Erin Corcoran, REMAX Prime Properties

06/04/2026

I came across this comparison today and it caught my attention.

Canada has officially entered a technical recession, while the U.S. economy continues to show signs of strength.

Whenever economic headlines like this start making the rounds, one of the first questions people ask is:

What does this mean for Durham Region and Northumberland County real estate?

The reality is that real estate is local.

National economic trends can influence things like interest rates, consumer confidence, and borrowing costs, but they don’t tell the whole story of what’s happening in Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Port Hope, Cobourg, or the surrounding communities.

Historically, slower economic growth can increase pressure for lower interest rates, which may improve affordability for some buyers. Lower rates often bring more buyers back into the market, especially those who have been waiting on the sidelines.

What I’m seeing locally is a market where buyers have more choice, conditions are common again, and pricing strategy matters more than ever.

Homes that are priced appropriately for today’s market are attracting attention. Homes priced for yesterday’s market often take longer to sell.

Durham and Northumberland continue to attract buyers looking for more space, better value, waterfront lifestyles, and an alternative to higher-priced markets closer to Toronto.

The biggest takeaway?

Don’t let national headlines make your real estate decisions for you.

Whether you’re buying, selling, investing, or simply keeping an eye on the market, what’s happening in your neighbourhood matters far more than a headline from across the country.

What are your thoughts? Are you feeling more optimistic or more cautious about the second half of 2026?

06/03/2026

What if one small change to your mortgage could save you tens of thousands of dollars?

Many homeowners don’t realize that most mortgages allow some form of prepayment. That could mean:

✔ Making a lump sum payment once a year
✔ Rounding up your regular mortgage payment
✔ Switching to accelerated weekly or biweekly payments

Using an example mortgage of $500,000 at 4.99%, even modest prepayments could save tens of thousands in interest and shave years off the mortgage amortization.

One example showed:

🏡 A $2,000 annual lump sum payment could save more than $42,000 in interest and pay off the mortgage over 2 years sooner.

🏡 Accelerated weekly payments could save more than $60,000 in interest and cut the amortization by more than 3 years.

Every lender has different prepayment privileges, so it’s important to check what’s available on your mortgage before making changes.

Have you ever made extra payments on your mortgage, or is this something you’ve considered?

06/02/2026

I was scrolling through Instagram the other day when a headline stopped me in my tracks.

Nearly 12,000 Canadians reportedly launched GoFundMe campaigns in the first four months of 2026 to help cover rent, mortgage payments, utilities, and other essential expenses.

The statistic itself is interesting.

The bigger question is why so many people feel they need to create these campaigns in the first place.

As a REALTOR®, I spend a lot of time talking about home prices, interest rates, and market trends. What often gets overlooked is affordability. The reality is that many Canadians are feeling the pressure of rising housing costs, groceries, utilities, insurance, and everyday expenses.

The number that stuck with me wasn’t the 12,000 campaigns.

It was the thought of how many people are struggling quietly and never create one at all.

I took a deeper look at what this trend might be telling us about housing affordability in Canada and what it could mean for homeowners, renters, and future buyers.

Read the full blog here:
https://rootedinrealestate.blogspot.com/2026/06/why-more-canadians-are-turning-to.html

What are your thoughts? Have rising living costs changed how you budget, save, or think about housing?

05/22/2026

Fixed mortgage rates moved up this week, and it’s not because of the Bank of Canada. Bond yields shifted, lenders followed, and buyers across Northumberland cottage country are starting to feel it.

If you’re thinking about buying a cottage, waterfront property, or weekend getaway this season, financing timelines can look a little different than traditional residential homes. Seasonal properties, private roads, and water access can all impact approvals and timelines.

A few things buyers should know right now:
• Older rate holds may still be stronger than current options
• Variable rates are still sitting lower than fixed in many cases
• Cottage financing often takes extra planning and documentation

Northumberland’s cottage market is starting to heat up for the season, and informed buyers are always in the strongest position.

05/21/2026

If you’ve driven through central Oshawa lately near Centre Street South and Gibb Street, you’ve probably noticed the major construction happening at Rotary Park.

The old Rotary Pool site is being completely transformed into a new outdoor recreation space that will eventually include a brand new pool, splash areas, playground, pathways, landscaping, and updated public amenities for families.

The project has become one of Oshawa’s biggest community redevelopments in recent years, but it has also raised a lot of questions locally about rising costs, taxpayer funding, delays, and whether the project will stay on timeline. Right now, the site is still very much an active construction zone with heavy equipment and major groundwork happening.

I took a deeper look into what’s actually being built, where the funding is coming from, what the estimated costs are now, and when Oshawa residents might realistically see it completed.

Read the full blog here:

If you have driven through central Oshawa lately near Centre Street South and Gibb Street, you have probably noticed the construction fencin...

05/20/2026

Thinking about buying a home with someone else? One of the biggest decisions happens before the keys are even handed over: how ownership is registered on title.

“Joint Tenants” and “Tenants in Common” sound similar, but they can lead to very different outcomes when it comes to inheritance, estate planning, and ownership rights.

With Joint Tenancy, ownership automatically transfers to the surviving owner if one person passes away. With Tenants in Common, each person owns a specific share that can be left to whoever they choose in their will.

This conversation is becoming more common with:
• couples buying before marriage
• friends purchasing together
• parents helping children buy
• investment partnerships
• blended families planning for the future

Choosing the wrong structure can create unexpected complications later on, especially if nobody fully understood the difference from the beginning.

This is one of those topics buyers often do not think about until a lawyer brings it up during closing. Having the right conversations early matters.

Which ownership structure would you choose and why?

05/20/2026

Most people hear the words “prescribed burn” and immediately think something is wrong. The reality is, these controlled burns are actually an important part of protecting and restoring forest ecosystems here in Northumberland County.

I took a closer look at why the County planned the burn, why it was postponed, how these fires are managed safely, and why doing nothing can sometimes create a bigger environmental risk long term.

This is one of those local stories that sounds alarming at first, but makes much more sense once you understand what is actually happening behind the scenes.

Read the full blog here:

If you saw the recent notice from Northumberland County about the postponed prescribed burn in the Northumberland County Forest, you are pro...

05/19/2026

Port Hope is one of those towns that people fall in love with for the obvious reasons first. The river. The historic downtown. The architecture. What many people do not realize is how many stories are hidden behind the buildings we walk past every day.

I came across information about the historic walking tours happening throughout Port Hope this summer and it reminded me how much history this town still carries with it.

From Walton Street to Englishtown to stories tied to the old homes and even the cemetery tours, it is a reminder that Port Hope is more than just beautiful. It has identity.

I wrote more about it here:
Port Hope Isn’t Just Pretty. It Has Stories Most People Never Hear --> https://rootedinrealestate.blogspot.com/2026/05/port-hope-isnt-just-pretty-it-has.html

People talk about Port Hope for the obvious reasons first. The river. The downtown. The historic homes. The charm that somehow still feels u...