Our Global Referral Network with RE/MAX and the TO Group
Feeling Cold and Looking for Some Sun?
Tap Into Our Global Referral Network with RE/MAX and the TO Group
Hey Friends,
We hope you’re doing well! It’s that time of the year where the cold weather has kicked in and you might be wishing you were somewhere warm right about now.
We thought this might be a good opportunity to let you know that our brokerage has just opened an office in Naples, Florida!
Imagine spending half of the year playing golf in sunny Florida, surfing in South America, or enjoying the extensive history of Europe.
You may have dreamed of owning a property outside of the GTA and you may not know where to start. We have good news – we can help!
We wanted to remind you that as part of the RE/MAX family, we have access to a vast global referral network that spans not only the GTA or Ontario, but worldwide.
Whether you or someone you know is looking to buy or sell a property, be it here in Toronto or anywhere around the globe, our referral network connects us with top agents internationally.
This means you can trust us to find the right expert, no matter where your next move or investment takes you.
If you or anyone in your circle needs real estate assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always here to help, with the power of a trusted global network behind us!
Cheers!
Ford and Chris
November 2024 Market Report
November 2024 Newsletter
Thurston Olsen Real Estate Group
Hey Friends!
Halloween is in the rear-view mirror and All I want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey is back on the radio on repeat and that can only mean one thing: we must be in the home stretch for 2024!
Let’s take a few minutes to give you another Real Estate update for November 2024.
New Government Program: Unlock Your Home’s Equity to Build Secondary Suites
The Government of Canada has launched a new initiative designed to help homeowners tap into their home equity and contribute to addressing the lack of housing.
Starting January 15, 2025, Canadian homeowners will be able to access up to 90% of their property’s value to build secondary suites. This move is a big deal in the ongoing effort to boost housing supply and improve affordability.
Here’s a quick, easy-to-digest breakdown of the program’s key details:
How Does It Work?
Maximum loan-to-value (LTV): The LTV ratio can be up to 90% of the “as improved” property value, with the total property value capped at $2 million.
Amortization period: Borrowers can spread payments over up to 30 years, making the financial hit a bit more manageable.
Number of units: Homeowners can add up to four units on their property, including the existing one.
Self-contained units: Each secondary suite must (among other things) be a fully self-contained unit, meaning it has separate living facilities, such as a private entrance, kitchen, and bathroom. This helps to ensure compliance with municipal zoning requirements.
No short-term rentals: Sorry, Airbnb fans—these additional suites must be used for long-term rentals only.
Will This Actually Help Toronto’s Housing Crunch?
We’re all for creative solutions that empower homeowners and add much-needed housing. But let’s be real—is this just a convenient political move ahead of the 2025 elections, or will it genuinely make a difference in cities like Toronto, where housing demand keeps climbing?
What are your thoughts? Is this policy the game-changer we need, or just a flash in the pan?
What We Are Seeing From the Field
October brought a serious boost of energy to the Toronto real estate market, with home sales shooting up by a significant 36.7% compared to last year! Sales were clocked at 2,509, while new listings crept up by 5.1%. The result? Tighter market conditions and a bit more excitement in the air.
So, What’s Driving the Market?
The Bank of Canada’s rate cuts have attracted more buyers back to the market, thanks to better affordability and steady home prices. Translation? Buyers are feeling more confident, and the market is heating up!
Despite the hype, there’s still plenty of inventory on the market – especially in the condo market, which is keeping price growth in check (for now). But we don’t expect this to last forever. As inventory gets scooped up and construction struggles to keep pace with Toronto’s booming population, we could see prices ramp up by spring 2025. So, keep an eye out!
Policy Talk: Can Affordability Improve?
TRREB CEO John DiMichele is rooting for some policy shifts, especially the Conservative Party’s plan to nix the GST on new homes under $1 million. It’s a step in the right direction, but DiMichele suggests a smarter phase-out system for homes priced between $1 million and $1.5 million—especially for high-cost markets like the GTA and Vancouver.
What Does This Mean for You?
The market is evolving, and spring 2025 could bring some price hikes. Whether you’re buying, selling, or just curious, stay tuned for more updates.
Check out the October year-over-year stats below for more information on the current market. If you would like statistics specific to your neighbourhood, an updated Comparative Market Analysis for your home, or help deciphering what the numbers could mean for you, please let us know and we would be happy to provide that for you.
Thank You for Making Our Thanksgiving Food Drive a Huge Success!
At the TO Group, we’re deeply committed to supporting those in need within our community.
Thanks to your incredible generosity, our Thanksgiving food drive in support of the Daily Bread Food Bank was a huge success—our most rewarding one yet!
We couldn’t have done it without you! Every donation made a real difference for families who needed it most. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed.
What’s Next?
Get ready for our East Side Food Drive: The Holiday Edition! We’re gearing up to spread even more holiday cheer. Stay tuned for details on how you can help us make the season brighter for our community members.
Let’s continue making an impact together!
As always, we’re here for any real estate services or advice you, your family, or friends might need. Feel free to introduce us—we promise to make you look great!
Cheers!
Chris and Ford
March 2024 Market Report
Hey Friends!
A lot has happened for the TO group in the last month and we are so excited to share some amazing news with you!
Ford and his lovely partner, Sara welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Olivia into the world on February 17th. She is beyond precious and everyone is so happy to see their family grow (including their dog Teagan who seems to think that Olivia is her baby).
Chris and his beautiful partner, Michelle put on the biggest party of their lives on March 2nd to celebrate their marriage. If you’re trying to imagine what it was like, picture the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. Lots of people, too much food and drink, and plenty of dancing. They couldn’t be happier.
Enough about us! Let’s take a few minutes to give you another Real Estate update for March 2024.
When we first meet with potential clients, they often tell us that they have been following the real estate market via popular websites and Apps (we won’t share specific App names here!). This is always great news to us as it can be fun working with knowledgeable clients. We also believe in transparency and that everyone should have access to ample real estate data in order to help them make educated decisions, which these sources can help accomplish.
For those of you who are not familiar with these Apps, they essentially act as a property database which show a variety of sales data, including sale dates, listing and sale prices, pictures from current or previous listings, and estimated sale prices.
These are all great tools, but only when they work properly. The Estimate tools are where we would suggest you use caution, as it can often be incorrect…like, way off! We saw a home the other day where the Estimate tool valued the property at $1,075,000 and it sold on the open market at $1,431,000. We saw the house in person and it had one of those special feels to it that you can’t often quantify on a spec sheet or in a photo and we expected it to sell for what it did.
If Toronto was a place where all 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, semi-detached homes, with 1 car parking were the exact same, then the estimate tool would work quite well! The fact of the matter is that all houses in our city are different, they have different levels of finishes, different upgrades, and different feels. Not all of these things can be accurately measured by an algorithm. There is so much more data that us (real human) Realtors use when estimating values.
This is where we come in! We are immersed in the Toronto market 24/7. We are constantly viewing properties, we have our finger on the pulse of the action, we have tools for measuring bidding activity and tools that provide us with showing activity, among many other tools. Plus, we all gossip with each other about the activity we get on our listings, so we have a leg up there as well ;)
That’s the end of our rant for this month. To re-cap, we think that these Apps are a great tool if you want to check out photos of a new listing, or check out what a neighbouring home sold for, but if you want to know the TRUE value of your home, then please consult a professional (that means us).
Sales and showing activity are definitely picking up in the city of Toronto which is welcome news for most homeowners. When comparing the home values to last February, the numbers look relatively flat, however if we compare them to last month, January 2024, we see some positive increases which is a sign of buyer confidence returning to the market. For all home types in the city of Toronto, the average price increased by 11.7% comparing February to January.
The freehold market (detached/semi-detached/row houses) in the city of Toronto seems to be getting the most attention from eager home buyers with line ups at open houses, plenty of showings, and multiple offers on many properties listed for sale.
The condo market hasn’t yet seen the same activity as the freehold market, but through our experience it’s only a matter of time until the activity from the freehold market flows towards the condo market.
Check out the February year-over-year stats below for more information on the current market. If you would like statistics specific to your neighbourhood, an updated Comparative Market Analysis for your home, or help deciphering what the numbers could mean for you, please let us know and we would be happy to provide that for you.
March Break is here! Hopefully some of you are enjoying it somewhere warm with your families.
If you’ve chosen to stay in the city, here are a couple of ideas to keep you busy in case you were looking for something to do.
An East End favourite is back – the winter warming stations! Grab a coffee and go for a stroll down along the beach and check out some cool art installations to reimagine the lifeguard stations put on by the international design and art community. More info on the event can be viewed here.
A quick reminder that we still have a limited supply of tickets for the Toronto Home Show, taking place from March 8-10 & 13-17, 2024. If this is of interest, we would like to offer you the exclusive RE/MAX VIP Program at the show! Please send us a message and we’d be happy to get you some tickets.
As always, we would be happy to help you and any of your friends, family, colleagues, or neighbours with real estate services or advice. If you can think of anyone that could use our help, feel free to make an introduction! We promise we’ll make you look good ;)
JUST LISTED!
1584 Dundas St E
Welcome Home To This Beautiful Residence In The Heart Of Leslieville! Step Inside, And You’ll Immediately Notice The Spaciousness That Sets This Home Apart. The Wide Layout Provides A Sense Of Openness And Airiness That’s Truly Inviting.
The Main Living Area Boasts An Abundance Of Natural Light And Includes A Well-Appointed Open Concept Living/Dining Area Which Is The Perfect Space To Entertain.
The Functional Kitchen Features Sleek Appliances, Views Of The Park, And A Walk Out To A Low Maintenance Deck And Private Perennial Garden.
Two Generously Sized Bedrooms Offer Soaring Vaulted Ceilings For An Airy Feel. The Thoughtfully Finished Basement Includes Ample Space For Movie Nights, A Kids Play Area, Plenty Of Storage, And Features A Hideaway Recording Booth! The Lower Level Also Boasts A Renovated 2nd Bathroom Complete With A Soaker Tub.
Steps To Greenwood Park For All Of Your Recreational Needs – Baseball/Soccer Fields, Skating Rink, Dog Park, And The Leslieville Farmer’s Market!
