Move Smartly: The Podcast

This episode dives into some of the biggest questions buyers and sellers are asking right now—from whether it makes sense to jump into pre-construction with the new HST rebate, to the growing debate over whether that policy is really helping buyers or quietly supporting builders. We unpack the risks of trying to time the market in an uncertain economic environment, and how to think about pricing, incentives, and long-term value when conditions are shifting.

We also discuss what's actually happening on the ground in today's market, including whether underpricing strategies still work for sellers and how much leverage buyers really have right now. The goal is to cut through the noise and give practical insight into how to navigate a market that feels increasingly unpredictable.

In today's live, we unpack why the market is still slower than the headlines suggest and what the HST rebate means for buyers right now. We dig into the HST rebate on new homes and what it actually means for buyers, how it's structured, who's likely to benefit, and why the impact on pricing isn't as straightforward as it sounds. We also look at what it signals for new construction and some key risks buyers should keep in mind before making a move.

Despite the headlines, the market fundamentals remain weak, with sales still running well below normal levels across both houses and condos. Inventory remains elevated compared to historical norms, and prices have continued to ease from recent peaks.

Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:07 Market Stats 08:56 HST Rebat 19:25 On The Ground Questions 36:19 Mortgage Expert - David Larock

Set-up a meeting with John Pasalis and his agents at Realosophy to discuss your own real estate questions privately: https://www.movesmartly.com/meetjohn Sign up for our email list to be alerted to the next online market update to join our YouTube session live chat and ask your own Qs: https://www.movesmartly.com/monthly-public-webinar

We hope you enjoyed this month's update and found it valuable. Thanks for tuning in - we'll see you next month!

Toronto and Vancouver's housing markets remain notably weak this month, with both cities continuing to see subdued sales and hesitant buyer activity. What stands out isn't just the slowdown itself, but how comfortable many buyers seem staying on the sidelines. In this month's Real Estate Roundtable, John Pasalis, Steve Saretsky, and David Larock unpack the factors reinforcing that caution. Rising interest rates, combined with ongoing geopolitical risks, are giving buyers plenty of justification to wait. Even those who are financially capable of purchasing are choosing patience, contributing to markets that feel stuck rather than competitive. We also take a closer look at the federal government's HST cut on new housing and what it actually means in practice. While the policy may support new housing starts at the margins, its more immediate impact could be on developers holding completed but unsold units. The change makes it easier for builders to sell these units to institutional investors at discounted prices, or to rent them out without triggering the same tax consequences they would have faced before. Overall, the discussion highlights a market that isn't just slow, but structurally constrained, where policy changes may ease pressure for developers without necessarily improving affordability or bringing buyers back into the market in the near term.

Housing economists say we need more supply. Politicians blame city planners. YIMBYs want less regulation. But the cities we admire most — Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam — weren't built by getting out of the way. They were built by bold, intentional planning. So what's actually going on? In this conversation, we sit down with Gregg Lintern, former Chief Planner of the City of Toronto and Dean of the Curtner Urban Leadership Program with ULI Toronto, to unpack the housing crisis as a system — not a soundbite.

Gregg walks us through what a Chief Planner actually controls, what he tried to change from the inside with initiatives like EHON, and why blaming any single actor misses the bigger picture. We dig into the real barriers — regulatory, economic, and political — that make it so hard to build the kinds of housing Toronto needs. And we tackle the harder questions: in an era of cautious incrementalism, have we lost the appetite for the kind of transformative planning that shaped the great cities of the world?

Follow John x-twitter: https://x.com/JohnPasalis, Instagram @john.pasalis or email: [email protected]

Follow the show on x-twitter: @MoveSmartly, Instagram @move.smartly

About This Show

The Move Smartly show is hosted by John Pasalis, President and Broker of Realosophy Realty. MoveSmartly.com and its media channels on YouTube and various podcast platforms are powered by Realosophy Realty in Toronto, Canada.

You can also watch this episode on our MoveSmartly YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly

If you enjoy our show and find it useful, please like, subscribe, share, review and comment on whatever platform you are watching or listening to us from - we appreciate your support!

In this episode, we tackle a few timely questions from listeners trying to make sense of today's housing market. We start with a seller who received a strong offer from buyers willing to purchase without conditions—but with a long closing because they still need to sell their own home. We unpack the real risk in that scenario: what happens if the buyers can't sell in time, and how sellers should think about these types of offers in a slower market. We also explore how AI is beginning to reshape the real estate industry and what agents should be doing now to stay competitive as things evolve. On the buyer side, we discuss how to approach timing in a market where some homes sit while others attract multiple offers, and whether buyers are finally regaining the ability to include conditions like financing and home inspections—even in competitive situations—and how to know when you can get away with it.

Follow John x-twitter: https://x.com/JohnPasalis, Instagram @john.pasalis or email: [email protected]

Follow the show on x-twitter: @MoveSmartly, Instagram @move.smartly

About This Show

The Move Smartly show is hosted by John Pasalis, President and Broker of Realosophy Realty. MoveSmartly.com and its media channels on YouTube and various podcast platforms are powered by Realosophy Realty in Toronto, Canada.

You can also watch this episode on our MoveSmartly YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly

If you enjoy our show and find it useful, please like, subscribe, share, review and comment on whatever platform you are watching or listening to us from - we appreciate your support!

Ontario's residential construction sector is facing its worst crisis in decades. Pre-construction condo sales have plummeted 89%, single-family home sales are down 71%, and half the municipalities in the GTA and Golden Horseshoe are failing on housing. In this episode, we sit down with Richard Lyall, president of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON), who has represented the building industry since 1991 and has never seen conditions this bad.

Lyall walks us through the forces behind the collapse — from development charges that have ballooned tenfold in a decade to an approvals process that stretches 90-day timelines past 600 days — and lays out the policy reforms RESCON believes are needed to restart the housing pipeline. We dig into the new GST cut for first-time buyers, the case for rolling back development charges, and what Canada can learn from Germany's approach to building.

Follow John x-twitter: https://x.com/JohnPasalis, Instagram @john.pasalis or email: [email protected]

Follow the show on x-twitter: @MoveSmartly, Instagram @move.smartly

About This Show

The Move Smartly show is hosted by John Pasalis, President and Broker of Realosophy Realty. MoveSmartly.com and its media channels on YouTube and various podcast platforms are powered by Realosophy Realty in Toronto, Canada.

You can also watch this episode on our MoveSmartly YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly

If you enjoy our show and find it useful, please like, subscribe, share, review and comment on whatever platform you are watching or listening to us from - we appreciate your support!

In this month's YouTube Live, we're unpacking some interesting shifts happening in the Toronto real estate market.

While the overall market remains relatively slow, some Toronto neighbourhoods are seeing noticeably stronger competition. In these pockets, well-priced homes are attracting multiple buyers - a reminder that even in a quieter market, demand can still concentrate in certain areas.

At the same time, activity isn't uniform across the city. Some segments are picking up while others remain fairly soft, highlighting how uneven the market has become.

We also discuss the outlook for interest rates. With global uncertainty increasing and long-term bond yields moving higher, borrowing costs may start trending up again - a shift that could influence buyer confidence and housing demand in the months ahead.

Set-up a meeting with John Pasalis and his agents at Realosophy to discuss your own real estate questions privately: https://www.movesmartly.com/meetjohn Sign up for our email list to be alerted to the next online market update to join our YouTube session live chat and ask your own Qs: https://www.movesmartly.com/monthly-public-webinar We hope you enjoyed this month's update and found it valuable. Thanks for tuning in - we'll see you next month!

Toronto and Vancouver's housing markets are off to a very slow start in 2026. Sales activity in both cities has come in well below last year's levels as buyers remain cautious amid broader economic uncertainty.

In this month's Real Estate Roundtable, John Pasalis, Steve Saretsky, and David Larock discuss what's keeping buyers on the sidelines and what it might take for confidence to return. One of the biggest questions right now is the outlook for interest rates. While many economists had expected modest rate cuts this year, the war in the Middle East has added a new layer of uncertainty that could complicate the Bank of Canada's path forward.

We also discuss a major policy development on the West Coast: the Musqueam Nation's agreement with the federal government, which could reshape how land is developed in Vancouver and raise important questions about governance, planning, and housing supply.

Finally, we look at how multiplex policies are beginning to influence housing markets in both Vancouver and Toronto. While still early, these changes are starting to affect land values, redevelopment decisions, and the types of housing being built across both cities.

Contact & Follow

Follow John Pasalis on X/Twitter: @JohnPasalis | Email: [email protected] Follow Steve Saretsky on X/Twitter: @SteveSaretsky | Email: [email protected] Follow David Larock on X/Twitter: @Dave_at_IMP | Email: [email protected]

Watch this episode on the Move Smartly YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly

If you enjoy the show, please like, subscribe, share, review, and comment — your support helps us reach more listeners.

Housing affordability is usually framed as a supply problem or a price problem. But recent academic research suggests something deeper may be happening.

The research finds that when young people begin to believe homeownership is permanently out of reach, their financial behaviour shifts in meaningful ways. Renters who feel shut out are more likely to consume more relative to their wealth, reduce work effort, and take on higher-risk investments. Meanwhile, those who still believe ownership is attainable tend to save more and double down on their efforts.

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Preet Banerjee — behavioural finance researcher, Globe and Mail columnist, and founder of YourMoneyDegree.com — to unpack what this means for individuals and for the broader economy.

We explore how housing may be reshaping motivation and long-term planning, whether this "giving up" effect is cultural or universal, and what the appropriate public policy response should be. If homeownership has long served as a near-term, concrete financial goal that anchors behaviour, what happens when that goal disappears for an entire generation?

This conversation goes beyond housing prices. It's about belief in the financial life cycle — and what happens when that belief begins to erode.

Follow John x-twitter: https://x.com/JohnPasalis, Instagram @john.pasalis or email: [email protected]

Follow the show on x-twitter: @MoveSmartly, Instagram @move.smartly

About This Show

The Move Smartly show is hosted by John Pasalis, President and Broker of Realosophy Realty. MoveSmartly.com and its media channels on YouTube and various podcast platforms are powered by Realosophy Realty in Toronto, Canada.

You can also watch this episode on our MoveSmartly YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly

If you enjoy our show and find it useful, please like, subscribe, share, review and comment on whatever platform you are watching or listening to us from - we appreciate your support!