His Worship Naheed Nenshi, Mayor of Calgary, spoke to the Toronto Real Estate Board Civic Connections event last week via Skype. Unfortuately the technology didn't work as well as hoped but what we did hear was very interesting.
He said that people choose where they live by city, not by country- e.g. people choose to live in London, not England; in New York, not USA; in Toronto, not Canada. The choose a place where they can make a great life and a great living- a lifestyle and the means to support it. However, the constitution of Canada doesn't recognize the importance of cities. He points out that if the federal government closed down, you wouldn't notice for several weeks; if the provincial government closed down, you wouldn't notice for a few days; but if the city governement closed down you would notice immediately. The city provides the services that people value the most but have the least ability to raise funds.
He is very big on civic engagement, giving people the power to use their own hands, hearts, and voice to accomplish things, and have real dialogue. He mentioned the example of the City of Calgary making parking at transit stations free. He asked people to give input to this by email or twitter. Surprising to him, the biggest response wasn't for or against the proposal but a thankyou for asking.
He was also a big proponent of mixed income neighbourhoods. He says poorer people moving to the suburbs for cheaper housing isn't really good for the public because it requires a need to build more schools, while other schools go lacking for students.
He mentioned that the City Council in Calgary is not ideology driven and that there are really no political parties there, compared to Toronto, where there are de-facto civic political parties.
Also, at the event several Royal LePage realtors were recognized for their civic or TREB volunteer service, including Cailey Heaps Estrin of the Ryal LePage Bayview Branch.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Leaside Garden Tour Sat. June 15, 11-4
This year's self-guided tour includes eight very special private gardens and provides the opportunity to meet the homeowner gardeners, ask questions and learn how these beautiful spaces were created.
A mix of mature and newer gardens in a variety of styles from English country to woodland shade will be featured. Of special interest are a knot garden, water feature, unusual flowering shrubs and vines and several examples of successful shade gardens.
Passports, which include garden addresses and a tour map, are $10.00 each (adults and children) and are available from sevral local merchants including our office, Royal LePage at 1391 Bayview Avenue (at McRae). The tour will proceed rain or shine.I have participated before and it is a great way to pass a lovely June afternoon.
A mix of mature and newer gardens in a variety of styles from English country to woodland shade will be featured. Of special interest are a knot garden, water feature, unusual flowering shrubs and vines and several examples of successful shade gardens.
Passports, which include garden addresses and a tour map, are $10.00 each (adults and children) and are available from sevral local merchants including our office, Royal LePage at 1391 Bayview Avenue (at McRae). The tour will proceed rain or shine.I have participated before and it is a great way to pass a lovely June afternoon.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
John Stanton of the Running Room on the 3-Way Win
Tuesday May 31, Royal LePage Real Estate Services 2010 Award winners heard John Stanton, President of the highly successful Running Room, speak at the “By Invitation” lunch at the new Allstream building (formerly the Automotive Building as the CNE). His message is that we are always looking for a 3-Way win, where the Client (customer), Company, and Community all win.
He emphasized how Community involvement has really helped him build his company. This is true of Royal LePage as well- the best example being our involvement with women and children’s shelters through the Shelter Foundation. Yesterday, I sent a cheque for $3592.38 to the Shelter Foundation, proceeds from our Garage Sale. We split the proceeds with 75% to be for Interval House and 25% to be used for programs for violence prevention through education (treat the cause, not just the symptoms). Another cheque for $1700 was sent to Interval House, raised through automatic commission deductions by Bayview agents.
This coming Monday a graduation ceremony is being held for graduates of the BESS program at Interval House. It is program that helps retrain the women at the Shelter for employment, helping to them break free of financial dependence on an abusive partner. Catherine deVries will be attending. Together with RLP on Yonge and at 55 St. Clair, we have placed a congratulatory ad in the program for the evening.
Royal LePage Bayview realtors interact with the community in other ways too through sponsoring events- e.g. the Gardens of Leaside Tour on June 25 (Heaps Estrin team), a series of women’s runs (John MacEwen), family skates (Susan Gucci).
He emphasized how Community involvement has really helped him build his company. This is true of Royal LePage as well- the best example being our involvement with women and children’s shelters through the Shelter Foundation. Yesterday, I sent a cheque for $3592.38 to the Shelter Foundation, proceeds from our Garage Sale. We split the proceeds with 75% to be for Interval House and 25% to be used for programs for violence prevention through education (treat the cause, not just the symptoms). Another cheque for $1700 was sent to Interval House, raised through automatic commission deductions by Bayview agents.
This coming Monday a graduation ceremony is being held for graduates of the BESS program at Interval House. It is program that helps retrain the women at the Shelter for employment, helping to them break free of financial dependence on an abusive partner. Catherine deVries will be attending. Together with RLP on Yonge and at 55 St. Clair, we have placed a congratulatory ad in the program for the evening.
Royal LePage Bayview realtors interact with the community in other ways too through sponsoring events- e.g. the Gardens of Leaside Tour on June 25 (Heaps Estrin team), a series of women’s runs (John MacEwen), family skates (Susan Gucci).
CMHC Second Half 2011 Preview
Backed by economic growth, attractive mortgage rates, and overall confidence, housing sales and starts will continue to rise through this year and the next, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) second quarter outlook.
Backed by economic growth, attractive mortgage rates, and overall confidence, housing sales and starts will continue to rise through this year and the next, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) second quarter outlook. But prices will begin to moderate, possibly dropping from their current average by the end of the year and into 2012, the report said.
“Modest economic growth, in conjunction with relatively low mortgage rates, will continue to support demand for new homes in 2011 and 2012,” said CMHC Chief Economist Bob Dugan. “Nonetheless, we are expecting new and existing housing markets to fall in line with demographic fundamentals, as changes to mortgage rules take hold.”
CMHC forecasts about 179,500 housing units will be started in 2011, and then 207,500 units in 2012. The report also said existing home sales will go from 452,100 units in 2011 to reach 461,300 in 2012.
The average price in Canada will increase this year compared to last year, although more moderately than it already has, and will continue to remain at a similar average in 2012, said the report.
The average Multiple Listings Service (MLS) price for an existing home increased 6.7% from $342,441 in the fourth quarter of 2010 to reach $365,648 in the first quarter of this year. CMHC predicts it will likely slip back to $361,100 by the end of the year, and then rise up to $364,200 by the end of 2012.
from Canadian Real Estate Magazine
Backed by economic growth, attractive mortgage rates, and overall confidence, housing sales and starts will continue to rise through this year and the next, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) second quarter outlook. But prices will begin to moderate, possibly dropping from their current average by the end of the year and into 2012, the report said.
“Modest economic growth, in conjunction with relatively low mortgage rates, will continue to support demand for new homes in 2011 and 2012,” said CMHC Chief Economist Bob Dugan. “Nonetheless, we are expecting new and existing housing markets to fall in line with demographic fundamentals, as changes to mortgage rules take hold.”
CMHC forecasts about 179,500 housing units will be started in 2011, and then 207,500 units in 2012. The report also said existing home sales will go from 452,100 units in 2011 to reach 461,300 in 2012.
The average price in Canada will increase this year compared to last year, although more moderately than it already has, and will continue to remain at a similar average in 2012, said the report.
The average Multiple Listings Service (MLS) price for an existing home increased 6.7% from $342,441 in the fourth quarter of 2010 to reach $365,648 in the first quarter of this year. CMHC predicts it will likely slip back to $361,100 by the end of the year, and then rise up to $364,200 by the end of 2012.
from Canadian Real Estate Magazine
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