The Real Estate Market Has Shifted — And Strategy Must Shift With It Canada’s real estate market has changed. The urgency and multiple-offer intensity that defined the pandemic years has eased. Negotiating leverage today sits more comfortably with buyers, creating a different landscape for both buyers and sellers. As inventory rises, buyer urgency naturally softens and homes tend to spend more time on the market. Across Canada, homeowners are adjusting to a reality where... [read more]

After more than 33 years in real estate, we’ve had the privilege of listing and selling homes in many wonderful towns within about a 1½-hour drive of Toronto and Durham Region. One of the things we enjoy most about our work is discovering new communities and meeting great people along the way. Every town has its own personality — the local café everyone loves, the walking trails, the lake views, the farmers’ markets, or simply the friendly people who make it... [read more]

We’ve been having this conversation at a lot of kitchen tables lately. With all the headlines about interest rates and timing the market, many people feel they need to make the “perfect” decision. After 33+ years in real estate, here’s the truth we share with our clients: The right time to move depends on your plan — not the season. Yes, spring usually brings more listings and more activity. But it also brings more competition. Homes that come on... [read more]

Today’s buyers and sellers don’t want to be sold to. They want guidance. Real estate decisions carry emotional weight—homes are tied to family, finances, memories, and future plans. People aren’t just making a purchase or a sale; they’re making a life decision. In a market filled with headlines, opinions, and pressure, trust is built by professionals who show up prepared, listen carefully, and remain fully present. Clients want someone who understands both the... [read more]

Recent news headlines highlight a growing concern — buying a home has become far less affordable, especially for younger and first-time buyers. Rising prices combined with higher interest rates have pushed monthly payments well beyond what many households can comfortably manage. There’s no question affordability is tighter than it was a decade ago. Wages simply haven’t kept pace with how quickly home values increased across much of Ontario. At the same time,... [read more]

Winter often slows real estate activity as fewer buyers browse homes due to cold weather, snow, and busy holiday schedules. However, the buyers who remain active are usually serious and motivated. With fewer homes on the market, sellers face less competition, and well-presented properties can stand out. While the pace may be slower, winter can still be a great time to buy or sell with the right approach. [read more]

Is Now a Good Time to Buy or Sell? One of the most common questions we hear is whether it’s better to buy or sell right now. The truth is, the “right time” depends less on headlines and more on your personal goals. For sellers, today’s market can still offer strong value—especially for well-priced, well-presented homes. Buyers are more selective than they were a few years ago, which makes pricing strategy and proper marketing more important than ever. For... [read more]

Annual Greater Toronto Area (GTA) home sales declined in 2025 compared to 2024, as economic uncertainty weighed on consumer confidence. Over the same period, listing inventory remained elevated, allowing for selling prices to be negotiated downward, helping improve affordability.   [read more]

According to the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis, over 35% of the cost of a new home in Ontario is now made up of government taxes. If you buy in Toronto, the Land Transfer taxes are double!! More reason to buy in Durham. [read more]

Rates holding steady is supportive for buyers and sellers — no new shock to borrowing costs. The Bank is clearly in “wait and see” mode, watching inflation, trade, and domestic demand. Weak near-term growth suggests no rush to raise rates, which helps maintain buyer confidence. Improved employment is a positive sign, but caution remains — expect steady, not explosive, market activity. If growth improves in 2026 as forecast,... [read more]

Passage of the Building Faster Act, 2025 (Bill 60) marks another positive step forward by the Ontario Government towards boosting housing supply, improving affordability, and strengthening our rental housing market. Notably, TRREB welcomes the commitment to enhancing Ontario’s rental-housing system, particularly reforms to the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) which TRREB has championed since 2024. Bill 60 will speed up hearings, improve procedures for rent arrears, streamline... [read more]

Greater Toronto Area (GTA) home sales, new listings, and average selling price were down compared to a year earlier in November 2024. Intending homebuyers remained on the sidelines awaiting more positive economic news. “There are many GTA households who want to take advantage of lower borrowing costs and more favourable selling prices. What they need most is confidence in their long-term employment outlook. Fortunately, we saw encouraging news on jobs and the broader... [read more]

Pickering Real Estate Update: What’s Happening Locally The Pickering real estate market continues to show steady activity this fall. While the pace of sales has eased slightly compared to the spring and summer, demand remains strong — especially for well-priced homes in desirable neighborhoods. Buyers are taking advantage of more balanced conditions, with a little extra time to view properties and make informed decisions. At the same time, sellers who prepare and price their... [read more]

Home sales took a slight pause in September but remained the strongest for that month since 2021. With years of pent-up demand and more normal interest rates, sales are expected to keep climbing through the rest of 2025 and into 2026. Now might be a good time to start looking at what is coming on the market. [read more]

September home sales increased in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) compared to a year earlier, as more home buyers sought to take advantage of more affordable monthly mortgage payments. Buyers continued to respond to substantial choice in the marketplace by negotiating the average selling price downward. The Bank of Canada’s September interest rate cut was welcome news for home buyers. With lower borrowing costs, more households are now able to afford monthly mortgage payments on a home... [read more]

Go Jays Go! Why Toronto Still Believes The Toronto Blue Jays have always been more than just a baseball team — they’re a symbol of pride, perseverance, and passion for fans across Canada. Through every high and low, one thing remains constant: the energy that fills the Rogers Centre and the unwavering belief that this team can rise to the occasion. This season may have had its challenges, but the Jays continue to show flashes of brilliance — from clutch hitting to... [read more]

The Durham Region market isn’t standing still. Buyers are out there, but they’re choosier than ever—looking for value, lifestyle, and long-term potential. Sellers who prepare, price, and present their homes properly are the ones making moves this fall.Durham continues to shine as a destination for families and commuters who want space without giving up convenience. From Oshawa’s new developments to Pickering’s lakefront appeal, the region offers variety and... [read more]

Fall Real Estate Market: Time for a Pricing Reset As we move into the fall real estate season, one trend is standing out: homes that have lingered on the market for months—some dating back to early 2024—are overdue for a pricing reset. Earlier in 2024, many properties hit the market priced with expectations rooted in the post-pandemic boom. At that time, interest rates were high but fluctuating, and sellers hoped that spring and summer would reignite buyer demand. Today, the... [read more]

Fall 2025 Real Estate Market: A “Wait and See” Season This fall, Canada’s housing market is all about wait and see. The spring was flat, and most experts predict a 1.7–3.2% price decline, while a few remain optimistic. What’s Shaping the Market? Affordability: With average resale prices in Ontario near $795,300, many buyers are stepping back. Uncertainty: Trade disputes, higher unemployment, and slower growth are weighing on... [read more]

Why Patience Matters Pricing isn’t the only factor at play—patience is also key. A longer time on the market doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong with your home. In many areas, it’s simply the new normal. The average days on market have increased, and sellers should expect the process to take longer than it might have in past years. That said, patience doesn’t mean sitting back and doing nothing. The most successful sellers stay... [read more]

Bonnie & Paul...Selling a house & buying a condo is a life changing experience. We would just like to say thank you for your guidance & patience as we worked our way through all the decisions & organization that come with a move. We never once felt pressured throughout the sale or purchase & always felt our many questions were taken seriously & responded to quickly. Thanks again. We wish you much success going forward. M&M [read more]

How to Avoid a Mortgage Scam Scams are everywhere just waiting for you to take the bait if you aren’t careful. For many homeowners, their home is their biggest asset, so dodging a mortgage scam takes on extra importance. These scams can take the form of false promises for better mortgage terms, wire fraud phishing schemes during the closing process, stealing your home equity with reverse mortgages, loan flipping (where the borrower is persuaded to repeatedly refinance the same loan so... [read more]

My name is Mary, and I’m delighted to share my experience working with Bonnie and Paul Jones of the Sutton Group. I recently had the pleasure of both selling my home and purchasing a condominium with their support — and this isn’t the first time. In fact, Bonnie and Paul also represented me 23 years ago when I moved from Scarborough to Pickering. It was an easy decision to work with them again, and I couldn’t be happier that I did. Bonnie and Paul are consummate... [read more]

🔥 Hot Summer Trends in Durham Real Estate – July 2025 Update 🔥 The Durham Region real estate market is heating up this summer—and it's not just the weather! From Pickering to Bowmanville, buyers and sellers alike are jumping back into the market with confidence and big expectations. 🏡 Detached homes are flying off the market, especially in family-friendly areas like Whitby and Courtice, where space, charm, and community vibes are a winning combo. And with interest... [read more]

Homeownership is more affordable in 2025, with lower home prices and borrowing costs compared to last year. Under normal circumstances, we’d expect stronger sales. But ongoing economic uncertainty, particularly around trade relations with the U.S., is keeping many buyers on the sidelines. Confidence—and activity will pick up once stability returns. Additional rate cuts would also help support demand and increase market prices. We are already seeing the Durham market activity... [read more]

Toronto’s real estate market in 2025 is marked by resilience and cautious optimism. After years of volatility—fueled by pandemic-era migration, interest rate swings, and inflationary pressures—the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) housing market has begun to stabilize. This year, demand remains strong, particularly in the face of population growth driven by record-high immigration levels and interprovincial migration. The result: persistent upward pressure on home prices, especially... [read more]

No home is going to appeal to every market, but that’s not the point! The point is to find one perfect buyer. If swimming pools don’t appeal to older home buyers, such as empty nesters, then they’re simply not part of the market for that particular property. Families with young kids looking for a home to grow into, a pool could be a huge selling point, especially in warm climates. The point is, and this applies to all features, not just pools, unique features may cut down the... [read more]

Prices for detached, townhomes & semi's shot up 24% from Nov 2019 - Nov 2020 in Durham Region. With the low inventory, multiple offers are the norm. Buyers & Sellers are looking to Realtors with years of experiance to help safely guide them through the maze of home ownership. Check out bonnieandpaul.com for more info [read more]

In May, we launched our Monthly Pulse Check on Consumer Attitudes to give you access to the latest data on consumer trends in real estate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, our research has found that: Over 6 in 10 Ontarians who are actively in the real estate market say buying a home today is a very good or good investment (July research) More than 7 in 10 renters and homeowners say it would be important/somewhat important to use a REALTOR® to help purchase a home that... [read more]

Just in case anybody is feeling the pinch and wants to defer their Property Taxes. The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board has made a contact sheet to assist. Just paste the link in your browser. http://trreb.ca/files/news_releases/news2020/property_tax_deferral-2020.pdf [read more]

Economists at TD bank are predicting a positive outlook for Canadian House Prices. In a recent article by Huffington Post they commented that prices may rise by 6% by the end of the year. [read more]

What if your Ideal Home Isn't Available? Imagine you're looking for a new home. You have a list of all the features you want, just like you would have a grocery shopping list. However, when you explore the homes currently on the market, none meets all your criteria. What do you do? You have a few good options. First, you can take a second look at your list. Does your new home need every single feature on it? Are there one or two features you can do without? For example, can you settle... [read more]

You can buy a cottage or vacation with 5% down...Genworth has a vacation/secondary homes program that makes it possible...Check out their website at genworth.ca/vac or drop us a line. Bonnie & Paul Jones, Sutton Group Heritage Realty, bonnieandpaul.com [read more]

Bungalows are in great demand as the population gets older. One of the best areas to buy a bungalow is in Durham. With a close proximity to Toronto, lower purchase prices, reasonable commute times and municipal governments that are looking to the future with many new jobs and infrastructure. Check out life in the subburbs!! We will be happy to help you make the move. [read more]

Ontario is considering allowing realtors to tell prospective home buyers the prices of other offers in bidding wars. The government launched a consultation Thursday looking at the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, and that’s one rule they’re looking at changing. Currently, if there are multiple bids on a home, the seller’s broker can only disclose the number of competing offers, but not the details of... [read more]

Follow the new trend in Real estate, buy your loft style home outside the city...Skip the high prices, high crime and high density neighbourhoods...more and more Melinials are moving out of the city to acheive a safe place to raise their new families. Check out such an example at bonnieandpaul.com   Oh yea, theres no Condo fee!! [read more]

If you are thinking of taking advantage of the busy Fall Real Estate market, now is the time to prepare. We are here to assist you with your needs. We have been selling Real Estate in Durham & Toronto for 28 years. We are Fulltime professional Realtors. We will be happy to sassist you in preparing yopur home, establishing a market price & discussing our successful marketing plan. Call Bonnie & Paul Jones 416-578-9622. [read more]

If you take care to price your home correctly - that is, at a price that is in line with what similar properties in the area have sold for recently - then you have a good chance of selling it at or near your asking price. Call us, with 27 years of experience, we get it right!! [read more]

Tired of qualifying for the governments mortgage stress test?? Contact us, we have mortgage companies that can help. Banks have to qualify you based on the new Stress Test. Our mortgage brokers, might be able to help. They have lenders that do not have to use the Stress Test. [read more]

Why is the Real estate market in Durham Region outpreforming Toronto this year? Simply put, homes in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby & Oshawa give you more bang for your buck. Homes in Durham are more afordable. So why spend more money in Toronto? Contact us and we will be happy to show you what you can get for your money here. [read more]

Some encouraging stats regarding market activity from Sutton Group Heritage Realty.   Feb 1-21 we had 991 showings, company wide, 37 houses sold, and average days on market 29.62. Mar 1-21 we had 1310 showings, company wide, 170 homes sold and average days on the market 20.34.   The Buyers are out there and the Sellers need to get their properties on the market sooner than later. Call or email us, lets chat about our Power Marketing Plan, THAT WORKS!!   [read more]

PICKERING — Pickering is working on ways to protect the city's established neighbourhoods, and is starting with an immediate restriction on the height of houses being built in the Rosebank, West Shore and Bay Ridges neighbourhoods. Pickering’s planning and development committee implemented a nine-metre height restriction for homes going up in these neighbourhoods. The bylaw amendment was passed at the March 5 committee meeting, and will come to council on March 12. Click... [read more]

Open House Questions Some Buyers Forget to Ask at an Open House. it’s not unusual to forget to ask important questions about the property. Here are some of the most common: • How old is the roof? • How old is the furnace, air conditioner and other HVAC equipment? • How does the price compare to similar properties in the neighbourhood? (You don’t want to make an offer that’s too high.) • What are the characteristics of the neighbourhood?... [read more]

This week's census data reveals that home ownership rates in Canada are dropping and that young people, in particular, are more likely to be living in rentals or at home. If you combine rising student debt, wage stagnation and job insecurity, and rising house prices in many Canadian cities then this trend isn't at all shocking.This week's census data reveals that home ownership rates in Canada are dropping and that young people, in particular, are more likely to be living... [read more]

Check out this website for government grants. You may qualify, for home owner grants, home improvment grants, utility rebates... http://showmethegreen.ca/home/home-improvement/54-government-grants-that-every-ontario-homeowner-should-know-2017-edition/ [read more]

Great news on Durham Live, A decision has been released and Pickering won the Ontario Municipal Board appeal. The project has planning approval now! An important milestone to this great opportunity project. We now need the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission to award an operator and select the Pickering Durham Live site. [read more]

Toronto Real Estate Board statistics show a moderate slip in home prices in the GTA of 6%, in the month of May. It is a changing market. Now, more than ever buyers and sellers need experienced agents to guide them through the buying and selling process. We have 27 years of fulltime experience. We will be happy to assist you...Check us out at bonnieandpaul.com then give us a call! [read more]

Real Estate Prices Moderate The average selling price in the Toronto area was $890,284 through May 14, up 17 percent from a year earlier, yet down 3.3 percent from the full month of April. The annual price gain is down from 25 percent in April and 33 percent in March. Toronto has seen yearly price growth every month since May 2009. The last time the city saw gains of less than 10 percent was in December 2015.  Bloomberg News [read more]

  The Real Estate market is changing! Residential sales down 2.2% in April 2017 compared to a year earlier. New listings in Ontario numbered 41,089 units in April 2017, an increase of 10.5% compared to last year. The provincial average price of homes in April 2017 rose 24.1% compared to a year earlier. More inventory means less multiple offers & lower prices. It's a good time to buy!! Call Bonnie 416-254-1123 if you... [read more]

Deciding what price tag to put on your home is never easy.  Price is often the determining factor for potential buyers. Location, layout and amenities are important but in the end most of us have to look at the bottom line.  Many sellers like to think they can start with the price they originally paid, add a healthy mark-up and wait for the offers to roll in. A lot of those sellers will have to adjust their price once their home is on the market. Try to put aside your... [read more]

Pickering has been named one of the top North American cities of the future by fDi magazine for 2017/2018. fDi shortlisted more than 421 locations across North and South American in five categories: economic potential; business friendliness; human capital and lifestyle; cost effectiveness; and connectivity. The City of Pickering was ranked in the top 10 among micro cities, placing fourth for connectivity and sixth for business friendliness. Pickering was also recently named one... [read more]

Principal Residence Exemption For the 70% of Canadians who own a home, it is a place to live, raise a family, and connects them to their community. Due to Canada’s tax system’s Principal Residence Exemption, when we sell our homes, any increased value or “capital gains” are not taxed. This tax break matters to Canadian homeowners. Collectively, we have about $3 trillion in home equity and our homes are often our largest financial asset. However, starting... [read more]

There are currently 161 properties for sale in Durham Region, under $500,000. Start looking in the right place, to buy a home. Durham Region has alot to offer. Contact us, lets talk. [read more]

Toronto's soaring home prices are in line with the reality of other world cities such as New York, Hong Kong and London, says Mark Renzoni, president of global commercial real estate giant CBRE. "The market is fairly balanced. It's not being driven by foreign capital. It's being driven by Canadians, moving up, buying for the first time," he told the Star, following a speech at CBRE's annual market forecast event. [read more]

Where can you get more house for your money? DURHAM REGION!!! House prices are on the rise in the GTA, but the best bang for your buck is still in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Uxbridge & Port Perry. This news is nothing new. Housing prices have been about 30% lower, for the same house for quite sometime. Better transportation (407 & Go transit) & more investment have made Durham a great place to raise a family and live. Contact us and we will be happy to fill you in... [read more]

Home ownership continues to be a great investment and remains very important to the majority of Canadian households. As we move through 2017, we expect the demand for ownership housing to remain strong, including demand from first-time buyers who, according to a recent Ipsos survey, could account for more than half of transactions this year. However, many of these would-be buyers will have problems finding a home that meets their needs in a market with very little inventory. That's where we... [read more]

CMHC Fees are set to increase on March 17th. A typical 5 year, 5% down mortgage will see insurance fees jump from 3.6% to 4%. But if you buy a house before March 17th, you will get the lower rate. Contact us for more info... [read more]

Recent studies have shown that the old adage of buying the worst house on the block may not offer the best rate of return. Often it is the worst house, and priced accordingly, for good reason. As an investment strategy one is often better off focusing on the neighborhood itself, with an average home in a hot neighborhood often doing far better than the ugly duckling in a less desirable area.   [read more]

Over the last few years, more purchase offers have fallen apart due to financing than in the past couple of decades combined. Financing has become that challenging, and few people realize it until they actually write an offer and make the application. When it comes to mortgage financing, while money may never have been cheaper… it’s also never been harder to get. Get preapproved!!! [read more]

We are Bonnie and Paul Jones and we are Full-Time Realtors with Sutton Group Heritage Realty. First time home Buyers are going to be hard pressed to get into home ownership, given the recently changed lending criteria? Who do you know that will be trying to Buy their first home in 2017? They would be a great referral for us.  We love working with first time home Buyers. With competing offers, lending restrictions and low inventory first time home Buyers have a very small window... [read more]

Did you know that owning a second property and renting it out can be a great way to supplement your retirement income or a great way to pay off the mortgage quicker on your principal resident. We have been landlords for over 10 years now.  I admit, some tenants have been challenging. When considering becoming a Landlord, know that there will be challenges, but if you go about it with a plan, the pros out way the cons. When we began investigating what it would take, to purchase a few... [read more]

Did you know that when you are ready to purchase a property you will hear the word insurance, over and over again.  Mortgage Insurance, Life Insurance, House Insurance Who do you know that has no idea why they have to pay for mortgage insurance, when they’re buying a property with less than a 20% down payment. The reason buyers pay mortgage insurance is to protect the lenders money.  Yes that’s right, buyers pay to insure the lenders money.  If the Buyer,... [read more]

  How much can you afford to buy with the new mortgage rules? This chart should give you a few ideas. What you qualify for also depends on what you owe, credit rating & a few other things. Lets sit down over a cup of coffee or tea and chat. Contact Bonnie at 416-578-9622 or bonnie.bonnie-paul@rogers.com   [read more]

Did you know that there are Buyers out there in the Real Estate market today, who think that if they buy a house from a “for sale by owner” that they will save money. Most “For Sale By Owners”, decide on the value of their home by figuring out what they “need” to get out of it.   As we all know the value of a house is not based on what the Seller “needs” to get out of it, but rather by what other, similar houses in the area have... [read more]

Who do you know that might want to purchase a home, but is reluctant to get into a multiple offer situation, commonly known as, the dreaded, “bidding war”. Did you know that we often represent a Seller client that wants to sell their home but not quite yet.  However, they instruct us, that if we happen to hear of someone that may be interested in their house and they are willing to pay a fair price, they would sell now, without going on MLS. The bonus to the Buyer, they... [read more]

Did you know that many Buyers romanticize about owning a Century home, a home that is older than 100 years old. Who do you know that has ever thought or romanticized about living in a beautiful, quaint, 100+ year old house, perhaps with a maid’s quarters, a butler’s pantry or even a dumb waiter?  Maybe it’s located on a nice country property, with a white picket fence, perennial gardens, a pond. Owning a Century home can be fantastic, but only if you go into the... [read more]

We are Bonnie and Paul Jones and we are full-time realtors with Sutton Group Heritage Realty. Did you know that an investment property can be a wonderful way to supplement your income.  Perhaps you know someone that may be looking at retirement in 10 maybe 5 years.  An investment property can supplement their retirement income or they can sell the investment property, after retirement, and use the profit from the sale to supplement their income.   If an investor has... [read more]

Did you know that the purchase price of your new home is only one of the costs you will encounter when buying that home? Other costs you may have to budget for are; Mortgage insurance        Appraisal fees Land survey cost      House insurance Title insurance      Mortgage Application fee Mortgage brokers fee     Home inspection fee  Legal... [read more]

We are Bonnie and Paul Jones full-time realtors with Sutton Group Heritage Realty. The real estate market today is being driven by the number of buyers out numbering the number of homes available, making this a sellers market?  Who do you know that has had a number of offers submitted, just to lose each time in a multiple offer scenario.  In the past realtors would bring in an offer, negotiate with the seller for a day maybe two days, then ultimately a fair deal was struck... [read more]

Who do you know that is afraid of the “Bubble”? They want to Buy, but they are undecided, because they think the market is going to crash, and prices will fall. First of all, we are not in a “bubble”.  The housing prices in Durham Region have been undervalued for years, compared to other areas outside of the GTA. Buyer demand from Markham & Stouffville, funnelling in from across the 407 and Buyers from the City of Toronto & Scarborough, funnelling in from... [read more]

We are Bonnie & Paul Jones and we are Full-Time Realtors with Sutton Group Heritage Realty. Who do you know that dreams about getting out of the hustle and bustle of city life to reside in a quiet countryside community? Imagine, getting home, after a long day at the office, grabbing your favorite beverage, putting your feet up, while sitting on your front porch overlooking a spring fed pond and you hear nothing but silence. Sounds ideal doesn’t it? But, did you know that... [read more]