Richard Silver

Listings Category

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: Holding Off Offers.

Over the past years a technique has developed that Realtors and the Public call: Holding Off Offers. The idea is that the Seller and Realtor bring a property to the market through the TorontoMLS system with a note in the Broker's remarks that although showing can commence at the time of listing, offers, if any, will be reviewed at a later date. What is the reason for this? Are the Realtor and Seller manipulating the market to force multiple offers in an Auction-like scenario? Could...Continue Reading...

My Thoughts on The Competition Bureau and The Canadian Real Estate Association

Please notes that my thoughts are personal only and are not in any way those of Bosley Real Estate Ltd .(who hold my license) or The Toronto Real Estate Board  (I am a Director-at-Large). I love my business, am engaged in it 7 days a week, 12 to 15 hours a day and would not want to do anything else however: There is a lot of discussion going on led by the Competition Bureau  and forces that want to "open up" the MLS ...Continue Reading...

Downtown Toronto News Is Up and Running!

Every morning I get up, head to the front door, pick up my Globe and Mail  and skip happily to the Toronto Section. What happens in the rest of the world and the world economy is important, but nothing engages me like breaking new in Toronto. Sadly, I find myself with the feeling that I am missing a lot of the Toronto goings-on, and head to the Internet going to several sources to keep up to date. (more...)Continue Reading...

Toronto Real Estate Board Releases Housing Market Graphs for December 2009

The Toronto Real Estate Board has released it's most recent Housing Market Graphs. Of note, is the last page which notes that over the past couple of years, affordability has increased in the Greater Toronto Area. This would account to the strong market we have been having despite the world-wide economic downturn. I always find these housing charts a great read as they compare the last three years and help to add some perspective that month by month statistics cannot....Continue Reading...

Toronto Real Estate: The Reality of Home Inspections Part 1

After years of attending Home Inspections, some of them my own, I have learned a few lessons that I thought would be good to share with you: No Home Inspection is perfect: Even if you were to buy a brand new Home today, the Home Inspector would find some issues that need to be dealt with. That is their job. Manage your expectations: In reality, Houses are ongoing projects, costly and full of surprises. The job of the Home Inspector is to minimize some...Continue Reading...

Canadian Real Estate Association Releases New Update

Here is the latest market report from the Canadian Real Estate Association. Take a look at the highlighted portion below as it points to a striking lack of inventory for Purchasers...but means it is a great time for Sellers to put their homes on the market. From my understanding, in a "Normal" market the inventory is about six months. OTTAWA – October 15th, 2009 – National resale housing activity climbed to the highest level of any third quarter on record. Actual (not...Continue Reading...

Urbandog Celebrates Five Years

About three years ago we got a dog and were thrilled to find that "just down the street" at 37 Parliament Street, there was Urbandog...a full service doggy daycare and spa! It's a fun place (those are Beau's words) and Susan & Eric did all the research to make it a great experience for dog and owner. Downtown Toronto's Doggie Daycare!! There are a number of young and energetic pack leaders to make it an incredible experience for pups young, old, big...Continue Reading...

Ontario’s Green Energy Act to Mandate Energy Audits!!

The Ontario Government has recently had first reading of Bill 150, The Green Energy Act. Although, I applaud the decision to bring forward GREEN Issues at this time but I have some concerns: 1) At present, the dust has not settled on who will be the group to set levels of energy efficiency. There are a number of groups fighting to make their "seal of approval" the acceptable level. I think that will be easier said than done but this should not...Continue Reading...