How the First Home Savings Account (FHSA) Works

Saving a down payment in today’s market can feel like pushing a boulder uphill. The First Home Savings Account (FHSA) is one of the few tools that meaningfully tilts the slope in your favour. Done right, it combines the tax deduction of an RRSP with the tax-free growth and withdrawals (for a qualifying first home) of a TFSA—giving you an efficient, flexible way to accelerate your path to ownership. Below, you’ll find a plain-English walkthrough of the rules, benefits, deadlines, and smart strategies, so you can use the FHSA with confidence.

What Is the FHSA?

The FHSA is a registered savings plan introduced by the Canadian federal government in 2023 to help first-time home buyers accumulate money…

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The GTA Homeowner’s Flood-Proofing & Insurance Playbook: How to Protect Your House, Your Wallet, and Your Peace of Mind

A summer cloudburst rolls in, the street turns into a shallow river, and your group chat lights up with videos of water gushing into basements. In the Greater Toronto Area, that scene is becoming familiar—and costly. Insured losses from severe weather shattered Canadian records in 2024, with the Insurance Bureau of Canada reporting more than $8 billion in insured damage, driven by back-to-back storm events and flash floods. That is not a headline you can ignore as a homeowner. It is a to-do list.

This guide cuts through noise and rumours with verified, local, and actionable steps. The goal is simple—reduce your risk, lower your…

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How to Add a Legal Income Suite in Toronto: Basement, Laneway, Garden, or Multiplex?

You love your street, and you would love a little help with the mortgage. The good news for GTA homeowners is that Ontario and Toronto have opened several legal paths to add housing on your lot—ranging from a classic basement apartment to a laneway or garden suite, or even converting your house to a small multiplex. The rules are real, the opportunities are meaningful, and with a smart plan you can create long-term value, steady rental income, and more flexibility for multigenerational living. This guide distils what changed, what is allowed, and how to move from idea to approved plans with confidence.

The rulebook: Province vs. City (what each level controls)

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Top 10 Interior Design Trends for 2025 — Renter-Friendly Ideas for GTA Homes

If you are renting in the Greater Toronto Area, you know every square foot has to work hard, look good, and be easy to reverse on move-out day. The biggest design shift in 2025 is toward expressive, personal spaces that still feel calm, functional, and sustainable. Market trends are pointing to warmer palettes, handcrafted details, and small-space solutions you can implement without losing your deposit.

Below are the top ten trends you will actually use in a condo, basement apartment, or rental house — plus renter-safe ways to bring each one home.

1) Warmer, moodier colours replace cool greys

After years of stark neutrals, 2025 is all about cosy browns, complex plums,…

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Understanding the Rules Around Pets for Ontario Renters

Bringing a furry family member into a rental can feel stressful when listings say “no pets,” condo rules look strict, and everyone has an opinion. The good news: Ontario law gives renters real protections, and there are clear situations where a landlord can take action. This guide breaks down what is actually legal in Ontario, how condo rules fit in, when service and support animals must be accommodated, and the local by-laws that apply across the Greater Toronto Area.

The law, plainly: What the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) says

“No pets” clauses are void after you become a tenant

Section 14 of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 makes any provision in a tenancy agreement that…

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Which Tenant “Qualifications” Are Realistic in 2025?

Choosing the right tenant is both an art and a compliance exercise. In 2025, GTA homeowners renting a condo, basement suite, or investment property face a tighter rulebook, evolving market conditions, and applicants with increasingly diverse profiles—newcomers, remote workers, students, and families. The goal is simple: screen fairly, follow Ontario law, and land a qualified tenant who will pay on time, care for the home, and be a good neighbour.

Below is a fact-checked, plain-language guide to what is realistic (and legal) to ask for this year, plus what to avoid so you protect yourself without running afoul of the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), the Ontario Human Rights Code, or privacy rules.

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Can I Use Life Insurance for a Down Payment? (GTA Homebuyer’s Guide)

Saving a down payment is one of the biggest hurdles to homeownership, especially across the GTA. If you have permanent life insurance (whole life or universal life), you might be wondering whether you can use it to help fund your purchase. Could that be the missing piece that gets you through the door of a Toronto condo, a Mississauga townhouse, or a family home in Etobicoke?

Below, you will find how it works in Canada, lender and insurer rules you must meet, tax risks to watch, and smarter alternatives to consider—so you can decide confidently.

The 3 Ways Life Insurance Can Fund a Down Payment

1) Withdraw cash value (permanent life only)

Permanent life insurance (whole…

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The Cost of Selling a House in Canada

Selling is not just about the price you accept; it is about the net you keep. Below is a clear, GTA-focused breakdown of typical seller costs in Canada, where they come from, and smart ways to manage them.

The Big Three Seller Costs

1) Real estate commission (fully negotiable)

There is no fixed or government-set commission in Ontario. You and your listing brokerage agree on if, how, and how much commission is paid, and commissions are negotiable. RECO (Ontario’s regulator) explicitly states the amount is not fixed or approved by RECO, government, or boards.

Typical GTA patterns: Combined commission often falls in the 3.5%–5% range of the sale price, though structures vary by property, market, and…

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Tips for Buying Land to Build a House On (GTA Edition)

Picture this: you find a beautiful lot with mature trees, a quiet street, and the perfect spot where your future living room could catch the afternoon sun. It looks ideal, yet beneath the surface are the rules, services, soils, and approvals that decide whether your dream home actually fits, and at what cost. Buying land in the GTA is as much about purchasing permission as it is about purchasing property. The smartest buyers treat the process like a well-sequenced project, testing assumptions early, and turning uncertainty into clear, buildable steps.

The goal is simple—avoid costly surprises, protect your budget, and shorten your timeline from offer to occupancy. With careful due diligence, the…

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Can a Seller Back Out of an Offer in Canada?

Selling a home in the GTA can move fast. Multiple offers, tight timelines, and life changes can make even a confident seller wonder: can I back out after I’ve accepted an offer? The short answer is rarely, and only in narrow, contract-based scenarios. Once there is a binding Agreement of Purchase and Sale (APS), Ontario law treats it as a contract the courts will enforce.

Below is a plain-language guide for GTA sellers on when a seller can walk away, when they cannot, what happens to the deposit, and how to protect yourself before you sign. This is general information, not legal advice—always consult your real-estate lawyer for your specific situation.

Fast Primer: When Is a Deal “Real”?

The…

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