Richard Silver

Archive for January, 2009

It’s Your Chance to Voice Your Opinion on the City of Toronto Act, 2006.

 There is a great post on John Pasalis' Move Smartly which connects to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. It allows you to go online and make comments to the Ministry about the City of Toronto Act 2006. The Ministry is involved in reviewing the Act. If you have strong feelings about the Municipal Land Transfer Tax, Automobile Licensing Tax or the further discussions (more...)Continue Reading...

Cabbagetown Update: January 31, 2009

Cabbagetown is a great place where things are always happening and it is sometimes hard to keep track of. However, that being said the Old Cabbagetown BIA runs a Blogand updates it regularly. Make sure that you check it out or that you subscribe to it. On today's OCBIA Blog there is a model of the new Building planned for the "Javaville" location at the North East Corner of Carlton and Parliament. Have a look at the model and feel free to comment...Continue Reading...

TORONTOISM: A New Look and a New Name!!

Over the next few weeks you are going to see some changes to this site. The name has been changed to Torontoism: Richard Silver's Downtown Toronto Blog and we are just in the final stages of a new logo, new skin and yes finally, a new updated photo (I know, I know). (more...)Continue Reading...

My Favourite Time of Year!!! Winter…licious!!

In reality...growing up in Edmonton was already "cruel and unusual punishment" when it comes to winter weather and although winter in Toronto is much milder than that part of Alberta, by mid-January I have had it. Whoever came up with the idea of Winterlicious should be given the key to the City of Toronto (more...)Continue Reading...

REALTORS® Welcome Federal Housing Initiatives In Stimulating Canadian Economy: CREA Says

Here is the most recent press release from the Canadian Real Estate Association in reference to today's budget. It looks to be some good news for the Housing sector and first time buyers...   The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) welcomes the federal government initiatives to stimulate economic growth outlined in the 2009 budget, especially those that will encourage home ownership in Canada. The Association applauds the government (more...)Continue Reading...

A Great Real Estate Shopping Accessory: HomeZilla.ca

Shopping for homes on the Internet is becoming easier and easier with interactive mapping, photos, virtual tours, floor plans, videos and more...and now there is Homezilla.ca. Once you've found your dream home you need to find out about the local Schools, local shopping and of course, the local STARBUCKS. (more...)Continue Reading...

Bank of Canada Cuts Interest Rates! January 2009!

Below is a press release from the Canadian Real Estate Association about the Bank of Canada cutting rates.  Bank of Canada cuts interest rates again in January Published January 20, 2009 As widely expected, the Bank of Canada lowered its benchmark overnight lending rate by a half of a percentage point to one per cent at its setting on January 20th, 2009. The trend-setting Bank rate, which is set 0.25 percentage points above the overnight lending rate, declined to 1.25 per cent. The Bank acknowledged...Continue Reading...

An Idea To Stimulate The Economy!!!

I have been thinking seriously about some steps that the Canadian Government could take to really stimulate the Economy, especially now that the Stock Market has gone through a real adjustment and the interest rates are low.  Here's the idea that I would like to float...let Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty know about it,  although I have it on great authority that they read this blog every day.... Canadians are great savers and have, for years, been building their RRSP's....Continue Reading...

Gary Vaynerchuk at Inman Connect NYC 2009

Recently I was at the Inman (Real Estate and Technology) Conference in New York and had the pleasure of listening to Gary Vaynerchuk. He is known for his 5 times a week, 20 minute video posts on wine library tv, watched by over 90,000 people a shot. He is a mesmerizing speaker and I am attaching a link to a Video that was shot at the Conference. Take a look at it, don't mind the jumpy quality but listen to the...Continue Reading...

Toronto Real Estate: Condo Update January 2009

At a recent meeting of the Toronto Condo Network, our guest was N. Barry Lyons, of N. Barry Lyons Consultants Limited, well known and respected analyst of the Condominium market and through partnerships with RealNet. Here are some of my quick scribblings from the mass of information that Barry gave (please excuse the format.....or lack of...): (more...)Continue Reading...