Move Smartly: The Podcast

In this episode of The Situation, John and Peter dive into buying strategy for first-time buyers and how real estate commissions really work. Our first question comes from a first-time buyer wondering whether it's smarter to buy a condo as a stepping stone or stretch for a small house under $1M. John and Peter discuss the pros and cons of each approach and what works best in today's market. Another listener asks how real estate commissions are calculated and whether a more transparent hourly-plus-expenses model could work. They break down where the money goes and why commission structures are set up the way they are. Finally, we explore how recent market shifts and economic uncertainty are affecting Toronto homeowners and their decisions. John and Peter share insights on how to think about risk, timing, and long-term strategy. FollowJohn x-twitter: https://x.com/JohnPasalis, Instagram @john.pasalis or email: askjohn@movesmartly.com Follow the show on x-twitter: @MoveSmartly, Instagram @move.smartly About This Show: The Move Smartly show is hosted by John Pasalis, President and Broker of Realosophy Realty. MoveSmartly.com and its media channels on YouTube and various podcast platforms are powered by Realosophy Realty in Toronto, Canada. You can also watch this episode on our MoveSmartly YouTube channel here https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly If you enjoy our show and find it useful, please like, subscribe, share, review and comment on whatever platform you are watching or listening to us from - we appreciate your support!

This month's real estate roundtable brings together John Pasalis, Steve Saretsky, and mortgage broker David Larock to break down the latest developments shaping Canada's housing market in early 2026. We begin with the slow start to the year in both Vancouver and Toronto, where home sales are down more than 20% compared to last year. With buyers holding back and inventory building, prices have also begun trending lower across several market segments. We discuss what's driving the slowdown and why economic uncertainty continues to weigh on demand. From there, we explore what it might take for confidence — and buyers — to return in a meaningful way. We also turn to interest rates and the growing divide in forecasts. While the consensus expects modest Bank of Canada cuts by year's end, some economists still warn rates could finish the year higher. We unpack what's behind these competing views and what they mean for buyers and upcoming renewals. Finally, we discuss the sharp slowdown in new condo sales and how it could lead to fewer housing starts and completions in the years ahead. We wrap up with the key indicators we're watching as we head into the spring market, and what they may signal for the rest of 2026. Contact & Follow Follow John Pasalis on X/Twitter: @JohnPasalis | Email: askjohn@movesmartly.com Follow Steve Saretsky on X/Twitter: @SteveSaretsky | Email: steve@stevesaretsky.com Follow David Larock on X/Twitter: @Dave_at_IMP | Email: dave@moreplan.ca Watch this episode on the Move Smartly YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly If you enjoy the show, please like, subscribe, share, review, and comment — your support helps us reach more listeners.

In this episode, we break down three real housing dilemmas that many households are facing in today's uncertain market. We start with a common challenge for homeowners looking to move up: how to upsize when you need to sell your current home and buy another at the same time. With slower sales, uncertain prices, and the risk of being forced into a short-term rental, we walk through how families can think about sequencing these two transactions. Next, we discuss a family-owned Toronto property and the question of adding a garden suite for multigenerational living. We explore how secondary units can affect resale value, buyer demand, and how families can think about fairness when one sibling invests money into a shared property. Finally, we look at a decision facing many small landlords right now: whether to sell a vacant property, rent it short- or mid-term to stay flexible, or lock in a long-term tenant while waiting for better market conditions. We unpack the trade-offs between flexibility, income stability, and risk. Follow John x-twitter: https://x.com/JohnPasalis, Instagram @john.pasalis or email: askjohn@movesmartly.com Follow the show on x-twitter: @MoveSmartly, Instagram @move.smartly About This Show The Move Smartly show is hosted by John Pasalis, President and Broker of Realosophy Realty. MoveSmartly.com and its media channels on YouTube and various podcast platforms are powered by Realosophy Realty in Toronto, Canada. You can also watch this episode on our MoveSmartly YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly If you enjoy our show and find it useful, please like, subscribe, share, review and comment on whatever platform you are watching or listening to us from - we appreciate your support!

This month's real estate roundtable brings together John Pasalis, Steve Saretsky, and mortgage broker David Larock for a timely discussion on the latest developments shaping Canada's housing market as we head into 2026. We begin with the federal government's recent signal that it may reverse the foreign buyer ban in 2027. We break down what this announcement really means for the market today, how much impact foreign buyers actually have on housing demand, and whether lifting the ban would meaningfully change prices or investor behaviour. From there, we turn to mortgages — and why fixed mortgage rates may trend up rather than down in 2026, despite widespread expectations of easing. We discuss bond yields, inflation risks, and how lenders are pricing uncertainty into rates. We also look at what this means for buyers on the sidelines, households renewing this year, and investor sentiment heading into the spring market. We wrap up by sharing the key indicators we're watching in the months ahead and how they may shape the direction of Canada's housing market through 2026. Contact & Follow Follow John Pasalis on X/Twitter: @JohnPasalis | Email: askjohn@movesmartly.com Follow Steve Saretsky on X/Twitter: @SteveSaretsky | Email: steve@stevesaretsky.com Follow David Larock on X/Twitter: @Dave_at_IMP | Email: dave@moreplan.ca Watch this episode on the Move Smartly YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly If you enjoy the show and find it useful, please like, subscribe, share, review, and comment — your support helps us reach more listeners.

John Pasalis presents his latest data and top stories on Toronto area real estate in conversation with fellow Realosophy agents Gus Papaioannou and Davin McMahon and our Move Smartly mortgage expert, David Larock - and you, our viewers, who join the discussion in our live chat!! This week on our live show, John and the team break down what could be coming in 2026 - including the possibility of interest rates rising again. So the big question is: Will higher rates finally push those buyers who've been sitting on the sidelines to make a move? We're already seeing early signs that some are starting to jump back in before affordability shifts again. Dave Larock, our mortgage expert, provides a breakdown of November's big job gain and why that headline might be more hype than reality. Dave believes rates will hold steady in the short term, but he's predicting rate cuts coming in 2026. Set-up a meeting with John Pasalis and his agents at Realosophy to discuss your own real estate questions privately: https://www.movesmartly.com/meetjohn Sign up for our email list to be alerted to the next online market update to join our YouTube session live chat and ask your own Qs: https://www.movesmartly.com/monthly-public-webinar Today's show links: John's latest articles on the Toronto area real estate market are on realosophy.com https://www.movesmartly.com/articles/author/john-pasalis Dave Larock's latest weekly blog post on mortgage rates on MoveSmartly.com: https://www.movesmartly.com/articles/author/david-larock Contact Us: John Pasalis, President and Broker, Realosophy Realty, Toronto | Email: askjohn@movesmartly.com | X-Twitter: @JohnPasalis David Larock, Mortgage Broker and Analyst and Realtor | Email: dave@morplan.ca | X-Twitter: @Dave_at_IMP About This Show: The Move Smartly show is hosted by John Pasalis, President and Broker of Realosophy Realty. MoveSmartly.com and its media channels on YouTube and various podcast platforms are powered by Realosophy Realty in Toronto, Canada. You can also watch this and every episode on our MoveSmartly YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly If you enjoy our show and find it useful, please subscribe and leave us a positive rating on whatever platform you are watching or listening to us from — thank you!!

In this episode of The Situation, John and Davin dive into two real-world housing challenges that many listeners might recognize. First, Maya writes in with a creative idea to tackle affordability and support family: she and her brother are considering buying a three-unit home together so they can each have their own space while bringing their mom closer as she looks to downsize from a large suburban house. It sounds practical — but what are the financial, legal, and personal considerations families should think through before taking on co-ownership? Then, Steve from Kitchener shares a puzzling trend: while most 600 sq ft condos in his market are selling for $350K to $400K, four units in a brand-new building suddenly sold for between $575K and $650K — all significantly above the going rate. What could possibly explain such a dramatic jump in price? And what might it signal for buyers and investors watching this market? Follow John x-twitter: https://x.com/JohnPasalis, Instagram @john.pasalis or email: askjohn@movesmartly.com Follow the show on x-twitter: @MoveSmartly, Instagram @move.smartly About This Show The Move Smartly show is hosted by John Pasalis, President and Broker of Realosophy Realty. MoveSmartly.com and its media channels on YouTube and various podcast platforms are powered by Realosophy Realty in Toronto, Canada. You can also watch this episode on our MoveSmartly YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly If you enjoy our show and find it useful, please like, subscribe, share, review and comment on whatever platform you are watching or listening to us from - we appreciate your support!

In this month's Move Smartly Live Market Update, John Pasalis breaks down the latest housing trends and what's really driving today's price declines across the GTA. John walks through the three key forces pushing prices lower and how buyers are responding—becoming far more opportunistic, lowballing aggressively, and hunting for value in a cooling market. John is joined by mortgage broker David Larock, who shares the latest economic indicators influencing borrowing costs, what's happening behind the scenes at the Bank of Canada, and his outlook for interest rates over the months ahead. A data-driven look at where the market stands today—and where it may be heading next. Follow John x-twitter: https://x.com/JohnPasalis, Instagram @john.pasalis or email: askjohn@movesmartly.com Follow the show on x-twitter: @MoveSmartly, Instagram @move.smartly About This Show The Move Smartly show is hosted by John Pasalis, President and Broker of Realosophy Realty. MoveSmartly.com and its media channels on YouTube and various podcast platforms are powered by Realosophy Realty in Toronto, Canada. You can also watch this episode on our MoveSmartly YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly If you enjoy our show and find it useful, please like, subscribe, share, review and comment on whatever platform you are watching or listening to us from - we appreciate your support!

In this episode, John tackles three real questions from listeners dealing with the challenges of Ontario's housing market. First, a landlord planning to sell a tenanted property asks whether it's possible — and smart — to get an N11 signed before listing to avoid losing a deal if the tenant refuses later. John breaks down what landlords need to know about the N11 process and the risks of getting too far ahead of a sale. Next, a condo buyer wonders if it's really an advantage to deal directly with the listing agent. After touring multiple properties and getting wildly different experiences, they ask the big question: does going straight to the listing agent actually help, or can it hurt you? Finally, an investor who bought a suburban home four years ago is struggling to rent out rooms to international students as demand drops. With higher interest rates, negative cash flow, and falling prices, they're now losing $1,500 a month — and wondering whether to hold or sell at a loss. John walks through each situation with practical advice grounded in today's market realities. Follow John x-twitter: https://x.com/JohnPasalis, Instagram @john.pasalis or email: askjohn@movesmartly.com Follow the show on x-twitter: @MoveSmartly, Instagram @move.smartly About This Show The Move Smartly show is hosted by John Pasalis, President and Broker of Realosophy Realty. MoveSmartly.com and its media channels on YouTube and various podcast platforms are powered by Realosophy Realty in Toronto, Canada. You can also watch this episode on our MoveSmartly YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly If you enjoy our show and find it useful, please like, subscribe, share, review and comment on whatever platform you are watching or listening to us from - we appreciate your support!