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OAS Payments Are Bigger This July — Here's How Much More You'll Get

  July 21, 2026 If you or someone in your family collects Old Age Security, the deposit landing later this month is larger than the last one. Here's exactly why, and what the new numbers look like. Old Age Security payments went up 1.2% for the July-to-September 2026 quarter — the largest of the four scheduled increases so far this year. Combined with earlier adjustments, that puts OAS 2.3% higher than it was in July 2025. OAS amounts are reviewed every January, April, July, and October to track the Consumer Price Index. When the cost of living rises, the payment rises with it. When it falls, the payment simply holds steady — OAS is protected from ever decreasing. The new maximum monthly amounts Age Group April–June 2026 July–September 2026 Monthly Increase 65 to 74 $743.05 $751.97 +$8.92 75 and older $817.36 $827.17 +$9.81 Seniors 75 and up sit higher because of the permanent 10% top-up the federal government added to that age group's OAS back in July 2022. That bump applies...

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Toronto Housing Market Cools Down as Interest Rates Heat Up

 


The Toronto housing market has experienced a sharp slowdown in October 2023, as the high interest rates that have been pressuring the market show little sign of easing. According to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board The benchmark price of a home in Canada’s largest city fell to C$1.13 million ($815,000) in October, down 1.7% from September, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board said Thursday. That’s the third straight monthly drop and the fastest pace of decline in 15 months.

The number of sales also dropped 5% from the previous month, to 4,867 transactions, comparable to the deep market freeze of December and January. The TRREB predicts that activity will not rebound over the remainder of the year, as the Bank of Canada repeatedly says that it is prepared to raise interest rates above the current 5% if inflation remains high.

The high interest rates have made borrowing more expensive and reduced the affordability of homeownership for many potential buyers. The TRREB says that the average monthly mortgage payment for a typical home in Toronto has increased by 25% since January 2023, while the average household income has only increased by 2%.

The cooling of the Toronto housing market is in contrast to the national trend, which saw home sales and prices increase slightly in October, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. However, some analysts warn that the national figures may not reflect the true state of the market, as they are skewed by the strong performance of some smaller markets, such as Halifax and Montreal.

The TRREB says that it expects the Toronto housing market to remain subdued in the near term, as buyers and sellers adjust to the new reality of higher interest rates. However, it also says that there are still some positive factors that support the long-term outlook for the market, such as strong population growth, low unemployment, and high demand for housing.


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