• Tag: Toronto

    How to Find a Great Neighbourhood When Looking for a Home

    Posted on by Trisha Wilson

    Finding the perfect home can be challenging, but deciding which neighbourhood to live in is perhaps even more important. After all, you’ll never love a house if you don’t like your community, right? Your location affects everything from affordability to your quality of life. A great neighbourhood maintains or raises your home’s value, making it easier to sell down the line. Here are some of the features to look for during your search for the ideal place to move.

    Check out the area schools, parks and community centres

    If you have or are planning to have children, living in an area known for its sought-after schools and daycare centres increases your property value. Having lots of green space, playgrounds and sports complexes for extra-curricular activities also boosts a home’s cachet.

    Figure out your commute

    Whether you’ll be driving to the office, cycling or taking public transportation, you’ll want to be sure you’re not spending hours on the road twice a day or more if you and your family participate in sports or other activities. Do a trial run of your commute, or find out if you’ll be driving with or against traffic during peak hours. Choosing a house near a subway or bus stop or commuter train station is a smart move.

    Use your senses

    Many homeowners opt to live on a quiet street as a respite from urban noise and traffic. Walk through the neighbourhood you’re considering and pay attention: Can you hear birds chirping, or cars honking and planes flying overhead? Are the homes well maintained and the streets well lit? Do the local shops and eateries seem like places you want to hang out in? Take a deep breath: Do you smell any weird industrial odours? Be sure you can picture yourself living here.

    Evaluate an area’s “walkability”

    Want to be able to pick up some groceries on foot or hop on your bike to get your morning coffee? See if the home you’re looking at is located in a walkable neighbourhood. Having to get in the car and drive 15 minutes when you run out of milk works for some folks, but not everyone.

    See if your potential ‘hood offers cultural and outdoor options

    Whether you love going to plays, movies, art galleries or concerts, or staying active by hiking, biking or jogging, you’ll want these activities to be located close to your new home. If you have a dog, be sure there are plenty of dog runs or open areas nearby.

    Talk to the neighbours

    Sometimes the best way to get the lay of the land is by chatting with people who can guide you. Ask your Realtor and/or ring a few doorbells surrounding the house you’re interested in, and ask these potential neighbours what they love about where they live. Find out where they shop, eat and go out on the town.

    Asking the right questions and evaluating all your options using the best resources will help you find your ideal community!

     

    Written By: Wendy Helfenbaum, Real Estate 101, Relator.ca

    What Does The Change In The Market Mean For Sellers?

    Posted on by Trisha Wilson

    The recent changes being reported in the news can paint a negative picture, particularly for detached homes in the city. But the truth is that this market is very much alive and capable of fulfilling your real estate goals. It might just take a little bit of elbow grease!

    Selling is no longer as simple as putting a sign on the lawn

    This time last year, selling a home the same day it went on the market was far from unusual. But the market has changed, and we are in a much more balanced market than we saw in all of 2017. That doesn’t mean your home WON’T sell, but it may require that you stage it, hire a professionals cleaning company, declutter and plan for plenty of open houses.

    Your home needs to be priced competitively

    Let’s say you remember a sale that happened in your neighbourhood last summer, the house was similar to yours and sold for $250,000 above asking, so logically, you could price your home at the asking price plus $250,000 and it might even sell for more (inflation!), but the hard truth is that your home is priced based on the most recent sales. If there hasn’t been much activity in your community then it may be time to test the market. The most important thing to do when testing the market is to react quickly to a price change. A good thing to consider is how much traffic your agent anticipated? If they expected much more than you have been seeing, that is a clear indication that it is time to reassess the asking price.

    You may need to make some upgrades before you list

    The truth is in this market, to get the money you’re looking for, it may be worth your while to consider some upgrades. Big ticket items such as kitchens and bathrooms can be a great way to increase the bottom line on your home. If such a big undertaking isn’t something you’re ready for, redoing trim work or painting and changing light fixtures is a great way to add some appeal on a budget! Whether you’re planning a big or small renovation, the first thing on your list of to-dos should be to address any issues that could come up during a home inspection. Your potential sale could depend on it!

    Choose the right agent who will do the necessary work to market your property effectively!

    There are a lot of things to think about when selling your home, choosing the right agent is one of them! While their sales history, list of services provided and list of contacts are crucial aspects of your decision to hire an agent, it is also important to find out how they plan to market your home. According to a 2017 study by the National Association of Realtors, 44% of people start their search for their next home online. It is important that your agent has a strong online presence, and that they will be sharing your property with their vast audience, as well as advertising throughout the community and neighbourhood. Choosing the right agent can make the sale either a breeze or a nightmare. Choose wisely!

    Farmers’ Markets To Visit This Summer

    Posted on by Trisha Wilson

    Toronto is a wonderful city known for many things including farmers’ markets!

    Toronto neighbourhoods offer many farmers’ markets throughout the year for community members to enjoy. Below is a collection of some of Toronto’s best. Head out to discover all that they have to offer and leave the market with a bag full of fresh produce and fun memories!

    Annette Farmers’ Market

    When: Every Wednesday from May to October, 3pm-7pm
    Where: Runnymede Presbyterian Church parking lot
    680 Annette Street, Toronto, ON, M6S 1V9

    Etobicoke Civic Centre Farmers’ Market

    When: Every Saturday from June 2 to October 27, 2018, 8am-2pm
    Where: Etobicoke Civic Centre
    399 The West Mall, Etobicoke, ON M9C 2Y2

    Humber Bay Shores Farmers’ Market

    When: Every Saturday from May 26 to October 6, 2018, 9am-2pm
    Where: Humber Bay Park West
    2225 Lake Shore Blvd W, Etobicoke, ON M8V 3X7

    Stonegate Famers’ Market

    When: Every Tuesday from June to October, 4pm-7pm
    Where: Christ Church St. James Anglican Church parking lot
    194 Park Lawn Rd, Etobicoke, ON M8Y 3J1

    Market Days at Montgomery Inn

    When: Every Wednesday, year-round, 2pm-6pm (Indoor during the winter)
    Where: Montgomery’s Inn
    4709 Dundas St. W, Etobicoke, On M9A 1A8

    Weston Farmers’ Market

    When: Every Saturday from May 12 to October 27, 2018, 7am-2pm
    Where: The GO Parking lot
    1865 Weston Rd (South of Lawrence Avenue), York, ON M9N 1V9

    Toronto’s Tree Campaign

    Posted on by admin

    Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation has been helping Toronto transform its parks and green spaces since 2002. They work with the City of Toronto, community groups, neighbourhoods and individuals to better the community and reimagine your local parks.

    Every Tree Counts is a program in Toronto to grow our tree canopy to 40%. For all you tree lovers, this is the perfect chance to fill in that empty space on your lawn! By simply calling or messaging the City of Toronto, you can request to have a tree planted in front of your lawn or business. The Foundation’s website (http://everytreecounts.ca/) elaborates on the benefits of this initiative: “Making Trees Count funding aims to encourage innovative partnerships and support projects and collaborations that improve the quality of life for all of Toronto’s residents”.

    Key objectives are to increase the number of native trees and shrubs planted on private land, to support tree care activities and to support communities including neighbourhoods with less trees. The program also strives to build community capacity, knowledge sharing, partnerships and networks while facilitating community driven, locally owned tree upkeeping efforts.

    A representative will come to your property to examine exactly where your tree should be planted. They will determine which species of tree is best suited for your area depending on the sunlight and soil. Toronto is presently at 19.5% and is continuing to run this program to encourage communities and neighbourhoods to get involved and take the initiative to become a part of the Making Trees Count campaign.

    For those who want to be further involved, they can also apply for a grant through the city’s Every Tree Counts initiative which funds tree giveaways and community events while providing an excellent opportunity to be hands-on in helping the community

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