Category Archives: Uncategorized
My Amazon List of Must Have Items!
Like most of you, I got Amazon Prime as a trial when I needed something shipped right away. But also like most of you, I found that I couldn’t live without it! Now I literally Amazon Prime anything and everything — the mailman recognizes and knows me. So as a huge fan, I thought I’d compile a list of my favourites and must haves. Click on the photo to link to the product. Leave a comment if you have a question or something to add!
As a Realtor:
Lock/Key De-Icer
For all those Realtors out there still using hot water to open lockboxes in the winter, please dont’! This makes it extremely hard for the next person to open the lockbox as it freezes the lockbox even worse afterwards. This is probably the best tool out there for Realtors in the winter. Get yours on Amazon or Dollarama or any hardware store.
Monkey / Gorilla Hooks
I almost don’t want to share this because they’re so amazing and makes me feel like I have an edge of everyone else. This saves so much time, money and messes! It makes a pinhole size hole in the whole and they’re completely reuseable which is great for staging. No tools required!
For My Eco-Friendly Side:
Reusable Produce Bags
These were one of my first switches when I first decided to go eco-friendly. It was so annoying to have all these clear plastic bags and have not gone back since I discovered this! Just throw your regular produce in here and re-use and wash as necessary!
Stasher
This product is great because it replaces traditional single use zip lock bags. They’re made out of silicon so you can add heat and sous vide with them too!
Wool Dryer Sheets
Just throw them in instead of dryer sheets! You can even get scented ones that make your clothes smell like lavender.
Beautiful semi-detached home minutes away from the beach!
Address: 27 Balfour Ave
List Price: $800,000
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Type: Semi-detached
Parking: Private drive, 4 spaces
Extras: Stainless Steel Fridge, Gas Stove, Microwave Hood Vent, Dishwasher, Washer & Gas Dryer, All Electrical Light Fixtures, All Window Coverings
Click here to view the virtual tour
Junior one bedroom in the heart of downtown Toronto
Rarely Offered Junior One Bedroom With Parking & Locker At The Pantages Tower. Unit Comes With Ample Storage And Closet Space. Bright Unit With Floor To Ceiling Windows! Quiet Street In The Heart Of Downtown. Steps To Eaton’s Center, Subway, St. Mike’s Hospital, Ed Mirvish Theatre & Dundas Square. Walk Score Of 100!
Address: 210 Victoria Street #1813
List Price: $379,000
Bedrooms: 0+1
Bathrooms: 1
Type: Condominium
Maintenance Fee: $428.37
Parking: Included
Locker: Included
Extras: Fridge, Stove, Dishwasher, Microwave, Rangehood. Washer & Dryer. All Electrical Light Fixtures & Window Coverings.
Why the Ontario’s Fair Housing Plan won’t curb housing prices
Premier Kathleen Wynne announced 16 measures today to help increase supply in the Golden Horseshoe region. Hopefully, these measures will slow down the 30%+ increases, to the 10-15% range for the rest of the year. This won’t cause a decrease in prices, just a more gradual increase.
So for the Buyers out there, you may see some relief in the pre-construction sector. For the Sellers, not to worry, you’ll still be seeing the bidding wars and gains.
Here are a couple of the major measures announced and why they won’t curb housing prices:
15% Foreign Speculation Tax
This tax won’t affect the market much as it will only apply on home purchases by non-resident foreigners in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. It will not apply to new immigrants or those planning to live here. The Toronto Real Estate Board estimates that only 4.9% of residential real estate transactions are by foreign buyers and more than half of those are either buying for themselves or a family member. I concur with this estimate as virtually all of my ‘foreign’ buyer clients are either from other parts of the country or are buying for themselves or a family member living in the city.
Ban on Pre-Construction Speculators
This is something that the government has been trying to crack down on for years. This will be good buyers looking to get into the market and for the resale market, where investors will now go to invest in real estate.
Power for Municipalities to Impose a Vacant Home Tax
The Municipalities will wait and see how the real estate market will react to these new provincial measures before implementing a Vacant Home Tax. However, I am sure they will end up imposing such a tax in the near future because the measures announced today will not curb prices by much.
Other Measures Include:
– Expanding existing rent control systems to cover all tenants, including those buildings built after 1991
– Rebate of development cost charges to encourage building of more rental housing
– A move to identify provincially owned surplus lands that could be used for affordable and rental housing development
– $125-million, five-year program to encourage construction of new purpose-built rental apartment buildings by rebating a portion of development charges.
Overall, this will be good for the GTA because the 30-40% increases we are seeing this year are unsustainable. It will put us into bubble territory if it continues this way year-over-year and nobody wants that. For those who have been following me on social media, I have been a huge proponent of transforming single-family homes to multiple units as an investment vehicle. I continue to believe that it is a smart investment decision and now the government will make it easier to do so.
Toronto Real Estate Update – March 2016 Statistics [Infographic]
For Sale – 633 Bay St #2305
Rarely Offered Oversized One Bedroom For Sale!
Very Large One-Bedroom Suite With Ample Space To Live And Entertain. Includes An Eat-In Kitchen, Huge Dining Room And Separate Living Room. Bedroom Includes Walk-In Closet. Terrific Easterly Vistas That Include Lake Views. Ready To Move-In And Add Your Personal Touches. Feel Right At Home With 24/Hr Concierge, Gym, Pool, Sauna, Squash Courts, Business Centre & Rooftop Garden With BBQs & Hot Tub. Steps To PATH, TTC, Eaton Centre, Hospitals, Financial District, Ryerson University & More!
List Price: $489,000
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 2
Type: Condominium
Parking & Locker: Included
Intersection: Bay / Dundas
Square Footage: 956 Sq Ft
Maintenance: $671 / Month Including Water, Hydro, Heat, Central Air Conditioning
Building Amenities: Concierge, Exercise Room, Indoor Pool, Party / Meeting Room, Rooftop Deck / Garden, Squash / Racquet Court
Toronto Real Estate Update – December 2015 Statistics [Infographic]
Toronto Real Estate Update – November 2015 Statistics [Infographic]
Whitehaus – Coming Soon to Yonge and Eglinton
New development coming to Yonge & Eglinton by Lifetime Developments.
Yonge & Eglinton has been ranked the #1 neighbourhood to live in by Toronto Life.
The new Eglinton Crosstown will make Yonge & Eglinton the liveliest intersections in Toronto.
Currently pre-selling, with special pricing and incentives. Contact me for additional details.