Posts Tagged ‘Family home’

500 and 530 St. Clair, are in my opinion, one of the most underrated projects in the City!! The development is in the process of transforming the Bathurst and St. Clair corner with two well-thought-out condo towers. One of the reasons I so heavily favour it is because it’s perfectly placed location. Once complete, the towers will positioned between several highly desirable neighbourhoods, including Cedarville – Humewood, Forest Hill, Casa Loma and Hillcrest all offering unique characteristics for its residents.

Topographically speaking, the condo’s placement at the top of Bathurst allows for some of the most comprehensive views I’ve ever seen of the Toronto skyline. The photo below was taken from the 16th floor of 500 St. Clair, and perfectly depicts what I mean!

Lake views can be had to the South West!

Of course it takes more than views to make a great a building, and here’s where the project really shines! I had the opportunity to accompany a client during their “pre delivery inspection” last week. The layout was well planned, and had ample room for a beautiful kitchen with tons of storage space. I love to eat, so naturally the kitchen is something I hold very dear to my heart. Both my client and I both commented on how it was very similar in size to something found in a residential house (a huuuge plus, based on some of the smaller kitchens I’ve seen in my time). The stainless steel appliances complemented the space and completed the picture perfect image one should expect in a condo!

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It looks like we’re getting closer and closer to the launch of ART Condos – a boutique atmosphere in the Studio District with only 147 suites!  The 11 story building will be made up of studios from 460 sqf to 2 bedroom units (with den) at 1290 sqf. The spacious unit will also feature a 960 sq f terrace on the 9th floor.  My personal pick is the two level suites that will have living, office, dining and kitchen on the first level with 2 bedrooms and laundry on the second!  Units will have 9ft ceilings and many include terraces or balconies.  In keeping with the culture, floor plans include long hallways allowing residents to show off their own collections of art in their units.

Amenities will include a resident lounge with fireplace, bar, and catering kitchen.  There will be an outdoor terrace with BBQ’s, a fire pit, built in banquets and a hot tub! I can’t wait to see what the interiors will look like…when you hire a team on 3RD UNCLE DESIGN; you know you’re in for a treat!

There’s nothing I dislike more then when condos are designed to look like night clubs.  Very quickly you get the Vegas effect (you want to leave after 4 days).  This condo is the exact opposite, embracing the area and celebrating its creative side. One article I read mentioned the main floor having live/work units which are sure to attract purchasers looking to make the most out of the Queen West location!

Prices and a launch date the next two strokes to complete the “ART Condo” painting, but until then check out their updated website with floor plans, a map of the area and an art gallery.  It’s going to be a great addition and an interesting mix of business and art!  Send me an email if you’d like further updates on the project.

Last night I was driving home along Davenport, and had the strangest thing happen to me…a billboard caught my eye!

With new online mediums such as Twitter, FaceBook and YouTube garnering my attention, I hardly ever notice print advertising. The ad was very simple, very meaningful, and very buzz worthy. Some lucky lady (or man) known only as JW was asked the big question…”Will You Marry Me?”

This morning I posted a tweet to my twitter followers asking if anyone else had seen the sign. Within seconds several people responded, one of which was @iSlutsky (also known as Matthew from BuzzBuzzHome). He not only saw the photo but also snapped a pic and posted it on his blog. Shortly after, a tweet came in from @Urban_Toronto (a popular forum for discussing projects and construction in Toronto) mentioning that the photo was now its “photo of the day”. Several others commented on it including friends in Burlington, Ottawa and downtown Toronto all wondering who these two people are. Back in the day (like 3 years ago) a billboard like that probably would have made it to the news in some form or other. Yet through one simple tweet tons of people picked up on the story much faster than before!

With the disaster that hit the people of Haiti, many traditional ways of communications were blocked. The major news outlets turned to FaceBook, Twitter and Flicr for updates from people on the ground. My point with the story is this, the old ways of doing things are changing…and fast! As @JenButson put it: “such an old style of advertising – men need to be more creative than that! ;)” I happen to like how JW was asked for marriage, but still, Jen is correct.

The same can be said for promoting your property. Long gone are the days of advertising an open house in a news paper. Mail-outs?? Forget-about-it! More and more eyes are focusing online for information. I think Realtors need more than just a website; they need avenues to promote your listing. For example, I use both “New School” and “Old School” ways to tell buyers (and the world) that your place is for sale! Now more than ever, you should be using a Realtor who embraces these mediums to sell your home.

The hunt is still on for the “Bill Board Lovers“… If you’re out there and reading this, send me an email, I’d love to hear how the proposal went!

Have you found yourself  trying to find a condo based on mattress size?  Too often, I find buyers having to choose a space based on which one will fit their bed!  In some cases it’s inevitable, you just have to work with what you have…BUT if you have the option, my advice to any first time buyer is to buy the condo FIRST and the furniture second :) 

Here’s a little something that might make the process a whole lot easier.  It’s my Matress Size chart:

Twin/Single – 39″ x 75″ or 3.3′ x 6.3′
Twin XL /Single XL – 39″ x 80″ or 3.3′ x 6.8
Double – 54″ x 75″ or 4.6′ x 6.3′
Double XL – 54″ x 80″ or 4.6′ x 6.8′
Queen – 60″ x 80″ or 5′ x 6.8′
King – 78″ x 80″ or 6.6′ x 6.8′
California King – 72″ x 84″ / 6′ x 7′ 

If you’ve got the mattress, I can find the condo! give me a call or send me an email… i’d love to help!

Though a lot of my business is done in Toronto’s downtown condos, many of my sellers eventually make the move into a house.  A common issue in some of  Toronto’s older neighbourhoods is the use of Asbestos in the home.  The Mesothelioma Centre sent me a great article explaining asbestos and what do to if it’s found in your home:

While many homeowners may think that building green can take a toll on the wallet, the benefits outweigh any initial monetary losses. Building or remodeling your homes with eco-friendly materials can lower utility and water bills, higher real estate value, purer air quality, reduced waste sent to landfills and conservation of natural resources.

When embarking on the path to purchasing a home, there are many things to consider. Although it is one of the more exciting times in your life, additional responsibilities may arise. Many old homes may need repairs or renovations and may still contain obsolete building materials.

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I spend a lot of time downtown; eating, living and most importantly WORKING.  One of the great advantages that I can offer my clients is knowledge, and specifically in the downtown core.  Before even getting into the business I spent over 3 months building (what I thought at the time) “THE ULTIMATE GOOGLE MAP.” I had everything from condos to grocery stores and even side streets with free parking.  The map (which I still use) is a great tool that helps better inform my clients of the features and amenities located around their future home.  As I spread out to different parts of Toronto, I’m faced with the problem of creating similar maps for the rest of the city…that was until I stumbled across the ZOOCASA website.

In a nutshell, the website is a similar public version of the googlemaps I had created…except on steroids (actually unlike steroids, they’re perfectly legal).  These guys cover it all, from schools and daycares to gyms and bowling alleys!!  I was really impressed with the level of detail ZooCasa went into, especially with school info.  Just type in the neighbourhood you’re interested in researching and in seconds a list of schools pops up. They even have the Provincial Testing results (provided by the Fraser Institute).  BUT WAIT, it gets better.  Aside from area features and schools it also provides something that really caught my eye…LISTINGSSSS!  You can browse available homes/condos for sale in your search area and in a few clicks get tons of info on the property as well as options to contact the brokerage for more info. 

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Very rarely do north facing units become available in this modern condo by Menkes! Enjoy breath taking Avondale Park and city views from your living room, balcony and study. The unit has been freshly painted, incorporating neutral colours that compliment the upgraded floors (not 1 square foot of carpet in this unit!). The spacious den can be used as nursery, study or spare bedroom. A convenient parking spot is also included and can be rented out if not needed. Getting around the city from here couldn’t be easier with the 401 on ramp minutes away and the Sheppard TTC station just as close! *UPDATE:  The seller and I priced the unit at market value, and still sold it considerablly higher with 6 buyers bidding on the property.  I’d love to do it again… give me a call if you’d like my help!*

The seller is also including the Fridge, Stove, Built-In Dishwasher, Built-In Microwave, Washer Dryer, all electric light fixtures and all window coverings PLUS the closet organizer. The unit has been professionally furnished and most pieces can be purchased as well!

The building features 24 hr concierge, exercise room, sauna, guest suites, party room and BBQ area. Starbucks, Movies and a 24 hr grocery store are all nearby. These north facing units don’t last long!

If you would like a private showing of the unit give me a call…i’d love to help!  Check out the detailed version of the listing with more photos here.