HST and Resale Housing

TORONTO – March 21, 2011 - Revenue Minister Sophia Aggelonitis and Toronto Real



Estate Board President, Bill Johnston, today released a video explaining to prospective



buyers the facts about the HST and the housing market.



The video highlights the fact that there is no HST on the purchase price of resale homes.



Sales tax did not apply to the purchase price of resale homes under the previous PST, and



it does not apply under the HST.



For new housing, additional tax only applies to the portion of the price above $400,000.



The Ontario Enhanced New Housing Rebate means that buyers of new homes receive a



rebate of up to $24,000 regardless of the price of the new home. Buyers of new homes



priced up to $400,000 (about three-quarters of new homes built in Ontario) on average



pay no more – and possibly even less – tax than under the previous PST, where sales tax



was hidden in the price.



“Buying a home is one of the most important investments a person will make in their



lifetime. That's why I'm pleased to be working with TREB to provide information about



purchasing a home in Ontario."



— Minister of Revenue Sophia Aggelonitis



“REALTORS® are happy to help inform the public about the HST. It is important that



the public understands that HST does not apply to the purchase price of a resale home.”



— Bill Johnston, President, Toronto Real Estate Board



QUICK FACTS



 The HST does not apply to the purchase price of resale homes.



 Sales tax did not apply to the purchase price of resale homes under the previous PST.



 In addition to not having HST on resale homes, a refund of Land Transfer Tax of up



to $2,000 is available to first-time home buyers of resale homes.

Music From Far and Wide

MusiCounts is Canada’s music education charity associated with CARAS, which helps to keep music alive in schools across Canada. MusiCounts’ mission is to ensure that children in Canada, regardless of socio-economic circumstances and cultural background, have access to a comprehensive music program through their school. MusiCounts’ projects include Band Aid musical instrument grants, the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, Scholarships, and other music education initiatives.

MusiCounts is reaching out to the community during JUNO Week at 9 March 21st to March 25th subway stations to help raise awareness about MusiCounts. Volunteers(including me) will be collecting donations from the community during rush hour, and in return donators will receive a MusiCounts pin or pen. Please have extra change in hand and be part of it. Your favourite artists will be wearing these special pins and we believe that they will become a collectors favourite...I bet the Beiber will pay special attention to all fans who are wearing these pins. ; )

I am really excited that I get the priviledge of Volunteering for the Junos. Canadian Music Week was absolutely amazing. Special thanks to my friends at League of Rock and to Zack Werner, Shania Twain, Gordon Deppe, Jim Cuddy and Tal Bachman. Thanks for making the music that deeply moves and inspires us all.

Pump up your homes Curb Appeal

5 Smart Spring Projects for Your Front Yard


Pump up your home's curb appeal and welcome a new season with these easy, low-cost projects! Home improvement expert Tom Kraeutler shares five ways to stage your home's exterior for spring.
 
 

Your front door is the main focal point for curb appeal, so make sure it sparkles with welcome. Repaint or refinish the surface, polish hardware and touch up surrounding trim. You can also update your front door by installing a new handle and locks.

 

Start at the Door

Pump up your home's curb appeal and welcome a new season with these easy, low-cost projects! Home improvement expert Tom Kraeutler shares five ways to stage your home's exterior for spring.

Illuminate the approach to your abode with an easy-to-install path lighting kit. If porch lighting looks tired, replace fixtures with modern classics that have the wattage to enhance safety and highlight facade features.

Add Seasonal Color


Strategic plantings add interest, create new focal points in landscaping and contribute to curb appeal. Shop for species that are native to your climate zone and are drought-resistant. If deer and other creatures dwell nearby, ask your local nurseryman about plants that woodland neighbors won't devour at first bloom.

Keep the Lawn Lush


For green throughout the season, reseed your lawn's rough patches and fertilize with a timed-release formula. An irrigation system driven by a digital timer helps create a water-wise routine, and slightly reducing your turf's footprint can make maintenance easier if you're faced with drought conditions.

Habitat for Humanity is calling on families-There’s good news for low-income Brampton families.

Habitat for Humanity is calling on families


There’s good news for low-income Brampton families.

Habitat for Humanity Brampton (HFH), a community-based, non-profit organization, is calling on Brampton families–struggling to make ends meet – to contact the organization to see if they qualify for a Habitat home.

The organization is planning to build some 36 homes within the next eight to 10 years with the construction of a single home starting this spring. The four-bedroom home to accommodate parents and up to five children is available for a deserving family that needs a hand up, said Thomas Fischer, executive director, Habitat for Humanity Brampton.

He said almost 11,000 households in Peel spend more than 70 per cent of their income on housing and an estimated 14,000 residents in Peel live in housing that is not affordable, over-crowded, substandard or a combination of the three. In fact, the wait to acquire subsidized rental housing in the Region of Peel is approximately 21 years, Fischer said.

Criteria to qualify include: Low-income families must go through an application process, have lived in Brampton for at least two years and should prove they’re unable to qualify for a traditional bank mortgage. Families will be selected on the basis of need, ability to pay a zero-interest mortgage and be willing to partner with Habitat Brampton.

Interested families should contact, Habitat for Humanity Brampton at 905-455-0883 ext. 231 or visit habitatbrampton.com.

Family Selection Orientation meetings—for potential Habitat families— will be held at the HFH Restore, 268 Rutherford Rd. S, Unit 3 on the following dates: Saturday, March 12 between 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, March 15 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday March 20, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday, March 24, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Homer Simpson loved his green beer .....

Blue Lagoon Bar and Grill


3180 Lakeshore Road West Etobicoke, ON M8V1L7



Come and have a wee bit of fun and a lot of laughs as we celebrate Saint Patty's Day 2011 there will be Karaoke, a Limerick contest, free munchies and much, much more.



NO COVER.



Homer Simpson loved his green beer just as Peter Griffin loved to relax at his neighborhood bar with Cleveland and Quagmire. You aren’t one for bar hopping, but you enjoy a chill place where you lounge back with friends while sipping on a nice cold beer.



Blue Lagoon Bar and Grill caters to comfort food lovers across the GTA. In a relaxed and laid-back environment you and your friends can enjoy a round of ice cold ice tea or dive into the deep end with something a little stronger such as a classic blue lagoon.



Instead of reaching for that sad old peanut mix, you can order up some sizzling side dishes from the grill to keep your belly tided over. Whether it’s low tide or high tide, Blue Lagoon makes sure your visit is memorable and worth making a return.



Take a dive into Blue Lagoon this Saint Patty's Day.

Mortgage Scam

A disgraced Mississauga lawyer was charged with fraud Wednesday in connection with a a mortgage scheme that allegedly resulted in losses of at least $12 million.

Mariano “Mario” Mazzucco, was disbarred three months ago over the scheme.

Peel Regional Police arrested Mazzucco, 61, of Kuhl Ave., Toronto, on Wednesday, accusing him of using his heritage to develop the trust of more than 40 mostly Italian seniors — plus 10 banks — allegedly sharing their investments with shady partners.

Det. Mike MacDougall alleged Mazzucco arranged mortgage loans and bank refinancing after “organized crime” members recruited him to launder money. He is charged with fraud over $5,000, defrauding the public, possessing crime proceeds, laundering crime proceeds, plus criminal breach of trust.
The investigation into other suspects continues, with police not revealing any known crime group.

MacDougall alleged Mazzucco developed a “Ponzi scheme” around 1989, preparing but not registering mortgage documents shown to clients now aged 55 to 85, who then received cheques based on other victim’s investments. The money stopped coming after his law office was shut down.
“Some of them have been left destitute,” the detective said, predicting none — if any — funds are expected to be recovered.

“The majority are senior citizens who have lost most of their life savings,” MacDougall said. “They worked hard all their lives, paid off mortgages and wanted to have something to leave their children and grandchildren.”

He and a partner began working on the case two years ago, after victims contacted police.

The former Mazzucco law office on Dundas St. E. now houses an insurance office.


Some victims have been offered up to $50,000 in compensation, said MacDougall, who added others are “too upset and have withdrawn, wanting nothing to do with it any more ... and one man in his 80s has died.”

MacDougall said the law society did not alert police 11 years ago, when it suspended Mazzucco’s licence to practice law for 30 months after ruling him guilty of misappropriating client trust funds.

“They handled the matter internally,” the detective said.

Mazzucco makes his first court appearance Thursday morning, when the Crown will seek to have him remanded in custody.

Anyone with information is asked to call 905-453-2121, Ext. 3335.

"Mister, ya' got change?"

MusiCounts is Canada’s music education charity associated with CARAS, which helps to keep music alive in schools across Canada. MusiCounts’ mission is to ensure that children in Canada, regardless of socio-economic circumstances and cultural background, have access to a comprehensive music program through their school. MusiCounts’ projects include Band Aid musical instrument grants, the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, Scholarships, and other music education initiatives.



MusiCounts is reaching out to the community during JUNO Week at 9 March 21st to March 25th subway stations to help raise awareness about MusiCounts. Volunteers(including me) will be collecting donations from the community during rush hour, and in return donators will receive a MusiCounts pin or pen.

I am really excited that I get the priviledge of Volunteering for both the Junos and Canadian Music Week this year-it is my way of saying Thank you to all my Musician friends for everything that they do that makes the world a better place. 



.

Are Condominiums Good Investments? The Three Cardinal Rules

Are Condominiums Good Investments? The Three Cardinal Rules


By Shane on Feb 09, 2011 in Condos & Builders, First Time Home Buyers, Toronto Builders, Toronto Condos

It depends. If you have a good head on your shoulder and not into gambling, they are. The risk in condominium investing always increases as your investment horizons shorten. Plan to hold your condo for at least 5 years, but preferably 10.

So can you make money? Yes, but it comes down to research. Really, it isn’t rocket science. It all comes down to cash flow. It is critical that you have a plan, one that includes the three cardinal rules of condo-investing:

1- Make sure you are getting at least 10% return on your investment. If you are not, there are more profitable real estate investment products to consider. Inflation-adjusted prices have consistently grown over the last 15 years in Canada, but not the US. Perhaps this suggests Canada enjoys a more robust real estate market? Price appreciation is of course a bonus and the speculative part; the rental income generated is the meat and potatoes of investing.


2- Make sure the down-payment is no less than 10%. You need to have flexibility. There will be maintenance fee increases and there will be special assessment bills that will put a dent in your budget. You will need to maintain a positive cash flow. Isn’t inadequate cash flow one of the primary reasons small businesses go bankrupt?


3- Location, location, location.

Real Estate Groupon type deal approaching soon.

Lisa Portolese, Sales Representative at Royal LePage Kingsbury Realty, Brokerage has just been selected to be the first Canadian Realtor to be featured on a Groupon type deal that could save Sellers up to $5000.00 in the GTA, Mississauga, Brampton and Toronto(and across Canada) Official announcement in 2-3 weeks. Follow this blog to qualify. Realtors from various brokerages with 10 or more years experience wishing to handle referrals may submit resume with references to Lisa at LisaPort@Rogers.com  Thanks!

Toronto Real Estate Market for January 2011

Hi There,



I’ve just put together a recap of the market conditions for last month. The numbers remain quite strong so it looks like 2011 is starting off with no real surprises. Toronto and the surrounding areas are experiencing very stable conditions.



To start the year we had 4,333 sales reported, which is slightly below the same month last year. Our challenge and the big story is that the inventory numbers are extremely low, sitting at 11,815. There have never been fewer properties available in any January that I could find in the records going all the way back to the 90’s.!!! This current level puts us at a 2.7 month supply of listings which all “experts” would agree points to the market tilted slightly in the favor of the sellers. The word on the street from other agents I know is that there is a big shortage of good listings out there. They have buyers waiting and are ready to jump on properties as they come available. Good listings are being sold very quickly and we still have many instances of multiple offers on some properties.



SO the question always remains … what does 2011 have in store for us? My personal opinion and that of many experts, is we will see a slight decrease in the number of sales this year over 2010. In addition, inventory numbers will remain low causing prices in the GTA will rise at a slower pace than we’ve experienced over the last few years. To put things in perspective though, some of the previous few years have been crazy, so we’ll go back to more “normal” activity and price increases. While many areas of the GTA will remain in a hot “Sellers Market”, it appears that the further the area is from the city centre and the higher the price of the home is compared to the average in the area, the more adversely affected the particular market may be.



As discussed in the past, there are 3 main conditions that will cause our market to remain stable.

1. Our inventory levels are very low and should remain low. We won’t have a huge influx of new listings or see anything close to other areas around the world as far as “distressed properties” coming on the market. Buyers won’t be able to sit back to pick and choose.

2. Mortgage interest rates are very low and should remain low for quite some time. Although we may see marginal increases over the next while, home ownership will remain very affordable.

3. Our economy is very strong and seems to be improving. Canada is a shining star in the world economy. We’ve been far less affected by negative economic conditions experienced elsewhere. Toronto will be right up front leading the pack in Canada.



Unless something drastic happens and we see significant changes in the 3 conditions above, we’ll be in great shape for the year. If you know anyone who wants to take advantage of these interesting market conditions, whether they want to sell OR buy, call me with their information or give them my number. I’ll work hard for them and give them the “red carpet” treatment!

Best regards,

Lisa Portolese, Sales Representative
Royal LePage Kingsbury Realty, Brokerage
905 568-2121 Office
LisaPort@rogers.com

Are basement apartments legal in Mississauga?

Accessory Dwelling Units

City of Mississauga Zoning By-laws do not permit the creation of ADU'S, most commonly known as "basement apartments or conversions."


Some circumstances exist under which an existing accessory dwelling unit may be permitted of it can be established that it was in existence on November 16, 1995. If you have a house that was built after 1995, you are not eligible to create a new ADU or to keep an existing accessory dwelling unit.

Under the previous Provincial legislation, basement apartments created between July 14, 1994 and November 16, 1995 must be exempted from Zoning By-law prosecution as they were deemed to be "grandfathered" if they complied with Fire and Building Code Regulations. ADU's created during this period do not have to comply with current Zoning By-laws, but they do have to meet all other requirements.

The following are some of the minimum requirements that must be met for an ADU to be considered exempted from prosecution and "grandfathered":

•ADU's are only permitted in detached, semi-detached or row house dwellings and must have been built prior to 1996.

•The appearance or character of the house can not be significantly altered so that its appearance is no longer that of a one unit structure.

•The walls and ceilings of all existing stairways must be continuous in the unit and provide a required fire-rated drywall separation between the dwelling units. Doors forming part of the fire separation between units or as an exit must meet specifications relating to thickness and size and be complete with a door closer and latch.

•Exits whether shared or separate must meet Fire Code and/or Building Code specifications.

•ADU does not have to be secondary to the main unit (smaller square footage).

•Compliance with the City of Mississauga Property Standards By-law 654-98, as amended relating to "habitable" space:

Floors, walls, ceilings, exterior walls, water/draft tight and free from dampness.

Windows, skylights for every room other than a kitchen which open directly to the outside and are of a size not less than that required by the Ontario Building Code. Bathrooms maybe equipped with a fan and a heating system capable of providing and maintaining suitable heat in accordance with City of Mississauga Adequate Heat By-law 365-95, as amended.

Minimum ceiling heights (6'5") as required under the Ontario Building Code.

A kitchen equipped with a refrigerator, stove in good repair and working condition.

Cupboards having a capacity of not less than four cubic feet multiplied by the total number of persons occupying the unit.

Counter tops, drawer, plumbing and plumbing fixtures maintained in the good condition and approved by permit in the case of all plumbing.

•ADU's must have operational smoke alarms as required, and in conformance with City of Mississauga Smoke Alarm By-law 284-93, as amended or the Ontario Fire Code.

•ADU's must have operational carbon monoxide detectors as required by City of Mississauga Carbon Monoxide Detector By-law 77-99, as amended.

•Electrical installations must be inspected and certified by the Electrical Safety Authority.

•Every second Dwelling Unit which is deemed illegal or exempt from prosecution under the provisions of the Land Use Planning and Protection Act will be reported to Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, Toronto West Taxes Services Office, Investigation Division.

If you have an existing basement apartment and wish to request an inspection to determine its compliance, please contact the Compliance and Licensing Section Call Centre at 905-896-5655.

Any property owner interested in establishing "grandfathering status" and applying for exemption from our Zoning By-law must pay a $250.00 administration and inspection fee.

To help home owners determine if they meet the "grandfathering test" a "requirement check list" has been prepared and should be consulted by all property owners seeking grandfathering status for their ADU.


An affidavit will be requested as a minimum requirement and must be written by the person who can personally attest to the fact that the ADU was in existence on November 16, 1995. This person may be the current owner or former property owner. An affidavit is a written declaration or statement of facts made by the "deponent" under oath or affirmation, and is administered by a person authorized for taking affidavits. (e.g. lawyer)

In addition to an affidavit, property owners will be required to provide such proof as financial documentation (e.g. copies of leases and rent receipts) or real estate listings, as well as an affidavit to provide evidence that the secondary unit did exist on November 16, 1995.

Related Links:
Requirements for Existing Apartments

I miss you my friend.

Tonight I looked into the sky and it was beautiful. I then realised it's because you are there, Maureen.

You hang with the angels but part of you will always be here.

I see you in your Brothers smile, the twinkle in Matt's eyes and the look on Lukes face when I talk too much, which is ALOT...I hope Porter made it over to the good side with you, doubt it...but I pray...: )

Is Mississauga Real Estate a Good Investment?

Port Credit Lighthouse

IS MISSISSAUGA REAL ESTATE A GOOD INVESTMENT?

For those wanting a steady return on their money, houses can be a sure bet. When the baby boomers started madly buying houses in the 1980s, suddenly real estate seemed like the path to instant wealth. The real estate markets fluctuate... constantly. There have been times when house prices have gone down. However if you look at the overall price of homes in your area over the last 10 years, in most cases, (depending on your region) prices have risen.

Where is the housing market headed? Nobody can accurately predict. But even if house prices don't rise phenomenally, a home has two strong things going for it as an investment. First, any capital gains on your principal residence are tax-free. If your house appreciates by 6 per cent, you get to keep every cent of your gains.

Now 6 per cent may not sound like much, but in terms of how much you end up with, you'd have to earn as much as 12 per cent on a fixed-income investment such as a GIC to match that return, after tax.

Second, you don't have to come up with the full purchase price, meaning you're able to harness leverage. The conventional mortgages require a down payment of 25 per cent of a house's appraised value. Where as the High Ratio Mortgage, requires only 5% down payment.

For example, if you buy a $200,000 home, you need to come up with around $50,000 for a conventional mortgage. If the home's value rises to $220,000, that's an increase of 10 per cent. But what's really happened is you've put up $50,000, and made $20,000. Your real gross return on your invested funds is around 40 per cent. But notice the word “gross”. Don't forget that your real return will be less.

Buying a home and having a mortgage is also a tremendously powerful forced savings program.

An Obituary printed in the London Times - As posted by a Rev on Facebook

An Obituary printed in the London Times - Interesting and sadly rather true.


Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as ...having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;

- Why the early bird gets the worm;

- Life isn't always fair;

- and Maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;

I Know My Rights

I Want It Now

Someone Else Is To Blame

I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Voluntourism

More and more people are combining vacations with volunteer work—the growing phenomenon called "voluntourism." And nobody provides such a fun, inviting overview of the possibilities as savvy travel writer Pam Grout in the latest title in our 100 Best Vacations series.

From building houses in Appalachia to saving sea turtles in Costa Rica to teaching English in Thailand, this book is a rich resource of ways to use your skills to help out the world and reap some lasting benefits yourself. Sidebars describe nearby places to visit, little-known facts, and more, while a comprehensive resource listing gives additional information about the different organizations offering volunteer vacations.


Volunteer vacations are relatively new phenomena that combine domestic or international travel with the opportunity to help others while enjoying yourself.

Depending upon the program, location and other specific criteria, room and board is often part of the experience, making it an affordable way to visit areas that might otherwise have been out of the question.

Some programs actually pay a small stipend for those that volunteer for longer-than-average durations.

If you are considering a volunteer vacation it is important to plan ahead, especially for overseas locations.

A passport/visa will be needed and you may have to get vaccinations.

Many programs have a limited number of spots available, or there may be qualification criteria, so make sure you apply early.

You can learn more at the following websites:

http://charityguide.org/volunteer/vacations.htm

http://www.americanhiking.org/volunteervacation.aspx

http://www.globalvolunteers.org/

http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/national/service.aspx

http://www.independenttraveler.com/

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/volunteer/index.shtml

New Canadian Mortgage Rules



Housing market should be resilient in 2011 thanks to low interest rates and Government to introduce new mortgage rules as reported by CTV.ca News Staff.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is expected to introduce new regulations on Monday designed to reduce Canadians’ skyrocketing household debt levels.

Flaherty will announce the new measures at a news conference scheduled for 8 a.m., before North American markets open.

CTV News has learned that Flaherty will unveil three new rules

* Mortgage amortization periods will be reduced to 30 years from 35 years.

* The maximum amount Canadians can borrow to refinance their mortgages will be lowered to 85 per cent from the current 90 per cent.

* The government will withdraw its insurance backing on lines of credit secured on homes, such as home equity lines of credit.

According to a government official, the rules are aimed “at encouraging responsible lending and borrowing and encouraging people to increase their home equity.”

“The rules are designed to significantly reduce interest payments to help Canadians get rid of their mortgages before they retire,” CTV’s Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported Sunday evening.

The new rules comes on the heels of a Bank of Canada announcement that Canadians’ domestic debt burdens had hit the highest levels on record. The bank said earlier this month that the ratio of household debt to disposable income has reached 147 per cent.

Canadian household debt is now at $1.4 trillion, while mortgage delay payments have increased by 50 per cent,” Fife said.

“In fact, the International Monetary Fund says household debt is the number one risk to the Canadian economy.”

OREA's January 2011 issue of Queen's Park Plus

OREA's January 2011 issue of Queen's Park Plus is now online! Thank you to the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) for always helping us members keep up to date with the latest information to assist our clients.


OREA: Ontario long-term housing strategy does not address homeownership


After months of consultations, the Government of Ontario released its Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy in December 2010. Ontario’s Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy is designed to improve access to affordable housing. Unfortunately, the strategy does not include a homeownership component, something that OREA strongly recommended during consultations.

Instead, the strategy reforms the province’s housing system by:

• Consolidating Ontario’s housing and home-lessness programs to give municipalities the flexibility to use funding to address local needs.

• Simplifying the rent-geared-to-income calculation process so that most tenants would only declare their income once a year.

• Expanding affordable housing options by requiring municipalities to set policies that would

allow second units in new and existing developments.

• Clarifying the roles and responsibilities of municipalities and the province to create stronger

partnerships and greater accountability.

While the strategy improves the province’s approach to social housing, it does not include any

component to help Ontarians achieve their homeownership dreams.

OREA wrote the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing noting the association’s disappointment with the lack of support for homeownership in the new housing strategy. Specifically, OREA’s letter noted that homeownership builds strong stable communities and helps drive the provincial economy through consumer spending and construction.
 
You can see a sample letter online.
 
Other Top Stories Include:


OREA: Ontario Long-Term Housing Strategy Does Not Address Homeownership

CREA Launches Call For Action on Potential Changes to Mortgage Financing Rules

Poll: Ontario PCs in Majority Government Territory

Ten Per Cent Relief on Electricity bills Starts January 1st

OREA Welcomes New Minister of Labour

Ontario Approves Rent Increase

Social Media: Follow, Friend or Watsh OREA Government Relations

Happy New Year!

New Years Resolutions...

Take time to think; it is the source of Power.
Take time to study; it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to play; it is the secret of keeping young.
Take time to be quiet;it is the opportunity to seek God.
Take time to laugh;it is is the singing of the soul.
Take time to dream; it is where HOPE for the future begins.
Take time to pray; it is the greatest power on earth.

Wishing you all a year of health, happiness, prospertity and love. : )

The CN Tower is arguably Toronto’s most recognizable and famous landmark. The world’s tallest free-standing structure is surrounded by the very heart of North America’s fifth largest city. But there is more to downtown Toronto than this dizzying 553-meter-tall pin-looking structure. The Art Gallery of Ontario (featuring a large collection of Henry Moore sculptures), City Hall, the Design Exchange museum, the Hockey Hall of Fame-downtown Toronto is home to an exciting number of famous sights. One can’t forget the biggest Chinatown in North America. Not many people know that this central neighbourhood of Toronto hosts the third largest theatre district in the world, right after New York and London. And south of Union Station, the redeveloped harbour front is one of the world’s most beautiful harbours.


Downtown Toronto is packed with towering glass and steel buildings, a must-see for any enthusiast of contemporary architecture. Toronto’s mushrooming downtown condominiums also follow this trend of modern, sometimes posh, beauty of contemporary buildings. Toronto assumes the mantle position of the condo capital of North America.

Let’s take a quick tour of some of Toronto’s  neighbourhoods:

On the Waterfront

Residents of Toronto consider this neighbourhood as their front porch to the world. This rapidly developing area will be filled with parks, promenades, boardwalks-and high-rise condominium developments. Developers claim that the Waterfront will become a magnet for tourism, thus making Ontarians proud of their capital city.


Our "Wall Street" on Bay.

What Wall Street is to the U.S., Bay Street is to Canada. This neighbourhood is the fast-beating heart of Toronto’s financial district. Four out of five major Canadian banks have office towers at the intersection of Bay Street and King Street. Bay Street stretches from the Toronto Harbour in the south to Davenport Road in the north. During the 1990s, condominium developments swelled along Bay Street, offering urban living in a comfortable yet luxuriously expensive proximity to the headquarters of the country’s largest companies and financial institutions. The Great Fire of 1904 left most of the downtown core in ruins. Bay Street, right up to Queen Street, burned to the ground. Over the years, Bay Street has been able to rebuild itself into an economical engine, not only for the city, but perhaps for the country as well.


Avenue Road

This broad street runs north from Bloor to Metropolitan Toronto’s bifurcating highway, the Trans-Canada or 401. South of Bloor, Avenue Rd is renamed University Avenue. There, it sways past the quarry stone exterior of the Royal Ontario Museum and around leafy Queen’s Park with its life-size equestrian statue of King Edward VII (originally from India), the grounds and Philosopher’s Walk of the University of Toronto, and Ontario’s Parliament buildings. In a strip of stately commercial mansions, you pass Indiva fashions with their wrought iron gate, faux French pillars, arches and decorative balconies. There’s Tiffany’s marble front with a statue of Atlas holding a Roman numeral-faced clock, and Rolex with its white and gold watch, Hermes, Louis Vitton, Chanel and Godiva Chocolates.

King West

This central Toronto neighbourhood is characterized by beautiful Victorian-style townhouses, trendy bars, restaurants and art studios. King West is an area with perhaps the most vibrant nightlife. Many small older buildings are being renovated and retrofitted to preserve the historical character of King. Despite taller condos going up on the north side of King West, the city plans to preserve the low-rise, old-city character on the south side of King. A great stretch of majestic buildings and very lively restaurants (on the south side from John to Spadina) is what makes this neighbourhood so popular. King Street West runs east to west, from Queensway to the Don River. It features the busiest streetcar line in Toronto, averaging about 50,000 passengers a day. Some must-sees in the area include the Roy Thomson Concert Hall, Canada’s Walk of Fame, and the Anglican Cathedral Church of St. James.

CityPlace

Once railway land in downtown Toronto, CityPlace is now a large condo development near the city’s lakeshore, a stone’s throw away from the financial district. Located at Spadina Avenue and Lakeshore Boulevard, CityPlace condominiums have been built at an ideal location near the SkyDome at Spadina and Front. The current CityPlace condo development was conceived by Concord Adex developments to be the tallest and largest in Toronto history. CityPlace, which will consist of 20 high-rises, half a dozen low-rise structures and 100 townhomes puts an end to a 30-year debate about the proper use of the old railway lands. From ching-ching to cheap, this neighbourhood features a vast array of restaurants. There is no shortage of greenery, either; parks, ponds and walking paths are everywhere, as the planners have devoted half of the CityPlace property to green space.

St. Lawrence Market

The St. Lawrence Market area used to serve as an industrial port back in the early 1900s. It had been neglected for decades when, in the ’70s, Toronto refurbished the area. This is where Canada’s Confederation began-in the historical St. Lawrence Hall building. The St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood is known for its unique and vivid architectural style. One of its landmarks, the Flatiron Building, was built before its younger brother in Manhattan. One of two major markets flourishing in Toronto, The St. Lawrence Market offers fresh food and a variety of goods. Some of the original factories of the area have been converted into lofts, and recently a number of new condominium developments have been built here.

Spectacular Sky behind St. Lawrence Market by Ian Muttoo

Yonge and Eglinton

Nicknamed "Young and Eligible" for its popularity with young professionals, this neighbourhood used to be part of the old Town of North Toronto. Nowadays, high-rise residential towers characterize this neighbourhood. Yonge and Eglinton is an area of many faces: here you can find a healthy mixture of townhouses, semi- and high-density condo developments. This affluent community is also very popular with young families. It is home to numerous sidewalk cafés and clothing boutiques. Mount Pleasant Cemetery is the largest green space in this neighbourhood. The Yonge Eglinton Centre complex includes a four-level shopping mall and multiplex cinema.

18 St Thomas StreetYorkville

The city’s premiere shopping and dining district, Yorkville is one of the city’s few areas open for business on statutory holidays. A unique mixture of historic charm and modern seduction, Yorkville is home to an unbelievable 700 galleries. The Village of Yorkville was incorporated in 1853; up until then, it was non other than a quiet rural village just outside Toronto’s city limits. In the sixties, it was populated by Bohemians and hippies. This neighbourhood features attractive courtyards and alleyways, and a central contemporary park. The Toronto International Film Festival descends on the area each year, infiltrating many of the cinemas in the area.


South Etobicoke

This is an area in transition; however, the local Montgomery’s Inn turns back the wheel of time to the late 1840s. During the past few decades, the neighbourhood has seen the establishment of a great selection of entertainment options, services and businesses. South Etobicoke has a wide variety of residential communities divided by highways, rail corridors and industrial areas. The Etobicoke neighbourhood includes single-family homes, small-scale apartment buildings, as well as the more densely populated new condominium developments, with a number of public parks-James Gardens being one of them on the banks of the Humber River.


The Village

In local vernacular, this neighbourhood is known as the "Gaybourhood." No wonder, for this vital and booming community houses one of the largest gay populations in North America. This large area is bordered by the streets Bloor, Yonge, Jarvis and Carlton. There are many trendy little eateries with patios along the strip. Not many Americans know that the television series Queer As Folk was filmed here; Church Street is where many of the external shots for QAF came from. The Village is a historic community with beautiful Victorian houses and apartments that date back to the late 19th century; however, new condominium developments are now being erected.

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The Greater Toronto Area is beautiful indeed...next we shall tour Mississauga, the city just next door where Mayor Hazel McCallion lives

She Sells, Seashells. End of the year Toronto Real Estate Report.

Life is like the ebb and flow of the tides...there are highs and lows. Remember that during low tide, you will find the best sea shells. ; )
I’m sending through my final real estate report for 2010.

This year has been a very interesting time for the Toronto Real Estate business. Twelve months ago, there was a sense euphoria spreading through the industry, new agents were flooding to the business and new companies popping up all the time. Since that time there have been many so called “experts” who were predicting the demise of the Toronto area real estate market. There was to be some sort of a “bubble” that was going to burst. Well it ended up that a bit of air out of an over-heated market leaked out. Has the market softened? Yes it has in most areas and is settling back to a more “normal” market. There are however several areas and price ranges in our market that are still hotter than ever, seeing multiple offers and over asking sales prices.


I just checked the stats for the Toronto Real Estate Board. As of December 15th there have already been 2,923 sales reported for the month. It looks like we’ll see well over 4,000 sales in total once December is done. That’s pretty darn good for a December. We are currently down to 13,360 homes for sale. That number has dropped by 1,700 in only 14 days. There are approx 3,000 listings that will expire by New Years day AND another 1,000+ will likely sell before the end of the month. I’m quite confident that the number of homes for sale on January will drop well below 10,000 units. For those of you who aren’t familiar with our market, that is a ridiculously low number. Right now (Yes … BEFORE Christmas) is probably the best time possible for anyone to list their home.

There are 3 main things that control a real estate market and what happens to prices. Inventory levels, interest rates and the local economy. Inventory levels are alarmingly low. Interest rates are very low and will stay low for quite a while. Our local economy is one of the strongest in the world and has barely skipped a beat throughout the turmoil in other countries. These 3 factors point to the market to continue to be healthy. We should see moderate increases in value and not the price drops being predicted by others. Activity will remain strong although not at the crazy pace we’ve experienced for the past few years. That’s a normal, healthy real estate market. Will there be casualties? Yes. Weak agents and weak real estate companies will struggle and there will be some who won’t be around 12 months from now. Agents AND real estate companies will need to make changes.

Real estate is a great business. Great agents who work hard will always do well no matter what is happening in the market.

Happy Holidays and CHEERS to 2011!

Please allow me to introduce myself.....

I would like you to come on out and see how the "Hidden Musical Population" raises funds for charity.

One of our members would like you to come on out and see how the "Hidden Musical Population" raises funds for charity. The League Of Rock is an Adult Music League, much like a pick-up league for baseball or hockey, only these members play in rock bands. Among the many professionals who are members in this league, are real estate agents, lawyers, accountants, moms, dads and well, you get the picture. On December 14th at 7pm, The League Of Rock's Toronto Chapter has six bands showcasing at The Silver Dollar Room located at 486 Spadina Rd., just north of College on the west side. This event is a drive for donations to The Daily Bread Foodbank. This is an all ages event, the younger ones are welcome but make sure you bring ear protection for them. Lisa Portolese of Royal LePage Kingsbury will be doing a set with LOR Band "Instant Gratification". Come and see what everyone's talking about and make a donation too. See why this would make an excellent addition to how we as Realtors network and help make our communities a better place to live. $10 at the door and donations to The Daily Bread Food Bank are welcome! If you cannot attend, please donate online via this link (Daily Bread Food Bank) Members of the Toronto Real Estate Board and the Mississauga Real Estate Board might consider a League Of Rock program for those of us who don't play baseball, golf or bowl and would still like to network and raise funds for all kinds of charities (The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, The Childrens Wish Foundation and Easter Seals to name just a few). League Of Rock's Founder, Terry Moshenberg would be happy to discuss the many ways to develop a unique music-based program for your organization. This works not just for the GTA but Across Canada. They also do Music-Based Team Building & Leadership Training (http://TeamBuilding.LeagueOfRock.com ).
For more details, call Lisa Portolese at her office (905) 568-2121 or Terry Moshenberg, Founder: 416.908.5284