On a sunny, not-quite-cool day in late August, I sat down in a bright airy office decorated with tiny model buildings and talked for almost an hour with a man who has made a career out of faithfully taking that backward fall and daring those dark alleys. Siamak Hariri – a founding partner of Hariri Pontarini Architects–arrived in Toronto by a somewhat circuitous route.

The son of Persian Baha’is (his father was partner in a big construction company back in Iran), he was conceived in Brazil, born in Germany, and spent a portion of his childhood in Geneva before his father saw an ad from the Canadian government and moved the family to Toronto. Although initially drawn to medicine, the young Hariri decided to try architecture almost on a whim, studying first at Waterloo, and later on, at Yale.

Now, decades later, he is not only a respected architect, but also a member of the ROM’s Institute of Contemporary Culture, the Waterfront Design Review Panel, and the Toronto Art Council. He has also served stints as a architectural critic and competition juror, and has taught at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design.

With all of this experience to draw upon, what do you see as the essential basis for your art?

I think that the more I’m in this game, the more I realize it’s a game about emotions. It’s built form, which is – let’s call it measurable and tangible – but it results in something that is immeasurable and intangible.

When did you first realize architecture is all about emotions?

It was during my university years, when one day I saw a security guard running his hand over part of the Yale Art Gallery. I remember that moment vividly, it changed my whole outlook because I saw that he was moved. You could see it in his emotion, you could see it in the way that he responded. You could see that this is just something that is part of the human condition; that we have this capacity, that we all have this –let’s call it a soul – and it can be moved.

Jackman Law Faculty of Law

What is it that you hope to achieve with your work?

What interests me in architecture is how it lifts the human spirit. What else can we do other than try to create a truly robust, enduring beauty in our work? Beauty is so ineffable. Beauty is like love. You can’t talk about it really, but on the other hand, you feel it. And you feel it in the work. And you know when you’ve touched it – and whatever it is, it’s mysterious, but it grabs you, you know?

In 2015 you were hired to expand and renovate Casey House, the venerable Toronto AIDS hospital. So how do you apply this emotion-based approach to a project like this?

First you start by talking and listening. You need to feel part of a community when you come in. You need to feel that there are people around you who are understanding of your situation and who you can talk to, and you can pour your heart out and be able to become connected. Because many of the people were either living under very difficult circumstances, or had to keep their condition private.

Certain people were very proud of the fact that Casey House was going to be there on Jarvis Street – like other institutions – and so this was like a coming of age for Casey House; a really important moment for this institution that had fought so hard to get to this point. And so it needed to be both expressive of its time, but at the same time respect deeply this idea of privacy. So those things really generated the form. On one hand it’s heroic as it comes up and over the house, but on the other hand it has this sliver courtyard which creates a sense of community, intimacy, and privacy.

Casey House

Obviously, there are going to be a lot of fairly uninspired buildings in just about any big city. Having said that, what do you think of Toronto, from an architectural standpoint?

I think that Toronto is a real example today of the process which starts at the bottom and works its way up. And it’s going to take us time, but I think it’s the real thing. Even if you talk about sidewalks. Even if you talk about trees, which have been one of my pet peeves for many many years. It’s starting to feel like we’re heading in the right direction. People are getting serious about understanding how to plant a tree properly. And the whole idea of putting in the proper infrastructure, and investing. Well, think about it; this is the making of a city. It is when you think about something, you’re not thinking about it just for you, you’re thinking about it for generations later.

Could you give us some examples of Toronto built spaces that you like?

Hart House, Sugar Beach, Village of Yorkville Park, and Massey College. U of T’s recent buildings are all looking interesting. I think the school of architecture is looking fantastic. In general I’m very positive and optimistic and hopeful.. I think that we’re on our way.

Bahá’í Temple of South America photograph by Justin Ford

You have worked on countless projects, such as Casey House, U of T’s new Jackman Law building, but also some exotic projects, like the Bahá’í Temple in Santiago, Chile, which took 13 years to plan and build and won 10 architectural awards even before it was finished. What was the inspiration for this luminous, nine-sided sacred space in the Andes?

Truth be told, I think that we were going after a feeling. There is this wonderful quote in the Baha’i writings that says ‘If you reach out in prayer, and if your prayer is answered, you become embodied in light. In His light. His light becomes part of your being. And I was thinking ‘how does that translate into architecture?’ And so there was the idea that you have this fully enveloped space that has two layers – both of which capture light, embody light, hold light. Don’t let the light necessarily come through, but just become somehow alive as the light hits them. That was something that fascinated us.

[fvplayer src=”https://vimeo.com/62427087″ width=”625″ align=”left” splash=”https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/433238158_1920x1080.jpg?r=pad” caption=”Bahá’í Temple of South America”]

When did you know the project was successful?

My father-in-law, who is one of the toughest critics I have, he’s a very, very prominent painter and he was a professor of art, and you know, doesn’t give out chocolate chips easily. He withheld commenting on the temple for all the years that I was working on it, saying ‘I can’t talk about it. I have to go see it.’ Which is a fair thing. Anyway, it was amazing. He stepped in and he burst into tears. And the tears were flowing. Flowing. And that is what I’m talking about. It is an emotional response.

Could you describe what the process of working on a new design is like for you?

The process is like falling backwards. You know, psychologists, they say ‘you have to fall backwards into the hands of someone you trust.’ The artistic process is, very much like that. And it’s very scary. That’s why a lot of people won’t do it. Because you have to trust the process, and it can cost you a lot of money, it can cost you a lot of time, it can lead you to very dark alleys.

JN00ML

September is a busy month for universities and colleges in Ontario. They open their doors for both Canadian as well as international students as part of their regular intake. This applies especially to the universities accepting a large number of students from overseas. This is also because September is a great month weather wise compared to experiencing not so friendly winters of Canada. The Fall season is the busiest of all; followed by Winter (January) and then Summer (May) has rare intakes.

Scores of foreign students choose to study in Canada especially in Ontario as well as British Columbia because of their internationally renowned education, better job opportunities, and high standard of living. What ever the reason, the number of overseas students has been increasing by leaps and bounds in major cities of both these provinces.

According to the Council of Ontario Universities, over the last 10 years the number of international students has grown by 96 per cent. The number of international students attending the Ontario universities in 2014-15 was 48,608. There are 215 countries representing Ontario’s international student body and China tops the list for the largest number of overseas students in Ontario universities followed by Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, South Korea and India. Another fact to notice is that during the year 2010 the international students added $6.9 billion to the Canadian economy.

There are a large number of factors foreign students take into consideration when selecting a university, but these three dominate:

• The course of their choice and its demand in Canada as majority of international students apply for permanent residence.
• The course fee is equally important while easy availability of jobs while pursuing studies, nominal accommodation cost, etc. are also calculated.
• How vibrant is the city or educational institute that includes nightlife, attractions, sports, cultural festivals, events, etc.

These norms are very important for providing a complete international experience to potential students though this issue might not be in the priority list of the parents of the students who are in most cases funding their education.

The requirement for international students to be accepted in Canadian universities differs according to their countries of origin. However the prerequisites are that applicants are selected on the basis of their previous academic achievement and/or demonstrated experience:

• There is an application form with a non-refundable fee that has to be filled and submitted with the applicant’s qualifications and transcripts.
• If prospective students are from non-English speaking countries than they have to show proof of proficiency in English. These students have to give International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam and 6.5 is the minimum score accepted by most of the universities.
• In addition to this every university would also require letters of recommendation from previous professors or lecturers and if you have previous experience then you are required to submit a résumé.
• Sometimes students are required to submit an essay explaining why they want to study in Canada, and what makes them a good candidate for doing so.

Fees

Foreign students may have to pay an International Credential Evaluation fee to validate their qualifications. When accepted, students can apply for a visa or study permit, and later are also eligible for applying for scholarships and other funding opportunities. Many countries have educational organizations mostly funded by universities who assist international students in applying for admissions and submitting their documents.

• International Credential Evaluation Fee
• Scholarships

Work permission 

An international student is allowed to work on campus if they are enrolled full time in the university or college. But as of June 2014, full time international students without work permit were allowed to work off campus too. However this permission came with some rules and regulations like they can work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions but during winter and summer holidays or spring break they could work full time.

Most of the international students after finishing their universities or colleges studies apply for work permit. However it is important to know that the length of the work permit can never be longer than length of their studies. But if the study period is for two years or more than the students are granted three years of work permit. Students need to apply within 90 days of receiving written confirmation that have successfully completed their academic program.

• international students are allowed to work on and off campus, up to 20 hrs/week during school year and full time during holidays
• international students can apply for a work permit after finishing their studies
  • the length of the work permit can’t be longer than the period of studies (if the study period is for two years or more, the students are granted a three-year work permit

York University

Fees:

• Undergraduate tuition fees: $12,780 – $13,571
• Graduate tuition fees: $7,516 – $13,178
• Residence housing: $5,356 to $7,958 (+ $80 residence fee)

The price is equal for both domestic and international students. In addition to this, The Village is an affordable residential area adjacent to York University’s Keele Campus where a large number of York University students live.

(Source: Statistics Canada; Fees for general programs in arts and humanities, 2015-16).

York University was founded in 1959 in Toronto and has two city campuses – Keele and Glendon. The second largest university in Ontario and third largest in Canada, the university is home to more than 52000 students out of which 11,802 are international students from 178 countries.

The educational institute is known for its top-ranking Schulich School of Business, internationally renowned Osgoode Hall Law School and the new Lassonde School of Engineering. The university boasts of Canada’s largest liberal arts program and is the only University that has Space Engineering and undergraduate Global Health programs in the country.

University of Toronto

FEES:

• Undergraduate tuition fees: $27,240 – $35,280
• Graduate tuition fees:$19,550 – $28,260
• Residential housing: $12,258- $15,467.95

(Source: Statistics Canada; Fees for general programs in arts and humanities, 2015-16).

One of the most well known and influential university with three campuses in Greater Toronto Area, University of Toronto has been highly popular among international students. They are inclined to invest in the university renowned for its strength in all academic as well as sports disciplines. Established in 1827, the university currently caters to 15,931 international students both graduates as well undergraduates in varied disciplines.  The foreign students are from 165 countries and the top five countries are China, India, United States, South Korea and Hong Kong.

Regarding the accommodation, all the three campuses have varied style of residential units. The St. George campus residents live in one of the seven colleges, in Chestnut Residence, or in student family housing. In Mississauga campus there are more than 1,500 students living in residence halls, townhouses or apartments. The Scarborough residents live less than a distance of a two-minute walk from academic buildings, which are townhouses and apartment suites.

Ryerson University

FEES:

• Undergraduate tuition fees: $19,721 – $20,509
• Graduate tuition fees: $18,352 – $25,636
• Residential housing: single room $10,958.33 – $11,679.86 (8 months), single room $14,031.33 – $14,752.86 (11 months)

(Source: Statistics Canada; Fees for general programs in arts and humanities, 2015-16).

Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, Ryerson University has become one of most popular universities for international students in Ontario. The University caters to more than 38,000 culturally diverse student population from 146 countries. Offering more than 100 undergraduate, Masters and PhD programs, the Ryerson’s The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education’ provides 1,400 courses and 80 certificate programs. This gives the university distinction of running the largest number of programs offered by any university in Canada.

Housing:

The university has on campus residences for students that include $400 application fees with accommodation available for 11 as well as eight months, the latter supposed to be more common: single room $10,958.33 – $11,679.86 (8 months), single room $14,031.33 – $14,752.86 (11 months)

Carleton University

Fees:

• Undergraduate tuition fees: $20,012 – $22,976
• Graduate tuition fees: $13,060 – $14,042
• Residential housing: $10,544 – $12,869 (including meals)

(Source: Statistics Canada; Fees for general programs in arts and humanities, 2015-16).

Located in Ottawa, the capital of Ontario, Carleton University is a vibrant, research focused educational institute. Over the past 10 years, the international students number at the University has increased by 43 per cent from more than 120 countries. For the overseas students who dread Canadian winters, there is a sense of relief as the institute has five kilometers of underground tunnels conveniently linked to the university’s buildings. The university also offers a wide variety of both undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering, business, high technology, industrial design public affairs, architecture, math and science, journalism, arts and social sciences.

Housing:

The residential fee including meals varies from $10,544 to $12,869.

University of Waterloo

[fvplayer src=”https://youtu.be/DGpvOKwuk3U” align=”left” caption=”University of Waterloo” splash=”https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DGpvOKwuk3U/hqdefault.jpg”]

Fees:

• Undergraduate tuition fees: $20,860 – $22,156
• Graduate tuition fees: $12,392 – $12,516
• Residential housing: $2,214 – $3,701

(Source: Statistics Canada; Fees for general programs in arts and humanities, 2015-16).

Well known for its advance research and teaching in science and engineering, mathematics and computer science, health, environment, arts and social sciences, the University of Waterloo is located in Canada’s technology hub. Each year, Waterloo welcomes nearly 5,000 students from more than 120 countries. In 2016, Maclean magazine ranked the University of Waterloo number one, adjudging the most innovative educational institute among Canadian universities.

Housing:

There is on campus accommodation available, which requires a $500 non-refundable fee and the residential cost varies from $2,214 to $3,701.

University of Windsor

Fees:

• Undergraduate tuition fees: $17,700 – $19,000
• Graduate tuition fees: $19,650 – $19,695
• Residential housing: $5,788 – $7,500

(Source: Statistics Canada; Fees for general programs in arts and humanities, 2015-16)

With 17 per cent of students’ body from nearly 100 countries and with average of 1006 overseas enrolment, University of Windsor is widely popular among international students.

The university’s recently completed Centre for Engineering Innovation is home to cutting-edge laboratories and facilities to students and researchers exploring areas such as environmental sustainability, alternative energy, nanostructures, efficient manufacturing systems and lightweight materials.

Housing: 

The university has on campus accommodation and the residential fee varies from $5,788 to $7,500.

Personal experience story by our team member Vanessa Li

Vanessa Li, Client Care Assistant, Specialist in Asia at Sotheby’s International Realty Canada hails from China. She was an international student first enrolling at Carleton studying economics and later in Seneca. She chose Carleton because it is known for its discipline in engineering. However she moved to economics after two years in order to graduate faster:

There are a large number of international students in Carleton but not many from China. That in a way worked in my favor. One of my reasons to study in Canada was to enhance my English speaking skills. This would not have been possible if there were many Chinese students.

Li states compared to other Chinese students, her language skills as well as understanding of Canadian culture were better than many:

This is because in China, I had studied in international school where the medium of communication was English and we mingled with fellow students from different countries including Canada. In addition, my parents are fluent in English and they infused in me immense confidence to move abroad out of the country and study.

Li feels that international education is a great way to understand a country’s culture and we should truly immerse ourselves in major social affairs and happenings in the nation:

As a foreign student you learn about the city’s way of life from scratch and one should be open  to different experiences in order to broaden one’s horizon. This way you are gaining much more than a degree. You achieve ultimate international exposure and knowledge as studying in a foreign land provides you an opportunity to  share your experiences with fellow international students and vice versa. This helps provide you a wider platform to learn more and become worldly-wise.

A university right for you may not be ideal for the next person. In order to select correct educational institute, students should also research if the university they have selected is known for the program they would like to specialize. In addition to this, financing the university fee is not for everyone therefore perspective international students should be also open to the option of studying in colleges. In Ontario, colleges like Seneca, Humber, Centennial, Algonquin, etc. attract a large number of international students.

Although real estate is still very much a face-to-face business, there’s no doubt that technology has dramatically changed the profession.

Records which used to be buried in file folders are now easily available on smartphones and other devices.

While The Torontoism team still has office space at Sotheby’s International Real Estate Canada, they have also embraced the technology available to work remotely, an option that has increased substantially over the past few years according to studies conducted by FlexWork.com. These studies conclude that workers are demanding flexibility, and, in return, companies are developing flexible work policies.

Tracy An, our Sales Representative, is always prepared to work remotely

Office on the go means that I have my smartphone, my iPad and my laptop. I use different storage and applications so I can work anywhere in the world.

However, the old-fashioned paperwork still finds its way back to Tracy:

I cut back quite a bit on paperwork but it depends on the client. If they are retired or older, they might not have a computer or have a hard time reading what’s on the screen so I use paper for that. But other than that, I do everything online.

The power of WeChat and Other Software Suggestions

For her Asian clients, An makes extensive use of WeChat, a popular Chinese social media site, which offers voice calls, text messaging, video calling and document sharing.

An tells the story of a friend who recently walked into a restaurant in Beijing, with no cashier and no wait staff. Instead, you use WeChat to order and pay for your meal, with the software sending you a message when the order is ready.

We’re not quite there in Canada yet, but record keeping in real estate has changed entirely according to Jim Burtnick, our broker and senior vice president.

You used to keep files around for everything, but it’s now in the cloud via apps like Evernote and Google Drive. You have to be perpetually changing. If you asked me two years ago about DocuSign, I would have said I’ve heard of it, but I can’t use it yet because it’s not legal here.

DocuSign, software used to verify electronic signatures, has become a game changer, says Richard Silver our sales representative and senior vice president . And it’s a relatively recent development: electronic signatures were illegal in Ontario until June 2015.

DISCOVER THE TOP 10 CAFÉS TO WORK FROM IN TORONTO

Burtnick says half the battle is staying relevant by learning new things about technology and social media every day.

There’s a great app I started using about a year ago called Rapportive. You have to do a lot of screening on clients and I can find all I need using the software, then I can click to LinkedIn and invite you to connect. That was a new one for me in terms of providing a decent vetting for potential clients.

The paperless advantage

Richard, who uses an iPhone, iPad and iMac, says he is “pretty much paperless these days”.

Richard also uses WebForms software to create documents from the internet, such as listings or sale agreements. Then he signs them with DocuSign and e-mails it to the client. Richard also likes the level of security DocuSign uses.

He is also a big fan of the Apple products:

The great thing about Mac products is they all talk to each other so that’s the number one advantage [over PCs].

RICHARD ALSO LOVES USING EVERNOTE. READ HIS REVIEW HERE.

Consumers have driven the technological changes in real estate, using their mobile devices and tablets to search properties and get information relevant to specific properties. Studies show that 89% of potential buyers access real estate information online. That changes the role of the broker to more of a consultant or trusted advisor, says Silver, who’s entrusted with checking out the neighbourhood for schools and other key amenities, and offering historical information on the property that isn’t widely available.

And even though clients have plenty of data on the real estate market available online, there’s a flip side. Jim Burtnick knows well what the realtor’s role is in the age of internet.

What a realtor provides is a filter for all this information that they are bombarded with that makes it directly applicable to them. There’s so much noise out there that it becomes information overload for a lot of people.

In an example, Jim introduces the issue of pricing one’s property based on misunderstanding the information accessed via internet

We filter information and bring into terms of what it means in each client’s particular case. There’s a feeling out there in the public that the best strategy is to price low and hope for multiple offers. But not all houses sell on multiple offers, it’s the minority that do. So that strategy might work well for on particular type of housing, but not for others; it can be detrimental in some cases.

Jim also places a lot of importance on being in touch with his clients and the public. The Torontoism team works with a vast database, e-mail newsletters, social media and media coverage. Jim Burtnick passed on wisdom he once heard:

Your social capital is not how many people you know but how well you know people.

Despite the changes, the nature of the business remains the same. Tracy still has to  check out the neighbourhood and see if the surrounding area is good for the client.

Less paperwork gives us more time with our clients, and I think that’s the key.

What’s next in technology?

Sotheby’s is now offering virtual tours of homes and brokers will soon be able to walk through a property using a camera, offering out-of-town and foreign buyers a live view of the property. Also in the pipeline are stronger visuals with better cameras, a virtual reality walk through with Google Glass, and even drones to offer a better view of larger properties, especially those in the country.

Richard says the company is looking at a new customer relationship management (CRM) system. He notes that a good CRM is the life blood of the real estate business due to the need to keep in touch regularly with clients—something he says 90% of real estate agents don’t do.

You need reminders to get on the phone and call people. If you’ve been in the business for a long time, you might have thousands of clients and you must keep in touch with them on a regular basis, just to let them know you’re still around and still working and listing properties.

—

Software mentioned in this article:

• WeChat: a popular Chinese social media site, similar to Facebook messenger (Facebook is not available in China).
• Evernote: an application to store electronic notes you can easily find later.
• Google Drive: a document sharing application
• DocuSign: a secure application that allows you to sign documents anywhere from any device
• WebForms: an application for downloading or creating forms from the internet
• Rapportive: allows you to find LinkedIn profiles and other information using Gmail accounts

Travelers to Toronto these days are typically surprised by the remarkable changes in the city over the last few years. In just a decade and a half, dozens of new and gleaming skyscrapers have been built downtown. The millennial generation has flocked to the downtown core to live a new intensely urban lifestyle. The city is vibrant and exciting in a way that wasn’t the case just ten years ago. It’s a great time to be in Toronto.

For decades the city grew like any other North American one. Endless rows of single family homes were constructed in ever more distant suburbs. Sprawl ruled the day.

AND THEN THINGS CHANGED…

In the 1990s forward looking politicians took a brave and important step. A Green Belt protecting the watersheds and forests that surround the city was created. Development was banned within the Green Belt. Once the suburbs hit that ring, the suburban sprawl came to a screeching stop. Almost overnight development patterns changed. The city began building up rather than out. Dozens of condo towers were constructed. Formerly neglected patches of undeveloped land downtown were snapped up and developed. The asphalt parking lots that used to be common downtown have disappeared. The core of the city is undergoing a remarkable densification.

Millennials are taking over

Filling up all the new condo buildings are members of the single largest demographic in the country, the millennials. Herds of young twenty-somethings have migrated into the downtown core, are taking up a lifestyle based around walkable neighbourhoods, biking, public transportation and condo living.

The millennials don’t want to be trapped in the suburban life their parents led. They don’t want the suburban home accessed only by car. They’re living more European, walking and biking to work, enjoying the urban nightlife in the evening, going home only to sleep.
The urban hipsters have arrived. They’re living in the city itself. They’re filling up all the new glass towers, and that has driven demand for units in these buildings higher and higher says Sherille Layton, a realtor with The Torontoism team:

This young generation, they don’t want a car. They have bought into the idea of urban living.

They don’t want to waste three hours a day commuting and stuck in traffic jams. Instead they want the latest smartphone, a big data plan, and a condo downtown to live in.

The fact that this generation is often locked out of owning a single family home in the city because of high prices is also driving the boom in condo development.

The residential market we’ve got is tough. It’s hard to get into. So a lot more first-time buyers are getting into condos. They can’t get into housing market but they still want to live downtown.

And why would they not?

The world’s most diverse city

Toronto seems to be changing day-by-day right now. The restaurant scene has exploded. The city contains the headquarters of Canada’s five big banks. The Ontario government is here. So is the biggest city hall in the country. Thousands are employed by the sprawling Toronto Transit Commission. One of the best universities in the world is in the downtown core (the University of Toronto). As is the headquarters of the national broadcaster, CBC, and many film and media companies. That means there are lots of different jobs, including those in tech, government, academic, media and finance. It’s all within a couple square kilometres served by a subway and streetcars.

People from every corner of the planet have come together to make the city one that is arguably the world’s most diverse. It’s an interesting, exciting place.

Sherille brings a bit of international flavour to her job. British-born she is now dedicated Torontonian. She’s witnessed the shift toward condo living.

According to Sherille the new young urban millennials stick to the bigger buildings that have gone up in the downtown core. Typically found in trendy neighbourhoods like Liberty Village, Queen West, City Place, Leslieville and Queen’s Quay these buildings offer what it is this younger generation is looking for:

A lot of the people buying downtown are between 20 and 30. The new young urban dweller wants a couple of things. They want to have a walkable neighbourhood. They want a low maintenance building. They want easy access to transit. They want low monthly fees. They don’t necessarily want the gym or the big pool as they don’t have as much money as more established people

However, many in this generation are not owners of units in these condo buildings. Investors buy the units and rent them out.

Of course, Sherille is careful to note that some of the buildings in this market sector are fairly priced these days:

Some of these areas are over-saturated. There are lots of bachelors with one bedroom and without parking. If you’ve got a two or four year plan you’re not going to make much on one of these buildings.

But there are many other areas of the condo market that are doing much better. To get a sense of why this is it helps to understand the basic types of condo units on the market.

Condo inventory

Queen West Candy Factory Lofts by Mateen Mahboubi

Hard Lofts

Genuine loft spaces in 19th century brickbuildings. Sherille says that there are relatively few authentic loft buildings available any more downtown. To be considered authentic you’ve got to be in a really old building.

Soft Lofts

These are units in buildings that have been built recently. They have floor-to-ceiling windows, very high ceilings. There are industrial ducts going through, pillars and concrete. It’s the kind of look that appeals to the new young urbanites, Sherille explained.

Older, better established buildings

These are the buildings Sherille’s more mature clients look for. Her clientele are often baby boomers who also want to get out of the suburbs and went to live downtown in a place where they have a simpler easy life without all the maintenance a house requires:

The clients I have are a bit older. When I sell condos I typically sell to established couples. A lot of people 50 to 70 are downsizing. Usually they’re looking at older buildings. The maintenance fees are higher. But there’s a lot of square footage in these buildings

The advantages in an older established building are legion. They are well run, large, and in Sherille’s experience inhabited by the older generation professionals or retirees:

I just sold a condo in a co-op building in Rosedale. It’s full of law professors.

Rosedale, of course, is one of the premier, high-end, serious money neighbourhoods in the city. Along with other affluent neighbourhoods such as Forest Hill, Richmond Hill, Leaside, Lawrence Park and Hogg’s Hollow, these are the neigborhoods found a bit north of the downtown along the north-south Yonge Street subway.

Well-off professionals in these neighbourhoods typically develop a sense of what buildings they like and keep a sharp eye our for ads announcing a sale at specific properties.

Some of the older crowd, they have a handful of buildings they’re interested in. Those buildings don’t have units come up for sale all that often. And so when one does they tend to attract multiple offers. That kind of bidding situation is more common in these buildings.

How much does owning a condo cost

Once a unit is acquired there are ongoing costs to keep in mind. Every condo building charges maintenance fees to pay the concierge, landscapers and other expenses. When it comes to figuring out what’s included in these fees you’ll find that every building is unique.

According to Sherille, monthly condo fees can range from $300-$350 in lower price unit to $1,500 or $1,700 in an older well-run condo.

One new trend in the condo sector is the hiring of an inspector before the deal is signed. Having an inspection come in and look at a home before it is acquired by a buyer is standard in the residential home market. Having an inspector come in and look over a condo is becoming a thing as well.

One of the advantages of condo living to owning a house is the length of such inspection. While it can take as much as three hours in a house, condo can be checked in 45 minutes.

The future of Toronto’s real estate market

When it comes to answering the big question—will the market keep going up?—there is an endless array of opinion. There is no doubt that the Toronto housing market has been growing sharply for years now. Commentators have predicted that strong increases in price will have to slow in the years ahead. And it does appear the number of listings is beginning to slow. Many expect a tempering of current growth rates by 2017. But prices continue to appreciate, including a 21 per cent increase this July compared to the same period last year.

The bullish point out a key factor: The number of new people moving to Toronto each year still exceeds the available supply of units.

Canada is a country of immigrants. The government brings in 250,000 permanent residents every year. One quarter of those will settle in Toronto. And so many think that even with all the new construction there are still not enough new units being built for the all the newcomers.

To put it in economic terms—demand is still going to outstrip supply for years yet. And that bodes well for the housing market.

Sherille’s point of view:

Everybody keeps saying, ‘The condo market has to be going down. There’s going to be so much product. How can the market do so well?’ But it’s still doing well. In certain areas, with a good view, you still get multiple offers on condos. It’s not as bad as the housing market where there are multiple offers on every house. But in some of the older buildings I’ve been in more multiple offers situations

There is no doubt the growth and excitement bubbling up downtown has lent to the optimism. But people living downtown feel as if there is a sort-of renaissance moment happening in the city. Toronto is finally kind of coming of age.

Toronto experts weigh in on the state of the market

Local elites recently gathered at an event put on by financial news giant Bloomberg. Those gathered talked about the optimistic outlook on Toronto real estate. One of the experts was quoted saying that Canada is now considered a, “Switzerland for educated affluent foreigners looking for a stable country they can call home.” The city is located in a cool climate. There’s lots of fresh water around. The country of Canada is stable. It is said wealthy Chinese fleeing economic and political stagnation in their home country are buying properties in Canada.

The city’s popular chief planner, Jennifer Keesmaat, said:

Many cities would scream for the kind of growth we have in Toronto…We went through a phase where we were seeking to bring people to the downtown core—that has now been accompanied by an incredible increase in employment.

According to Jennifer, office towers are “springing up downtown because businesses want to be close to the people they’re employing.” This fact was recently confirmed by a study that found Toronto has the lowest rate of vacancy in downtown office space of any city in Canada.

Another fact that those knowledgeable about the Toronto condo market cite as a reason for confidence is the fact that the Toronto condo market is not as risky as other cities.

An important city bylaw states that a condo cannot be built unless 60 per cent to 75 per cent of the units have been pre-sold.

That is, projects don’t begin construction unless they are viable. Stalled projects are very rare in the Toronto market. It stands out against other cities in this respect.

Meet the new Toronto

At the same time the downtown continues to improve and evolve to accommodate the new urban lifestyle of condo dwellers. New bike lanes are being built on the main east west artery, Bloor Street. At the beginning of August the mayor of the city, John Tory, announced a major project that will see a major rail yard servicing Union Station covered over with a roof and a massive park built on top, right in the downtown core. Commentators were already calling the plan a major legacy project in the life of the city, are comparing it the construction of Central Park in New York.

So it’s an exciting time to be in the city. It’s bursting with growth and revived energy. The city is home to important cultural movements and communities, including the one that produced the cities first globally successful Hip-Hop star, Drake. As Keesmaat put it when she tweeted out news of the new park to followers, “It’s our moment, Toronto.”

When Bank of Canada warned that the pace of house price increase in Toronto and Vancouver cannot be sustained by economic fundamentals, they did not know the world was setting the stage for witnessing one of the greatest economic power shift of this century. Though Bank of Canada had warned not to expect house prices to keep surging at current pace in Toronto and other parts of Canada but during that time they were unaware of Brexit.

Britain’s vote to leave the European Union has created both political and economic confusion, which will result in many scouting for secure investment options and Canada will be among their top of the list. Canada has always been a safe and extremely profitable haven for those investing in real estate. Brexit will encourage scores of foreign buyers to purchase properties in Canada.

According to the Conference Board of Canada, Toronto’s economy is expected to grow by 2.8 per cent making the City one of Canada’s growth leaders again. This will make it the third fastest growing metropolitan economy in Canada this year. Toronto’s real estate is flocked by local, national and foreign buyers each snapping for their share of pie of the booming housing market. The City’s extraordinary growth of real estate market has even baffled seasoned economists who are cautiously amazed with this unprecedented surge.

Although several neighbourhoods in Toronto can be easily classified as best places to live from point of view of amenities, services and of course investment, there are a few of them that have always been favourites of Torontonians as well as others.

The benchmark price* of the single family detached, single family attached, townhouses and condominium apartments is as per Toronto Real Estate Market News and are listed for June 2016 compared with June 2015.

*Benchmark price When the sale price is predicted in a certain area for a general property this is called the benchmark price. The Housing Price Index determines the benchmark price and it is given based on criteria that is commonly found in other properties in the same area. This could be considered a typical sale price and by no means does it take the lower end or higher end properties into account.

Yonge – St. Clair and Annex (Toronto C02)

The intersection of Yonge and St Clair is a mix of high rise office, condo towers with busy street life and lots of shops around. It’s not the trendiest Toronto neighbourhood, but there is something special about this uptown condo haven

Shawn Micallef, The Star’s columnist, compares it to Frank Sinatra in the late 196o’s:

…a little out of touch with the avant-garde, but still wearing a sharp suit and drinking booze out of a proper highball glass. His style remained even as the fashions of the moment moved elsewhere.

Today it is a popular meeting spot for young professionals and it’s often compared to New York’s Upper East Side Manhattan. There is number of restaurants, cafes shops and big company headquarters at each corner of the neighbourhoods. It is perfect for those who love the urban life, because living in Yonge and St. Clair is downtown living at its best and it will only continue to thrive.

Prices:

The Yonge – St. Clair and Annex, comes under zone C02, labelled by MLS. The biggest increase was witnessed by Townhouses with 16.15% followed by detached, semi-detached and condominium properties.

Yonge – Eglinton (Toronto C03)

One of the most bustling intersections in midtown Toronto, the Yonge & Eglinton neighbourhood has been identified by the Province of Ontario as one of five Urban Growth Centres in Toronto. And there’s no wonder why. With its great access to public transit, a thriving business core, and shopping galore, you can see why this neighbourhood remains one of the destinations to visit within the city and a great place to live.

The population of the neighbourhood is a wonderful blend of young families, established urbanites, and 20-something professionals who help lend the area its “Young and Eligible” nickname.

The reputation of the Yonge-Eglinton area as a hub for young families and urban professionals is warranted, given some of the housing figures. Yes, 23 per cent of residents live in homes, while 60 per cent live in apartment buildings that are five stories or taller. This is a mixed-use neighbourhood with some detached homes that are younger than their older downtown counterparts.

Prices:

The Yonge – Eglinton, comes under zone C03, labelled by MLS. The biggest increase was witnessed by detached with 14.57% followed by semi-detached and condominiums.

Lawrence Park North and South CO4

Lawrence Park was a wealthy neighbourhood since its very beginning. In 1900’s, John Lawrence bought the land to start a suburb for the rich. He advertised it as an “aristocratic neighbourhood…far from the lake winds of winter.”

Today Lawrence Park is known as one of the wealthiest city suburbs in Canada. It offers a mix of detached and semi-detached homes and it’s a great area for young families, thanks to the abundance of great public and private schools in the area, including including John Wanless PS, Bedford Park PS, Toronto French School and Havergal.

Lawrence Park South

The neighbourhood’s proximity to Yonge Street and the prestige of Lawrence Park mean this area comes with a fairly hefty price tag, but it hosts beautiful homes with big lots and lots of mature trees. Lawrence Park has a wide-range of architectural styles like English Cottage, Tudor Revival, Georgian, and Colonial designs built between 1910 and 1950.

#tudortuesday This home is really beautiful and really super big too. It’s a shame you cant zoom in on here to be able to fully appreciate the awesomeness of this house #oldhouselove #archi_ologie

A photo posted by @toronto_architecture on Jan 26, 2016 at 5:12pm PST

Prices:

The Lawrence Park North and South, comes under zone C04, labelled by MLS. The biggest increase was witnessed by semi-detached houses with 19.89% followed by detached, townhouses and condominiums.

St. Lawrence Market, Distillery District, Church and Yonge Corridor, Cabbagetown – South -Toronto C08

St. Lawrence Market

Known for its lively and pedestrian-friendly streets, high-rise buildings and the market St. Lawrence is a solid neighbourhood with stable employment rate and plenty of things to do on the weekends.

The St. Lawrence Market was named one of the best markets in the world by Food & Wine Magazine. The neighbourhood’s location adjacent to the financial center and a mix of modern glass and historical red-brick facades present an interesting living space for both adults and young adults who are looking for an affordable condo arrangement.

Exceptional tastes will also be pleased with old warehouse buildings turned into lofts and condos.

Distillery District

Close to the Toronto Harbour, southeast of Parliament Street and Front Street lays 13 acres of historical architecture marked by store-houses and car-free space. Former home to one of the largest distilleries in the British Empire Distillery District breathes the free spirit of weekend nights spent over whiskey – the beverage of which there used be millions of gallons produced in this National Historic Site.

Nowadays, distillery District belongs to young families who prefer condominium living and close distance to the downtown. Settling in the Distillery District also shows an attraction to a particular way of living. Don’t look for the usual shopping mall experience or franchise stores of traditional brands. Expect, on the other hand, local and hand-crafted products, artsy jewelry and upscale stores traditional in similar areas such as SoHo in New York or Covent Garden of London.

Church and Yonge Corridor

Looking at the demographic of this downtown neighbourhood a nickname comes to mind Church and Young Corridor. Inhabited by couples and single families mostly and being home to the Ryerson University Sports and Recreation Centre the Corridor is a palette of diverse backgrounds. New condo buildings rise to the top and most of those units are rentals. It’s also the most popular housing solution for the dominant working age population, 71% per cent, of which 90 per cent live in condominium complexes.

Pedestrian only zones make it a great place for summer entertainment along with green spaces in the neighbourhood such as St. James Park or Ryerson Community Park. Part of the Corridor is Church-Wellesley Village, the part of town where LGBT community associates itself and hosts events of the famous Pride Week.

Cabbagetown South

The patch laminated by Parliament, Sherbourne, Carlton and Shuter Streets in the downtown mosaic is known as Cabbagetown South. Although formerly known as a suburban area on the edge of Toronto downtown the neighbourhood has enjoyed a vibrant and rich history which has remained visible in its specific Victorian architecture and thriving lifestyle composed of local stores, pubs, restaurants and the main street Parliament.

Most of Cabbagetown South inhabitants, 69 per cent, are in the working age of 25-64 and the most popular living arrangements are apartment buildings and in the houses area row housing dominates over semi-detached and single detached. These units are inhabited mostly by couples without children, followed by couples with children and lone-parenting households. Average household income (After-Tax) is $72,207.

Price:

The St. Lawrence Market, Distillery District, Church and Yonge Corridor, Cabbagetown South comes under zone C08, labelled by MLS. The biggest increase was witnessed by semi-detached houses with 13.52% followed by detached , townhouses and condominiums.

Rosedale- Toronto C09

The rough boundaries of the Rosedale neighbourhood are the CPR railway tracks to the north (just below St. Clair Avenue), Bloor Street to the south, Yonge Street to the west, and Bayview Avenue to the east. It’s a central neighbourhood that includes one of the largest crossroads of the city, Yonge and Bloor, and has Mt. Pleasant road running right through it. The great thing about Rosedale is its proximity to everything in the City — halfway to the Danforth or Yorkville, halfway to the Financial District or Yonge and Eglinton, and like all downtown, starting to fill with new voices, young families, and caring neighbours.

The houses in Rosedale are bigger (so too are the prices), so maintenance and repairs can be daunting. Nothing is a small expense. And if you want any free time, a gardener and a friendly carpenter are a must. The big old trees can cause havoc with your drains, and emergency plumbers should be on your speed dial.

PRICE:

Rosedale comes under zone C09, labelled by MLS. The biggest increase was witnessed by condominiums with 14.45 % followed by detached, semi-detached and town houses.

The Beaches E02

The Beaches neighbourhood is bound by Coxwell Avenue to the west, Victoria Park Avenue to the east, Kingston Road to the north, and Queen Street East or Lake Shore Boulevard —as well as Lake Ontario — to the south.

A boardwalk runs most of the length of the southern boundary along the four beaches that make up the shoreline. This makes part of the Martin Goodman Trail that runs west-to-east through the city. Four separate beaches make up the shoreline: Balmy Beach, Scarboro Beach, Kew Beach, and Woodbine Beach, with Woodbine and Kew beaches “Blue Flag” certified for cleanliness and good for swimming.

Most of the homes on the side streets branching from Queen Street East are semi-detached homes, with some larger Victorian and Edwardian homes that have been either taken by a sole owner or divided into apartments. You can also find some low-rise apartments and a few row-houses. Some streets have heritage designations in order to help protect the cottage-like appearance of some homes closer to the lakeshore.

Over 20,000 residents call The Beach their home, with an average income of between $67,000 and $70,000, a value well above the average for the rest of Toronto. The area is notorious for being a wonderful place to raise a family, since there are many parks and schools and very little crime.

PRICE:

The Beaches comes under zone E02, labelled by MLS. The biggest increase was witnessed by town houses with 11.94 % followed by semi-detached, detached and condominiums.

Parkdale- Toronto W01

Found west of the Queen West neighbourhood, Parkdale is bound to the east by Dufferin Street and to the west by Roncesvalles Avenue. The neighbourhood stretches as far north as the CP rail line where it crosses Queen Street West and Dundas Street West, and the area extends as far south as lakeshore.

You would be incorrect in assuming that Parkdale is living up to its reputation as a still down-and-out neighbourhood hovel for hipsters. Parkdale is gradually moving forward, carrying the torch of rejuvenation of Queen Street West beyond the break at Dufferin Street. Filled with many long-standing restaurants and bars, the neighbourhood is becoming more gentrified, with more music venues and upscale restaurants newly developing or taking over freshly renovated old buildings. The fabric of the neighbourhood is rich with Tibetan, North African, and West Indian influences, and all these notes integrate seamlessly to create a neighbourhood on the rise.

From its opulent origins, Parkdale contains many large Victorian homes on larger lots. Many are still intact, while others have been sub-divided into apartments. You can find the bulk of the larger homes on Cowan Avenue, Dunn Avenue, and Melbourne Place.

A few high-rise apartment buildings stand along Jameson Avenue, but new development has taken to condominiums and loft spaces.

PRICE:

The Parkdale comes under zone W01, labelled by MLS. The biggest increase was witnessed by semi-detached with 14.08 % followed by detached, condominiums and Townhouses.

Why and Where To Invest?

Good investment prospects, depends on various factors – foremost is good public and private schools, which tops the priority list of majority of buyers looking for houses. This is followed by transportation, i.e. how close are you from subway or how regular are buses and street cars in your neighbourhood if you do not like to buy a car. Last but not the least people look for shopping amenities closer to their area too.

There are other reasons too why public transport friendly neighbourhoods as well as those closer to every day necessities are more in demand and are seeing people investing in them.

As per Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation if you drive about 18,000 km per year, it costs on average over $9,000 annually to own and operate a car in Canada. Imagine how much you can save if you are living in a more pedestrian/public transit-oriented development

A research from The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada has revealed that when homes are within walking distance of stores and other services, people are 2.4 times more likely to meet the 30-minute minimum than those in homes that are not within a convenient or pleasant walk to stores/services . The organisation recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, which can be mix of walking or biking, to reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease and stroke.

Neighbourhood I mention above checkmark all the priority list of buyers. Besides foreign investors, new immigrants and first time home buyers are ruling the market. Then there are those who have returned to Toronto from Alberta and New Foundland because oil sector is not doing well.

Many overseas buyers purchase the property because their children are studying in Toronto. Unlike other countries, Canada offers students three years of working visa that is also encouraging their parents who can afford to purchase properties rather than renting. They are looking at this is a good investment opportunity in both short and long term.

In the end whether you buy home once in your life time or are a serial purchaser you are always looking for decent to extraordinary returns, which could be monetary, non-monetary or just accomplishing a personal dream. A prospective buyer or investor has to investigate on their own to find more about the neighbourhood. In addition to schools, public transport and proximity to amenities, one should also look for how safe is the neighbourhood. A visit to the nearest police station will give all information you need to know. Purchasing home is always in our bucket list and is an emotional process but with a little hard work and research, we can reap the benefits as well as rewards of this smart investment for many years to come.

If you have been following the Torontoism blog and my social media feeds at least occasionally you’ve probably noticed my obsession with technology or productivity-boosting apps.In weeks to come you’ll be reading more about our routine and what helps us achieve the desired level of productivity. First-up, the irreplaceable ‘Remember Everything’ app Evernote.

Evernote was founded in 2008 and has more than 30 million users and get numerous updates per year that keep it at the top of note taking, organizing, team-working apps hierarchy.

Let’s have a closer look at why Evernote is central to The Torontoism team’s day-to-day activities.

First and foremost, Evernote’s user interface (UI) is incredibly friendly. Whether you use the desktop version, or the smartphone/tablet app I suggest playing around with the view settings. This will give you better digest of all the notebooks, notes and tags.

And I am certainly not the only one who loves the UI. Bill Risser, Evernote Certified Consultant, is also especially fond of ‘Search’:

The ability to search everything in my account, including images, PDF’s and other documents is super useful.

Notebooks

The cornerstone of Evernote lays in notebooks and notes. You have your main notebook which is a default destination for all your notes, unless you assign them elsewhere. I share a lot with my team and the user interface makes it very easy. All you need is the person’s e-mail address.

By sharing the document, you’re not losing control of the content. You can choose whether the person can edit it, just view it or both. You can change this at any time.

Tip: Evernote will sync your Google contacts.

The Torontoism team shares ‘Listings’ notebooks among each other to help organize who takes care of what, but at the same time, everyone has access to everyone else’s’ project and can jump in whenever they think they need to. These are categorized as following:

• Active Listings
• Closed Listings
• Pending Listings
• Buyers
• Potential Listings

Evernote Certified Consultant Deb Lee suggests coming up with “a standard naming convention for all your notes”.

Consistence in naming the documents will help you speed up the process.

Tip: Use a naming structure that makes sense to you.

Sorting is essential. Each listing within its category has its own note with all important information, including photos and documents.

Pricing

Evernote offers three subscription plans: Basic, Plus, Premium. The Torontoism team uses the Premium plan which offers up to 10GB/month of space to share files. This is very convenient. Tania Bettencourt, our Client Care Manager, uses Evernote during the first walkthrough of the property we are listing. She takes notes of every room and general notes of the home. She can attach as many pictures or videos as needed because there’s no worry about free space when it comes to Evernote.

Tip: I definitely recommend one of the paid subscriptions. It’s money well spent.

One of the cons of Evernote Premium is that it does not support check lists in PDFs. We use template documents for buyers and sellers to tick-off and fill-in information about the whole home buying/selling process to make it as smooth as possible. It would be very helpful if it could be done in the attached PDF. Now we have to do it in a third-party app like Preview in Mac or Adobe on Windows. On the other hand, it is easy to attach these documents to notes and access them wherever-whenever.

Notes

Aside from the usual features such as font settings, bullet and numbered lists, divider, table, alignments and attachments, you will find a recorder icon to take audio notes. Evernote also employs your webcam for quick snapshots.

I would also advise to use tags with each note. Searching in Evernote is sleek and tags are a must for power users. Deb Lee uses tags to help identify each workflow stage “so that team members know when to pick up the ball”.

Tip: include Tags in your Sidebar to quickly access the notes.

Checklists

When asked about his favourite to-do manager, Phil Libin, founder of Evernote, said he didn’t have one:

I use Evernote, which isn’t particularly great for to-dos yet. Yet.

This was a few years ago, so can the green elephant actually replace a to-do manager these days?

Yes. Evernote took note-taking to another level with checklists. Simply add checklists to your notes and turn them into to-dos or create one from scratch. To make sure it is a proper to-do list you can even add an in-app or e-mail reminder. You will receive the notification on the day the note is due.

Tip: Shared notebooks allow my team to subscribe to reminders and choose whether they’ll receive them in form of an in-app notification or via e-mail.

Right now you can add reminders only to notes which is still great, but Bill Risser, Evernote Certified Consultant, would like to see “the integration of the Reminders feature into an individual checkbox item in a list”. I couldn’t agree more.

Sidebar

Evernote’s sidebar is the place where you’ll find your frequently opened notebooks, notes, tags and saved searches. Drag them to you sidebar and create shortcuts. These sync across all your devices and become only a click away.

The sidebar is fully customizable. You can include shortcuts and recent notes as well as notebooks, notes, tags and atlas. The latter feature shows your notes on a map; sorted by location. For a quicker access to various notebooks and tags go to a notebook list and tag list in the sidebar preferences. It’s also possible to include chats.

Tip: to access frequently and recently visited notes and notebooks use shortcut CMD+J (CTRL+J). To create new note quickly use Bill Risser’s favorite shortcut CMD+N (CTRL+N).

Shortcuts

Naturally, shortcuts are a must. There is always that one note, notebook or a set of tags that stands out and needs your attention. Whether you use them frequently or just need them at hand at any time, they should be placed in shortcuts in the sidebar.

Tip: drag it or Right-click on the note -> ‘Add to Shortcuts’.

Presentations

Evernote is not my favorite app for presentations, but it does offer such feature. Its convenience lays in not having to stylize each slide. All one has to do is mark where each slide begins and ends in the note. It’s easy to use and handy when something needs to be done on the go, but if you are looking for more control go with either Pages or Powerpoint.

Web Clipper

Internet is full of amazing content and of course they want us to read it all. However, there’s little time for that. A handy extension called Evernote Web Clipper lets you turn articles, web pages or even e-mail conversations into notes. It’s available on all popular browsers.

The neat thing about the extension is that it assigns clippings to notebooks based on their content. For example, if I am clipping a real estate article and there is a notebook with real estate content in my Evernote it will recognize the match and clip it there.

I believe I’ve exhausted my thoughts and tips on Evernote, but there is still plenty to learn as the tool is expanding with every new update. What Evernote features do you find most helpful? I would love to read your tips on personalization and productivity. Remember Everything!