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
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!
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
Built in 1895, this Victorian home has so much to offer. The original brick front exterior and nicely landscaped front yard offer fantastic curb appeal. The indoor front porch is filled with natural light and is a great place to enjoy your morning coffee.
The main floor is spacious with an open concept floor plan, new flooring, new fixtures, pot lights and large windows. The kitchen features a centre island and plenty of cabinetry as well as two skylights and a layout that’s perfect for entertaining. There is also a walk out to the large back deck and yard – ideal for Summer barbeques.
The second level features two spacious bedrooms both with hardwood floors, pot lights, new fixtures and large windows.
The third level is a wonderful space featuring another large bedroom with a skylight, a walk in closet and even enough room for a home office or sitting area.
The lower level has been recently updated with a modern floating staircase, new flooring and a newly renovated washroom. There is also a laundry area and a separate room for storage.
The impressive backyard is fully fenced in and features a large deck as well as a lovely garden. There is also potential for the convenience of parking off the laneway by removing or repositioning the back fence.
This home is ideally situated on a quiet one-way street in the sought after neighbourhood of Leslieville. A short walk gets you down to all of the fantastic shops, patios and restaurants along Queen Street East. You can also head up to Gerrard Street East and enjoy all of the wonderful new bars and restaurants that have opened up in recent years.
For more info, please visit www.55Austin.com or give us a call at 416.465.7850
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.
Winter, Round Two wasn’t enough to keep buyers away from this gorgeous Leslieville home. After busy open houses, despite ice storms on both Saturday and Sunday, 77 Hastings Avenue received multiple offers. We’re so happy for our awesome client who sold his beautifully built home over asking price, congrats again!
This stunning detached home was essentially rebuilt in 2016 with the finest attention to detail. The builder approached the building code as a minimum suggestion as he maintained much higher personal standards and used the best quality of materials throughout the entire home.
The covered front porch features tongue and groove wood flooring and pot lights. All of the original brick on the front of the home was uncovered and meticulously restored to pay tribute to the heritage of the home.
The open concept living and dining rooms are perfect for entertaining guests. Impressive engineered hardwood flooring throughout and elegant Norwood Heritage windows enhance the space beautifully as does the solid wood staircase.
The kitchen is absolutely incredible with modern cabinetry, quartz countertops, a breakfast bar and top of the line Kitchen Aid stainless steel appliances including a gas stove.
The kitchen leads to the spacious family room which features Norwood Heritage floor to ceiling windows and French doors which lead out to the breathtaking back deck and low maintenance yard.
The master bedroom is perfect and includes four sets of closets, a walk out to a private deck overlooking the backyard, a skylight and a spa like master ensuite.
The second level includes 2 more spacious bedrooms both with hardwood floors, pot lights and large closets, as well as another tastefully renovated washroom which also includes a skylight.
The lower level of 77 Hastings Avenue features an impressive ceiling height throughout, a wonderful large bedroom as well as another washroom, a separate laundry room and a spacious rec room with a separate entrance. A kitchen could be added easily to accommodate a nanny or in-law suite if desired.
This home truly has everything you could ask for including 2 car parking and is situated in the heart of one of Toronto’s most sought after neighbourhoods!
Listed April 11, 2018, Sold April 17, 2018
Welcome to loft 622 in the renowned Garment Factory Lofts!
The interior features trendy style at every turn with a wonderful openness and abundant natural light throughout the day. The interior and exterior flow is seamless with floor to ceiling windows and a walkout to the balcony from the living room.
The open concept floor plan is perfect for entertaining with enough space for separate living and dining areas and space for a home office if desired. The dining room also features a really cool brick accent wall which suits the space perfectly.
The loft features engineered hardwood floors throughout, soaring ceilings, exposed ductwork and beautiful light fixtures. The kitchen includes granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and a large centre island.
The bedroom is a fantastic space with sliding glass doors, pot lights and a large double closet with built ins for added storage.
The spa like bathroom features modern finishes and a wonderful glass shower.
The balcony accommodates comfy seating. Perfect for reading a good book and plenty of space for enjoying a barbeque in any season.
Loft 622 also includes an enormous parking space large enough to fit 2 cars as well as a huge separate locker room directly across from the parking space.
Move in and enjoy this wonderful space!
list price: $549,000
further info & photos: 233Carlaw.com
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.”
Source: toronto home prices climb
Photo: Thurston Olsen Real Estate Team
Sold within three days! 110 Jones Avenue, Toronto
Congratulations to our clients of 110 Jones Avenue on the quick sale of their two unit semi-detached home in Leslieville.
This wonderful home is situated in the heart of Leslieville and features 2 separate units with amazing income potential! Steps to great restaurants, transit, parks, and everything that Leslieville has to offer, this home has it all.
The impressive 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom main unit is well appointed and has plenty of functional space to live and entertain. The main floor provides an open concept layout as well as an eat-in kitchen and a walk out to a newly built back deck to enjoy the afternoon sun. The second floor features 3 bright and spacious bedrooms, including a large master with a bay window and ample closet space. This floor also has a lovely 4 piece bathroom. Plenty of windows and a hallway skylight provide an open and airy feel.
The charming 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom lower unit features a practical living space and offers sizable rooms and a walk out to the back yard to enjoy year round.
This functional turn-key property is perfect for any investor or for anyone looking to supplement their mortgage payments. Live in one unit and rent out the other or rent them both out to maximize your cash flow.
Just Listed for Sale!
Welcome to 110 Jones Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4M 2Z8
This wonderful home is situated in the heart of Leslieville and features 2 separate units with amazing income potential! Steps to great restaurants, transit, parks, and everything that Leslieville has to offer. This home has it all, and is only a short trip to downtown Toronto.
The impressive 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom main unit is well appointed and has plenty of functional space to live and entertain. The main floor provides an open concept layout as well as an eat-in kitchen and a walk out to a newly built back deck to enjoy the afternoon sun. The second floor features 3 bright and spacious bedrooms, including a large master with a bay window and ample closet space. This floor also has a lovely 4 piece bathroom. Plenty of windows and a hallway skylight provide an open and airy feel.
The charming 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom lower unit features a practical living space and offers sizable rooms and a walk out to the back yard to enjoy year round.
This functional turn-key property is perfect for any investor or for anyone looking to supplement their mortgage payments. Live in one unit and rent out the other or rent them both out to maximize your cash flow.
Offered at: $749,000
More info & photos: 110jones.com