Why We Decorate for Fall: The Canadian Roots of Autumn Traditions

There is a moment every September when it happens. The air shifts. The light goes golden and slightly sideways. You walk past a display of pumpkins at a grocery store or garden centre and something in you responds before your brain even catches up. Suddenly you want candles and wool blankets and a wreath on the door.

We do not always stop to wonder why. The urge to decorate for fall feels instinctive, almost biological. And in a way, it is. The things we reach for this time of year, the pumpkins, the dried corn, the warm colours, the harvest imagery, carry the weight of traditions that stretch back centuries in this country and much further than that in human history.…

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Fall Market Takes a Breather

By Ron Alfred De Guzman, MaxWell Realty Insights | September 09, 2026

Canada's housing market cooled again heading into fall. CREA's latest national release, covering July, showed home sales up 0.5% from June. That marked a fourth straight monthly gain. Senior economist Shaun Cathcart called the data "a carbon copy" of June. Sales edged up, listings dropped, and prices held steady. The more interesting story is happening below those headline numbers. Markets across the Prairies, Quebec, and the East Coast are steadily shifting back toward balance after a long stretch as sellers' markets. BC's Lower Mainland and Ontario's Greater Golden Horseshoe are making the same shift, moving out of buyers' market territory and…

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Why Your Pre-Approval Isn't a Guarantee (And What to Do About It)

Getting pre-approved for a mortgage feels like crossing a major finish line. The bank looked at your income, your debts, your credit score, and your down payment, and they said yes. You have a number. You know what you can spend. You're ready to buy.

Except a pre-approval is not a mortgage. It's closer to a conditional handshake — the lender is telling you that based on the information you've provided, they're likely to lend you money for a home purchase up to a certain amount. The word "likely" is doing a lot of work in that sentence.

Understanding what a pre-approval actually is — and what can cause it to fall apart — is one of the most important things a buyer can know…

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Canada's Housing Market in July 2026: A Snapshot of Nine Communities

By Ron Alfred De Guzman, MaxWell Realty Insights | August 27, 2026

Canada's housing market kept finding its footing in July. Nationally, sales rose for a fourth month running, listings kept shrinking, and prices held nearly flat. But the national picture only tells part of the story. Here's what happened across nine MaxWell Realty market areas last month, and how each compares to the national trend.

The National Picture

Home sales across Canada climbed 0.5% month over month in July, the fourth straight gain, according to CREA. New listings fell 1.6%, the third drop in a row. The national average home price landed at $674,819, up just 0.2% year over year.

CREA's senior…

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Moving Before the Bell Rings: A Very Canadian September Ritual

By Ron Alfred De Guzman, MaxWell Realty Insights | August 25, 2026

Every August, a familiar scene plays out across Canadian neighbourhoods. Moving trucks pull up, boxes stack in driveways, and parents juggle closing dates with school supply lists. Timing a move around the school year has become its own kind of Canadian tradition, one that shapes how families buy, sell, and settle into a new community.

Why Summer Is Moving Season

There is a reason so many families push to close before September. A mid-year school change asks a lot of kids: a new teacher, new classmates, and a routine disrupted mid-stride. A summer move gives children a clean break, starting the school year the…

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The Curb Appeal Fixes That Actually Matter in a Photo-First Market

Most buyers have decided how they feel about a home before they walk through the front door. In many cases, they have decided before they even get out of the car. And increasingly, they have decided before they leave their couch - because the listing photos are where the first impression actually happens.

This is the reality of selling a home in a market where buyers scroll through dozens of listings on their phones and make snap decisions about which ones are worth their time. Your home's exterior, in photos and in person, is doing more work than it ever has. The good news is that meaningful curb appeal improvements do not require a significant budget. They require attention and…

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What "As-Is" Really Means When Buying a Home

The words "as-is" in a real estate listing have a way of stopping buyers in their tracks. The phrase carries an implied warning — this home has issues, and we're not going to fix them. Proceed with caution, or better yet, proceed elsewhere.

That reaction is understandable, but it's not always accurate. "As-is" is one of the most misunderstood terms in real estate, and the misunderstanding goes both ways — buyers sometimes avoid as-is properties they should have considered, and sometimes accept conditions in as-is purchases they absolutely shouldn't have.

Here's what the term actually means, what it doesn't mean, and how to protect yourself when it's part of the deal.

What "As-Is" Actually Means
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Rates on Hold, Eyes on September: What It Means for Buyers and Sellers

By Ron Alfred De Guzman, MaxWell Realty Insights | August 07, 2026

The Bank of Canada held its policy rate at 2.25% on July 15. It was the sixth consecutive hold since the Bank cut to this level last October. The decision came alongside firmer second-quarter growth and inflation trending toward target. That combination is giving the housing market something it has not had much of this year: a stretch of predictability.

Why the Bank Held

Governor Tiff Macklem framed the decision around three points. Economic growth has resumed after a flat start to the year. Inflation should ease gradually if energy prices settle. Uncertainty remains elevated with ongoing Middle East…

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End-of-Summer Selling Window

By Ron Alfred De Guzman, MaxWell Realty Insights | August 04, 2026

August has a reputation as real estate's quiet month, and the data backs it up. Buyers and sellers often shift into vacation mode, leading to a temporary slowdown in market activity, but this can create a less competitive environment for those who stay active. The market slows considerably heading into late August, and sellers who list during this window are more likely to be dealing with fewer competing listings than during the spring rush. Vancouverhomesearch Wahi

The trade-off cuts both ways. Fewer showings and less urgency don't mean the market is weaker, since serious, motivated buyers still shop in July and August, and well-prepared homes…

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