Toronto Home And Condo Moves

• 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story - $1,790 CAD Monthly - Live In Bayview Village

Bayview Village, Bayview/Sheppard  -  Live in Bayview Village!

Luxury honme for rent in amazing location. Check out this beautiful and well appointed home that just glitters.

Great owner with true pride of ownership looking for a great tenant to live in this beautiful home.

Gleaming hardwood floors, very large dining/living sopave with a fireplace for those cozy winter nights, renovated kitchen and bathroom. Master is ensuite.

Steps to TTC, Shops, YMCA, Parks and lots more.

Property information

I have spent the last few weeks really taking my time to discover more about "Social Media".  I have known for some time that I was not tapping into this stream of social marketing and really getting to know more about where "Facebook" and "Twitter" in particular would come in handy to help my business and my clients. 

I have been a member of Facebook for a long time, I was one of the first people I know to start an account and I took the time to reach out to some of my old friends (I come to Toronto via Spain, USA, Mexico, Jamaica and the UK). I found it great to get in touch with school, college and work friends that I had lost touch with years ago.  However I (like many others) never really saw the potential of reaching out to more people to increase my business and reach a larger audience. 

Its become very clear in recent months due to the rapid increase in Social Media that this would need to change, but how to start?  I have been trying to plot my way through this on my own but realised I needed help from a higher power.  So I signed up for a seminar held by the Toronto Real Estate Board in the hope that it would provide me with the help I needed.  Well thanks to Richard Silver I now not only see the benefit but also the route to take to get me kickstarted in our Web 2.0 world. (Thanks again Richard).

 Its really important that when I represent my clients I represent them in the best way possible.  Its not enough these days to post a listing on MLS, put a sign up on the road and wait for the phone to ring (or beep, or jingle or whatever ring tone you chose).  

I now reach a much larger and broader audience for my listings and its great to be able to tell my clients I am now working in the 21st Century! 

Bay & Wellesley, Toronto  -  Announcing a renalt/lease availabe on 24 Wellesley St, a 2 bath, 1 bdrm apartment "With Solarium". $1,625 CAD Monthly - Includes Heat + Hydro.

Property information

 Tom Lebour from the Toronto Real Estate Board announces that the strong economic recovery continues.  Read On For Details.

November 20, 2009 -- In the first two weeks of November, Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 3,666 sales, an 84 per cent increase compared to the same period a year ago. The average price of GTA homes sold during this timeframe also grew, by 10 per cent, to $415,066. Condominium activity throughout the GTA was even more extraordinary. Sales of this housing type increased 90 per cent to 959 transactions, with an average price of $296,664, up 15 per cent year over year.

The City of Toronto experienced the highest increase in sales volumes while average price appreciation was consistent throughout both areas.

The number of sales in the City of Toronto soared to an 88 per cent increase compared to the same period a year ago, reaching a total of 1,560 transactions. The average price meanwhile, climbed to $441,893, a 10 per cent increase from mid-November last year. Condominium sales in Toronto increased an incredible 97 per cent from a year ago, to 674 transactions. They sold at an average price of $317,939, up 13 per cent year-over-year.

In the 905 Region sales activity was up 81 per cent over the first half of November 2008, totaling 2,106 transactions. The average price of a 905 Region home was $395,195, also up 10 per cent from a year ago. Condominium transactions in the 905 Region increased 75 per cent from mid-November last year, to 285 sales. They fetched an average price of $246,351, up 20 per cent year-over-year.

Increased interest in ownership housing has been widespread throughout the GTA and across all housing types. However, it is important to point out that we are now making comparisons to the fall of 2008 when we experienced a marked decline in sales and average price.

Year-to-date sales throughout the GTA have increased 11 per cent over last year, to a total of 78,233 transactions, putting 2009 on track to finish with some of the best years on record. The average GTA house price has also increased three per cent year-to-date, to $393,180.

While it's reasonable for sales in the first half this month to be strong as compared to the same period a year ago, when the market experienced a marked decline, such strong price recovery is particularly significant.

I discussed this characteristic of the market with the Toronto Real Estate Board's Senior Manager of Market Analysis Jason Mercer, who pointed to affordability as an important factor.

"Average home prices recovered quickly in the GTA compared to other centres in countries like the United States because the average priced home remained affordable relative to average household incomes. As consumer confidence in economic recovery improved in the spring, home ownership demand and home prices recovered quickly."

According to Mercer, the outlook for next year's spring housing market is also favourable.

"Expect home ownership demand to remain strong in 2010. Market conditions will balance out next year as more homeowners react to the strong sales and price growth reported in the second half of 2009 and list their home. The average resale home price will grow at a sustainable rate next year."

If you're thinking of buying or selling a home in the coming months I encourage you to talk to a REALTOR®. For more information, please visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com

Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.

After my last article I decided I should try and offer some easy fixes to renovating a home and make a good return on your investment. So over the next few weeks I am going to post some info that I hope will help you look for the grea opportunites that may pass you by becasue you can't see the pottential.

 Here is an article I found on kitchens and hoe to make an easy fix.  I hope it helps.

If your current kitchen décor inspires visions of disco balls and bell bottom pants maybe it's time for a much needed update. But do you need a complete kitchen makeover, or just a facelift?

The answer depends on your budget. The bad news is that a total renovation project can be very costly. The good news is that you can replace your countertops and feel as though you have a brand new kitchen.

That's because your countertop is the most visible source of colour in the kitchen. If your cabinets are white or wood, then what immediately catches your eye is the surface you use the most - your countertop.

Kitchen countertops are the most important work surface and key element in the design and luxury of your home. Today's latest designs in countertops can take a moderate looking kitchen and turn it to a kitchen out of a décor magazine or interior design show.

If you look at what's available you will be amazed at the selection not only of colours but textures and finishes as well. The primary goal is to find a durable, stain-resistant and easy to clean surface that will also bring style, elegance and beauty to your kitchen.

The two most popular countertop materials which meet this current demand for both practicality and elegance are the new solid and quartz surfaces.

"We offer the two hottest products in the market today but taste has a lot to do with your choice," said Mark Hanna, President of Montreal-based Leeza Distribution Inc., one of North America's leading distributors of Samsung's Staron Solid Surfaces and HanStone Fine Quartz Surfaces. "If you have an affinity for stone which provides visual impact and dominance in a kitchen, than HanStone is for you. Whereas if you don't want all the attention to be on your countertop and true functionality is your goal, than Staron would be the ideal choice."

Both surface materials meet the highest standards for hygiene and cleanliness in the industry (certified NSF 51) thanks to their nonporous properties. Also of great importance, both are accredited with Greenguard environmental certification for low emitting products.

Samsung Staron is recognized as one of the top lines of acrylic solid surfaces in the market today because of its unlimited flexibility in design. "Unlike stone, which is a hard flat surface with design limitations, solid surfaces allow any design style and application you can imagine to blend with your kitchen design." added Hanna.

With countertops it's still all about colour and with Staron's over 70 colour choices you can find the perfect colour to complement your kitchen decor.

Meanwhile, Quartz countertops, such as the industry's top rated HanStone surfaces, offer a sophisticated elegance and timeless beauty in virtually any surfacing application. As the fastest growing category of premium countertops, quartz surfaces are stronger than granite and because they're nonporous, they require no sealing, are highly resistant to scratches, stains, and bacteria growth and come in a wide range of dramatic colours and patterns. More information on solid and quartz surfaces is available at leezadistribution.com.

- News Canada

Well thanks everyone for making that the weekend go fast, especially at the open house on Sat.  It was so successful we managed to sell the house before the end of the first day, we got an offer over asking whilst we were there!

 These are a few good tips for anyone out there who is thinking of selling right now:-

1.  Hold an Agent Open House before a public one, this will give agents a chance to check the suitability of the house before their clients do so they can get all the info they need and can promote the property before their clients even see it.

2.  Be prepared, make sure the open house is well advertised locally using all the available resources.  I am particularly fond of Craigs List, a lot of people are now using this as a major resource for information.  Your realtor should take care of all of this, but make sure that they do.

3. Make sure the property is looking its best and is well lit. You have got to put the extra work in if you want to get that extra special price.

4. Light a candle or have some nice smelling air fresheners around the house.  You don't want any unwanted pet or food odors putting off any potential buyer.

5. Leave your Realtor to do his job!  Stay close so you can accept any offers that might be presented but make sure you give the professional you have hired to do the job they are good at. 

Good Luck!

Rob

 I just wanted to take the time for everyone to start Finally sitting up and taking notice about the new ontario HST (or as I call it the Hated Sales Tax!). 

 It seems to me that the vast majority of people are not sitting up and taking notice about what is being propsed here and are letting the cat out of the bag before they can tie it up.  We, as a Province, have to take the time to educate us on what is and will become the Larget Tax Hke In The History Of Ontario.

Do we really want to sit back and wait until every single one of us being hit by an 8% tax increase on almost everything we buy?

We have to take action NOW! To stop this tax ruining our already fragile economy.

 Now please let me explain that I am not against any tax increase, if you want your services to run well and to have more of what makes life good in the wonderful Province then each one of us must be willing to pay for our share. 

 My Issue is that this is a MASSIVE TAX HIKE and we can and should oppose such a massive increase on the cost of goods and services we all pay for daily.  

I propose that we postpone this decission until we have a more robust ecnonomy that can withstand another massive hit, or cap the total HST at no more than 10%.  This will still be a major hike in cost and drain on all of us but will still save each of us thousands a year in increased taxes.

Here is a small list of services currently only taxed at 5% going up to 13%.

Natural Gas bill
Internet bill
Water bill
Gas at the pumps- That is like 7 cents per L.
Hair cut
Massage therapy

Condo Maintenance Fees !

Commissions to Sell Your Home

Legal Fees

Home Inspections

Anything that requires labour around your house:  plumber, electrician, painting, grass cutting ext.

Electricity bill- This is a good one.

Look at your electricity bill there is a charge on it for debt retirement charge. That is a charge for the huge debt the OPC ran up.

Only in Ontario would we pay tax on a debt, and only in Ontario would we increase this tax.

This is just a small list as there is so much more.

Stand up Ontario and tell him we cannot afford any more Mcguinty politics. No new taxes.

This is not the time to stay passive - Mcginty was voted in on the promise to "help families"!!! This couldn't do more to hurt families in these economic times. Put in the call Ontario - this tax will be pushed through before you know it!!!

Dalton McGuinty, Premier
Legislative Building
Queen's Park
Toronto ON M7A 1A1

Phone Number
(416) 325-1941