Patrick Rocca NOTL Real Estate

🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦💪🙏

Gameday!!

Happy Valentines day 💓

sad that NOTL wants to ban patios...imo what makes old town so charming...and dont you want less vehicles on Queen??SMH..

Decision on Irish Harp's patio in limbo as town looks for more info The Irish Harp wants to continue using the outdoor patio it opened during the pandemic. Council voted to shut down the temporary patio program last March.

Canada loses 24,800 jobs in January, unemployment rate dips to 6.5%
Ottawa
Reuters
Published 2 hours ago
Updated 45 minutes ago

Canada unexpectedly lost 24,800 jobs in January but the unemployment rate dipped to a 16-month low of 6.5 per cent as fewer people looked for work, Statistics Canada indicated on Friday.

Analysts had forecast a gain of 7,000 jobs and for the unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 6.8 per cent.

Full-time employment in January rose by 44,900 jobs while part time employment fell by 69,700 positions.

The unemployment rate – the lowest since the 6.5 per cent recorded in September, 2024 – fell across most major demographic groups, largely reflecting declines in the number of job searchers.

The manufacturing sector lost 27,500 positions, most of them in the industrial heartland of Ontario, where some key industries have been hit by U.S. tariffs.

Overall job losses in the manufacturing, educational services and public administration sectors outweighed gains in the information, business, agriculture and utilities sectors.

Macklem says economy undergoing structural change, plays down chance of further rate cuts

The Bank of Canada says the labour market is softening after the economy added a total of 181,000 new jobs from September through November. Canada created 10,100 jobs in December.

The employment rate in January fell 0.1 percentage points to 60.8 per cent, the first such decline since August, 2025.

The average hourly wage of permanent employees – a gauge closely tracked by the Bank of Canada to ascertain inflationary trends – dipped to a seven-month low of 3.3 per cent, down from the 3.7 per cent recorded in December.

The central bank held its key policy rate steady at 2.25 per cent last week and said this was about the right level to keep inflation close to its 2-per-cent target. Money markets expect rates to stay on hold for the rest of the year.

NOTL named one of the most welcoming places in Canada
It was the only place from Ontario on the list.
A new ranking of 2026’s most welcoming places in Canada has been unveiled and this small town in Ontario, known as one of the most beautiful in the world, made the list.
On Feb. 4, Booking.com, a “leader in connecting travellers with incredible places to stay, top attractions and seamless transport options,” released the winners of its 14th annual Traveller Review Awards.
And in Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake was selected as one of Canada’s most welcoming places, the only spot to represent the province. The awards are derived from more than 370 million verified reviews from travellers around the globe, and celebrate places that “consistently deliver standout hospitality across every corner of the globe.”
Outside of Ontario, seven other spots across Canada were also named as the most welcoming in the country for 2026.

MARKET INSIGHT FOR THE WEEK ENDING January 30th, 2026



Variable-rate mortgages gain traction as global uncertainty lifts fixed rates



Fixed mortgage rates are unlikely to decline anytime soon as ongoing geopolitical instability continues to rattle global markets, driving more homebuyers toward variable-rate mortgages, according to brokers.

On Wednesday, the Bank of Canada confirmed it would hold its benchmark interest rate at 2.25 per cent, a move economists expect will likely remain in place for much of the year.

Borrowing costs have shifted back toward a neutral range, no longer providing economic stimulus nor holding growth back — a sign of a return to more typical conditions. While rates could still edge slightly higher or lower depending on economic performance, the most probable outcome is an extended period of steadiness.

For buyers and homeowners nearing renewal, that predictability is key, as “stability matters” when it comes to household budgeting and financing decisions.

Although fixed-rate mortgages still represent the bulk of outstanding loans, variable-rate products are seeing renewed interest as the Bank of Canada keeps rates on hold.

Variable-rate mortgages fluctuate directly with changes to the central bank’s policy rate, moving up or down in tandem. Fixed-rate mortgages, on the other hand, are generally linked to the five-year bond yield, meaning increases in bond yields typically translate into higher fixed mortgage rates.

For borrowers weighing their options, it’s worth noting that five-year bond yields have been especially volatile in recent weeks.

That volatility has prompted some lenders to raise fixed mortgage rates as they reprice their offerings.

Fixed rates are not expected to ease in the short term, as “rising geopolitical tensions and unpredictable U.S. trade policy have kept global bond yields firmly elevated,” said Penelope Graham, mortgage expert at Ratehub.ca.

Canada’s best insured five-year fixed mortgage rate currently sits at 3.84 per cent, which is not far off from variable-rate options. For buyers seeking certainty, locking into a fixed rate doesn’t represent a major trade-off versus choosing variable, Graham noted.”

“Meanwhile, variable rates are available as low as 3.35 per cent — the most competitive level since the summer of 2022, according to Graham.

“You’re still paying more each month than in the past, but it’s a significant improvement from a couple of years ago,” she said, pointing out that variable rates were near 5 per cent just 18 months ago.

Since June 2024, the central bank has delivered nine cumulative rate cuts, bringing its policy rate down from 5 per cent to 2.25 per cent.

As a result, variable-rate mortgages are taking up a larger share of the market.

In 2025, fixed-rate mortgages represented 88.6 per cent of all mortgages, while variable rates made up 11.4 per cent, Graham said — up from just seven per cent in 2024.

By January 2026 variable-rate mortgages accounted for 26 per cent of all mortgages, rising from 19 per cent in December.

“We’ve seen a fairly strong pickup,” Graham said. “Fixed rates still represent more than 70 per cent of all inquiries, and I don’t expect that to shift dramatically. But demand for variable rates always increases in this type of rate environment.”

https://youtu.be/u_wNDQLY7vw?si=DtesBO1Hpezk9JwJ

Danger! Remove Snow from your Furnace/Hot Water Vents. With massive winter storms, don't forget to inspector your exterior vents.Home Inspector M.D. provides home inspections for the residents of Mississauga, Bra...

We got hit with a lot of snow over the past 24 hours, and the wind has created some pretty epic snowdrifts in some places. It's worth checking to make sure your home's external vents are clear of snow. Keeping them clear allows your home's heating to work properly and keeps your family safe and warm.

Bonus points for checking on your out-of-town neighbours' vents as well. Could be the difference between frozen pipes or a warm return home.

Happy Shovelling,

is wild....this is my Christmas wish...lots of doxis..i miss my 2..tuff year...😪.I hope you all get your wish and I wish you and you and your families peace on earth and much happiness and prosperity in 2026...🙏❤️

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSnxzSIE5y7/?igsh=ZDJsd3hvZDk4emg0

"Last phone call, promise!!" 🎅😅

MARKET INSIGHT FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 19th, 2025

Home prices in Canada have recorded some of the most dramatic increases, even as values continue to climb in most major cities across North America.



A new report reinforces what many homebuyers already suspect: Canadian housing prices have been rising sharply for the last two decades. Drawing on data from Zillow, Visual Capitalist examined price trends in both the U.S. and Canada, with several Canadian cities emerging as clear standouts.



The analysis looked at home prices in the top 25 North American cities and found that, on average, prices increased by 92 per cent between 2005 and 2025, nearly doubling over a 20-year span.



At first glance, one might expect high-cost markets such as New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco to lead the way. Over the same period, prices in those cities rose by 59 per cent, 73 per cent, and 79 per cent, respectively. San Francisco remains the most expensive housing market in North America, with the average home priced at $1,556,179.



Despite their high prices, these cities did not rank among the top five for the fastest pace of price growth.



Instead, the report notes that “The top three fastest-appreciating cities are all in Canada. Vancouver leads with a 175 per cent increase since 2005, followed by Montreal at 167 per cent and Toronto with a 165 per cent rise.”



Canada’s largest urban centres continue to post the strongest housing markets in North America, driven by strong demand from foreign buyers and rapid population growth.



Statistics Canada estimates the country’s population reached 41,651,653 as of July 1, 2025. Together, these pressures have contributed to ongoing housing shortages in cities such as Toronto and Vancouver.



In the United States, the cities experiencing the fastest growth in home prices include Dallas, Charlotte, Denver, Seattle, Houston, and Atlanta.



Below is a look at how much prices have climbed in North America’s five fastest-growing housing markets, along with what buyers can expect to pay for a home today. All prices are listed in Canadian dollars.”





5. Charlotte, N.C:



Average home price in July 2005: $228,621
Average home price in July 2025: $535,746
Percentage increase: 134 per cent


4. Dallas, Texas:



Average home price in July 2005: $228,643
Average home price in July 2025: $508,201
Percentage increase: 139 per cent


3. Toronto, Ont:



Average home price in July 2005: $369,098
Average home price in July 2025: $976,445
Percentage increase: 164 per cent


2. Montreal, Que:



Average home price in July 2005: $214,862
Average home price in July 2025: $574,307
Percentage increase: 167 per cent


1. Vancouver, B.C:



Average home price in July 2005: $421,495
Average home price in July 2025: $1,159,707
Percentage increase: 175 per cent