Richard Silver

Toronto Real Estate Board’s Jason Mercer on the November 2010 Market Watch.

Jason Mercer, the Senior Market Analyst at the Toronto Real Estate Board gives us the scoop from the Market Watch in November 2010. Have a look and let me know your thoughts. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIf-vSnUG-A[/youtube]Continue Reading...

Our Bathroom Renovations and the HST….

Over the past three months we have gutted and renovated two bathrooms, replaced doors and windows, dealt with a leaking basement and spent a lot more time, energy and money on our home. Like a lot of people who live in their houses while they are being renovated, we are happy to see the back end of our contractor and happy to have our house back. We are also kicking ourselves for not having all of this done years ago...mostly...Continue Reading...

The Ontario Real Estate Association hosts Political Action Days at Ontario’s Queen’s Park.

Yesterday was a great first day of Political Action with members of  the Ontario Real Estate Association . Annually the association holds a two-day session close to the Queen's Park  Parliament buildings and then meetings are held where Provincial and local issues are brought forward by OREA  to MPP's. This year the topics were Brownfield's  development (reuse of previously used property that has been contaminated in the past), the Harmonized Sales Tax  and it's effect on the Ontario Consumer, and the upcoming Provincial Election(11 months from now)....Continue Reading...

REAL ESTATE: The long-promised reworking of the original Cabbagetown

For years Cabbagetown residents awaited the long-promised reworking of the original Cabbagetown — reborn in the 1940s as Canada’s largest and oldest social housing project, Regent Park. It had a controversial history due in part to the design. The lack of through streets isolated the 69-acre neighourbood, creating a ghetto.  In the past 10 years it has become home for many new Canadians and their families making for a lively and diverse neighbourhood as well as bringing lots more street traffic...Continue Reading...

The Canadian Real Estate Association Revises Annual Resale Housing Forecast

OTTAWA – November 5, 2010 – The Canadian Real Estate Association  (CREA) has lowered its forecast for home sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service ® (MLS®)Systems of Canadian real estate Boards and Associations for 2010 and 2011. Sales activity in the third quarter of 2010 began on a weak footing, but gained traction as the quarter progressed. Improving momentum for home sales activity suggests the resale housing market is stabilizing, but weaker than expected third quarter activity has reduced CREA’s annual...Continue Reading...

October 2010 Toronto Housing Market Charts

Here are the latest Housing Market Charts for October 2010 from the Toronto Real Estate Board. I love these as it really puts not only this year but the past three years into a more realistic perspective. Interested to know what you think. Feel free to comment. Toronto Area Housing Market Charts OctoberView more presentations from Richard Silver.Continue Reading...

Toronto Area REALTORS® Report October Resale Figures

Here is the latest market update from the Toronto Real Estate Board . Of note is the percentage of Condominiums in resale housing figures within the Toronto Area. TORONTO, November 3, 2010 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 6,681 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®)  in October 2010. This represented a 21 per cent decrease compared to the 8,476 sales recorded in October 2009. Through the first ten months of the year, sales amounted to 75,582 – up one per cent compared...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...

The Perfect Turkey Recipe! Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!!!

You know that I love my food, like to cook but am always looking for the easy way, as time is of the essence...well....our favourite Cabbagetown Butcher, Mark Michelin at the St. Jamestown Steak & Chops, has an almost flawless Turkey Recipe, almost a Turnkey Turkey Recipe. I tried it last year and it is almost too simple to believe and produces an amazing result. So here it is! (more...)Continue Reading...

Neighborhoods: Bloor West Village

Once considered staid and conservative, this thriving village now boasts a hot European-style shopping district. You can find anything and anyone walking the high street, enjoying the bakeries, restaurants, gyms, shops and community events.   Founded in the early 1900s, the housing stock is detached homes on larger lots with big gardens, similar to the Beach (and equidistant from Yonge St). Some multi-family homes exist as part of a European extended family tradition. You’d best be handy with a rake and...Continue Reading...