When I have my first conversation with a new buyer-client, I often hear them say, “I want something brand new, never lived in!”. While I can definitely resonate with the appeal of moving into a brand new space, there are some notable drawbacks with living in a brand new condo. Here are my top-5 Disadvantages […]
There seems to be a growing segment of the population and the media that feel that the condo market is about to see declining prices. I am getting more and more comments like, “I heard that prices are going to come down this year, so I’m going to wait until that happens then buy”. Based […]
Right up there with ‘How’s the market?’ is the question, ‘Who is buying all these condos?’. I decided to tackle this question today with this blog post about the top-5 things to know about today’s pre-construction condo buyer. They are most likely Asian. This may sound strange but white people are not buying new condos. […]
Hong Kong Image courtesy of http://photoeverywhere.co.uk More and more people I talk to who are inside the condo industry have a growing apprehension towards the direction of condo development right now. Specifically they are worried about the long term impact of what I call the “Mega Tower”. I define a “Mega Tower” loosely as a […]
Harbour Square. built around 1980. Photo courtesy downtownphotos.ca I just got an email from a National Post writer who is writing a story about older condos and especially the trend of buying and older condo and renovating it to today’s standards. Below is an email that I sent to the writer. I have no idea […]
The Residences of the Ritz Carlton was the first of what I like to call the ‘Big Four’ (5-star condo-hotels, the others being Trump, Shangri-La and of course the Four Seasons) to finish. This was a monumental event in the Toronto condo industry as it represents the first truly 5-star hotel to come to our […]
If you are a condo news junkie like me, you probably have been enjoying the past few months because the level of interest in the Toronto condo market appears to be at an all time high. The big boys of Canadian media: The Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and National Post all run stories about […]
There are starting to be signs that the condo market might be slowing down. I am seeing and hearing accounts of several newly released condo projects not getting near the sales numbers they were anticipating. But how can this be the case when just last month we saw near-record breaking sales happening at MEGA projects […]
There are two trends that condo buyers will want to keep an eye on in the next several years. 1. Disappearing Parking Spots. There are now countless buildings downtown that are under construction that will have multiple-times more units than parking spots available. RCMI Condos by Tribute is actually being built with no parking spots at […]
Top-5 Disadvantages of Living in a Brand New Condo
January 3, 2012 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
When I have my first conversation with a new buyer-client, I often hear them say, “I want something brand new, never lived in!”. While I can definitely resonate with the appeal of moving into a brand new space, there are some notable drawbacks with living in a brand new condo. Here are my top-5 Disadvantages […]
Read more
Toronto Condo Bubble About to Burst?
January 4, 2012 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
There seems to be a growing segment of the population and the media that feel that the condo market is about to see declining prices. I am getting more and more comments like, “I heard that prices are going to come down this year, so I’m going to wait until that happens then buy”. Based […]
Read more
Who is Buying All These Condos?
March 2, 2012 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
Right up there with ‘How’s the market?’ is the question, ‘Who is buying all these condos?’. I decided to tackle this question today with this blog post about the top-5 things to know about today’s pre-construction condo buyer. They are most likely Asian. This may sound strange but white people are not buying new condos. […]
Read more
Time to Rethink the Mega Tower?
March 4, 2012 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
Hong Kong Image courtesy of http://photoeverywhere.co.uk More and more people I talk to who are inside the condo industry have a growing apprehension towards the direction of condo development right now. Specifically they are worried about the long term impact of what I call the “Mega Tower”. I define a “Mega Tower” loosely as a […]
Read more
Buying an Older Condo In Toronto: Is it a Good Investment?
March 9, 2012 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
Harbour Square. built around 1980. Photo courtesy downtownphotos.ca I just got an email from a National Post writer who is writing a story about older condos and especially the trend of buying and older condo and renovating it to today’s standards. Below is an email that I sent to the writer. I have no idea […]
Read more
Ritz Carlton: Incredible Opportunity or Canary in the Coal Mine?
March 15, 2012 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
The Residences of the Ritz Carlton was the first of what I like to call the ‘Big Four’ (5-star condo-hotels, the others being Trump, Shangri-La and of course the Four Seasons) to finish. This was a monumental event in the Toronto condo industry as it represents the first truly 5-star hotel to come to our […]
Read more
Toronto: Ghost City
May 9, 2012 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
If you are a condo news junkie like me, you probably have been enjoying the past few months because the level of interest in the Toronto condo market appears to be at an all time high. The big boys of Canadian media: The Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and National Post all run stories about […]
Read more
Condo Market Showing Signs of Slowing?
April 25, 2012 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
There are starting to be signs that the condo market might be slowing down. I am seeing and hearing accounts of several newly released condo projects not getting near the sales numbers they were anticipating. But how can this be the case when just last month we saw near-record breaking sales happening at MEGA projects […]
Read more
Two Trends to Watch in the Toronto Condo Market
May 25, 2012 / by Andrew la Fleur / Insights
There are two trends that condo buyers will want to keep an eye on in the next several years. 1. Disappearing Parking Spots. There are now countless buildings downtown that are under construction that will have multiple-times more units than parking spots available. RCMI Condos by Tribute is actually being built with no parking spots at […]
Read more