Coaching for the Bank of Mom and Dad
The housing affordability struggle of our kidsFor those of us fortunate to have owned our homes over recent decades (apparently about 77% of Boomers across Canada) the combination of market developments and federal tax policy has left us with substantial non-taxable...
Next Generation of Student Housing
Student Rental HousingStudent housing assets in Canada have improved and modernized dramatically in recent decades. Not only have campus based real estate groups used access to land to finance purpose-built new versions of dormitory and staff family housing, but the...
Financial Literacy and the Democratization of Real Estate Investing
November is Financial Literacy Month in Canada.Surging Housing MarketThe COVID pandemic is still a controlling factor of our way of life, and even in that context the economy functions and within that, the housing market surges. There are enough people with wealth,...
Real Estate Investment for the Canadian Middle Class
What is the “middle class”, anyway? It has something to do with financial self-sufficiency, which is why it’s important to senior governments. They can’t support all of us, and have grown accustomed to having a “middle class” that represents about 70% of their...
The magic of real estate investment
We have an affordable housing crisis that many families can fix for themselvesOur housing market needs a lot of attention, and our governments are rightly focused on the lowest incomes and the most vulnerable populations, with their efforts to increase the supply of...
What can families do about the rising cost of housing?
It's Not All Bad NewsAs depressing as it seems to most of us, the housing market has some bright spots, and this article is a good news story. We have plenty of power and some deep resources for protecting our families and keeping the dream of home ownership alive. ...
Housing and the value of financial security – holistic health, a.k.a. “wellness”
What’s the ultimate importance of access to affordable housing?It’s at the heart of quality of life. But what exactly do we mean by “quality of life”? In all phases of life, from young adult to wise elder, we are all constantly weighing the relative merits of wealth,...
Family bonds, the Bank of Mom and Dad, and Advance Legacies
The housing market and family financial helpOur housing market has been buoyant, with low interest rates. So for good reason, our Federal government in Canada has imposed the “stress test” on mortgage qualification. It’s to ensure that however low and affordable...
How can more families easily invest in real estate?
Most fortunes are made at least in part through real estate ownership. But most people struggle just to own their homes, and can’t afford other property investments. They feel like the “rich keep getting richer”, but they are left out. It doesn’t have to be this way,...
Planning for home ownership with a partner
When I bought my first home, it was assumed that we’d need a second income, which would be that of my wife. I was just leaving university and we were eager to buy our first home. A lot has changed in the market and in society since then, and buying a first home seems...
What’s wrong with traditional rental apartment financing?
In three words – zero sum economics. Rental housing that is strategically planned for making money through rising rents that are always “unaffordable”. The landlord’s gain is the tenant’s loss.How it works (and you’ll see why I say it’s happening all around you)Mom...
Who helps with first home ownership? A vision for a better future
This is not a complaint, just an observation, about the conventional structures available for our first home purchases. They are not enough these days, to make home ownership attainable by most of our young renters. But we actually have the resources on hand to...
The Best Investment a Canadian Family Can Make
Our Federal government’s tax policy has for decades encouraged Canadians to strive for home ownership. As long as the home is our “Principal Residence”, any capital gain we achieve on it over the years is not taxed. This accounts for a huge proportion of the wealth...
The Boomers’ Quest for Later Life Purpose
The consolation prize for getting older is wisdom and maturity. As we Boomers approach retirement, we can examine our choices of if and when to retire, and what to focus on with the rest of our lives. What will be the purpose of our new life?There’s a lot being...
What Makes Intergenerational Community Living an Affordable Choice?
Whether you’re a Boomer looking for a smart opportunity to downsize or a millennial trying to find stable affordable housing, a Carpe Diem intergenerational condo community can be the perfect solution. Diverse, supportive, and full of life, these multi-family living...