Entries from April 2009
The Minister of Energy and Infrastructure has indicated that the government’s proposal, through Bill 150, to make home energy audits mandatory in housing transactions, will be amended to allow home buyers to opt out. This is a significant change, which comes after strong efforts from OREA, TREB and all Members. Bill 150 has not yet been passed and is not in effect.
Under the provincial government’s original proposal, home sellers would be required to provide information, through standardized energy audits, about the home’s energy efficiency to a buyer before they could sell the property to them. The Minister has now indicated that this proposal will be amended to allow buyers to opt out of this requirement.
Source: Toronto Real Estate Board
Categories: General Information
Tagged: Central Toronto Real Estate, Real Estate, Toronto Real Estate Market
By Carson & Dunlop Associates
Q: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?
A: Home inspectors come and go. The long time firms are here to stay. They’ll be here if you have a question or a problem down the road. Carson, Dunlop has been in business since 1978. We are one of the oldest and largest home inspection companies in Canada.
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR INSPECTORS’ QUALIFICATIONS?
A: The industry is essentially unregulated. Anyone can call themselves a home inspector. Our inspectors are actually engineers. They have all graduated from engineering programs at Canadian universities. Most have earned their designation as Professional Engineers.
(more…)
Categories: Home Inspection Information
Tagged: Real Estate, Toronto Home Inspection, Toronto Real Estate Market
By Rosalin Smith-Carr
The internet is by far the most efficient method of obtaining information to help you in your search for a new home. With instant access to vast amounts of information such as prices, home condition, amenities, and location, the internet will help you determine the criteria to shorten your dream home selection.
From the comfort of your home, you can enjoy the benefits of the internet by first “visiting” listings online. Most listings include detailed photos, with some providing virtual (video) tours of both the interior and exterior of the home. This information is extremely valuable in determining homes that you want to visit in person.
Every neighbourhood has its own assets and liabilities. Initially, I suggest to my clients to walk or drive the different areas they might be interested in. Although the internet is a wonderful tool, there is still no substitute for “feet on the street.” In doing so they will get the full feel for the area, while at the same time they will learn about the homes, future neighbours, and schools. Then, and only then, do I suggest they start focusing on a particular home.
The best way get the flavour of a neighbourhood is to learn the market value of homes in your chosen area, and then visiting several properties in person. It takes more time but the payoff is well worth the effort. By doing this you will get a real feel for the homes and the different neighbourhoods you may want to consider living in.
Keep in mind that you will always be able to make modifications to your house to suit your needs and lifestyle. However, if after the fact you realize you bought in the wrong neighbourhood, the solution could be very costly and painful.
On average, a first time home buyer remains in their first home for about seven years. With this in mind… seven years can go by very slowly if you are unhappy about your neighbours and the amenities available in your area.
How long should it take to find the perfect home?
If you find you’ve been looking for the right house for more than four months, you should consider realigning your expectations and making sure that what you are looking for is available in the marketplace.
Rosalin Smith-Carr is a Sales Representative with Royal LePage R.E.S. Ltd., Johnston & Daniel Division. Rosalin can be reached at rsmithcarr@sympatico.ca or visit www.primetorontoneighbourhoods.com
Categories: General Information
Tagged: Central Toronto Real Estate, Real Estate, Toronto Real Estate Market
By: Diti Dumas and Morgan Dumas 
In the early 1800’s Corktown was inhabited by working class immigrants, many of who had come with their families from the County of Cork in Ireland. (This is one explanation of how the neighbourhood received its name) Upon arriving, many of the Corktown residents found employment at one of the local breweries or brickyards nearby. Corktown is one of Toronto’s most historic neighbourhoods and the first community of its kind to be conceived in the heart of Toronto.
Located west of the Don River, east of Jarvis St. and between Queen St. E, Richmond St. and part of King St, this east end neighbourhood is becoming home to some of the city’s most modern and unique new developments and one of the most affordable neighbourhoods in Toronto. This sought after area has become very popular with young professionals who describe the area as being convenient for their busy lifestyles.
Due to the new and less rigid zoning bylaws in the Corktown district there have been many conversions and new developments of Corktown’s older commercial buildings in order to make them live-work studios, condominium lofts and professional offices. Not only are these transformations creating homes for many area residents they are also creating a great deal of revitalization for the entire area.
In addition to the transformations seen in this area, some of the oldest Victorian row-houses in the Toronto area can be found in Corktown, and believe it or not many of these date back to the mid 1850’s and 1860’s. They were known as “workers’ cottages” and can be found on the narrow laneways that are tucked away off of Corktown’s main streets.
Homes in Corktown can range anywhere from $300,000 and upwards; allowing a wide variety of people from all walks of life to reside in this area.
Although, only near a limited amount of shops within the main core of Corktown the residents have the added benefit of enjoying the close proximity to the St. Lawrence Market and the shops along King St. E and Queen St. E including the King and Queen Streetcar line and subway allowing transportation to be simple for the residents of Corktown.
When living in Corktown the closest schools are Ingelbrook Alternative School and Jarvis Collegiate Institute as well as the oldest Catholic Elementary School in Toronto: St. Paul’s Catholic School which was founded in 1842. For the younger members of the family, take a trip to the Sackville playground on King St. E where young children can play at the “kiddy park” and swim in the wading pool while older children and adults can play a game of basketball on the park’s basketball court.
Neighbourhood Factoid: Upon arriving in Corktown, many of the original settlers could not afford the high pew rental fees at the nearby St. James Cathedral. It was because of this they decided to build the “Little Trinity Church” in 1843, designed by Fredrick Cumberland. You can still find the church offices and Sunday school rooms at the original location at 417 King St. E. A few years later, just south of the “Little Trinity Church”, The Trinity Schoolhouse was built in 1848. This school was Toronto’s first ‘free school’. Similar to the “Little Trinity Church”, over a century and a half later, children and adults alike are still being educated at the Trinity schoolhouse due to its transformation into a museum designed to replicate a mid-nineteenth century classroom.
Diti Dumas is a Sales Representative with Royal LePage R.E.S. Ltd./JOHNSTON & DANIEL DIVISION, Brokerage. Diti is a regular contributor to the Muddy York Blog. Diti’s website is located at www.ditidumas.com.
Morgan Dumas is an aspiring writer and journalism student from Ryerson University in Toronto.
Categories: Corktown · Neighbourhood Information
Tagged: Central Toronto Real Estate, Real Estate, Toronto Neighbourhoods, Toronto Real Estate Market
By Anne Levenston
There comes a time in most people’s lives when the family home, containing so many memories and beloved objects, has to be sold. This sad end is either due to the loss of a loved one or a necessary move to a retirement home. Associated with this event is the overwhelming prospect of clearing out your parent’s personal belongings. This can be both emotionally and physically exhausting.
The good news is that if it is an estate situation, there are estate sale companies to do the job. These companies can assist with both the evaluation of contents and the sorting and clearing. If you suspect that there may be valuable family heirlooms, it is important to engage a reliable antique assessor and perhaps get a second opinion. There is a very active market in vintage furniture and clothing – don’t just throw out that 70’s light fixture! It is important to have the right people on your team. People who are active in the antique and vintage business will know what is currently saleable. Usually a contents sale company will charge a percentage of the sale value of the contents. Depending on who you choose the charge ranges from approximately 30% to 50%. It is important to research your options.
Not everyone has the time or the emotional fortitude to sift through decades of accumulated treasures. There are professionals who can do this for you – they will organize everything into 3 categories:
- Garbage
- Charitable donations
- Saleable items.
You might be surprised at some of the things that have value today. That beautiful silver tea service of your grandmother’s may be harder to sell than the collection of black and white photos from the 1910’s.
If the house is to be sold, the next step is assessing the best way to show the house. Does it need to be spruced up with a coat of paint? Would a professional stager help get the best price for your house? A good pre-market cleaning is often beneficial. Which objects can be packed away and how can the rooms be set up to show their best features. There are climate-controlled storage units where excess furniture can be stored until the sale of the contents.
Following the sale of the house, the contents sale company takes over. All items that the family wants are removed, and the remaining items are evaluated for the best method of sale:
- Auction house
- Private dealer
- Public contents sale – where the lesser items are arranged at the house.
At the end, the house will be emptied of all objects and a final accounting will take place.
The house is now ready for a new set of memories to be created.
Anne Levenston is a Sales Representative with Royal LePage R.E.S.Ltd/Johnston & Daniel Division. Anne is a regular blogger with Muddy York. Anne’s website is located www.annelevenston.com
Categories: Estate Sale
Tagged: Central Toronto Real Estate, Real Estate, toronto
By Helen Braithwaite and Pennie Mathers
We are so fortunate to have the historic Don Valley Brick Works site revitalized with an emphasis on sustainability and conservation at our doorstep.
Date: 2009 opening weekend May 23rd and 24th, 2009
Location:
The Brickworks are Located just off Bayview Avenue, South of Pottery Road and North of the Prince Edward Viaduct. The Brickworks is connected to the nature trails of the Moore/Rosedale Ravine system. For the fitness enthusiast you can walk or bike, there is also a shuttle bus from Broadview Subway Station during peak visiting times. The TTC is contemplating a regular shuttle bus from Davisville Subway…stay tuned for more details! It is nice to keep with the environmental theme en route.
What it is:
The Brickworks project is part of the National Charity Evergreen that is raising $55million to transform this heritage site into an international showcase for urban sustainability and green design. It offers a multitude of programs and activities including its farmers market, a native plant nursery, arts initiatives and more.
The Brickworks Projects has four Themes: Innovation and Discovery; Food and Community; Natural and Cultural Heritage; Gardening and Greening.
A little history:
In 1889 the Don Valley Brick Works was opened after clay tests showed it was the perfect site for making bricks. The Brick works thrived and was particularly busy after the great fire of 1904, which destroyed much of the downtown core and resulted in new laws requiring masonry construction. The bricks were of excellent quality and won in 1893 the highest award at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and also won two gold medals at the Toronto Industrial Fair. The Don Valley Brickworks was the longest running in Ontario and offered more products than any of its competitors. By the mid 1980′s however the clay was beginning to run out. The plant closed in 1984 after having produced over 43 million bricks.
Evergreen has been involved with the Brick Works site since 1997 and the Don Valley Water Shed since 1991. Evergreen is working with the E.R.A. Heritage Architects to preserve the industrial and architectural character of the site
Evergreen has a symbiotic relationship with the Toronto and Region Conservation. The site is currently owned by Toronto and Region Conservation and operated by the City of Toronto. To date $32 million has been invested in the site. Evergreen has an agreement to lease the industrial pad and the historic buildings and the City continues to maintain the adjacent Park and Quarry Gardens.
Partnerships:
YMCA, Bridgepoint Health, Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, Jamie Kennedy, Outward Bound Canada, Mooreland Community Services, Toronto District School Board, Eva’s Phoenix
How to get involved:
- May 23 10am-2pm and Sunday May 24th 10am-4pm the DOORS OPEN!
- Story telling
- First Nations’ ceremonies
- Plant a seedling
- Get some urban gardening tips and purchase some native plants
- Plus many more planet friendly activities
- Visit the Saturday farmer’s market beginning May 23, 2009
- Sign-up for the Biweekly Garden Stewardship workshop
- Go to the Sustainability Fair on September 26, 2009
For more information visit their website www.evergreen.ca/rethinkspace/?p=451
Helen Braithwaite and Pennie Mathers are both Sales Representative with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd./JOHNSTON AND DANIEL DIVISION, Brokerage. Helen and Pennie are regular contributors to the Muddy York blog. Their website is located at www.twoperspectives.ca
Categories: Heritage Properties · Neighbourhood Information
Tagged: Central Toronto Real Estate, Real Estate, Toronto Real Estate Market
By Cristina Tamma
Little Italy, referred to as College St. West or Latintown is a district of downtown Toronto. It’s popular for its many Italian Canadian restaurants and businesses. The district is centered around a strip along College St. overflowing with restaurants, bars and shopping. The heart of the neighbourhood is College and Clinton Street and the residential areas that surround it.
When Italians first arrived in Toronto including members of my own family during the early 20th century, they first settled in an area then know as “The Ward” which centered around University Ave. and College St. By the 1920′s many of them moved west to Bathurst St. and the College-Clinton area which became the city’s “Little Italy”. During those times, the once affordable Victorian homes were purchased by Italian immigrants, many of whom worked on the railways and in road construction.
During the 1950′s and 1960′s many of the immigrants moved north of the city to suburbs, which at that time I associated
with having the financial means to do so. Since we did not have those resources, many of us continued living in those small victorian homes. Only later did I realize how lucky I was to have grown up in such a neighbourhood that was so rich in “community”. Now as a mother of two young children, I truly appreciate living in such a neighbourhood and take my own kids down there so that they can be part of their own history.
Today, Little Italy has become a very popular district and has a population which is ethnically diverse. Younger crowds love it because of the exciting nightlife and proximity to the dowtown core. Many younger professionals have been buying homes in the neighbourhood. It’s a great place to raise a family and everything is at arms length!
Cristina Tamma is a Sales Representative with Royal LePage R.E.S./Johnston & Daniel Division. Cristina is a regular contributor to the Muddy York Blog. Cristina can be reached at cristinatamma@rogers.com.
Categories: Little Italy
Tagged: Real Estate, Toronto Neighbourhoods
By Helen Braithwaite and Pennie Mathers
In an earlier post (Heritage Status in Toronto, February 9, 2009), we discussed heritage status for Toronto homes and neighbourhoods. While such status, established either by conservation district or designated to individual dwellings, helps preserve and maintain an area’s character, we felt is was important to shed a little more clarity on the Toronto Preservation Board and a few pertinent points that you may not know about heritage.
First a little about the Toronto Preservation board….
- The Toronto Preservation Board is made up of 3 City Councillors, 7 Council appointed members of the public who have professional experience in a field related to heritage conservation and the 4 chairs of the Community Preservation Panels
Important points to note…..
- Always enquire with the Heritage Preservation Services prior to beginning any renovations to get a clear understanding about the limitations with your property.
- The Toronto Preservation Board looks at each home on a case by case basis. Taking the approach of minimal intervention as called for by The Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada, as adopted by City Council for all listed and designated structures. However heritage staff will review each application on its own merits to determine if the proposed change is acceptable.
- A Heritage designation on a property can sometimes have an effect on value and it is important to discuss valuation with a realtor knowledgeable about the area.
- Just because a home is not rated within the heritage area does not mean the homeowner can demolish and rebuild a home without approval from the Toronto Preservation Board. In a heritage Conservation District, unrated or non-contributing buildings must adhere to council adopted design HCD guidelines to ensure that new designs and changes do not conflict with, or diminish, the identified heritage characteristics, values and attributes of the district.
- Other constraints such as ravine, normal setbacks, and buildable areas can come into play that will also limit what can be done on a property.
- Keep in mind there will always be the neigbourhood anomaly. There will be situations where the heritage status is over ruled, and plans that are not in keeping with the character of the neighbourhood are approved. Obviously there will be circumstances where, on the surface it seems the decision should be one way, yet turn out to be another. It is best however to assume that your plans will be under the full scrutiny of Heritage Preservation Services.
Food for thought. But just because a property is rated Heritage does not mean that you can’t touch it… what it does mean is that you need to do a bit of homework. Check with Toronto Preservation Services BEFORE you start on drawings, and renderings. Seek the help of your realtor and the city to get the answers to your questions before you start on your dream home.
Sites to help get you started:
www.historicplaces.ca
www.toronto.ca/heritage-preservation
www.heritagetoronto.org
Helen Braithwaite and Pennie Mathers are both Sales Representative with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd./JOHNSTON AND DANIEL DIVISION, Brokerage. Helen and Pennie are regular contributors to the Muddy York blog. Their website is located at www.twoperspectives
Categories: Heritage Properties
Tagged: Central Toronto Real Estate, Real Estate, Toronto Real Estate Market
Festival in the Square: Wednesday April 22 – Sunday April 26, 2009
I can’t believe that its been three years since the demolition of the Don Mills Centre. In spite of the fact that it still looks like it’s under construction they are going ahead with the unveiling on Wed. April 22. The highly anticipated opening of the Shops at Don Mills will be hosting five days of festivities - music, fashion, family activities and entertainment for everyone.
Even though not all of the retail stores are schedule to open this week, I think we should get a pretty good feel of what to expect in the coming months when the rest of the stores are completed….I know that the LCBO has been ready for months.
For further details you can go to www.shopsatdonmills.com
George Klump and Toni Vernon are both Sales Representatives with Royal LePage R.E.S./Johnston & Daniel Division. George and Toni’s website is located at www.georgeandtoni.com
Categories: Don Mills
Tagged: Toronto Neighbourhoods
