downtown Toronto

Summer….in www.OurHomeToronto.com

June 22, 2013 by James Metcalfe Leave a Comment

Summer has arrived in the city of Toronto! Make sure to take in some of the wonderful sites and sounds of the great neighbourhoods that that city has to offer. These are just a few highlights….get out and explore!

Come again and visit The Riverdale Farm 201 Winchester Street; Let your children play in the wading pool, let your dogs run free with the pack and meet lots of other dog folks, visit the Organic Farmers Market every Tuesday from 3:00 to 7:00 pm, take a snooze under a shady tree, see and smell the wonder of a Farm in the center of the City.

Cabbagetown is one of our rare Toronto neighbourhoods where you can walk to the high street and know the green grocer or butcher or the publican’s first name. Where merchants leave a water bowel and biscuits out for your four legged friends. Enjoy the Patio hospitality of F’Amelia or The House On Parliament’ new roof top oasis.

Cabbagetown Riverdale Park Childrens Wading Pool JRM 09,05,09

Cabbagetown … The Largest Grouping of Victorian Homes in North America!

James Metcalfe’s May Real Estate Update

May 28, 2013 by James Metcalfe Leave a Comment

May has been a busy month with some crazy weather. The housing market saw a slight decline in April and a slight rise in the average cost of housing. April saw a slight 2% decline in sales which may be a result of stricter mortgage lending guidelines. The average price of a resale home in the GTA in April was $526,335 which represented a 2% increase versus April 2012. This could mean that price growth in the back half of 2013 may be stronger than originally thought.

This month’s newsletter also features a brand new research tool that is now available to hone buyers. Available to every municipality in Canada, these new home history reports include information on local school rankings, local demographics and insurance claim records for the neighbourhood, among other things. They are published and sold by Teranet which covers land registration and title search services for the province of Ontario.

In this month’s Trendy Corner find out how to design a kitchen. Some of the major questions that you should be asking include: What are your general preferences? Do you need more than one sink? Do you prefer gas, electric or a combination? Do you need a pantry for extra storage? A kitchen can be an expensive and time consuming design process. This month’s kitchen checklist will help make those decisions a little bit easier.

As always our ever popular “Pearls of Wisdom” returns. Here is a preview: “If love is the answer, could you please rephrase the question.”- Lily Tomlin

James Metcalfe’s May Real Estate Update from James Metcalfe

James Metcalfe’s April Real Estate Update

April 29, 2013 by James Metcalfe Leave a Comment

Spring has finally arrived (sort of) and with it some growth in the average price of a resale home in the GTA. In March, we saw the price of homes increase by 4% versus March 2012 which means the average price of a home increased from $500, 875 to $519, 879. We also saw price growth across all market segments including single- detached homes, semi-detached homes, townhomes and condo apartments. Although we saw price growth there was a 17% decrease in sales versus March 2o12.

This month in our update we look at a case of a couple with two dogs and the importance of examining the building’s certificate of status prior to placing an offer on a unit. Make sure to ask your real estate agent about the certificate of status prior to placing a bid on a resale condo. They should know of any restrictions when it comes to pets and so should you!

We also take a look at some of your electrical questions including examining the electrical capacity of your home and what to do if some of your electrical out lets are not grounded. What are the risks and consequences?

Lastly, and as always we have the popular Pearls of Wisdom. Here is a preview: “Here’s something to think about: how come you never see a headline like ‘Psychic Wins Lottery'” – Jay Leno.

James Metcalfe’s April Real Estate Update from James Metcalfe

Japan’s Gift … To Toronto

April 4, 2013 by James Metcalfe Leave a Comment

It may seem like spring is taking its time to arrive this year, but I am sure there are some spring surprises just around the corner. In fact, one of my favourites happens each year in High Park with the blooming of the cherry blossom trees. Once the cherry blossoms are in full bloom we know that spring has officially arrived.

The Sakura or cherry blossom trees as they are probably more commonly known were a gift to Canada and Toronto from the Japanese Ambassador to Canada in 1959, and they have been a tourist attraction for locals and visitors alike ever since. Amateur and professional photographers alike flock to High Park when the trees are blooming just to catch a glimpse of the beautiful pink flowers and the crowds seem to increase on a yearly basis. Because of this Our Home Toronto has a couple tips to get the best view of the cherry blossoms once they finally bloom.

1) Head to High Park to see the cherry blossoms after work on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowds.

2) Take public transit. There is limited parking in High Park.

3) Be prepared to walk. The trees are beautiful and most are located around Hillside Gardens. Here is a good map to guide you.

According to www.highparktoronto.com the trees have not bloomed yet, and are not expected to bloom until late April. Typically, the blooming lasts for a week to a week and a half if the weather is good.

Happy viewing!

Spring has Sprung! … Pets, One Of A Kind, Eggs, Rock, Parade

March 27, 2013 by James Metcalfe Leave a Comment

April is just around the corner and the Easter holiday has arrived early this year and there is certainly a lot happening around the city in celebration of the first long weekend of warmer weather. In anticipation of warmer weather and a family filled long weekend, Our Home Toronto has put together a list of our favourite events happening this weekend.

1) The All About Pets Show: Beginning Friday and ending Sunday at the International Centre, the All About Pets Show looks after the four legged member or members of your family. This year marks the shows 2oth year and some of the major highlights include a wellness centre, seminars and shopping for your favourite four legged companion.

2) The One of a Kind Spring Show and Sale: The One of a Kind Spring Show and Sale hits Exhibition Place this Saturday. The show will feature more than 800 artisans and artists and is certainly the place to go if you are looking for that one of a kind gift for a friend or loved one, or if you are just looking to treat yourself. You will find everything from jewelry and paintings to furniture and textiles. Looking for something one of a kind- this is certainly the place to be.

3) Toronto Rock vs. Buffalo Bandits: If you are in the mood for a sports fix this long weekend don’t miss the Toronto Rock vs. the Buffalo Bandits. The games are at the Air Canada Centre which is very centrally located and the ticket prices are reasonable with a minimum ticket price of $18.75. Learn all about the team at www.torontorock.com.

4) Easter “Egg” Stravaganza: Head down to the Toronto Zoo to hunt for Easter eggs and spend the day with animals from all over the world. Sadly, the new pandas can’t been seen by the public yet, we will all have to wait until May for that!

5) Vintage Easter Parade: The Vintage Easter Parade is happening this Sunday with a fashionable stroll down Yonge Street. Young and old can participate and watch the parade for free. There will even be opportunities for photos at Yonge- Dundas Square. The parade route and further details can be found here: http://www.beeskneesdance.com/easter-parade/ Anyone can participate so put on your Sunday best and join the fun!