Richard Silver

Archive for July, 2011

Great New Web Site for Homeowners!

Almost every year for the past 15 years, I have spent four mid-Summer days at a Conference in San Francisco called Inman Real Estate Connect. It is a chance for REALTORS, Boards, Associations and technology/social media junkies to get together and talk about the future. A search here will show that I have written blogs about this event before. One of my favorite sessions is called "Innovation Showcase" or I call it....."The new kids on the block". There were 4 Presentations: Yobongo.com, Skygrid.com, ThinkNear.com...Continue Reading...

Greater Toronto REALTORS® Release Mid-July Resale Market Figures

Toronto, July 18, 2011 – During the first 14 days of July, Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported an increase in sales and the average selling price compared to the first two weeks of July 2010. The number of sales through the TorontoMLS® system was up 35 per cent to 3,609, compared to 2,672 last year. “Low mortgage rates, rising incomes and good news on the jobs front have kept consumers confident in purchasing a home in the Greater Toronto Area. In fact,...Continue Reading...

Toronto Neighbourhoods: The fabled neighbourhood of Church/Wellesley

Few areas in the world can boast the number of loves begun and lost than the Church/Wellesley ’hood. The long-time centre to Toronto’s LGBT community has changed greatly over the years. Once a questionable place to purchase a home or condo, it’s become very fashionable. Where once the gay community was shunned and hid in dark dank bars, we are now out on the street and have spawned one of the biggest festivals in the city. With all that comes rising...Continue Reading...

Greater Toronto REALTORS® release June Resale Market Figures

Toronto, July 6, 2011 – Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 10,230 home sales through the TorontoMLS® system in June 2011 – up 21 per cent compared to June 2010. This number represented the third best June result on record behind 2007 and 2009. The number of transactions during the first six months of 2011 amounted to 48,189 – down by 4.5 per cent compared to the first half of 2010. “The strong June result capped off an interesting first half of 2011,”...Continue Reading...

Toronto Real Estate Board Holds Firm in Order to Protect Consumers

Toronto, July 8, 2011 – The Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) today responded to more legal and publicity manoeuvres by the Commissioner of the Competition Bureau. “The Commissioner is pressuring TREB to make changes to TREB's own property listing system (MLS®) that TREB believes would violate consumer privacy laws, reduce the quality of the system, and diminish protection for consumers who list their homes in the Greater Toronto real estate market,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver. TREB believes strongly...Continue Reading...

The First Time Buyer Land Transfer Tax Rebate

I am excited to begin my term as President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, and so I would like to take the opportunity to discuss with you the issue of home ownership. The first time home buyer land transfer tax (LTT) rebate is out of date. Due to increasing home prices, the rebate no longer covers the average LTT bill for first time home buyers. Instead, they pay almost $1,500 in LTT after receiving the rebate. The provincial LTT is a...Continue Reading...