Purchasing a home, particularly when you’ve gone from renting to owning, can be stressful, especially when it comes to managing a new budget. Added regular expenses of property taxes, mortgage payments, utilities, and insurance alongside unexpected repairs and maintenance on a home can seem overwhelming to a homebuyer.

Since homebuyers, particularly those in competitive markets like Toronto, have budgeted so much of their savings to bring the biggest possible down payment to the table and other closing costs, the unexpected expenses can add a significant strain to their budget. According to a 2018 survey conducted by The Canadian Payroll Association, “One in 5 working Canadians say they could not come up with just $2,000 within a month for an emergency expense.” Unexpected expenses of this financial scope aren’t all that uncommon. Alan Carson of Carson Dunlop says,

It can be catastrophic if the furnace or air-conditioner quits unexpectedly, or if the refrigerator or the water heater breaks down. The Home Care Plan not only provides great financial protection against significant costs, it also provides peace of mind, and eliminates the frantic search for a competent fair-priced repair person on short notice.

For over 40 years Carson Dunlop has been a widely respected name in home inspection services.  One of the many items that makes them stand out is their unique and comprehensive Home Care Plan.

The Home Care Plan is tied in with their home inspections and helps alleviate some of the guesswork and the need to rely on an emergency fund. Alan says:

A home inspection does an amazing job of describing the present condition of a home. The Home Care Plan picks up where the home inspection leaves off, and protects our clients into the future. We have been involved with home warranties and similar plans for over 25 years and have never seen one that compares to this.

Who Qualifies?

You don’t just need to be a new home buyer to benefit from this extensive service plan. The Home Care Plan is available to anyone who has hired a Carson Dunlop inspection within the past 12 months. Not only do home inspections help current and prospective owners understand potential issues in their homes, identifying them before they become major ones, but they also help people plan their spending. This way people have the comfort of being able to allocate their savings towards home improvements and renovations, instead of simple repairs and appliance maintenance.

Common Claims

The most common claims put through The Home Care Plan are appliances, with dishwashers and refrigerators at the top the list. Without this plan homeowners can usually expect to pay several hundred dollars per repair. The average rate of claim for clients is once, every other year, with the cost of the annual renewal not increasing for those who have made a claim. Alan says,

Because this is an insurance policy, it expires every year, like your automobile or homeowner’s insurance policy. However, it automatically renews, and you continue to pay the $27 per month. You will receive a notice and a new policy document once a year.

A Small Monthly Fee

Whether you’re still climbing the ladder at work, or are retired and on a fixed income, The Home Care Plan is only $27 a month and can easily fit into a variety of budgets. Alan adds,

The $27 a month payment removes so many risks, from the heating and cooling systems, to appliances, to plumbing and electrical issues. A new furnace may cost $5,000 or more. That is a significant hardship for people on a fixed income. The Home Care Plan covers those unexpected expenses.

The plan also covers the water heater (unless it is rented), the dishwasher, stove, refrigerator, clothes washer and dryer, and additional coverage for emergency plumbing repairs, the whirlpool bath, sump pump, central vacuum system and garage door opener. Alan says, “A failed main sewer line under the front lawn typically costs $2500 to replace. The Plan provides coverage for that.”

Is It Worth It for Condo Owners?

Many condo owners don’t realize it, but they are often responsible for maintaining the heating and cooling systems within their units. So, they are responsible for maintenance beyond basic appliances. It’s estimated that the replacement of heating and cooling units can cost upwards of $5000 to $10,000. Alan says, “One might argue against purchasing the Plan in the first year, since many things are under warranty. However, most appliance warranties only provide 12 months’ coverage. Extended warranties are very expensive. We strongly encourage people to purchase the Home Care Plan before the first anniversary of a new build, and within 12 months of their home inspection.”

Getting Up Front with The Small Print

There are some items that will not be covered in your plan. Alan says,

Components that are non-functional or beyond their typical life expectancy are excluded from coverage. However, if those components are repaired or replaced, they are then covered under the Plan.

If a component or appliance cannot be repaired because the parts are not available, or when the cost of the repair exceeds the replacement cost, The Home Care Plan provides a fair market cash settlement for the item, and the home owner is able to replace it with the same or a different brand component/appliance.

Flexibility is one of the many benefits of The Home Care Plan, particularly for those who have two of the same items requiring coverage. Alan says,

Some homes have two furnaces, two air-conditioners or two refrigerators. The Plan only covers one of those, but the good news is that you don’t have to decide which one to cover until you have a problem. The Plan addresses the first appliance to need repair.

To find out more about scheduling a Carson Dunlop Home Inspection or signing up for the Home Care Plan CLICK HERE.

You know something special when you see it. Something that stands out from the crowd. Something that provides everything you’re looking for, while also offering original features that you never even knew you were looking for. That’s what’s on display in the captivating mid-century modern bungalow located at 15 Citation Drive.

Located in Bayview Village, this house is a unique vision brought to life. It offers stunning design in one of Toronto’s most sought after neighbourhoods. Situated on a south facing estate lot that backs onto a stream, this charming home sits on a yard that extends 60×178 feet, and stretches to 193 feet on the east side.

The main level of the house is outfitted with a master bedroom and two additional bedrooms in addition to a large open family kitchen with a centre island, breakfast bar and walk-out to the side yard. The lower level of the house has an additional bedroom, home office, 3 piece bathroom, and a, expansive recreation room with a walk-out to the backyard. It’s ideal for families, whether you’re just starting with young children, or your kids are in their teens. Its one floor layout also makes it a good fit for couples who don’t want to take up too much space.

This mid-century modern house was designed by prominent Toronto architect John Harold Bonnick to be his own family home. Bonnick was a Toronto-born architect who spent time honing his skills in Boston and London UK before returning home to embark on a successful career designing buildings in Canada. He impressed his colleagues so much at the Adamson Associates architectural firm, that he became its youngest founding partner. His self designed home would go on to be a prominent milestone in itself that would go on to be featured in Homes & Gardens magazine.

Modern, Forward Thinking Design

Built in the 1950’s, Bonnick’s design was ahead of its time. It features open concept living spaces that have come to dominate the modern market. Other modern touches can also be seen at the back of the house, which features floor-to-ceiling windows that takes advantage of the south facing lot by providing radiant natural light throughout the living areas.

Bonnick put a lot of care into designing this home, and his architectural prowess can be seen in every corner. Built in cupboards in the dining and living spaces offer clever storage space for china and everything else. He also kept leasure in mind by including a built-in bar and cozy fireplace in the living room and an in-ground pool in the backyard.

Beyond the home’s practical applications, its aesthetic design should be celebrated as well. It’s wooden accents and ceiling make a lasting impression. The house also features cork flooring, something rarely seen in Toronto’s homes. Clear glass transom panels above the doorways are another stylish touch, allowing light to playfully dance throughout the house.

15 Citation Drive is located in a former apple orchard, so it’s easy to see why Bonnick chose this area for his family home. The large backyard is consistently basked in sunlight throughout the day due to its south facing position. The lot also backs onto a tranquil stream and is canopied overhead by mature trees.

An Unmatched Neighbourhood

Bayview Village is one of the best places in the city to raise a family. The neighbourhood is surrounded by parks and schools. Bayview Shopping Centre is a one minute drive away, putting this home just moments away from necessities like a Loblaws Grocery Store, Shoppers Drug Mart, and major bank branches, as well as stylish cafes, bars, restaurants, and clothing stores. Major highways and Bayview subway station on the Sheppard Line are also nearby, providing unequaled access to the entire GTA.

The space has been incredibly well maintained, making it a veritable turn-key home, but it also means you could easily make this home your own by performing renovations. Those looking to upgrade this home to suit their modern tastes will have an easy time making changes while also keeping some its charming qualities like the cork flooring or wood detailing. The sizable backyard also makes it possible to build an extension onto the house.

You just don’t see many homes like this. In addition to its unique features and design, bungalows are becoming increasingly rare in the city as well. At one time, this neighbourhood was filled with bungalows, but oftentimes the properties are bought for the land, and the one-storey homes are torn down and replaced with larger estate type houses.

This home was designed by John Harold Bonnick to write his family’s story, and now it’s time for someone else to move in and continue 15 Citation Drive’s legacy.
[property mls_id=”15 Citation Drive”]

Richard Siler recently recorded an episode of Vancouver Real Estate Podcast with it’s hosts Adam and Matt Scalena, talking about the future of luxury real estate.

Here’s where you can listen:

In the midst of lagging global luxury real estate sales, Toronto’s high end product still seems to have legs! But what does the future of global real estate look like and how does it inform other, more local markets. Meet Richard Silver. He’s the former President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a Certified International Property Specialist for Sotheby’s Realty, and was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in Real Estate” by San Francisco’s Inman News. Where are the global elite buying? Will Vancouver and Toronto remain on the international stage? And what does all this mean for Canadian Real Estate?! Grab a glass of the finest brandy and a spoon or two of caviar… this episode’s luxurious!

Episode Summary

About Richard:

Richard Silver is the VP and Senior Global Real Estate Advisor at Sotheby’s International Realty. He is a past president of the Toronto Real Estate Board. He was born and raised in Alberta, but moved to Toronto to pursue a career in dancing, singing and acting. He has a degree in dance from the University of Oregon and he taught dance at York University. He decided to take a real estate course, which started his real estate journey. He did not know many people in Toronto when he started in real estate and he built up his sphere of influence through hosting open houses and hard work.

On the global slow down in luxury real estate that seems to be happening currently:

Richard feels that the slow down is very location based – real estate is local. When looking at stats, you can see London is hurting and New York is hurting, but Toronto is still doing fine. There was a slow down 2 years ago in Toronto associated with the foreign buyers sales tax, but the market has rebounded. The downtown area in Toronto is still going strong, but the surrounding suburbs of Toronto are a bit softer.

On why he feels Toronto is weathering the slow down better than some other world markets:

Generally, Toronto has a net immigration to the city of over 100,000 people per year. Some of these people are from other parts of Canada, but they are also from foreign countries. People are coming from the Pacific Rim, Europe, the far east and the Middle East. This makes for a diverse foreign buyer segment and helps drive the Toronto market.

On recent restrictions of capital outflows from China:

It is much more difficult to get money out of China these days. There are still people from China looking to buy properties in Toronto. There is a strong focus for these groups toward private schools, universities, health services, clean air and other factors that attract Chinese buyers to move from China.

We are seeing the same capital restrictions in India and Russia which is making it harder to move money to Canada from these markets.

On how he got to focus on China and the global elite segment of the real estate market:

When he started real estate, he lived very close to Chinatown in Toronto. He worked with many Chinese buyers. At that time, there were a large number of Cantonese speaking buyers coming from Hong Kong. Now, Toronto has a large population of Mandarin speaking buyers that are attracted mainly by the access to private schools. Richard has been to China 4 times throughout his career and he enjoys going and talking to people to see what makes them tick, answering their questions, helping them navigate Canada. Many people ask him about the differences between Toronto and Vancouver. Richard feels that Toronto is where you make your money and Vancouver is where you spend your money. Vancouver may have the best lifestyle of anywhere in Canada where people have a work life balance and take advantage of the many outdoor amenities. Toronto is more business focused with people working longer hours with less of a focus on being outdoors.

On the differences in the real estate markets of downtown Toronto versus the surrounding Toronto area (GTA):

Canada has an advantage over the United States when attracting foreign students because Canada offers a 3-year work permit to student after they finish University. This is a big driver for foreign buyers coming to Toronto and living in the downtown area – where most of the schools, businesses and amenities are.

As the traffic gets worse in Toronto, you see people trying to move closer and closer to the downtown of the city to cut down on their commute. The downtown high-end areas are becoming very busy these days – the push is related to accessibility. There is also a lot of building going on in the downtown core, but the infrastructure and transit systems need to keep pace with all the people making their home in the city.

On how foreign buyers are different than local seller and buyers:

People in the world are different and you need to know how to relate to them. For example, you need to think about how you present a business card and how you shake hands. There is a diverse group of people immigrating to Toronto – speaking in generalities, people from China may be concerned with education, people from India may be concerned with property appreciation and the cap rate of a purchase. There is also a very strong Persian community in the city. The diversity is what makes Toronto great and Richard loves working with all different types of people, but you must understand different peoples needs and what they want out of a home.

On foreign buyers and if they are good for Toronto’s real estate market:

Yes, they are great for the market. Richard was originally a bit shocked when Vancouver implemented the foreign buyer’s sales tax because he felt like it might be targeting one group of people over another. When the same tax was implemented in Ontario, the government required that the legal community keep records of people’s residence to gather statistics. What they found was that 3% of the real estate market was due to foreign buyers buying for investment with no intention to live in Canada. This was much lower than had originally been suggested.

There are taxes designed at addressing vacancy in the city, but Toronto does not seem to have a vacancy problem with homes sitting empty. There are lots of rental properties in Toronto and the idea that properties are sitting vacant in either Vancouver or Toronto seems to be a large misconception – this is just not the case.

How have foreign buyers reacted to the non-resident speculation tax in Toronto:

It has not been a positive thing for them, but people are still buying. If you are buying in US dollars, you are still getting a 30% discount by buying in Canada over the United States – these people are still buying. The market has slowed due to the tax in combination with people from China and India having a tougher time getting their money into Canada, but there still a lot of people that are investing in Toronto, living here and starting businesses here.

On why Toronto is wreathing the market slow down better than Vancouver:

The economy is south western Ontario is going through a bit of a boom right now. This is attracting people from other parts of Canada and even people from the United States. There are 180 construction cranes in Toronto right now and there is a market frenzy to buy. The net immigration to the city of over 100,000 people a year is driving demand. We are also seeing less and less retired people downsizing to a condo in the traditional manner that we have seen in the past. These factors are driving Toronto’s market.

On the next 3-5 years for the Toronto Real Estate market:

Richard feels the market will continue to be strong over the next 3 to 5 years. The major factors are high immigration and low mortgage rates. The United States is coming up on an election in 2020 and historically mortgage rates in the USA are low when approaching an election. This suggests low rates in Canada as well, which will continue to drive the real estate market. Canada is the best county in the world and we will continue to see people from other parts of the world moving here.

On his thoughts on the Vancouver market:

The Vancouver real estate market is always 30-40% higher than Toronto. People complain about the prices in Toronto, but Vancouver is much higher. This price difference is driven by the outdoor amenities in Vancouver and people are willing to pay for them.

On real estate being a global asset class going forward:

There are great places to live in the world and each place has its own set of special factors that attract people. Mountains, lakes, weather, business interests, etc. High net worth individuals own multiple properties and they are in different parts of the world and they are moving in between the properties. As this trend continues, we will continue to have a strong world economy. There are large populations in China and India and a large amount of these people are doing very well economically and want to diversify and move to other parts of the world. This will affect Canada’s marketplace because we have an attractive country, economically safe, where people want to live. As prices in London and other superstar cities continue to increase, cities like Toronto will become very attractive to people looking to purchase real estate.

Five-wire (Toronto edition):

• Favourite neighbourhood in Toronto: Cabbagetown
• Favourite bar or restaurant: House on Parliament
• Downtown penthouse or GTA mansion: Penthouse. He has done the house thing and this is an attractive option at this stage in his life.
• First place he brings someone from out-of-town in Toronto: Distillery Area, Yorkville – but it depends on who they are and where they are staying.
• Recent purchase under $500 that’s had a big impact on his life: Funky socks – socks are getting much more colourful and fun than your basic dull colours.
   

Advances in technology and shifts in culture have allowed Canadians to do things we would have never imagined. Take for example working from home. With instant messages and conference calls, some employees barely have to set foot in an office. Now, purchasing a home remotely—that is, putting in an offer without ever setting foot in the property—is gaining popularity. Though it may seem radical to some and controversial to others, North Americans are doing it more than ever.

Who are the people buying remotely?

A 2017 U.S. homebuyers survey found that 33% of buyer make an offer before ever seeing the property. This grew from 19% in 2016 and from 21% in 2015. What’s more astounding is that 41% of these buyers were millennials, 30% were Gen X buyers, and 12% were baby boomers. Younger generations are surely embracing this new way of buying a home.

In addition to millennials, remote property purchases have been popular with those looking for a vacation home, looking to invest in real estate, or hoping to help their children buy a home. These buyers may not want to waste several days flying back and forth to and from a far away city just to look at the home. Especially in the investment property setting, the buyer may not even care what the property looks like. It only matters that they can rent it out and that the market value of the property will appreciate. And information from their real estate agent, a trusted third-party, and visual aids are enough for these types of buyers to put down an offer.

With how a quickly the Toronto real estate market moves, it may not even be realistic for an offshore buyer to visit Toronto to see the property. By the time travel arrangements are made, the property may already have closed with another buyer.

It’s all about your agent

Richard Silver, Senior-Vice President of Sales at Sotheby’s Realty, warns that it’s never a good idea to purchase a property without seeing it first.

However, remote property purchases are, as Silver states,

Done mostly through third parties who have a strong relationship with the buyer and have established a strong rapport with them.

Sometimes this third party is a friend or family member, but it can also be a real estate agent. A real estate agent in the city you’re planning to buy in can handle most of your transaction on your behalf. This is why finding a good agent is critical in the remote home-buying process.

Quite obviously, it’s ideal that this realtor has experience with the remote home-buying process. This can confirm that he/she understands how the process is done and that they can work with the right technologies and people to close the deal fast and efficiently. They can also make recommendations on local mortgage lenders who work with foreign buyers.

You also need to consider whether the agent works regular business hours. To make the process work, he/she needs to be available 9-5 to help with home-buying procedures such as a home inspection. If your agent is only available evenings and weekends, it may make the whole process impossible.

Lastly, as Silver mentioned before, it’s important to find a third-party you trust. Make sure that whichever realtor you work with, especially if you don’t have another third-party to help you, is someone you have a good relationship with and is someone you can trust.

How to know what you’re buying without stepping foot onto the property

There are a variety of ways to see what you’re buying without visiting the property in person. Silver notes that,

Buyers who are not there in person can use floor plans and descriptions from a builder or the seller.

Similar to buying a pre-construction where you can’t see the physical unit, a floor plan can help you visualize what the property will look like. And descriptions can note further details and quirks about the space.

Photos of the property are also great ways to see what you’re buying. However, Silver warns that photos are often used to enhance the property.

With photos being edited and Photoshopped to make the property look nothing short of perfection, the buyer may end up with an apartment or home that is less than that they expected. These are just a few of the shortfalls of buying remotely. Again, this is why, as Silver mentioned earlier, it’s good too have a third-party that you trust visit the property and make sure that it’s everything it promised to be.

Video tours of the home are commonly the better alternative to photos. Videos are harder to fake in terms of appearance. They also provide a fuller visual of the home and simulate how it’ll be when you walk through the property.

There are also more advanced visualization tools such as 3D home models and 360-degree cameras. However, these won’t come attached to every property listing as they can be beyond the seller’s marketing budget. The properties that do have these marketing collaterals are commonly luxury properties or the precise sellers looking to attract remote buyers.

The problems with a remote purchase

The largest issue with a remote property purchase is the fact that the buyer can’t inspect the property themselves. Silver sees this as the major issues of buying remotely:

Home purchases are usually larger amounts of money and I would never suggest that a sizeable purchase be made unseen.

Additionally, the fact that a buyer has not visited the property could create some legal issues. Silver notes:

Our TREB Agreements of Purchase and Sale have a clause that the Buyer has inspected the property and if they have not, [the contract] must be altered. It could be a nightmare if the Buyer decides not to close and is offshore.

While technology and cultural shifts have made it more common to purchase remotely, it should be used as a last resort. It’s ideal to see the property in person before making such a large purchase. In the worst case scenario, things won’t be what they seemed in the pictures and videos and you’ll be stuck with a poor purchase on your hands. However, if you’re running a busy lifestyle and don’t have time to see the property in person, a remote purchase could be the way to go.

Toronto has undergone a massive transformation in the past 20 years. While it has long held the title of Canada’s largest city, throughout the past two decades Toronto has gone from a moderately sized city, to one of the most important economic hubs and population centres in North America — even overtaking Chicago as the fourth largest city on the continent in 2013.

This population growth has had a palpable effect on the city’s skyline, especially in the downtown core. Once replete with brownfields and underutilized properties, Toronto is now characterised by soaring skyscrapers, and we’re only seeing the beginning of this trend. New towers are set to fill Toronto’s city scape, which will go on to contribute to Toronto’s rapidly climbing population.

But will it be enough?

Despite the myriad of towers being built in Toronto’s downtown core, experts fear that it won’t be enough to fulfill the increased demand of living in the city. So what’s driving this population growth, and how can the city and developers adjust to create enough housing supply for the growing demand?

[fvplayer id=”17″]

Toronto’s Booming Downtown Core

Toronto is growing at a rapid pace. According to Richard Silver, Certified International Property Specialist and Global Real Estate Advisor with Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, the city is seeing a net immigration of 100,000 residents from both inside and outside Canada each year. This is largely due to the wealth of job opportunities, successful businesses and financial institutions that have come to the city centre.

This largely explains the condo boom that we’ve seen in the city over the past few decades, as residents are increasingly drawn to homes that are in close proximity to their work due to gridlock in the city’s transportation network. It also explains the surging condo prices in the downtown core. According to the Toronto Real Estate Board, the average price of a condo in Toronto has gone from $376,226 in 2014 to $603,243 in 2019.

The desire to live close to work has gone on to create much more community driven development in the city as well. Developers aren’t just building condo towers in the city, they’re also building community staples like schools, art centres, pools, and community parks.

“Just look at Regent Park,” Silver points out, “It was once run down public housing, and today it’s a thriving community with schools, pools, community centres, and its Artscape that supports performances and other events. I think we need to give a shout out to the Daniels’ Corporation who’s built these facilities and performance venues in Regent Park. They’ve really done a fantastic job.”

2221 Yonge Condos

Beyond The City Centre

The downtown core isn’t the only region that’s seeing an increased level of development in the city. New development is happening across the entire city, especially along Toronto’s subway lines.

“Transit is one of the most important things for the city’s future,” Silver explains, “a lot of the development you see has to do with the proximity of the subway system.”

There is plenty of evidence to back up Silver’s claims. Yonge and Eglinton is officially in North Toronto, and it was once considered on the city’s outskirts, but today it’s home to some of the most prominent real estate projects. This is largely due to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT that’s being constructed in the area. The Crosstown will be a new light rail transit system that travels down the Eglinton corridor, and it will converge with Line 1 at Yonge and Eglinton, and it will connect with Lines 2 and 3 at Kennedy Station in the east, providing much improved access to the entire GTA.

We’ve also seen a lot of new development in Vaughan because of the recent Line 1 extension. Untouched expanses of land surrounding the new Vaughan Metropolitan Centre are now the sites for multiple new projects thanks to the new connection to Downtown Toronto. We can see how this has affected the housing prices in the region, with the average condo in Vaughan going for $374,112 in 2014, and now $547,620 in 2019.

Silver explains that, despite its cost, it’s vital that the city doesn’t stop expanding its subway system.

People are going to continue moving to Toronto, and in reality, it isn’t going to get better. There was a time when we stopped building subways, and as painful as it can be, it never should have stopped.

Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Development

Following In New York’s Footsteps

Fortunately, the city has a sort of blueprint that it can follow to successful city building. New York City is the largest city in the United States, and the second largest in North America. More importantly, it is the most critical economic centre in the world.

Many cities, including Toronto, have looked to New York as a touchstone on how to build a thriving city centre. It has even reached common vernacular as Toronto’s development intensification is widely referred to as the ‘Manhattanization of Toronto.’

When looking at the enhanced development and population increases that New York has undergone, Silver sees one vital trend: people typically move to locations that are more accessible to work. “It’s going to become like New York where people move closer to their respective workplaces or you face hours in traffic.”

Silver also contemplated an alternative scenario when comparing Toronto and New York. With remote work becoming increasingly viable, you could also see people living outside of the GTA and only coming to the city centre when necessary.

You look at New York, and people actually live in North Carolina and come into the city just once a month. That’s going to start happening here.

With condos going for an average of $358,287 in the Durham Region, $439,141 in Peel, and $459,420 in Halton in 2019, these could very well be the next focal points of growth in the GTA.
Building A Better Future

There’s no doubt that Toronto is seeing a lot of development. Toronto currently has the highest numbers of cranes in North America, so it is making an effort to accommodate the high demand for people who want to live in the city. While the development in the downtown core is the most dramatic, there are other areas seeing significant intensification like Yonge & Eglinton, Yonge & Sheppard, and Vaughan, but there are still ways to improve.

The city needs to make transit extensions and maintenance a bigger priority. The effects of delayed subways construction can be felt across the city. The Finch West LRT Project serves as an important example of why transit extensions are so important to a growing city. Its delay in construction has created significant gridlock in the area, and at 49,000 daily riders, its bus route is the busiest in the city.

Richard Silver also points out that it may up to developers to make the hard choice and begin building units that aren’t necessarily an easy sell.

For a long time, developers have tried to move the easy smaller project, but they’re forgetting seniors and families. Seniors do want to downsize, but not into 500 square foot units. They’re looking for 1500 square foot condos where they can be comfortable.

He also considers the shifting realities of starting a family in the city.

Toronto has been one of these places where when you were single, you lived in a small condo and you move to a house once you start a family, but that’s changing. People are now focused on their family rather than their living arrangements.

Larger, three bedroom units could be the perfect solution for families interested in living in urban environments.

Only a few years ago, condos were a small fraction of the real estate market, but now they make up the majority of new housing in Toronto. It’s also important to note that condos’ price per square foot has steadily climbed while the freehold homes’ price per square foot has stagnated.

Furthermore, there are more purpose-built rental developments coming to the city. These are large developments that are building units that have no intention to be sold. This could go on to increase the city’s population capacity too.

Together with the focus on community development, creating larger units seems to make a lot of sense. It would provide a new way of urban living that would create integrated and diverse communities that would come together to thrive. If transit is sufficiently improved in coming years, Toronto has the potential to become a massive and dynamic city, and probably the best place in the world to live.
 

Nearly 40 years ago Susan Mendelson launched Lazy Gourmet in Vancouver. She is an entrepreneur, radio personality, cookbook author, and probably the biggest champion of The Nanaimo Bar in Canada. As someone who discovered her passion for the catering biz while she studied social work, it didn’t take long for others to notice Susan’s flare for creating fantastic foods, that made her events a resounding success.

As her milestone business anniversary approaches this fall, Susan reflects on her beginnings, her inspirations, and the hard work it took for her to see a successful business that could weather the many changes of the highly competitive food industry.

What inspired you to start your own catering company?

As a child I loved to cook and bake, but I never thought it would be my career. I was studying social work at UBC and was fortunate enough to get a job working nights at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. I was making decent money but it was hard making ends meet so I started making Nanaimo bars, cheesecake, and carrot cake, and selling it at intermission. I was making 50 pieces a night in my small apartment kitchen, at 50 cents an item. Soon people would call ahead to try to reserve their food selections.

Over time I was asked to cater for the venue and I’d get a budget to work with. One day I got a call from a city counsellor who asked me to cater her wedding. I told her I wasn’t a caterer and she insisted I cater her big day. So, I catered this wedding, and everyone for the city was there. Soon after that the Head of Social planning for Vancouver contacted me with a concept. He was bringing 250 performers from around the world, for children, and wanted me to arrange all of the food for the performers while they were there for 8 days. He got me a learning initiative grant, to get started.

The festival was in June, so I had six weeks to learn the business of catering. I worked my butt off, hired out of work actors to help me and we did breakfast and lunch, and dinners for the 60 people from Russia (who were hosted at a friends’ home), and performers from Japan who came to my house for dinner each night. By the end of the eight days I was so exhausted I slept for a week. I soon realized if I didn’t go into catering, I would regret it. It was my passion. The woman who hosted the Russian performers and I started The Lazy Gourmet and never looked back.

How did you start working in radio and on your cookbooks?

I had already been working on a cookbook for several years before my business was official. CBC Radio approached me about my baking and asked me to come on air and talk about it. I wouldn’t give them my exact recipe for cheesecake, but I would give them tips on transforming a regular cheesecake into a chocolate cheesecake. I even did this cheeky show for baking for a New Year’s Eve, that ended up with bakers kicking off the New Year in bed with champagne and chocolate cheesecake at midnight. I was asked to come back for Valentine’s and do a show on aphrodisiacs, so I headed to the library to get started on my research.

In the middle of my call with CBC Radio one day my boss at Vancouver East Cultural Centre picked up the line and said he was my agent and asked them to pay me. They listened! Soon I had a regular spot on CBC. I was on every Thursday afternoon for a show called Ace in the Kitchen. People would call in after the show for the recipe, and we’d take down addresses and mail out the recipes each week. We knew people were collecting these recipes and in the fall of 1980 my first cookbook, Mama Never Cooked Like This, came out and my recipe for the Nanaimo bar was in a cookbook for the first time. The Cooking Bookstore in Toronto on Yonge Street told me they sold over 1,000 copies to people who were buying for that recipe alone. This really helped put the Nanaimo bar on the map.

Tell me about your education, background, and experience that helped prepare you for this?

Within the first year I realized how little I knew, so I brought in consultants and they really were my MBA program. They helped me determine what worked and didn’t over the years to help me grow the company. In the first five or six years of the company I put out five cookbooks and by the time 1985 came around it was Expo 1986, and I was asked to be the official souvenir cookbook for Expo 1986 (as the only cookbook for sale on the property) which helped spread The Nanaimo Bar around the world.

Why has sustainability always been such an important part of your business model?

I think it’s really an awareness of the planet and waste. It’s about being organized and recognizing that you don’t want waste and destroy the planet with garbage. That has really been put into our business very early with a program where we send our food to different shelters at the end of the evening. Why should delicious food go into the garbage?

We’ve been working with sustainable practices for over two decades and we don’t really think about it. My husband and I have a home that is Leed Platinum and when you design something like that you improve your quality of life.

What advice would you give to an entrepreneur looking to carve out their own brand?

Be prepared to work your ass off. You must work harder than you’d ever imagine, you must be prepared to go through the ups and downs and have a lot of grit. My former partner and I always say, ‘If we knew how much work it would be, we may have thought twice’. Believe in yourself and trust in your intuition along the way. Constantly reinvent yourself, you can’t be in business for 40 years and do the exact same thing, you need to keep the same core values but stay current.

Your business is celebrating 40 years of success in 2019. What are you doing to celebrate?

We are planning a big party along with some surprises, to thank the people who have helped us remain successful and the clients who have continually supported us over the years. We wouldn’t be where we are if it wasn’t for them.

What are some of the most unusual events you’ve had the pleasure of catering for? What are some of the most personally meaningful events you’ve worked on? Why? What makes for a successful event?

There is one year we did the skins game and went with two giant 18-wheeler trucks and set up in the forest Predator Ridge in Okanogan, then did the Abbotsford Airshow, and then catered The Molson Indy Vancouver with 30,000 meals over the weekend. That was a lot of work.

Most meaningful to me are life cycle events – a baby naming, a bar mitzva, wedding, or funeral. These are the events that are the most meaningful for our clients and we try to make that a lasting memory for them and their family.

For an event to be successful event I need a happy client, happy staff, and happy suppliers. Then, at the end of the day I can sleep well. It’s all about the joy we can bring to everything we do.

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

Keeping my staff for a long time. Keeping people who I trust, adore, and people who have worked with me for over 10, 15, and 20 plus years. Today people leave places they work every two to three years, and I am proud of keeping my staff. I am proud of being able to be a mom and keep my business going even when it was tough trying to balance all of that during good and bad times. It makes me feel good that my kids are proud of me.

What important lessons have you learned in mentoring your staff?

It’s all about trust and allowing people to make mistakes. Giving people permission to make mistakes and trusting them to learn. I’ll cover for you today and I hope you’ll cover for me too, as it’s about how we recover and work together. If you can’t own your mistakes, you’ll make them again and again. You need to be honest in that we can work together to find solutions.

Can you tell me about the importance the Nanaimo Bar holds for you and why you think it’s so important to Canadian (BC) foodie culture?

The Nanaimo Bar was not created by me but became a part of culture because we started selling it in 1979 and took it across the country. It’s delicious, easy to make, no baking required, and took off in a way that has a life of its own. Deborah (my former business partner) and I tried to copyright it, and we couldn’t because it was the name of a town. It’s a wonderful product, and people love it! We add different flavours like, raspberry for spring, and mocha (which is my favourite). The Nanaimo Bar opens itself up to creativity and opportunity. It’s great to have a Canadian food; how many Canadian foods are there? I think it always will be a part of Canadian food culture and I’m proud to have helped spread the awareness about it. We have just come up with a Nanaimo Bar chocolate bar – it’s dark chocolate with the filling of the Nanaimo Bar, and has wafer and coconut.

How has Instagram and foodie culture changed the catering industry?

First, it’s been fantastic for us and we have full-time people who work on moving our social media and sharing our work. People can see the breadth of what we do, which invites more people to contact us. Twice a year we introduce our menus with a huge media event, and all the social media is out there and they help us spread our culture of food. It’s fun and great for business. In the old days we’d buy ads in yellow pages and magazines, and now we have this personal control over our image and brand. At the click of a finger we can see what our competition is doing and share what we are. We designed these containers that look like cigar boxes for staff to pass along the appetizers in. They’re neat, photo friendly and people loving. Today you are trying to do something edgy and fun and different and then switch it up. The catering business is now about décor, and food, and it’s about the whole brand and experience for the client.

What are your favourite comfort foods?

My major food is chocolate. I adore good chocolate and we have so many amazing chocolatiers in Vancouver. Thomas Haas, tempers chocolate for 4 days. I also love ice cream, all the sweets, and Pad Thai.

Who inspires you?

David Leibowitz. I follow his blog and I have most of his cookbooks. I love his connection to people and approach. An early inspiration was Craig Claiborne of The New York Times. In terms of Vancouver, Umberto Menghi’s restaurant Giardino makes everyone who comes through the door feel special and so important in the way they show appreciation.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

That I’m a pescatarian and have been since 1975. In the beginning my business didn’t offer any meat beyond seafood and fish. As the business grew, we brought in chefs who were able to create menus using chicken and meat to help us expand our offerings.

The Lazy Gourmet paired with Silver BURTNICK & Associates for a Global Networking Event 2019 at Sotheby’s International Realty. You will be able to taste their famous Nanaimo Bars with  the whole team this May 13-15!