When most of us think of real estate, we think of the home we live in today, or dream of living in one day. It's no surprise: a home is the largest single investment most individuals will ever make. While at first glance the industry may appear easy to understand--after all, what's more concrete than a physical building?--it's actually surprisingly complex. Real estate is made up many smaller categories, each of which contributes to--and depends on--the health of the Canadian economy. In addition to homes, the sector includes investment properties, vacation homes, cottages, commercial buildings, malls, hotels--all these and more make up this vital sector.



While all industries are affected by economic cycles, few correlate so tightly with their ups and downs. And, as real estate goes, so go construction, interior design, appliance manufacturers and a host of other businesses. Brokers, agents, appraisers, developers, lawyers, plumbers and electricians all have their interests tied up in the sector's ebbs and flow.

The desire to own land is as old as civilization, yet real estate isn't immune to historical trends. In the '50s and '60s, Canadian developers followed the lead of their American counterparts by building up the country's suburbs. By the end of the 20th century, they recognized the need for young people and empty-nesters to find new surroundings, and the condo boom was born. The Globe offers a variety of ways to reach both of their highly desirable targets.

Of course, with their high household incomes, Globe readers are also more likely to purchase property in the country's best neighbourhoods--and the exclusive access we give advertisers to Canada's most affluent consumers sets us apart from all our competitors.

You can reach these affluent consumers in any number of Globe properties, from front News to the Style hub of our website. Of course, we also give advertisers real estate-specific vehicles to support their promotional needs. From the widely read Real Estate sections in our Toronto and Vancouver editions to Real Estate Collection, our glossy showcase for GTA properties, there are plenty of print solutions to choose from. Advertisers who want to reach on-line consumers can opt for our newly launched Real Estate web hub--a dynamic mix of real estate news about the Toronto and Vancouver markets, tools, blogs and an extensive database of Toronto listings.