The K-W real estate market is constantly changing, so please reach out for stats that are specific to your neighbourhood – or even if you’re just curious about what the house down the street sold for.
Waterloo Art Market
Celebrate creativity and community at the Waterloo Art Market!
Waterloo Public Square will come alive with local art, music and community spirit on Friday, May 29th from 5 pm – 9 pm for the Waterloo Art Market.
Visitors can enjoy a relaxed evening in the heart of Uptown Waterloo while browsing the market, meeting local creators and discovering one-of-a-kind finds.
There will also be live music to add to the atmosphere, making it a great way to enjoy an evening out while supporting local talent.
Whether you’re looking for something special, hoping to discover a new favourite artist or simply want to enjoy the Uptown energy, the Waterloo Art Market is a fun way to celebrate creativity and community spirit. Hope to see you there!
Bank of Canada Rate Update
Bank of Canada holds policy rate at 2.25% for fourth consecutive meeting.
On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, the Bank of Canada held its target for the overnight lending rate steady at 2.25% for the fourth consecutive time in a decision widely expected by analysts.
The Bank was once again quick to mention the economic impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and U.S. trade policy, including the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), as well as the uncertainty surrounding the outlook on energy prices.
The Bank noted that global bond yields have risen since January, which has already led to an increase in fixed mortgage rates, as they are based on the bond market.
Of note concerning the housing market, the Bank focused on affordability challenges and the decline in population growth as weighing on demand, while also pointing to weather-related factors that slowed resale activity in the first quarter of the year.
In its Monetary Policy Report, the Bank also called out “a substantial inventory overhang of small condominiums in some major centres.”
The Bank’s outlook for economic growth in Canada was little changed from its January projection, highlighting consumer and government spending as tailwinds and exports, business investment, and housing activity as headwinds.
The Bank also pointed out a softer labour market, with job losses across sectors affected by U.S. tariffs.
On balance, the Bank sees Canada’s economic growth outlook as unchanged due to the country’s status as a net energy exporter, where higher oil prices increasing national income offset higher prices paid by consumers for gasoline.
Critical to the Bank’s projections are assumptions that tariffs will remain unchanged while oil prices will drop back to $75 per barrel by the middle of next year as the Strait of Hormuz reopens, reflecting market expectations that the increase in oil prices will be short-lived.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) climbed sharply to 2.4% in March because of higher gasoline prices and is expected to rise to 3% in April.
The Bank stated there was little evidence at this point that higher oil prices have fed through to other goods and services, although these pass-through effects take longer and will have to be examined in the coming months.
The Bank also noted it will continue to monitor the evolution of U.S. trade policy, the situation in the Middle East and the impact of both on the Canadian economy and inflation.
Following the release of the announcement and Monetary Policy Report, Governor Tiff Macklem stated the Bank “agreed to look through the war’s immediate impact on inflation, but if energy prices stay high, we will not let their effects become persistent inflation.”
The Bank of Canada will make its next scheduled interest rate announcement on June 10, 2026. The Bank’s next Monetary Policy Report will be released on July 15, 2026.
Accelerating Your Mortgage
Paying off your mortgage sooner is simpler than most people realize.
If you sometimes wonder whether you’ll ever pay off your mortgage, you’re not alone.
The good news is there’s a simple strategy that can shave years off your mortgage while saving you thousands of dollars in interest!
Making bi-weekly accelerated payments is one of the easiest ways to make your mortgage magically disappear without making massive changes to your budget.
Most of us pay our mortgage each month, but accelerated bi-weekly payments can put thousands of dollars back in your pocket without the need to save up huge lump sum payments.
Just reach out to your lender and ask them to divide your monthly payment in half and then pay that amount every two weeks. The result will be 26 payments over the course of the year, which translates into 13 monthly payments instead of 12.
You’ll essentially be paying an extra monthly payment each year without even realizing it. The additional amount directly pays down the principal, which significantly reduces the amount of interest you’ll have to pay.
For example, on a $500,000 mortgage at 4% amortized over 25 years, switching to accelerated bi-weekly payments would save you $31,700 in interest and shave nearly three years off your mortgage!
If you’re looking for other ways to pay your mortgage off faster, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You have nothing to lose and thousands to gain!
National Rescue Dog Day
Behind every rescue dog is a story just waiting for a happy ending..
For all you dog lovers out there, May 20th marks National Rescue Dog Day, which was created to help raise awareness about the huge number of dogs who are currently waiting in shelters for a new place to call home.
The K-W Humane Society has been working tirelessly to rescue and care for animals that have been abandoned, abused or neglected, but they’re always in need of support.
Helping out is easy! For example, consider donating some of your old towels and blankets. They’re also in constant need of pet food, cleaning supplies, grooming tools, leashes, chew toys and, of course, treats!
Adoption is the ultimate goal. Having a loyal pet by your side is a great way to fetch joy and chase away loneliness, but if you’re unable to take on a dog full-time, there are a variety of volunteer opportunities, such as fostering or dog walking.
If you already share your home with a rescue dog, remember to post a pic of your pup on May 20th with the hashtag #nationalrescuedogday, along with a short story of how you and your dog have changed each other’s lives.
This National Rescue Dog Day, unleash some love and loyalty by adopting, donating or volunteering to help turn a tale of woe into a tail of wagging joy!
