Stunning 1038 S.F. Unit At Imperial Lofts!

Virtual Tour: http://www.Obeo.com/661006

Video Tour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpH7BU5Febs

Stunning 1038 S.F. Unit At Imperial Lofts! This Hard Loft Boasts Exposed Brick, Wood Beamed Ceilings/Columns, Custom Floor-To-Ceiling Closet/Shelving In Master Bedrm, B/I Shelving In Living Area And Bedrm, Oversized Laundry Room/Foyer, Ample Storage Throughout. Open Concept Kitchen Features Stainless Steel Backsplash, Extra Large Pot Drawers, Cabinets, Counter Peninsula/Breakfast Bar. Upgraded Lighting. Located In Designer District, Steps To Distillery District, St. Lawrence Market, Restaurants, Park, Ttc. Fabulous Rooftop Terrace W/Bbq.

Inclusions: Fridge, Stove, Dishwasher, Microwave, Washer, Dryer, Elfs, All Window Coverings, Exclusive Use Of A Locker & A Parking Spot, Updated Heat Pump 2009.

Listed by:

Claire Gordon
Sales Representative
Chairman Award Winner 2010- Ranked in the Top 1% at Royal LePage nationally
Royal LePage Real Estate Services, Ltd.
JOHNSTON & DANIEL DIVISION, Brokerage
Office: 416 489-2121
Fax: 416 489-6297
Cell: 416 505-0506
Email: claire@findahomeintoronto.com
Website: www.findahomeintoronto.com
Video Blog: www.torontorealestatevlog.com

New to Canada ? Buying your first home? What newcomers need to know.

We all have friends, neighbours, work colleagues or acquaintances who are new to Canada. They may not know that the publication:  Buying Your First Home in Canada: What newcomers Need to Know is a downloadable home buying guide in nine languages.

Often newcomers have partners or parents who are not fluent in English and would appreciate home buying information in their own languages. The free guide is in Punjabi, French, Arabic, Spanish,Urdu,Tagalog, Mandarin.

See Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation -  See Buying a Home.
Also see Claire Gordon Buying Guide and  Buyers Services

First time Buyers in Toronto Real Estate - Money Matters

A little forethought, some planning will give first time buyers opportunities in the Toronto Real Estate Market in 2011.

“Market conditions remain tight enough to support moderate growth in the average selling price. Expect the three per cent annual rate of growth reported for the first two weeks of December to be the norm in 2011,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

Are you ready to purchase? Being familiar with these initial costs: Mortgage Down Payment, Offer Deposit, Land Transfer Tax, legal fees and moving costs is great preparation.

 Try out the mortgage and land transfer calculators and view other tips on my Buying a Home page or view  Claire Gordon Deposit on an Offer: What? When ? How?

First Time Buyers in Toronto Real Estate - Use your RRSP for First Home Purchase

Help for first time  home buyers in Toronto !

The amount of money that you can withdraw from a Registered Retirement Saving Plan (RRSP) without a tax penalty has been increased .Now first-time buyers can withdraw $25,000 tax-free from a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to purchase or build a new home (up from $20,000).

See Claire Gordon's buyers' guide 

First time Buyers in Toronto Real Estate - Finding your first home

Finding your first home in Toronto could be as easy as opening your email. On the other hand searching for your first home can be a frustrating and time consuming experience.

Toronto properties for sale are often listed on the Multiple Listing Service Service - MLS that can be searched by neighbourhood, price, property size and other features. This can be difficult.

The alternative is to ask for a personalized search and receive current information, new listings as they are posted, preselected listings that actually meet your search criteria and require no other effort than opening your email.

See Claire Gordon's Buyer's Guide

First time Buyers in Toronto Real Estate - What do I need ? What do I want?

  What is the ideal property  and neighbourhood for you?

•  Now that you have established your price range, define and prioritize your wants and needs .
•  Evaluate your current lifestyle and any impending lifestyle changes,
•  List the amenities that are most important to you in a neighbourhood,
•  List the features of a home that you want and fit your lifestyle.

Now the fun part - divide the list into must haves and would like to have and check out the neighbourhoods!!

See video - King West Buzz
See - Claire Gordon Neighbourhoods

Moving to Toronto Series - Enjoy the city

Toronto is alive downtown - exciting, young, modern, safe, walkable, liveable, centre of the city’s culture and entertainment areas, home of modern condos and renewed neighbourhoods in the design, commercial and entertainment districts and on the lakefront. View King West Buzz for a look at what's going on.

Well it 's winter now, but.........

See February Events Calendar
See Toronto Neighbourhoods

Moving to Toronto Series - A good move financially for the college kids

 Some of Canada’s best universities and colleges are here, making a move to Toronto a good move financially. College age kids can live at home and attend one of the three universities in the city or one of our many colleges.

• Ryerson University
• University of Toronto
• York University

Many choices are available right in the city. The University of Toronto has three campuses around the city, York University has two. Ryerson University is right downtown. Commuting to the Ontario Institute of Technology in Oshawa is also an option.

Great colleges, some with campuses around the city, are: Ontario College of Art, Seneca College and George Brown College

See  Move to a Toronto neighbourhood

Moving to Toronto Series- What about my child's access to good schools in Toronto?

One of the main concerns for parents moving to Toronto is their children's access to good schools.

Fortunately Toronto has two main publicly funded school boards as well as many private schools and others affiliated with religious or cultural groups. Both public boards have programmes for special groups of children.

Teachers are generally highly qualified, many with M.Ed degrees or specialization certificates. Students are required to take standardized achievement tests in grades 3 and 6 and in High School and are required to follow the Ontario curriculum. Elementary Curriculum > Ministry of Education

See Toronto neighbourhoods

How will the reduction of the term of government backed insured mortgages affect you?

To Torontonians considering longer mortgage time, changes announced by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will, of course, mean higher monthly payments but also will significantly reduce the total interest paid and build equity faster in your homes.

Changes

• On new  government insured mortgages the amortization period will not be permitted to be over 30 years. 
• Borrowing  amounts to refinance your mortgage will be changed as the maximum amount permitted will be 85 %  of the value of your home, a 5% change.
• Changes also  affect  lines of credit (secured by homes) used for debts unrelated to home purchases. The government has stopped insurance backing of these .

Timeline

• Mortgage changes begin March 18,2011
• Lines of Credit changes  begin April 18, 2011

Claire Gordon - Money matters.

See "Canada’s well-regulated housing sector has been an important strength that allowed us...... and helped protect us from the worst of the recent global recession,” said Minister Flaherty. Department of Finance Canada