Markham real estate, answered.
Market updates, buyer and seller guides, neighbourhood deep-dives and the questions Markham residents actually ask, written by Michael John Lau, REALTOR® with the Kaizen Real Estate Team at eXp Realty. New articles every week.
Recent articles.
77 Anderson Avenue Goes Rental: What Treasure Hill's Mount Joy Tower Means for Markham
Treasure Hill's 42-storey tower beside Mount Joy GO is switching from condos to 395 rental units. What it means for renters, investors and homeowners.
Read the articleEstate Administration Tax on a Markham Home: What the Estate Pays
How Ontario's probate tax applies to a Markham home: the $50,000 exemption, the 1.5% rate, mortgage deductions and the 180-day return.
Read the articleFHSA, Home Buyers' Plan and Land Transfer Tax Refund: A Markham First-Time Buyer's Guide
How to combine the FHSA, the RRSP Home Buyers' Plan, the land transfer tax refund and the Home Buyers' Amount on your first Markham home.
Read the articleBuyer Representation Agreements in Ontario: What Markham Buyers Sign
What a buyer agreement covers under TRESA, how your agent is paid, and what to check before you sign.
Read the articleHow to Run the Numbers on a Markham Rental Property
Cap rate, net operating income and real cash flow on a Markham rental, with a worked example and ways to improve the numbers.
Read the articleMy Listing Expired in Markham. What Should I Do Next?
Why listings expire, what to check in your old agreement, and how to relaunch the right way the second time.
Read the articleWhy Price per Square Foot Misleads Markham Sellers
Why the square-foot shortcut often misses in Markham, and the street-level data that gives a more accurate list price.
Read the articleDoes Home Staging Pay Off in Markham?
When staging is worth it, which rooms matter most, and the free steps to take before your listing photos.
Read the articleSelling Your Markham Home While Working Full Time
A simple four-week plan for busy sellers: what only you decide, and what can be handled for you.
Read the articleHow to Choose an eXp Realty Sponsor in Ontario
What an eXp sponsor does, what it costs you, and eight questions to ask before you name one on your application.
Read the articleJoining a Real Estate Team vs Going Solo in Ontario
The real trade-offs in split, support, leads and brand, plus seven questions to ask any team first.
Read the articleIs it cheaper to rent or buy in Markham in 2026?
The real monthly numbers behind renting versus owning in Markham this year, and when each one wins.
Read the articleWhich Markham neighbourhoods are best for families in 2026?
Schools, parks, commute and price, compared across the communities Markham families ask about most.
Read the articleWhat did the Markham real estate market do in August 2026?
Prices, sales and days on market for August, and what the numbers mean if you are buying or selling this fall.
Read the articleWhat new housing developments are proposed in Markham in 2026?
More than 12,000 residential units sit in active planning applications. Where they are and what has actually been approved.
Read the articleWhat is being proposed at Yonge and Steeles in Markham?
A 46-storey tower with 504 purpose-built rental units proposed for the northeast corner of Yonge and Steeles.
Read the articleWhat do condos near Mount Joy GO actually cost?
Recent asking prices for one-plus-den and two-bedroom units near the station, and why asking and sold are not the same number.
Read the articleWhat is the Mount Joy GO development and has it been approved?
What is planned around Mount Joy GO, where the application stands, and what it could mean for nearby home values.
Read the articleHow and when do I vote in the Markham municipal election 2026?
Dates, eligibility and where to vote in the 2026 municipal election.
Read the articleWhen is the Markham Fair 2026 and what does it cost?
Dates, admission and what to expect at one of the oldest fall fairs in Ontario.
Read the articleWhen is the Markham-Milliken Children's Festival and where do I park?
Festival dates, what is on for kids, and the parking plan that saves you the walk.
Read the articleThe Wismer Commons Neighbourhood
Why this quiet Markham community keeps earning the spotlight: the Bur Oak catchment, newer homes and a family atmosphere.
Read the articleFrom Toronto to Markham
The migration story behind Markham's most consistent buyers, and why the move keeps making sense.
Read the articleThe Top 5 Countries Markham Home Buyers Come From
Where Markham's buyers originate and how that shapes demand across neighbourhoods and price points.
Read the articleThe Property Condition Disclosure Statement Is Not Required in Ontario
What the SPIS is, why it is optional in Ontario, and what buyers and sellers should do instead.
Read the articleMarkham Was Named Among Canada's Top 10 Safest Cities
What the ranking measures and why safety keeps showing up in buyer conversations.
Read the articleMarkham's Most Instagrammable Spots
From Main Street Unionville to Toogood Pond, the spots that make Markham photograph so well.
Read the articleWhy Markham Homes Built After 2010 Are the Easiest to Finance
How a home's age affects appraisal, insurance and lender comfort, and what that means for newer Markham builds.
Read the articleThe Markham Home Energy Rebate Most Homeowners Have Never Heard Of
A rebate many Markham owners qualify for and never claim. What it covers and how to apply.
Read the articleThe Markham Gifted Program
How York Region's gifted program works, where it is offered, and why it matters to home buyers with young kids.
Read the articleThe Markham Basement Suite Checklist
What a legal basement suite in Markham needs before you rent it or list your home with one.
Read the articleStart here.
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Michael John Lau
Michael has been licensed since 2015 and leads the Kaizen Real Estate Team in Markham. 430+ homes sold, 81 five-star Google reviews, ICON Agent 2024 and 2025. Everything on this blog is written from the transactions and conversations he has with Markham buyers and sellers every week, not from a content calendar. More about Michael · Client reviews · Case studies
A conversation is just a conversation.
Reading is a good start. If you would rather talk through your own situation, call or text Michael at (416) 700-0286 or book a consultation.
Book a consultation Call (416) 700-0286Michael John Lau is a licensed REALTOR® with eXp Realty, Luxury Division (License #4784577), serving Markham, York Region and the Greater Toronto Area. Case studies describe real transactions; client details are shared with permission and some identifying information has been withheld. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and every sale or purchase depends on the property, the market at the time, and the client's goals. Nothing on this page is legal, tax or financial advice.