Month: August 2020

If you’re young and trendy in Toronto, you’re likely to consider renting a loft apartment. Artists, entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and first-time parents will all be searching “loft apartment near me”.

Not only are lofts contemporary, but they also offer more in terms of space, location, and services than traditional apartments or townhouses. Because they’re so popular, the owners of a loft property have the luxury of being able to select from a pool of quality tenants.

Hoping to attract renters to your loft? The tips that follow will ensure you tick all the right boxes for appealing loft apartment design.

Balance Industrial Design Details With Comfort

When painting walls or fitting out the kitchen, stick with neutral colors like relaxing blues, forest greens, and soothing greys. Preferred materials include brick, wood, and metals like copper or brass.

Use rugs and lighting to create the illusion of rooms.

Upcycled fixtures and fittings look best in a loft apartment design. Embrace the wear and tear on a wooden butcher block. Value the scratches in the finish of a vintage heating grill. They make a space feel comfortably lived-in.

Be Bold With Lighting Choices in a Loft Apartment

Industrial loft apartment design ideas offer a chance to get creative. Craft a chandelier from a used bicycle wheel. Turn cheese graters into pendant lights. Adorn a side table with a wine bottle lamp.

When offering a furnished apartment for rent, stick with lighting fixed to the wall or ceiling. You’ll reduce breakages.

Create Areas for Work and Play

Room dividers, open-sided bookshelves, and curtains can also be used to add privacy. Hang drapery around a king-sized bed to create a sleeping nook. Section off the living room behind a statement couch.

Be sure to include storage in your loft apartment: free-standing wardrobes, coat racks, and wall-mounted shelves. Opt for items with personality: think antique wooden cupboards and handcrafted cast iron hooks. Shop online for the best deals.

Reduce Noise With Clever Design

Loft apartment design favours an industrial aesthetic but all that steel and concrete are not so great for keeping the noise down.

Soft furnishings absorb sound. Choose fluffy floor rugs, hand-printed textile wall hangings, colourful couch cushions, and softly upholstered dining chairs and bar stools.

Want to keep a space feeling open, but need a quiet area for an office or playroom? Wall off a corner in floor-to-ceiling glass.

No One Wants a Smelly Home

It can be hard to minimize smells in a loft apartment. It’s an area that it’s important to invest in if you’re looking to have long term tenants and protect your apartment from damage.

Whisk away cooking odours from the open kitchen with a good quality extractor fan.

Consider the needs of renters with pets in the floor plan. Include a cat litter box or a dog-washing station in the bathroom. This will keep smells (and messes) away from living areas.

Keep odour-causing mold and moisture at bay. Install an exhaust fan in the bathroom. Vent the steam from the clothes dryer outside. Make sure at least some of the loft apartment windows can open.

Loft Apartments: Where Old and New Combine

Creativity is the key to loft apartment design that will attract renters. Aim for a mix of contemporary and vintage furniture pieces. Add character with locally made accessories and artwork.

Ready to rent out your loft apartment? Contact The Property Team to discuss your options.

Are you thinking about moving to Toronto? If so, you’re not the only one. By 2041, it’s expected that more than 9 million people will be living in Canada’s largest metro city. Before you make the big move, think about where you want to live. Toronto offers many beautiful dwelling types, including townhouses. Townhomes are usually in convenient locations and are more affordable than a detached home. At the same time, buying a townhouse isn’t for everyone.

It’s important to know all about townhomes before you purchase and move in. Should I buy a townhouse? Here are 5 things to know before buying a townhouse.

1. Townhouse vs Condo: What’s the Difference in Toronto?

Townhomes are often confused with condos. While they can be similar, they offer many differences.

A townhouse is a multi-level house that’s owned by an individual. There are multiple homes in a row that share one or two walls. Since townhomes stand side-by-side, they can also be narrower than the average home.

Condos are similar to apartments with each unit usually having one level. Condo units focus more on the community, offering amenities such as a pool and even a gym. While some townhouse complexes may offer a pool and other amenities, they usually don’t offer as much as a condo community.

Townhomes and condos also have different ownership structures.

Condos can have one of three ownership structures: traditional, co-op, and co-ownership.

Traditional condo ownership means you own your unit and sign a deed. Co-op means that you own shares into the company that owns the building and are allowed to occupy the unit. Co-ownership means you own a certain percentage of the building and have rights to your percentage.

These ownership structures may exist in a condo townhouse, which is a type of townhome complex that operates similarly as a condo.

There are also freehold townhomes (also known as a row house).

Freehold townhomes look like traditional townhomes. They’re narrow with multiple stories. Some may share walls with other houses and some may not. However, you fully own your townhouse. This means you won’t pay maintenance and other association fees, which we will cover in a different section.

2. Better Location in Toronto

Townhomes are pretty much available all over Toronto. But you’ll likely find a townhouse in the busiest parts of town, where not as much space is available.

This is ideal if you spend lots of time in a highly-populated area, such as downtown Toronto.

If you want to buy a house, you’ll likely have to move out in the suburbs. Some people dislike a long commute to work, school, and other places they frequent.

Apartments are also popular in busy areas. If you’re debating about buying a townhouse or renting a luxury apartment, a townhouse offers the best of both worlds. Like an apartment, a townhouse comes with less maintenance.

But since you own the townhouse, you have more autonomy. For example, you can paint the townhome and build a patio or other minor additions. A townhouse also offers more space and many complexes are pet-friendly.

Keep in mind, the townhomes closest to the downtown area will be more expensive. To save money, you can always find a townhouse on the outskirts of town that’s still close to public transportation.

3. Perfect for First-Time and Young Buyers

Townhomes are becoming popular for millennial homebuyers and even Gen Z-ers.

Most homes on the market are priced too high and the offerings are also slim. The average townhouse is pretty affordable and doesn’t require a major downpayment, which is perfect for young people who aren’t as established in their careers.

But townhouses also offer a single-family home feeling. They have plenty of space, a yard, and more. Since townhouses are closer to urban cities, millennials can work in busy areas and be able to socialize without commuting too far.

While many millennials have families, some younger people don’t have kids. Townhomes offer plenty of space, but space may not be the biggest concern for millennial homebuyers.

Instead, millennials have one major priority: pets. Since most apartment complexes are strict about pets, owning a townhome in a pet-friendly complex is more appealing.

4. Extra Fees

Some townhomes require extra fees, known as maintenance fees. They may seem expensive at first, but homeowners will soon learn that these fees can actually help them save money.

For example, maintenance fees include exterior maintenance, such as taking care of the yard. Busy homeowners not only save money but also time since they don’t have to worry about maintaining the exterior of the home and their yard.

In addition, most essential expenses are included in an easy payment. These expenses can include garbage, water, internet, and cable. With a freehold home, you’ll have to factor in these individual costs.

If the townhome you’re looking at requires hefty fees, it may be because the complex offers more amenities than the average one.

5. Privacy, Sharing Walls, and Noise

One of the downsides of townhome ownership is many people feel they lack privacy.

Even though you’re separated from other owners, you still share the walls. You may hear your neighbours through the wall, which can be a problem; for example, if you work customer service at home, loud neighbours may interfere with your work.

Since you all share the same building, one unit’s problems may also become your problem. For example, a leak on your neighbour’s side can move to your side. Same with mould issues.

Even though you own the land, the lack of space means your yard will be small. While this isn’t a problem for some homeowners, others prefer a larger yard.

Sharing a unit also means you’ll see your neighbours frequently, as opposed to owning a larger plot of land in a suburban area.

Buying a Townhouse in Toronto: We Can Help You

Are you interested in buying a townhouse? Townhomes come with pros and cons. If you’re looking at a townhouse, you should educate yourself before making any decisions. Finding a great realtor will also help during the townhome buying process.

Contact us if you want to buy a townhome in Toronto.

It’s no secret that Toronto is one of the most beautiful and exciting cities in the world. From the food, the arts, and its cultural diversity, Toronto is a destination that has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. If you’re relocating to Toronto, you’ll need to know some tips about finding the right home to meet your needs. This article takes a look at what you should know when moving to Toronto from anywhere in the world.

Keep reading to get the inside scoop on how to make your home-buying experience as fulfilling and stress-free as possible.

Make a List of the Things You Want and Need

Before you start the process of looking for a home, take the time to make a list of your wants and needs. Keep in mind that there is a difference between what you may want and what you actually need.

For example, you might want a pool, but this will add significantly to the price of the homes you’ll be looking at. Thus it could limit your options.

There are plenty of other options to consider that will impact price and location, making it more challenging to find the house of your dreams.

The purpose of creating this list is to help you focus on the things you need in a home before adding the various luxuries that are fun to have but perhaps not necessary.

Create a Budget

Once you have your list of wants and needs, it’s time to look at your budget. After all, buying a new home is one of the most expensive purchases you’ll ever make. Thus you’ll need to know exactly how much you can afford to spend.

When buying a home, it’s easy to believe that bigger is better. And yet you’ll need to avoid getting in over your head.

Creating your home-buying budget ahead of time will make the shopping process far less complicated. It will eliminate confusion and allow you to move quickly by avoiding looking at homes that are beyond your spending limit.

The city of Toronto is filled with tons of beautiful properties, giving you plenty of options and enabling you to spend as much as you desire.

Get Pre-Approved for Your Mortgage

Getting pre-approved for your home mortgage loan is a great tool for the home-buying experience. It’s especially helpful in dealing with sellers in a competitive real estate market.

The pre-approval process enables you to know exactly how much house you can afford, while also providing the ability to make an offer as soon as you find a house that you love.

Keep in mind that the loan approval process might take a bit of time upfront, but will ultimately save you time when you’re ready to buy.

Hire an Experienced Real Estate Agent

Hiring an experienced real estate agent is one of the best decisions you’ll make during the home-buying process. This is especially true when looking for a house in the Toronto area.

If you’re new to the city, you’ll likely feel overwhelmed by the sheer size of the area and the number of homes. A good realtor will have a thorough knowledge of the area and understand how to find what you’re looking for much faster than you’d be able to on your own.

Working with a skilled realtor can drastically shorten the process and help you find the best deal possible. They will understand how to help someone new to Toronto, and be able to provide tips about things to look for and things to avoid.

The key is to find a realtor with a solid reputation who make your life easier during a very stressful period of transition to an unfamiliar place.

Research the Area

When it comes to buying a home, location is extremely important. Especially when it comes to finding good schools for your children.

It’s important to remember that Toronto is a major city. There are hundreds of neighbourhoods, each with various advantages and disadvantages. The more you’re able to educate yourself about the area as a whole, the easier the home-buying process will be for you.

Also, keep in mind that you can always change or remodel your new home, but you can not alter the location. Thus you need to make sure that you’re very happy with the location of a home before settling down.

The location will also impact the value of the house you buy, both now and in the future. This is why you need to familiarize yourself with the average home values in the various parts of the city that you’re most attracted to.

Plan for the Future

Never lose sight of the future. Look for homes that will allow you to grow as your life changes. After all, your needs won’t necessarily be the same in a few years as there are today.

This is another reason why it’s so important to make a list of your current wants and needs so that you can also plan and dream about the future. You might not be able to foresee everything at this moment, but at least you’ll have a tool that will help you plan ahead.

Planning for the future is especially important when you have kids or plan to have them soon.

Schedule a Home Inspection

It’s not absolutely necessary to invest in a home inspection, but it’s highly recommended. An inspection is a great way to avoid buying a home with problems that might require expensive repairs.

Make an Offer

Once you find a house in Toronto that’s within your budget and you love, go ahead and make an offer.

This is another area where an experienced real estate agent can help you get the best deal possible by helping you understand what the home is worth so that you’ll get the most house for your money. Negotiation is essential!

Buy Your Dream House When Moving to Toronto

Buying a new home in a new city can be exciting yet stressful. Fortunately, this guide to finding the perfect house when moving to Toronto will help make the process as pleasant as possible.

Please contact us to learn more about how we can help find your dream home.

Loft apartments sound like a cityscape dream. Exposed brick and high ceilings in the middle of downtown may sound enticing, but is it worth the money?

You may even be asking yourself, “What is a loft apartment?”

Read on to find out, and to discover some tips for when it comes to renting or buying a loft apartment.

What is a Loft Apartment?

According to this article by Edina Realty, lofts are “large, open, adaptable spaces that have been converted for residential use.”

They often have exposed fixtures, high ceilings, and natural light sources. Similar to studio apartments, they’re open spaces with minimal walls. They’re very easy to organize and make your own.

Lofts, however, are characteristically larger than studio apartments. They’re usually adapted industrial spaces that have been converted into apartment-sized spaces.

Studios are usually built for efficiency. Lofts are built for the character.

There are Pros

The charm that comes with them is a major pro.

Since they’re usually adapted from factory workspaces, there are plenty of exposed beams and brick walls—a major trend right now.

Furniture can be easily adapted to match this aesthetic, or you can put your own twist on decorating.

Apartments are not always known for the extra room they provide their dwellers, but loft apartments are. Loft apartments are often spacious and have high ceilings. They have open-concept layouts that allow room for plenty of distinct areas to be created.

It’s easy to customize specific areas of the space to match your lifestyle. You’re not confined to the layout that a typical apartment grants, nor are you confined to the limits they bring to decorating and organization.

Lofts allow room to grow if you’re just starting out. If you’re not, it’s easy to create separate spaces for kids to play, you to work, or pets to sleep.

Pets may even appreciate the open concept of your loft apartment. No doors mean no problems!

There are Cons

All that extra space may come with a heftier price tag.

The fact that they’re adapted from older work buildings may add charm, but they may also lack updated utilities. High ceilings and big windows also allow more natural elements into the loft depending on the time of year, and this can rack utility bills up as well.

They also lack a traditional storage space. This can be great if you’re looking to create custom storage solutions for your home. But this can also be a major con if you prefer apartments that have plenty of readily available storage solutions.

Loft buildings can also lack traditional apartment amenities that normal complexes may offer. The repurposed buildings make space for gyms, pools, and other communal spaces hard to come by, and many opt to leave them out altogether.

If you live with roommates, loft apartments definitely aren’t ideal. Separate, quiet spaces can be hard to create in such an open space. However, if you don’t mind the openness that a loft brings then this wouldn’t be a problem for you.

In Toronto, Be Mindful

According to an article by Toronto Storeys, not all lofts are genuine.

There are “hard lofts” and “soft lofts.”

Hard lofts are the thing we’ve been talking about throughout this entire article. Buildings that have been repurposed from manufacturing or industrial warehouses. They’re usually “what comes to mind when you picture an industrial loft.”

Soft lofts are recently built condominiums that seek to recreate the historical loft style. These buildings often “boast taller ceilings than the norm and at times feature exposed piping and vents,” but they lack the ingenuity that comes with a hard loft.

Both often come with condo fees, and some have monthly maintenance fees, which are both factors to take into consideration when creating your budget.

According to Toronto Storeys, most hard lofts stand below 15 stories. If you’re looking for an apartment with a view, this can cause problems.

However, if this isn’t on your list of must-haves, then it can work in your favour. Especially if you’re afraid of heights.

Having your heart set on a loft apartment may also limit your neighbourhood choices in Toronto.

According to Toronto Storeys, most loft apartments sit on the east and west ends of the city, often away from the convenience of living next to a subway line. They’re situated in old warehouse districts of the city, where industrial workers once had to commute away from the suburbs to work for the day.

Know How to Decorate Your Toronto Loft

Light blocking curtains can help regulate temperatures inside your apartment.

Using large, dramatic rugs and one-of-a-kind art pieces can help distinguish areas inside your home. A large rug underneath the couch by the television helps mark off the living room. A piece of art hung beside the dining room table marks the dining room.

Placing large bookshelves beside your bed, or blocking off an area of your loft apartment with room dividers helps create privacy for a bedroom.

Adding plants can bring life into an otherwise industrial space. Large mirrors and oversized pillows placed on the floor create vanity areas or just a place for children to sit and place in a comfortable space.

Conclusion

Now that we’ve answered, “What is a loft apartment?” it’s up to you to decide whether one is worth seeking out.

Whether you opt for a downtown loft, a house in the suburbs, or a newly-built apartment with all those amenities you’ve been seeking, we can help.

Contact us today to get started on your home-searching journey, or check out our listings without leaving your current home.