Moving in with someone is a big deal whether they are a best friend, acquaintance, boyfriend or someone completely new! There are some key things to know about your new roommate before you move in that will help things go smoothly and make sure you don’t have any surprises! Communication is Key It is very easy to make assumptions about […]

Assuming you decided to pack your own belongings, this article will help you with a step-by-step plan to tackle this big step.  Careful planning and packing will save you time, money and potentially a lot of frustration. Step 1 – What stays and what goes? Decide what will move with you and what will stay behind.  There may be items […]

Leases are a binding contract between a tenant and a landlord and breaking a lease is a breach of this contract. Despite this breach, you may find yourself with a valid reason for needing to break your lease – such as moving to another city. If you are in this situation, we want to help you try to avoid – […]

Land Transfer Taxes (LTT) are provincial taxes levied on the exchange of real estate, and are the responsibility of the purchaser. Usually the LTT is a percentage of the property value.  All provinces have a land transfer tax except Alberta and Saskatchewan (who instead levy a much smaller fee). Note that Ontario, Toronto, B.C. and PEI there are LTT rebates […]

Is it mandatory? Mortgage loan insurance, also known as mortgage default insurance, is mandatory in Canada if you have a high-ratio mortgage.  In other words, if the down payment on your mortgage is between 5% and 19.99% you will require mortgage loan insurance.  If your down payment is at least 20% mortgage loan insurance is generally not required.  However there […]

Together with tips and checklists, this article has been written to help facilitate moving with preschoolers and younger children including: How to tell younger children about the move What reactions you can expect from them What can your child do to help and be actively involved Packing and moving day to-do lists An earlier article, ‘’Moving with children’’ provides general […]

Do I need to a sign lease or tenancy agreement? Yes. A landlord is obligated to give the tenant a copy of the tenancy agreement within 21 days of signing. Types of rental periods, which determine how long you can stay in the apartment Periodic Lease: the rental period can relate to a calendar week, month, or year Fixed Term […]

Leases are a binding contract between a tenant and a landlord and breaking a lease is a breach of this contract. Despite this breach, you may find yourself with a valid reason for needing to break your lease – such as moving to another city. If you are in this situation, we want to help you try to avoid – […]

Do I need to sign a lease or tenancy agreement? No. A verbal agreement can still be binding. However, where a written rental agreement exists, there are a number of requirements: The landlord must provide the tenant with a full copy of that agreement within 21 days of the date that the agreement was signed. If the landlord does not […]

What are you looking for in your new apartment? When you start your apartment search, you are going to realize that there are hundreds of options on the market. In order to narrow down your search and make your apartment hunt as efficient as possible, there are a couple of factors you should consider before you begin. Thinking about these […]