Gwen Layton's blog

Three Fall Home Refresh Upgrades that Don't Require a Remodel

"For many families, the kitchen is the heart of the home," says Chris Seman, president of N-Hance. "Three of the most dramatic kitchen improvements homeowners can make are cabinets, lighting and flooring. They're simple aesthetic improvements that can make a massive impact on a minor budget and without the disruption of a remodel."

According to Zillow, minor kitchen updates like cabinet refacing and new hardware not only make the spaces more enjoyable; they can also bring an average return on investment (ROI) of 113%.

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3 fall home refresh upgrades that don't require a remodel

Three Fall Home Refresh Upgrades that Don't Require a Remodel

"For many families, the kitchen is the heart of the home," said Chris Seman, president of N-Hance. "Three of the most dramatic kitchen improvements homeowners can make are cabinets, lighting and flooring. They're simple aesthetic improvements that can make a massive impact on a minor budget and without the disruption of a remodel."

According to Zillow, minor kitchen updates like cabinet refacing and new hardware not only make the spaces more enjoyable; they can also bring...

Spring Home Sales Strengthen in 2026

The GTA resale housing market tightened in May 2026 compared to last year. Sales increased year-over-year, whereas new listings declined over the same period. “Spring sales have been stronger than last year, reflecting improved affordability stemming from lower selling prices and borrowing costs. Sales are forecast to improve further as we move through the second half of this year. Recovery would be further bolstered by positive news on the trade front along with an easing of geopolitical tensions and related uncertainty,” said TRREB President Daniel...

If you're a first-time home buyer, the edge you've been looking for has finally arrived!

New rebates are available from the federal government and Ontario's provincial government which will now give you the chance to claim significant savings on your first home. These rebates will remove both the GST and the provincial portion of the HST in Ontario on new homes priced up to $1 million and will further reduce the taxes for homes priced between $1 million and $1.5 million. This tax incentive is designed to lend a hand to those who have stayed on the sidelines of the housing market due to its...

August 2025 home sales reported in the GTA through TRREB's MLS® System inched up by 2.3% year-over-year, with homebuyers benefiting from an influx of new listings. Over 14,000 new home listings were entered into the MLS® System in the month, an increase of 9.4% from August 2024, attracting well-educated buyers who were able to negotiate home prices downward in the midst of a well-supplied market.

The result: the MLS® Home Price Index Composite benchmark dropped 5.2% YOY in August 2025. On a month-over-month seasonally adjusted basis, both the MLS ® HPI Composite and average selling price...

Current unrest in the real estate market is not market-wide. In fact, according to the CBC, "12 properties worth more than $10 million were sold in the Greater Toronto Area between January and June, seven of them in Toronto proper." That compares to just four sales in that category in the same period last year!

In the GTA, where listings have edged up more than 30% as average prices continue to fall and sales of condos over $1 million have fallen 29% year over year, Toronto's "ultra-luxury real estate market" is proving resilient with a 200% YOY increase in sales! As Warren Buffet once...

Improved affordability in the housing market should've made a marked impact in higher home sales, but with the instability south of the border and an increase in listings, homebuyers were able to take advantage of that increased housing inventory and once their search had ended, still negotiate a lower price with confidence. 

GTA REALTORS® reported 6,244 home sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in May 2025 – down by 13.3 per cent compared to May 2024. New listings entered into the MLS® System amounted to 21,819 – up by 14 per cent year-overyear.

“Home ownership costs are more affordable this...

Homeownership in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) became more affordable in March 2025 compared to the previous year. On average, both borrowing costs and home prices have declined over the past year, making monthly payments more manageable for households looking to buy a home.

“Homeownership has become more affordable over the past 12 months, and we expect further rate cuts this spring. Buyers will also benefit from increased choice, giving them greater negotiating power. Once consumers feel confident in the economy and their job security, home buying activity should improve,” said Toronto...