Archive for March, 2009
Toronto Real Estate: A New Commercial/Residential Listing
March 31st, 2009 categories: Real Estate
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Real Estate: My New Job as a Tax Collector
March 27th, 2009 categories: Real Estate
In yesterday’s Ontario Budget, the Liberal Government, in a effort to help the business community has heaped more taxes on Homeowners. After last year’s City of Toronto Land Transfer Tax(doubling the existing Tax but only in the 416 Region), there will now be further new taxes when you buy and sell homes.
Previously, services such as Lawyer’s fees, Home Inspection and Realtor’s Commission were only subject to the Federal GST but now the Province in “Harmonizing” taxes has decided that these fees should also be subject to the Provincial 8% as well making the new HST, as it is called, 13% by the beginning of 2010. The Province may call it Harmonizing but it looks more like another tax increase to me, especially when by adding taxes to services that were never taxed before and lessening the administration of these taxes, there is no counter balance being offered in dropping the new HST to a lower than 13% rate. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Big Secret of Moving Day…
March 23rd, 2009 categories: Real Estate
I often get asked about what happens after the conditions are lifted and the Agreements are off to the Lawyers…from that point on, usually one week after the signing of the documents, the Buyer’s lawyer busies themselves with searching the title for any glitches and the Seller’s Lawyer prepares the transfers, gets ready to pay out any existing mortgages, leans or deal with any encumbrances. The Realtor is out of the loop usually except for visits by the Buyer to the property for measurements and if problems arise at the lawyers office they may well not be aware of them, so try to keep them informed.
It is important that the Buyer and Seller keep in contact with the Lawyer’s office and that the Lawyer’s secretary have all the client’s phone numbers and emails etc. I wrote two posts previously that explain the costs for both the Buyer and the Seller and they are noted below. Bosley Real Estate Ltd. has a great checklist that you should keep at hand as you move towards closing. Read the rest of this entry »
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Toronto Real Estate: The Globe and Mail DREAM of the Week.
March 20th, 2009 categories: Real Estate
Every Friday the Globe and Mail has their Real Estate section and today’ s Home of the Week is 2 Aberdeen Avenue, a property that I listed and sold earlier this week. It is a great article about the history of the house and its different incarnations over the years, with previous owners, each showing the house a lot of love.
However, the real story here is one of dreams. The owners of Aberdeen had a dream that included owning a Horse farm close to the city that would allow them quick access to their work…the buyers of Aberdeen had a dream to own a large Victorian on a quiet street. Sure there were the normal discussion of costs and there were numerous stars that had to align before both could achieve their dream but both parties were encouraged to calmly keep the dream in their minds. Read the rest of this entry »
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Toronto Real Estate: The News is Getting Better!
March 19th, 2009 categories: Real Estate
Toronto Real Estate Board: 2,565 RESALE HOUSING TRANSACTIONS SHOWS RATE OF DECLINE SHRINKING
TORONTO, March 19, 2009 –
Greater Toronto REALTORS® announced 2,565 transactions in the first half of March compared to 3,183 during the same period last year. The annual rate of MLS® sales decline was the smallest in five months. Mid-month March MLS® sales increased compared to the 2,044 sales experienced in the first half of February.
MLS® sales follow a recurring seasonal trend, with transactions generally increasing between January and May and then decreasing between June and December. Read the rest of this entry »
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Toronto’s Garbage Problem….Garbage Bins Take Over Our Victorian Landscape Downtown!
March 18th, 2009 categories: Downtown Toronto
Garbage Bins Take Over Over Victorian Landscape Downtown!
Sunday is one of my favourite mornings. We get up early, get the dog on his lead, grab a few fetch-balls and of course, poop bags, and head over to the Lower Riverdale Park with a quick stop at Jet Fuel Cafe’ for our Latte’s. Every second week our neighbor Helen and her dog join us and we have a longer walk to the Brickworks or through Riverdale and the Danforth.
This last week the three of us could not get over the Garbage containers that have taken over the landscape. Downtown Toronto is full of Victorian Homes which are mostly semi-detached or attached and are on streets that seldom have back alleys and if they do, they are seldom passable with garbage trucks. So now instead of looking at Victorian detail we were busy looking at the Garbage containers in front of homes. Try as they might, they are hard to hide and are a blight on the beautiful Downtown Streets that we have known for years. Read the rest of this entry »
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Technology: IPhone vs. Blackberry or Touch Screen vs. Qwerty
March 13th, 2009 categories: Technology
I have been a “Crackberry” for years…It is so bad that I have a second Blackberry in waiting in case my first one needs fixing…
However, I have been going back and forth over the IPhone or the Blackberry Storm (both are the cool touch screen models). While I have really enjoyed my Blackberry Bold, it is not touchscreen and just does not seem to be as cool as a cool techie like me should be using….but here is my reasoning: Read the rest of this entry »
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Real Estate: A Sad Story of Mould.
March 13th, 2009 categories: Real Estate
A few years back my sister-in-law in Quebec City bought a to-be-built Condo from plans. It was a perfect space for her and her young daughter and we spent a few weekends there helping her decorate, hang pictures and connect new appliances. It was a great apartment and her first-ever home purchase but within a few months of living there, her young child started having problems breathing and was hospitalised a couple of times.
At the same time, Patricia noticed that the windows were leaking and the builder was called to do some repairs. Opening up the drywall revealed black mould throughout the apartment and the Quebec City officials quickly condemned the apartment. Patricia and her daughter became homeless and some of their clothes, furniture and possessions were rendered unusable. Read the rest of this entry »
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Cabbagetown: What’s in a Starbucks??
March 12th, 2009 categories: Cabbagetown
Later on today, between 4 and 7 PM there will be a fundraiser for the Cabbagetown Youth Centre to open the new Starbucks at the corner of Aberdeen Avenue and Parliament Street . The Youth Centre is a great cause that the Community has supported for years and needs some help to replace their existing roof and assist in their programs.
Today’s event in also in aid of the opening of the Starbucks. Let me preface this by telling you that for years, when media has interviewed me about where the next up-and-coming area might be found, it was easy for me to say,”Look where Starbucks is opening and you will have the latest hot spot!” Read the rest of this entry »
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Over 700 Homes Recently Insulated with Urea Formaldehyde Insulation with Government Grants.
March 6th, 2009 categories: Real Estate
The Federal Government gave out grants to be used to insulate over 700 homes across Canada. The substance used, RetroFoam, has been found to contain Urea Formaldehyde and was purchased from the United States. Urea Formaldehyde has been banned in Canada since the early 1980’s. The insulation was quite controversial as it is easy to insert but to remove it means that the interior walls will need gutting and chemical washing which is a very expensive procedure to remove. Health Canada has sent out an advisory. There is also a RetroFoam Class Action suit for Homeowners available for sign up online. Read the rest of this entry »
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