Strong start to spring

TORONTO , April 4, 2007 -- Strong resale housing activity in March got the spring market off to a healthy start, Toronto Real Estate Board President Dorothy Mason announced today. A total of 8,518 transactions took place in the month, nearly on par with the 8,707 sales reported last March.

"The market is in great shape, and we're seeing very strong results on a consistent basis," Mrs. Mason said. "So far 2007 is slightly ahead of last year's sales pace, and we're right on track for another solid year."

In Scarborough 's West Hill neighbourhood (E10), strong sales of detached homes led to an overall sales increase of 27 per cent compared to March 2006.

Etobicoke's Mimico / New Toronto neighbourhood (W06) saw transactions increase by 45 per cent compared to last March, fueled by strong detached home and condo apartment activity.

A jump in condominium activity in North York Centre (C14) helped overall sales to a 14 per cent increase compared to March of a year ago.

Overall sales in Thornhill (N02) increased by 16 per cent compared to last March, led by detached home sales.

"The GTA continues to have strong employment numbers and a healthy economy," Mrs. Mason added. "Housing activity is solid and prices are steadily on the rise, so it remains an excellent time to be in the market."

* Please note that TREB counts by business or sales days. In a 30 day month, there will usually be about 20 sales days, depending on when the weekends fall, holidays,
and so on.

Source: Toronto Real Estate Board

 Neighbourhoods to Watch – West Deane Park

Although the lure of urban Toronto , with its traditional Victorian homes and Cabbagetown cottages attracts many home-owners, there’s also growing interest in neighbourhoods offering more space, family-friendly environments and an array of outdoor activities.

One of my current favourites, West Deane Park , is a small neighbourhood in West Toronto (W08), located in the area from Rathburn in the south to Eglinton in the north, between Highway 427 and Martingrove Road . The neighbourhood wraps itself around West Deane Park and the Mimico Creek Valley , offering a touch of nature just out the door from home. The park also features an exercising/cycling trail, playground, baseball diamonds and many other activities.

For value it is hard to beat, with solid, detached homes, good-sized lots, mature trees, good schools and easy access to highways and downtown. A range of housing styles and sizes is available, typically in the $400,000 to $800,000 range, offering a great alternative to neighbourhoods in Markland Woods, Thorncrest,Thistletown and Islington areas.

The Kingsway, Bloor West Village and Sunnylea will remain strong - but don’t rule out exploring a bit.

Remember - Toronto is a huge and rich city with hundreds of neighbourhoods to offer - some of them hidden gems. If you’re curious, call me – I love to explore!

Have you had your Spring Walkabout?

With “April Showers” upon us, make sure your house stays watertight. Walk around your property to see if everything is in place and in good repair:

• Roof  – Check for any worn, damaged, missing, or loose shingles. 
• Paint – Look for chipped or cracked paint along the exterior of your home that will need to be re-sealed.
• Eaves Make sure all drainspouts direct water at least five feet away from the house. Have the gutters cleaned and make sure that they are in good repair. 
• Concrete – Check your foundation and concrete walkways for cracks and damage.
• Basement – Check your basement for dampness to see if there are areas that need repair.

You can save a lot of time and money by catching needed repairs early!

It’s clearing time again! Or make that “still”!

Let’s face it, cleaning and clearing your home is a continuous process, not an annual event.

This month, before you pack away your winter clothes, be brutally honest about what you can give away. See if you can fill even one bag. If you’re a keener and have already put your winter things away, go back, dig in and see what you’re willing to clear out.  Experience the thrill of seeing bags of “stuff” leave your house. It’s freeing, energizing, and it needs to be done.

Tip: Do twenty minutes of “clearing out” at a time – even once a week will make a big difference. Pick a cupboard or drawer and make it a mini-project. You will be amazed what you can accomplish in twenty minutes, and you will feel energized instead of drained.

Art – big is beautiful.

I recently sold a house owned by an artist who had large paintings all over the house. It was amazing to see the response of visitors during the weekend Open Houses. People loved the house, but really loved being in a place with lots of big art. People tend to play it safe with their own art choices, but always love the look and feel of big art when they see it at other people’s houses.  So next time you are adding to your art collection, don’t be shy – go big!

Tip: If you are considering an art purchase but are unsure of how it will look in your house, ask if you can take the piece home on approval. Sometimes you need to see a piece in the space to know if it’s really what you want.

Shameless promotion: My brother-in-law makes spectacular big art. We have many of his pieces in our house, and Sara has some of his original woodblock prints for sale here in Toronto at wholesale prices. If you are interested, check out www.fredbrowntheartist.com, and contact Sara ( sara@thecrowds.com ) to see what pieces she has in stock.

April is a month to emerge from the cold and get out and moving. Here’s some of what you will find going on around the city this month:

Total Health Show – April 13 – 15
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
North America 's premier natural health show, now in its 30^th year, with workshops, speakers and exhibitors with a wealth of knowledge about good health.
www.consumerhealth.org

National Home Show – April 13 – 22
Direct Energy Centre -- Exhibition Place
Check out the latest ideas, trends and sources for everything home-related - renovating, decorating and landscaping - at the Remax-sponsored National Home Show. Starts this weekend!
www.nationalhomeshow.com

Community Clean-Up Day – Saturday, April 21
Saturday, April 21, 2007 is Mayor David Miller’s Annual Community Clean-Up Day across Toronto . Show you care about our city by getting together with friends, co-workers and neighbours to pick up litter in a public space in your community.  For details go to www.toronto.ca.

Green Living Show – April 27 – 29
Direct Energy Centre – Exhibition Place
This is Toronto ’s first consumer show dedicated to all things green. Innovative and inspiring, the show’s 200 exhibitors cover everything you need to green up your life. Special guest appearances include Margaret Atwood, David Suzuki, Roberta Bondar and former U.S. vice-president Al Gore.
www.greenlivingshow.ca

On Grenadier Pond - Walking Tour - April 29, 2007
Benches by Grenadier Cafe ( High Park )- south side
Moderately paced, naturalist-led walking tours are held on selected Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings. Each tour lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. Appropriate clothing and footwear is recommended. Your $2.00 donation supports volunteer park stewardship and education programs in High Park . www.highpark.org

Sprockets: Film Festival for Children April 13 to 22
Various Venues
The Toronto International Film Festival for Children celebrates its 10th anniversary, offering a diverse selection of international films that celebrate cultures from around the globe. Visit the website for the most recent updates on films and scheduled guests.  www.sprockets.ca

For a complete listing of what’s going on in Toronto – restaurants, clubs, movies, theatre, music and special events - go to www.toronto.com