In this episode of Myth Busters, we’ll tackle the “Maintenance Fee Myth”. When I meet with first time buyers, there are certain things that I hear almost every time when I ask them, “What are you looking for?” The most common responses are usually Newer building in a great location Lots of light / Big […]
I had the opportunity last week to attend a special luncheon event for the Regent Park Platinum Producers Club (agents who have special insider access to all the upcoming Regent Park condos including Paintbox). They outlined some of the details for the much anticipated project Paintbox Condos, and they also filled us in on the […]
If you are planning on investing in a condo in 2011, there are many obvious factors to consider: builder track record and reputation, location, price per square foot, building and suite features, layout/floor plan etc. There is one factor that I always consider when buying real estate and that is neighbourhood infrastructure (specifically transportation and […]
Tell me if this sounds familiar: get out of school, get your first ‘real’ job, work for a couple years, save your money, buy a small condo. Meet someone, someone moves in. Condo starts to feel smaller. Buy a car. Realize that cars are freakin’ expensive! Have a kid, condo feels even smaller. Realize kids […]
The spring market doesn’t officially start until, well, spring. But anyone who is shopping for a condo (or a house) in Toronto knows that the market is H-O-T right now, and multiple offers are not the exception, but the norm. Over the years of working with buyers and sellers in multiple offer situations, you learn […]
Hype-driven marketing seems to be at an all time high in the pre-construction condo market. I am finding it harder and harder to find quality investment opportunities to recommend to my clients. This at a time when a new condo project is launching almost every week. Prices are soaring. Suite sizes are shrinking. Every agent […]
New condos are launching at a rate of about one per week right now in the downtown core. However, don’t be mistaken in thinking this means solid investment opportunities are coming at a rate of one per week! In fact, there is usually a negative correlation between the number of new condo launches and the […]
The above chart shows the latest data on downtown Toronto condo sales from the Toronto Real Estate board for March 2011 as it compares to March 2010. C01 is considered ‘downtown west’ and C08 is considered downtown east. A few observations: Downtown west is always the most relevant data to look at when gauging the […]
The market is hot. Sellers are still driving the bus in this market and so when I’m working with buyers I often have to get very creative to get my clients what they are looking for. After viewing 6-8 condos with my buyer clients, I can usually figure out exactly what condo would be perfect […]
Insights
Myth Busters: Maintenance Fees Edition
February 10, 2011 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
In this episode of Myth Busters, we’ll tackle the “Maintenance Fee Myth”. When I meet with first time buyers, there are certain things that I hear almost every time when I ask them, “What are you looking for?” The most common responses are usually Newer building in a great location Lots of light / Big […]
Read more
Regent Park Revitalization Plan
February 22, 2011 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
I had the opportunity last week to attend a special luncheon event for the Regent Park Platinum Producers Club (agents who have special insider access to all the upcoming Regent Park condos including Paintbox). They outlined some of the details for the much anticipated project Paintbox Condos, and they also filled us in on the […]
Read more
The Importance of Infrastructure
March 8, 2011 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
If you are planning on investing in a condo in 2011, there are many obvious factors to consider: builder track record and reputation, location, price per square foot, building and suite features, layout/floor plan etc. There is one factor that I always consider when buying real estate and that is neighbourhood infrastructure (specifically transportation and […]
Read more
Sell the Condo, Buy a House
February 3, 2011 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
Tell me if this sounds familiar: get out of school, get your first ‘real’ job, work for a couple years, save your money, buy a small condo. Meet someone, someone moves in. Condo starts to feel smaller. Buy a car. Realize that cars are freakin’ expensive! Have a kid, condo feels even smaller. Realize kids […]
Read more
One Came by Fax
March 3, 2011 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
The spring market doesn’t officially start until, well, spring. But anyone who is shopping for a condo (or a house) in Toronto knows that the market is H-O-T right now, and multiple offers are not the exception, but the norm. Over the years of working with buyers and sellers in multiple offer situations, you learn […]
Read more
Quality Investments in Pre-Con Becoming an Endangered Species
March 10, 2011 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
Hype-driven marketing seems to be at an all time high in the pre-construction condo market. I am finding it harder and harder to find quality investment opportunities to recommend to my clients. This at a time when a new condo project is launching almost every week. Prices are soaring. Suite sizes are shrinking. Every agent […]
Read more
Sometimes The Best Deals are NOT Advertised
March 21, 2011 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
New condos are launching at a rate of about one per week right now in the downtown core. However, don’t be mistaken in thinking this means solid investment opportunities are coming at a rate of one per week! In fact, there is usually a negative correlation between the number of new condo launches and the […]
Read more
Market Snapshot March 2011
April 5, 2011 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
The above chart shows the latest data on downtown Toronto condo sales from the Toronto Real Estate board for March 2011 as it compares to March 2010. C01 is considered ‘downtown west’ and C08 is considered downtown east. A few observations: Downtown west is always the most relevant data to look at when gauging the […]
Read more
Time to get Creative
April 7, 2011 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
The market is hot. Sellers are still driving the bus in this market and so when I’m working with buyers I often have to get very creative to get my clients what they are looking for. After viewing 6-8 condos with my buyer clients, I can usually figure out exactly what condo would be perfect […]
Read more