Move Smartly: The Podcast

Move Smartly
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The Move Smartly podcast invites you into data-driven conversations about issues impacting residential real estate in Toronto, across Canada and beyond. Join broker John Pasalis and other experts as we unpack real estate through a variety of timely market updates, lively discussions and insightful interviews. Here to help you make more informed decisions, whether you are a home buyer, seller, owner or renter, and as a resident and voter — because real estate impacts all of us. New episodes on Fridays. Look for our monthly Real Estate Roundtable with Steve Saretsky (The Loonie Hour Podcast) and Ben Rabidoux (Edge Realty Analytics).

  1. 5d ago

    Fixing Housing Means Fixing Finance

    Housing debates today are dominated by one idea: if we just build more homes, prices will fall. But what if that story is incomplete? In this episode, I sit down with Mike Fellman to unpack his report Fixing Housing Means Fixing Finance and explore why housing affordability is as much a finance problem as it is a supply problem. We break down the limits of traditional economic thinking, why upzoning alone doesn't guarantee more housing, and how the cost of capital—and the returns investors expect—ultimately determine what gets built. We also connect these ideas to what's happening here in Canada, where programs like CMHC's MLI Select are quietly reshaping the economics of rental housing by lowering borrowing costs and enabling more development. The result is a more nuanced view of the housing crisis—one that challenges the idea that we can simply deregulate our way to affordability. https://groundworkcollaborative.org/work/fixing-housing-means-fixing-finance-why-we-cant-deregulate-our-way-to-affordability/ Follow John x-twitter: https://x.com/JohnPasalis, Instagram @john.pasalis or email: askjohn@movesmartly.com Follow the show on x-twitter: @MoveSmartly, Instagram @move.smartly  About This Show The Move Smartly show is hosted by John Pasalis, President and Broker of Realosophy Realty. MoveSmartly.com and its media channels on YouTube and various podcast platforms are powered by Realosophy Realty in Toronto, Canada. You can also watch this episode on our MoveSmartly YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly If you enjoy our show and find it useful, please like, subscribe, share, review and comment on whatever platform you are watching or listening to us from - we appreciate your support!

    52 min

  2. May 22

    "Go Home Developers, You're Drunk": Ben Rabidoux on Canada's Economy and Housing

    In this episode, John sits down with Ben Rabidoux of Edge Realty Analytics for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of Canada's economy and housing market. They start with the macro picture — an economy where headline GDP growth masks a struggling private sector, full-time job losses are at their steepest since the pandemic, and an oil-price-driven inflation shock is forcing the Bank of Canada into an impossible position between hiking rates and protecting a weakening economy. The conversation turns to mounting household financial stress, with consumer insolvencies at levels not seen since 2009, credit card charge-offs at decade highs, and a growing social normalization of mortgage default. In the housing market, Ben makes the case that the single-family segment may be nearing a floor — completions and permits are at multi-decade lows, new listings have peaked, and pent-up demand is building — while the condo market faces a deeper structural reckoning as investor economics remain broken and pre-construction defaults surge. They close with what may be the most counterintuitive story in Canadian housing right now: developers are starting rental units at record levels into a market where rents are already falling, vacancy is rising, and population growth has turned negative — setting up a potential future where single-family prices recover while the rental market continues to deteriorate. Follow John x-twitter: https://x.com/JohnPasalis, Instagram @john.pasalis or email: askjohn@movesmartly.com Follow the show on x-twitter: @MoveSmartly, Instagram @move.smartly  About This Show The Move Smartly show is hosted by John Pasalis, President and Broker of Realosophy Realty. MoveSmartly.com and its media channels on YouTube and various podcast platforms are powered by Realosophy Realty in Toronto, Canada. You can also watch this episode on our MoveSmartly YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/movesmartly If you enjoy our show and find it useful, please like, subscribe, share, review and comment on whatever platform you are watching or listening to us from - we appreciate your support!

    51 min

  3. May 15

    Why Buyers Are Returning Despite Market Uncertainty

    In today's live, we're breaking down Toronto's two-sided housing market — where condos and suburban homes are struggling, but some central Toronto neighbourhoods are still seeing fierce bidding wars. We also answered viewer questions and discussed what buyers and sellers need to know right now.     We also chatted about Canada's latest job losses, what a weakening labour market could mean for the economy, and where interest rates may be headed next.     Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:54 GTA Home Prices  09:12 Market Stats 12:43 On The Ground Questions 33:33 Mortgage Expert - David Larock Set-up a meeting with John Pasalis and his agents at Realosophy to discuss your own real estate questions privately: https://www.movesmartly.com/meetjohn Sign up for our email list to be alerted to the next online market update to join our YouTube session live chat and ask your own Qs: https://www.movesmartly.com/monthly-public-webinar We hope you enjoyed this month's update and found it valuable. Thanks for tuning in - we'll see you next month!

    49 min

  4. May 8

    Canada's Next Housing Boom? The Multiplex Gold Rush—And Rising Mortgage Arrears Beneath It

    This month's roundtable digs into a shifting housing market narrative—one where the spotlight is quietly moving away from pre-construction condos and toward a surge in multiplex development across Canada. Fueled by highly leveraged, government-backed financing through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation programs like MLI Select, multiplex projects are emerging as the new "pre-con"—offering attractive returns on paper, but carrying real risks if rents, costs, or timelines don't hold. We unpack why this boom is happening now, who's building, and whether this model is sustainable—or just the latest cycle of risk masked by easy credit. At the same time, cracks are forming beneath the surface. Mortgage arrears are rising across Canada, a signal that higher interest rates and affordability pressures are starting to bite. We connect this trend to broader financial conditions, including rising bond yields, and what that means for borrowers, investors, and housing demand in both Toronto and Vancouver. While home sales remain subdued in both markets, the underlying story is increasingly about financial stress and shifting incentives—not just supply and demand.

    54 min

  5. May 1

    Builder Bailout or Buyer Boost? The Truth About Canada's Housing Market Right Now

    This episode dives into some of the biggest questions buyers and sellers are asking right now—from whether it makes sense to jump into pre-construction with the new HST rebate, to the growing debate over whether that policy is really helping buyers or quietly supporting builders. We unpack the risks of trying to time the market in an uncertain economic environment, and how to think about pricing, incentives, and long-term value when conditions are shifting. We also discuss what's actually happening on the ground in today's market, including whether underpricing strategies still work for sellers and how much leverage buyers really have right now. The goal is to cut through the noise and give practical insight into how to navigate a market that feels increasingly unpredictable.

    33 min

  6. Apr 24

    Unlocking Multiplex Housing in Toronto

    Toronto's approach to multiplex housing has evolved quickly—from the initial legalization of fourplexes to allowing six units in some areas, along with key changes to development charges, zoning rules, and approvals. In this episode, we're joined by planner Sean Galbraith to break down what's changed, what's working, and how these policies are playing out on the ground. We discuss the practical impact of recent reforms, the types of projects being built today, and how builders and homeowners are starting to take advantage of new opportunities. This is a look at how the city is gradually unlocking more low-rise density—and what that means for the future of housing in Toronto.

    48 min

  7. Apr 17

    No Market Comeback Yet — But a Tax Change That Impacts Buyers

    In today's live, we unpack why the market is still slower than the headlines suggest and what the HST rebate means for buyers right now. We dig into the HST rebate on new homes and what it actually means for buyers, how it's structured, who's likely to benefit, and why the impact on pricing isn't as straightforward as it sounds. We also look at what it signals for new construction and some key risks buyers should keep in mind before making a move. Despite the headlines, the market fundamentals remain weak, with sales still running well below normal levels across both houses and condos. Inventory remains elevated compared to historical norms, and prices have continued to ease from recent peaks. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:07 Market Stats 08:56 HST Rebat 19:25 On The Ground Questions 36:19 Mortgage Expert - David Larock Set-up a meeting with John Pasalis and his agents at Realosophy to discuss your own real estate questions privately: https://www.movesmartly.com/meetjohn Sign up for our email list to be alerted to the next online market update to join our YouTube session live chat and ask your own Qs: https://www.movesmartly.com/monthly-public-webinar We hope you enjoyed this month's update and found it valuable. Thanks for tuning in - we'll see you next month!

    51 min

  8. Apr 10

    Anemic Housing in Toronto & Vancouver — And a Quiet Builder Bailout

    Toronto and Vancouver's housing markets remain notably weak this month, with both cities continuing to see subdued sales and hesitant buyer activity. What stands out isn't just the slowdown itself, but how comfortable many buyers seem staying on the sidelines. In this month's Real Estate Roundtable, John Pasalis, Steve Saretsky, and David Larock unpack the factors reinforcing that caution. Rising interest rates, combined with ongoing geopolitical risks, are giving buyers plenty of justification to wait. Even those who are financially capable of purchasing are choosing patience, contributing to markets that feel stuck rather than competitive. We also take a closer look at the federal government's HST cut on new housing and what it actually means in practice. While the policy may support new housing starts at the margins, its more immediate impact could be on developers holding completed but unsold units. The change makes it easier for builders to sell these units to institutional investors at discounted prices, or to rent them out without triggering the same tax consequences they would have faced before. Overall, the discussion highlights a market that isn't just slow, but structurally constrained, where policy changes may ease pressure for developers without necessarily improving affordability or bringing buyers back into the market in the near term.

    50 min
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About

The Move Smartly podcast invites you into data-driven conversations about issues impacting residential real estate in Toronto, across Canada and beyond. Join broker John Pasalis and other experts as we unpack real estate through a variety of timely market updates, lively discussions and insightful interviews. Here to help you make more informed decisions, whether you are a home buyer, seller, owner or renter, and as a resident and voter — because real estate impacts all of us. New episodes on Fridays. Look for our monthly Real Estate Roundtable with Steve Saretsky (The Loonie Hour Podcast) and Ben Rabidoux (Edge Realty Analytics).

Information

  • Creator
    Move Smartly
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Move Smartly
  • Show Website
    Move Smartly: The Podcast

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