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CMHC's mortgage loan insurance for 1- 4 unit rental (non-owner occupied) properties provides investors with more housing finance choice when purchasing or refinancing a rental property. Features:
From the Landlord and Tenant Board. The rules and regulations to be followed from the province of Ontario.
Looking to get a home inspection done ahead of a purchase? You may need to ask to see their credentials if a proposed bill is passed into law.
Property taxes get really confusing. We walk you through how the MPAC reassessment works.
Secondary suites are an important supply of rental housing in many cities, towns and rural communities across Canada.
In Canada1 there were just over one million new mortgage loans in 2016, for a 1.4% increase compared to 2015.2 Out of these loans, 39.6% were extended to new-owners and 9.5% to homeowners moving to a new home.
This highway extension will have a substantial effect on the driving time from north Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa. In fact, what is now a 60 to 70 minute commute, will be reduced to under 40 minutes. If you draw an imaginary circle from Yonge St, east, north and west. Then compare property values in each of those areas. You will find that the Durham values lag behind by 15%-30% from the areas in the west or the north. I feel really good about increased rates of appreciation from the direct result of quicker commutes to Toronto.
As an investor, it is important to know where the community is planning on expanding and developing. To be a sophisticated investor, understand what is happening and react to it. Obviously it is preferred to wait in certain areas to see if the projections actually take place. REIN teachings will tell us to "wait until there is smoke". I do agree with that. However, I will add that if a property is a good deal already AND it is located in an area of planned growth, even better. The REIN advice is that if you are located 800 meters of closer to mass transit locales, such as subway stops and GO stations, your property will experience a better than average growth curve over time. Let other investors scramble after the fact, and curse you for being so "lucky" that you have a perfectly located property. Make your own luck and study the city planner's visions and absolutely watch "the big move" by Metrolinx.
Plans are in the works to expand the 401 from Salem Rd in Ajax to Brock St. in Whitby to as much as 12 total lanes, and expand Brock St to Courtice Rd to as many as 10 lanes. There is an environmental assessment and preliminary design now underway.
Extension From Oshawa to Bowmanville Will Create Jobs and Drive Economic Growth
Instead of prioritizing parking lots, Clarington should create neighbourhoods around two new GO train stations in Courtice and Bowmanville to include pedestrian access and a mix of uses from housing to cafés, according to a consultant's report to council.
An operator has been selected to run two casinos in Durham Region and one at Woodbine Racetrack. A consortium of Great Canadian Gaming Corp. and Brookfield Business Partners LP will operate the Slots at Ajax Downs, the Great Blue Heron Casino in Port Perry and the Woodbine site. The two businesses will operate the casinos for 22 years.
Beginning in 2013, we will be witness to a significant expansion of the Pickering community. As the site says " a broad vision for Seaton as a sustainable urban community integrated with a thriving agricultural community and an extensive Natural Heritage System. Subsequent work done by the City sets in place policies for the development of urban Seaton as a walkable, transit supportive community at densities that support an attractive community and an active street life, including neighbourhood shops, social facilities and parks". Seaton will have up to 70,000 people and 35,000 jobs on the east side of the West Duffins Creek, and an agricultural area on the west side of the creek.
Think about the amount of development that has happened around the Pearson International Airport in Mississauga over the past 40 years. The Pickering Airport will offer the GTA a 2nd international airport when built by 2027. If only one-third of the development happens around the Pickering airport, it will mean a number of great opportunities for investors.
At the corner of Church and Bayly streets in Pickering, Ont., sit 226 acres of grass, shrubs and a few clusters of trees next to Highway 401. It is a rare undeveloped patch of land in an area populated by low-slung strip malls and industrial buildings. The only structure on the site today is the Pickering Pentecostal Church. Soon, that humble house of prayer could be dwarfed by a sprawling tourist complex, anchored by a casino and a five-star hotel.
A Mel Lastman Square-type public space and six towers containing more than 1,800 residential units are slated for the southwest corner of Harwood Avenue and Bayly Street in a deal between developers and the Town of Ajax. The development is expected to be completed by 2026.
The Durham College Whitby Campus Project is now in Phase 3 It will have 900 students attending classes. The facility will host students studying in culinary, hospitality, tourism agriculture and horticulture programs and feature state-of-the-art labs, classrooms and research and meeting spaces. It will also offer a full-service green-certified teaching restaurant, which will be open to the public.
The Oshawa Centre expansion making it the 2nd largest mall in Ontario. $230 Million expansion.
There are a number of criteria in Oshawa to qualify for a 2-unit without a minor variance. Specifically, it must be an R2 zone, detached property with 12 meters of frontage and 450 sq meters of lot size. There are more interior items to consider.
Residential rental properties located in the vicinity of Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (DC/UOIT) must be licensed under the Residential Rental Housing Licensing (RRHL) By-law. The RRHL By-law requires that residential rental houses in the vicinity of DC/UOIT must be licensed and comply with various standards and by-laws, including the Fire Code, Electrical Code, Building Code and the City's Zoning and Property Standards By-law(s). Refer to the links below for additional information, application forms and documents related to the Residential Rental Licensing Process.
This can be huge news for the city of Oshawa. Adding a downtown GO station will bring accessibility to Toronto from Central Oshawa. The Real Estate Investment Network speaks about property values rising at a quicker rate when situated within 800 meters of rail transit. But, of course, wait until "there is smoke" and proof that the work is being started before assuming that it is going forward.
New rules are now in place for student housing in Oshawa. Properties in the designated area, which I lovingly refer to as the "circle of death", are going to be monitored for tenant placements. IFFF landlords are found to be operating a rental without a licence, the landlord faces a $500 fine. Where it gets really steep, is that the landlord faces a $500 fine for EVERY day they continue to do so. Included below is the map of the licenced area in north Oshawa.
What is not always known is that this Residential Rental Licencing Area is not just restricted to student rentals. It applies to ALL rental situations. My advice to you is if your property is located in this area, and you are even considering renting it out, speak to the city of Oshawa and check out their website. Here is the page to use as a reference.
The city of Oshawa intends to expand the number of properties allowed that can become a legal 2-unit dwelling nearly 10 fold, as zoning will no longer be an issue. With the exception of the licenced UOIT area, the options will be great. I will remain VERY involved as this process evolves.
Part II Plan for Kedron Planning Area, Concept Plan for the North Kedron & East Windfields Industrial Areas. At its peak, the plan is for the area to house 20000 people and be a centre for industrial land along the 407.
These buildings will have a huge ripple effect in the downtown core. Imagine adding 589 mid to high end tenants to the downtown core. It could have a real effect on adding more shops and restaurants, more activity, and a more lively downtown.
Trent University's Oshawa campus is looking to expand, and for that they are asking for the donation of lands adjacent to their site at 99 Thornton Rd. S. Currently, Trent leases the lands from the city. The new buildings planned for the site include a $38-million academics building and an $18-million student residence.
Train commuters are no strangers to the long wait it takes to get out of the GO train parking lot after work. Now, the region is going to take a look at the possibility of adding a second lane to accommodate the extra traffic.
If you are sitting on a piece of vacant industrial land in Oshawa, your local councillors think you should pay the price.
Another slice of Oshawa's waterfront could be scooped up for residential development. The historic piece of lakefront property has been a question mark for years. West of Park Road South and south of Renaissance Drive, the privately-owned slice of open space known as the Maurac Lands to city officials has been vacant for decades.
A new chunk of suburban bliss is coming to Oshawa, and it's a big one. Four landowners have come together to turn a nearly 450-acre section of land north of Conlin Road East, between Harmony and Townline roads, into a subdivision that could hold roughly five per cent of Oshawa's population.
Oshawa, once known as an automotive manufacturing powerhouse, has evolved into a health sciences and education hub.
The City of Oshawa is discussing expanding their "Residential Rental Housing Licencing" to the ENTIRE CITY instead of the current licencing zone around the University. If you wish to be heard, contact Kenneth Man, from the city of Oshawa (kman@oshawa.ca) and ask to be included in the mailing list for future council meetings related to this subject.
While there are big plans to extend the GO train into Bowmanville, some council members are getting frustrated by the lack of funding dedicated to bring the commuter train to Clarington. The expropration of the Oshawa Knob Hill farms site is a step in the right direction, but it will still be a while.
Despite not having a formal announcement about expanding GO Train service to Bowmanville, Clarington is buying land for a future GO station. Council has approved the $2.7 million purchase of 34-acres of land on the west side of Courtice Road, near Bloor Street.
According to representatives in Clarington, they expect the GO to be pulling up at the Bowmanville station by 2024.
Cobourg looks at financing downtown vitalization with grants.
About 450 Port Hope homeowners have had their soil sampled and properties tested in the first phase of the biggest radioactive cleanup in Canadian history.
The Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) is a federal government project for the safe, local, long-term management of historic low-level radioactive waste arising from 60 years of uranium and radium operations in the municipalities of Port Hope and Clarington, Ontario. This polution has creted a stigma within Port Hope that has had a real effect on property values. Until we see a change, consider investing in Port Hope for cash flow, but don't expect significant appreciation.
Cobourg resident Warren McCarthy came up with the idea to fill Cobourg's vacant shop windows with art last spring when his wife, a member of the Pine Ridge Art Association, was lamenting that artists don't have enough places to show their work.
PORT HOPE – Described as one of the biggest low-level radioactive waste cleanups in Canada into the largest facilities in all of North America, the Port Hope Area Initiative was the focus of a Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission update meeting in Port Hope.
Lakehead University will welcome up to 800 additional students under a new venture with the Georgian University Partnership Centre.
Looking at investing in student housing in the Orillia area with :Lakehead University check this out
The City of Orillia, as part of its transportation master plan, is looking at options for widening Coldwater Road, Orillia's oldest road, from West Street to 200 metres southeast of Collegiate Drive.
In 2013, the number of students attending Lakehead in Orillia reached 1300. By 2018, there will be 2000 students. Add to it the number of employees needed to educate 2000 students. Remember, Orillia's population is just 30259 according to the 2006 census. Anyone want to guess what will happen to rental demand when 2000-3000 people want to find a temporary place to live in a community of 30000 people?
Lakehead University (Orillia) and Georgian College (Barrie) have announced plans to develop a four-year degree in electrical engineering that they will deliver jointly. Yet more students that will be migrating to the Orillia area.
Thanks to the passing of a new law, investors in Kingston, Ont. may soon be able to capitalize on this opportunity. And by doing so, they'll be adding to the city's inventory of affordable housing.
What is not always known is that this Residential Rental Licensing Area is not just restricted to student rentals. It applies to ALL rental situations. My advice to you is if your property is located in this area, and you are even considering renting it out, speak to the city of Kingston and check out their website. Here is the page to use as a reference.
Here is a neat promo video on the city of Belleville as they celebrate their 200th year in existence
Simcoe County's two per cent tax increase in 2017 will go to connecting communities, setting aside cash for a long-term care, building affordable housing
The Highway 400–404 Connecting Link is a proposed 16.2 kilometre, four-lane controlled access highway that will provide an east-west connection between Highway 400 in Bradford West Gwillimbury and Highway 404 in the Town of East Gwillimbury.
Mississauga's LRT will do for the city what the subway did for Toronto, creating a much denser, tightly knit place than its suburban past.