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The Bank of Canada’s recent decision to maintain the benchmark interest rate at 5% reflects its ongoing efforts to carefully manage the country’s economic landscape. This move follows a period of cautious optimism and economic recovery from the global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

By holding the interest rate steady, the Bank of Canada aims to strike a balance between supporting economic growth and managing inflationary pressures. A rate hike would have signaled a tightening of monetary policy, which can help combat inflation but could also potentially slow down economic activity. By keeping rates unchanged, the central bank is providing continued support to borrowers and businesses looking to invest and expand.

This decision comes after a series of rate hikes in recent months, as the Bank of Canada responded to rising inflationary concerns. The central bank’s mandate is to keep inflation within a target range, and recent increases in the inflation rate had prompted policymakers to take action.

Overall, the Bank of Canada’s decision to hold interest rates at 5% reflects its commitment to achieving a delicate balance between fostering economic growth and ensuring price stability in the face of ongoing economic uncertainties. It’s a signal that the central bank is closely monitoring economic conditions and is prepared to adjust its policy as needed to sustain Canada’s economic recovery.

Couture Vision – 228 Queens Quay West – This high-end optical boutique is situated across from Harbourfront. Enjoy a personal luxury shopping experience and select from unique and trendy collections.

we’re always adding here as things change. Please tell us about your favourite shops as well.

180 Smoke Vape Store – 228 Queens Quay West – Find a wide selection of popular name-brand vapes including starter and advanced kits, tanks, mods, e-cigars, portable and desktop herbal vaporizers, plus a variety of Canadian e-liquid. 

Dream Cyclery – 390 Queens Quay West – This premium independent bike shop is dedicated to tailor-made experiences for all customers, from inspection and service to the completed bike – with a unique delivery and pick-up service available. 

Harbour Square Postal and Gift – 25 Queens Quay East – A convenience store with fine foods and a postal office – how convenient is that?

INS Market – 208 Queens Quay – A true “variety store,” INS carries everything from gum, chocolate, chips and drinks, to lottery tickets, gift cards and more.

Labatt Breweries Ontario – 207 Queens Quay West – This internationally renowned brewer offers a portfolio of about 60 quality beers employs 3,000 Canadians across the Western, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic regions. Part of Anheuser-Busch InBev, which brews more than 200 brands including Budweiser, Stella Artois and Beck’s. 

Lakeview Convenience – 410 Queens Quay West – Convenience is the key word for this store in the central waterfront, offering home hardware products, food, courier service and even rental DVDs.

Rexall Drugstore – 88 Queens Quay West – This Canadian pharmacy drug store chain is also where you can find cosmetics, beauty supplies, personal care products and more!

The Beer Store – 350 Queens Quay West – In business since 1927 and owned by 25 Ontario-based brewers, this chain carries the largest selection of beer in Ontario from 100 breweries around the world.

The Dock Shoppe – 350 Queens Quay West – Attention boaters! This store has everything to help you get and stay on the water safely and comfortably – oh, and in style!

The Nautical Mind Bookstore – 249 Queens Quay West – This well-established store carries books focusing on nautical and marine literature for active and would-be boaters.

The Wine Shop – 228 Queens Quay West – Considered the gateway to Niagara wines in Toronto, The Wine Shop carries premium VQA wines from several wineries. They can help you find or locate the perfect wine to pair with your menu.

York Quay Fine Foods – 89 Queens Quay West – This is your one-stop shop for everything from groceries to a sushi bar, post office service and more – AND, it’s open 365 days a year!

The quest for affordable housing in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area is ongoing. In December 2010, the benchmark price for low-rise homes in the GTA was $536,537, and of condos, $428,800. The latest statistics from Altus Group show that in January 2021, the benchmark price for new single-family homes reached $1,362,952 – up 24.2 per cent over the previous 12 months. The benchmark price of new condominiums was $1,021,017 – up 10.4 per cent over the previous 12 months. Who would have thought we’d ever see these benchmarks in our lifetime? 

So, what gives? It’s all about the rule of supply and demand. A Ryerson University study showed that in 2018, Toronto experienced some of the highest net population growth in North America, with 77,000 people settling in the city, and a total of 125,000 in the GTA. Yet, the new home industry built just 35,000 homes across Toronto and the GTA. Then consider locations. Developable land in the City of Toronto is scarce, so we have seen an explosion of condominiums in the 905 areas. According to Dave Wikes, BILD President and CEO, for a new home market to be healthy, we need nine to 12 months of inventory, but we currently have only about four months’ worth. 

In short, our population is increasing faster than new homes are being built, and prices continue to rise. If you’re thinking, well, then build more homes – it’s not quite that easy. The government requires an unprecedented amount of red tape, paperwork and development charges that add somewhere in the vicinity of tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a home. Of course, it’s purchasers who pay the price for this. Add to that the dwindling supply of lumber in Canada, and rising prices are inevitable. Delays because of the lumber shortage add costs to building. Other materials shortages are taking their toll as well. 

What’s the answer? Governments need to take more dramatic steps to streamline the approvals process for residential building, as well as normalize supply chains that have been bogged down from the pandemic, which is still wrecking havoc with our economy. The introduction of the vaccine will help, of course, but it will take time. Depending on how things play out, Canada may see 1.2 million permanent residents added to our population between now and 2024, and many will settle in Toronto and the GTA. 

The good news is that mortgage interest rates are still incredibly low. Now is a great time to get into real estate as an investment, whether it is for your financial portfolio or to live in. Don’t you wish you’d have bought a new condo in 2010?

There are a lot of reasons to choose the City of Hamilton as your residential destination: breathtaking scenery, job opportunities, excellent golfing, shopping, schools, cultural venues, public transportation access, and attractive home and condominium prices, to name just a few. And now, with the announcement of the $400 million infrastructure investment by Bell Canada, add expanded broadband Internet access in urban and rural areas to the list. Over the next five years, Bell Canada will be installing fibre network connections to homes and businesses to benefit over 200,000 locations. And all of this will be done without taxing residents more. 

Those who benefit from this expanded network will enjoy accessing up to 1.5 gigabits per second, the fastest in Canada. Whether you depend on the net for business reasons or to surf and play games, this might be the game-changer when it comes to your new condo purchase decision. 

From the forests, conservation areas, waterfalls and Bruce Trail segment of the Niagara Escarpment to the factories that make Hamilton one of Canada’s leading industrial centres, the City is teeming with excitement and opportunities. The Conference Board of Canada has ranked Hamilton the top Canadian city for economic diversity. New restaurants, stores and other amenities are popping up as Hamilton’s population increases. Downtown, creative professionals and young people appreciate the reasonable rents they find there, making owning a condo as an investment a wise more. All residents appreciate having McMaster University in town, considering its faculty of medicine is ranked #2 in Canada’s top 40 research hospitals list. Golfing, festivals, events, museums, sports fields, a Farmers’ Market, artistic and cultural venues … the list of amenities is long and impressive.

And talk about location, location, location. Hamilton is about an hour and 15 minutes’ drive to Toronto, as well as under two hours from the U.S. border at Buffalo, NY. Being a port City, it boasts a beautiful waterfront. Among the transportation options you’ll find in Hamilton are bike-share and car-share possibilities. 

The Bell Canada investment will be the biggest digital infrastructure investment in Hamilton’s history. Whether it’s for an investment or to live in, buy your condo now before prices rise across the City.

A worksheet is an industry term used for a “Suite Reservation Form” 

– reserving the unit or one similar that you want to buy.

This is FIRST COME – FIRST SERVED basis.

When a condominium project launches sales – developers will ask buyers to complete a Worksheet which indicates the following:

• Your Full Name 

• Home Address

• Main phone number

• Your top 3 Suite floor plan types and which Floor Ranges that you would be interested in buying 

• A copy of your ID (typically a Driver’s License for local buyers) to confirm accuracy of contact information

The developers will then organize the list of condos and allocate suites based on the requests on the Worksheet.

Once you have been allocated a suite, you will be contacted with a time to sign the agreement.

We personally guarantee that you pay nothing to submit a Condo Worksheet.

BUT

If you don’t submit a Condo Worksheet you simply … miss out on being allocated a condo to buy.