If you’re actively searching for a Toronto rental, here’s an incentive that genuinely stands out. Fitzrovia — one of Canada’s leading purpose-built rental developers — is now offering tenants the ability to earn Aeroplan points simply by paying their rent.
Yes, really.
Through a new partnership with Chexy, Fitzrovia renters can turn a monthly expense into meaningful travel rewards — a move that reflects how competitive (and creative) the Toronto rental market has become.
Earn Aeroplan® Points On Your Rent Payments
How the Aeroplan Rent Incentive Works
The concept is refreshingly straightforward:
Rent is paid through the Chexy platform, which allows tenants to pay using debit or credit cards
New leases may also qualify for a one-time Aeroplan signing bonus, depending on the building and promotion
Instead of a one-time free-rent offer, this incentive keeps delivering value month after month — whether that’s flights, hotel stays, or upgrades through the Aeroplan program.
Why This Is a Big Deal for Toronto Renters
Rent is already one of your largest monthly expenses. Turning it into something that helps fund travel or future experiences is a smart upgrade — especially for renters who value flexibility, lifestyle perks, and modern rental communities.
It’s also part of a broader trend we’re seeing: top-tier rental developers are focusing less on short-term discounts and more on long-term tenant value.
Why Fitzrovia (And Sloane) Are Worth a Closer Look
At Toronto Livings, we’ve already helped renters successfully secure homes at Sloane by Fitzrovia, a purpose-built rental community near Yorkdale known for its thoughtful layouts, elevated amenities, and transit-friendly location.
Now, with the ability to earn Aeroplan points on rent, Fitzrovia’s offering becomes even more compelling — especially for renters planning to stay put for a while.
If you’re weighing your options and want to understand which Fitzrovia buildings qualify, how the Aeroplan incentive works, or how to secure a unit before availability tightens, we’re happy to help.
Thinking about making a move? Send us a message below and let’s talk through your options and see whether a Fitzrovia rental — Aeroplan points included — makes sense for you.
After a quieter summer and a cautious start to the fall market, October delivered the clearest sign yet that Toronto’s real estate landscape is stabilizing. Sales activity continued to improve, inventory eased from September’s surge, and prices held firm month-over-month. While the market is not roaring forward, October showed a meaningful shift in sentiment as buyers re-engaged and competition tightened slightly across several segments.
Below is a full breakdown of how the market performed and what it means for buyers and sellers heading into the final stretch of the year.
October at a Glance
Sales: Up 9.76% month-over-month
New Listings: Down 16.57% month-over-month
Active Listings: Down 5.40% month-over-month
Average GTA Price: Down 0.47% month-over-month
Average Days on Market: 50 days (down from 51 in September)
October 2025 Toronto Real Estate Market Update
GTA Market Overview
October delivered a second consecutive month of sales growth, rising nearly 10% from September. Buyers who had previously stepped to the sidelines over the summer began returning, encouraged by improved affordability expectations, increased negotiation power, and a sense that prices may have reached a temporary floor after months of softening.
Inventory also pulled back in October. New listings dropped more than 16% month-over-month, and active listings declined just over 5%. While supply remains higher than last year, the month-over-month easing helped bring the market closer to balance. With fewer new listings coming online, sellers benefited from slightly less competition than they faced in September.
Prices remained stable, dipping less than half a percent. Considering the broader downward pressure over the past year, October’s minimal price movement suggests values may be flattening as the market finds an equilibrium between what sellers are willing to accept and what buyers are prepared to pay.
Key Takeaway: October showed improving buyer engagement and tightening inventory – two key ingredients for price stabilization.
Key Market Drivers in October
Improved Buyer Confidence The fall market saw stronger engagement as buyers adjusted to borrowing costs and gained clarity around pricing. This confidence translated into increased sales activity across both freehold and condo segments.
Inventory Eased After a September Surge September’s spike in listings created temporary pressure on prices. With fewer new listings in October, buyers had less choice, helping restore some balance.
Price Stability Encouraged Move-Ups and First-Timers Stable pricing helped both move-up buyers and first-time purchasers make more confident decisions, especially in the condo and semi-detached segments.
GTA Market Performance: Month-Over-Month
Sales increased by 9.76% (+546 sales)
New listings declined by 16.57% (-3,191 listings)
Active listings dropped by 5.40% (-1,586 listings)
Average price decreased slightly by 0.47% (-$5,005)
Days on Market improved from 51 to 50 days
Key Takeaway: The combination of rising sales and falling listings is a positive directional shift for market balance.
GTA Market Performance: Year-Over-Year
Sales down 7.81% from October 2024
New listings up 4.83% from last year
Active listings up 13.59% from last year
Average price down 7.12% year-over-year (-$80,843)
Days on Market up 16.28% from last year (+7 days)
Key Takeaway: While the month-to-month narrative has improved, year-over-year comparisons continue to show a softer market with more choice and lower prices than last fall.
416 Market Breakdown by Property Type
Sales Activity (Month-Over-Month)
Detached: Up 10.67% (+72 sales)
Semi-Detached: Up 22.90% (+49 sales)
Townhouse: Up 13.64% (+30 sales)
Condo: Up 14.04% (+132 sales)
Sales growth was seen across all housing types, marking one of the broadest improvements this year. Semi-detached homes led the month, followed closely by the condo sector, which regained momentum after a slower summer.
Key Takeaway: Buyer interest strengthened across all segments, showing renewed confidence in the market.
Pricing Trends (Month-Over-Month)
Detached: Down 3.97% (-$66,966)
Semi-Detached: Up 3.18% (+$37,582)
Townhouse: Down 4.19% (-$38,919)
Condo: Up 2.66% (+$18,126)
Freehold properties saw mixed performance. Detached and townhouse values experienced modest declines, while semis posted the strongest price gains of the month. Condos also saw average prices rise, supported by an uptick in demand and more motivated fall buyers.
Key Takeaway: Semi-detached homes stood out as the strongest performer, while condos continue to offer value-driven opportunities for buyers.
October 2025 Toronto Real Estate Market Update
What This Means for Buyers
With inventory easing and sales strengthening, buyers considering a purchase in the next three to six months may want to take advantage of current conditions. Prices have shown signs of stabilizing, and as competition picks up, the negotiation leverage seen through the summer could begin to narrow.
Key Takeaway: Buyers still hold advantages, but conditions are shifting. Acting before inventory tightens further could be beneficial.
What This Means for Sellers
October offered sellers a more encouraging landscape than earlier in the fall. With fewer new listings entering the market, properly priced homes saw more consistent showings and engagement. Attractive, well-prepared properties continue to see the strongest results.
Key Takeaway: Sellers who position their home strategically and price with the current market will find more motivated buyers than in recent months.
Our Take
October marked an important turning point for Toronto real estate. While we’re not seeing dramatic price growth or frenzied bidding wars, the combination of stronger sales and softer listing numbers suggests the market is working toward balance. Confidence has improved, and both freehold and condo buyers are moving more decisively than they did over the summer.
Heading into the final months of the year, the market appears more stable and predictable than it has been for most of 2025. For both buyers and sellers, clarity is returning, and informed strategies are key. As always, reach out any time if you’d like to learn more!
If you’re a homeowner in Toronto considering your next move, one of the most common—and stressful—questions you’ll face is: should I sell before I buy? It’s not just a logistical question, but a financial and emotional one. Do you lock in your next dream home first, or secure top dollar for your current property before making your move?
When you sell first, you’re not guessing what your home might fetch—you know. That clarity shapes everything from your down payment to your total budget.
Take one of our recent clients: they were casually eyeing move-up homes in the west end but hadn’t nailed down what they could afford. After selling their place above asking, they suddenly had more buying power—and the confidence to land a bigger home that checked every box.
2. More Leverage as a Buyer
A firm sale in your back pocket gives you leverage. You can make clean offers without a “sale of property” condition—something sellers love to see. In hot or even balanced markets, this makes your offer stand out and increases your negotiating power.
Translation? You could save money on the purchase side just by being ready to move.
3. Avoid Carrying Two Properties
Buying first means you might own two homes at once. That comes with double mortgage payments, double utilities, double everything.
Some turn to bridge financing, which lets you “bridge” the gap between buying and selling—but it’s not always ideal. Rates can be steep, and you’ll need a firm sale agreement to qualify.
Selling first means you avoid that stress entirely.
But What About Finding Your Next Place?
This is the biggest fear, right? Selling your home and not finding something you love in time. Totally fair—but manageable.
There are ways to bridge the gap without panic:
Flexible closings: Negotiate a long closing window on your sale. Many buyers are happy to accommodate if it means landing a great home.
Short-term rentals: Toronto has more tons of furnished and month-to-month rental options — we can help you rent something temporary that fits your timeline.
Lease-back arrangements: In some cases, you can rent your home back from the buyer after closing. It buys you time and saves the hassle of a full move-out.
Family and friend networks: Some sellers choose to bunk with family or trusted friends short-term—cozy? Maybe. Cost-effective and flexible? Absolutely.
Plus, when you’ve already sold, you can shop for your next place with less pressure. You’re not competing against your own ticking clock. That freedom often leads to better decision-making—and better purchases.
In our experience, with a smart plan and a bit of patience, finding the right place after selling is totally doable—and often, even preferable!
Why Buying First is Riskier Than It Sounds
On paper, it might feel safer to lock in your next home first. You get to secure your dream space and transition smoothly—at least in theory. But in practice, this approach often backfires, especially in unpredictable markets.
Here’s what can go wrong:
You could overpay due to urgency: When you’re racing the clock to buy before selling, your decisions are often emotionally charged. You’re less likely to negotiate assertively or wait for the right fit.
You might have to accept a lower offer on your own home: To avoid juggling two properties, many buyers-turned-sellers will settle for a less-than-ideal price just to wrap things up quickly.
You may need bridge financing—or worse, carry two mortgages: Bridge loans come with added costs and qualification requirements. And if your home takes longer to sell, you could end up on the hook for two sets of housing expenses, which puts serious strain on your finances.
Market shifts can catch you off guard: If the market cools after you buy but before you sell, you could be left with less equity than you expected—or worse, stuck with a home that lingers on the market.
At the end of the day, buying first trades certainty for comfort. But that comfort is short-lived if the numbers—or the timing—don’t work in your favour.
What We Tell Our Sellers
Selling first puts you in the driver’s seat. You know your numbers, your timing, and your game plan. From there, it’s easier to pivot, shop smart, and act quickly when the right listing hits the market.
Yes, bridge loans exist—but we don’t recommend relying on them as a strategy. Think of them more as a parachute, not a flight plan.
Our approach: prep your home well, list with confidence, sell strong—then buy smart. That’s how you lead with strength.
Final Thoughts – Lead with Strength
Buying and selling at the same time is tricky. But by selling first, you control the pace—and your financial footing. You’re not scrambling. You’re not stretching. You’re stepping into your next home with clarity and confidence.
Thinking of selling first? Let’s talk strategy, timelines, and what your home could be worth. Reach out to us here— or send us a comment below.
5 star service from Mark the Shark! 3rd time working with Mark now and every experience has been spectacular. From start to finish, communication has been seamless with outstanding work ethic. Highly recommend! Fantastic podcasts with Joey as well with a wealth of knowledge navigating the market in every season . Keep up the great work gentlemen!
I’ve worked with Mark and Joey for almost 10 years now and recommend them to everyone. Mark helped me find my first condo back in 2016, and as a first time home buyer gave me invaluable advice. I most recently worked with Joey who helped me find my new space and rent out my original condo. These guys are absolute pros, and made every step as seamless and stress free as possible. They live and breathe the industry and Toronto as a whole. Just check out the podcast if you have doubts!
Mark and team were outstanding in helping us with the sale of our home and second property overall with Mark & team. While this sale had it’s challenges Mark always maintained a positive, professional attitude and always wanted what was best for us and our property.
Mark and the team were amazing to work with, would strongly recommend them. They were informative about all the factors that played into the unique situation of any property. They adjusted things with us when necessary. There were always available for questions and general communication.
On November 15th, 2018 Doug Ford and the Conservative Government announced plans to scale back rent control in Ontario. The plan will reverse the April 2017 “Rental Fairness Act” originally put in place by Ontario’s then-Liberal government which expanded rent control to all private rental units in Ontario.
Who Will Be Impacted By The Changes to Rent Control?
The new policy will not impact all units in Ontario but rather all newly built units occupied AFTER November 15th, 2018. That means that if you’re planning on renting a unit that was built and occupied PRIOR to November 15th, 2018 – these changes will not impact you at all, and rent control will continue to be in place. Units that are subject to rent control can only increase the monthly rental rate by a predetermined amount set by the government each year. For units without rent control – there is no cap for how much you can increase per year!
How Will The Loosening of Rent Control Impact The Market?
Our first reaction to the change was that this would be HUGE news for the pre-construction market. On the surface, a condo with no rent control seems very appealing to condo investors. But digging (in the video below) a bit deeper, reveals that possibility of the opposite being true…
With these new changes, Tenants will have a choice between living in a rent-controlled unit with relatively minor yearly increases, versus non-controlled rents that can spike to any amount each year. Our assumption is that a tenant will be willing to pay more at the start of the lease in exchange for the stability and peace of mind that a rent-controlled unit will offer them.
In 2017, Toronto saw a big jump in rental prices once the “Rental Fairness Act” came into effect. Since landlords knew they would be limited in how much they could increase the yearly rent, many came to market on the higher end in an effort to hedge against lost rental rates for units with long term tenants. We anticipate a similar impact as there will be an even higher demand for units with rent control.
How Will Changes Impact Landlords and Condo Investors
If you are a landlord of a unit that is built and occupied AFTER November 15th, 2018, you have the option of increasing your rent by any amount, once, per 12 month period.
For landlords of units built and occupied BEFORE November 15th, 2018 the amount you’re allowed to increase per year shall continue to be capped by the yearly amount decided by the government.
When trying to decide if your unit is subject to rent control, it’s important to remember that the date your unit was built and occupied determine if it’s impacted by the changes, and that it has nothing to do with when a lease was signed.
Lastly, remember that governments change… and just as the last one introduced rent control to all units, the same can happen in the next election. Whether you invest in a rent-controlled condo or one with no control, make sure you examine the pros and cons of each carefully!
If you are a landlord in Ontario wanting to move back into your rental property, then this post is for you!
In the past, all you had to do was simply notify the tenant of your intention to move back in, and the tenancy would effectively come to an. (with proper notice of course)
Unfortunately, many (shady) landlords weren’t using this method in the most honest of ways. Instead of moving back-in, some landlords would simply relist at a higher price. Naturally, this displaced many tenants resulting in unnecessary moves and extra costs. The Ontario government quickly got wind of this and moved swiftly to shut the loophole down.
As of September 1st, 2017, the rules surrounding how and who can move back in have changed significantly. As per the Landlord Tenant Board: A landlord may apply to terminate a tenancy on the basis the rental unit is needed for use by the landlord, the landlord’s family member, or a person who provides or will provide care services to the landlord or landlord’s family. Notice how they didn’t say cousins or even siblings? It must only be an immediate family member, and the move must be in “good faith”.
You also to compensate the tenant for displacing them. Yes, you read that right – landlords now have to: compensate the tenant in an amount equal to one month’s rent or offer another rental unit acceptable to the tenant.
Examples of Evicting a Tenant as Bad Faith
Some examples the board provides of termination in bad faith include:
advertises the rental unit for rent;
enters into a tenancy agreement in respect of the rental unit with someone other than the former tenant;
advertises the rental unit, or the building that contains the rental unit, for sale;
demolishes the rental unit or the building containing the rental unit; or
takes any step to convert the rental unit, or the building containing the rental unit, to use for a purpose other than residential premises.
These provisions only apply during the period that begins on the date the landlord gave the tenant the notice and ends one year after the former tenant moves out of the unit.
Fines or Remedies
If a landlord is caught breaking the rules, the LTB may order the landlord to pay:
a specified sum to the tenant for all or any portion of any increased rent that the former tenant has incurred or will incur for a one-year period after vacating the rental unit;
reasonable out-of-pocket moving, storage and other like expenses that the former tenant has incurred or will incur;
an order for abatement of rent;
an administrative fine not exceeding the greater of $25,000 and the monetary jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court; or,
any other order that the LTB considers appropriate.
Steps a Landlord Must Take to Move Back Into Their Rental Property
If you and your family truly do need to move back into a rental property – make sure you follow all the correct procedures:
Give proper notice.
Compensate the tenant in an amount equal to one month’s rent or offer another rental unit acceptable to the tenant.
Ensure only you or an allowable family member is moving back in and that the move is being done “in good faith”
With a max fine of up to $25,000, going about it in the wrong way is no slap on the wrist! Full details can be viewed on the Landlord Tenant Board website… and of course, none of this is to be taken as legal advice – just my experience in the wild world of Toronto Real Estate.
Can a Landlord Refuse to Rent to a Person who has a Pet?
Yes! In Ontario, a landlord can refuse to rent to their property a person who has a pet… however, once a lease has started, a Landlord cannot simply evict a tenant for having a pet.
Confused yet? Let me explain:
According to the Landlord and Tenant Board: “A landlord can refuse to rent to a person who has a pet.” They also mention that “A service animal is not considered a pet” and therefore if a tenant with a service animal makes an application to rent, that isn’t grounds for a refusal.
Now here’s where things get tricky…
The board also says: “A tenancy agreement cannot forbid a tenant from having a pet. And once there is a tenancy agreement, a landlord cannot evict the tenant simply for having a pet. This is true even if they agreed that the tenant would not have a pet.”
What this means is that once a lease starts, a landlord cannot evict or prevent a tenant from getting a pet. It also means that any wording in an agreement to lease which prohibits a tenant from having a pet is unenforceable. Even if the tenant hid a pet from you in the application process (ie. lied about having any pets), you still cannot evict them for having one.
HOWEVER… there are certain situations that The Board lists for when a landlord can start the eviction process and they are:
the pet is making too much noise, damaging the unit or causing other tenants to have allergic reactions;
the breed or species is inherently dangerous (e.g. a tenant’s pit bull could be considered “inherently dangerous” even if it hasn’t bitten anyone);
the rules of the condominium corporation does not allow pets like the one tenant has.
The important distinction to make here is that a Landlord cannot evict the tenant just for having a pet, but rather only if a situation similar to the examples above occurs.
Can the Landlord Charge the Tenant a Damage Deposit?
A landlord cannot collect a damage deposit to pay for damage done to the unit. Also, a landlord cannot use the last month’s rent deposit to cover damages in the unit. The rent deposit can only be used for last month’s rent before the tenancy ends.
If the landlord finds that a tenant has damaged the unit or caused damage to the building, the landlord can give the tenant a notice of termination and/or ask them to pay for the damages. If the tenant doesn’t pay, the landlord can apply to have the LTB determine if there are damages and what should be done about them.
Tenants with Pets Summary
Before a lease starts, a landlord can deny a tenants application simply for having a pet (Service animals excluded since they are not considered pets).
A lease cannot contain any language that prevents a tenant from having or getting a pet.
Once a lease is signed, a landlord cannot evict a tenant just for having a pet.
A landlord cannot charge a tenant with a pet any sort of additional deposit for having a pet.
