Condo fees are monthly payments that help cover the shared costs of owning and maintaining a condominium property. They usually cover building maintenance, common area upkeep, and, in some cases, utilities or amenities. The cost is a separate payment, in addition to each resident’s mortgage and property taxes.

As condos increasingly become the home of choice for many Canadian homebuyers, particularly first-timers but also increasingly move-up buyers, these questions are on the minds of many who are thinking about buying but may not fully understand how condo fees work.

Key Takeaways

• Condo fees are monthly payments that cover shared building costs like maintenance, amenities, and common services.
• Fees vary by unit and building, often based on size, amenities, and shared expenses.
• Utilities may be included, but coverage depends on the property and should be confirmed before buying.
• Condo fees do not include property tax, which is paid separately to the municipality.
• A portion of fees goes to a reserve fund, used for major repairs and long-term maintenance.

How Are Condo Fees Calculated?

Condo fees are usually calculated based on each unit’s share of the condominium corporation’s common expenses. In Ontario, owners pay common expense fees to maintain the condo’s common elements, fund the reserve fund, and cover shared services. The amount assigned to each unit is set out in the condominium’s governing documents and is often linked to the unit’s size, parking space, or locker. That means two units in the same building may pay different condo fees. A larger unit, or one with additional exclusive-use elements, may carry a larger share of the common expenses.

What Do Condo Fees Cover?

Condo fees usually help cover reserve funds and services such as cleaning, building maintenance, and condo management.

Utilities and Shared Services

In some buildings, condo fees cover utilities such as water, heat, gas, or hydro. However, this is not always the case, especially in newer buildings where some services may be separately metered and paid for by each owner. Condo fees may also help cover shared services such as snow removal, garbage collection, cleaning, and minor repairs in common areas.

Maintenance and Repairs

Condo fees also help cover property maintenance costs, such as lawn care, exterior cleaning, and common-area repairs. A portion of the fees may also support larger repair and replacement costs through the reserve fund. Repairs can include major work such as parking garage repairs, roof work, or other building-wide maintenance projects.

Amenities Operation and Upkeep

If the building has amenities, condo fees usually help cover their upkeep and operation for amenities such as a pool, gym, guest suite, rooftop terrace, hobby room, or other shared spaces.

Administration and Insurance

Condo fees also help cover management fees, administrative services, and other costs tied to running the corporation. In many buildings, condo fees also contribute to the building’s insurance coverage. Note that this is separate from the condo unit insurance that an individual owner may still need to carry.

Because every condominium corporation is different, it is important to review the status certificate or disclosure documents to see exactly what the fees cover and whether any costs are paid separately.

Do All Condo Properties Work the Same Way?

Most buyers are familiar with standard condominium ownership, where the unit owner has a private unit and a shared interest in the common elements. Some properties, however, use different ownership structures, and the fee arrangements may not work the same way. If that applies to the property you are considering, it is worth reviewing the ownership structure closely before buying.

The Difference Between Divided Co-Ownership and Undivided Co-Ownership

Divided co-ownerships mean you own an individual unit and may also have exclusive rights to spaces such as parking or storage, depending on the property. At the same time, you share ownership of the building’s common areas, such as hallways, elevators, amenities, and outdoor spaces. In undivided co-ownership, the property is collectively owned rather than split into clearly defined private and common portions. Owners hold a share of the entire property, and the rules governing financing, administration, and resale may differ from those of a standard condominium.

Because these ownership structures do not work the same way, it is important to confirm which one applies before buying. This is why some buyers explore no-condo-fee townhomes in Edmonton as an alternative to traditional condo ownership.

How Much Are Condo Fees in Canada?

Condo fees differ dramatically from one city to another in Canada. Fees typically range from $200 to $1,200+ per month, depending on a variety of factors, including:

• Location: Average condo fees in Toronto and other major urban centres tend to be higher than in smaller cities.
• Building Size and Age: Older buildings often have higher condo fees as systems and structures require more frequent repairs. Building type, size, and whether it is a high-rise can also affect costs.
• Utilities Included: Buildings where water, heat, and electricity are included typically have higher monthly condo fees but may offer more predictable total housing costs.
• Amenities Included: Amenities such as pools, fitness centres, concierge services, and guest suites can increase condo fees.

According to WelcomeAide, this is a breakdown of the average condo fees per square foot in major Canadian cities:

Spring cleaning gets a lot of attention. But spring resetting, that’s where the magic actually happens.

If your home is feeling a little flat after a long winter, you don’t need a full renovation to bring it back to life. Sometimes it’s as simple as swapping in the right materials, layering the right fabrics, and letting your space breathe again. This season, texture is the move.

Why Texture Works

There’s something about a chunky woven throw or a bouclé pillow that just makes a room feel more lived-in — in the best way. Natural textures are one of the defining home decor trends for 2026, and it’s not hard to see why. Materials like linen, rattan, woven cotton, and ribbed fabric add depth to a room without adding visual noise. They make a space feel warm and intentional, even if you only change two or three things.

Think about your living room. A neutral sofa gets a completely different personality with a textured throw draped over the arm and a mix of pillows in woven and corduroy fabrics. That’s not decorating, that’s staging your space to feel its best.

Small Swaps, Big Difference

You don’t need to spend a lot to feel the shift. A few ideas worth trying this spring:

• Swap out your flat cotton pillow covers for something with weave or ribbing
• Add a jute or wool area rug to anchor a hard floor space
• Bring in one or two ceramic or terracotta accents on a shelf or coffee table
• Layer a linen throw over your couch, not perfectly folded, just casually placed

These are the kinds of details that make a room feel curated without looking overdone. And if you’re thinking about listing your home this spring, these same touches can make your listing photos feel warmer and more inviting to buyers scrolling online.

The Texture & Light Combination

Texture works best when it has something to catch. Natural light does a lot of the heavy lifting here, it picks up the depth of a woven fabric or the grain of a wood coffee table in a way that flat surfaces just can’t compete with. If you haven’t already, now is a good time to take a look at how light moves through your home and whether anything is blocking it.

Heavy drapes, grimy windows, furniture pushed too close to walls,  these things quietly flatten a room. Pull them back, let the light in, and let your textures do their job.

If You’re Selling This Spring

Texture plays an outsized role in how buyers feel when they walk through a home. A space that feels tactile and warm tends to feel more move-in ready, even if nothing structural has changed. Layering a neutral throw, swapping in some woven accents, and freshening up your hardware and lighting can make a meaningful difference in how your home photographs and how buyers respond in person.

It doesn’t have to be a big project. Sometimes the reset is just a few well-placed pieces and a little more intention.

In Canada, everyone has an opinion about property taxes. Whether city dwellers or rural folk, each side will argue that the other is not paying enough in property taxes, making for a heated and spirited discussion about levies on the residence you worked hard to purchase.

That said, aside from discussions over what the property tax rate should be, this is an important subject since many prospective homebuyers do not consider their annual tax bill as part of their ongoing expenses, whether they own a condominium or a single-family home. This omission could hurt their wallets in the future.

Planning for annual property tax payments is just as important as researching the rate on your mortgage or determining what your closing costs will be at the end of the home-buying process.

So, what do you need to know? We have compiled a guide for what you need to know about property taxes in Canada.

Property Taxes: What to Expect

Here are five things you should expect about property taxes in your housing market:

Check the Rate in Your Area

One of the best ways to determine the property tax in your area is the visit the municipality’s website. Typically, the web portal will include a calculator and a list of rates. This will inform you of how much you can expect to pay using the Current Value Assessment of your property that the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation figures out.

How to Pay Your Property Taxes

These days, there are many different routes you can take to complete your property tax payments. In addition, it has become a lot simpler these days, with municipalities finally catching up with the times.

Here are your payment options:

• Online banking
• Telephone banking
• Automatic teller
• In-person
• By cheque

If you have less than 20 per cent equity in your home, your mortgage lender will often collect your property taxes from you with every mortgage payment and submit them to your municipality on your behalf.

What Do You Get in Exchange for Your Property Taxes in Canada?

Every province or municipality uses revenues from property taxes to cover different needs. So, for example, in the province of Ontario, homeowners will pay property taxes each year to cover the costs of public education, infrastructure, garbage collection, snow removal and public services (police, firefighters, ambulances, and more).

Consequences of Not Paying

If you own property, you are required to pay property taxes. There is no way around it. While your residential property could be seized and sold by the government to get back the tax revenues, this process is rarely utilized since it can take several years to complete.

But this does not mean the government will give up. Instead, will generally be charged interest each month. If you do not pay, the collections process begins. You may also have a lien placed against your home.

Some jurisdictions might register a Tax Arrears Certificate if you have refused to pay your obligations after a few years.

Can You Afford Property Taxes?

When searching for a home, you will generally consider the sale price, the mortgage rate, interest payments, fees and charges associated with the mortgage, utilities, etc. But what about the property taxes? The total amount can be challenging to crunch in advance but knowing the tax rate in your town or city can make the estimation easier. Furthermore, when home hunting, the information provided about the listing will generally include the taxes paid the prior year.

Include this in your budget when you are in the market to acquire a new residential property.

Ready for Property Tax Hikes?

In the aftermath of Covid-19, provincial and municipal governments needed to develop different revenue tools to refill the coffers, reduce deficits, and trim their debt totals. Nova Scotia introduced new property taxes for non-residents, Toronto has been pressured to raise its property taxes, and city councils are assessing various property tax schemes and hikes.

When inflation is high and Canadian real estate market prices continue to soar to the moon; public policymakers are generally hesitant to increase property taxes. But they might have any other choice in the future if fiscal pressures become prevalent during the budget creation process each year.

It’s no secret that phones can be distracting, pulling attention away from work, relationships, and everyday moments. According to Becoming Minimalist, most people spend more than three hours a day on their phones and often pick them up again just minutes after putting them down.

The good news is that small changes can make a big difference. Taking a one-day digital break, each week can help reset habits and create space to reconnect with offline life. Tracking phone usage for a month can also be eye-opening, making it easier to decide which apps truly add value.

Some people find support through apps designed to reduce screen time. Tools like SPACE, Flipd, and Screentime help set limits, block distractions during the workday, and encourage more mindful use.

For a simpler approach, a low-tech trick like wrapping a hair elastic around your phone can make mindless scrolling less tempting, while still allowing important calls.

Reducing phone use isn’t about giving anything up. It’s about gaining back time, focus, and a little more presence in the moments that matter.

As summer approaches, warmer weather often brings a familiar challenge indoors: ants looking for food and shelter. While they may be small, they can quickly become an unwelcome distraction. With a few simple strategies, it’s possible to stay comfortable at home and keep ants where they belong.

Start with safety

Store any ant-controlled products securely and always keep them out of reach of children and pets.

Use bait-based solutions

Ant baits work by attracting ants to a food source they carry back to the nest, helping reduce activity over time. Since different ants prefer different foods, using both sweet and protein-based baits can be helpful. Place them near areas where ants appear, such as kitchen cabinets, appliances, drains, or small wall openings; but avoid placing them directly in ant trails.

Focus on prevention outdoors

Reducing ant activity outside can make a big difference indoors. Outdoor baits and granules can help, while repellent sprays around doors, windows, and other entry points can discourage ants from coming inside. Keeping patios, walkways, and outdoor eating areas clean and free of crumbs can also reduce what attracts ants in the first place.

Try natural deterrents

Food-grade diatomaceous earth can be applied near entry points and along common paths. Cleaning surfaces with a mix of dish soap and glass cleaner helps remove scent trails that ants follow. Ants also tend to avoid strong scents, so brewed coffee grounds, black or red pepper, or essential oils like peppermint, tea tree, or lemon eucalyptus can help. Mix essential oils with water in a spray bottle or place scented cotton balls in problem areas, reapplying as needed.

With a little preparation, ant season doesn’t have to disrupt summer plans. Small steps now can help keep your home comfortable and stress-free all season long. Staying consistent with prevention makes it easier to enjoy open windows, outdoor meals, and relaxed summer days. A little attention now can save time and frustration later.

Pickleball has grown from a backyard game into one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, attracting players of all ages. The game blends elements of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, and is played on a smaller court with solid paddles and a lightweight ball. One defining rule requires the ball to bounce once on each side before volleys are allowed, keeping play accessible, according to pickleball.com.

Invented in 1965 by Congressman Joel Pritchard and two friends as a way to entertain their kids, pickleball has since become a nationwide favorite. According to pickleballportal.com, millions now play each year, with participation spanning generations thanks to its low impact and strategic play.

Beyond exercise, pickleball offers social and emotional benefits. A study cited by NPR, conducted by researchers at Texas A&M University found that older adults who were more engaged in the sport reported greater life satisfaction and a more positive experience with aging.

In 2026, pickleball continues to stand out not just as a sport, but as a way to stay active, connected, and engaged.

In some cultures, cleaning is more than a quick task. It’s a shared value and a regular practice. In Germany and Japan, two countries known for their cleanliness, tidying is often thorough, intentional, and deeply ingrained in daily life.

In Germany, cleaning extends beyond the home to fences, sidewalks, and shared spaces. While surveys show Germans spend about three to five hours a week cleaning, the focus is on deep cleaning rather than surface tidying. Rugs are cleaned on both sides, and windows may be washed weekly or even daily.

In parts of southwest Germany, a tradition called Kehrwoche, or “sweep week,” assigns residents turns to clean communal areas, reinforcing shared responsibility.

In Japan, the principle of Kiyomeru emphasizes purification, balance, and gratitude. Cleaning goes beyond floors and counters to include baseboards and vents and is seen as a way to care for both home and mindset.

Across these cultures, cleanliness reflects respect for shared space and daily life.

Many of us grew up hearing the familiar rhyme, “Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.” Often attributed to Joseph Parry, the 19th century Welsh composer and musician, its message still feels timely.

As life gets fuller, it is common to lose touch with people we once knew well. Yet disconnection is not inevitable. Building friendships takes real time and care. Research published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships shows it takes about 50 hours of shared time to form a casual friendship and nearly 200 hours to become close friends. Those relationships represent a meaningful investment that does not simply disappear.

Still, many people hesitate to reconnect. Social psychologists Lara B. Aknin and Gillian M. Sandstrom, writing in Communications Psychology, found that more than 90% of people report losing touch with an old friend.

Over time, familiar connections can begin to feel distant, even when the foundation is still there.

The month of May sits at the edge of summer. It is a season of longer days, lighter schedules, and renewed openness. As we move toward summer, it may be the perfect time to reconsider the connections that once mattered. An old friend is not a stranger. Often, all it takes is a simple message to reopen a conversation.

As the season shifts, consider reaching out. Some of the strongest connections are the ones already waiting to be rediscovered.

As late March flows into early April, the Painted Lady butterfly begins to appear across the southern United States and California, signaling that the season of movement and growth is well underway. These butterflies may look delicate, but they are the most determined travelers on the planet, taking part in a remarkable 9,000-mile migration that stretches from Africa’s Sahara Desert to the Arctic Circle.

No single butterfly completes the journey. Instead, the migration unfolds across multiple generations, with each new Painted Lady instinctively continuing the path forward. They rise high into the sky, sometimes thousands of feet above the ground, catching favorable winds that carry them vast distances. Constantly flying, breeding, and laying eggs, they move with the rhythm of the season, responding to rainfall, blooming plants, and opportunity.

Their arrival in early April tells a powerful story of persistence and quiet determination. Progress is rarely fast or immediately visible, yet the Painted Lady shows us how meaningful change unfolds when each generation contributes its part. No single butterfly carries the full weight of the journey, but together they accomplish what once seemed impossible.

The Painted Lady reminds us that growth does not require certainty, only commitment and trust in the process. It happens by showing up, adapting to changing conditions, and trusting the winds that carry us forward, season by season, as small efforts turn into something truly extraordinary over time.