Congratulations to all who participated in one of the various run/walks held this past weekend- the Weekend Walk to End Cancer, Terry Fox, etc. I participated in the latter. I walked in the first Terry Fox Run, 29 years ago, at the UBC Woodlot. We were living in Vancouver at the time of Terry's historic journey and so felt quite connected to it. Because of other Sunday morning commitments, I hadn't participated in another until yesterday.
The 10 km. walk through the Sunnybrook valley park system wasn't too hard, quite pleasant really. I did enjoy the free massage at the end though- only a five minute massage but by two people and so effectively 10 minutes! The majority of the participants walked rather than ran.
I learned that funds raised by such walks has had quite an effect on improvement in cancer treatment. At the time of Terry's death, the survivorship rate from his form of cancer was only about 15%. Today it is 75%.
It was a morning well-spent. Thank you to all of the organizers and many volunteers who made it possible.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
First Week Back- A Busy Real Estate Market
You really notice a difference the first week back after Labour Day. With the kids back to school and everyone back from the cottage, the city is much busier. Traffic volumes, and so commuting times, return to their pre-summer levels. the benefits of living in the central city, with a short commute to work, become more obvious.
We are finding things busier at the office too with the client rooms being used more. We are receiving a lot of calls on our new listings. As will be reported in our article on the back page of the October North Toronto Post magazine, the real estate market was hot this past summer even though the weather wasn’t. In August, sales through the Toronto Real Estate Board were up 27% over last year. In July, they were up 28% over 2008. We expect this busy market to continue this autumn.
Why has the market been so hot? Primarily because of today’s low mortgage rates. As the economy moves into a recovery period, it is likely that interest rates will increase. Buyers want to acquire their home now while they can still tie into a low mortgage rate.
As a result of all this buying, there has been a significant decline in the number of active listings. Prices have moved up somewhat. If you are a potential seller, this autumn would be a great time to take advantage of the opportunity to put your house or condo on the market. Our neighbourhoods look glorious at this time of year too with the turning of the leaves.
If you are a potential buyer, now is the time to contact a realtor® to help you find your home before mortgage rates go up. It is also nice to be into your new homes before winter sets in. A realtor® can help by bringing good properties to your attention early. Many listings have multiple offers. A realtor® can guide you through this process.
Considering buying or selling? Please contact one of the sales team here at the Royal LePage Bayview Branch.
We are finding things busier at the office too with the client rooms being used more. We are receiving a lot of calls on our new listings. As will be reported in our article on the back page of the October North Toronto Post magazine, the real estate market was hot this past summer even though the weather wasn’t. In August, sales through the Toronto Real Estate Board were up 27% over last year. In July, they were up 28% over 2008. We expect this busy market to continue this autumn.
Why has the market been so hot? Primarily because of today’s low mortgage rates. As the economy moves into a recovery period, it is likely that interest rates will increase. Buyers want to acquire their home now while they can still tie into a low mortgage rate.
As a result of all this buying, there has been a significant decline in the number of active listings. Prices have moved up somewhat. If you are a potential seller, this autumn would be a great time to take advantage of the opportunity to put your house or condo on the market. Our neighbourhoods look glorious at this time of year too with the turning of the leaves.
If you are a potential buyer, now is the time to contact a realtor® to help you find your home before mortgage rates go up. It is also nice to be into your new homes before winter sets in. A realtor® can help by bringing good properties to your attention early. Many listings have multiple offers. A realtor® can guide you through this process.
Considering buying or selling? Please contact one of the sales team here at the Royal LePage Bayview Branch.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
15 Reasons to Go Back to Work
Labour day weekend is still to come but with September 1, the fall market is upon us.
The September issue of the Globe's Report on Business (ROB) magazine had a great article entitled 15 reasons to be back to work (and be happy about it). While the article is directed at Bay Street types, it had a few reasons that apply to realtors as well.
1. There is money to be made. The real estate market generally picks up in the fall with buyers, sellers, and realtors returning from summer vacations. There is also some "nesting" that goes on as we prepare for the long winter.
2. Because ski season is only 13 weeks away. The fall real estate season can be short and so now is the time to get busy.
3. You're getting a new suit. Nothing makes you feel more like getting out and doing some deals than wearing a new set of clothes. Apparently you can get Brooks Brother's suits in Toronto now but you don't have to go that high end (they cost about $1300). I heard a story recently about two guys showing up at an event wearing the same suit (or same-looking suit anyway). One fellow said to the other, "who is you tailor?", to which the other gentleman replied "Tip Top". One fellow had paid considerably more for his suit than the other.
4. Finally, you don't have to "tweet" after all. While social networking is becoming an important part of marketing in real estate, the ROB article reports that more than 1/3 of the people who sign up for Twitter bail after their first message. You can follow our CEO Phil Soper at http://twitter.com/PhilSoper.
The September issue of the Globe's Report on Business (ROB) magazine had a great article entitled 15 reasons to be back to work (and be happy about it). While the article is directed at Bay Street types, it had a few reasons that apply to realtors as well.
1. There is money to be made. The real estate market generally picks up in the fall with buyers, sellers, and realtors returning from summer vacations. There is also some "nesting" that goes on as we prepare for the long winter.
2. Because ski season is only 13 weeks away. The fall real estate season can be short and so now is the time to get busy.
3. You're getting a new suit. Nothing makes you feel more like getting out and doing some deals than wearing a new set of clothes. Apparently you can get Brooks Brother's suits in Toronto now but you don't have to go that high end (they cost about $1300). I heard a story recently about two guys showing up at an event wearing the same suit (or same-looking suit anyway). One fellow said to the other, "who is you tailor?", to which the other gentleman replied "Tip Top". One fellow had paid considerably more for his suit than the other.
4. Finally, you don't have to "tweet" after all. While social networking is becoming an important part of marketing in real estate, the ROB article reports that more than 1/3 of the people who sign up for Twitter bail after their first message. You can follow our CEO Phil Soper at http://twitter.com/PhilSoper.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Blue Rodeo at Molson Amphitheatre
It's not real estate related but I can't resist the urge to write about the Blue Rodeo concert Thursday night at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto. My wife was at the cottage and my friends otherwise busy and so I decided, "what the hey, I'll just go myself" and I am glad I did. It was Blue Rodeo's 10th annual show at the outdoor lakefront performance site and a large crowd gathered (19,000 is capacity).
The grass area, where I sat, sold out but there was room to be comfortable under the late summer evening sky. The affection shown by the crowd towards the band really impressed me (many seem to have been to lots of Blue Rodeo concerts) and they responded by putting on a great two-hour, two-encore performance. They played many of their hits ("Try" was one of the encore numbers) as well as some new songs from an upcoming release, and even a few sing-alongs.
To bring this back to real estate, it made me appreciate living in a city where we have a facility such as the Amphitheatre and can see such great performances.
The grass area, where I sat, sold out but there was room to be comfortable under the late summer evening sky. The affection shown by the crowd towards the band really impressed me (many seem to have been to lots of Blue Rodeo concerts) and they responded by putting on a great two-hour, two-encore performance. They played many of their hits ("Try" was one of the encore numbers) as well as some new songs from an upcoming release, and even a few sing-alongs.
To bring this back to real estate, it made me appreciate living in a city where we have a facility such as the Amphitheatre and can see such great performances.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Summer Holiday Reading
I was fortunate to spend two full weeks at my family cottage this summer. It has been a few years since I have been able to spend two full weeks there and I found that it makes a big difference. One week feels like three days while two weeks feels like three weeks. You need those extra days to slow down from the city pace and not try to fill every day with activity before it is time to go home.
I enjoy the time at the cottage as an opportunity to some uninterupted reading while not too tired (as compared to bedtime reading). I always try to do some "work reading" and some recreational reading. My work reading was "What Would Google Do" by Jeff Jarvis. I found it to be a rambling piece with the author often repeating himself. However, it was enlightening for me on the impact of the internet on business. The author suggests ways in which Google's business model can be applied to other businesses,including real estate. It is worth a read. A new book that likely covers some of this same territory is Free:The Future of a Radical Price by Chris Anderson (he is referred to by Jarvis in his book). For more info, and reviews by other readers, google the title!
My "recreational" reading was Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson with David Relin. It tells of Mortenson's efforts to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, beginning in the mid 1990s. Reading this book helps to build an understanding of what is happening in those countries with the Taliban and the Islamic extremists. Mortenson tells an interesting anecdote of going to pay his respects on the death of Mother Teresa ending up by himself in a room with her body. The book wasn't as "recreational" a read as often do over the holidays but well worthwhile.
I enjoy the time at the cottage as an opportunity to some uninterupted reading while not too tired (as compared to bedtime reading). I always try to do some "work reading" and some recreational reading. My work reading was "What Would Google Do" by Jeff Jarvis. I found it to be a rambling piece with the author often repeating himself. However, it was enlightening for me on the impact of the internet on business. The author suggests ways in which Google's business model can be applied to other businesses,including real estate. It is worth a read. A new book that likely covers some of this same territory is Free:The Future of a Radical Price by Chris Anderson (he is referred to by Jarvis in his book). For more info, and reviews by other readers, google the title!
My "recreational" reading was Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson with David Relin. It tells of Mortenson's efforts to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, beginning in the mid 1990s. Reading this book helps to build an understanding of what is happening in those countries with the Taliban and the Islamic extremists. Mortenson tells an interesting anecdote of going to pay his respects on the death of Mother Teresa ending up by himself in a room with her body. The book wasn't as "recreational" a read as often do over the holidays but well worthwhile.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
GTA REALTORS® report sales up first two weeks of July
In the first two weeks of July, Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 4,437 sales up 27 per cent compared to the first two weeks of July 2008. The average price for these transactions was up four per cent year-over-year to $394,750.
"The resurgence in home ownership demand experienced in the spring has continued into the summer. Home buyers continued to take advantage affordable market conditions in the first half of July," said TREB President Tom Lebour. "If the mid-month results carry forward, we may see the best July on record."
Year-to-date sales, at 45,213 are down four per cent compared to 2008. Average price, at $384,645 is down one per cent. "The GTA housing market has held up very well this year given the current economic climate, especially relative to past economic slow-downs," explained Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis."The cost of borrowing has been key. With inflation in check, the Bank of Canada has been able to aggressively lower interest rates – an option that wasn’t available in the early 1990s or early 1980s."
Source: Toronto Real Estate Board
For a complete copy of the Market Watch Report visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com
"The resurgence in home ownership demand experienced in the spring has continued into the summer. Home buyers continued to take advantage affordable market conditions in the first half of July," said TREB President Tom Lebour. "If the mid-month results carry forward, we may see the best July on record."
Year-to-date sales, at 45,213 are down four per cent compared to 2008. Average price, at $384,645 is down one per cent. "The GTA housing market has held up very well this year given the current economic climate, especially relative to past economic slow-downs," explained Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis."The cost of borrowing has been key. With inflation in check, the Bank of Canada has been able to aggressively lower interest rates – an option that wasn’t available in the early 1990s or early 1980s."
Source: Toronto Real Estate Board
For a complete copy of the Market Watch Report visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Inpressed with How We Are Dealing with the Garbage Strike
I made my first visit to the garbage drop off down at Sunnybrook Park Sunday morning. I was very impressed by the courtesy shown by the City replacement workers and also by those dropping off their garbage. Seems the City had a few more workers on than necessary (e.g. 2 "greeters") but maybe it is understandable given security concerns. Overall, I have been impressed by how people have been dealing with the strike. As responsible taxpayers, we are managing our garbage so that there is no rush to satisfy the strikers' demands and end up with another rich contract.
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