Susan Glenn Homes

admin March 24th, 2011

All across the city we are seeing many new condo developments. Renovations and in fill development is still strong in the home sector but we are seeing an incredible number of condo projects under construction, nearing completion or in the selling phases of development.

Yorkville has a number of new projects such as The Four Seasons Hotel and Residences, Milan and 36 Hazelton. There are 2 developments on Balmutto Street, across from the Manulife Centre, several new condo developments on Charles Street both east and west of Bay Street and on St. Thomas Street. Both King St. W. and King St. E. are becoming elegant and trendy areas, with the completion of the Thompson Hotel and The Ritz Carlton Hotel, and Trump Tower which all have private residences attached to them. Many other condo projects have sprung up in King West such as 66 & 75 Portland and The Fashion House at 560 King W. Further west we have Liberty Village and all of the development in Trinity Bellwoods near the Drake Hotel and the Gladstone on Queen Street. South, there is all the development along the waterfront near Bathurst and Spadina such as City Place, DNA, Water Park City and near the Rogers Centre there is Maple Leaf Square.

To the east, The Distillery District is still under construction with new phases on Mill St. and with the West Donlands and East Bayfront areas encompassing a vision of parks, biking and walking trails and recreational facilities in the works, there are many new projects being developed there such as River City, Bayside and Parkside along with the village for the Pan Am Games coming to Toronto in 2015. Toronto is growing up in front of our eyes. To grow with it, contact me for information on any of these condos.

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admin March 15th, 2011

We are well into the spring market now. As always, we had a little stall during March break, but now that everyone is back to school and work, focus is back on selling or finding the right home for many people. We are still experiencing tremendous demand for homes and condos in all areas of Toronto. What we are finding, at the moment, is that there are not enough homes on the market to fill the demand for properties, so this is again, creating an environment for setting specific dates for bids to come in.

Considering all the financial events around the world, we certainly are in an enviable position here in Toronto. All areas of the city have seen increases in values as buyers keep looking for new areas where it is still affordable to buy into the housing market. This is encouraging more renovation in these parts of the city and in turn beautifying all of these areas and increasing the values in the area. If you are interested in getting a list of up and coming areas and properties in those areas, please contact me either by email or by phone and I will be happy to send you a list of possible properties. We have lists of distress sales and good investment properties.

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admin February 14th, 2011

As February is the month we associate with love and caring we thought it appropriate to talk about love and care of our home. As with everything, the more love and care you put into it, the more enjoyment and longevity you will receive in return.

Here are a few ways to Love and Care for you Home…

1. Moisturizing It’s important to keep a balance as too much promotes mold and fungus and not enough can cause wooden surfaces to shrink and crack. Lack of moisture can cause sore throats, dry skin and static electricity, while proper moisture control will keep the environment comfortable, especially with the forced air systems many homes use.

2. Cleansing Doing a thorough cleaning of your home and keeping it that way will add to the enjoyment of your home both from a visual sense and from a health perspective. Cleaning out your refrigerator, cleaning your oven and other surfaces will make you feel that you have a fresh start and can now replenish with fresh items.

3. De-Toxifying: decluttering and organizing We’ve heard it a lot, throw out and declutter. This will make you feel great! It will save you time and maybe money when you are looking for a specific item in your home. Having systems in place to file and store

articles is a good start to organizing. Throwing out frees the space in your home and in your mind. Gives you breathing room, so to speak. It also enables you to see what you already have and what you need to replace. It feels good to give things away that others can use. Throwing out old paints and outdated toxic cleaners and replacing with environmental cleaners or using more vinegar and baking soda will make your home safer and more enjoyable.

4. Spa Treatment Why not treat your home to a new look of “Exfoliating” the old paint and applying a new one to give a whole new, bright look to your home.

5. Plant Seeds Whether you are “greening up” your space with potted plants or fresh cut flowers, it is always wonderful to see living plants in a home. Potted plants not only add beauty to our homes, they also add moisture and oxygen which are both beneficial. Of course who doesn’t love a spray of fresh flowers to brighten and cheer up any room. It’s like adding a work of art to the space.

• For Sellers , Renovations
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admin January 24th, 2011

This month Jim Flaherty announced 3 changes to the lending practices banks will have to follow. This comes in an effort to stem the increasing burden of debt that we are seeing in Canada. The following are the basic changes announced.

1. A reduction of maximum amortization from 35 to 30 years for insured mortgages, or in other words mortgages that normally exceed 80% of the property’s value. Effective date March 18, 2011.

2. Lowering the maximum amount Canadians can borrow in refinancing their homes to 85% from 90% of the value. Effective date march 18, 2011.

3. Withdrawing the backing of government insurance on home equity lines of credit (HELOC’s). Effective date April 18, 2011.

A representative for MorCan Financial had the following to say about the new changes…

Although these measures are designed to tackle Canadians’ recent surge in debt, they fail to tackle the real problems and effectively punish those who need the most help. These measures play into the hands of increasingly rapacious credit card companies, which charge exorbitant interest rates to people who are most in need of help and decrease Canadians’ ability to use their homes as a secure avenue for low interest-bearing credit. It brings to mind the phrase “rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic”, an idiom which would perhaps be more apropos if rearranging the deck chairs caused the Titanic to sink faster. The solution to our debt problems lies in effectively managing our debt and eliminating the burden of high debt bearing credit. Mortgages are the solution and not the problem.

Please contact Marcus Tzaferis for your mortgage needs or to answer any questions you may have.

MorCan Financial
1006 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario M6K 3N2
Marcus Tzaferis
416-214-9000
marcus@mortgagemarcus.com

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admin June 24th, 2010

Like the weather, real estate markets are hotter in the summer; certainly true for this year. There are typically more buyers out looking for homes, and more sellers listing their homes for sale. If you are in the market for a new home or are thinking about selling during this time of year, there are some tips and trends to keep in mind to maximize your results.

Check out the following article for some food for thought.

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admin March 3rd, 2010

I wonder if the average consumer knows that there are 3 levels of Real Estate Boards that constantly lobby the government on the consumer’s behalf. For instance when the City of Toronto proposed the extra Municipal Land Transfer Tax, Toronto Real Estate Board continuously lobbied against it. It’s members also encouraged their clients to let City Hall know that they were against this legislation. We are the only city in the Province of Ontario that pays the Land Transfer Tax twice. I don’t think most people realized what this tax would be until they bought a home and were faced with paying the Land Transfer Tax to the Province of Ontario and then again to the City of Toronto.

This tax adds an extra $20,000 and often much more to the price of buying a home in Toronto. We are being penalized, in essence, for wanting to own a home in Toronto. Add to that the fact that our real estate is the most expensive in all of Canada and it is making it increasingly difficult for young people to purchase their first home and certainly adds a debt load in excess of where most young people would like to be. The great thing about democracy is that there is power in the people and if we make enough noise, we will be heard. If you still believe that this is a punitive and unjust extra tax, you can keep telling your local councilor to make your views known at City Hall. You never know, they just might repeal the tax if we do. What are your views?

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admin January 22nd, 2010

With the new year already underway, we are seeing the beginnings of the typical spring market and it’s increases in sales. The Greater Toronto Realtors reported 1,749 existing home sales on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) during the first two weeks of January. This result was almost double the 888 sales reported for the same period in 2009, when sales had dipped to a recessionary low.

“We have had a strong start to 2010,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Tom Lebour. “Widespread sales growth in terms of geography and housing type indicates that many households remain confident in their ability to purchase and pay for a home over the long-term.” The average price for transactions in the first two weeks of January was $395,307, compared to an average of $332,495 for the same period in 2009.

“Double-digit average annual price growth will continue through the first quarter of 2010 as sales remain high relative to listings and we continue to make comparisons to last year’s winter downturn,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

source: Toronto Real Estate Board

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admin October 5th, 2009

The CMHC has written a great article on how rain gardens can improve your storm water management around your home.

The information is excellent for this very wet time we’ve been having.

• For Sellers , Renovations
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admin August 26th, 2009

Recently, some clients of mine decided to move to a new city. Because it was a new city, they also decided to buy using a new agent from that city.

If you are considering listing or selling your home and decide that you’d like to use an agent (which I highly recommend), it’s important to remember some things before choosing a person who’ll be representing you in the buying/selling process. Here’s a list of 5 that I think should be at the top of your list…

1) Trust your instincts: You will be working with this person as a representative of you. If you don’t feel immediately comfortable with the person, it’s likely not a good idea to move forward with anything else and you should find another agent.

2) Best interest: many agents may be well informed of the market conditions of the area your looking to purchase in, but don’t consider who you are or what you want. Make sure that the agent asks you questions about what your intentions are for selling, any future plans you might have that would influence where you want to live: children (or lack there of), schools, transportation, proximity to shops, grocery stores, entertainment, your place of employment, etc.

3) Market Conditions: conversely, an agent may be very interested in what your life-style considerations are but may not be well informed of the market conditions and how they might affect your chances of re-sale in the future and consequently, the possible return on your investment. Ensure you get a full market analysis and that the properties you’re being shown reflect what is fair for the market and has good odds of increasing in value in the future.

4) Well Connected: Whether in-house or personally connected, ensure that your agent is well connected to a team of professionals who can help in the selling/buying process. Mortgage or insurance agents, lawyers, home inspectors, a marketing and advertising team, etc. All of these people help the process go a lot smoother and hopefully faster.

5) Good communication: There will be LOTS of communications between you and your agent; especially if this is the first time you are buying. It’s important for you to know that you can get a hold of the agent at any time. In the initial meeting process, try contacting them via email or phone and see how long it takes them to get back to you. You should expect a relatively quick response, especially if they’re interested in retaining your business. Any communication lacking at the beginning of your relationship could lead to much greater problems down the line.

I hope these 5 points help you to choose a better agent and allow the buying/selling process to go smoother for you. As always, if you’re looking for a quote on your property or just have some questions regarding real estate, I am available via email at sglenn@trebnet.com

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admin June 11th, 2009

Whether we’re in a recession, down-turn, plateau or reversal, it doesn’t hurt to pinch a few pennies here and there. Listing recent energy saving upgrades is also an excellent selling feature. Luckily, CMHC recently published some excellent tips on how to save energy costs in your condo or apartment. Check out this link for their simple and effective tips.

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