September 10, 2009 • 8:35 pm
Although much of the advice in this article boils down to having a Realtor who knows and follows the Code of Ethics and Rules and Regulations of practicing real estate in Ontario, it does give you insight into possible situations and if your Realtor is approaching them the right way.
Enjoy!
By Ellen Roseman
If you’re in the market to buy a home, you may find yourself in a bidding war. Last month, one in every six houses sold in greater Toronto was getting multiple offers. The local real estate market has come back from a slump earlier this year. Sales were up 2 per cent and average prices up 0.5 per cent year-to-date compared with the first eight months of 2008, the Toronto Real Estate Board says. In fact, the resale housing market posted record sales in June, July and August.
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Filed under: Buying
September 2, 2009 • 9:31 pm
By Nick Horton
Also view on www.yelp.com
The Lorretto School House is a well executed loft coversion project that mixes well with it’s residential Annex neighbourhood counterpart.
With any new build or conversion project in a residential neighbourhood the architect, or in this case Toronto design firm 3rd Uncle, must be very aware of its’ street presence. As a real estate professional, defining future value is critical and one criteria I use to define value is curb intelligence. A property must not only be appealing singularly, but also in a broader sense. Simply put, is it intelligently designed to match the street scape of the surrounding neighbourhood today and in the future? By keeping much of the original school house facade, the Loretto is curb intelligent.
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Filed under: Buying, My Nickel
August 14, 2009 • 11:39 pm
By Nick Horton
Also view on www.yelp.com
Sixty Lofts doesn’t exactly hide in the shadows of King West. Quite the opposite.
The eleven story multi-coloured glass mid-rise sits on the wrong side of Bathurst amongst its considerably shorter neighbours. Bringing light to its strength as well as weakness: Location.
King West is thriving. Access to the Gardiner Expressway is never easy but available and Bay St. means a quick streetcar ride. Additionally, Peter Freed has put his dynamic stamp on much of the area and arguably has made King West (even more) ascetically and financially attractive.
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Filed under: Buying, My Nickel
By Nick Horton
Also view on www.yelp.com
The Liberty Lofts make a discerning choice for the first-time home buyer.
The St. Lawrence Market in close proximity, young urbanites with an appetite to entertain will enjoy the the authentic loft lifestyle. A true hard-loft conversion (previously a Gillette razor factory), the original four-story building and the recessed addition for the fifth floor penthouses blend nicely with Adelaide’s industrial streetscape.
Walking inside the authenticity continues. A narrow courtyard seemingly dividing the structure in two, houses the sluggish elevator and more efficient and often used stairwells. A slim atrium effect is achieved by skylights spanning it’s length, providing sunlight for some shrubbery.
Pros: Changing neighbourhood with great growth potential, authentic exposed brick and beam frame, character.
Cons: Low grade finishes, similar units throughout, parking only for PH’s, sluggish elevator.
What’s interesting: The Original 1900’s Gillette Razor Factory, nice private terrace with some main floor units.
Info: 13 feet ceilings, multilevel PH with terrace, 80 Units, currently two 1br units available (2nd & 3rd floor)
www.nickhorton.com
Filed under: Buying, My Nickel
Condominium sales in the Toronto market may have hit bottom in the first quarter of the year, before rebounding in the second quarter according to figures released today.
After three consecutive quarters of negative growth, sales of condos hit 2,963 units in the second quarter, up 223 per cent from the dismal 917 sales in the first quarter of the year according to market research firm Urbanation Inc.
However, the market still has a ways to go before a full recovery. Sales are still down by 40 per cent from the second quarter of 2008. That quarter saw 4,962 sales, just before the market started to correct rapidly as the recession hit.
Filed under: Buying, News, Selling
