Has Canada’s Housing Market Hit Bottom or Just Getting Started?
Release Date: 08/01/2025
A Look Back 15 Years at Move Smartly and Realosophy - Interview with Urmi Desai
Move Smartly: The Podcast
Today, Move Smartly co-host John Pasalis chats with Move Smartly editor and Realosophy business partner Urmi Desai about her departure from the firm and the Move Smartly show. A lot has changed since John and Urmi began working on a new type of pro-consumer data-focussed real estate brokerage and communications channel back over 15 years ago. We look back on the experiences of building a real estate business, why Urmi’s policy background has allowed her to take on various challenges in the public, private and now, the non-profit sector and her thoughts on Canada’s housing...
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The Hidden Distress Reshaping Toronto Condo Market — September Toronto Area Real Estate Market Live Update & Q/A
Move Smartly: The Podcast
Each month, show co-host John Pasalis presents his latest data and top stories on Toronto area real estate in conversation with fellow Realosophy agents, Peter Karlos and Davin McMahon, and our Move Smartly mortgage expert, David Larock - and you, our viewers, who join the conversation in our live chat hosted by Move Smartly Editor Urmi Desai to make this is one of our liveliest segments! This week, John and his team discuss conditions in a market - how are individual buyers and sellers navigating house and condo price drops? Dave Larock, our mortgage expert, explains how the latest in US and...
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Is Real Estate Now a Bad Investment in Canada? — Toronto & Vancouver Real Estate Roundtable September 2025
Move Smartly: The Podcast
We’re back from our summer hiatus - and back to work! Move Smartly Editor and Host, Urmi, once again speaks to John and Steve on what is going on in the data and on the ground in Toronto and Vancouver. This month, more sales but some surprising price drops continuing not only in condos but house sector. Plus, how will interest rates, economic uncertainty and headlines about a condo market collapse play into consumer sentiment? And, an Ontario real estate brokerage scandal puts (another) black eye on the industry. Contact Us Follow Steve on X-Twitter @SteveSaretsky; Email at: Follow...
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A Few More Buyers, A Lot More Listings — August Toronto Area Real Estate Market Live Update & Q/A
Move Smartly: The Podcast
Each month, show co-host John Pasalis presents his latest data and top stories on Toronto area real estate in conversation with fellow Realosophy agents, Anastasia Spozito and Davin McMahon, and our Move Smartly mortgage expert, David Larock - and you, our viewers, who join the conversation in our live chat hosted by Move Smartly Editor Urmi Desai to make this is one of our liveliest segments! This week, John and his team discuss conditions in a market that sees some buyers motivated as prices drop — but how will sellers respond? Dave Larock, our mortgage expert, explains how the latest in...
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Slight Sales Bump — But For How Long? — Toronto & Vancouver Real Estate Roundtable August 2025
Move Smartly: The Podcast
Move Smartly Editor and Host, Urmi, once again speaks to John and Steve on what is going on in the data and on the ground in Toronto and Vancouver. This month, some surprising signs of more activity with an uptick in sales in both markets, while prices remain under pressure. Plus, what influences home buyers more — interest rate news or Canada-US trade uncertainty? And BC tries to get new construction going with a change to development charges — will it work? Contact Us Follow Steve on X-Twitter @SteveSaretsky; Email at: Follow John on X-Twitter @JohnPasalis; Email at: Follow...
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Has Canada’s Housing Market Hit Bottom or Just Getting Started?
Move Smartly: The Podcast
In this episode, I’m joined by Robert Kavcic, Senior Economist at BMO, to unpack the real state of Canada’s economy amid growing public uncertainty. Despite rising interest rates, global trade tensions, and fears of a looming recession, Canadians are still spending, stock markets are climbing, and unemployment is rising more slowly than expected. So—are we in trouble, or are fears overblown? We explore the economic crosscurrents shaping 2025, from trade negotiations and tariff threats to what’s really driving up mortgage rates. We also dive into Canada’s housing market, where...
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If Affordability is the Goal, Why Are Some Panicking That Home Prices and Rents Are Finally Falling?
Move Smartly: The Podcast
Today, Move Smartly editor Urmi Desai discusses a key hot topic in Canadian real estate with co-host John Pasalis of Realosophy Realty in Toronto. In the last few years, we have been told by experts and advocates that removing all barriers to supply — including taxes, zoning and other government regulations — is the key to restoring housing affordability as builders will build, build, build enough homes to restore supply and demand balance — resulting in falling prices. But now that home prices and rents are finally falling in Ontario and BC, housing starts have come to a standstill. Why...
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Why Canada Only Builds Micro Condos — And What We Can Do About It
Move Smartly: The Podcast
Toronto has become a global poster child for the micro-condo — tiny units designed not for families, but for investors. We’re told that’s just how the system works: developers need investors to pre-buy units years before anything gets built, because regular buyers won’t take that kind of risk. But is that really true? Or is it a choice we’ve made — one that’s locked us into building housing that doesn’t actually serve the people who need it? In this episode, John and Urmi speak with Pouyan Safapour, President of Devron Developments, who argues that Canada’s pre-construction...
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More Homes, Fewer Buyers: GTA Housing Faces a New Test — July Toronto Area Real Estate Market Live Update & Q/A
Move Smartly: The Podcast
Each month, show co-host John Pasalis presents his latest data and top stories on Toronto area real estate in conversation with fellow Realosophy agents, Gus Papaioannou, and our Move Smartly mortgage expert, David Larock - and you, our viewers, who join the conversation in our live chat hosted by Move Smartly Editor Urmi Desai to make this is one of our liveliest segments! This week, John and his team discuss conditions in a market that has not been that familiar to the Toronto area for some time - as more homes hit the market for sale, and fewer buyers are confident to jump in, which...
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Canadian Housing Market Remains at a Standstill — Toronto & Vancouver Real Estate Roundtable July 2025
Move Smartly: The Podcast
Move Smartly Editor and Host, Urmi, once again speaks to John and Steve on what is going on in the data and on the ground in Toronto and Vancouver. We heard how historic low sales continue to play out on the ground. Plus, are trade blues the only thing worrying Canadians about the economy? And why as our national housing agency giving up on housing affordability - and why can’t supply be a solution? Contact Us Follow Steve on X-Twitter @SteveSaretsky; Email at: Follow John on X-Twitter @JohnPasalis; Email at: Follow Urmi on X-Twitter @MoveSmartly; Email at: About This...
info_outlineIn this episode, I’m joined by Robert Kavcic, Senior Economist at BMO, to unpack the real state of Canada’s economy amid growing public uncertainty.
Despite rising interest rates, global trade tensions, and fears of a looming recession, Canadians are still spending, stock markets are climbing, and unemployment is rising more slowly than expected. So—are we in trouble, or are fears overblown?
We explore the economic crosscurrents shaping 2025, from trade negotiations and tariff threats to what’s really driving up mortgage rates. We also dive into Canada’s housing market, where psychology has shifted, construction is stalling, and many are wondering whether the market has found its bottom—or if more pain is ahead.