I appreciate that Interested, thank you. No you're right the escalation isn't in many cases the main driver. Easy transit, pleasant neighbourhood for walking and amenities such as shopping and on par with location near the kids is the building, that is, they're quite willing to put an extra...

Interested, here’s my rationale for not keeping a condo for more than stated. When new, maintenance fees are at their lowest, in general as buildings age past 10 years the reserve fund is increased to meet the expensive issues on the horizon. 15 years later values appreciate substantially...

If you don't mind me saying, it is entirely foolish to hold a condo for more than 10 years. Perhaps with today's glass towers, more than 8 is quite a gamble.

I must be missing something. Are these prices changes mentioned condos or just new construction because the average resale prices for 2009 did increase over 2008 both nationally and within the GTA. CREA "The national residential average price was $337,410 in December, up 19 per cent...

James you’re spot on it is a team-effort many in the industry just don’t realize this. You and MetroTo state some valid issues that all REALTORS should inherently know after all knowing how to market properties is part of the job. I’d like to add some perspective on a few. Yes, I am a REALTOR...

Whenever I hear or read such statements I presume it’s based on first hand experience and the following questions always come to mind, I hope you’ll answer them. 1) Where did you find your REALTOR? 2) How many did you interview? 3) Did your choice speak to why you shouldn’t hire a different...

The same thing happened in the GTA during the mini recession of ‘08/09 when buyers opted instead to walk away from their deposits rather than go through with a mortgage on a property that saw 10-20% of its purchase price shaved off by declining market values. Back then I could understand the...

A.C., reading articles and blogs can keep one in the loop but if I may offer a suggestion - always do your own research utilizing valid sources from the textbooks provided to familiarizing and keep yourself up to date with all the acts and by-laws that impact real estate ownership and contracts...

The banker’s thoughts are worthy of reflection. Interested, what’s your take on the health of the luxury suite market and the effect if any a builder’s offering of 5% commission plus a Mercedes and a 7% buyer's discount on the sale of any suite over $2 million might have on the...

I believe I inadvertently provided the below back a number of pages ago when I suggested population growth was heading back to TO. That is 2006'c census. it's out of date. 2011 is what I should have provided which is http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/pdf/2011-census-backgrounder.pdf...

Hi Downtowner1, it is good to be thinking as you are. I would like to offer my opinion for your consideration as briefly as I can without getting into the ins and outs: It would take an unanticipated shock to the economy for house prices to decline by more than 20% within a year. Consider...

TO is in its 17th year of straight gains, it cannot last. How long is long term for you 3,5 7, 10 years? The last downturn took 7 to start to recapture lost value. I'm suggesting you not do this just because of your friends' experience and certainly not at Yonge and Bloor (east anyway)...

Kevin, your condo should be exempt from the rent guidelines - so far. You can contact the Landlord and Tenant Board at 1-888-332-3234 to get their answer.

Interested, yes, it does appear that freehold values are outstripping the condos as you have surmised, the exception being the 2 bedroom condos in area 2 this year as I noted and which I find intriguing. It could be lack of supply for the 2 & 3 bedroom freehold in area 2 yet, I would hedge a bet...

Condo v Freehold price change ratios. Per my previous post, I chose 3 specific areas all catering to condos and freeholds, for the months Jan 1 to April 12 and years 2010, 2011 and 2012 and divided them into the following categories: For Condos:- 1, 2, 3 bedrooms and 4+. For Freehold:- 2...

Excellent. I'll post my findings by no later than Friday evening, sooner if possible.

This is normal in every real estate market because the higher the price the fewer the buyers. One of the gauges I use to assist with market direction is to track the number of high end properties starting with non-condos or what is being referred to as SFH. Once they start to taper off in price...

VZ64, in my opinion the property sold for well over market value. The comparison you are trying to make doesn't apply as the sales over a million in the vicinity were for homes that sit on quieter streets, larger (more bedrooms), some more updated, deeper lots or a combination thereof. I think...

No CDR it's not since sold amounts are subject to protection under privacy laws and doesn't fall under public real until it is tranferred by land registry listings are removed from realtor.ca once the sale price is noted. I'm sure someone will put it out there soon enough.

I know the address and reviewed the listing and comps but RECO's and TREB's rules don't allow me to publish it especially since it wasn't released in media print.