There aren’t many condos being built in Toronto that I can say hit as close to home as The Hub Condos by Empire Communities… and there probably aren’t very many Realtors who can talk about the area of the new development as well as me!

The future site of The Hub actually backs on the street I’ve lived on my entire life!  Located at on the corner of Eglinton and Oakwood, Empire Communities is the first condo developer to venture in this part of town – and with good reason.  With plans of the new LRT line well underway, getting in early offers the best chance for benefiting from all that’s happening!

Early next week more details of The Hub will be released, but I’ve been lucky enough to preview some early floorplans and renderings… I gotta say – I like what I saw! Units range from about 500 sq. ft. to just over 1000 sq. ft., and will include a variety of 1 bedroom, 1+den, 2 bedroom and 2+den layouts. I can’t post the floorplans online just yet but I was able to leak a few renderings of what the condo will one day look like!

If you’d like early access to prices and floorplans fill out the form below:

In a City where the condo sizes keep shrinking, it’s good to know a few of the larger ones are still kicking around… In fact  not only are they still around, they are being redesigned and remodelled to look just like (if not, better) than their younger counterparts!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Roughly three years ago, I sold a large 1200 sq.ft 2 bedroom condo to clients of mine. Returning 3 years later, my jaw dropped when I saw the transformation that took place!  The old vinyl tiles that once welcomed guests were replaced with modern ceramic tiles.  The dated closet door swapped for a much more tasteful design… long gone are the mustard coloured walls – instead a natural and lighter colour accented with baseboards outlines the main foyer.

My eyes were instantly drawn to the gorgeous (egnireed) hardwood floors that covered the main living and dinning room areas. When they bought the place it came with carpets, which did nothing but “date” the unit.  The new floors give it a fresh look and feel great to walk on!

Next up came the kitchen.  This is where the biggest changes took place…  Gone are the low ceilings, painted cabinets and appliances that very little life left in them.  Just like the foyer, the vinyl floors were peeled off and new ceramic tiles installed. In fact, aside from the four walls outlining the kitchen – very little of the original kitchen remains!

The combination of the white subway tile back splash and under-mount lighting, highlight the contrast in the counter tops and stainless steel appliances!

They really did think of everything when doing the renovation, including a breakfast bar for the mornings! When dinner rolls around, there’s a dedicated spot tucked perfectly between the main living area and kitchen.

They even custom sowed window coverings to perfectly fit the large picture window! The dining area continues with the floors and freshly painted walls.  It also includes a walk-out to a massssssive balcony.  Measuring in at about 14 meters wide, there’s plenty of space for entertaining outside. A new “storm door” and tempered glass door with blinds have been both installed on the balcony too!

The condo features 2 four piece bathrooms, one in the main living area and the second in the master bedroom!

Most modern condos can boast having a washer and dryer available in the unit, but how many come with their very own room?

And if you’re still looking for storage, there’s a pantry just off of the laundry room for towels and cleaning products!

One feature that really drew my clients to purchase the place was it’s HUGE master bedroom! Complete with walkin closet and ensuite bathroom, you’ll find no shortage of space. Newly installed carpeting, light fixtures and even a custom book shelf have been installed in the master bedroom!

The second bedroom is equally generous in size and offers plenty of space for a desk and storage!

And now for the best part of the condo… the price! For $250,000 you get a fully upgraded condo that’s quick and easy to move into! Maintance fee’s at $601 a month and even includes basic cable.  At around 1200 sq.ft., that’s even cheaper than many downtown towers! There is one parking spot and one locker included in the purchase price along with the main kitchen appliances, clothes washer/dryer and all existing electric light fixtures!

The building has an outdoor pool, playground, small library and a TTC bus stop in front of the building!  If you’d like a tour of the condo, contact me… I’d love to help!

Does your home included ELF’s? How about the GdoR?… and what about the CAC – is it included in the monthly maintenance?”

Realtors are infamous for using a slew of short forms and abbreviations, that often make listing look like cheesy classified ads in newspapers. The reason for this is that the MLS limits the amount of characters one can use to describe a home. Those in the biz, and hardcore property hunters probably know what many of these short forms mean… but for everyone else, I’ve made a little list below to help understand the lingo!

Apt – (Basement) apartment
A/C – Air Conditioner
CAC – Central Air Conditioner
Appx. – Approximate

B/I – Built In
B/I/DW – Built In Dishwasher
BKFST – Breakfast room
Bldg – Building
Brdlm – Broadloom carpeting
Bsmt – Basement

CVAC – Central Vaccum

DFT – Deal fell through
DOM – Days on Market
DR- Dining Room
Dryr – Dryer

ELFs – Electrical Light Fixtures
Exh – Exhaust

FAG – Forced Air Gas
FLRs – Floors

GdoR – Garage Door Opener Remote
GB&E – Gas Burner and Equipment

Hwt(r) – Hot Water Tank Rental

I/G – In ground

Mnths – Months

O/Looks – Over looks

Pvt – Private
Pwdr – Power Room

RREA – Registered Real Estate Agent

TBA – To be announced

W/O – Walk out

Yr – Year

Just when you mastered the iPad, Nawar Naji (a mortgage broker friend from twitter) comes along and tweets a video from the Corning company that totallllllllllllly changes everything… and the best part – it was made 2 years ago.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Meant as a “concept video” for all the possibilities Corning can one day create, the video takes you through a typical 9-5 in the not so distant future! Several reactions crossed my mind while watching it, the first: “Wow, and how much?” The second: “ok, maybe this is a little too much tech in the home.” And the third: “what changes can this bring to the real estate market today.”

Take for example the Condo Sales Centre… Currently, you walk in, check out a few floorplans, tour a model suite (if even that) and fork over a chunk of change based on a black and white sketch!  To any developers listening, I say: forget the models and fancy upgrades, INVEST YOUR MONEY IN THIS TECHNOLOGY!

If given the chance I’d buy a big open space and fit a room full of Corning screens.  The room would generate a 3D model of the condo unit to scale and from one place you’d be able to shop and compare several buildings at once! Just think of all the possibilities… future views could be displayed, colour selection and upgrades visualized and changed in real time, heck even furniture layouts could be added or subtracted with a simple swipe of the hand.

Truthfully and realistically, getting competitors to create open sourced deceives that can communicate as smoothly as in the video seems pretty unlikely – but the advantages of incorporating a few into our daily lives today would be huge! Check out the video they came out with in 2012!

Click here to view the embedded video.

The possibilities are endless for how this technology can change in our lives… but so too may be the hydro bill!

Ever wonder what you’re reaaaaaaaaaally accepting when you “click accept” online? Or what about what life would be like if you were chosen to be the Secretary of the BEATLES! Believe it or not, these questions and more have been documented and made into films which will be premiering at the 2013 HotDocs Film Festival in Toronto!

It’s a big year for the annual festival as they celebrate 20 years in Toronto with another lineup of interesting an eclectic subjects.  The festival runs from April 25th 2013 to Sunday May 5th 2013 and I’ve somehow managed to go all in this year and book myself 8 films.  For your viewing pleasure I’ve “officially” shortlisted a few films and proudly present my Savel Selection for 2013!

Terms And Conditions May Apply

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No one really reads the terms and conditions connected to every website they visit, phone call they make or app they download. After watching this provocative exploration of what actually lies between the lines of those tiny-font agreements, however, you may just hurl your computer out the window and take to a cave. With fascinating examples, comical gags and terrifying facts, filmmaker Cullen Hoback investigates what governments and corporations are doing with your “personal” information. Regardless of privacy settings, data is being collected and behaviour is being monitored—as you read this, in fact—leaving the future of civil liberties uncertain. But are we really living in such a dystopian conspiratorial world? From whistle blowers and investigative journalists to zombie fan clubs and Egyptian dissidents, this disquieting exposé demonstrates how every one of us has incrementally opted into a real-time surveillance state, click by click. Review by Myrocia Watamaniuk

Downloaded

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In 1998, teenage hacker Shawn Fanning cracked the code that enabled peer-to-peer file sharing online. In 1999, he partnered with his friend and fellow teen Sean Parker (later of Facebook fame) to launch a little service known as Napster. The music-sharing website transformed not only the music industry, but technology as a whole. It sparked a revolution and became the touchstone of a new, digital generation. Filmmaker Alex Winter provides ideal access to Fanning and his collaborators, as well as to a roster of famous musicians including Henry Rollins, Snoop Lion, Beastie Boy Mike D and Public Enemy Chuck D, who are only too happy to give their opinions and insights on free downloading and copyright infringement. Downloaded deftly charts the rise and fall of Napster’s creators, from idealistic kids to vilified pirates, and places Napster in its rightful context as a pioneering platform that changed the world. Review by Angie Driscoll

12 O’Clock Boys

This is a strikingly beautiful portrait of Pug, a young boy from a tough Baltimore neighbourhood who has a single goal: to join the 12 O’Clock Boys, a gang of illegal dirt bikers who dominate the area. Forbidden to chase them for fear of risking accidents the police attempt to combat the bikers but find themselves continually tormented and provoked. Following along through several years in Pug’s life, we see his vital growth as he inches closer to joining the gang. Marching to his own drum, Pug’s determination has his mother at a loss. She tries her best to tame her child while dealing with the loss of his older brother. In one of the most beautifully and artfully crafted films of the year, director Lotfy Nathan presents an encompassing and unique look at a young boy seeking both inclusion and freedom. Review by Charlotte Cook

Muscle Shoals

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Tucked along the Tennessee River, the town of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, barely registers on a map. But as Bono explains, there’s something in that mud. Thanks to one visionary record producer and a group of unknown session musicians, the tiny backwater changes the course of modern music. At the heart of this fascinating history lesson is Rick Hall, a dark horse who overcomes a shocking past to found FAME Studios. Together with a band of buddies, The Swampers, he develops the deep, soulful “Muscle Shoals sound” that reinvents the work of legends as varied as Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett to Mick Jagger and Gregg Allman. More inspiring still, Hall and The Swampers create a space where black and white artists work seamlessly together, just down the road from Alabama’s burning racial crisis. Revealing interviews with countless icons serve up one of the greatest untold American music stories. Review by Myrocia Watamaniuk

The Great North Korean Picture Show

Welcome to Hollywood, Kim Jong-il style. For the first time, foreign cameras are allowed into the world’s most secretive state’s only film school. In a country where film is a vital propaganda tool, not entertainment, what room is there for artistic expression? Very little. Filmmakers James Leong and Lynn Lee follow two young actors and a director, handpicked by the regime to become stars, as they hone their craft. Every scene of implored love for the state, each painstaking rehearsal, even a surprise lesson in how to frame a portrait of Kim Jong-un raises the question of whether a gun, either literal or metaphorical, is pointed at the actors from the ever-watchful sidelines. We are never certain whether its rank and file toe the party line with anything like the willingness evinced by the privileged protagonists. Searing critique, objective observation or just fantastic fun, this is an irresistible glimpse behind barbed wire. Review by Myrocia Watamaniuk

Everybody Street

Celebrated filmmaker and photographer Cheryl Dunn turns her lens on the pioneers and masters of New York street photography. Dunn profiles artists spanning six decades, including Bruce Davidson, Mary Ellen Mark, Jill Freedman, Jeff Mermelstein and Martha Cooper, revealing that these shooters are as colourful and unique as the subjects they’ve relentlessly documented. Everybody Street explores the passion that compelled Freedman to spend years riding in squad cars during the most violent years in the city; Bruce Gilden’s drive to thrust his camera in people’s faces to capture a moment; and Martha Cooper’s dedication to chasing graffiti on passing subway cars in the Bronx. The film is a definitive look at the iconic visionaries of this often imitated art form. Review by Lynne Crocker

The Last Black Sea Pirates

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This is a modern pirate story complete with a captain, a mutinous crew of outlaws, a princess, her wedding dress and untold riches. Only one thing is missing: the ship. According to legend, Vulchan, a 19th-century gypsy pirate, attacked three convoys laden with gold. He robbed them, sunk them and hid his treasure by the coast. Fast forward to present day. Captain Jack, an ex-con himself, leads a motley bunch of homeless outcasts—alcoholics and petty criminals—in a search for the hidden loot. But their hopes of riches and glory are threatened when the brother of the Bulgarian Prime Minister announces plans to build a new mega tourist resort by the Black Sea.

Brothers Hypnotic

For those unfamiliar with the soulful and downright bombastic sound of Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, prepare to be musically electrified. The brass horn band is remarkable not only for its raucous street performances, but also because all eight members are from the same legendary family. Sons of anti-establishment Sun-Ra trumpeter Phil Cohran, they were raised on Chicago’s South Side as part of their father’s utopian experiment. Wearing homemade clothes, eating vegan and getting up for family band practice every morning at 5:00, their music was meant to uplift the African-American community. They keep tight control over their talent, distributing their music directly to the masses on the streets. But as their star starts to rise, collaborations with Mos Def and concerts with Prince lead to entertaining the labels they long eschewed. At a crossroads, they must decide whether their father’s principles are really their own. Review by Myrocia Watamaniuk

May 2: Docs At Dusk

Celebrate Hot Docs’ 20th anniversary with a FREE outdoor screening of Brothers Hypnotic in Burwash Quad (next to Victoria College on the University of Toronto Campus).

Join us at 8:00 pm for refreshments and a live performance by Toronto singer/songwriter Bryce Jardine, featuring music from his debut album The Kids Are Gone. The screening will begin at 9:00 pm, and when dusk turns to dark, be sure to look south to the CN Tower as it’s lit green in honour of Hot Docs’ anniversary.

In the event of rain, this screening will be moved indoors to the Rogers Industry Centre at 93 Charles Street West. Hot Docs Staff will be stationed in the Burwash Quad to help direct patrons to the indoor location.

It’s homes like this that make me love what I do!  Why you ask… well this isn’t your typical “cookie-cutter”, sub division home, built in the middle of Nowhere Land!  Nor is it a home with slabs of mountain top marble to eat off of, or frivolous upgrades that hardly ever get used. Rather, this is a home with character, history and most importantly – room to make your own memories in!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Located at 334 Boon Avenue in the community of Fairbank/Calendonia in Toronto – this home is perfectly located between Eglinton and St. Clair just west of Dufferin! The neighbourhood is home to both Public and Catholic schools, an outdoor pool and public transit. The street itself has a very cozy and warm feel to it with many neighbours greeting me while I was getting the home ready for sale!

The house has been home to the same family for several years, and the pride of ownership can be seen from very angle!  From the entrance you walk into a large open concept family room that makes for the perfect space to entertain. New laminate floors have been installed in the main seating area.

The kitchen is a very generous size with no shortage of storage!  All the appliances seen in this area will be staying with the house.  There an opening between the living area and here to allow for an open flow of conversation when guests are over.  There’s also great amounts of light that shines from the back window.  A walk out leads to the back which comes complete with a shed and fenced in yard.

The basement is personally my favourite part of the home!  It’s one large open concept space that makes for the perfect TV room.  Pot lights accent the ceiling with a newly tiled floor below.  The basement has recently been waterproofed and the owner has a warranty that will stay with who ever buys the home. A sub pump was also installed!  A four piece bathroom complete with a jacuzzi tub can also be found in the lower level of the home.  The furnace, washer and dryer are all tucked away towards the back of the basement. There is great head room in the basement and you won’t feel cramped like in most homes of the area!

Walk up a short flight to the second floor and you’ll find two well laid out bedrooms complete with closets, new floors and freshly painted walls! There is also a three piece bathroom complete with a separate shower stall.

The master bedroom is by far one of the most spacious I’ve seen in the area… and I’ve seen a lot!  Two large windows will make your mornings bright with all the natural light that shines in.

While any home of this age is never perfect, there are a lot of improvements that have been done to make it as efficient of a move-in as possible.  They include: Newer windows throughout, re shingled roof in 2005,  waterproofing done on the outside for the basement, sub pump, new dry wall and tiles in the basement, new laminate flooring on most parts of the main and upper level, 125 amp breaker panel and the absolute best part of the home… LEGAL FRONT PAD PARKING!  Very few homes in the area have this!

I’ve included more photos below, but feel free to contact me for a private tour of the home!

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]]> http://savelblogs.com/334-boon-avenue-starter-home-for-sale-in-toronto/feed 0 http://savelblogs.com/photo-friday-is-back-and-better-than-ever http://savelblogs.com/photo-friday-is-back-and-better-than-ever#comments Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:53:59 +0000 Mark Savel http://savelblogs.com/?p=7150

One of my goals for the year is getting back to basics and bringing a more organized system into my business!  Most of this is happening behind the scenes and should be fully rolled out by late Spring…

One of the things I’m most excited to bring back is my Daily Photos!  A few years ago (when blackberries were still cool), I would post a pic a day from my adventures in the City.  Recently, the platform I was using shut down services leaving me scrambling for a place to host my photos.  I’m now back in business thanks to Instagram and am excited to share all the sights this City has to offer!

You can check out my daily photos on the side bar of the blog or visit the entire collection over at my Savel and the City daily photo page! Below are a few of the places I’ve seen in the last week: