Spring 2024

According to the Royal LePage House Price Survey released today, the aggregate1 price of a home in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) increased 5.1 per cent year over year to $1,123,300 in the fourth quarter of 2023. On a quarterly basis, however, the aggregate price of a home in the GTA decreased 2.1 per cent. 

 Broken out by housing type, the median price of a single-family detached home increased 3.6 per cent year over year to $1,373,800 in the fourth quarter of 2023, while the median price of a condominium increased 5.4 per cent to $719,900 during the same period.  

 “For the first time in months, Canadians seem to be feeling somewhat optimistic about the trajectory of borrowing costs. A brisk spring real estate market is on the horizon for Toronto and the GTA, provided the Bank of Canada has concluded its aggressive series of interest rate increases,” said Karen Yolevski, chief operating officer, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd. “Through the second half of 2023, sales activity in the region steadily declined allowing a small cache of inventory to build up. Despite this, home prices only dipped modestly during that time, due to a coinciding drop in demand as would-be buyers remained sidelined, waiting for interest rates to come down. And still, prices have remained above 2022 levels.”  

 In the city of Toronto, the aggregate price of a home increased 3.0 per cent year over year to $1,119,000 in the fourth quarter of 2023. During the same period, the median price of a single family detached home increased 5.6 per cent to $1,602,200, while the median price of a condominium increased 2.7 per cent to $699,800.  

Yolevski noted that despite a recent increase in supply, housing stock in the GTA remains altogether out of step with continuously growing demand.  

  “With new household formation from young Canadians, older generations wanting to age in place and a record number of newcomers entering the country, new construction cannot keep pace with the rate of demand,” said Yolevski. “Further, the demand-supply imbalance cannot be rectified with one simple solution. There is no silver bullet to solving Toronto’s – nor Canada’s – housing supply and affordability crisis. Rather, a series of concurrent initiatives to support and incentivize a rapid increase in housing supply is necessary through cooperation from all levels of government.”

In December, Royal LePage issued a forecast projecting that the aggregate price of a home in the GTA will increase 6.0 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to the same quarter in 2023.

1 Aggregate prices are calculated using a weighted average of the median values of all housing types collected. Data is provided by RPS Real Property Solutions and includes both resale and new build.

Window coverings can make or break the aesthetic in any space. Curtains are a great way to change the appearance of a room, making it feel brighter and even bigger. However, choosing the wrong curtains may have the opposite effect.

Here is a guide to picking the right curtains for your space:

To Add Width

If your window is narrow or you want to widen the look of your space, extend your curtain rod on either side of the window to cover an area of 10 to 12 inches outside the frame. Avoid slat blinds or Roman blinds if you’re trying to make your windows look wider. These options will sit inside the frame, making the window look even more narrow.

To Add Height

Place your curtain rod flush to the ceiling or below to add a lengthening effect to the room. Make sure your drapes are long enough to be flush with the floor to make the most of this effect, ensure that you avoid contact with heating elements or floor vents. Avoid fixing your curtain rods just above your window if you’re trying to create the illusion of higher ceilings.

To Add Privacy Without Sacrificing Light

Opt for fabrics such as thick linen or double-lined cotton to prevent your neighbours from seeing your living room dance parties. Black-out curtains are a great option to preserve energy and enhance privacy. You may also opt to install roller shades in your bedrooms for additional privacy.

Spring isn’t only a time of renewal for us. As the days get longer, your houseplants are beginning to wake up from their winter dormancy. Now is the perfect time to give them the tender love and care they need to thrive all year long.

Follow these tips for happier houseplants:

1. Repot
This is the ideal time to give plants a bit of extra space to grow by repotting, allowing their roots to stretch out and absorb more fertilizer. If your plants still have room for growth, add some fresh soil to the top.

2. Prune
Most indoor plants take well to pruning. In fact, pruning often encourages new growth. To start, cut off any leaves that are yellow, bruised, or shrivelled. Next, cut off any stems that have grown long and leggy or have put out only small new growth. New stems should form in their place.

3. Fertilize
There’s nothing like a good dose of nutrients to get your plants going after their winter rest! Now is the time to restart your fertilizing routine to give your plants the nutrients they need to thrive.

4. Dust and Wash
Did you know dust accumulation on leaves prevents light absorption in plants? Give your plants a little spring bath by supporting the underside of the leaf with your palm, and wiping the surface with a damp paper towel or soft cloth. You can also put your plants in the bath and give them a shower with tepid water – just be sure not to overwater!

Your home should be your safe place.There are plenty of devices that can help you monitor and protect your home, helping you feel safer than ever.

Use smart cameras to monitor indoor and outdoor spaces
Home security cameras are more connected than ever. Most of today’s smart cameras allow you to monitor your home from anywhere in the world using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections. Aim to cover your front, back, and living areas for basic coverage. Smart doorbells are also a great option for condo and homeowners alike. Built-in cameras offer audio and video to let you see who’s at your door, and some even provide free intelligent alerts that can differentiate between people, packages, and animals.

Install a smart lock on your front door
Smart locks allow you to control your front door locks remotely via your phone or tablet with a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. This is an excellent choice for families with kids or teenagers who stay at home alone after school or for pet owners who need to let in a dog walker or cat sitter.

Stay alert with smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors sound alarms just like traditional models, but can also deliver life-saving alerts to your devices should you be away. Many of these devices can be synced with your smart home security system as well.

Royal LePage® professionals from across Canada were given the opportunity to take part in the adventure of a lifetime. As a participant in the ‘Ecuador Challenge for Shelter’, they would camp in tents for four chilly nights and hike for 5 days towards the base of Mt. Cotopaxi – one of the highest active volcanoes in the world – all in support of the Royal LePage® Shelter Foundation™.

115 brave Royal LePagers answered the call, each one agreeing to cover all their personal trek and travel costs and to raise at least $6,000 for the cause. Ultimately, this team of fundraisers collected a staggering $1.7 million, setting a new record for the most money raised by a single Shelter Foundation event. Funds will be split between each trekker’s local women’s shelter and programs in communities from coast to coast that teach youth how to build healthy relationships and avoid violence in their lives. 

“Since June 2023, over 60 Canadian municipalities have declared Intimate Partner Violence an epidemic,”added Lisa Gibbs, executive director of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. “While the issue is complex, as Royal LePagers we understand instinctively that home should be a safe place for everyone and our resolve to be part of the solution has never been stronger.” 

While everyone came prepared for unpredictable mountain weather, many were surprised by the wild and wide-ranging conditions they faced. From frosty mornings, to scorching afternoons, to rain-soaked evenings, trekkers faced each hour with a mix of enthusiasm and fortitude as they climbed steadily up – and cautiously down – some of Ecuador’s most grueling terrain.

Each day on the trail, trekkers paused to read aloud an account of intimate partner violence, each one written by a fellow trekker who bravely shared her story to help center the purpose of the trek. While heartbreaking to hear the pain and suffering that these women have had to endure, trekkers drew strength from the resilience of women who have faced domestic abuse and the families of those who have been lost to this senseless violence. During the steepest of climbs, while traversing the most treacherous passes, and as they faced their most physically and emotionally demanding moments, trekkers relied on one another and their crew of experienced and compassionate guides to get them through.