Richard Silver

Downsizing Category

Waiting for the Repeal of the Miller Land Transfer Tax….

In the past few weeks the question Toronto Buyers have been asking is "should we be waiting for Rob Ford's  new City Council to repeal the Toronto Land Transfer Tax ?" Whether it was just another political promise that will never be realized, good intentions to the contrary, will the savings realized by the repeal of the tax actually provide a substantial benefit to wait? The Tax launched in February, 2008 which on a $400,000 property has the Buyer paying $4475 to the Province and $3725...Continue Reading...

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore….

....don't know where I have been, but here I am, almost six weeks into a renovation and having thrown out three sets of doors and an old skylight and now I find out about ReStores, a division of Habitat for Humanity, long time supported by The Toronto Real Estate Board . The ReStores  web site says: "Habitat for Humanity ReStores are building supply stores that accept and resell quality new and used building materials. They generate funds to support Habitat's building programs, while...Continue Reading...

Need Help to Declutter and Downsize?

My friend and client Ann Christie has begun a great new business to help people "Declutter and Downsize". I have known her for years and think this is a great service she is providing that all of us can use from time to time. I have no qualms at all in referring her to you. In fact, I may be calling her to help me attack my closets....doubt I will be wearing those pants with a 32 inch waist...unless they have...Continue Reading...

Toronto Real Estate Market: The View From My Desk!

Daily I try to make sense of the Real Estate market. I read all the Google Alerts and RSS Feeds that appear that focus on the Housing Market. I talk to other Sales persons and the front of desk staff at the office, monitoring the showings and the activity at weekend Open Houses. The media will tell you that the "Real Estate Bubble" is about to burst. How many times have you heard that in the last 5 years? Making sense of...Continue Reading...

Real Estate: Downsizing with Style and Grace: Part Three

The Reality of "Rightsizing" There are times when "Downsizing or Rightsizing" becomes a must and not an option. Sadly, the topic is often controversial with the person needing to "Rightsize". The process means a lack of independence, and many will fight any suggestion to move to a more accommodating living space. We live in a City where there are very few spaces, other than apartments, that can allow one to live on one floor. Bungalows only exist in certain areas and those...Continue Reading...

Real Estate: Downsizing with Style and Grace: Part Two

Thanks for the great response and ideas from the first post on Downsizing...before I add some more thoughts, let's talk about some of the issues generated after Post One: There seems to be a universal response to the negative naming of the difficult process: Downsizing. However, I remembered with some friendly prodding that Barry Lebow, Founder of  The Accredited Senior Agent Designation refers to it as "Rightsizing", a term defined as "to undergo a reduction to an optimal size". I like referring...Continue Reading...

Real Estate: Downsizing with Style and Grace: Part One

Up-sizing is real easy to do....we start with very little and at each and every stage we add more...and more. Fast forward a few years and young or old....you look around and find yourself surrounded by THINGS (of course they are Family Heirlooms too)....but do we really need them? Could we live in less space? Could we live in multiple locations at different times of the year by selling the larger home. Of course...but the enormity of the job ahead  hits with major...Continue Reading...