Blog - The Westlake Team

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Spring 2026 Real Estate Market Updatetime

By Scott WestlakeApril 9, 20260 comments

Residential & Commercial Markets Spring has traditionally been the busiest season in real estate — but 2026 is shaping up to be a more strategic market than a frenzied one. Buyers, sellers, investors, and developers are navigating a landscape influenced ...Read more...

Building Bench Strength: Why I Joined the FC Commercial Deal Desk

By Scott WestlakeFebruary 17, 20260 comments

When I started in this business, I learned something quickly: Residential brokers don’t lose deals because they aren’t capable. They lose deals because they don’t have the right support when complexity shows up. A client buys a plaza. A builder needs land ...Read more...

DLC Prestige Performance Award

By Scott WestlakeFebruary 5, 20260 comments

A quick thank you to everyone who supported me last year — referral partners, clients, lenders, and colleagues. You know who you are, and I’m grateful for the trust and relationships. Earning the Prestige Performance Award places me in the top 1–2% ...Read more...

The Bank of Canada Held Rates — But That’s Not the Story That Matters

By Scott WestlakeJanuary 29, 20260 comments

The Bank of Canada held its policy rate steady at 2.25%, sitting at the low end of what it considers “neutral.” On the surface, that sounds uneventful. It’s not. As outlined in recent commentary from Dr. Sherry Cooper, Chief Economist at Dominion Lending ...Read more...

Canadian Housing Ends 2025 in a Holding Pattern — What Matters Going Into 2026

By Scott WestlakeJanuary 16, 20260 comments

Canada’s housing market closed out 2025 on a softer note. December data from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) showed home sales down 2.7% month-over-month, with prices continuing to drift lower despite multiple Bank of Canada rate cuts throughout the ...Read more...

What CUSMA Uncertainty Really Means for Canadian Real Estate

By Scott WestlakeJanuary 7, 20260 comments

There’s been a lot of noise recently around the Canada–U.S.–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and whether the U.S. could withdraw or force a renegotiation. Much of this discussion has been well summarized by Dr. Sherry Cooper (our Chief Economist) and I wanted to ...Read more...

2025 Reflections Realities and Our Roadmap for 2026

2025 Reflections, Realities & Our Roadmap for 2026

By Scott WestlakeDecember 24, 20250 comments

Clients, Colleagues, Partners, & Friends, As 2025 comes to a close, one thing is very clear to me: This was not a year for shortcuts. It was a year for structure. Structure in how deals are financed. Structure in how risk is managed. Structure ...Read more...

Canadian Housing Market in a Holding Pattern

By Scott WestlakeDecember 15, 20250 comments

2026 Mortgage & Interest Rate Outlook

By Scott WestlakeDecember 10, 20250 comments

As we head into the end of 2025, many borrowers and investors are asking the same question: Where are interest rates going in 2026, and how should we plan? Below is a clear, combined view using: Dr. Sherry Cooper’s most recent economic commentary Forward ...Read more...

Strong Canadian Job Growth Drove the Unemployment Rate Down to 6.5%

By Scott WestlakeDecember 5, 20250 comments

Today's Labour Force ...Read more...

2025 — Reflections Realities and Roadmap for 2026

2025 — Reflections, Realities & Roadmap for 2026

By Scott WestlakeDecember 2, 20250 comments

I know this might feel like an early year-end message — but if we want to start 2026 off right (or clean up anything still lingering from 2025), we need a bit of runway. This time of year gets swallowed quickly by holidays, travel, slower turnaround times, and teams ...Read more...