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This guide is written for adult children and families helping a parent or senior decide whether to sell first or buy first in the Peterborough area.

If you are helping a parent downsize, one decision usually comes up fast: do we sell the current home first, or do we buy the next place first?

In Peterborough, seniors often sell first for financial certainty, but buying first can make sense when a specific home type or location is hard to find. The right choice depends on health, budget, financing options, and local housing availability.

I’m Frank Rosso, ABR, SRS, a Peterborough and...

If you are thinking about selling your home in Peterborough or the Kawarthas, you have likely heard a lot of noise about the market. Some people say things are slow. Others say buyers are picky. The truth is that homes are still selling here every day. They sell when the home is prepared well and priced with a strategy that fits the local neighbourhood.

local trusted Peterborough Realtor, I meet families, seniors, downsizers and young couples who all want the same thing. They want a smooth sale, a fair price, and a plan that makes sense from day one. That becomes possible when you...

                                                                                                             Mortgage Stress Test for Downsizing Families in Peterborough 

If you are helping a parent downsize, the mortgage side of it can sneak up on you. A lot of families assume, “They’re selling a house, so financing won’t matter.” Sometimes that’s true. But not always.

I’m Frank Rosso, ABR, SRS, a Peterborough and Kawarthas REALTOR®. This guide explains the Canadian mortgage stress test in plain language, when it matters for downsizing families, and what you can do to make the process...

Selling Your Home During Power of Sale in Ontario - Peterborough & Kawarthas Homeowner Guide

Receiving a power of sale notice can feel overwhelming. One day you are managing life as usual, and the next you are reading a letter that makes it sound like your home could soon be sold out from under you. It is stressful, confusing, and often scary.

But here is the part many homeowners in Peterborough and across Ontario do not realize right away.
In most cases in Ontario, you can still sell your home before the lender does.

That option can make a real difference. It can help protect your equity,...

A Clear Guide to the Principal Residence Exemption and What It Means for

Your Taxes.

Selling your home is a big moment. It often comes with excitement, relief, and a long to-do list. One of the most important parts people forget to plan for is taxes.

The good news is this. In Canada, most homeowners do not pay capital gains tax when they sell their main home. That is thanks to something called the principal residence exemption.

This exemption can protect all or most of the profit you make when selling your home. But there are rules. And since 2016, there are also reporting requirements...

If you live in Peterborough or spend time in the Kawarthas, you probably noticed that real estate felt different in 2025. Things slowed down a bit, but in a healthy way. Homes still sold. Cottages still changed hands. It just felt more normal than the busy years before.

I’m Frank Rosso, ABR, SRS, your trusted local Peterborough REALTOR®. I work with buyers and sellers across Peterborough and the Kawarthas, including single-family homes and cottages. I talk to people every day who are trying to understand what the market is doing and what comes next. This blog is meant to explain that in...

Thinking about selling your home during a separation in Peterborough? Learn why a separation agreement matters and how Frank Rosso can help you sell with clarity and confidence.

Sarah sat at her kitchen table one morning, coffee going cold, staring at a house that suddenly felt far too quiet. The decision to sell felt obvious. What did not feel obvious was what her lawyer said next: you need a separation agreement before you list.

That moment catches a lot of people off guard.

If you are separated or in the process of separating in Peterborough and thinking about selling your home, you are...

Buying your first home is exciting-but let’s be honest, it can also feel overwhelming. There are prices to understand, neighbourhoods to compare, rules to follow, and a lot of opinions coming at you from friends, family, social media, and the internet.

Peterborough is a unique market. It’s not Toronto, it’s not cottage country, and it’s not a small rural town either. That’s why first-time buyers here need local context, not generic advice.

Let’s break it down step by step.

Table of Contents

1. Why First-Time Buyers Are Choosing Peterborough
2. Understanding the Peterborough Housing Market as...

RRSPs, Inheritance, and a Tax Trap Many Peterborough, Ontario Families Never See Coming

If you own a home, a cottage, or investment property in Peterborough or the Kawarthas, chances are RRSPs or RRIFs are part of your financial picture. Most families assume those accounts pass smoothly to their children, just like life insurance. Money in, money out, end of story.

Unfortunately, that assumption can turn into a shockingly large tax bill.

The Canada Revenue Agency often treats RRSPs and RRIFs as a back-up tax source when someone passes away. This is not theory or planning-desk speculation....

One of the most confusing parts of real estate for home sellers is pricing. Buyers often ask why a home sold for more or less than the list price. Sellers wonder how two similar homes on the same street can end up with very different results. It usually comes down to one thing. The difference between list price and market value.

If you are buying or selling a home in Peterborough or the Kawarthas, understanding this difference can save you time, stress, and money. I see pricing mistakes every week, and most of them are avoidable once you understand how the system actually works.

Let’s...