February - it's short and sweet!

There are just 28 days in February - but they're good days. We've come out of the mental fog and bitter cold of January. The sun shines significantly more in February than in the months preceding it. There's excitement. We have Valentine's Day on the 14th to remind us of love, Groundhog Day on the 2nd (please no shadow this time, Punxsutawney Phil!), Mardi Gras on the 5th, and the Academy Awards on the 27th. February is one big party, really. We start to look at the year ahead without the pressure that we put on ourselves in early January. And, happily, interest in buying and selling houses builds swiftly in February. If you're looking at buying or selling in 2005, this is a good time to get into action.

2005 Off to Fast Start

TORONTO - January 17, 2005--In the first two weeks of this month, sales of single-family dwellings are up 18 per cent to 1,310 over the same period in January 2004.

Prices are also up in the first days of 2005, to $301,372 from January 2004's end-of-month figure of $295,989.

TREB President Ron Abraham says that a good beginning can lay a solid foundation for the year.

"Strong early numbers in January bode well for a good start to 2005 as the market begins to gear up following the holiday season. The beginning of the spring season for the real estate market is generally considered to be the end of January, at which time sales volumes tend to rise".

Meanwhile, the latest numbers from Statistics Canada show that the national unemployment level fell 0.3 percentage points in December to seven per cent, the lowest level since 2001. In Toronto, one thousand jobs were added over that same time frame.

Despite some analysts' predictions that Canada's economic growth will slow somewhat from the pace of 2004, on the whole the situation is quite favourable.

"A positive economic climate continues to exist, keeping home ownership a realistic goal." Mr. Abraham said.

"Most analysts expect the Bank of Canada to moderately raise interest rates, probably by about 50 basis points over the course of 2005, due at least in part to the rising dollar. The prospect of a slight rise however; will not likely scare off consumers."

(Source: The Toronto Real Estate Board)

A Home Project for February - Give Your Bathroom a Lift!

The bathroom is one of the most-used rooms of your house - it needs constant care and updating to stay fresh. Take steps to start your day in a room that looks and feels great. Here's a quick checklist for you to see if your bathroom needs a lift:

Maintenance:

• Verify that you have a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) electrical outlet especially if it's close to the sink (you'll see a red and a black re-set and test button on the outlet). A GFCI minimizes the risk of electrical shock by turning off the power if it senses water Check that the caulking around your tub and shower is in good condition. Re-seal where needed. Water will do damage very quickly if left unchecked.
• Check to make sure your bathroom lights are bright enough, especially above the mirror. If you find you need more light, check to see if you can safely put in higher wattage light bulbs. If you are at the maximum wattage for your light fixture, you may want to add another fixture. If you don't already have one, look at installing a dimmer switch - nice to have for long baths and nighttime visits to the bathroom.

Hygiene:

• Every few months, empty out all your bathroom drawers and cupboards and put back only what you use. Check expiry dates. You'll be shocked at what you find.
• Replace your toilet brush at least every two years.
• Wash or replace your shower curtain regularly.
• Do a deep clean for mildew in your shower and bath area. Try using vinegar instead of toxic commercial cleaners.
• Use an old toothbrush to clean around the base of taps and drains. Clean your drain trap - a sometimes messy job but important
• Make it a habit to close the toilet lid before you flush - flushing with the lid open sends germs flying all about your bathroom.

Décor:

• Keep clutter off of your bathroom counters. Get baskets to organize your drawers and cupboards. Add shelves and cupboards where you can if you need more space. If you can, keep toothbrushes in a covered place.
• Check your towels for wear and tear. Depending on their condition (and colour) you may want to add some new ones or go for a whole new set. Watch for a sale - you can almost always find a half-price towel sale at The Bay!
• Wash or replace your shower curtain regularly.
• Most people don't have enough towel bars - do you? If you don't have room to add a towel bar, replace your single towel bar with a double bar, or add more hooks on the back of the bathroom door.
• Have a look at your toilet seat, wastebasket, shower curtain, and other accessories and decorative items to see what you might want to replace. Sometimes a few new things can give a whole new look.
• If your bathroom is dated overall and you don't want to do a full renovation, consider replacing the floor or re-painting the walls and cupboards. Bathrooms are usually small enough that you can get a new look for little cost and effort. If you have an older tub, consider having it refinished. It's relatively quick and inexpensive and your tub will look like new!
• Splurge on a nice pillar candle, bath products and soaps. For the price, we like the Neolia bar soap we get at Costco, made from Italian olive oil.
• Get a small CD player/clock radio for the bathroom. You can keep your eye on the time and listen to uplifting music while you're getting ready.

In addition to the high level of added enjoyment, bathroom improvements are near the top of the list for adding value to your home. Make your bathroom into an oasis.

If you're longing for hot hot hot, it's not too late!

If you get the urge to get on a plane and go somewhere warm you still have time. Check out last-minute specials at www.flightcentre.ca. The web site is easy to use and, if you prefer face-to face, chances are there is a Flight Centre office near you. Check to make sure your passport is up-to-date (I just checked mine - it expires February 2, 2005!).

If you're staying in town for February, here are a few ideas for getting out and about in the big city:

International Auto Show
February 18, 2005 to February 27, 2005
The Canadian International Auto Show has firmly placed itself on the leading edge of the design movement. As a result The Canadian International Auto Show is now one of the biggest names on the worldwide show circuit. BIG ON DESIGN is the theme for 2005.

Location: SkyDome and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre
www.autoshow.ca

Fragile Boundaries Art Exhibition and Sale - curated by Carolyn Megill
Opening Reception - Thursday February 17th, from 7 to 10 p.m. All welcome.
Eastern Front Gallery - 750A Queen Street East (east of Broadview)
With 50 participating artists and the generous support of local businesses such as Pulp Kitchen and Riverside Bistro, Fragile Boundaries is a curated exhibition of original artworks in partnership with Save The Children Canada. Fifty per cent of all sales will go to help relief work for the December 26th Tsunami tragedy and the plight of children worldwide.
The show continues to February 27th. For more info www.easternfrontgallery.com.

Mamma Mia! - continuing - still!
If you haven't been and you're looking for heart-warming fun on a winter's evening, check out Mamma Mia. We saw this show on its opening night in Toronto several years ago and had a ball. So far over ten million people around the world have enjoyed Mamma Mia and we're fortunate to have it playing right in our home city. For details and tickets go to www.mirvish.com.

The 77th Oscars
Sunday, February 27th
Be sure to get out and see as many of the current Oscar nominated films as you can before the big night - this is a standout year for films. To check movie times go to www.nowtoronto.com. For more details about the Oscar nominees go to www.oscar.com.
Happy Note: Famous Players theatres have just lowered their ticket prices from $13.95 to $9.95 - a savings of $4. Almost like getting free popcorn.

A friend of yours is a potential client of mine!

Many of my new business contacts come through friends and clients - people like you! One easy way for you to make an introduction is through this newsletter. If you know someone, friend, family or colleague, you think might enjoy getting this newsletter, sign them up, or suggest they sign up directly - it takes just a few seconds at www.torontomoves.ca. It doesn't need to be someone who is actively looking at moving, it might be someone who is simply curious for the future and who would enjoy getting the newsletter. Who do you know that I might like to know? It is a small world, after all.

Thank you for your feedback!

Thanks so much for all of your positive comments about this newsletter - it's great to know you're enjoying it. If there is anything you would like to see in future issues, please send along your suggestions and ideas.