Best Day Ever, Best Month Ever!

TORONTO , May 4, 2007 -- With 581 sales reported on April 30, the highest single day total ever documented, April's transactions reached an astounding 9,452, the best single-month total ever recorded, TREB President Dorothy Mason announced today. "The Greater Toronto Area's resale housing market has showed sustained strength and these phenomenal numbers bode well for the remainder of this year's spring market."

Average prices climbed three per cent in April, to $379,025 from last April's $366,683. "Despite the torrid sales pace," Ms. Mason said. "Overall price increases are holding at marginally above the inflation rate, which means that potential first-time buyers are not being pushed out of the market."

Breaking down the total, 3,591 sales were reported in TREB’s 28 West districts and averaged $351,415; 1,696 sales were reported in the 14 Central districts and averaged $517,418; 1,898 sales were reported in the 23 North districts and averaged $401,355; and 2,267 sales were reported in TREB’s 21 East districts and averaged $300,530.

Neighbourhood Corner

Markham
Markham (N01, N10,N11) has seen 1,433 sales during the first four months of this year for an average price of $417,818. This is up four per cent over the $403,229 recorded to the same period in 2006.

Source: Toronto Real Estate Board

Neighbourhoods to Watch – Niagara (in Toronto !)

Niagara is a growing vibrant downtown neighbourhood that runs from Bathurst to Shaw from east to west, and Queen and Wellington along the north/south. Convenient to the core of downtown and the Financial District, Niagara is popular among young urban professionals, especially those working in the creative, communications, technology and arts-related businesses that have established themselves in the area. The eclectic mix of clothing stores, book stores, art galleries, food markets and restaurants gives residents everything they need.

Niagara also has a local gathering place in Stanley Park with its own small community centre along with two baseball diamonds, two tennis courts, a soccer field, a small outdoor pool and a children’s playground. There is very easy highway and TTC access.

This neighbourhood has a growing number of condos, starting at $200,000 and upwards to luxury lofts, along with townhomes and detached homes typically ranging from $300,000 to $750,000.  For people wanting a truly urban lifestyle, the Niagara neighbourhood is definitely one to watch.

Remember - Toronto is a huge and rich city with hundreds of neighbourhoods to offer - some of them hidden gems. If you’re curious, call me – I love to explore!

Spring Checklist – in case you don’t have enough things on your “to do” list here are a few things to consider:

• Furnace and air-conditioning checked - change furnace filter
• Turn on outside water
• Have eaves checked and cleaned
• Add new soil to garden if needed
• Consider planting new shrubs and trees
• Refresh exterior trim as needed
• Check outdoor furniture – clean and update as needed
• Make sure you have a spare gas canister for your barbecue – or get a direct natural gas hook-up on your deck or patio
• Weed, seed and feed your lawn
• Clean exterior windows (better yet, have them cleaned by someone else!)

Here are a couple of home service providers for your “go to” list:

• Window and Eaves Cleaning – www.torontoclearview.com
• Carpet Cleaning - Healthy Home Carpet Care – 416.783-3434

If you need other contacts for home services, call me!

Overbooked?

It is said that people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime….and so do books. The only trouble is that many people hold on to books long after the season is over. They store and display books they have not touched or read in years…and probably never will. Books seem to be one of the hardest things for people to part with – it’s as though it feels disrespectful to discard a book.  But clearing out books can be done with care and respect, and is very freeing - for both you and the books! By all means, keep the books you love and connect to, hang on to those you need for reference, and even a few you still think you will read some day. But be honest about the books you have, and if you know you will really never read them again, liberate them to find a new home, and free your space and energy for new things to come in. You will be amazed at how good it feels.

Some ideas for clearing books:

• Pass good fiction on to family and friends
• Donate good books to a school fundraising sale
• Pass specialty books on to the public library or a school library
• Take boxes of books to Goodwill
• Put books out in front of your house for people to take for free
• If books are of low “pass along” value or out of date such as textbooks, just recycle them – not all books live forever

Forget the lawn sale – just give it away!

Spring is the season we love to clear things out, and start gathering things for the annual neighbourhood lawn sale. The trouble is, unless you are the rare exception, the thought of bartering on your front lawn is enough to stop you cold. This year, why not just give it away? Give your stash to a school for a fundraiser sale. Give it to charity. Put stuff on your lawn marked “free - take me” and watch out the window to see people’s delight at their good fortune.  Send an e-mail to people you know offering whatever you have for free. Do whatever suits you – but just give it away now. You will get pleasure and entertainment value more than what your yard sale would bring in, and you will feel good about it.

If you DO want to host a Yard Sale, may I suggest the Re/Max Yard Sale for the Cure on Saturday, May 26^th. Details are at www.yardsaleforthecure.com

Enjoy being a host this year!  

How many times have you hosted a party and realized you hardly spoke to your own guests because you were too busy in the kitchen? Or when have you decided not to have a party because it seemed like too much work? Here’s the solution - www.thebutlerdidit.ca. If you’re not going for full catering, get help with the serving and clean-up so you can enjoy your own party. The cost is reasonable (and for some of you tax-deductible!), so treat yourself – and your guests. If it’s a family gathering, people can share the cost so everyone can relax, and the work doesn’t fall on one or two people.

May is a good month to stay at home, work in the yard and get reacquainted with neighbours. But if you do feel like getting out, here is some of what’s going on in Toronto this month:

Santé: The Bloor-Yorkville Wine Festival – now to May 12
Various locations throughout the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood.
South Africa will be one of 14 countries showcasing its finest wines at the ninth annual Santé: The Bloor-Yorkville Wine Festival. Over 70 world-renowned wineries will be participating in the 2007 Festival, which organizers say will feature more high-profile events, including an exclusive Wines of South Africa celebration to be held at The Carlu and a unique blending of wine and music at the recently renovated Royal Ontario Museum . Tickets range from $20-$150 depending on the event. Ticket prices include all wine samples. www.santewinefestival.net

Fashion Cares - May 12
The Distillery Historic District -- 55 Mill St .
Since 1987, Fashion Cares has raised nearly $10 million dollars for the AIDS Committee of Toronto. As this annual event enters its third decade, expect plenty of new fashion, new faces and a fascinating new location. With more drama, more fabulous fashion and even more exceptional entertainment, this year's gala promises to be bigger and better than ever. www.fashioncares.com

Bird Watchers Flock to Toronto Zoo - May 12
Toronto Zoo -- Meadowvale Rd. (north of the Highway 401)
The Toronto Zoo is recognizing International Migratory Bird Day with the timely theme of “Birds in a Changing Climate”. The festivities include one and two hour birding tours from 8am to 3pm, special displays, and lots of conservation information. Regular admission applies: bird watching tours are $5.00 extra.  Pre-registration.

www.torontozoo.com

Cool Drummings International Percussion Festival - May 22 – 27
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts -- 27 Front St. East
Cool Drummings will feature some of the world’s greatest percussion ensembles and soloists. 9 concerts over 6 days will include Nexus, Autorickshaw, Beverley Johnson, Anne-Julie Caron ( Quebec ), Liam Teague (Trinidad & Tobago), Sal Ferreras, Tambuco ( Mexico ), Aiyun Huang, Ryan Scott and more. www.stlc.com  or www.soundstreams.ca

Doors Open Toronto   - May 26 & 27
Various locations throughout Toronto
Toronto Culture Division is proud to present the 8th annual Doors Open Toronto -- one weekend, once a year -- when over 140 buildings of architectural, historic or cultural significance open their doors to the public for a city-wide celebration.
www.doorsopen.org

Golf – get in the swing!
Check this golf guide of local courses.

For a complete listing of what’s going on in Toronto – restaurants, clubs, movies, theatre, music and special events - go to www.toronto.com