MY TORONTO

IS YOUR ENTRYWAY WINTER-READY? Winter boots, coats, hats and mittens can create chaos when you first walk through the door, but with the right design plan, this area can be clutter-free. Not only will the space look tidy, you will save time and reduce stress when everything is dry and at your fingertips. Less water inside starts outside:  Leave a rough mat outside to brush off snow and another mat inside where boots can dry. Air circulation:  While it's tempting to create storage with doors to hide bulky coats, you need air flow to dry garments and boots. Hooks are much more effective than cramming coats into a closet. Well-designed and sturdy hardware:  Heavy coats that stay up the first time require a good hook. Since hooks are relatively inexpensive, don't worry about saving a few dollars. A place for everything:  No matter the size of your space, everything should fit neatly. If you have children in your family, assign each person...

Benefits of Selling Your Home In Winter NOVEMBER 21, 2018  | There is a common misconception that listing your home for sale in the winter real estate market is a poor choice. You may have heard that the snow does not show your home well, or that people are not as motivated to view properties on colder days. However, there are actually many benefits of selling your home in winter. Serious Home Buyers in Winter Believe it or not, but homebuyer data shows that people who go house hunting between the months of November and February tend to be very motivated in their search. Homebuyers who are looking in the winter months tend to move faster in the purchasing process than those who do in spring or fall! So not only will you have excited homebuyers, but you can be onto the next chapter in your life before you know it. Fewer Lookie-Loos The great thing about winter is that the inclement weather brings out the best of the best when it comes to showings. In wint...

TREB's MARKET WATCH REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2018 from Shawn Venasse

NOW LISTED FOR SALE!

One question that pops up constantly from both first-time and seasoned homeowners alike is "When is the best time of year to buy a home?" Potential homeowners want to know the best time of year to get the best home for the lowest price - and ideally, at a time that makes sense for their life. It would be great if there were a simple and straightforward answer, like "the best time of year to purchase a home is between April 1 and April 7." But unfortunately, it's not that simple. Let's take a look at the factors that play into answering the question "when is the best time of year to buy a home?" Convenience The first factor to consider when buying a home is convenience. This is particularly important if you have a family. If you have school-aged children, you ideally want to move in between school years, so sometime between May and August. Pulling a child out of school in the middle of the year can be challenging, and children might ha...

PRIORITY TASKS FOR YOUR MOVE IN Moving into a new home is an exciting time, and you’re probably daydreaming about decor and paint schemes and new furniture. But before you get into the fun stuff, there are some basics you should cover first. Change the locks  Even if you’re promised that new locks have been installed in your home, you can never be too careful. It’s worth the money to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that no one else has the keys to your home. Changing the locks can be a DIY project, or you can call in a locksmith for a little extra money. Steam clean the carpets  It’s good to get a fresh start with your floors before you start decorating. The previous owners may have had pets, young children, or just some plain old clumsiness. Take the time to steam clean the carpets so that your floors are free of stains and allergens. It’s pretty easy and affordable to rent a steam cleaner—your local grocery store may have them available. Call ...

Toronto Real Estate Prices: 2018 & Beyond Now that summer has said goodbye, a new season of the real estate year has begun. Fall tends to be the second busiest time of the year for buying and selling properties. Families that were busy enjoying the good weather at home or abroad now have the time to look at available listings and it is early enough in the school year to change if they have school-aged children. What does this mean for Toronto real estate prices? House Prices for the End of the Year A  September analysis  of Toronto real estate prices shows that overall things are doing well. Some shining statistics to boast about are a reported increase in the average selling price of all housing types in the area: up 2.9% to $796,786 – a respectable year-over-year gain. Resale home transactions are also up 1.9% compared to the previous year. If you are a condo owner looking to sell, you will be happy to know that in the Toronto region condo prices in...

SHAWN Have a spook-tacular Halloween!     ...