Posts Tagged ‘mortgage’

Over the weekend I had the chance to check out a cooool loft conversion in the Bloor and Islington area of Etobicoke! Located a few minutes away from the Islington subway station at 2 Fieldway, the newly converted loft was once home to Bell Canada offices. For the past few years, they’ve been working to transform the building into what it is today!

Last week the building finally registered with the City, meaning residents can now sell their units on the open market (ie. MLS). I previewed several units, and EVERY one was totally different. Some had polished concrete floors giving it the industrial look, while others had beautiful thick-plank hardwood floors for a more modern feel! There is roughly 205 units spread out over 12 floors with 10′ ceiling heights for most suites and 15′10″ for the 2 story lofts.

With conversion lofts, residents should often give consideration to noise levels as most of the time builders can only work with what they currently have. At Network Lofts the builders had 10 inch to 18 inch floor slabs for exceptional low noise transition (as per their website). Though I can’t verify the slab sizes myself, I can say that the units were all very quite during our visit! (a big plus)

The lobby was very impressive, with its spacious entrance surrounded by wood paneled walls and big stone accents…pictured below!

We didn’t get to see all of its amenities but original plans called for: His and hers steam rooms in exercise area, guest suite, fully outfitted fitness room with two treadmills, two elliptical exercisers, various free weights and a rooftop terrace for use by all residents for enjoying warm weather and great views that Network Lofts has to offer!

As with most newly completed builds, new listings are coming out daily! If you’re interested in living and being part of the ”network” give me a call or send me an email…I’d love to help!

Sellers, units have appreciated quite a bit since its first launch; contact me if you’d like to know what yours is worth!

Get updated with this week’s mortgage rates, provided by everybody’s favourite S.O.B….Chris Molder!

Chris Molder from SonOfABroker.com is back with another installment of his Mortgage Minute.  For a full list of rates, check out his blog.

Sadly, the dreams of an 80 story tower and Yonge at Bloor are pretty much done…or at least the dream of it being built by Bazis is.  Several of my sources have informed me that the land has been sold to an affiliate of Great Gulf Homes.  The price paid for the land is unknown and probably won’t be disclosed until the deal closes in mid September.  Future plans are also anyones guess.  I’ve heard everything from keeping the design (which i HIGHLY doubt) to scraping the whole thing and rebuilding a new concept all together (which more than likely will happen).  You can check out the latest story from the Globe and Mail here.

I’ve been by the Crystal Blue project (Bazis’ current development) and was really pleased with how the outside facade is coming along. Looks like that’s all we’ll be seeing  in Yonge and Bloor area by Bazis. I just hope the condo gods have greater plans for this corner and that whatever is built, truly pushes the envelope.

Buh bye “Canada’s Tallest Residential Building.” Hello “SomethingElse Towers.”  Follow the rest of the 1Bloor story here

Socrates once said ”All I know is that I know nothing.”… and with the latest media reports on the fate of 1 Bloor, the same can be said.  I’m sure by now you’re all aware of the drama surrounding the development of the tower, but just in case your not you can read up on it here.

I nearly fell of my chair when I heard Chris Eby from the CTV News Hour at 6 report that “a last second deal was reached and that eventually 1 Bloor East will rise out of this ruble.”  Apparently a deal was reached and a 3rd party has come on board and to help repay the land loan.  You can view the clip here http://watch.ctv.ca/news/clip204856#clip204856.

Fast forward to 7:21 pm and we have an article published by The Toronto Star’s Tony Wong where a statement is given from Bazis International stating: “A well established Toronto developer has entered into a binding agreement with Bazis International for the One Bloor property with closing in mid-September.”  Of course the new partner isn’t mentioned nore is an actual date in September given for when more information will be known.  Bazis puts it like this ” Due to the confidentiality agreement we cannot comment at this time” .

The latest from the press (as of 10:27pm)  is The National Posts Giuseppe Valiante article titled “Work on One Bloor to continue after loan deal”  What isn’t known is if the original plans the buyers bought into back in 07 will ever emerge?

Although, the one thing I do know for sure is… someone forgot to pay the rent at the 1 Bloor Sales Centre!!
 

Phewwww that was close!!  Looks like Bazis lives another day.  The National Post  (I wrote this post on Monday July 20th and the article i’ve linked to will be printed in the Tuesday paper,  fyi just in case the timeline doesn’t make sense) is reporting a deal has been reached between the developer and it’s creditors, for now at least.  Details are still sparse, but what is known is “Bazis still owns the property and no receiver has been appointed thus far.”  As to what the company can actually do with the site (until court resumes August 18th,2009) is still unknown but more details should follow tomorrow.

I’ve been updating this story as it evolves.  Check out my latest updates by clicking here!!
As always, check back often for updates!!

Just as I suggested in previous posts…it looks like the whole plan behind the “calling in” of the loan is an attempt by the land lenders to pick up the prime piece of real estate and build a 1Bloor of their own. At least that’s what Michael Gold believes. The latest press release came just before a 10am court hearing which the Toronto Star reported here.

If in fact the group behind the land loan does have plans to build another tower I think they should take a step back and look at the whole picture.  We have a building that people already believe in and bought into. Unlike other condo’s in the city, it’s not an issue of sales but rather one of securing financing. Do these lenders/developers really think the same people would line up again for their version of 1 Bloor? 

Another press release I read from Vicki Griffiths of Vicbar Marketing Limited stated: “As further proof of Bazis’ commitment, Mr. Gold points out that on July 13, 2009 the company paid the City more than $1 million cash to acquire the Hayden Street lane at the southern border of the site. This lane is required in order to complete the project. “You don’t spend $1 million on something like that if you are not committed,” Mr. Gold says.

That would have happened last Monday, just days before the final deadline for them to cancel the project! Another interesting tidbit that came out of the release was Mr. Golds mention of a Sofitel five-star world-hotel being used in the tower! It was rumored before that they would be used and now it looks like this was in fact true.  The Star article left off with a delay in the court hearing as lawyers for Bazis were called into a meeting room…

I’ve been updating this story as it evolves.  Check out my latest updates by clicking here!!
As soon as I get any other info…you’ll be able to read it here!!