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With housing affordability, a top concern for many Canadians across Ontario, the notion of being able to find a place to call home and still grow personal and household wealth can be daunting.


Even with skyrocketing inflation, staggering grocery bills, and unaffordable housing costs, there are still many smaller Ontario cities according to a recent study that homeowners can actually still grow wealth and save money at the same time. 


The following infographic shows the main factors determining a higher standard of living for a city: 


Higher Average Income after taxes and  Lower Average Cost of Living

Source: Statistics Canada


The Top Ontario Cities to Create Wealth and Save Money:


1. Oakville

2. Burlington

3. Barrie

4. Waterloo

5. Guelph

6. Greater Sudbury

7. Kingston

8. Thunder Bay

9. St. Catharines


Thinking of buying home in one of these areas? With 15 years of experience, Sue Heddle Homes has what it takes to help you find your ideal home and location. From sharing key...
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The 5 Ways to live in Harmony with Wildlife in Oakville

You may have noticed more frequent sightings of wildlife in Oakville over the past few years, in particular coyotes. 


According to the Oakville -Milton Humane Society (OMHS), more frequent reports of coyotes during this time is in part due to more people staying at home over the pandemic, which allowed people more opportunity and time to explore their residential neigbourhoods and to encounter various wild neighbourhood inhabitants like coyotes.


During approximately mid-February coyotes are mating, with puppies due in April. Therefore, there will be more frequent sightings, as well as fall when coyotes prepare for winter.


As humans continue to encroach on coyote territory through housing and infrastructure development, there will be more human/coyote interaction. 


Therefore, the OMHS recommends 5 main rules to allow for a more peaceful co-existence:

  1. DO NOT leave out bird seed in the backyard as this will encourage or lure coyotes into your backyard to hunt birds and other...

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The current real estate market could be described as a “Buyer’s Market”, due in large part to high-interest rates and inflation tempering home prices considerably from the 2021 peak.



However, purchasing a home is no easy endeavor and will be the most significant investment a buyer will ever make in their life. The main factors for buyers that will NEVER change will be Affordability, Where, and How to make the dream a reality.  


The right time to buy a home depends on the right time for the buyer. Sue Heddle Homes is here to help buyers find the best route to achieve home ownership, whether it is for the first time or for the 7th! Let Sue be your guide through the home-buying process. 

Home Buying Q&A


Question: Is there a right/wrong time to buy a property?

Answer:Yes and No! It all depends on personal milestones.


Some buyers are sick of renting and want to build home equity vs giving it to a landlord, others have saved until they have an appropriate...

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How to Manage Current Interest Rates To Buy Your Dream Home

The current direction of The Bank of Canada (BoC) to continually raise interest rates to curb record-high inflation has caused a lot of anxiety across Canada as to how to manage not just day-to-day expenses but the cost of home ownership.


Is there a silver lining within this “interest rate storm?”


Even though interest rates are high, this also means that property prices are and continue to be moving lower than peak levels from a year ago. This translates into a great opportunity for Canadians who were priced out during the peak period.

To take advantage of this, the following information for would-be-buyers is key to think about before buying:

1. Secure the rate insurance of a pre-approval. This can save a potential homeowner the heartache of not having one. Securing a mortgage that fits your budget is critical to saving interest costs over a mortgage life span.

2. Remember, choosing a lengthy fixed-rate mortgage to secure a consistent payment schedule over the long term is ultimately...
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3 Things to Ignore When Buying a Home

When you’re searching for a home, making appointments to view listings can feel really exciting. You start to imagine yourself in these new spaces and it’s hard not to personalize things as soon as you set foot in a home that caught your eye.


As a top Oakville realtor for over a decade, I’ve certainly seen potential buyer’s excitement turn to disappointment when they finally get the chance to tour a listing that they were interested in. When you’re touring homes for sale, it really is important to keep an open mind, which can sometimes be easier said than done.

What’s Okay to Ignore When Looking for A Home?

Not to worry, as a trusted and experienced Oakville realtor, I’ll always make sure that important concerns are never overlooked. Things like electrical or structural issues, disrepair, or evidence of leaks certainly require attention and may be a reason to forgo putting in an offer on a home. 


However, there are three...

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