How To Furnish Your First Home On A Tight Budget

You’ve just bought your first home, or you’re planning to purchase in the near future. You’re likely on a tight budget, but that doesn’t mean you have to sit on milk crates or sleep on a mattress on the floor. It just means you have to get creative about where to shop for your fashionable finds. Here are seven great places to find fab furniture on the cheap, leaving some money in the bank for those mortgage payments.

SOURCE: blog.remax.ca

JUST SOLD! 55 Austin Avenue

Congratulations to our clients who just sold their wonderful Victorian rowhouse in Leslieville. For more information on this property, please visit www.55Austin.com or give us a call!

Hearn Generating Station Just Sold For 16 Million

It was only two summers ago that Toronto’s long-abandoned R.L. Hearn Generating Station burst back into life for the 10th anniversary of Luminato.

Thousands flocked to the decommissioned power plant, which was shut down in 1983, for 10 days of wild art installations and performances in a specially built 1,200-seat shipping container theatre.

Those lucky enough to score tickets got to dine in the generator’s old control room, which had been transformed into one of the coolest French restaurants Toronto had ever seen for the occasion.

Simply stepping into the massive, hollowed out heritage building — an iconic fixture along the skyline Toronto’s eastern waterfront — was enough to thrill most people, and for good reason.

The Hearn is spectacular, inside and out, and many in the city had hoped to see more huge-scale, public events staged there (you know, after the building was brought up to meet the safety standards of Toronto Fire Services).

No dice.

The provincially-owned Ontario Power Generation (OPG) announced this week that has sold sold the entire site, which produced electricity from 1951 to 1983, to Studios of America Corporation for $16 million.

Studios of America, which had been leasing the property from OPG since 2002, maintains the Unwin Avenue property as an “enclosed feature film and TV production complex.”

Mayor John Tory and Toronto city councillor Paula Fletcher both told The Star on Thursday that they were not consulted on the sale, or even aware that it was happening.

“This is a sad day for the waterfront,” said Fletcher, who had hoped to redevelop the site for public use.

“This is an iconic landmark building that should remain in public hands and be part of our new waterfront, and, instead, it has been sold for a song.”

So why the fire-sale price?

If you ask OPG, it’s at least in part due to the former coal-burning site’s status as a heavily contaminated industrial brownfield (though other, more nefarious theories are floating about).

OPG pokesperson Neal Kelly told the star that conditions of the sale included Studios of America not being able put residential or other “sensitive uses” on the site within 15 years. The company is also forbidden from reselling the Hearn within three years.

Disappointed as the city may be, its possible that Studios of America will still rent the space out for special occasions.

“The studio lot is located on a strategic 27.6-acre parcel of Toronto waterfront land with direct multi-modal road, rail and water access,” reads President Paul Vaughan’s Linkedin profile in a description of the company.

“Accommodations originally intended for film production have become popular for staging indoor and outdoor special events.”
Source: BlogTO
Lead Photo: Hector Vasquez
Additional Photos: Ford Thurston

JUST SOLD! 150 East Liberty Street Suite 1013 – Liberty Village

What a beaut! This awesome 2 level loft in 150 East Liberty Street – Liberty Place has sold. Congratulations to our wonderful client and the buyer who will surely love this loft for years to come!

150 East Liberty Street Suite 1013 Liberty Village Toronto Just Sold

This two level condo is truly special with ample space for entertaining. The main level features a large front foyer, a beautiful kitchen with modern cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and a breakfast bar. The open concept living and dining area is spacious and filled with natural light.  This space features a walk-out to the large south facing balcony where you can enjoy views of the lake and Liberty Village. There is also a powder room conveniently located on this level.

The second level includes a large den that is ideal for a home office.

The den leads into the spacious master bedroom which offers the same south facing views as the main floor. This level includes large closets and a wonderful master ensuite, plus the convenience of a laundry closet with a stacked washer and dryer.

This beautiful condo at 150 East Liberty Street is situated in the heart of Liberty Village.

The Village offers many great shops, restaurants, patios and bars all within walking distance. Underground parking is also included. This location allows for a quick drive to the financial district, the waterfront or to the Gardiner Expressway if you’re headed out of town for the weekend. Liberty Village is just minutes away from Toronto’s Entertainment District and world-class sporting venues such as Scotiabank Arena (formerly Air Canada Centre), BMO Field and Rogers Centre.

150 East Liberty Street features tons of wonderful amenities.

The amenities include a party room, fitness faciities and guest suites. Floor by floor, Liberty Place offers more with their lifestyle amenities. Two floors, dedicated to everything from working out to a detoxing steam, partying to escaping in a new book or surfing the net. The spaces are well-designed with comfort, convenience and your lifestyle in mind.

www.150eastliberty.ca

JUST SOLD! 437 Roncesvalles Avenue Suite 509 – Roncesvalles Village

437 Roncesvalles Avenue Suite 509 is a spectacular two level loft with two bedrooms and two washrooms. The floor to ceiling windows allow light to flood into the home with almost 11′ ceilings on both levels! The west facing terrace offers tree top views and High Park is just a short jog down the street. Our buyer clients knew that this was their perfect new home.

Just sold 437 Roncesvalles Avenue Suite 509

JUST SOLD! 122 Glen Manor Drive Townhome 4 – The Beaches

Congratulations to our wonderful clients on the sale of their beautiful townhome! In less than one week, 122 Glen Manor Drive, Townhome 4 saw a whirlwind of showings and two open houses. We’re excited for our clients to begin the next chapter in their lives, and for the buyers to enjoy their new home in Toronto’s Beach Village – just in time for summer!

122 Glen Manor Drive Townhome 4 Toronto Beaches

Townhouse Four of 122 Glen Manor Drive was completely renovated in 2015. It is part of a small secluded enclave of executive townhomes ideally located in the heart of the Beach. Truly an excellent location, steps to the boardwalk, bicycle path, parks, restaurants and neighbourhood shops. This townhome also enjoys lake views under the arbour of stately trees on Scarboro Beach Blvd.

A private brick courtyard with interlocking brick and lovely plants enhances the entranceway and welcomes guests to this exceptional home.

The front door opens to a foyer and a glimpse of the most stylish kitchen one could imagine. It is bright and airy with lovely views of the courtyard. It features an expanse of Quartz counters, beautiful cabinetry, a Farmhouse Apron sink with attractive open shelving, a pantry, stainless steel appliances and built-in laundry.

The flow of the main floor of 122 Glen Manor Drive, Townhome 4 is excellent for entertaining and is enhanced by classic California shutters on all windows and glass doors. Both the dining and living room spaces are generous and feature gorgeous wide plank flooring. This area is warm and comfortable with a delightful wood burning fireplace and a walk out to the south facing balcony. The large south facing windows ensure abundant sunshine and it is so easy to relax and enjoy a pleasant breeze from the waterfront.

A nicely finished staircase leads to the second level which is bright and sunny with three skylights, two spacious bedrooms and two beautifully renovated full baths. The flooring and California shutters, including the skylights, are continued on this level offering a nice consistent flow. The master bedroom overlooks the courtyard and features a sitting area and a double closet.

Lake views can be enjoyed from the second bedroom and the semi-ensuite bath is finished with style and offers a soaker tub for relaxing at any time.

Everything in the community is a short stroll from this picture perfect urban home, 122 Glen Manor Drive, Townhome 4. It is easy to be inspired to walk, jog or bicycle when living so close to the boardwalk and bicycle path. The shops and restaurants are abundant and close at hand as is the public transit for quick commuting to the downtown core.

Enjoy the ease of condo living in a special community, just minutes from the waterfront in our amazing cosmopolitan city!

www.122GlenManor.com

Sold in less than one week.

JUST SOLD! 92 Oakvale Avenue – The Pocket

92 Oakvale Avenue is a beautiful brick 2 and a half storey home with a view! Our buyer clients saw the potential in this home with an excellent location on a dead end street. 92 Oakvale Avenue offered original character details, such as an operational coal burning fireplace, hardwood flooring throughout, 3 bedrooms, and 1 washroom. Its location within walking distance to restaurants and shops on the Danforth – plus Left Field Brewery close by made this home the one.

Just sold 92 Oakvale Avenue

JUST SOLD! 38 The Esplanade Suite 1210 – St Lawrence

When our buyer clients walked into 38 The Esplanade Suite 1210, they knew that they were home. This stunning corner suite is one of a kind featuring floor to ceiling windows, two bedrooms, two washrooms, and an over-sized balcony! Being located within walking distance to St Lawrence Market and the Distillery District guarantee that our clients will love their new home.

Just sold 38 The Esplanade Suite 1210

JUST SOLD! 225 Wellesley St E Suite 1207 – Cabbagetown Condo

Sold over asking in TWO days!

We’re so happy for our awesome clients who sold their one bedroom plus den, top floor suite in only two days!

just sold 225 wellesley street east suite 1207 toronto cabbagetown

Upon entering the suite you are immediately impressed by the open and airy floor plan, the attention to detail and the quality of finishes.

The open concept kitchen features beautiful wood cabinets, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, and a breakfast bar.

The living room is filled with natural light with large windows and a walk out to a private balcony. The living space, kitchen, master bedroom and den feature brand new engineered hardwood flooring for a seamless look.

The spacious den is ideal for a home office and could also be used as a media or guest room to suit your needs.

The 5 piece ensuite washroom is lovely featuring a full size bathtub and a separate shower. There is an additional powder room which is perfect for guests! Both washrooms feature brand new vanities for a fresh and modern look.

The master bedroom is absolutely stunning with ample natural light! Dual closets enhance this space perfectly.

The outdoor space is incredible. The private balcony provides enough space for a patio set to enjoy your morning coffee or a nice dinner on a warm summer evening.

Suite 1207 also includes ensuite laundry, a handy front hall closet for additional storage, a locker and parking!

Take a quick trip up one floor to the sprawling roof top terrace to enjoy barbequing while taking in impressive views of the downtown skyline!

Toronto home prices continue to climb

Average home prices in the Toronto region climbed more than 4 per cent last month as buyers began to absorb the impact of tougher new mortgage qualification rules introduced in January.

Data from the Toronto Real Estate Board showed home prices rose 4.2 per cent in February compared to January to an average of $767,818, marking the strongest month-over-month price gain since September.

Detached home prices rose 3.1 per cent across the Greater Toronto Area in February compared to the prior month, averaging $1,000,736, while condo prices climbed 4.4 per cent over January to an average of $529,782.

Despite the increases, average prices were down 12.4 per cent in February compared to the same month last year, when sales were booming prior to a price correction that began in May last year, TREB said.

TREB said 5,175 homes sold in February across the GTA , a 35-per-cent drop compared to the record 7,955 sales in February last year, but an increase of almost 29 per cent compared to 4,019 homes sold in January this year.

There were 10,520 new listings of homes for sale in February, an increase of 7.3 per cent from the same month last year, and a jump of 23 per cent from January. Despite the increase, however, TREB said the level of new listings still remained below the February average for the previous 10 years.

Jason Mercer, TREB’s director of market analysis, said he expects sales to pick up further as the year progresses.

“As we move further into the spring and summer months, growth in sales and selling prices is expected to pick up relative to last year,” he said in a statement, predicting price growth will come in the comparatively more affordable townhouse and condominium markets.

“That being said, listings supply will likely remain below average in many neighbourhoods in the GTA, which, over the long-term, could further hamper affordability,” Mr. Mercer said.

TREB president Tim Syrianos said his association anticipated sales would be slow in the opening months of 2018 compared to historic highs in early 2017.

He said prospective buyers “are still coming to terms with the psychological impact” of housing reforms introduced last April by the Ontario government, which included a new foreign buyer’s tax, as well as new mortgage qualification rules introduced Jan. 1 that require buyers to prove they can still afford their mortgages even if interest rates rise.

While sale prices are lower than they were at their peak a year ago, TREB said they are still up 12 per cent compared to the average sale price in February, 2016, “which represents an annualized increase well above the rate of inflation for the past two years.”

Scott Ingram, a Century 21 real estate agent in Toronto, said most home owners in Toronto have made money on their property despite last year’s downturn, calculating fewer than 9,500 buyers who purchased homes in the City of Toronto last year may still be unhappy because the benchmark price in January was at least $10,000 below the price they paid last year. He said they represent about 1.3 per cent of all homeowners in Toronto.

In a new analysis for his blog, Mr. Ingram said the benchmark prices for detached houses, semi-detached houses and townhouses in the City of Toronto in January were still below the peak levels they hit last year, but said prices for all housing types are higher than they were two years ago. The benchmark condominium price has increased compared to all months last year, so buyers in that category are not under water.

Even buyers who may feel “burned” by purchasing at the peak last year will be fine in the long run, Mr. Ingram said, as long as they do not plan to flip their home quickly.

For those who bought at the peak and planned to flip quickly, Mr. Ingram said the experience is a lesson that “real estate isn’t a guaranteed investment vehicle.”

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