The Economy Isn’t Broken. It’s Being Rewritten. This week, I had the opportunity to attend the 2026 Economic Outlook Roundtable at the Rotman School of Management; a thoughtful, sometimes sobering, and occasionally surprising discussion about where Canada is headed next. The panel featured three of the sharpest economic minds in the country: Here’s what stood out. Canada’s Next Chapter Isn’t About Panic. It’s About Adaptation One of the strongest themes of the evening was trade diversification. Canada needs more trading partners, but not in the way we usually think about it. Yes, we’re a resource-based economy. But instead of simply selling the same goods to different countries, the panel emphasized something we often overlook: services. Today, only about 25% of our services are exported, despite enormous potential in technology, finance, education, and professional expertise. And in a moment that surprised many in the room, the panel noted that Canada is actually gaining jobs, with real strength showing up in the tech sector. They also suggested that the recent reduction in immigration may help younger Canadians gain better access to entry-level roles. A Reality Check on Mortgages & Interest Rates A few statistics worth pausing on: According to the Bank of Canada, 24% of mortgage holders will see their payments decrease this year. That’s meaningful. That said, there is still real financial strain for many households. The overnight rate currently sits at 2.25%, and the panel does not expect dramatic rate changes this year, or even next year. Why? Because much of today’s inflation isn’t coming from demand. It’s coming from supply: Lowering interest rates won’t fix droughts or global conflicts. As one speaker put it rather bluntly:We need to stop asking the Bank of Canada to save Canada. Monetary policy can only do so much. The Productivity Problem We Can’t Ignore Perhaps the most urgent issue raised was productivity. Canada has experienced 40 years of declining productivity, and the panel agreed that one of the fastest, least expensive ways to address this is deregulation. Unlike stimulus spending, deregulation doesn’t cost money. But it does require political will. There was cautious optimism here. Canadian corporations appear ready to invest and improve efficiency. Now the question is whether government policy can move quickly enough to support that momentum. As one speaker noted, this crisis is too good to waste. What Keeps Economists Up at Night When asked what worries them most, the answers were refreshingly candid: And Their Hope? That we finally align around productivity. That business leaders start saying, publicly and confidently, “Our companies are doing well.” Because confidence, like markets, is contagious. What does this all mean? If you’re wondering what all of this means for housing, real estate decisions, or timing the market, that’s a conversation worth having. The headlines rarely tell the full story. The nuance matters. And as always, We’re happy to talk it through. If you need to buy or sell, please make sure you call Davelle. Want to Make This Market Work for You? If you’re ready to make a smart move, not just a loud one, let’s talk. The bottom may already be in the rearview mirror. For Sale: Renovated 1-Bedroom Suite in Yorkville, Toronto (40 Scollard Street #1502) Across from the iconic Four Seasons, this fully renovated one-bedroom residence puts you at the centre of it all.Think morning spa treatments, chic brunches, and evenings spent exploring Toronto’s most coveted restaurants—all just steps from your door. For Lease: Large 2-Bedroom Condo in Bloor West Village, Toronto (588 Annette St #205) Welcome to a bright, generously sized two-bedroom condo tucked into the heart of Bloor West Village, just moments from the Junction.

The Signals Beneath the Surface If you only follow headlines, you’d think the market is standing still. But on the ground, something else is happening. I’ve been noticing small shifts lately. The kind that don’t show up in monthly stats, but tend to matter more than people realize. Fewer frantic showings, yes. But more second showings. More thoughtful questions. More buyers circling back to listings they dismissed just weeks ago. Markets rarely turn with a bang. They turn quietly. The Waiting-for-Spring Reflex Every year, buyers say the same thing: “We’ll wait until spring.”And every year, spring delivers exactly what you’d expect; more activity, more emotion, and more competition. But sellers feel that pull too. The promise of spring is seductive: brighter light, greener streets, more buyers. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it simply brings more listings, often from neighbours who have been waiting for the same moment. When everything comes to market at once, homes don’t stand out as easily. Buyers compare harder. Negotiations get sharper. Choice expands, and urgency fades. Right now, the market is thinner. Fewer listings mean more attention per property. Serious buyers aren’t distracted by endless options. They’re focused, analytical, and prepared. There’s also a subtle shift in buyer psychology as inventory rises. In quieter markets, buyers lean in. In busy ones, they lean back. More choice often brings more patience, and sometimes tougher negotiations, not easier ones. The strongest seller outcomes I see don’t come from perfect timing. They come from clear positioning: pricing with intention, understanding buyer behaviour, and choosing moments when expectations, not seasons, are working in your favour. Spring will come. It always does. The better question is whether it will bring advantage, or just activity. What I’d Do If I Were Buying Right Now I wouldn’t chase “cheap.” I’d chase value that lasts. If I were buying a condo, I’d think about how the next buyer will live. Not just how I live today. The world has changed in the last five years, and almost every buyer we work with now wants true work-from-home space. Not a nook. Not a corner. A den that actually functions as an office. With a door, proportions, and purpose. I’d choose a parking spot whether I owned a car or not. Why? Because flexibility matters. A parking space protects resale value and, in the meantime, it can often be rented out for extra cash. Optionality is underrated. I’d want outdoor space. Somewhere to step outside, open a door, take a breath. And I’d pay close attention to the building itself. Reputation, management, and long-term maintenance matter far more than granite or stainless steel. If I were shopping for a house, I’d prioritize light and flow. An open-concept kitchen that connects people, not corridors that divide them. Windows that bring the outside in. I’d make sure the primary suite actually works. Enough closet space, enough room for a proper bed, enough comfort to feel like a retreat, not an afterthought. And if possible, I’d want an income suite. Not because I have to rent it, but because choice is power. A good mortgage helper can change how a home feels financially, and emotionally. Whether it’s a condo or a house, one rule doesn’t change. Location still matters most. Because layouts can be adjusted. Finishes can be updated. Even uses can evolve. But location quietly determines everything that comes after. A Quiet Advantage The best opportunities rarely announce themselves. They appear when the noise fades and decision-making becomes more rational. This feels like one of those moments. If you’ve been thinking about a move, now or later, this is a good time to talk it through. No pressure. No predictions. Just a clear plan built around what makes sense for you. Want to Make This Market Work for You? If you’re ready to make a smart move, not just a loud one, let’s talk. The bottom may already be in the rearview mirror. For Sale: Renovated 1-Bedroom Suite in Yorkville, Toronto (40 Scollard Street #1502) Across from the iconic Four Seasons, this fully renovated one-bedroom residence puts you at the centre of it all.Think morning spa treatments, chic brunches, and evenings spent exploring Toronto’s most coveted restaurants—all just steps from your door. For Lease: Large 2-Bedroom Condo in Bloor West Village, Toronto (588 Annette St #205) Welcome to a bright, generously sized two-bedroom condo tucked into the heart of Bloor West Village, just moments from the Junction.

Seeing What Others Miss Last week, I sat down with Jason Mercer, TRREB’s Chief Market Analyst. We talked about the thing most people never question: the numbers. Every headline blends houses with condos, 416 with 905, apples with oranges. And when you mix everything together, you get… mush.Not clarity. Not direction. But decisions, big ones, are often made from that mush. Jason and I unpacked what really drives the market, how condos and houses behave like two entirely different species, and why December quietly reshapes buyer psychology every single year. If you’re curious about what’s actually happening (not just what’s printed), you can listen here. Tales from the Trenches The last couple of weeks have been… colourful. On a couple of our listings, we’ve seen extreme lowball offers—the kind that make you wonder if the buyer accidentally dropped a digit. But here’s the interesting part: when we sign the offer back, instead of negotiating, the buyer suddenly backs out. The Dance It’s a strange stance to take when someone is literally inviting you to negotiate. I like to think of an offer as an invitation to dance—you take a few steps forward, a few steps back, until you find a rhythm that works. But sometimes ego gets in the way, and the music stops before it ever starts. It’s a reminder:An offer is not a verdict.It’s not a win.It’s not a loss.It’s an invitation to dance. Some people accept the invitation.Some let ego lead.And the music stops before it begins. Another Moment We also made an offer for a buyer on a condo that had been sitting on the market for 71 days. Naturally, a lower offer seemed reasonable… until a competing offer suddenly appeared. Overnight, the strategy shifted—and the competing buyer was willing to go over asking. Markets shift in a heartbeat.The question is whether you’re ready when they do. Our clients made the smart choice not to overpay, especially in this market, but it was a great reminder that even slow-moving listings can surprise you. December Is a Portal Every year, December opens a small window.Less competition.More motivation.Better conversations. Most people wait for January, because January feels safer.But the opportunity is now, in the quiet month everyone ignores. If you’ve been thinking about buying, this is the moment between the beats. Let’s explore it together. What the Globe Wanted to Know The Globe and Mail interviewed me last week about what I’m seeing on the ground—inventory patterns, buyer behaviour, and the subtle signals that don’t show up in the stats. You can read it here: Toronto housing inventory gets a December refresh For those ready to explore, here are a couple of listings you may want to see before everyone else rediscovers the condo market: Want to Make This Market Work for You? If you’re ready to make a smart move, not just a loud one, let’s talk. The bottom may already be in the rearview mirror. For Sale: Renovated 1-Bedroom Suite in Yorkville, Toronto (40 Scollard Street #1502) Across from the iconic Four Seasons, this fully renovated one-bedroom residence puts you at the centre of it all.Think morning spa treatments, chic brunches, and evenings spent exploring Toronto’s most coveted restaurants—all just steps from your door. 2-Storey Townhouse at King West, Toronto (12 Sudbury Street, #2212) Tucked between West Queen West and King West, and just a jog away from Toronto’s waterfront, this two-storey townhouse delivers the kind of lifestyle the sky-high towers can’t touch.