2,500 per month, plus about $130 in utilities, you’re paying $2,630 monthly or $31,560 a year. This money will only cover your cost of living and won’t do much else for you. It primarily goes toward paying off your landlord’s mortgage. Now let’s look at the monthly carrying costs of owning your own home. Let’s say you purchased a $500,000 home with a 20% down payment to avoid additional mortgage insurance fees and took on a fixed 30-year mortgage at 4% interest. Your monthly payments will need to include your mortgage payments, property taxes (1% of the property’s value annually), home insurance, and utilities.

june-2025-bank-of-canada-interest-rate-prediction
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June 2025 Bank of Canada Interest Rate Prediction

ByRose Ho

With the Bank of Canada set to announce its latest overnight interest rate on Wednesday, June 4, we anticipate a rate hold for the second time this year. Canada’s economic situation can be seen as currently too complicated for the Bank of Canada to increase or decrease its rate, thus potentially adding more confusion to the mix. This is due to ongoing trade uncertainty, fuelled by U.S. tariff decisions (or indecisions), and general economic turmoil. Meanwhile, unexpectedly high GDP performance (2.2% annualized) in the first quarter of the year, which may be attributed to a rush of pre-tariff spending on the other side of the border, is acting as a counter to falling inflation (1.7% in April) and growing recession fears. Therefore, the policy rate will likely remain the same as the Bank waits for further indications as to which way the market is turning. 2025 Interest Rate Announcements to Date Date Rate Change January 29 3.00% -0.25% March 12 2.75% -0.25% April 16 2.75% No change June 4 (prediction) 2.75% No change This predicted pause aligns with the Bank’s slow and conservative pace regarding interest rate decisions, as it aims to protect the Canadian economy from dramatic shifts. The overnight interest rate can be used to spur or dampen economic activity to balance inflation against GDP growth, but with so many factors moving in so many different directions, it makes sense for the Bank to stall for time. Rate change or not, all of this directly impacts the real estate market, from potential home buyers to current homeowners. So, what can Canadian consumers anticipate? What Does This Mean For Real Estate? With borrowing rates exactly the same as they have been since April, we can expect this to prolong the current state of the real estate market for a short period. Encouragingly, mortgage rates are still lower than they were just a year ago, which is great news for first-time home buyers! Realistically, hesitant buyers may continue to wait on the sidelines, hoping for a rate drop later in the year, which will result in a flood of buyers itching to join the housing ladder at the same time. However, prospective homeowners should seize the window of opportunity now while property prices and buyer competition are low and housing inventory and selection are high. Sparse sales activity since 2024 means that future home construction and completions are shrinking, so there will be a severe lack of supply in a few short years. The GTA anticipates less than 40,000 new homes added to the market by the end of 2025, which is set to drop to less than 20,000 new homes in 2026 and 2027, and slip further to less than 10,000 in 2028. At that time, prices will skyrocket again as today’s fearful buyers find themselves competing for the little that is available. Make your move today! First-time home buyers have the advantage right now: increased affordability, government incentives, lots of selection, and little competition. Don’t miss your chance to own your dream home. Connect with GTA-Homes’ agents for guidance in achieving homeownership. Our award-winning team is here to help you every step of the way. The post June 2025 Bank of Canada Interest Rate Prediction appeared first on Realinsights.