Category Archives: City of Toronto

Toronto Island Home Tour For A Great Cause

Posted on April 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

On June 10, 2012, Toronto Island Grannies in Spirit will host a tour of distinctive homes and community buildings on Toronto Island, each with its own story to tell. The tour will feature a selection of historic, renovated, original and new homes. Ticket holders will have the opportunity to meet Island residents and view historic photographs and memorabilia.
The Toronto Island community started as a “tent city” in the early 1900s. It is now a unique, year-round — and car-free — neighbourhood, with more than 650 residents living in 262 homes. There are no stores, banks, or ATMs. Some of the houses were purchased out of the Simpson’s catalogue in the 1930s. Others were floated from Hanlan’s Point when the Island Airport was built. And still others have been renovated or designed by architects to make optimal use of small spaces. The community is part of the urban landscape, yet magically removed from the city by a fifteen minute ferry ride.
Grannies in Spirit is one of over 230 grandmother groups across Canada in the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, one of the great grassroots movements in Canada. In the four years since it was initiated by the Stephen Lewis Foundation, the campaign has raised more than $7 million for projects in Sub-Saharan Africa that support African grandmothers and their grandchildren orphaned by AIDS. All proceeds from the House and History Tour will go to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
Sunday, June 10, 2012 
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: 45, $15 for children under 13
Buy tickets here: http://torontoislandhousetour2012.eventbrite.com
Location: Wards Island. Take Toronto Island Ferry (foot of Bay Street, west side of Westin Harbour Castle Hotel) to Wards Island (every half hour in June; adults $6.50 return)

The Toronto Island Home Tour’s website is found here.

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Posted in City of Toronto, Toronto Landmarks

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Toronto Housing Construction Decreased Slightly In February

Posted on March 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the seasonally-adjusted rate of total housing starts decreased to 30,400 units in February 2012 for the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area.

“Given the record-level of housing units already under construction in Toronto, the slowing in new starts will help support stability in the market, particularly in the case of condominium apartments,” said the senior market analyst for the Greater Toronto Area, Shaun Hildebrand, in a press release.

In 2011, Toronto housing starts increased overall while declining month-to-month towards the end of the year.

Housing starts increased across Canada in February, up to 201,100 units from 198,100 units in January.

According to the deputy chief economist at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Coporation’s market analysis centre, Mathieu Laberge, “Increases in these provinces were partially offset by decreases in multiple starts in Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Multiple housing starts in Quebec had fallen nearly 50 per cent in January, so February’s rise can be seen as a return to a more normal rate of construction.”

This site is owned & operated by: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd Johnston & Daniel Division,477 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2L9, 416.489.2121. The content is provided by a number of sources as referenced in the contribution list.

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Posted in Before You Buy, Before You Sell, City of Toronto

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Toronto Real Estate Board Against The Land Transfer Tax

Posted on March 12, 2012 | Leave a comment

The Toronto Land Transfer Tax adds thousands of dollars the cost of a home. Toronto’s Mayor Rob Ford campaigned on removing the Land Transfer Tax, which is still in place. According to a recent poll conducted by the Toronto Real Estate Board, 65 per cent of Toronto residents want to tax removed.

“Mayor Ford, and numerous City Councillors, Campaigned on a commitment to repeal the Toronto Land Transfer Tax, and Torontonians are expecting that promise to be fulfilled. The Land Transfer Tax unfairly targets home buyers, and it must be scrapped,” said the president of the Toronto Real Estate Board, Richard Silver, in a new press release last week.

City Councillors have recently mentioned that the funds from the Toronto Land Transfer Tax should go towards funding the city’s new transit initiatives.

“Realtors understand the importance of an effective transit system for the City of Toronto. In this regard, we hope City Council will move forward to improve the city’s transit system. However, it should not be done with an unfair tax that targets home buyers,” added Silver. “We expect that new transit lines will encourage new development, so home buyers will already be doing their part by helping to grow the City’s property tax assessment base revenue. They shouldn’t be hit a send time with the Land Transfer Tax. City Council should be focusing on ways to make home ownership more affordable, not less affordable. Fulfilling the commitment to repeal the Toronto Land Transfer Tax would move in the right direction.”

This site is owned & operated by: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd Johnston & Daniel Division,477 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2L9, 416.489.2121. The content is provided by a number of sources as referenced in the contribution list.

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Make Your Winterlicious 2012 Reservations Now!

Posted on January 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

It’s that time of year again – slow, cold and many are realizing the eventual futility of their New Year’s Resolutions. It’s also one of the slowest times of year for the restaurant industry, which is why the City of Toronto has chosen January 27th to February 9th, 2012 to offer us Winterlicious.

Winterlicious is an annual event, now in its 10th year. Restaurants all over the city of Toronto offer prix fixe menus, and diners can have lunch for $15, $20 or $25 and dinner for $25, $35 or $45 depending on the restaurant, not including tax, drinks or tips.

It’s a great opportunity for those who would love to try some of the most high-end restaurants in the city without dropping hundreds of dollars on dinner. Reservations for Winterlicious (and its warm-weather counterpart, Summerlicious) can fill up fast so make them as soon as possible.

The main Winterlicious website is found here.
The full list of restaurants participating in this years’ Winterlicious festivities is found here, including menus and contact information to make reservations.

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Most Torontonians Want Land Transfer Tax Repealed

Posted on December 11, 2011 | Leave a comment

The Toronto Real Estate Board recently presented the results of a poll on the Land Transfer Tax to the City.

“TREB supports the recommended 2012 budget because it continues the process of bringing fiscal sustainability back to City Hall, said Richard Silver, the president of the Toronto Real Estate Board, in a press release. “However, while we support the direction of this budget, we are pointing out that it does not begin the process of fulfilling Mayor Ford’s commitment to repeal the Toronto land Transfer Tax in 2012. This is a commitment that is strongly supported by Torontonians.”

The Toronto Real Estate recently conducted a poll, finding that 65% of Torontonians supported the Land Transfer Tax repeal, while 57% still did even considering the city’s budget issues.

“Notwithstanding the difficult decisions that City Council has faced with regard to the budget, Torontonians understand the Land Transfer Tax is part of the problem because it unfairly forces home buyers and business owners to pay more the their fair share, costing the average Toronto home buyer more than $6,000 every time they move; it is an unpredictable revenue stream that goes up and down with the real estate market; and it makes the City less competitive than other GTA municipalities,” Silver added. “The Land Transfer Tax is simply a band air that has delayed the true solutions to the City’s financial challenges.”

“Toronto businesses face the highest commercial and industrial property tax rates. Making business property taxes more competitive will allow the property tax base to grow, providing long-term, reliable revenue, which ultimately, will benefit residents by relieving pressure on existing taxpayers and improving quality of life in Toronto and the entire GTA by keeping people and jobs close together, thereby reducing traffic congestion,” he added.

The full press release and poll results are available here.

This site is owned & operated by: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd Johnston & Daniel Division,477 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2L9, 416.489.2121. The content is provided by a number of sources as referenced in the contribution list.

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Toronto Real Estate Agents Provide More Information About Land Transfer Tax

Posted on September 28, 2011 | Leave a comment

The Toronto Real Estate Board has released a follow-up presentation to its last press release on the Land Transfer Tax, calling on the City of Toronto to eliminate it despite the budget shortfall.

“We are proud that the Toronto Real Estate Board was the only business organization that had the courage to go to City Hall and call for the fiscal restraint that so many Torontonians want and demand from City Council,” said Toronto Real Estate Board president Richard Silver. “We are proud to be a loud and strong voice in favour of sound and fair financial management from City Hall.”

 

According to the press release, after the Toronto Real Estate Board’s presentation some councillors mentioned that the Land Transfer Tax, which increases closing costs for home buyers, has helped provide the city with financing. But the Toronto Real Estate Board had this to say:

“Four years ago, many of the same city councillors that are currently opposing changes at City Hall claimed that the Toronto Land Transfer Tax would solve the city’s financial challenges. Yet, here we are, four years after the City began collecting the Land Transfer Tax, and the City’s financial situation is the same, if not worse.”

This site is owned & operated by: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd Johnston & Daniel Division,477 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2L9, 416.489.2121. The content is provided by a number of sources as referenced in the contribution list.

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Greater Toronto Area Realtors Call On City To Repeal Land Transfer Tax

Posted on September 12, 2011 | Leave a comment

“We say no to the status quo,” reads a press release on the Toronto Land Transfer Tax from the Toronto Real Estate Board. “Torontonians elected this City Council with a clear mandate to get the City’s finances in order and change the way City Hall operates, including repealing the Toronto Land Transfer Tax. The public does not expect to see Councillors’ convictions crumble when decision time approaches.”

“Torontonians want the Toronto Land Transfer Tax abolished; they don’t want excuses. Unfortunately, some City Councillors are still targeting home buyers and would prefer to keep this tax.”

A recent survey found that 75 per cent of Torontonians are in support of repealing the Land Transfer Tax, with 68 per cent supporting the measure even considering Toronto’s budget shortfalls.

“The Toronto Land Transfer Tax is a job Killer: economic analyses have shown that about 40,000 Toronto jobs rely specifically on the economic activity that is generated when people buy and sell homes in the City. For resale housing alone, spin-off spending related to home buying, on things like renovations and moving services, pumped $1.4 billion into Toronto’s economy last year.”

The entire press release from the Toronto Real Estate Board is available here.

This site is owned & operated by: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd Johnston & Daniel Division,477 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2L9, 416.489.2121. The content is provided by a number of sources as referenced in the contribution list.

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Let’s All Go To The Ex In Toronto

Posted on August 26, 2011 | Leave a comment

The Canadian National Exhibition is back in town, from August 19th to September 5th.

The Canadian National Exhibition (also known as the CNE or “The Ex”) was established in 1879 and is held at Exhibition Place in Toronto. Whether your game is winning stuffed animals or trying different foods on a stick, the Canadian National Exhibition has something for everyone.

This year, attractions include a comedy hypnotist, a strong man show, the human cannonball, an ice skating show, rides, midway, a horse show and the return of the Splash Zone. More on the attractions and shows at this year’s Canadian National Exhibition can be found here.

If you’re a fan of Food Network Canada, check out the celebrity attendees this year, ranging from Duff Goldman to Chef Michael Smith.

For information on tickets and how to get to the Canadian National Exhibition, click here.

This site is owned & operated by: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd Johnston & Daniel Division,477 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2L9, 416.489.2121. The content is provided by a number of sources as referenced in the contribution list.

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The My Great Neighbourhood Contest

Posted on August 10, 2011 | Leave a comment

Do you love your neighbourhood? Is it the perfect place to live?

Royal LePage has announced its second year of the My Great Neighbourhood contest, in which Canadians can submit entries about neighbourhoods they love for a $20,000 grand prize.

“Canadians have a lot to be proud about and the My Great Neighbourhood contest allows residents from coast to coast to creatively showcase the many reasons why they love where they live,” said Royal LePage Real Estate Services president and chief executive Phil Soper in a press release. “We encourage Canadians to share the beauty of their city, the caring spirit of their neighbours, or what makes them proud to live in their community,” he added.

In addition to the grand prize of $20,000, a second prize of $3,500 and a third prize of $1,500 are also available. Entrants can consist of individuals or groups, and can either submit a video or photographs with their entry detailing why their neighbourhood is the best place to live. Entries will be voted on by the public and then a jury.

The contest ends on October 21, 2011 and the My Great Neighbourhood website is available here.

This site is owned & operated by: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd Johnston & Daniel Division,477 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2L9, 416.489.2121. The content is provided by a number of sources as referenced in the contribution list.

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Posted in City of Toronto, Neighbourhood Information

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