The Canadian economy is deemed to be fairly well positioned, although the prediction for growth this year is around 2.1 per cent and about the same for 2013. The spring housing market is still very buoyant in Toronto. We continue to see multiple offers, particularly on homes in the less than $800,000 range which are more affordable for most families. This is more prevalent in homes which have been totally renovated and are move-in ready.

Your first step when thinking of buying a home is get the best financial advice. For the best in financing advice, I am pleased to offer the services of  my mortgage broker Marcus Tzaferis with Morcan. Marcus can be reached at 416-244-9000.

Author Pico Iyer returned from a meeting in Singapore with Malcolm Gladwell the fashion designer Marc Ecko and the graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister in addressing a group of advertising people on “Marketing to the Child of Tomorrow.” He was astonished to hear that the next trend is going to be, are you ready, STILLNESS, meaning, unplugging from all the noise around us.

“Has it really come to this?” Pico says. “In barely one generation we’ve moved from exulting in the time-saving devices that have so expanded our lives to trying to get away from them — often in order to make more time. The more ways we have to connect, the more many of us seem desperate to unplug. Like teenagers, we appear to have gone from knowing nothing about the world to knowing too much all but overnight. Internet rescue camps in South Korea and China try to save kids addicted to the screen.”

People are paying over $2,000 a night at Big Sur to relax at a resort which has no communication devises. They are called “black hole resorts”. Generations before us knew that they needed to find peace and tranquility to calm their minds and bodies and for general good health. They had monasteries, retreats, meditation rooms, prayer rooms, chapels (even in their homes), quiet gardens, to name a few. The current trend to meditation and yoga, I believe, is an effort to attain some peace and quiet for our busy and noisy lives.

So perhaps, in the next few years, the new trend we will see in our homes will be a quiet room or tranquility gardens where we can unplug from all the noise around us. Ahhhh…the sound of quiet.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) recently conducted a study to determine the impact that replacing a conventional hot water heater with a gas-fired tankless heater had on water and energy consumption in the home. 23 households were monitored and this is what it showed.

The results of the study showed that gas consumption was reduced by 46%; however, water consumption increased by about 2%. The reason: It takes time to heat the water to the set point and any cold water that is still in the pipes needs to be pushed out. The burner only ignites if a larger amount of water is run through the system, so you have to run the water for a while in order to get hot water; All of this uses more water.

Heating water accounts for about 20% or more of an average household’s annual energy
expenditures, so there is a savings in gas consumption with these tankless systems. However, tankless water heaters need both electricity and gas to operate so your electric bill will be higher. Maintenance is another factor since calcium accumulates in the unit and needs to be cleaned out every couple of years. In addition, the cost of these units is considerably higher than the traditional tank water heater.

Most tank water heaters work with only gas so if there is a gas interruption, you still have a tank full of hot water. With tankless models, you will be without hot water during a power outage as well.

In the final analysis you may not be saving as much as you might think between the gas cost, the electricity cost, the cost of the unit, maintenance and the extra water cost. However, they do take up much less room so they are a great solution for smaller spaces. Perhaps the best solution is still solar powered water heaters but that’s another topic.

Here are some of the companies who manufacture tankless water heaters.
Bosch Therm Ultra-Low NOx, Navien, Noritz, Rinnai. A competent contractor can advise you on the size and model that would work best for you.

Certainly there has not been much change in the amount of packaging used by manufacturers to bring products to consumers. What we have done is found more resourceful ways to get rid of the packaging by recycling which has spawned several companies such as Tetrapak, who use plastics to create new products. We have a campaign to encourage consumers to use the same bag over and over again by charging the consumer for every new bag. Perhaps the focus should be encouraging manufacturers to reduce the packaging used in the first place instead of trying to find places to put it after it’s in the marketplace. But I’ll be covering that in another blog.

In the housing industry, a great deal of focus has been placed recently on building homes with environmental products as well as an emphasis on conservation. Over the course of the last couple of years, I have incorporated an Environmental section in my newsletters and written several articles that pertained to new environmental products available for our homes. In addition recipes for simple everyday cleaning solutions were included. I will continue to keep you informed of new and current environmental suggestions for your home.

Incidences such as the toxic drywall from China, have made it necessary for us to be more diligent and aware of what we are using in renovations and construction and in our every day lives and where it is coming from. Many countries do not have the strict regulations for manufacturing that Canada has. When you consider the numerous glues, dyes, varnishes, finishes, etc. in household products, furniture, fabrics, not to mention the cleaners we use, you can imagine the chemicals floating around in each of our homes.

As we start 2012, let us resolve to make it a safer, healthier and chemical free environment for ourselves and our children.

There are very few homes remaining in Rosedale that have the history and charm still evident in this grand, traditional mansion. Built at the turn of the century for the Applegate family of millinery fame, 114 Glen Road was inspired by the work of Italian architect Andrea Palladio and is a masterpiece.

Situated on an expansive 100 foot by 123 foot private, estate-type lot, it is 5 minutes from the hub of Toronto’s business and shopping districts and convenient to some of the most prestigious schools in Toronto.

From the traditional portico and grand rotunda that welcomes visitors upon entering, to the splendid gardens at the back, one is taken back to a more tranquil, gentler era.

Exquisite and unique handcarved millwork throughout includes unique coffered ceilings, ionic columns, beautiful wood wainscotting and crown mouldings , solid oak floors, 5 fireplaces and much more. An incredible stained glass window, featuring the lady of the house, graces the landing of the splendid staircase which leads to the second floor and a formal landing and recessed office area.

Here one finds the same sumptuous details found throughout. These include a grand master suite with a renovated ensuite bath and fireplace and 3 additional large bedrooms, one with a fireplace and 2 more renovated bathrooms. Two of the bedrooms can serve as a separate suite of rooms if desired.

The third floor has been totally renovated to be used as a separate, bright and airy apartment or incorporated as part of the family home. It comes complete with 3 bedrooms, 2 renovated baths, a kitchen and laundry facilities.

Basement is fully finished with an office, exercise room, bathroom, laundry room and storage facilities. It can also be accessed from the backyard through a separate walk-up entrance.

To complete the package, there is a rare private drive for 2 to 3 cars and a detached garage. This incredible home with over 7,000 square feet of living space is offered at $4,995,000 and awaits it’s new master and mistress.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS UNIQUE PROPERTY PLEASE CALL 416-925-9191
View listing at Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited

]]> http://www.susanglennhomes.com/2011/11/30/114-glen-road-rosedale/feed/ 0 http://www.susanglennhomes.com/2011/10/19/eco-energy-program-still-available/ http://www.susanglennhomes.com/2011/10/19/eco-energy-program-still-available/#comments Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:27:10 +0000 admin http://www.susanglennhomes.com/?p=226 Just a reminder that the Federal government is still offering the eco ENERGY Retrofit program. Home owners can receive up to $5,000 in federal grant money when they complete upgrades to their homes. Before starting renovations you must complete a pre-retrofit audit. An evaluator must measure your house, count the doors and windows, record the type of furnace, air conditioner, water and fireplaces if present as well as check the insulation in the attic and basement. They will also do a “Blower Door Test” to see how airtight your house is. This visit usually takes about 2 hours and costs about $325+HST. The Ontario government will rebate about $150 towards this audit.
A report is then sent to you indicating where you can save on utility bills and reduce greenhouse gases.
Grants are given for upgrades such as heating, air conditioning, tankless hot water systems, insulation, toilet upgrades and more. Check the website: http://ecoaction.gc.ca/homes.
After work is completed a follow up visit occurs which takes about 45 minutes to one hour. This must be completed by March 31, 2012. The upgrades and the grant application are verified at this meeting by the evaluator. The “Blower Door Test” is completed again. This visit costs about $175+HST. You will receive the Federal grant in about 3 months. Be sure to take advantage of this program while it is in effect. If you need a company name for evaluation, please give me a call at 416-925-9191.

CALL ME TO VIEW THIS OUTSTANDING PROPERTY BEFORE IT’S SOLD! 416-925-9191

RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE TO DOWNLOAD FULL FEATURE SHEET HERE

CLICK HERE FOR MLS LISTING

If you are in need of financial information or want to do some creative financing for renovations, additions or changing residence, please call me and I will provide the resources so you can make an informed decision.

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.

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.