Sales are up by 21 over the year for all of these areas combined which is probably an improvement for that price range, but without more information it is merely interesting and nothing more.

It is logical that the areas closest to downtown Toronto should do better and be protected somewhat more from the downturn.

While I welcome any HST relief on new homes, limiting it to first-time buyers misses the bigger issue. We call this a housing crisis, but for new homes and condos the bottleneck is not supply. It is affordability. The core driver is the government’s take at every level on each new build.

In the GTA, development charges have jumped from about $12,365 per home to more than $130,000. On top of that, HST on a typical new home easily exceeds $100,000. This industry has contributed massively to our economy and is an important sector for so many workers. We need broad, across-the-board relief that applies to all buyers. This proposal is welcome, but it flies right over the real problem, government taxation of New Home Buyers from all levels Federal, Provincial, and Municipal.

Good morning, Bettiane: heard clearly.

I’d ask that the note on self regulation be read as functional shorthand, not legal fact.

Yes, RECO is a DAA operating under the MPBSD rather than a self-regulator in the statutory sense, but the distinction drawn in the article is functional (even if it reads as imprecise). DAAs fall outside Ombudsman jurisdiction – there is no independent public oversight body reviewing RECO’s decisions or systemic practices.

In that sense, RECO’s model functions as self-regulation: it’s funded by registrants, governed with industry representation and largely operates without external scrutiny beyond ministerial discretion.

Yes, the government holds ultimate authority, but in practical terms, the profession oversees and finances its own regulator, which is my justification for the shorthand.

I appreciate the opportunity to clarify the nuance, and always welcome meaningful engagement – thanks for taking the time!