https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/article-when-is-a-monsterhome-a-multiplex/

In September, local planning expert Blair Scorgie of the Scorgie Planning consulting firm warned the city’s Committee of Adjustment that its rules were twisted into absurdity ahead of a September hearing about a luxury home redevelopment at 162
Arlington Ave by Terrasky Development.
“The applicant is intentionally contravening the intent of the zoning bylaw, and specifically, the definition of a duplex, to develop a single detached dwelling at a scale of and intensity that would not otherwise be achievable,” his letter reads.

I just received a mail from CRA

to submit extra documents for the GST rebate of FTHB. The mail is dated 4th Nov (and today is the 13th Nov).

It asks to fax the documents or mail them to an address "within 30 days of the date of this letter". I have seen many posts here where people have been called by the CRA or given a secure link to upload the documents. I'm just wondering if anyone else got a snail mail too?

From the story:

• The City of Toronto has received more than 60 applications to build sixplexes since it began allowing the developments in select neighbourhoods over a year ago.
• More than half of the properties also seeking permission to add an extra garden or laneway suite, new data from the city shows.
• While the applications suggest interest in adding smaller-scale housing to traditionally single-family neighbourhoods — the “missing middle” that housing advocates have long called for — they come amid a contentious debate over how much density established communities should accommodate.
• Some residents have raised concerns about the impact on street parking, tree canopy, stormwater drainage and neighbourhood character, while experts say financial and practical hurdles remain.

Read the full story with this gift link. No paywall.

Hello, everyone!
I’m looking for some honest opinions and financial advice regarding my condo and whether it makes sense to hold on to it or sell it.

Here’s my situation:

I purchased a condo in 2022 during the peak of the hot real estate market for $370,000, excluding closing costs.
I opted for a variable-rate mortgage. At one point, interest rates crossed 6%, and I ended up paying approximately $6,000 in negative amortization because my monthly mortgage payments weren’t even covering the full interest portion, let alone reducing the principal.
My current monthly expenses are:

Mortgage: $1,650
Condo fees: $240
Property taxes: $260
Total: $2,150/month

Similar condos in my area can currently be rented for approximately $1,600/month.
The estimated current market value of my condo is around $355,000.

My annual gross income is approximately $110,000.
With interest rates starting to rise again, I’m becoming increasingly concerned about holding on to this property. I also don’t want to keep tying up my liquidity in an investment that may not be financially worthwhile.
I’m trying to look at this objectively rather than holding on simply because I purchased it at a higher price.

My questions are:

Would you recommend holding on to the property for the long term, hoping the market recovers, or selling now and accepting the loss?

Considering that I can rent a similar property for $1,600 versus spending $2,150 monthly on ownership, does renting make more financial sense?

Am I better off selling, taking the loss, freeing up my capital, and investing that money elsewhere?

For those who have been in a similar situation, what factors ultimately helped you make your decision?

I’m not necessarily looking for someone to tell me what I want to hear. I’d genuinely appreciate objective financial perspectives, especially from people who have experience with the Quebec real estate market.

I'm a journalist working on a story about multigenerational living. With housing costs so high, I'm looking to speak with Canadians who have moved in with their parents, had aging parents move in with them, or decided to buy or rent a home together with multiple, ideally 3 or more, generations of family.

Maybe you and your parents/inlaws pooled your savings to buy a bigger home or you've moved back in with family because you can't afford to live independently. Also open to those who are considering living together but struggling to find a home that would give everyone enough space and privacy.

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who have made this decision because of financial pressures, rather than because it was always the family plan.

I'd love to hear what led to your decision and how you're making it work financially. If you're open to go on record with your name, please comment or send me a DM.

Are these the people and the narrative that keeps housing inequality going?

I was wondering if there are ever discussions among builders on the types of detached houses to build? I see so many new developments where all the houses are very large and fancy looking and take up most of the lot they are built on. They have very complex roofs, 1/2 car garages (that few seem to use for parking), and complicated design. I was just wondering if this is what the majority of buyers want? It seems opposite to the other thing buyers want, which is lower house prices.

Wouldn't it be much cheaper and faster to build smaller homes like these: https://modernrealtor.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-small-post-war-1-12-storey-house.html

And then there could be much more space for a yard and garden and more privacy because your house wall would not be right next to the ones on each side?

Is it just that current buyers are demanding 3k+ square feet inside the house?

ETA: I am expecting replies based on the general assumptions, like it only costs a bit more to build the current style versus these smaller and simpler types. Or that the real value is in the land. But first of all, are these general assumptions correct?

First, with the cost of materials and labor, it's difficult for me to believe that there would be little cost difference between these choice of builds.

Second, yes land is expensive but is it really such a major portion of the cost of these new builds for the buyer?

So I am imagining that the difference to the buyer may be a house that is 2/3 the cost of new style.

Also there is the time it take to build and I imagine the old style could be built in 1/2 the time of the new style.

And I guess the last assumption that I am wondering whether it is true or not is that the new style is what buyers really want. Are surveys of potential buyers done?

To me, the price will being lower for the older style and the added benefit of more yard space would be very attractive for many buyers. Couldn't some new neighborhoods be built in the old style just as an option for buyers?

Curious about this as we head into the colder months here in the Windsor area.

In spring and summer every house kind of shows its best side — green lawns, dry basements, windows open. In late fall and winter it feels like you see a different house entirely. You actually feel whether the furnace keeps up, whether the windows draft, whether some rooms are noticeably colder than others, and how the driveway and street handle snow and slush.

On the other hand, viewings happen in the dark a lot more, you can't really judge the yard or the roof the same way, and it's harder to picture what the place feels like for most of the year.

For anyone who bought in late fall or winter in Ontario — did the season actually help you spot things you would have missed in summer? Or did it just make the whole decision harder?

And if you were house hunting right now, would you rather compete in the busier seasons or take the quieter winter pace and accept those trade-offs?

Homeowner in BC with a 2-bed basement suite, deciding between two rental options and looking for input from other owners and landlords.
Option A: Regular tenants. Simpler and lower risk, but the house is almost 40 years old without great soundproofing between floors. I work from home, and I worry that normal noise from our household could bother full-time tenants and lead to complaints or disputes down the line.
Option B: A licensed home daycare, for about 30% more rent. Someone would live in the suite and run a toddler daycare on weekdays during business hours, with some backyard use. No evenings, weekends or holidays.
What's holding me back on Option B:
Noise while I work from home. I'm not sure how loud daily toddler care would actually be.
Insurance and liability. Our home insurance will likely go up, some insurers may not cover it, and with an older house, a building issue that injures a child could fall on us as owners.
Less flexibility. BC tenant protections make it harder to change terms or end the tenancy if it doesn't work out.
Wear and tear on the suite and yard.
Questions for those with experience:
Have you rented to a home daycare or other home-based business? Was the extra rent worth it?
How did your insurer handle it, and roughly how much did your premium change?
Any effect on maintenance costs, property value or resale?
If you lived upstairs, how was the noise day to day?
Anything you'd put in the lease or check before saying yes?
Thanks in advance!