Real Estate Talk With Vivian Risi

For 20 years, Vivian Risi, president and CEO of Your Community Realty, has worked hard at building a successful career

A single mother of three, Vivian Risi has cemented herself as a prominent figurehead in the real estate industry, bringing her children into the fray and making her company the family business. Customer service is at the forefront of everything that Risi does. City Life had the pleasure of speaking to Risi and picking her brain on today’s real estate market as well as what has led her to where she is today.

Q: What do you anticipate for the Toronto real estate market in 2018?

A: [We’re] forecasting a 6.8 per cent increase in Toronto-area housing prices next year, with starter homes — particularly condos — expected to be in high demand again.

Q: Experts say based on an interest-rate hike and stricter mortgage rules we could expect a slowdown in the first quarter. How would you advise our readers?

A: The government wants to make sure that the market could withstand any future mortgage rate increase. The new guidelines will ensure the consumer comes up with a 20 per cent down payment requirement.