The Canadian housing market is on fire and financial experts are expressing their concerns as prices continue to rise.

The Bank of Canada has recently stated that a risky mortgage is 450% or more than your average annual income.

In this short video, Business journalist Daniel Tencer takes a quick dive into the surge of highly indebted borrowers piling into Canadian real estate, and why bank regulators are increasingly becoming concerned.

With the lack of increased incomes and the rise in inflation and home prices, we are being warned of these risks and how they may affect us going forward.

JP Real Estate not only prides themselves on being leaders in the local real estate market but can confidently offer you the information you need to make informed real estate and borrowing decisions. 

If you’re new to the world of homeownership, you may find yourself very overwhelmed with the seemingly never-ending tasks of seasonal maintenance.

Even long-term homeowners can find themselves inundated with these reoccurring tasks.

However long the list may be, there’s definitely one thing that stands out the most as being your home's worst enemy…water damage!

Not only will water damage scare away buyers, but it can also cause significant harm to your home.

As the fall rains have now arrived and we’re preparing for a few months of rain ahead, it’s a great time to take a look around your home to ensure that water damage will not be an issue this rainy season. 

Here are a few tips to help prevent water damage from harming your home: 

Downspout Extenders

Downspout extenders ensure that water runs down and away from your home rather than simply pouring down the side or pooling along the side of your home and foundation. These gadgets can be found at your local hardware store and cost just $20 to $30. Be sure to grab one for each separate downspout around your house.

Gutter Cleaning

Cleaning your gutters regularly will prevent water from spilling over the top of your gutter and pooling around your foundations.

When it starts to rain, head outside and do a perimeter check to see if you can spot any gutter or downspout issues, then fix as needed. 

Check Yard and Concrete Slopes

Prevent water from pooling around your foundation by replacing or leveling any concrete slabs that slope towards your home.

Check the slope of your yard as well, if you find the ground is sloping towards your home and foundation, you can easily fix this with some direct and a little hard work. 

Inside Your Home

Keep moisture from lingering anywhere for too long, since it can lead to mold, mildew, cracking, discoloration, bowing, and other issues. This means turning on the bathroom fan whenever you shower, regularly checking for leaks, and, depending on where you live, investing in a sump pump to keep your basement nice and dry.

If you have any questions about season maintenance for your home, don’t hesitate to contact us, we’d love to be of value to you!