Toronto

A friend of mine forwarded this information to me the other day and I found it to be quite useful. Having been in the real estate field for sometime now, we did see something phenominal happen these last couple of months. For those who invested or just window shopping for properties during the beginning of the year, we all witnessed a quiet moment of silence in the market between January to March. Then suddenly there was a crazy demand for both residential homes and condominiums all over the GTA. From overbidding to multiple offers all across the region, people were beginning to wonder what was going on. Even I was thinking the same thing. We are now midway through September and the ball game hasn’t stopped rollin’ yet! There is no recession for those who believe one is amongst us. And if there is, it is not going to hit us anytime soon.

CHART OF THE DAY
 
Canadians searching for clues on the health of the residential housing market should take a close look at an industry statistic known as the sales-to-listings ratio.

To arrive at the ratio, take the number of homes sold in a month and divide it by the number of active listings for that same month. Real estate agents consider it a neutral market when the ratio is between 24 per cent and 28 per cent. It’s a buyer’s market below 24 per cent and a seller’s market above 28 per cent.

In Greater Toronto, for instance, the ratio soared to 58.8 per cent in June – a V-shaped rebound after bottoming in December and January at slightly over 13 per cent. Thomas Cook, a Toronto real estate agent who tracks the numbers in his region every month, says bidding wars dried up early this year, but have roared back. Potential sellers still think there’s a recession in the housing market, limiting the number of listings, he says. The Greater Toronto Area had 8,035 sales and 15,682 listings in August, or a ratio of 51.2 per cent, compared with 6,318 sales and 25,076 listings in the same month in 2008, or a ratio of 25.2 per cent.  Other major markets bouncing back include Vancouver and Ottawa, Mr. Cook says.
-B.Jang, Toronto Dominion, Sept 2009-

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Posted in GTA market 2009 real estate Toronto

OVERVIEW:

At first glance, Burano is a juxtaposition. Rising from the historical Addison on Bay building into a soaring tower of glass and steel, Burano will be a tribute to the art and design of its Venetian namesake. Its roots are firmly planted in the soil of Bay Street, but its heart beats to the glory of authentic Italian artistry.

The Bay Street entrance is through the traditional doors of the Addison building – with its solid brick presence and oversized windows. But the entrance plaza on Grenville is where Burano’s personality emerges to the interplay of light and art off a three story glass lobby and pedestrian space that will be the pride of the neighbourhood.

Here, against the backdrop of Toronto’s fast-paced financial district, Burano will offer a tribute to the more cerebral pursuits – the art and culture of the old world ensconced in modern architecture with deep respect to a clear past.

An Art Gallery HERALDS Your Arrival To Burano. Imagine arriving home to your private gallery. The lobby at Burano will be a showcase to artistic living, beginning with oversized artwork that will hang suspended over beautifully appointed flooring. Warm white Venetian plaster will adorn the walls and majestic columns that will define the lobby’s gallery inspired space. The ambiance of the entrance to Burano will be further defined by the commitment to service and resident comfort, provided by 24 hour concierge service, exquisite furnishings and appointments as well as state-of-the-art security features.

LOCATION:  Bay & College

AREA MAP:

STATUS:  Under construction

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Posted in Downtown Toronto

WELCOME HOME to Festival Tower - 5 STAR HOTEL INSPIRED SERVICES a day in the Life … By: Daniels

OVERVIEW:

A striking condominium residences atop Bell Festival Centre, the new home of the Toronto International Film Festival Group. What better place to locate this exceptional residential community and unique cultural facility that in the heart of Toronto’s vibrant and beautiful Entertainment District. It is just minutes from the front door of Bell Festival Centre and Festival Tower - making this Canada’s larges Metropolis. It is beautiful, facinating, fabulous … Festival Tower is no doubt a world first, a landmark on the Toronto skyline and cityscape - and a destination for firlm aficionados and culturati from around the world.

HISTORY - Toronto Film Festival:

The Toronto International Film Festival is one of the most important film festival in all of North America.  For ten days in the month of September, stars and celebrities from around the world would gather in Canada’s largest cty, and soon Bell Festival Centre will be their home away from home. With its theatres, library, gallery and an array of meeting spaces, Bell Festival Centre will become the most important venue in the world devoted to an art form that transforms the way people see the world. To the residents of Festival Tower, this unique and extraordinary institution is somthing else: a neighborhood, a friend and a place to call their home.

LOCATION:  John & King, Downtown, Toronto 

THE TOWER CINEMA:

Festival Tower is the only condominium in Toronto that will have its own fully equipped authentic cinema, with seating for up to 55 people. The cinema is so state-of-the-art that the Toronto International Film Festival Group (TIFFG) will use it for screenings.

THE TOWER LOUNGE:

The central gathering place for Festival Tower residents will be the Tower Lounge, a series of interconnected spaces where residents and guests can mingle, read or even surf the net in a state-of-the-art wireless environment. From the Tower Lounge Terrace, you can enjoy views of Toronto’s ever0changing skyline and its limitless lake vistas.

• Library
• Business Centre
• Meditation Garden
• Spa Treament rooms
• Yoga/Pilates/Dance studio
• Sports Lounge
• Overnight guests - fully decorated guest suites

THE POOL HOUSE:

Features an inviting swimming pool and whirlpool housed in a glass pavillion overlooking Festival Tower’s exquisitely landscaped terrace. With its rough-textured, coloured-stone treatment and vaulted ceiling, the Pool House will be an open, airy, relaxing environment for a refreshing dip in the pool or a place to lounge and catch a few rays.

THE PERKS - Living @ Festival Towers

• MEMBERSHIP TO BELL FESTIVAL CENTRE - Part and parcel of your condominium purchase is an automatic three-year membership * to Bell Festival Centre, where you will become an integral part of the exciting world of film. For starters you will receive early access and preferred pricing to more than 100 Bell Festival Centre events each year, before tickets go on sale to the general public. Plus, you will receive a complimentary Bell Festival Centre newsletter and a programme guide subscription. (* commencing upon final closing)
• AN EXCLUSIVE INVITE TO THE EXCITING BELL FESTIVAL CENTRE “PREMIERE” - When Bell Festival Centre opens, there will be a whirlwind of fabulous parties and events. Picture the glamour, the gowns, the sumptuous canapes! Among the dishy events is a huge pre-public party, with VIPs of the film world in attendance. As a resident of Festival Tower, you will naturally be on this exclusive guest list.
• TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FIRM FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE “FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE PASS” Director’s Edition - With so many films to choose from at TIFF each year, and limited time to pore over the 400+ page programme book, it’s hard to know what firms to choose. As a Festival Tower resident, you will have the advice of the Festival Director himself, who has seen more films than any other programmer, and who will steer you in the right direction. You will be offered to pre-packaged selection of three Festival films, in three convenient versions to best match your lifestyle. So, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the Festival with first dibs to “Festival Experience Pass” Director’s Edition, which is not available to the general public.
• PRIVATE SCREENINGS WITH RENOWNED FIRM GUESTS - TIFF will host two exclusive screenings for Festival Tower residents each year, with special gusts from the world of firm in attendance. These screenings will take place in the Bell Festival Centre’s main theatre.
• YOUR OWN PRIVATE PROGRAMMER - Some of the world’s most knowledgeable film programmers are on staff at TIFFG. These experts will play a key role in creating a firm programme schedule for Festival Tower residents throughout the year, to be screened privately in the Festival Tower Cinema.

PRICING:

STUDIO SUITES (487 sqft) from $282,900 +
1 BEDROOM SUITES (568 - 577 sqft) from $331,900 +
1 BEDROOM + DEN (619 - 683 sqft) from $353,900 +
1 BEDROOM + MEDIA (703 sqft) from $437,900 +
2 BEDROOM SUITES (1001 -1151 sqft) from $624,900 upto $768,900
2 BEDROOM + MEDIA (898 - 1251 sqft) from $615,900 upto $802,900
2 BEDROOM + DEN (939 -2765 sqft) from $624,900 upto $2,271,900

MAINTENANCE FEES:

• Hydro metered separately
• Approx. $0.47 per squarefoot
• Parking maintenance $50/month
• Locker maintenance $15/month

LEVELS: 46-storey Tower atop Bell Festival Centre

** Information provided in this advertisement and in the entire website on the condo section are provided or taken directly from the sales package of the builder. Century 21 and Michelle Lu-Do including her promoters take no responsibility of accuracy**

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Posted in Downtown Toronto

 Overview:

Reference: Wikipedia
Bloor East will be located on the Intersection of Bloor Street and Yonge Street in Toronto. The Tower will be located in Yorkville, Toronto, an affluent and busy neighbourhood in midtown Toronto. Some of the most famed cultural locations in Toronto will be within walking distance of 1 Bloor’s location, such as the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum. Several upscale stores are based on Bloor street near the location of 1 Bloor East, such as Tiffany’s, Royal de Versailles, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Holt Renfrew and the Roots Canada Ltd flagship store.

To see what all the BUZZ is about maybe you’d like to read this article for yourself:
1 Bloor - The Fight for Luxury in Toronto 

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I witnessed the line-up for thie baby! You would have thought it was some sort of stampeed going on.  The buzz, the headlines that this location created was so big, by the time you walked into your downtown office, everyone would have already been talking about.  People lined up for weeks just to reserve a ticket number. One thing that was brought to my attention was that this line-up was not for the general public. It was actually a line-up for the Broker-Agent previews for Brokers/Agents to get their hands on the high-demand rare units of #1 Bloor.

AREA INFLUENCES:

• Yorkville Shopping area
• Tiffany & Co.
• Louis Vuitton
• Gucci
• Channel
• Holt Renfrew
• Bloor Subway line
• Sassafraz
• and so much more … 
  

  

  

  

  

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Posted in Downtown Toronto