Richard Silver

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 The first time home buyer land transfer tax (LTT) rebate is out of date.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...

My Thoughts on the Competition Bureau and It’s Suit Against the Toronto Real Estate Board:

What follows are strictly my own thoughts and not those of any organization or parties that I may represent.... As someone who has worked negotiating for over 30 years, I have seldom worked as hard on a "deal". However,  since the the start of negotiations, I doubted that there was a deal to be made....I don't think that the Competition Commissioner ever had any intention of an agreement. From early on the Toronto Real Estate Board told the ever-changing team from the Competition Bureau...Continue Reading...

The Past Few Months and the Next Year!!!

Some of you may not know but one year ago I was named President-Elect of the Toronto Real Estate Board, meaning that as of July 1st, 2011, I will be President of the Toronto Real Estate Board for one year. The past six months have really been a great trial by fire as I have had my busiest Spring in my Real Estate career plus chairing two committees at the Board, doing some teaching (Blogging and Social Media) and being part of the...Continue Reading...

Greater Toronto REALTORS® Report May Resale Housing Market Figures

TORONTO, June 3, 2011 – Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 10,046 sales in May 2011 – up six per cent compared to May 2010. This result was the second best on record for May under the current Toronto Real Estate Board service area. The number of new listings in May, at 16,076, was down 15 per cent compared to last year. “Positive economic news and low borrowing costs led to strong sales through the first five months of the year, including the...Continue Reading...

Toronto’s Cabbagetown Garden Tour: June 5th, 2011

If you have never been to the Cabbagetown Garden Tour before, than this year is your year! There are 10 great gardens on this year's tour...I will be at one of them so come and see if you can find me. Look forward to seeing you on June 5th, 2011. This event is presented by the Cabbagetown Preservation Association.      Continue Reading...

TORONTO NEIGHBOURHOOD IN FOCUS: Yonge Street Corridor

Bloor on the south, St Clair on the north, Yonge on the east and Avenue Rd on the west — as they say in real estate parlance, “Location, location, location.” Centrally situated, this neighbourhood includes grand Victorian and Edwardian detached and semi-detached homes on east-west streets accessible to the subway and great shopping. The shops include the legendary “Five Thieves,” the name given by locals to the specialty food stores just south of the Summerhill LCBO. As the name suggests, make...Continue Reading...

Toronto Area Housing Market Charts for April 2011.

Here are the latest charts from the Toronto Real Estate Board. Notice that if you take out last year, the other three years remaining are on a similar track. That is why I like these charts. They give you a fuller perspective of what is happening in the Toronto Area Marketplace. Toronto Realtors Housing Market Charts April 2011View more presentations from Richard Silver.Continue Reading...

GREATER TORONTO REALTORS® REPORT APRIL 2011 RESALE HOUSING FIGURES

TORONTO, May 4, 2011 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 9,041 existing home sales through the TorontoMLS® system in April 2011. This result was down 17 per cent compared April 2010 when sales spiked to a new record of 10,898. While off last year’s record result, April 2011 sales were in line with the average April sales level reported over the previous five years. “Existing home sales have been strong from a historic perspective through the first four months of 2011.Expect the pace...Continue Reading...

Toronto Condominium Market: Presentation to the Toronto Condominium Market April 15th, 2011.

Here is a great presentation from the April 15th, 2011 of the Toronto Condominium Network. Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions. Please remember that these stats are resale statistics from the Toronto Real Estate Board. Toronto Condo Network Presentation by Jason MercerView more presentations from Richard Silver.Continue Reading...