What’s your Realtor not telling you?

Here are five important things to know before agreeing to anything with a real estate professional.

If you have any questions about the home-selling process or if you have any real estate related questions, feel free to contact me.  

OR

CONTACT ILAN NOW FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto, Thornhill and Vaughan real estate team. You can find him on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post 5 things a real estate agent won’t tell you appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

First time buyers looking for love at first sight

First time buyers in Toronto, Vaughan and Thornhill fall in love with their homes, at first sight.

Looking for a perfect home can be an emotional roller-coaster, but a new study suggests finding the right property often comes down to love at first sight for first time buyers in Toronto, Vaughan and Thornhill.

In its report titled Psychology of House Hunting, the Bank of Montreal found that 80 per cent of prospective homebuyers know if a house is the right one for them the moment they step inside.

But it’s usually a long journey before they get to that point.

Thirty-three per cent say they feel rushed into making a purchase, with that figure rising to 39 per cent among first-time homebuyers.

Those looking for a new home also express a wide variety of emotions, from 48 per cent saying they’re excited, 41 per cent saying they feel cautious and 31 per cent saying they’re optimistic. Twenty-five per cent of those polled say they’re stressed through the process, while 21 per cent say they feel anxious.

First-time homebuyers are also more likely to feel stressed and anxious, compared to those who have owned a property before.

“It’s important to take a practical approach when house hunting and have a clear idea of where you stand financially to ensure you make a responsible home buying decision,” said Laura Parsons, a mortgage expert with BMO.

“Doing research ahead of time and setting realistic expectations can help you avoid making an uninformed or rushed purchase.”

The study also looked at the motivations behind a home purchase. It found 44 per cent buy because they felt it was a good investment and 37 per cent say it was a good time to jump into the market.

View of Toronto’s King West and Liberty Village

Twenty-three per cent say exploring a new neighbourhood was one of the reasons why they bought a new home, while 18 per cent say it was because they were expecting a baby.

The survey was conducted by Pollara using online interviews with a random sample of 2,000 Canadians 18 years of age and over conducted between Feb. 25 and March 5.

The polling industry’s professional body, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.

If you have any questions about the home-buying process or if you have any real estate related questions, feel free to contact me.  

OR

CONTACT ILAN NOW FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto, Thornhill and Vaughan real estate team. You can find him on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post First Time Buyers Looking For Love At First Sight appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

April 2013 New in Toronto & Vaughan Did you know? - 76% of 20-29 year old Vaughan residents still live with parents, well above the national average of 42.3% - Landlords in Ontario can raise a Tenants rent as high as they see fit; rent control doesn’t apply to dwellings occupied after November 1, 1991.   APRIL HIGHLIGHTS:   National home sales rose 2.4% from February to March. Actual (not seasonally adjusted) activity came in 15.3% below levels in March 2012. The number of newly listed homes was up 3.2% from February to March. The Canadian housing market remains firmly in balanced territory. The national average sale price rose 2.5% on a year-over-year basis in March. Top 5 Most Expensive GTA Condos for Sale   Check into the most exclusive condos for sale in Toronto and the GTA. Check It Out   When is the Best Time to Sell my House?   Are you wondering how to decide when the best time is to sell your home? Wonder no more! Check It Out   The Market | Video Blog March 2013 This VIDEO BLOG by Toronto Real Estate Board’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis, Jason Mercer, dives deep into the latest market data to help us better understand the current state of the real estate market in Toronto, Vaughan and the GTA. Check It Out First-Time Buyers in GTA Budget for $300,000 Homes The average first-time buyer in Canada is 29 years old and expects to be able to put down a down payment of $48,000 on a $300,000 home.  Check It Out Your Journey Begins  Whether you’re in the market for a studio condo or a luxury mansion, your journey begins here. With every MLS listing updated here daily, you can search the same inventory the agents themselves use. Finding a home has never been more convenient or fun. Start Your Journey New & Pre Construction Ilan Joseph’s Real Estate Blog  Follow Ilan through Toronto and Vaughan Real Estate. With over 1,400 homes sold, Top Broker Ilan offers unique insight into the news & trends that lead our City. Check It Out    [!SalutationNameOnly], find more Real Estate Tools exclusively at: IlanJoseph.com The Condo Hot List Yonge+Rich Condos (Yonge / Richmond) Musée Condos (Bathurst / Adelaide)   King Blue Condos (King W / Blue Jays Way) Friday Harbour Resort (Lake Simcoe) Ten York Condos (120 Harbour St) The Britt Condos (955 Bay | former Sutton Place Hotel) View All Projects     Mortgage News Canada’s parliamentary budget office (PBO) sees the country’s central bank holding its key interest rate at the current 1 percent until the second quarter of 2015 as slow global recovery and Ottawa’s spending restraint drag on economic growth.  Buyers Mortgages Find Properties Credit Building Tips Client Testimonials Sellers Free Home Evaluation Pricing Your Property Marketing Sellers FAQ’s Features Relocate Assistant Free Reports Free Home Evaluation Real Estate Tools Connect Ilan’s Real Estate Blog Neighbourhood Guide: Toronto Vaughan Contact My father taught me to always do more than you get paid for. If you make a sale, you can make a living. If you make an investment of time & good service towards a client, you can make a fortune. TopTorontoAgent.ca All rights reserved. Copyright © 2002-2013 Ilan Joseph | Toronto & Vaughan Real Estate

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post April 2013 Newsletter | Toronto & Vaughan Real Estate appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

PRICE: From the high $200,000′s
TYPE: Condominium & Townhouse
ADDRESS: Bathurst St & Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON
UNIT SIZES: From 509 to 1343 Square Feet
DEVELOPER: Plaza Corp
COMPLETION DATE: July 2016

MUSÉE CONDOS:

Amidst a civilized, tree-lined pocket off Adelaide West, near the vibrant street scene along King Street West, is a cosmopolitan condominium like no other. Musée elevates the urban experience with places and spaces
that prompt surprise and delight.

The 21-storey building brings an unmistakable gravitas to the neighbourhood. The dark and dramatic, stone-like base is paired with a luminous glass tower. Brilliant splashes of colour are scattered throughout, much like an immense painted canvas of a field accented with bunches of bright wild flowers.

The modern lobby with its long, low Zen fireplace invites the outside in. Dramatically long and deep sofas interrupt texts and tweets with a social space that encourages lounging and laughing with friends. With dramatic architecture, exquisitely detailed interiors and luxurious amenities, Musée presents an uncompromisingly sophisticated take on urban style.

If you have any questions about the pre-construction buying process or if you have any real estate related questions, feel free to contact me.  

OR CONTACT ILAN NOW
FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto, Thornhill and Vaughan real estate team. You can find him on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Musée Condos appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

Yonge+Rich Condos | Toronto

PRICE: From the $270,000′s
TYPE: Condominium
ADDRESS: 25 Richmond St East, Toronto, ON
UNIT SIZES: From 450 to 926 Square Feet
DEVELOPER: Great Gulf

YONGE+RICH CONDOS:

Great Gulf homes presents Yonge+Rich Condos, a new way of living in the heart of the city. Entertain friends on your expansive landscaped terrace surrounded by open sky and lake views.

With the TTC just steps away, explore your city, or discover Toronto’s underground PATH where you will find local boutiques, gourmet food shops, The Eaton Centre, and Dundas Square. The city is at your doorstep.

If you have any questions about the pre-construction buying process or if you have any real estate related questions, feel free to contact me.  

OR CONTACT ILAN NOW
FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto, Thornhill and Vaughan real estate team. You can find him on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Yonge+Rich Condos appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

The most expensive condos in Toronto for sale are the true definition of “castles in the sky”.

Check into the most exclusive condos in Toronto and the GTA.

The luxury condo market in Toronto real estate is one sector that has been getting a lot of negative press in the past couple months. Toronto is seeing many luxury condo owners reducing their list price by as much as $100,000 to lure in a big fish buyer.

For most of us, these condos are only a dream, so I decided to give you a glimpse of what these condos look like from the inside. Here are this months Top 5 Most Expensive Condos in Toronto for sale on MLS.

If you are have any questions about the luxury condo market or if you would like to sell your home, feel free to contact me.  

OR

CONTACT ILAN NOW FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Top 5 Most Expensive Condos in Toronto For Sale appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

If you have any questions about the Toronto real estate market or would like to know the value of your neighbourhood, Feel free to contact me.  

OR

CONTACT ILAN NOW FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Toronto’s best real estate pockets appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

The average first time buyer in Canada is 29 years old and expects to be able to put down a down payment of $48,000 on $300,000 home, according to a recent poll by the Bank of Montreal.

If you are a first time buyer, visit the First Time Buyer Education Centre or feel free to contact me directly.  

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW
FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post First time buyers budget for $300K homes appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

If you have any questions about the real estate market in Toronto, Vaughan or Thornhill, feel free to contact me.  

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW
FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Will Toronto be home to a wave of billboard homes? appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

A look at when you need to move out of a rental unit.

Hotels typically let you check in by 3 p.m. and ask you to check out by noon. This gives staff time to make the room ready for the next guest. Do the same sorts of rules apply when a tenant moves out of a rental unit? Will it make a difference if the owner is selling the home to someone who wants to move in on the same day? So when do you have to move out of a rental unit in Ontario? It depends.

Here are the answers to those questions.

Ontario tenancies are usually for a year, so if yours started on August 1, 2012, then it will end at 11:59 pm on July 31, 2013. However, if the tenant doesn’t give notice, the tenancy will automatically renew as a month-to-month arrangement, meaning the end of any term is the end of any month.

If you have a month-to-month arrangement you must give 60 days’ notice before the end of your term. In the above example, it would be the end of any month. For example, if today is April 8, 2013 and you pay rent on the first of every month, the earliest you can end your tenancy is June 30, 2013.

You must leave before midnight on the last day, in this example, on the last day of the month. (If you pay your rent on the 15th of the month, then the end of your term would have been June 14th.)

If you’ve bought a home or found another apartment, but can’t get in until July 1st, you may have no choice but to stay in a hotel or with friends overnight on June 30. You’d also have to store your belongings for a night.

You have no right to stay until July 1, but if you have a good relationship with your landlord, he’ll probably let you stay until the morning, so long as you’re gone before noon. Remember, the landlord has to make sure that the unit is clean before the new tenant takes over.

It gets even more complicated if you are buying a property with a sitting tenant and you want to move in. If you schedule closing on the same day the tenant is supposed to leave, you may not get possession until late at night. Buyers and sellers should try to schedule the closing date so that it takes into account when the tenant will be leaving, unless separate arrangements can be made with the tenant to leave the unit earlier. This can be done by typically assisting the tenant to find another place to live.

Landlords may run into a situation where an existing tenant does not leave on time, or even on the day that they are supposed to. If vacant possession is not given as promised and someone is waiting to move in, then the tenant who has been inconvenienced can sue for any costs incurred in storing their personal effects and for hotel bills. In Ontario, apartments are not like hotels and tenants cannot be forcibly evicted. Landlords can consider inserting a clause in their lease that says if possession is delayed for any reason, the tenant only receives a rent credit for the days lost.

Tenants should make sure to check whether special arrangements need to be made to reserve any elevators for moving purposes, especially in a condominium, which typically only permits moves to take place during specific times and only after timely notice has been given to the condominium management company.

By communicating early in the process, both landlords and tenants should be able to end their relationship in a positive manner. -source

If you have any questions about the rental market or how becoming a landlord can help build your investment portfolio, feel free to contact me.  

OR

CONTACT ILAN NOW FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post When do you have to move out of a rental unit in Ontario? appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

March 2013 housing statistics for the Toronto Real Estate Board

Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 7,765 transactions through the TorontoMLS system in March 2013 – down 17 per cent compared to 9,385 transactions in March 2012. While the year-over-year dip in March sales followed the trend that has unfolded since mid-way through 2012, it is also important to note that the Good Friday holiday was in March this year versus April in 2012. Generally speaking, there are fewer sales reported on statutory holidays and weekends.

In the first quarter of 2013, sales amounted to 17,678 – down by 14 per cent compared to Q1 2012.

 ”Home ownership remains affordable for a household earning the average income in the Greater Toronto Area.  There are many willing buyers in the marketplace today.  While some households have put their decision to purchase on hold as a result of stricter lending guidelines or the additional Land Transfer Tax in the City of Toronto, other households simply haven’t been able to find the right house due to a shortage of listings in some market segments,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Ann Hannah.

The average selling price in March was $519,879 – up by 3.8 per cent compared to March 2012. The average price in Q1 2013 was $508,066 – up by 3.2 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2012.

“The average selling price and the MLS® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark was up on a year-over-year basis across most home types, especially in the low-rise market segments where supply remains an issue.  TREB’s average price forecast for 2013 remains at $515,000, representing a 3.5 per cent annual rate of growth,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

Summary of TorontoMLS Sales and Average Price March 1 – 31
	2013							2012
	Sales		Average Price			New Listings		Sales		Average Price		New Listings
City of Toronto (“416″)	2,891		$564,793			5,513		3,585		$548,391		6,322
Rest of GTA (“905″)	4,874		$493,238			9,215		5,800		$471,505		9,869
GTA	7,765		$519,879			14,728		9,385		$500,875		16,191

 If you have any questions about the real estate market in Toronto, Vaughan and the GTA, feel free to contact me.  

OR

CONTACT ILAN NOW FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post TORONTO & GTA – HOUSING STATS: MARCH 2013 appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

Wondering when the best time to sell your house is?

The question: I live in Toronto and I’m thinking of selling my house. I keep hearing the market is down but maybe it’ll come back up; that if I wait a few months prices will strengthen. Should I wait or sell now?

The answer: My advice has always been the same: Sell, or buy, only when it’s right for you.

That being said, the real estate market really does heat up in the spring months. In 2012, a wave of new listings hit the market between March and June, representing nearly 46 per cent of all homes sold in the GTA for the year (source: TREB Statistics).

Spring is certainly the best time to sell or buy for many clients. It’s a time of renewal and change in general, and it’s simply the most practical time for many too. Buying in the spring allows for a closing date early in the summertime, aligning with school and work breaks that make moving easier. It’s a key factor for clients who don’t want their kids to switch schools in the middle of the year.

But the past five years have seen unprecedented growth in Toronto’s real estate values, and especially heavy competition for the properties available in the spring. I’ve found that this translates into pent-up demand from buyers who simply haven’t been successful in securing a new home in the spring market – whether because of high pricing, bidding wars or just plain exhaustion.

For sellers, this means growing demand for homes across the seasons, and especially after the spring rush.

As a seller, you may not get a bidding war in the middle December and you may not sell for maximum dollar in August… but you’ll likely not pay maximum dollar either if, like most people, your buying a new place after you sell your own home. The average home price in GTA in December was $478,700, compared to the peak of $515,869 in April of last year.

Last year I was preparing to list a house to hit the market in the prime spring season. However, organizational changes in the client’s workplace meant we had to delay the listing. Turns out, the client had to relocate to a different part of the city.

Had he listed, sold and subsequently bought in the area at that time, he would have had a serious issue. While he may have maxed out his sale price, the house he acquired would no longer have been suitable. But, thanks to that pent-up demand we saw last year, we later sold in the summer for a very solid price and also acquired the right house at the right price, and in the right neighbourhood, for him.

Lessons learned: It’s perfectly possible to sell outside the spring season and acquire a new home at the right price too. But what mattered the most was that the timing had to make sense for the client. There are peak sales seasons sure, but what fits you and your family should always be your decision driver, not the traditional sales season. -source

If you’d like to know how much your home is worth today, feel free to contact me.

OR

CONTACT ILAN NOW FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post When Is The Best Time To Sell My House? appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

Toronto Real Estate Market is steady

TORONTO, ONTARIO - The March home sales figures for the Toronto Real Estate Market’s home sales are very much in line with the softer trend seen over the prior six months, according to BMO Economics.

“The 17 per cent year-over-year drop almost precisely matches the average 16 per cent decline seen in the August-February period,” said Doug Porter, Chief Economist, BMO Capital Markets. “While sales have no doubt cooled, the market is relatively well-balanced between buyers and sellers. Similarly, prices remain stable, with the increase in average prices of just under 4 per cent from year-ago levels almost identical to the trend of the previous six months.”

Mr. Porter noted that sales have slowed considerably since last summer, both in Toronto and across most major Canadian cities. “Prices have also slowed notably, but in the majority of major markets – including Toronto – we continue to see modest increases.”

Paul Maranger, Senior Vice-President, Sales, for Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, said he was not surprised by the Toronto sales figures, and indicated that they reflect a lack of supply within Toronto city limits, rather than a shortage of demand – noting that prices continue to rise, albeit more slowly. “The marriage of persistently harsh winter weather and earlier-than-usual holidays may have delayed the buying season. I would not be surprised to see sales figures in the 416 climb again in April, May and June.”

Laura Parsons, Mortgage Expert, BMO Bank of Montreal, noted that it’s essential for both buyers and sellers to be aware of any changing conditions on the local level.

“If planning to buy or sell a property, consider working with an expert who can help you make decisions that are appropriate to the health of your local market, and more importantly, that responsibly fit within your particular financial situation,” said Ms. Parsons.

Ms. Parsons added that home buyers should stress-test their mortgage against a higher interest rate to ensure they could handle any potential increases in interest rates down the road and choose a mortgage with a shorter amortization, which can help them become mortgage-free sooner. -source

If you have any questions about the Toronto, Vaughan or Thornhill real estate market or if you have a question about your specific home, feel free to contact me.  

OR

CONTACT ILAN NOW FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Toronto Real Estate Market Well-Balanced: BMO appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

Donate below by April 26th, 2013 to be entered into a draw for a chance to win TWO PREMIUM FLOOR SEATS ($200 value) to an inspirational night with world renowned author, motivational speaker, meditation master and alternative medicine guru, Mr. Deepak Chopra.

An Evening with DEEPAK CHOPRA
Tuesday April 30th, 2013 – 8:00pm
Roy Thomson Hall – Toronto, Ontario

The Future of Wellbeing

Everyday there are thousands of children, families and individuals who go hungry in Toronto and throughout the GTA. Many of these people rely on the generosity of people like you to help them get through times of personal difficulty. Your small donation can help feed a child so they don’t have to go to school hungry or a parent who may not have enough food for themselves after packing a lunch for their children. Help us spread the love and win.

Ilan Josephs Feed Toronto’s  Hungry Fundraiser

Thank you for your support.
Together we can make a huge difference!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

OR

CONTACT ILAN NOW FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

The post Let’s help feed the hungry right here in Toronto appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

In it’s 8th annual best places to live report, MoneySense magazine goes in depth to tell us which Canadian communities rank highest for overall quality of life.

The report looks as such factors as income, employment, affordability, culture, education, crime, access to medical, weather & more. How do Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill and other GTA cities rank?

#10 Newmarket, Ont.
This town has it all, high household incomes ($107,353 on average), great weather, low unemployment (4.69%) and some of the lowest crime rates in the country.

#9 Lethbridge, Alta.
Brace yourselves; there are a number of Alberta cities in the top 10. Lethbridge sets the bar high posting impressive scores in the weather category (more than 70% of days in a year are rain- and snow-free) and homes are super affordable with the average price tag set at just $183, 491.

#8 Lacombe, Alta.
Lacombe is growing quickly thanks in part to a strong economy and low taxes. In addition to its 8th overall finish, Lacombe also placed 3rd on our Best Small Cities in Canada list. Average household incomes top $119,500.

#7 Saanich, B.C.
Saanich scored well in almost every category we tracked, including access to healthcare and low taxes. This suburb of Victoria would have done even better if the housing prices weren’t so high. The average home in the city costs $562,115.

#6 Ottawa, Ont.
Our 2012 No. 1 ranked city has fallen to No. 6 on this year’s overall list (2nd among large cities) but make no mistake, our nation’s capital is still one great place to live. Household and discretionary incomes in Ottawa remain high, but aren’t keeping pace with the growing wealth rushing to the West.

#5 Oakville, Ont.
Oakville earned high grades for being a safe city with plenty of high-paying jobs and a strong arts community. But it’s Oakville’s climate that makes it the envy of the nation. It’s the sunniest, warmest place we’ve got.

#4 Strathcona County, Alta.
The third richest city in Canada, Strathcona County also boasts plenty of daycare spaces and neighbourhood children making it a great place to plant roots. The average household brings in $147,945 a year and homes cost just $371,619 on average.

#3 Burlington, Ont.
Strategically placed in the centre of Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe, this city takes full advantage of being close to the economic engine of Toronto and the industrial powerhouse of Hamilton. The unemployment rate in Burlington is 4.65%.

#2 St. Albert, Alta.
High incomes ($139,628), low unemployment (3.82%) and affordable housing ($344,967 average house price) helps this Edmonton suburb take top prize in our ranking of the best small cities in Canada and 2nd overall.

#1 Calgary, Alta.
Looking for a big city with a laid back feel, plenty of job opportunities and a young vibrant community? Go west. A strong economic foundation has turned Cowtown into the best city in the country.

• Toronto ranks 28th
• Vaughan ranks 23rd
• Markham ranks 34th
• Richmond Hill ranks 26th

Most Kids At Home: Vaughan, Ontario 

The majority of households in the city north of Toronto, 64% to be exact, have children. Vaughan is also home to the most homeowners with more than 90% of residential dwellings occupied by title owners. It also has the highest concentration of married couples at 63% of the adult population.

The full report and list of 200 communities that made the list can be found here.

OR

CONTACT ILAN NOW FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

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A quick update on the latest mortgage news and trends

Our good friends and colleagues at MortgageJake  update us on the latest mortgage news.

This week saw two dramatic moves by Jim Flaherty that directly impact us in the housing sector. The first was his bold ask of Manulife to not discount its mortgage rate and as a matter of fact, raise it back to above 3% after setting it at 2.89%. The second and perhaps more subtle move was yet another mortgage rule change as of yesterday’s Budget announcement: limiting bank’s reliance on mortgage insurance for loans.

This will mean simply it will be tougher to get approved for mortgages in Canada for two reason:

1) By limiting the exposure to CMHC, Genworth and Canada Guaranty-insured loans, banks will be forced to self-insure. By doing so, guidelines will tighten even more than they already have but each lender will determine their own policies. By self-insuring, lenders will pass the cost onto the borrower. By passing the cost, even though rates may not go up, who cares how low they are if it’ll be tough to get a loan?

So you’re probably thinking “not so bad, because people with +20% down won’t be affected”

2) Wrong. Many lenders insure mortgages at 20% down or more even though the clients don’t see the costs. Reason being is when they are not backed by deposits they need to minimize risk. Even on deals with 35%+ down lenders go to CMHC et al to get those deals insured. Its how we avoid appraisals sometimes, and how lenders are so willing to do borderline deals.

How does this impact you?

In the short-run, it won’t. It’ll be business as usual (for now). We won’t see a deadline like we did with the last four mortgage rule changes. That being said, if you pair these belt-tightening moves with an increase in rates and you may see a further slowdown in the housing market than what we’re already seeing but in terms of prices. At least that’s my take. I’m not calling for the sky to fall, I am simply saying that things may change in the future.

Rate Update

Even though BMO was advertising to be the first lender in Canada that had 2.99, the truth is I was offering 2.99 to borrowers in November. If you are a smart and savvy borrowers hell-bent on working with the banks, speak to me for a second opinion for free. It won’t hurt but it may help you save thousands.

Jake Abramowicz can be reached at mortgagejake@gmail.com or by phone at 416-910-4448

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW
FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Mortgage News Update | Toronto & Vaughan Real Estate appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

Advice for couples looking to purchase a home together

Congratulations! You’ve found love and now you’re searching for the perfect place to call home together. You are smart and savvy, and know that buying a house is always a momentous and significant purchase. Home buyers pour a lot of time, energy, thought and care into choosing their new abodes, which can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. But not for you! You’ve heard too many stories of couples who start to squabble when dealing with major life and financial decisions. You are determined to get through the process with as much grace and humour as possible and come out on the other side with a beautiful home and your marriage intact. Fortunately for you, we have some helpful tips for buying a home with your wonderful significant other.

1.       Talk it out. This is a simple step that can yield such dramatic and positive results. Before you even begin to look at homes together, sit down individually and really think about what you yourself need and want in a home. Make two lists, one a “need list” and the other a “wish list”. For example, if you can’t live without air conditioning, put that on your “need list”. If you’d love to have a lake view from your kitchen window, add that to your “wish list”. Be reasonable and thoughtful with your needs and wishes. Then, get together and compare. This will help you as a couple to understand each others’ desires. If you don’t match up completely, don’t despair! Discuss calmly with your partner your reasons for each item on your list and listen as they explain their side. Be open and willing to compromise. So simple and so important.

2.       Go back to the future. As you go over your lists together, you may find it helpful to discuss how your pasts have affected what you wish for and what you feel you need. For example, if you mother and father always had separate bathroom spaces, you may feel that you need at least two bathrooms. Don’t forget to look to the future… How long do you plan or hope to stay in this home? How will that affect your “need” and “wish” lists?

3.       Do your homework. Now that you have a good idea of what you and your partner are looking for, look at homes for sale online to get  a good feel for what kind of neighbourhood you are interested in, what kind of homes are available in your budget range and what sort of amenities are nearby. Go into your search well prepared and informed.

4.       Find a great Realtor. Take a lot of pressure off of yourselves by enlisting the services of a great Realtor you both trust and like. Let the professionals handle all of the details that might otherwise lead to conflict, confusion, and aggravation while you two handle your already busy schedules (and maybe make time for a date night).

5.       Money, money, money. No one likes to talk about their finances. It makes us feel vulnerable and defensive. But here’s some straight talk: you and your partner need to talk about your money and get it in order before purchasing your home together. It’s that simple. Get everything organized so that you don’t spend all of your money on new furniture and as a result of overspending, you lower your credit rating right as you need it the most for a good rate on a mortgage. Having your money figured out in advance will make you both less anxious about this major financial decision and probably bring you closer in your relationship as well.

6.       Set a spending threshold. Once you’ve talked openly about your finances and now that know your partner’s needs and wishes, set up a budget with clear parameters. Set a spending threshold for your home itself as well as for all the fun, extra things that come with purchasing a home. These include the fabulous furniture, paint and art you’ll want to fill your space with, as well as any renovation costs.

7.       Be patient. Finding your dream home can sometimes take a while. Don’t settle for a home too quickly if it’s not quite right. You didn’t settle for your partner, so why settle when it comes to your home? New homes go on the market all the time and tomorrow might be the day yours appears. Be patient!

If the process ever becomes too overwhelming, or seems like it’s dragging on forever, take each other out on a date. Spend some time talking about other topics, or remind each other of the fun things involved in home buying. Talk about what colour you’re going to paint your walls, how close it is to that great restaurant you both love, or how that one room will be perfect for a nursery. Talk about the future, stay positive and stay connected. In the end the rewards will be well worth the wait and effort! (source)

If you have any questions about the home-buying process or if you have any other real estate related questions, feel free to contact me.  

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW
FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Tips for Buying a Home with your Spouse or Partner appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

GTA home sales down 15% in February with prices climbing by 2% 

Greater Toronto Area (GTA) REALTORS® reported 5,759 sales through the TorontoMLS system in February 2013 – a decline of 15 per cent in comparison to February 2012. The average selling price for February 2013 was $510,580 – up two per cent in comparison to February 2012.

“Stricter mortgage lending guidelines that precluded government backed mortgages on homes sold for over one million dollars and the City of Toronto’s additional upfront land transfer tax arguably played a role in the slower pace of luxury detached home sales,” added Ms. Hannah.

“We will undoubtedly experience some volatility in price growth for some market segments in 2013.  However, months of inventory in the low-rise market segment will remain low, resulting in average price growth above three per cent for the TREB market area this year.  Our current average price forecast is $515,000 for all home types combined in 2013,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

If you have any questions about the Toronto or GTA real estate market, feel free to contact me.  

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Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Toronto & GTA Real Estate Market Stats Infographic | February 2013 appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

Check into the most exclusive and certainly most expensive homes in Toronto and the GTA.

With all the talk of an overheated Toronto real estate market, one particular segment that doesn’t seem to be letting up is Toronto’s multi-million dollar housing market which has seen prices climb by 3.5% since January.

For most of us, these homes are just a tad outside of our budgets, so I decided to give you a glimpse of what these home look like inside and out.

Here are this months Top 10 Most Expensive Homes in Toronto for sale on MLS.

If you are have any questions about the luxury home market or if you have any real estate related questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW

FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Top 10 Most Expensive Homes in Toronto for Sale appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

The age-old question, should I buy or first sell my home?

If you already own a home, one of the first decisions you’ll face when you prepare for a move to your next home will be whether to buy first or to sell your existing home prior to making a purchase. “There is no ‘right’ decision, but it’s important to know the potential consequences of both routes says Real Estate Council of Ontario Registrar Joseph Richer, ”Speaking with your registered real estate professional before starting the buying or selling process can help you decide which route is better suited to your circumstances.

Buy First

Depending on market conditions, the type of home you wish to purchase and the popularity of the area, being able to buy first allows you to wait until the right home comes up for sale. In a heated market where you may encounter bidding wars, it can also be less stressful knowing that if you do not get the first home on which you make an offer, you have time to wait until another one that meets your criteria comes up for sale.

However, market conditions can also impact the sale of your existing home. If you have already purchased a home and are unable to sell your existing one in a timely manner, you may face difficulties in securing a mortgage for the new home or may have to pay two mortgages for a period of time. Additionally, you may feel inclined to accept any offer that comes in, even if it’s lower than what you believe your home is worth.

Sell First

By selling your existing home first, you will know how much money the sale has brought in. That will help determine how much you can afford to pay when you buy your next property. However, if you experience difficulties with finding a home to purchase, you may end up rushing the process and buying a home that isn’t ideal for you, or paying more than you planned for one that is.

If you decide to sell your existing home first, have a contingency plan should your dosing dates not align. This may involve staying with family or friends, finding a short-term rental or negotiating a longer closing period.

Conditional-on-sale offers

One way of minimizing the risk in this scenario is to include a conditional-on-sale clause when buying your next home. That means your offer is conditional on the sale of your existing home, typically within a given timeframe.

As a buyer, including such a clause may be comforting, but some sellers may be reluctant to accept these types of offers due to the uncertainty of when the offer will become firm. For this reason, conditional-on-sale offers typically contain an escape clause for the seller, allowing them to cancel the offer under certain conditions.

If the seller does accept a conditional-on-sale offer, they can typically continue marketing their home to other prospective buyers until the original offer is firm. If they are successful in receiving another offer that they think is superior, they would have to let the original buyer have an opportunity to waive the conditional-on-sale clause and firm up the offer. If the buyer is unwilling to waive the condition, their offer is cancelled and the new superior offer can be accepted.

Market conditions

In a Seller’s market it will virtually be impossible to have a home owner agree to a conditional-on-sale offer due to the fact that more buyers competing for fewer homes tilts the scales in favour of the Seller and as such, less incentive for them to accept such an uncertain condition to an offer.

No matter which route you choose to go, it’s important to remember that a registered real estate professional is knowledgeable about market conditions and will offer advice and solutions to guide you through the process, says Richer. “They will be able to discuss various scenarios to make sure you have realistic expectations about what may happen and how to be ready should a setback arise.”

If you have any questions about the home-buying or home-selling process, feel free to contact me.  

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW
FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Is it Better to Buy a Home First or Sell my Current one? appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

The fine art of furnishing a small condo with space saving furniture

The small condo conundrum: how to go about adequately furnishing the space in a way that won’t make it feel crowded and cluttered? “Most people just don’t really know where to start,” says Robert Whitfield, a furniture designer and owner of Casalife, which caters to condo dwellers.

Selecting the right pieces for a small place is an art. So we asked Whitfield — and several other creative minds at top Toronto furniture stores — for suggestions.

UNDERSTAND YOUR NEEDS

Before heading off to the shops, do a bit of planning and preparation.

Assess your lifestyle and understand how you plan to use your space. “If you’re a bachelor and you don’t cook, you go out with friends a lot, or maybe everyone comes over for Monday Night Football, do you really need to have a dining table?” Whitfield wonders. “Or a hutch and buffet?

“It requires breaking your addiction to traditional functionality,” he adds. In other words, what worked in your parents’ spacious suburban home won’t cut it in a small downtown condo.

“You have to make the most of your space. Why have things in there you don’t need?”

It’s also a wise idea to come up with a budget ahead of time so you know how much you can afford to spend when you get to the store.

MEASURE TWICE

Take measurements of your condo, consider the approximate size of the furniture pieces you want to have, then roughly determine how they’ll work in your floor plan.

“Make sure everything is measured appropriately for your space and that you leave enough room to actually live and walk around,” recommends Thom Fougere, a furniture designer and the creative director for EQ3. “Traffic flow around your space is very important.”

Take pictures of the condo, as well. This will help you — and whoever is assisting you — better visualize your space when you go shopping.

Casalife’s website features a handy space planner that enables a condo dweller to create a floor plan, add in pieces of furniture and tweak things to suit their requirements.

START WITH STAPLES

When it comes to picking furniture, be methodical.

“We tell our customers to start with your staple pieces, your main pieces, and work off of that,” says Richard Spares, manager of BLVD Interiors on Queen West.

Condo living doesn’t mean every piece of furniture needs to be miniature-sized; you just need to configure things properly to maximize space.

So find the sofa of your dreams and then select other pieces that will work well with it, keeping in mind functionality and flow. The sofa can also provide a colour palette for choosing subsequent furnishings, Spares notes.

Pieces that are lighter-coloured and airy — white lacquer or glass, for example — can help make a condo seem more open. “A lot of people feel overwhelmed when they go dark, especially in a smaller space,” says Spares. “So most tend to keep it light.”

MAKE THINGS MULTIFUNCTIONAL

Furniture that serves several purposes is essential to modern condo living. “People should be looking for pieces that have multiple functions, or that have some movement to them,” Fougere says, such as a coffee table that can be raised to become a dining table.

There are also expandable dining room tables, ottomans that double as a coffee table, storage bin or a seat, chairs with a built-in bookshelf, and beds with storage underneath. And a modular sofa gives you the ability to choose the right combination of pieces to suit your space.

Bottom line when choosing furnishings: be sure you need it. “There’s a quote from (English textile designer) William Morris I always keep in mind,” Fougere says. “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

STASH IT AWAY

Storage space is essential to the preservation of spatial harmony in a condo.

“Assessing storage needs should be one of your top priorities,” says Whitfield. “Otherwise your condo is going to become cluttered. Stuff you never threw away will creep into your living room.”

A tall wall unit with doors is a good way to take advantage of ceiling height, and a perfect place to store things, as is the aforementioned bed with drawers underneath. Mount a flatscreen TV on the wall, add floating shelves, and you’ve created a bit more room to put stuff.

Just remember: even if you plan on taking a minimalist approach to the decoration of your condo, you’ll always need storage, says Fougere. “You’ve got to hide everything somewhere.” -source

If you have any questions about the condo market or if you have a general real estate related question, feel free to contact me.  

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW
FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Furnishing a small condo with space saving furniture appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

A certified home inspector shares 10 home maintenance tips for spring.

If you have any questions about how to best care for your home to maximize its resale value or any other real estate related question, feel free to contact me.  

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW
 FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post 10 Home Maintenance Tips for Spring appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

With home prices in a state of limbo, how affordable is Toronto and the GTA’s real estate market really?

Two of Canada’s biggest banks released reports this week examining the affordability of homes across the country, and Toronto didn’t come out looking good. The city’s one of the least affordable in the country, second only to Vancouver (which is one of the priciest markets in the world). We break down the numbers below.

• Real estate watchers gauge affordability by the proportion of pre-tax family income required to pay the mortgage and other related costs like home insurance, utilities and property taxes. Anything over 39 per cent is considered unaffordable. In Toronto, mortgage payments on the average single-family home account for 43 per cent of household income alone, according to a recent BMO report. That number is closer to 50 per cent when other costs are included, which makes the market vulnerable to a correction if interest rates spike or incomes fall.

• An RBC Economics report further breaks down the numbers by type of home. At $545,6000, the average detached bungalow in Toronto devoured 52.8 per cent of median income in the fourth quarter of 2012. That was slightly (0.4 percentage points) better than the quarter before, and RBC attributed the minor improvement in affordability to slower market activity in the second half of 2012.

• Two-storey homes are the most unaffordable of all. Housing costs for a standard two-storey comprise over 62 per cent of household income with an average price of $640,500, according to RBC. In other words, it takes an annual income of $131,300 to qualify for a benchmark mortgage.

• Condos are still reasonably affordable. BMO says housing costs on condos account for just 31 per cent of median income. RBC put that number at 33.1 per cent. -source

If you have any questions about the the Toronto or Vaughan real estate markets, feel free to contact me.  

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW
FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post How affordable are Toronto home prices really? appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

Top 100 Canadian Neighbourhoods

The Top 100 Canadian Neighbourhoods investment guide is now available from the folks over at Canadian Real Estate Wealth. In their annual report on the top Canadian neighbourhoods to invest in for 2013, there are some newcomers to make the list which is mostly comprised of 2012′s top neighbourhoods.

Have a look at the TOP 100 SUMMARY below which is in alphabetical order only.

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW

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Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Top 100 Canadian Neighbourhoods | 2013 Investment Guide appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

Toronto: some fun things you didn’t know about our world class city.

1. Toronto was originally called the ‘Town of York’ until 1834.
2. The Toronto Zoo is the third largest in the world and is home to more than 5000 animals.
3. In 1904, the Great Toronto Fire completely destroyed the downtown core. The inferno caused $10 million in damage (over 300 million in today’s dollars) and 5,000 people lost their jobs.
4. Toronto residents hold more university diploma than anywhere else in the world, based on percentage of population. OECD – 2003
5. Toronto is home to the world’s largest continuous underground pedestrian system. The “PATH” stretches 28 kilometres and connects over 1200 shops and restaurants, 50 office buildings, five subway stations, Union Station, 6 major hotels and a number of entertainment and sports venues under city’s financial core.
6. Perhaps the most surprising to it’s residents is the fact that Toronto’s public transit system is the second largest in North America and enjoys the highest per capita ridership rate on the continent.
7. Toronto is host to Caribana, the largest single-day parade and largest Caribbean festival in North America. The parade attracts well over one million attendees from all over the world.
8. Toronto is truly one-of-a-kind with the only, real castle in all of North America!  Casa Loma is complete with its royal suites, hidden passages, an 800-foot tunnel, towers, stables, and a beautiful 5-acre estate garden. It’s open to the public year round. FYI: Lake Ontario’s shoreline used to run all the way to the Castle.
9. Toronto’s trendy, Yorkville neighbourhood may be all the rage today, but in the 1800 it was a cemetery for those unable to afford a church burial. Although the cemetery was removed in the 1870s, human remains are still found on virtually every new Yorkville construction project.
10. Let’s say “cheers” to our great city, which in the 60’s (the 1860’s) was the largest producer of alcohol in North America. Although our world class city no longer holds that distinction, the Distillery District contains many buildings from that era. To this day, Toronto continues to have a thriving brewery industry.

If you have any questions about Toronto, its vibrant neighbourhoods or its residents, feel free to contact me.  

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW

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Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Toronto appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

January 2013 housing statistics for the Toronto Real Estate Board

Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 4,375 transactions through the TorontoMLS system in January 2013.  This number represented a slight decline compared to 4,432 transactions reported in January 2012.

“The January sales figures represent a good start to 2013.  While the number of transactions was down slightly compared to last year, the rate of decline was much less than what was experienced in the second half of 2012.  This suggests that some buyers, who put their decision to purchase on hold last year due to stricter mortgage lending guidelines, are once again becoming active in the market,” said Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Ann Hannah.

“It is interesting to note that sales were up for many home types in the GTA regions surrounding the City of Toronto.  This is due, at least in part, to the additional upfront land transfer tax in the City of Toronto,” added Ms. Hannah.

The average selling price for January 2013 sales was $482,648 – up by 4.3 per cent compared to $462,655 in January 2012.  The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark price was up by 3.8 per cent over the same period.

“There will be enough competition between buyers in the marketplace to prompt continued growth in home prices in 2013.  Expect annual average price growth in the three to five per cent range this year,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

Greater Toronto REALTORS® are passionate about their work. They are governed by a strict Code of Ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service. Over 36,000 TREB Members serve consumers in the Greater Toronto Area.  The Toronto Real Estate Board is Canada’s largest real estate board.

If you have any questions about the real estate market in Toronto, Vaughan and the GTA, feel free to contact me.  

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW

FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post TORONTO & GTA – HOUSING STATS: JANUARY 2013 appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

Buying a home in the winter has been the investors best kept secret, until now.

In the past 12 years, the Toronto and Vaughan real estate markets have been known for their highly competitive nature, often times creating a battle ground for first time buyers and seasoned veterans alike, all vying for the best money could buy in any given price range.

I’ve compiled 5 advantages to buying a home in the GTA real estate market is typically slower in comparison to the the rest of the year, between the end of November through February. See Chart

1.  Less competition:  The most notable is that there is simply less competition from other buyers.   Who really wants go house hunting in -10° weather? With the dangerous driving conditions and the ice cold air, only the most hard-core buyers would even consider it.

2.  Prices soften:  According to stats by Realtor.com and national Realtor associations, the winter generally sees the lowest prices of the year with a spike in asking prices come spring.

3.  More Realtor time:  Typically, your Realtor may have more time available for you in the winter, dedicating more attention to your home search wants and needs. Plus, Realtor’s know there are less buyers looking for homes so they tend to push sellers harder than they would in a very active market.

4.  Fewer homes are getting into bidding wars:  Toronto’s real estate market has an endless supply of properties that went fifty, eighty or one-hundred thousand over asking price with a dozen or so potential buyers all fighting for the same home. Sellers couldn’t have been happier, but buyers were the ones who were paying the price.  I have yet to meet a buyer who enjoyed getting stuck in a bidding war.

5.  Winter drab:  Homes look a heck of a lot better in the spring and summers months than they do during the grey of winter, all buried in snow and lacking the full potential of its ‘curb appeal’. Other contributing factors are people’s laziness in the winter, putting off doing the required home maintenance due to the frigid conditions outside. This leads to homes being overcrowded and cluttered with things that could have otherwise been stored in the garage, in a storage unit or sold at a garage sale. Homes don’t show as well in the winter, which can translate into a lower price for the winter buyer.

Put on your hats and gloves my winter warriors and go find yourself a great winter bargain.

If you have any questions about the home-buying process or any real estate related questions, you’re welcome to contact me.  

• Related article: 13 tips for selling your home in winter

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW

 FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post 5 advantages to buying a home in the dead of winter appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

Are prefabricated homes Toronto’s future?

How Many people can say their home was built in just 2 days?
The new owners of Toronto’s first luxury prefab home can!

Sold for $1.525,000 after 274 days on the market (it was listed 3 times and was originally asking almost 1.7mill), this home features an exquisite interior design with premium finishes throughout.

Designed by legendary architect Ray Kappe, who is a leading authority in green home design, this home is sure to stir up some conversation and perhaps a few debates between those who see prefabricated homes as a viable alternative to ‘regular’ brick & mortar construction and those who feel the nature of such construction has too many flaws to remain sustainable long term.

Popular throughout Europe and the US for years, this concept is slowly building a foundation in Toronto and throughout Canada. The home has over 2100 square feet of living space and an advanced geothermal heating and cooling system, packed with high-end finishes and even a 1000 square foot basement with a typical poured concrete foundation.

Have a look at the 2 day time-lapse assembly video.

If you have any questions about prefab homes or any real estate related questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW
FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Toronto’s first luxury prefab home sells for $1.5million appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

January 2013 Happy New Year! Have you been keeping your resolutions?   New in Toronto & Vaughan Toronto Real Estate market will stay strong in 2013! Growth expected at 1% Many economists predicted Toronto’s real estate market would crash in 2012, with prices falling by up to 25%. I didn’t see that prediction coming true and I didn’t, nor do I believe it will happen in 2013. Read More Tips for Single Home Buyers According to the statistics, 27.6% of all homes in Canada are singly occupied. Changes in lifestyles (including people choosing to marry later in life or not at all) combined with historically low mortgage rates, is believed to be a significant factor influencing this increase. Check It Out   The Market | Video Blog January 2013 This VIDEO BLOG by Toronto Real Estate Board’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis, Jason Mercer, dives deep into the latest market data to help us better understand the current state of the real estate market in Toronto, Vaughan and the GTA. Check It Out Staggering Numbers: Difference between buying and renting See just how much money you’re actually losing in just 5 years of renting. The numbers are surprising.  Check It Out Your Journey Begins  Whether you’re in the market for a studio condo or a luxury mansion, your journey begins here. With every MLS listing updated here daily, you can search the same inventory the agents themselves use. Finding a home has never been more convenient or fun. Start Your Journey New & Pre Construction Ilan Joseph’s Real Estate Blog  Follow Ilan through Toronto and Vaughan Real Estate. With over 1,400 homes sold, Top Broker Ilan offers unique insight into the news & trends that lead our City. Check It Out    More Real Estate Tools Exclusively at: IlanJoseph.com Hottest New Construction King Blue Condos (King W / Blue Jays Way)   Friday Harbour Resort (Lake Simcoe) Ten York Condos (120 Harbour St) The Britt Condos (955 Bay | former Sutton Place Hotel) View All Projects Buyers Mortgages Find Properties Credit Building Tips Client Testimonials Sellers Free Home Evaluation Pricing Your Property Marketing Sellers FAQ’s Features Relocate Assistant Free Reports Free Home Evaluation Real Estate Tools Connect Ilan’s Real Estate Blog Neighbourhood Guide: Toronto Vaughan Contact My father taught me to always do more than you get paid for. If you make a sale, you can make a living. If you make an investment of time & good service towards a client, you can make a fortune. TopTorontoAgent.ca All rights reserved. Copyright © 2012 Ilan Joseph | Toronto & Vaughan Real Estate

If you have any real estate related questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post January 2013 Newsletter appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

PROPERTY DETAILS

PRICE: $589,000
BEDROOMS: 3
BATHS: 4
LOT SIZE: 31.99 x 110.89 Feet

DETAILS:

Welcome home to your beautiful 3 bedroom, 4-bath house located in the high demand neighbourhood of Dufferin Hill. Your new home features an inviting and practical layout that’s absolutely perfect for a young family. From its modern kitchen, upgraded granite counters, extended cabinetry and stainless steel appliances to the warmth of two gas fireplaces, gleaming hardwood floors, potlights and custom wainscoting, this home has everything you need and more.

Close to North Thornhill Community Centre, Parks, Schools, grocery stores and shopping centres. Stainless Steel appliances include Fridge, Stove, Dishwasher. Washer and Dryer & Microwave. Garage Door Opener w/remote.

WATCH THE VIRTUAL TOUR VIDEO HERE

If you have any questions about the home buying process or if you have any real estate related questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  

OR CONTACT ILAN NOW FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post 130 Belvia Drive appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

Single homebuyers face different challenges than couples…

2012 saw the rise of the single homebuyer

In life, there are just a few things that are as exciting or nerve-racking as hunting for a home. To lessen the emotional impact, it’s important to clearly set out an organized home buying plan. By establishing your true buying power and laying down some of your wants and needs, searching for a home can be a lot less stressful and a lot more fun.

Statistics Canada recently released data that shows the percentage of Canadians purchasing homes alone is rising. According to the statistics, 27.6% of all homes in Canada are singly occupied. Changes in lifestyles (including people choosing to marry later in life or not at all) combined with historically low mortgage rates, is believed to be a significant factor influencing this increase.

Condos and Town-homes tend to appeal a bit more to single homebuyers since virtually all of the maintenance such as the roof, landscaping, snow removal, etc. is handled by the condo corporation. Besides the maintenance factor, many single buyers prefer to be in a community rich in amenities which may include a pool, gym or sauna not to mention the added sense of safety a single homebuyer may feel having neighbours nearby.

With many single homebuyers being single parent families, a common mistake I often see is buyers thinking only about their short term needs and not paying enough attention to the future when they would have to sell the home. For example, a one bedroom, one-bath home may be perfect for you, but it could be very difficult to sell. It would be far better to have an additional bedroom which can double as a study or at least a second bathroom than not have them at all.

To help you avoid some common issues, here are some helpful tips for single buyers:

• Don’t over-buy the first time. There is nothing worse than a big home with little to no furniture. It is uninviting and tends to feel empty and cold. You don’t want to live your life where every dollar you earn goes toward your house. Leave yourself some breathing room and avoid the stress!

• Compare mortgages. Take some time to explore your financing options. The better your credit, the more options you’ll have. Don’t just accept the first mortgage offered to you, you may find something more suitable to your needs.

• Always get pre-approved. This is one of the most important steps of your home buying plan. You will get qualified for an exact price range before you even start looking which will help narrow down what you should really be looking at. Having been pre-approved, any offer you make will have a lot more strength to it in the eyes of a seller who may have other offers to choose from.

• Don’t wait for the “perfect” home. A huge mistake many first time buyers make is waiting for the “perfect” home, thinking, if they look around long enough, they will find a home that has everything they want and need. This has proven time and time again to be next to impossible when working within a budget. Instead, determine what’s most important out of your wants and needs and choose a home that encompasses the majority of them.

• The home inspection process. Generally speaking, when buying a newer condo, you can skip this step. It’s with older condos, towns, semis and detached homes where I encourage my clients, whenever possible, to conduct a home inspection on the property. This process can help eliminate potentially expensive, or even hazardous, defects in the property. The minimal investment here for a professional inspection can really go a long way.

A final tip which I always implement with my buyers is having a rating system in place for the homes they visit. For instance, I ask my buyers to rate a home between 1-5 stars. Any home worth of 4.5 stars is a home they should consider putting an offer on. It makes it fun and a little easier to compare homes this way.

If you have any questions about the home-buying process or if you have any real estate related questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW
FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Tips for Single Homebuyers appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

Dec 21, 2012

6 good indicators of why the GTA real estate market will remain strong in 2013

If you have any questions about the housing market in Toronto or Vaughan, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW
FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Toronto’s real estate market will stay strong in 2013 appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

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The post Copyright Statement appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.

Rent or Buy? The age old question.

Toronto, Vaughan and the GTA are currently enjoying a healthy rental market with vacancy rates hovering around 1%. This high demand for rental properties has driven up rental rates upwards of 20%.

Many tenants are renting while saving enough of a down payment to put towards a house of their own in the future in hopes of someday paying “rent” to themselves, so to speak. But for those tenants that are renting and currently do have a deposit to put down, let’s really understand your situation.

First, let’s understand the basics. The minimum down payment in Canada is 5%, with the typical down payment ranging from 5%-20% of the home price. According to a recent TD Canada Trust Home Buyers Report, 30% of home buyers plan to have or already have at least a 20% down payment.

Think about this, if you have the minimum 5% towards a $400,000 home you would require a $20,000 down payment. Over the next 5 years, you would have paid about $40,000 dollars of principal down of your mortgage loan now your $20,000 dollar investment has become about $60,000 dollars. We haven’t even factored in rising property values. Price appreciation in Toronto, Vaughan and throughout most of the GTA is historically averaging above 5% every year. Let’s take a conservative estimate and assume prices only appreciate by 2% every year. Over the past 5 years your property value has gone up from $400,000 to $440,000 and you’ve paid down about $40,000 in principle. That’s $80,000 of equity that you just built up through your minimum 5% down payment!

Try my Rent vs Buy Calculator Now! 

If you were still renting over those same 5 years at an average of $2000/month (which is typical for a $400,000 property in Toronto) you would have paid a whopping $120,000 towards someone else’s mortgage! Insane isn’t it!

It’s really eye-opening to think of this typical Toronto tenant’s situation but when you really start to understand how you’re spending your hard earned money each month, you can take the necessary action to ensure you’re moving in the right direction.

If you have any questions about the home-buying process or any other real estate related questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  

START YOUR JOURNEY HERE OR CONTACT ILAN NOW
FOR A MORE PERSONALISED SEARCH EXPERIENCE!

Ilan Joseph is a Real Estate Broker with Sutton Group and is co-founder of a 10-person award-winning Toronto real estate team. You can find him on Twitter, YouTube and Google+. For over 10 years, Ilan has provided more than 1400 buyers and sellers valued advice and service, enabling them to reach their real estate goals. He’s kind of like the Bruce Willis of real estate.

The post Difference between buying and renting in Toronto appeared first on Ilan Joseph Real Estate Agent : Homes for Sale Toronto, Thornhill & Vaughan.