Archive for April 2015
New Condominiums and Occupancy Fees
By Lorne Shuman: Buying a brand new condominium from a builder is quite different from buying a resale condominium. This column will identify some of the unique aspects of buying a brand new condominium from a builder. When you buy a brand new condominium from a builder, you as a purchaser have a statutory ten…
Read MoreGTA Realtors® Release Q1 Resale Condo Market Figures
Toronto, April 17, 2015 — Toronto Real Estate Board President Paul Etherington announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 4,940 condominium apartment sales during the first quarter of 2015. This result represented an 11.1 per cent increase compared to 4,447 sales reported in Q1 2014. New listings were also up on a year-over-year basis by…
Read MoreGTA Realtors® Report Q1 Rental Market Figures
TORONTO, April 17, 2015 – Toronto Real Estate Board President Paul Etherington announced that condominium apartment rental transactions and listings reported by Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® were up strongly on a year-over-year basis in the first quarter of 2015. The total number of units rented was up by 20.9 per cent to 6,074. A very…
Read MoreGreening Your Bathroom Reno
Bathroom renovations are one of the most popular home improvement projects in Canada. Creating your dream bathroom can add greatly to both the value of your house, as well as your family’s enjoyment of your home. But bathroom renovations also offer a number of opportunities to include features that can dramatically improve the energy- and…
Read MoreGTA Realtors® Report Mid-April Resale Housing Figures
TORONTO, April 16, 2015 – Toronto Real Estate Board President Paul Etherington announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 4,635 home sales during the first 14 days of April 2015. This result represented a 3.4 per cent increase compared to April 2014. New listings over the same period were down by 4.6 per cent year…
Read MoreKeep Your Home Snug and Dry
Roofing and waterproofing contractors are gearing up for a busy Spring. An exceptionally harsh winter, spring rains combined with melting snow and spring’s freeze-thaw cycles all contribute to ice damming and basement flooding. One of the simplest precautions to prevent ice damming and the resultant roof damage, is a well-maintained soffit and downspout system. Having…
Read MoreResidential Mortgage Rates as of April 15, 2015
Term Fixed Closed Rate 6 months 3.95% 1 Year 2.79% 2 Year 2.29% 3 Year 2.39% 4 Year 2.77% 5 Year 2.69% or 2.49%* 7 Year 3.29% 10 Year 3.89% Prime = 2.85% Variable Closed (5 yr) = Prime minus 0.70% = 2.15% Variable Open = Prime plus 0.80% = 3.65% Secured Credit Lines =…
Read More5 Things To Know About Square Footage
Written by Mark Weisleder Here are 5 lessons to remember about square footage: 1. When you buy from builder plans, nothing is guaranteed: Some builders attach plans with square footage to their agreements, other don’t. Even if the plan is attached, The Tarion Warranty Programme permits registered builders to make errors up to 2% and…
Read MoreGetting Rid of Rodents
More and more Toronto homeowners are shocked to discover signs of rodent infestations in their homes and yards. Rats in particular are now common in the Toronto core and beyond. According to Toronto Public Health, urban environments provide excellent habitats for rodents to thrive and survive. Composting, food waste, vegetable gardens, undisturbed storage/rubbish, low shrubbery,…
Read MoreHandy Spring Cleaning Checklist
After the long Canadian winter, there’s something about this time of year that inspires us to throw open our windows and let the fresh breeze in. Spring is an ideal time to declutter and infuse renewed energy into our living space. A complete spring clean overhaul can take days of course, so plan accordingly and…
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