Here are our top five tips to make your space feel special and private when co-living:

1. Your bedroom is your oasis: Whatever your decorating style may be – whether you’re into coastal chic, mid-century modern, eclectic or minimalist – this is your space to decorate to your liking. Hop onto Pinterest for inspiration and let the decorating begin! Add colour and dimension to a single-toned room with an accent wall or a large piece of art. Another design idea is to centre your room around an area you love and use often, like your desk, reading chair or TV. For added privacy, consider installing soundproofing panels along a shared wall.
   
   
2. Create a multi-functional kitchen: Most kitchens come equipped with cabinets and shelves that aren’t used to their full potential. This is likely the case if you are living with roommates. Invest in organizers to maximize storage in drawers, cabinets, and inside the refrigerator. This not only helps declutter the kitchen, but can better define which items belong to each roommate. If your kitchen has an island, add a few bar stools to increase the available dining space.
   
   
3. Incorporate zoning: While you co-share a home, it’s important to remember that everyone has their own needs… and stuff! Each person likely has boxes of items for which they may want to find a home in your shared space. It may be wise to incorporate “zones” into the home to help ensure a peaceful living situation. Divide up cabinets and shelves between roommates – whether in the kitchen, bathroom, garage or closet – so each person has a little extra storage space outside of their own bedroom.
   
   
4. Maximize storage: If you live downtown or have a smaller space, this tip is for you. Vertical storage can be a game changer. Adding floating shelves on empty walls to store books and smaller décor pieces can elevate the space and eliminate clutter. Invest in multi-functional furniture that can help everyone tuck away items they might not use every day, like a bed with drawers, a TV stand with shelving, even an ottoman or footstool that opens. A little extra storage goes a long way!
   
   
5. Communication is key: When living with other people, communication is of utmost importance. Speak to your roommates about their expectations for co-living, and discuss details like each roommate’s daily schedule and when they prefer to use different spaces to avoid gridlock in the kitchen and bathroom. Decide on functional pieces for shared spaces that work well for everyone, whether it’s investing in that comfortable couch you saw at IKEA, or buying a television together so you make movie nights more regular, or even a round dining table if you’re often cooking and sharing meals together. When sharing the cost of new items, decide up front what will happen if and when someone moves out.

Fall is a beautiful time of year. As the leaves change colour, pumpkin patches open, and people enjoy spiced lattes and sweater weather, it’s only fitting to add a little fall flair to your home as well. And, seasonal décor doesn’t have to be difficult or break the bank. 

Just in time for the Thanksgiving long weekend, here are some simple tips to warm up your home and a touch of autumn to your style:  

Warm up your front entrance

Adorn the front of your home with fall-inspired welcome mats, wooden crates, and squash in various shapes and sizes. The beauty of fall is that there is no symmetry needed. Scatter different sized boxes, fall signs and a mix of small and large decorative pumpkins (real or fake). Hang a fall wreath made of twigs, and add a brown, orange or burgundy ribbon for a pop of colour. 

Decorate your dining space

Beautify your home indoors with orange and earthy tones. Add a table runner, some coloured napkins on the table, and coordinating candles in the scents of the season. You can elevate your seasonal look with small squashes and gourds as centerpieces. And, don’t be afraid to bring the outside in… Design your own table arrangement with twigs, leaves and pine cones you collect. 

Add a cookie and coffee station

Nothing says fall like warm beverages and treats while enjoying the crisp air! Impress your guests with a coffee and tea station. Set up cups, specialty teas displayed in a glass bottle, hot coffee and flavoured syrups in a section of your dining room or kitchen. Use risers or wooden trays to give the display some complexity. Add a cookie jar or cake stand with some fall goodies such as butter tarts, chocolate chip cookies, or brownies. You can also have a seasonal fruit basket with apples and pears. 

Make it cozy

Celebrate fall with comfort by adding aromatic autumn candles… Think cinnamon, vanilla, pumpkin spice scents. Light them in the evenings for ambiance. Add fall-themed throw cushions, and add an earthy-toned warm blanket on your couch (check out Pinterest for inspiration on how to arrange pillows and blankets).

These simple tricks can elevate your home decor and make it feel as warm as your pumpkin or apple pie this season!

Investing in real estate can be a rewarding experience, and can result in both personal and financial growth. If you’re considering getting started, the following five tips will help you begin thinking strategically. 

1. Assess Your Financial Situation

This is the number one tip – and for good reason! Real estate investing is all about your finances and getting them in order will help you qualify for the best loans at the lowest available rates. The first step is to save up for the down payment for your first investment property. 

While you’re saving, do your best to pay down or consolidate any loans you already have. You’ll also want to look at your credit score and improve it, if possible. Exploring your financial situation is best done along with a mortgage specialist that you know and trust. 

2. Explore Your Risk Tolerance

All investments carry risk. Generally speaking, the rate of return you get on a particular investment is directly related to the risk level of that investment. That is the principle behind the fact that Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) generally have a lower rate of return than a Mutual Fund, for example. The GIC carries nearly no risk of financial loss, and therefore has a low return on investment.

Real estate investing follows this same principle. Often first-time investors fail to truly explore this fact. Real estate has been appreciating across most of the country for a number of years, and people tend to forget that the continuing of that trend is not guaranteed. With an open mind and open eyes, you want to explore the different types of real estate investment, as well as the different markets you can invest in, and develop a plan that matches your individual tolerance for risk. 

3. Create a Real Estate Investing Plan

Now that you know your financial situation and your risk tolerance, you need to develop a clear investing plan – in writing. This plan should be the foundation for all your real estate buying and selling decisions. 

Are you going to invest in multi-family properties (like a duplex, triplex or small apartment building) with the goal of obtaining a positive cash flow? Perhaps you want to buy houses, renovate them, and flip them for a profit… Wherever the answers lead you, your plan should include the criteria for how and when you buy and sell. 

4. Build Relationships with Trusted Professional Advisors

Building relationships with the right people is an integral part of building a successful business. This means working with people you know and trust. If you’re going to be successful in the real estate investing business, you are going to want to build ongoing relationships with real estate agents, mortgage specialists, property managers, building contractors, etc.   

By investing your time into relationships with people you trust, who are more knowledgeable than you in their respective fields, you can be confident that you are getting the best advice and learning about the best opportunities.  

5. Start Small and Grow Big

Perhaps the biggest risk in real estate investing is overextending yourself financially. You should remain aware that things may not always go according to plan. Markets change, interest rates fluctuate, and vacancies happen. When you are setting out in the real estate investing world, begin small and build a solid foundation for your business as you learn the ropes. Over time, and by following your plan, you can grow your business in the safest way possible.