Welcome to Gary Crowder's TorontoMoves monthly
e-newsletter with real estate insights, tips for homeowners and updates on what’s happening around Toronto.
September 2006
Gary’s Notes for September

By choice or by default?

 

In going through the buying process with clients and helping them to determine where they want to live, both the location and the actual house, I am reminded how important it is for all of us to go through a similar process from time to time. Sometimes the years can pass by without us considering if we’re in a place by choice or by default. To help you know if your home is still meeting your needs, here are some basic questions to ask:

 

  • Do you have a good connection with your neighbourhood (neighbours, shops, restaurants, school, parks, amenities, transportation, library, sports facilities)?
  • Does your home support the activities that are important to you and your family (cooking, playing, gardening, work, hobbies, entertaining)?
  • Do you have enough living space? Too much living space? If you work from home, are you able to have a proper workspace?
  • Are you able to keep up with maintenance – indoors and outdoors?
  • Does your house feel like home to you?

Consider these questions, and add your own considerations. You may find, to your own relief and satisfaction, that you still love where you live, and would choose it all over again. You may find that some things in your life have changed since you moved in, and that your house just isn’t the fit it once was. That doesn’t necessarily call for a change of address. Purging, decorating and renovating can work wonders in some cases. And no house is perfect. But if you find that your house just simply isn’t home any more, call me. There’s nothing I love more than helping people find "Just the Right Home".

 

Toronto’s housing market remains steady

TORONTO, September 6, 2006 -- The August market remained strong and steady with 6,976 transactions recorded during the month, Toronto Real Estate Board President Dorothy Mason announced today.

The total number of transactions was within seven per cent of the all-time record of 7,498 sales set last August. Year-to-date figures show 2006 to be marginally ahead of the record pace for annual sales also set in 2005.

“Positive results like these show that the market is in good shape,” Mrs. Mason said. “Relative to other segments of the economy real estate is very locally driven, and the Toronto Area market has long been supported by strong economic fundamentals.”

“Consistent activity and steady price gains over an extended period of time have shown that housing demand in the GTA is based on real need,” TREB’s President added. “Slight moderations in sales to more normalized levels help to keep the market from overheating,” Ted Tsiakopoulos, Ontario regional economist for CMHC, noted that the good overall health of the market produces a variety of benefits.

“While home sales across the GTA have been healthy, listings have also been rising,” said Ted Tsiakopoulos, CMHC`s Ontario regional economist. “A steady increase in new home listings is a good news story for Toronto’s residential real estate market. Rising new listings provide more choice for buyers and ensures discipline among those pricing their homes for sale,” added Mr. Tsiakopoulos.

Some of the most active neighbourhoods during the month were located outside the city core. In the East, the Scarborough Town Centre / Woburn area •E09• showed a 27 per cent overall increase in transactions compared to last August, led by a jump in condominium sales. West of Toronto, Milton •W22• showed an overall increase of 72 per cent compared to August 2005, led by strong sales of detached and semidetached homes.

“It’s a great time to be in this market whether starting out or making a switch,” Mrs. Mason said. “There is a lot of choice out there as we gear up for the busy autumn market.”

(Source: The Toronto Real Estate Board)

Seasonal reminder to all home owners!

As the hours of daylight shrink and temperatures “Fall”, it’s time to check your home maintenance list:

Yard Care

  • Fertilize your lawn and re-seed where needed. Although grass may appear to stop growing in the fall, the roots are actually growing deeper to prepare for winter.
     
  • Once the leaves turn, prune your trees and shrubs to encourage healthy growth in the spring. Also be sure to water trees and shrubs deeply to help them winter well.
     
  • Trim any tree limbs that are dangerously close to power lines or the roof of your house in order to prevent damage from snow and ice in the winter.

Outdoor Furniture and Accessories

  • Clean patio furniture in preparation for winter storage. An all-purpose cleaner can be used on most patio furniture. Check with the furniture manufacturer’s instructions before using anything strong such as chlorine bleach to kill mold or mildew. Protect and treat wood surfaces as needed.
     
  • Bring in plant containers that are at risk of breaking in the cold. Also bring in any plants that need to be kept indoors over the winter.

Preventative Maintenance

  • Clean your rain gutters to prevent overflow that could lead to water damage. Be sure to remove leaves and other debris that may be stuck to the gutter - take care not to damage the eavestrough. Better yet, call someone to do the cleaning for you: www.torontoclearview.com
     
  • This is the best time of year for exterior painting to preserve wood and metal surfaces. Check to see if anything at your house – deck, fence, trim – needs to be refreshed or protected.
     
  • Remember to change your furnace filter regularly, and, if you haven’t already, have your furnace checked and cleaned. It won’t before long before the heat is on!

Thank you for your referrals!

I know and appreciate that many of you are already on the alert on my behalf with friends, family, neighbours, co-workers and others who may be looking to buy or sell a property (most common prompters to buy or sell a house – new marriage, new baby, new job, kids moving out, also, death and divorce….). I thank you, more than you could know. A referral from you is the best compliment I could ask for. I am honoured and heartened that referrals from YOU are my NUMBER ONE source of new clients!

Summer vacation may be over, but you can still go out and have fun in Toronto – and September is a great month in the city:

2006 Toronto International Film Festival – to September 16
Various Venues

You can’t live in Toronto in September and not know that the Toronto film festival is on. For ten glamorous days and party-filled nights, Toronto is transformed into Hollywood North, with a line-up of 352 films from 61 countries at this year’s 31st International Film Festival. You still have time to get out and see what the excitement is about. www.bell.ca/filmfest

3rd Annual Beach Celtic Festival - September 16
Kew Gardens -- Queen St. East

This year's scheduled lineup includes: The Toronto Police Pipe Band; Sandy MacIntyre with Steeped in Tradition; The Tartan Terrors; Frankie Benson of Pride of Erin; and Master of Ceremonies AM 740's Denis Snowdon -- host of A Small Breath of Scotland. www.thecelticfestival.com

Toronto Botanical Garden -- Grand Opening Celebrations - September 16
777 Lawrence Ave. East (at Leslie)

Designed to educate and inspire, the Toronto Botanical Garden welcomes the public to tour its new building and stunning array of contemporary gardens spanning nearly four acres. Meet the building architects and landscape architects; ask an expert in each of the 12 themed gardens; and enjoy interactive programs and demonstrations for adults and children. From 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Official ceremony at 11:30am. www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca

Toronto Beatles Celebration - September 16 & 17
Queen Elizabeth Exhibit Hall and Queen Elizabeth Theatre -- Exhibition Place

Toronto's first downtown Beatles convention, featuring former Beatle Pete Best, former Lennon companion May Pang, Denny Doherty of the Mamas and the Papas, former Lennon assistant Fred Seaman, Beatles Promotion Manager Peter Bennett, and expert authors, and presenters from around the world. Thirteen educational audio-visual presentations and the largest collection of museum quality Beatles memorabilia ever assembled in Canada. Two theatre concerts by the world's best Beatles tribute band, 1964 The Tribute, and six performances by Toronto's Fab Four. All kids under 13 are free. Tickets are $20 in advance, 1964 The Tribute in concert $45 www.torontobeatlescelebration.com

Toronto Waterfront Marathon - September 24
Downtown and waterfront

A marathon, half marathon and 5k are the challenge for 10,000 runners along the flat, fast, scenic race routes with over 15 entertainment and spectator stations. Last year over $625,000 was raised for local charities in the annual Charity Challenge. www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com

The Fall Home Show - September 28 - October 1
Automotive Building -- Exhibition Place

At the Toronto Fall Home Show, presented by RE/MAX, you'll get advice from celebrities and experts, great deals on hundreds of products and services, and information to do-it-yourself or help finding someone to do it for you. Plus, be inspired by Rooms of Decadence, see the latest products on Home Fashions on the Runway, and discover the good life in the new Luxeliving area. Find ideas, inspiration and home solutions all in one place. www.fallhomeshow.com

In addition to these events there are hundreds of concerts, plays and other special events going on all around the city – get out enjoy all you can! www.toronto.com

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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.

This newsletter is for clients and friends of Gary Crowder. If you prefer not to receive future editions, please send a reply e-mail message with the word "Remove" in the subject line. For additional information, please contact garycrowder@torontomoves.ca.
Gary Crowder
www.torontomoves.ca
(416) 486-5588
Re/Max Hallmark
Toronto, Ontario