There’s little doubt that Canadians are on the move. Whether moving from an apartment to a home, apartment to apartment or home to home, moving is no simple matter. With careful planning, however, your transition can be facilitated in an organized and efficient manner, allowing you the peace of mind you need to settle into your home. The following moving tips are provided by the Ontario Real Estate Association.

Advance Planning

Planning should begin at least two months in advance. Confirm your closing date before scheduling your moving date. If you are renting, confirm your move-in date. Make a list of all records that must be transferred to a new location, such as children’s school records, and financial and medical records.

Whether moving two blocks or 2,000 miles, decide what must go with you. This may be a good time for a serious cleaning of the closets or the basement where you’ve been storing your “valuables.” It can be expensive and time consuming to move things you really don’t need, or worse, to find that there’s no place to put them in your new home.

If you are disposing of a large number of items, consider holding a garage or moving sale to offset some of your moving expenses. If you’re donating items to charitable organizations, ask for a receipt for tax purposes.

New Address

Some things you may need to do:

• Send change of address cards to magazine publishers and organizations with whom you are affiliated (Most magazines request 4 to 6 weeks notice)
• Provide change of address notice on credit card bills
• Leave forwarding instructions with the post office
• Let your friends and neighbours know your new address
• Request help you may need with packing and moving
• If you are moving yourself, schedule a moving party providing pizza and beverages for anyone who can help
• Take inventory of borrowed or lent items and return what is not yours and retrieve your items
• Dispose of flammable liquids, such as gasoline or oil. Is there gasoline in your lawn mower?
• Two weeks before you move, contact local utility companies to advise of a date to disconnect service
• Arrange for utility service in your new home
• Clear up outstanding accounts, particularly if you are leaving the area
• Plan carefully for the transfer of checking and savings accounts
• Open an account in advance in your new community so you have access to money, but make sure your old account stays open until all checks have cleared
• If you are driving any distance, service your car before you move. Car problems in an unfamiliar community can be troublesome.
• This is also a good time to make appointments with doctors and dentists arranging for a final check-up and discussion of potential problems of which to advise a new doctor.

If you need help planning your move or anything else real estate related, call us, Semone Duerr and Jojo Plachta, at 416-699-9292 or email us at homes@MyDistilleryDistrict.com.

If you’re thinking about buying a piece of Toronto real estate as an investment property, market conditions are definitely in your favour. While the resale housing market has seen a tremendous amount of activity from first-time buyers in the past year, it’s also a perfect time for existing homeowners to invest in secondary residential properties.

With record-low interest rates and significantly lower prices it’s hard to go wrong – unless, of course you lack the financial means to make the investment. After all, you have to be ready to meet all the obligations that come with owning more than your principal property. For instance, keep in mind that if you intend to rent out the second property, you’ll also have to be prepared to deal with tenants and handle maintenance costs.

Leverage

Secondary home ownership is an attractive investment option because it gives you even more leverage than you have with your principal residence. Leverage is when a relatively small amount of your money controls a much larger asset – like a property.

The more leveraged you are, the greater the financial return on your down payment becomes if the value of your property increases. There are very few other investments which can be purchased with such a small percentage of your own money.

Lets Talk Numbers…

For instance, let’s say you acquire a second property for $100,000, with a $15,000 down payment, and during the first year that you own it, the property increases by a value of three per cent for a $3,000 gain. As a result, the return on your down payment of $15,000 is 20 per cent – $3,000 divided by $15,000.

By comparison, let’s say you were to buy a term investment of $100,000 (in cash) for one year and it increased by $8,000 over the course of the first year. Since it cost you $100,000 in cash to buy it, the return on your investment is only eight per cent before taxes. Obviously, leveraging is a powerful way to make your money work for you.

Getting Financing

You should be aware that many lenders place non-owner occupied deals in the high-risk categoryand it’s not that unusual to find lenders who will not finance rental units at all – or those who will only finance them if they are insured.

Obviously, lenders will want to know whether the property will carry itself. (Is there sufficient rent to cover the mortgage payment?)

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that a rental income of $500 per month will carry a mortgage payment of $500 per month. Only a portion of the rent is used to pay the mortgage; the remainder must cover taxes, maintenance, vacancy, bad debt and expenses.

(Many inexperienced purchasers think that owning rental properties will allow them to “get rich quickly” and when this does not happen, the owner becomes disillusioned and loses interest in the property.)

Costs

You should also be aware that the cost of obtaining a mortgage (for legal and appraisal fees) on a non-owner occupied property can be higher than the cost of obtaining a mortgage on an owner-occupied property, when more than one unit – such as a duplex or triplex is involved. Interest rates charged on rental properties might also be higher because some lenders view these properties as being a higher risk.

As mentioned above, the main responsibility of having a second property is being able to carry it financially. And if you’re like most people, you’ll probably have to rent it to someone as a result.

This is also a great deal of responsibility because you will have to maintain the property in addition to your own principal residence, and you’ll be responsible for finding tenants who you trust and feel comfortable with.

Some parents with grown children ready to go off to university or college choose to purchase secondary properties for their offspring to live in while they attend school. This gives them an excellent investment and they are assured that the occupants will take good care of the home.

If you’d like more information about purchasing a second property, contact us, Semone Duerr and Jojo Plachta, at 416—699-9292 or email us at homes@MyDistilleryDistrict.com.

When buying a home in Toronto, the neighbourhood you select will not only play a pivotal role in your family’s life, but in the resale value of the property. One person’s ideal neighbourhood however may vary greatly from another’s. But, regardless, there are some needs and wants that generally do not change.

Factors in a neighbourhood that may influence your new purchase:

• The distance from your new home to schools, churches and shopping
• How far it is from family and friends
• Amount of property crime
• If you have children, you will want to consider the reputations of the schools in the area

A good first step is to enlist the services of a realtor like myself, Semone Duerr, who has years of experience in Toronto and the GTA. I am very familiar with the communities in which I work and can answer many of the questions you will develop during your search for your dream home.

Check the lifestyle

Your home is a part of a larger community, and some are more desirable than others. Some communities are geared more towards young families, others to older adults and still others to singles or an eclectic mix of residents. Never buy in an unfamiliar community or neighbourhood unless you have spent some time there both during the week and on weekends, day and night. Drive and walk around.

Talk to store owners and people you meet on the street. Ask what they think of the neighbourhood.

If there are vacant tracts of land where you plan to buy, check with local authorities to see what the proposed land use might be. The last thing most homeowners want is the development of a mall or a high-rise office building across the road from their newly-purchased property.

Don’t let particular things in a home that appeal to you override its location and potential subsequent resale value. When analyzing a potential property, ask yourself if you can imagine living — not just in this home — but in this neighbourhood for quite a long time. Remember that someday you may have to sell your home to someone else and things that may not be important to you — such as distance to schools, shopping, doctors and work — may be important to other buyers.

Location, location, location

In addition to finding the right neighbourhood, consider the immediate homes around the particular property you want to buy. Ask yourself these questions:

• Are they well maintained and worth the same or more than the home you are considering?
• Is the location a quiet area or a major traffic thoroughfare?
• What kind of privacy does the backyard provide? Does it get the morning or afternoon sun?
• If there is no house behind you, who owns the property and how will it be developed?
• Are you prepared to invest the time and money it takes to commute and how long of a commute are you prepared to commit to?
• Is there public transit and good access to major highways nearby?
• If you have kids in school, what kinds of schools and services are available?
• Will your kids have to be bused to their school? If a school is close by, will they have to cross any major intersections?

Being close to a school, on the other hand, may have some drawbacks — few owners want the noise and disturbance of being located right next door. Finding malls, grocery and specialty stores in urban, residential areas is rarely a problem. But in neighbourhoods further away from urban areas, you may need to drive to the nearest convenience store. And getting to the local grocery store, pharmacy and other support services may require an even longer trek.

It’s great to be located near parks and recreational facilities, but few homeowners appreciate the high cast of tennis court lights beaming into their back yard. If the home you are considering backs onto such property, drive around the area and see how often the baseball diamonds, soccer fields, swimming pools and skating rinks are being used and when.

More serious concerns

Some more serious things you may want to consider when choosing the right neighbourhood are having these things very close by:

• gas stations
• airports
• railway tracks
• commercial developments
• major highways
• cemeteries

Finally, if your heart is set on finding that one-of-a-kind 150-year old Georgian home, you’re not going to find it in a newer development. If you want large bedrooms and bathrooms, narrowing your search to an older part of town where homes are generally smaller, may prove disappointing. Before making any decisions, think of your lifestyle and how a particular location would enhance or detract from it.

Whether you are considering buying or selling, call us, Semone Duerr and Jojo Plachta, at 416-699-9292 or email us at homes@MyDistilleryDistrict.com with any questions or concerns.

Thanks to Alexia for this picture.

All of the following statistics on Cabbagetown real estate were done by Statistics Canada in 2006. All statistics are in comparison to other Toronto neighbourhoods. Call us, Semone Duerr and Jojo Plachta, if you have any questions at 416-699-9292 or email me at homes@greatTorontohomes.com

Time is Money
Income and Prices

• Average gross rent: $890
• Renters spending 30-99% of income: 34.4%
• Owners spending 30-99% of income: 27.4%
• Average value of dwellings: $408,810
• Average mortgage payment: $1,508
• Average Income: Census Family: $123,696; Private Household: $79,849;  One- Person Private Household: $48,327

Learn more about Cabbagetown life on Cabbagetown’s Wikipedia page.

Family Life
Homes and Families

• Cabbagetown is home to the largest continuous area of preserved Victorian housing in North America
• There are more Renters
  

  Thanks to Luke Walker for this picture.

• There are less Lone Parents
• There are more Lone Seniors
• There are less One- family dwellings
• There are less Multi- family dwellings
• There are more dwellings requiring major repairs
• Rented: 54% and Owned: 46%
• Majority of Private Dwellings in this area are apartment buildings that are five storey’s tall or more

View information on Cabbagetown in the Toronto Life Neighbourhood Guide.

How many people live here?
Age doesn’t matter…

• There are much less children age 0-14
• There are less youth age 15-24
• There are the same amount of seniors 65+ who are less dependent
• The Total Population Change is higher
• Working Age Group (25-64) makes up two- thirds of the population
• Total Population is around 11,000
• History and Overview of Cabbagetown.

Who lives here?
Life and Society

• The area is home to many musicians, artists, journalists, writers, professors, doctors and social workers
• There is the Forsythia Festival, the Toronto Dance Theatre, Cabbagetown Festival, The School of Toronto Dance Theatre and the Danny Grossman Dance Company
• Boundaries: Gerrard Street and Shuter Street to the South, Wellesley Street East to the North, Sherbourne Street to the West and the Don River to the East
• There are much more Canadian citizens
• There are less Visible Minorities
• Top 5 languages spoken after English and French: Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Spanish, Persian
• Must See’s: Sharon’s Second Thoughts, Sweet Creamery, School of the Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre
• Must Do’s: Rashnaa Gallery, Jetfuel Coffee
• Must Eat’s: Omi, Jam Café, St. Jamestown Steak and Chops, Stonegrill, The Coburg
• Great Bars: House on Parliament, Cranberries Bar and Grill, Big Mamma’s Boy
• Subway Stops: Castle Frank, Sherbourne, Broadview
• View more cool facts about Cabbagetown on the Old Cabbagetown Site.

All of the following statistics for Moss Park real estate were done by Statistics Canada in 2006. All statistics are in comparison to other Toronto neighbourhoods. Call us, Semone Duerr and Jojo Plachta, if you have any questions at 416-699-9292 or email us at homes@MyDistilleryDistrict.com

Time is Money
Income and Prices

• Average gross rent: $788
• Renters spending 30-99% of income: 33.5%
• Owners spending 30-99% of income: 34.5%
• Average value of dwellings: $357,347
• Average mortgage payment: $1,576
• Average Income: Census Family: $96,549; Private Household: $59,348;  One- Person Private Household: $39,069

Family Life
Homes and Families

• The area is full of townhomes, condo and loft developments and Edwardian style homes
• Berkeley Street is one of the most sought after streets in the area
• Boundaries: Carlton Street to Parliament Street to the North, on the East by Parliament Street to Queen Street and the Don River, on the South by Eastern Avenue and Front Street and on the West by Jarvis Street
• There are more Renters
• There are less Lone Parents
• There are much more Lone Seniors
• There are less One- family dwellings
• There are less Multi- family dwellings
• There are the same amount of dwellings requiring major repairs
• Rented: 59% and Owned: 41%
• Majority of Private Dwellings in this area is apartment buildings that are five storey’s tall or more

How many people live here?
Age doesn’t matter…

• There are less children age 0-14
• There are less youth age 15-24
• There are less seniors 65+ who are also less dependent
• The Total Population Change is higher
• Working Age Group (25-64) makes up two- thirds of the population
• Total Population is around 15,500
• See more fun facts on the Moss Park Wikipedia page.

Who lives here?
Life and Society

• Moss Park is named for the abundant moss that grew on the Allen family estate, one of the founders of the Moss Park neighbourhood
• There are the same amount of Canadian citizens
• The amount of Visible Minorities is much lower
• Top 5 languages spoken after English and French: Chinese, Spanish, Amharic, Filipino, Japanese
• Must See’s: Marty Millionaire, Berkeley Church, Moss Park Armoury
• Must Eat’s: The Patrician Grill, African Village Café, The Berkeley Café, Mengrai Thai, Morning Glory
• Great Bars: Kultura, Weezie’s, Upfront Bar & Grill
• Subway Stops: Dundas, Queen and King
• Learn about more great restaurants and shopping in Moss Park on the Toronto Life website.

All the information about real estate in The Beach is in comparison to other Toronto neighbourhoods. Call us, Semone Duerr and Jojo Plachta, if you have any questions at 416-699-9292 or email us at homes@mydistillerydistrict.com

Time is Money
Income and Poverty

• Average Gross Rent: $1,032
• Renters spending 30-99% of income: 32.8%
• Owners spending 30-99% of income: 23.4%
• Average value of dwellings: $622,647
• Average mortgage payments: $1,747
• Average Income: Census Family: $155,092; Private Household: $119,634; One- Person Private Household: $62,882

Family Life
Homes and Families

• The Beach is filled with semis as well as detached in the Victorian, Edwardian and new- style houses
• There are Less Renters
• There are less Lone Parents
• There are more Lone Seniors
• There are the same amount of One- family dwellings
• There are less Multi- family dwellings
• There are more dwellings requiring major repairs
• Rented: 36%; Owned: 64%
• Large Majority of Private Dwellings are Apartment buildings less than five storey’s, followed by single- detached homes
• View The Beaches community website.

How many people live here?
Age doesn’t matter…

• There are more children age 0-4
• There are the same amount of children age 5-14
• There are less youth age 15-24
• There are less seniors who are also better off financially
• The Total Population Change is the same
• The Working Age Group (25-64) makes up two- thirds of the population
• The Total Population is around 20,500
• Learn more facts about The Beach and its history on The Beach Wikipedia page.

Who lives here?
Life and Society

• Boundaries: Victoria Park Avenue to the East, Kingston Road to the North, Eastern Avenue to Leslie to the West and South to the shore of Lake Ontario
• The Beach has a very athletic and laid- back resort town vibe
• There are more people with Canadian citizenship
• There are less Visible Minorities
• Must See’s: R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant, Binz, Kew Beach Gardens
• Must Do’s: Stroll along the Boardwalk, Fox Theatre, Beaches Jazz Festival
• Must Eat’s: Vi Vetha, Aki Da, The Green Eggplant, Whitlock’s, The Pie Shack
• Great Bars: The Fill Station, Lion on the Beach, The Gull and the Firkin, Castro’s Lounge, Fitzgerald’s
• Top 5 Languages (Spoken after English and French): Chinese, Spanish, Dutch, Greek, Korean
• Subway Stops: Woodbine, Main Street, Coxwell, Queen Street Streetcar
• Learn more about the Beaches Business Improvement Area (BIA) association.

All the information about real estate in The Annex is in comparison to other Toronto neighbourhoods. Call us, Semone Duerr and Jojo Plachta, if you have any questions at 416-699-9292 or email us at homes@mydistillerydistrict.com

Time is Money!
Income and Prices

• Average gross rent: $1,134
• Renters spending 30-99% of income: 35.6%
• Owners spending 30-99% of income: 27.4%
• Average value of dwellings: $793,471
• Average mortgage payment: $1,680

Learn more about the Bloor- Annex area.

Family Life
Homes and Families

• The Annex boasts beautiful architecture, including Romanesque style homes
• The Annex neighbourhood is over 100 years old
• Boundaries: North from Bloor Street to the CNR/ CPR tracks, West to Christie Street, and East to Yonge Street
• The number of Renters is higher
• The amount of Lone Parents is lower
• There are more Lone Seniors
• There are less One- family dwellings
• There are less Multi- family dwellings
• There are more dwellings requiring major repairs
• Rented: 64%; Owned: 36%
• Majority of Dwellings in this area are apartment buildings five storey’s tall or more

More interesting history on the Annex.

How many people live here?
Age doesn’t matter…

• The Annex is home to many University of Toronto students, successful business people and prominent artists
• There are less children age 0-14
• There are the same amount of youth age 15-24
• There are more seniors 65+ is higher
• The Total Population Change is the same
• Working Age Group (25-64) makes up two- thirds of the population
• Total Population is around 28,000

View the Annex Residents Association’s website.

Who lives here?
Life and Society

• The Annex is home to many of the faculty and students of the University of Toronto
• The Annex is represented by the New Democratic Party or NDP
• Must Do’s: The Bathurst Street Theatre, the Bloor Cinema and the Jewish Community Center, Honest Ed’s, Bata Show Museum, Casa Loma, The Spadina House Museum, Royal Ontario Museum (or ROM)
• Must See’s: The Fringe Theatre Festival, Neighbourhood Stroll, Queen’s Park
• Must Eat’s: Future Bakery, By the Way Café, Sneaky Dee’s, New Generation Sushi
• Great Bars: Molly Bloom’s, Brunswick House, Einstein’s, Labyrinth Lounge, Madison Avenue Pub
• Top 5 languages spoken (after English and French): Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Korean
• Subway Stops: Bathurst, Bay, Bloor- Yonge, Dupont, St. George and Spadina

I would like to thank Simon P. for the pictures.

All of the following statistics on real estate in Regent Park were done by Statistics Canada in 2006. All statistics are in comparison to other Toronto neighbourhoods. Call me, Semone Duerr, if you have any questions at 416-566-6050 or email me at homes@greatTorontohomes.com

Time is Money
Income and Prices

• Average gross rent: $548
• Renters spending 30-99% of income: 29.6%
• Owners spending 30-99% of income: 34.2%
• Average value of dwellings: $394,853
• Average mortgage payment: $1,650
• Average Income: Census Family: $38,181; Private Household: $35,656;  One- Person Private Household: $26,458
• Read more fun facts about Regent Park on the Toronto Life website.

Family Life
Homes and Families

• There are lofts, townhomes, and low- cost housing as well as many new amenities in the works
• Boundaries: Gerrard Street East to the North, River Street to the East, Shuter Street to the South and Parliament Street to the West
• There are more Renters
• There are much more Lone Parents
• There are more Lone Seniors
• There are more One- family dwellings
• There are less Multi- family dwellings
• There are more Dwellings requiring major repairs
• Rented: 89% and Owned: 11%
• Majority of Private Dwellings in this area is apartment buildings that are five storey’s tall or more
• Learn more about the Regent Park revitalization project.

How many people live here?
Age doesn’t matter…

• There are more children age 0-14
• There are more youth age 15-24
• There are less seniors 65+ who are also more dependent
• The Total Population Change is lower
• Working Age Group (25-64) makes up half of the population
• Total Population is around 10,500
• Learn more on the Regent Park Wikipedia page.

Who lives here?
Life and Society

• Regent Park is located in between the scenic Don and Cabbagetown
• Regent Park is a community that is in the process of intense revitalization, with many residential homes and apartments being built in the next few years
• There are many community groups and service agencies including: Regent Park Neighbourhood Initiative, Pathways to Education and the Regent Park Focus Youth Media Arts Centre
• There are more Canadian citizens
• There are more Visible Minorities
• Top 5 languages spoken after English and French: Chinese, Bengali, Tamil, Vietnamese, Somali
• Must See’s: Bousada, Ultra Lighting, Space Furniture
• Must Eat’s: Savoury Grounds Coffee Co., Island Grill, Peter’s Cajun Creole Pizza
• Subway Stops: Castle Frank, Broadview, Dundas

Danforth Village, north of Danforth, was originally owned by the Church of England and street names in this area like Glebemount and Glebeholme are proof of this. The land south of Danforth was not owned by the Church of England, but by farming families or ones in the brick making industry. Danforth Avenue is named after Asa Danforth, a contractor from America who built Kingston Road in 1799, but whom had nothing to do with the construction of Danforth Avenue! Learn more about the history of the Danforth.

Homes in this area are very affordable and are right on the Bloor- Danforth subway line, making it extremely easy to get anywhere you need to go. The area’s boundaries go from Victoria Park Avenue to Broadview Avenue, just east of the Bloor Viaducts. This area is excellent for first- time home buyers and those looking to start a family. There are parks galore and there is also a very eventful nightlife in this district. There is also relatively low property crime and crimes against people compared to the rest of Toronto, making it a safe place to live.

The Danforth community is home to the annual Taste of the Danforth festival that closes down Danforth Avenue and offers great Greek food from all the Greektown restaurants, as well as hundreds of other vendors to shop from and music to listen to. One block south of Danforth is Withrow Park, a huge green space right between Logan and Carlaw, with tennis courts, a hockey rink and a soccer field, as well as playgrounds for children.

Danforth area homes are a great investment, being one of the last affordable areas in Toronto. It is an area that, culturally and property- wise, has something for everyone. Young families and professionals find this area extremely desirable simply because of its hip and bustling atmosphere and great location. If you are looking for a home on the Danforth or anywhere else in Toronto or the GTA, call us, Semone and Jojo, at 416-699-9292 or email us at homes@mydistillerydistrict.com

The area is bounded by Yonge Street, Front Street and Parliament Street, right in the heart of downtown Toronto. The Esplanade which runs right off Yonge Street goes right through the centre of the St. Lawrence community, with everything you need within walking distance from your home. It is also very close to the TTC and within 10 minutes walking distance of the heart of the downtown core.

The St. Lawrence neighbourhood was built on the original part of the shoreline of Lake Ontario. To the north was the Town of York, which was the forerunner to the City of Toronto. The present day St. Lawrence neighbourhood land was created from landfill in the early 1800’s. The land was originally intended as a public promenade, but the city turned the land over to the railways. This, in turn, attracted industries to the St. Lawrence area.

In the early 1900’s, one of Toronto’s most prominent industrial centres was the St. Lawrence. It remained a vital industrial area until the late 1940’s, when Toronto’s industrial base began moving outside of the city.

After the move, St. Lawrence went into a period of decline. This decline lasted until the 1970’s, when Toronto politicians made the decision to create the present day St. Lawrence neighbourhood. More on St. Lawrence history.

It is a community steeped in history with the very first parliament buildings of Upper Canada being located in this area right at Parliament and Front Street. The St. Lawrence Market, in place since 1803, is the focal point of this fantastic neighbourhood, is a large retail market with vendors selling food, drink, clothes, antiques and anything else you could possibly imagine.

St. Lawrence homes are great for families looking to settle down or even for individuals. Whether you are looking for condominiums, townhouses or detached homes, this is a great area to start off in. There is always something to do around St. Lawrence, whether it be hitting up the nightlife and great restaurants or taking a stroll along the waterfront. If you have any questions or concerns about this area or any other in Toronto or the GTA, call us, Semone and Jojo, at 416-699-9292 or email us at homes@myDistillerydistrict.com