MY TORONTO

  PET FRIENDLY INDOOR PLANTS Having a pet, no matter how old, is a lot like having a toddler around. You are constantly having to make sure it’s not going to put itself in harm’s way by doing something unexpected, like chewing a cord, vaulting off the furniture like a circus performer or eating a poisonous houseplant. Saving your dog or cat from your houseplants is not always easy, but it sure helps if you know which plants are safest in a household with pets. Fortunately, most of the plants that are safe for dogs are also safe for cats, which can make life a little less complicated if you have both. THE OFFICIAL PLANT LIST The  ASPCA maintains an ever-evolving list  of safe and unsafe plants for dogs, cats and horses. Since you are unlikely to have a horse in your house, we have focused the advice in this article on the other two. This list is in no way meant to be totally exhaustive but should help you get started if you’re shopping for new plants to add to the ho...

There are hundreds of thousands of people who believe, for one reason or another, they cannot afford to buy a home currently.   Some people  may not for any number of reasons but it would be very surprising to know how many who can buy but have gotten some bad information along the way.   It's worth digging a little deeper to find out the facts. John and Karen have been renting a home for the last five years at $2,000 a month.   During that time, the value of the home they were renting went up by $30,000 in value while the unpaid balance decreased by $18, 400.   Even though they were fortunate enough the rent remained constant over the five years, they missed out on close to $50,000 of equity that the owner realized instead of them. Another thing to consider with today's low interest rates, it is quite common for a mortgage payment to be lower than a tenant is paying rent for a similar property.   So, in this example, John & Karen paid more to rent ...

Check out one of our newest listings: 205 HILDA AVENUE - #1909 - A 3-bedroom condo at Yonge & Steeles for only $639,000 !  For more info, contact Shawn Venasse - Sales Representative ​ at 416.921.1112 or shawn@ellidavis.com #toronto #realestate #torontorealestate #205HildaAve1909 #YongeSteeles #SteelesYonge #3BedroomApartment #ShawnVenasse #TheElliDavisTeam #RoyalLePageRESvcsLtdBrokerage #condo #ForSale #condobuyers #nitsauc 

  Attic Ventilation Basics When you think of your home, the last thing you probably imagine is that it can breathe. Well, maybe not literally breathe, but it does have a way of moving air in and out, whether you like it or not. One of the most important, and intentional, places for this to happen is in your attic. Attic ventilation is key to exceptional climate control in your home. This may seem a bit counter-intuitive; wouldn’t you want to keep all the warm air trapped up there when it is cold? Attics and Heat Retention In an unfinished attic, the insulation that lays on top of your living areas is generally what keeps your home warm. The space above that is kind of a heat sink, just a place for the warm air in the summer (and, on a bright day, in the winter) to collect and move out of your living space. Since you cannot really have a safe indoor space without a roof on it, it makes sense to have a holding space that keeps all the warm and moist air tucked out of the way. B...

A Step-by-Step Guide to Buying Your First Home in a Year Buying a home isn’t necessarily something that you can do on a whim—there are months of preparation involved when  transitioning from renting to homeownership. With so many moving parts in play, from  loan  approvals to placing  purchase offers , navigating home buying for the first time can be an overwhelming task. In the age of the  coronavirus pandemic , when some real estate processes have changed, buying a home can seem especially daunting.  Luckily, we’ve developed this handy 12-month calendar for  first-time homebuyers  that will help to keep you on the straight and narrow when making your  home purchase . From the beginning of the process, down to the final months and weeks, we’ll guide you through what you need to do and when.  12 months out One year from the time you hope to buy, it’s important to determine how much house you can  afford  and how much you might ...

More people grill in July, June & August than any other months and correspondingly, there are more injuries, as well as fires, due to grilling accidents in those months. Even though Labor Day is in September, we still need to be aware of safety. Close to 20,000 patients per year visit the emergency room due to injuries involving grills.   Approximately half of the injuries involving grills are thermal burns.   If you are around fire, there's a chance of getting burned.   About 2/3 of American households own at least one outdoor barbecue, grill or smoker.   Interestingly, gas grills contribute to more fires than charcoal grills.   In addition, there are over 10,600 home fires started by grills each year. While grilling is associated with celebrations, good food, fun and friends, it is important to make sure that accidents don't interrupt your activities.   Only use BBQ grills outdoors and in ventilated areas Place the grill away from ...

PAINTER'S MASKS: A PRIMER One of the best things about owning your own home is how much you can do to make it your own. Although big jobs like laying tile and building decks might be more than you’re ready for, a simple and easy way to make a big change to the atmosphere of a place is to give it a paint job. Of course, before you even pick up that big brush, it’s important to have all the safety equipment you’ll need on hand. Many paints contain a variety of particles that can become airborne and get inhaled, which is not very good for your lungs. That’s why painter’s masks are absolutely not optional. Surgical Masks Versus Painter’s Masks By now, most people are pretty familiar with paper face masks. While paper masks may all look the same, there are actually some pretty major differences between surgical masks and painter’s masks. Surgical masks, which are generally sold for medical purposes, offer little to no protection from inhaling airborne particles. They’re only goo...

CMHC’s NEW UNDERWRITING CRITERIA: What Changed and What it Means for Home Buyers The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has implemented new underwriting criteria (eligibility requirements) to apply for homeowner transactional and portfolio mortgage insurance. Introduced earlier this summer, these new  adjustments  from CMHC come as a precaution while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to  impact consumers in the real estate market  and many other aspects of day-to-day life. The following changes have been made: The maximum Gross Debt Service (GDS) ratio is now 35% with no exceptions ( previously, 39% GDS ratios could be approved under special circumstances ). The maximum Total Debt Service (TDS) ratio is now 42% with no exceptions ( previously, 44% TDS ratios could be approved under special circumstances ). The minimum credit score required for at least one borrower is now 680 ( previously 600 ). Non-traditional sources for down payments that increase inde...

During the first major stay-at-home event that most of us have experienced in this country, a pool can give you and your family enjoyable recreation without leaving the home.   For those without a pool, the NPD group reports that the Covid-19 pandemic has increased pool building by 161% this year. When your children are small, pools become a magnet for not only your children but their friends as well.   It can also be a great place for the summer holidays, Memorial Day, 4 th of July and Labor Day.   Any day during the summer, especially on the weekends, can be an opportunity to enjoy the pool, cook outside and bask in the sun. Some of you may have even made the transition from your children enjoying the pool to your grandchildren.   Usually, there is an interim where you may have wished that your home didn't have a pool so you would not have the maintenance and required upkeep.   Then, the new generation of family starts using it regularly and again, you a...