Details that Make a Difference When Staging Your Million Dollar Home
Your Million Dollar Home is an oasis, a place perfectly appointed to suit your personal tastes. Which is exactly as it should be—until it becomes time to list your home and move on to the next dream.
Buyers aren’t looking for a million dollar home that appears too lived-in. They’re looking for a space they can customize to their own styles and preferences, with enough of a starting point in place that they can envision their future life. Selling your home is about showing its potential without too much of anything distracting the eye—and the solution is staging. Before you show your home to prospective buyers, you have to take steps to depersonalize it, without draining it of all personality. It’s a balancing act; and if done properly, it can be the difference between closing a beneficial deal or having your million dollar home languish on the market unnecessarily.
There are many factors to think about when staging your home, from the curb appeal and landscaping outdoors, to the décor and maintenance inside. But there are a few key details to keep in mind when helping clients debut their homes on the market.
Colour is an important factor in any space, and it is critical in creating first impressions. This may not seem like novel advice, and yet many clients think they can ignore colour when staging their homes for sale. But colour can make or break the appeal of your home. Like fashion trends, many hues lack universal or perennial appeal: homebuyers may associate certain colours with bygone eras. The wrong colour can inadvertently imbue your room with too much character, or turn it into a relic from the past. As a homeowner, you should feel free to be creative and subjective in decorating spaces that speak to you. But as a million dollar home seller, the focus shifts to what will be best for your buyer. Part of the staging process is choosing colours with wide appeal—preferably to something lighter, which can give your spaces a more expansive feel.
The furniture you display should be strategically selected to enhance the design of each space in your home. Do your walls and ceilings have architectural ornamentation? Consider pairing them with traditional, hand-carved pieces for an elegant yet homey aesthetic, or else stage your space with contemporary furnishings and edgy wall art to create a compelling contrast. If you’re not sure where to start, seek the expert advice of a professional — especially if they have furniture to lend you. If you’re working with the furniture you already have, then the arrangement is key. Conversely, in large rooms, group furnishings to create functional, conversational areas that still leave lots of space to move.
Other finishing touches homeowners overlook when staging, lighting fixtures. When staging your million dollar home, fill your home with light to boost appeal for buyers. Pay special attention to ambient light, which shines from overhead, and accent lights, which are individual fixtures that stand on surfaces or are mounted on walls. Make sure all bulbs and shades are clean and bear in mind that whiter light appears more natural—and natural light is high on most buyers’ wish lists. The primary purpose of your lighting should always be to make your home more photogenic. Many buyers shop online for homes, the photography is just as important as the presentation.
Because of how many luxury buyers search for their dream homes online, you may be able to do a virtual staging of your home; it can add immense value when done well.
As you prepare for sale, take a second look at the interplay of colour, light, and featured furniture pieces in your space—and for a finishing touch, create a virtual version of your home that buyers can browse from anywhere. Staging can make a tremendous difference in the perception of your million dollar home. It gives a vision of what is possible in the home that the buyer might not have been able to visualize before.
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FALL MARKET KICKOFF: September 2025 Real Estate Market Update
As summer winds down, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) real estate market is shifting once again—this time with an important boost from the Bank of Canada’s recent interest rate cut. On September 17, 2025, the Bank lowered its policy interest rate to 2.5%, marking a significant move that is expected to reinvigorate buying activity across the region.
Market Snapshot: August 2025 (TRREB) 
According to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), August brought encouraging signs of stability:
- Sales: 6,232 transactions across the GTA, a 4.6% increase from August 2024.
- New Listings: 13,119, down slightly year-over-year, helping balance supply.
- Average Selling Price: $982,880, nearly flat compared to last year (+0.4%).
- Trend: Balanced conditions are giving both buyers and sellers room to maneuver, with the recent rate cut expected to stimulate fall demand.
City & Regional Highlights
Toronto 
Toronto continues to see steady demand for condos and townhomes, appealing to buyers looking for affordability in the core. Detached homes are moving more cautiously, but price stability suggests confidence returning to the market.
Mississauga 
Mississauga remains a buyer-friendly market, especially in the detached and semi-detached segments. With borrowing costs easing, families upsizing or relocating may find strong value in the fall.
Oakville 
Luxury demand in Oakville is regaining traction. The combination of limited inventory and lower financing costs positions this market for an active fall season, especially for executive homes and lakefront properties.
Burlington 
Burlington continues to attract buyers migrating west from Toronto. The city’s blend of affordability, lifestyle, and community feel has kept prices steady and competitive.
Muskoka 
Cottage country remains strong, with buyers eyeing investment properties and second homes. While activity softened slightly through the summer, the rate drop could encourage more buyers to act before year-end.
What This Means for Buyers & Sellers
With interest rates now at their lowest level in two years, affordability is improving across the GTA and Muskoka. Buyers who were waiting on the sidelines are expected to re-enter the market this fall, while sellers may benefit from increased competition for well-priced homes.
At Regan Irish & Associates, we specialize in helping clients navigate market shifts with confidence. Whether you’re buying a luxury home, selling a family property, or investing in Muskoka, our market insight and negotiation expertise ensure you get the best results.
1320 Cornwall Rd Unit 103, Oakville, ON L6J 7W5
905.842.7677
Visit reganirish.com——
August 2025 GTA Real Estate Market Update | Regan Irish
The August 2025 GTA Real Estate Market Update reflects renewed momentum and affordability in Toronto, Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington, and Muskoka. Thanks to steady interest rates and appealing home prices, July proved surprisingly dynamic. Let’s dig into the numbers and what they mean for you.
Interest Rates Remain Stable — Affordability Fueling Activity
In July 2025, the Bank of Canada maintained its key rate at 2.75%, its third consecutive pause. With lower borrowing costs now more accessible, affordability is encouraging a wave of renewed buyer activity.
GTA Market Overview: Sales Surge, Prices Slightly Dip
- Home Sales: 6,100+ transactions region-wide, marking a 10.9% increase YoY and the strongest July since 2021.
- Month-over-Month: Seasonally adjusted sales rose 13% from June to approximately 5,744 units, the biggest monthly gain in nine months.
- New Listings: Up 5.7% YoY, totaling 17,613 new offers.
- Price Trends:
- The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark fell 5.4% YoY.
- The average GTA selling price dropped 5.5% YoY to around $1,051,719.
- Word on the street indicates the HPI drifted slightly lower—about $979,000, down 0.2% from June.
What It Adds Up To: Buyers are back in force—sales are outpacing new listings while prices softened, creating renewed market opportunities.
City Highlights
Toronto
A more balanced landscape—but some segments remain soft. Condos and detached homes see inventory rising; semis are steadier.
Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington & Muskoka
While TRREB doesn’t break down by city in these reports, regional trends suggest:
- Mississauga & Burlington: Strong rise in listings and dipping average prices give buyers leverage.
- Oakville: Stability in demand for luxury keeps discounts modest.
- Muskoka: Continued strong interest in sub-$2M waterfront properties should benefit from broader GTA momentum.
What This Means for You
- For Buyers:
Renewed affordability, rising inventory, and favorable interest rates make August a prime time to move. - For Sellers:
A more balanced market—strategic pricing and quick response will be key to success. - For Investors & Cottage Buyers:
Strong July sales in the GTA point to increasing investor interest; Muskoka remains a high-value lifestyle and investment destination.
Work With the GTA Real Estate Experts
Whether you’re planning to buy a Muskoka cottage, invest in a luxurious Oakville property, or explore options across Toronto, Mississauga, or Burlington, now is the time to act.
Regan Irish & Associates specializes in luxury, resale, and investment properties across the GTA and Muskoka. Our market insight and negotiation skills help you get the best results—whether buying, selling, or investing.
1320 Cornwall Rd Unit 103, Oakville, ON L6J 7W5
905.842.7677
Visit reganirish.com
Let’s make today’s market your opportunity—contact us today!
