Canmore, a popular Alberta tourist destination, is facing a housing affordability crisis despite its scenic views and proximity to Calgary. To address this, the Town Council formed a Livability Task Force in 2023, focusing on three main goals: phasing out the Tourist Home Designation, exploring tax incentives for long-term occupancy, and promoting the development of purpose-built rental housing. These measures aim to improve both the livability and affordability of the area.
Canada’s real estate market is expected to rebound in 2025, with activity likely to pick up as early as March. Factors driving this recovery include stabilizing interest rates, the return of sidelined buyers, and a potential increase in property inventory. Professionals predict a more traditional spring surge in sales after a quiet 2024, where sales remained low despite more listings. Increased buyer interest is also expected to encourage more sellers to list their properties.
The Canadian housing market is expected to stabilize in 2025, with declining interest rates and new lending rules bringing buyers back. Royal LePage forecasts a 6% rise in the average home price, reaching $856,692 by Q4 2025. Single-family detached homes are predicted to see a 7% price increase, while condo prices are expected to grow by 3.5%. The backlog of buyers and upcoming mortgage rule changes are expected to boost Canadians’ borrowing power. Optimism is also fueled by the Bank of Canada’s recent policy shift, which has already led to increased market activity.
Here are 10 homes for sale under $500,000, ranging from a modern, move-in ready three-bedroom home in Edmonton to a beautifully renovated two-story house with three large bedrooms and a generous backyard in Arnprior, near Ottawa.
Founders of Canada’s largest for sale by owner company revive the brand
EDMONTON, AB, Oct. 29, 2024 /CNW/ – After a 15-year hiatus, real estate disruptor ComFree is now back and in the hands of its Edmonton-based founders. Originally launched in 1996 in Winnipeg as a small local business, Erin and Travis Holowach purchased franchise rights to Edmonton and Northern Alberta in 2002 and quickly scaled the business. Under their leadership, ComFree became the largest for sale by owner company in the world, saving Canadians over $85 million in commissions.
After a rocky merger in 2009 with PowerCorp, that resulted in the Holowachs’ exiting, the company underwent a succession of rebrands and owners, including Yellow Pages Group, Purple Bricks and finally Desjardin Insurance (operating under the name FairSquare). The company was then officially dissolved in 2023. In the meantime, Erin and Travis Holowach had been involved in a variety of entrepreneurial ventures and in 2023 founded HomeFree; an iteration of ComFree. They have now regained the rights to ComFree and will operate in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario under the brand they originally scaled, with further expansion plans in Canada and the United States.
“The rebirth of ComFree comes at a crucial time with consumers more interested than ever in saving money as homes become increasingly unaffordable,” said ComFree co-founder Travis Holowach. “For over a decade, the Federal Competition Bureau has addressed concerns over how real estate commissions are charged and this June launched a national investigation into anti-competitive practices in the industry.”
ComFree offers a fully supported process with everything needed to sell privately for a flat seller fee of $997, including listing on MLS® and REALTOR.ca, a virtual tour and photos, advertising, signage, pricing support, Offer to Purchase forms, discounted legal fees and more. Buyers and Sellers alike can benefit from the commissions saved while successfully navigating their own real estate transaction without intermediaries and with the support of the ComFree team.
Customers of ComFree can sell their homes while preserving more of their home equity, saving anywhere from $19,000–$30,000 per transaction, depending on the province. The process is transparent, a stark contrast to the traditional agent model which requires the Seller to pay significant commission to both the selling and buying agents, usually around 5% of the sale price. Under this model, the Buyer is often unaware of the amount of commission being paid.
“This is a full circle moment for us as serial entrepreneurs,” said Erin Holowach, co-founder of ComFree. “Our mission is simple; to continue to empower and educate Canadians on how to sell their own homes while saving enough money for a renovation or adding equity to another property.”
About ComFree
Operating in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, ComFree provides everything needed to sell and buy homes privately. First founded in Winnipeg in 1996, the company changed hands several times before returning to Travis and Erin Holowach in 2024. ComFree is built on a foundation of service, trust, and transparency with an unwavering commitment to education and empowering customers throughout the entire real estate process. For more information, please visit www.comfree.com.
Editor’s Note: The trademarks REALTOR®, REALTORS® and the REALTOR® logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by CREA and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA.
SOURCE ComFree
Overview of Current Trends
The Canadian housing market is beginning to exhibit signs of stabilization, particularly as interest rates show a downward trend. This shift is expected to positively influence buyer sentiment and overall market activity.
Interest Rate Developments
Recent data indicates that interest rates are on the decline, which could alleviate some financial pressures for potential homebuyers. Lower interest rates generally make borrowing more affordable, potentially leading to increased demand in the housing sector.
Market Activity and Buyer Sentiment
As interest rates decrease, there is an anticipated boost in buyer confidence. This renewed optimism may encourage more individuals to enter the housing market, contributing to a more active real estate environment. The combination of lower borrowing costs and improved consumer sentiment could lead to a resurgence in home sales.
In summary, the Canadian housing market appears to be stabilizing as interest rates decline. This trend may foster a more favorable environment for buyers, ultimately enhancing market dynamics.
When selling your home and faced with multiple offers, you have several strategies to consider:
Pre-qualifying buyers is a crucial step in the sales process, whether you’re in real estate, selling high-ticket items, or working in any other field. It helps ensure that you’re spending time with prospects who are genuinely interested and capable of making a purchase. Here’s a step-by-step guide to effectively pre-qualify buyers:
Tailor questions to uncover key information:
By systematically applying these steps, you’ll streamline your sales process, focus on high-potential leads, and improve your overall efficiency.
At Home Free we are excited to announce our expansion into two new provinces in Canada: British Columbia and Ontario. This strategic move aims to increase our company’s presence in the Canadian market and capitalize on the growing demand for alternative real estate services and a way to access the MLS® without the astronomical fees.
THE ComFree DIFFERENCE
We are truly passionate about helping buyers and sellers save thousands in commissions in a simple, smooth, and straightforward way. We believe that by empowering our customers to feel confident selling or buying a home, we can create a powerful movement of capable people saving money, while taking back control of the real estate transaction. Education is provided through support and tools from ComFree, transparent accountability (no hidden fees) and a service-first mindset (yes real humans answer the phone and chat) to guide our customers every step of the way.
Armed with knowledge, commission savings, and support and trust, our customers feel confident selling and buying their homes using ComFree while skipping all real estate commissions. We leverage our 23 years of industry experience to empower our customers throughout the transaction, so they can rest assured that buying and selling a home really is that easy.
ComFree provides our customers everything they need to sell their home – exposure, leading edge user experience, VR photography, pricing support, signage, and industry partners to support their private sale. ComFree knows that houses sell houses, nothing else! With the power of an MLS® listing and the competitive pricing advantage of no real estate commissions, ComFree is here to stay and excited to now be operating in 3 provinces!
In the real estate market, ComFree is changing the game. With a heritage rooted in the successful comFree brand, ComFree Realty carries the torch of innovation, transforming how people sell their homes. Our mission is simple yet profound: equip sellers with the tools and support they need to confidently list and sell their property without hefty commission fees.
For a one-time flat fee, ComFree Realty lists your home on MLS® and REALTOR.ca, ensuring maximum exposure. Beyond listing, we provide a suite of support services – from eye-catching yard signs to detailed buyers’ guides, virtual tours, and essential offer-to-purchase forms. Our team is always on standby to assist with any queries, guiding you every step of the way to a successful sale.
Starting in Edmonton and spreading throughout Alberta in 2024, ComFree Realty is on a mission to put homeowners across the province “ComFree.”
Sell Simple and Buy Better with ComFree Realty, where selling your home is efficient, supported, and commission-free.
Courtesy of Whatever Else Marketing
The trademarks REALTOR®, REALTORS® and the REALTOR® logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by CREA and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA.
* Only when the buyer comes direct, otherwise the seller may choose to negotiate a commission with the buyer’s agent.
