Black Friday is November 27, and for many of us the holiday shopping happens online. That means a lot of boxes sitting on a lot of front steps. In a FedEx survey by Angus Reid, 1 in 10 Canadians said they'd had a package stolen in the past year, and two-thirds of shoppers said they worry about it (CP24).

Here in the Edmonton area, there's a second enemy: our winters. A box left on the step at −25°C can mean frozen candles, cracked electronics or a soggy box after a chinook melt. Here's how to beat both.

Free fixes you can do today

• Schedule deliveries for when you're home. Most carriers let you pick a day or change it in their app.

• Use delivery notes. Ask the driver to leave packages behind a planter, at the side door or somewhere out of sight from the street.

• Ship to a pickup point. Amazon lockers, Canada Post counters and many retail stores hold parcels for free.

• Send it to work. If your workplace allows it, this may be the easiest fix of all.

• Ask a neighbour. A retired neighbour who's home during the day is the best security system there is. Return the favour with a holiday treat.

Small investments that pay off

• Video doorbell: a visible camera alone deters most opportunistic thieves.

• Lockable parcel box: bolt it down near the door. Look for an insulated model that also protects packages from the cold.

• Better lighting: motion-sensor lights help after 4:30 p.m., when it's already dark this time of year.

• Smart lock or garage opener: some carriers can deliver straight into your garage.

A homeowner bonus

Some of these upgrades do double duty. Good exterior lighting, a video doorbell and a smart lock are features buyers notice when you sell. They make a home feel safer and better cared for. If you're planning a move in the next year or two, they're smart, inexpensive improvements.

If a package goes missing

1. Look around first. Check the side door, the garage, behind the planters and with your neighbours.

2. Contact the seller. Many large retailers will replace or refund stolen items. Amazon's A-to-z Guarantee is one example.

3. Contact the carrier. Ask about tracking photos and whether shipping insurance applies.

4. Report it. If it's valuable or you have video, file a report with the Edmonton Police Service non-emergency line (780-423-4567) or the RCMP in Spruce Grove and Stony Plain. Reports help police know where to patrol.

Happy shopping, and here's to every box making it safely inside this season.

Thinking about a move in the new year? Call or text me at 780-964-7335 or email Jason@MyRealHome.com.

On October 28, the Bank of Canada raised its key interest rate by a quarter point, from 2.25% to 2.5% (Bank of Canada). It's the first increase since 2023, and the Bank said more may follow if inflation, now around 3%, stays high. The next decision is on Wednesday, December 9.

"Rates are going up" sounds scary. Here's what it means for a typical Edmonton-area buyer.

The real number: about $56 a month

The average home in the Greater Edmonton Area sold for $466,080 in September 2026, up 2.9% from a year earlier (REALTORS® Association of Edmonton). With about 14% down, that's roughly a $400,000 mortgage.

Monthly payment on a $400,000 mortgage

• 4.34%: $2,178 (−$56)

• 4.59%: $2,234 (sample five-year fixed rate)

• 4.84%: $2,290 (+$56)

• 5.09%: $2,347 (+$113)

• 5.34%: $2,404 (+$170)

25-year amortization, Canadian semi-annual compounding. 4.59% is a sample five-year fixed rate; the others show quarter-point steps. Not a rate quote.

One quarter-point move adds about $56 a month. That's real, but most budgets can handle it. Several hikes in a row would add up faster.

Who feels it, and when

• Variable-rate borrowers feel it first. Your lender's prime rate usually moves with the Bank of Canada. Either your payment goes up, or more of your payment goes to interest instead of principal.

• Fixed-rate borrowers are protected until renewal. Fixed rates follow the bond market, not the Bank of Canada directly, so they can move before or after an announcement.

• Buyers may qualify for a little less. Lenders test you at the higher of 5.25% or your rate plus 2%. As rates rise, so does that test.

What a smart buyer does now

1. Lock in a rate hold. Most lenders will hold a rate for 90 to 120 days. If rates rise, you're protected. If they fall, you can usually get the lower rate.

2. Refresh your pre-approval. An approval from last spring may not reflect today's rules and rates.

3. Use the slower market. Edmonton prices have been fairly steady, and there's more inventory than last year. Fewer competing buyers can mean better terms and room to negotiate.

4. Leave room in your budget. Make sure you could handle a payment about $150 higher, plus property tax, utilities and maintenance.

The bottom line

A quarter-point hike is a nudge, not a wall. If the home, the price and the payment all fit your budget today, waiting for rates to drop is a gamble. Prices could rise while you wait.

If you're thinking about buying in the next year, let's chat. I can connect you with a trusted mortgage professional for a rate hold and show you what's selling in your price range right now. Call or text me at 780-964-7335 or email Jason@MyRealHome.com.

You've probably seen the national headlines: the average rent in Canada is about $2,035 a month, and a typical mortgage payment is nearly the same. That's a Toronto and Vancouver story. Here in the Edmonton area, the numbers look very different, and in some ways they're more interesting.

Edmonton is one of Canada's most affordable big-city rental markets

In October 2026, the average asking rent in Edmonton was about $1,633 a month, down 2.3% from a year earlier (Rentals.ca / Urbanation). A one-bedroom unfurnished apartment averaged $1,274 (liv.rent, October 2026). Five of the six Edmonton areas liv.rent tracks are cheaper than they were a year ago.

For renters, that's good news. With lots of new apartments coming online, landlords are competing for tenants. Free parking, a free first month and included internet are showing up in listings again.

So why would anyone buy right now?

Owning is about where your money goes, not only how much you spend. Here's a simple, honest comparison using an average Edmonton condo.

Renting: about $1,658 a month

• Rent: $1,633

• Tenant insurance (estimate): $25

• Goes toward your own equity: $0

Owning a condo: about $1,701 a month

• Mortgage payment: $1,151

• Condo fees (estimate): $350

• Property tax (estimate): $150

• Home insurance (estimate): $50

• Goes toward your own equity: about $370

Owning example: $208,672 condo (Greater Edmonton average apartment condo price, REALTORS® Association of Edmonton, September 2026), 5% down, CMHC insurance added to the mortgage, 4.59% five-year fixed, 25-year amortization. Fees, tax and insurance are estimates. Every building is different.

The monthly bills are within about $40 of each other. But on the owning side, roughly $370 of the very first payment pays down your own loan. That amount grows every month. On the renting side, all of it is gone.

The part people forget: getting in the door

The biggest hurdle for most renters isn't the monthly payment. It's the down payment. On a $208,672 condo, 5% is about $10,400, plus closing costs. Two tools can help:

• First Home Savings Account (FHSA): save up to $8,000 a year (to $40,000 total). Your deposits are tax-deductible, and qualifying withdrawals for a first home are tax-free.

• RRSP Home Buyers' Plan: borrow up to $60,000 from your RRSP for your first home and repay it over 15 years.

Used together, a couple can build a down payment much faster than with regular savings alone.

When renting is still the smarter choice

Buying isn't right for everyone. Renting can make more sense if you:

• Expect to move within 2 to 3 years (buying and selling costs need time to pay off)

• Don't yet have an emergency fund on top of a down payment

• Want flexibility while your career or family plans settle

The bottom line

In Edmonton, owning a modest condo now costs about the same each month as renting, and part of every payment builds your own wealth. Renters also have more choices and more negotiating room than they've had in years. Both are good positions to be in. The right answer depends on your timeline and savings.

If you'd like to see your own numbers, I'm happy to sit down with you, free and with no pressure. I'll pull real listings in the neighbourhoods you like, and we can connect with a mortgage professional to see exactly what you qualify for. Call or text me at 780-964-7335 or email Jason@MyRealHome.com.