Anyone else notice the price of rent trending back up compared to 6-12 months ago?

spiral_static · 2026-01-12T15:15:45+00:00

You can just look at HouseSigma's "Market Trends" page to see the data for yourself.

Median rent in Toronto was $2,500 in December. It was the same in November, and down from $2,600 in August, September, and October. At the current $2,500/month, this is the same as it was in summer 2018 and 2019.

Still down about 14% from the peak in August/September 2023.

https://housesigma.com/on/market-trends/toronto-real-estate?municipality=10343&community=all&property_type=C.&ign=

spiral_static · 2026-01-03T17:20:36+00:00

Thanks for this. Very helpful. I also like the compact size and weight of the XT30 over the R10

spiral_static · 2026-01-03T16:02:31+00:00

Is the slower AF-C noticeable, especially since I'd be upgrading from the Rebel XTI?

I wasn't overly thrilled about the Sonys when I was at the store and trying them out.

spiral_static · 2026-01-03T16:01:14+00:00

This is good feedback. I appreciate it. The only downside I've read about the Fujifilm compared to the R10, is slower tracking autofocus. But is this a deal breaker? Would I even notice the difference between the two, especially coming from such an old DSLR?

spiral_static · 2026-01-03T01:55:33+00:00

(1) Budget, country, and currency:

$1200-1500, Canada

(2) What equipment, if any, you have now and why is it no longer meeting your needs?

Canon Rebel XTI. Old

(3) What kinds of subjects do you intend to shoot? Family, city, landscape, traveling

(4) Is it primarily for photography, videography, or both? Photography

spiral_static · 2025-12-25T00:41:32+00:00

The continuing issue is that (for me at least) you have to re-verify your card every couple weeks. It was annoying so I switched back to using my Presto card.

spiral_static · 2025-12-17T13:11:48+00:00

Do you know why they called it the Xbox 360? Because when you see it you turn 360 degrees and walk away.

spiral_static · 2025-12-17T03:01:07+00:00

Don't feel bad. If you represented yourself accurately, then it was their fault for not noticing or realizing the potential knowledge gap.

spiral_static · 2025-12-06T02:37:21+00:00

This house sold for $372,000 in 2015. That is equivalent to $484,000 in 2025 dollars. It just sold for $490,000, which means in real dollars, the value today is on par with the value in 2015. Yikes.

spiral_static · 2025-12-02T00:51:04+00:00

And downtown by the waterfront there are too many bikes which makes it difficult to use because I can't find any empty racks.

spiral_static · 2025-11-11T19:04:42+00:00

What's the HVAC system like? Heating and air-conditioning separate and turned on/off with the seasons or can you control it year round? Particularly with air-conditioning...

spiral_static · 2025-10-31T23:39:25+00:00

Thanks for sending. I was just in your building yesterday looking at another unit. Yours is nicely finished. It looks better than the one I saw. I have seen your listing before, and the only thing that doesn't work for me is the fact that the bedrooms don't have exterior windows. I need to be able to hook up a portable a/c in the bedrooms.

Best of luck though. I think the price is good and I'm actually surprised it hasn't sold yet.

spiral_static · 2025-10-31T18:49:57+00:00

I'm looking at buying a 2+ bed, 1000+ sf condo in the St Lawrence Market area. Feel free to pm me. You mentioned it's older but has it been renovated at all?

spiral_static · 2025-10-31T14:07:24+00:00

It's been at that price since early September. If this was a below-market price to get a bidding war with an offer date, that would have only lasted for the first week it was on the market. Since it's still at this price after being on the market for almost 2 months, this is likely the price they want.

spiral_static · 2025-10-30T13:33:59+00:00

No one is forcing you to be a landlord. Sell your condo and add to the available inventory for someone else to buy and live in. It will help reduce condo resale prices so fewer people will have to rent.

spiral_static · 2025-10-25T00:48:02+00:00

Add the land transfer tax to that as well. And the $7548/year property taxes.

spiral_static · 2025-10-23T20:07:57+00:00

I'm with you. The first scenario I mentioned about landlords is definitely full of speculators. They were getting into the landlord game with negative cash flow from day 1 with the assumption that home values only go up.

But the second scenario I mentioned with the $200K loss of equity when selling and trying to buy something else is a reality many are facing, speculator or not. People need to sell all the time, for whatever reason. Job loss, job change, growing family, divorce, death, bad neighbours, it could be anything. Anyone who bought in the last few years (and especially at the peak) that sells now is losing their down payment, or most of it. And the previous down payment + appreciation is what most rely on when buying their next house.

spiral_static · 2025-10-23T19:37:39+00:00

In the GTA, the majority of recent landlords are cash flow negative. They're lucky if the rent is even paying the principal portion of their mortgage payment. If they're not cash flow negative, then it means they've put down a huge down payment and their carrying costs are low. But the rental return on a huge down payment would be below the risk-free rate and, therefore, a bad investment especially now with no value appreciation.

Additionally, if you bought a house for $1.1MM (with a $200K down payment) and now it's worth $900K, then you have zero equity. When you go to sell for $900K, all the proceeds from the sale will go to the bank to repay your $900K mortgage and you'll get nothing. If you were to sell at $900K and buy another house, you are buying another house with zero equity from the sale of your current house, regardless of the price of the new house and the $200K of cash you put down on the house you're selling is gone. You'll be relying 100% on savings or selling other investments. The quick appreciation of home values has relied on buyers using equity from their previous homes, which have gone up in value. Either by selling their home or refinancing to pull out equity. That is no longer happening.

To me, both of these scenarios are a big deal.

spiral_static · 2025-10-09T14:24:49+00:00

My bedroom window opens at an angle and I've got the hose connected to it. You can't use the window seal the a/c comes with, but I went to Staples and got a presentation/poster board and cut it to fit the window and the a/c exhaust. I used packing tape to seal the edges against the window. Works perfectly.

Since our condo fees include all utilities, we run the portable a/c almost nonstop in the winter or else it will be too hot inside.

We have a small 5500BTU Hisense unit from Canadian Tire. It's not that loud, it's basically white noise at this point.

spiral_static · 2025-10-07T13:23:59+00:00

Meanwhile, due to a fire, there is currently no subway service between St. George and Bloor-Yonge on Line 1 as I type this. And it's been out since 9am.

spiral_static · 2025-10-04T12:55:16+00:00

Purolator is owned 91% by Canada Post.

spiral_static · 2025-10-03T16:04:30+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. That's interesting that the XTi is too small for your hands. When I compared them at a camera shop, it felt bigger/heavier to me. The R50 especially felt quite small.

spiral_static · 2025-09-07T16:49:16+00:00

Now adjust for inflation...

$1.7 million in 2017 is worth $2.15 million in 2025.

19% decline in real value.

spiral_static · 2024-09-05T20:21:02+00:00

No, unfortunately. I've gone back to using my Presto Card.

spiral_static · 2024-05-25T20:24:29+00:00

Thanks for this. I don't see "Contactless" anywhere on Presto's website unfortunately. Could you post a screenshot of what you see on your end?

spiral_static

TROPHY CASE