Donald A. Wilson SS from Whitby captures 2011 Metro Bowl football title.

Nov 30, 2011

The 30th annual Metro Bowl which took place on November 29th at the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto is already being heralded as one of the best high school football finals in recent memory. This championship game to determine football bragging rights for the Metro Toronto Area pitted Donald A. Wilson SS from Whitby in Durham Region against St. Andrew's College from Aurora in York Region. These two powerhouse football programs were ready and primed for a heavyweight tilt and the action did not disappoint the many screaming fans in attendance.

For the first time in the 30 year history of the Metro Bowl, the game went into overtime. Donald Wilson scored a touchdown on their opening drive in the extra frame, thanks to a marvelous pass and catch play between quarterback George Papadakos and Metro Bowl MVP Chivon Gallagher. St. Andrew's had a shot at extending the game. St. Andrew's quarterback Mark Sandell and receiver Jamal Kett, who were stalwarts for St. Andrews all game, connected on a third down play. But in shades of Friday Night Lights when the chains were brought out, St. Andrews was just a few inches short of the first down marker and the Donald Wilson celebration was on.

It was a valiant effort by St. Andrews College who were making their first Metro Bowl appearance, having previously won two Golden Horseshoe Bowls. For Donald Wilson it was sweet victory for their school that had tasted bitter defeat in the 2008 Metro Bowl final. Donald Wilson was a team laden with senior players who were simply not to be denied this time around. A special mention must be given to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) for organizing the Metro Bowl and the four other Ontario Bowl games played at the Rogers Centre earlier in the day. This football festival thoroughly entertained spectators throughout the day. All the student athletes from across the province are to be commended for their excellent seasons.

Willowdale Real Estate Update

Nov 27, 2011

Willowdale has enjoyed an extremely active real estate market in 2011 with 189 house sales, 109 condo townhome sales and a staggering 239 condominium apartment sales. Willowdale's central location along Yonge Street in the heart of North York has transformed this neighbourhood into a high density bustling city centre with a plethora of high-rise condominium buildings and neatly arranged condominium townhome communities lining the arterial streets that border this neighbourhood.

The original housing stock located on Willowdale's tree-lined interior streets are in great demand. Families are attracted to Willowdale because of the excellent schools, parks, shopping and convenient access to public transit. These families are competing for homes with builders who also recognize all the amenities Willowdale has to offer. The quaint original tudor and ranch-style bungalows, one-and-a-half-storey Cape Cod houses and Colonial Revival houses make great family homes. The builders however are attracted to the premium lots, with 40, 50 and 60 foot frontages. Depending on the street and the lot these original Willowdale houses can sell for between $500,000-$1,000,000.

Approximately 100 of the sales this year in Willowdale were brand new or recently built custom designed homes with a wide range of luxury features such as 10 foot ceiling on the main floor, solid mahogany front doors and stone front exteriors. Most of these houses include a two or three car garage. These luxury homes range in size from 4000-5000 square feet. Some are even larger around 6000 square feet. Depending on the age of the construction, the finishes, the lot size and the street, these houses are selling for between $1,200,000 and $2,400.000 million dollars.

The condo townhomes in Willowdale come in a variety of styles including: stacked townhomes, bungalow style and 2-storey. Prices range from $315,000 to just over $1,000,000. The median price for a Willowdale townhome is $470,000. The condominium apartment selection is vast with many new buildings featuring luxury amenities. The 1 bedroom units are currently selling for between $250,000-$350,000 and the 2 bedroom units - some of these include a den- sell for between $370,000-$1,100,000. The average price per square foot for a condominium apartment in Willowdale is typically $400-$500 per square foot. High-end new units in certain buildings with the best exposures and amenities can sell for more than $600 per square foot. Conversely units in older buildings can sell for less than the neighbourhood average.

The information shown here is complied from source data obtained from the Toronto Real Estate Board. It is presented here for information purpose only. All data are subject to updates and revisions. The author assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information shown.

Bayview Village Real Estate Update

Nov 24, 2011

Bayview Village is a neighbourhood on the rise literally; more on that later. But first let's start with the houses that line the winding curvi-linear streets and pretty culs-de-sac of this attractive North York neighbourhood. There have been 89 sales thus dar in 2011. Seventy-nine of these were detached houses and 10 were semi-detached houses and townhomes.

The semi-deatched houses and townhomes sell for between $550,000-$600,000. The detached homes will cost you alot more starting at $650,000. From there prices can skyward all the way up to $2 million dollars. The overall average sale price for houses in Bayview Village is currently $952,000. There are many different styles of houses available including: ranch-style bungalows, raised bungalows, split-level houses and back-split houses. There are also a growing number of new custom designed homes.

Bayview Village real estate is in great demand due to the outstanding amenities this neighbourhood has to offer. These selling points include: convenient access to the Sheppard subway line, excellent recreational amenities including easy access to the East Don Trails and conservation areas, the landmark YMCA at Bayview and Sheppard and the ever popular Bayview Village shopping centre which has a great selection of shops and restaurants as well as movie theatres and a library. Bayview Village also has an excellent selection of sought after schools including: Elkhorn Public School, Bayview Middle School and Earl Haig Secondary School.

From a real estate perspective the exceptionally large lots in the Bayview Village neighbourhood are highly coveted. These lots are 40', 50' and 60' feet wide and can even stretch to an expanse of 80' feet in some cases. Many of the lots are pie shaped due to the curvi-linear street pattern and the many culs-de-sac. This adds interest and great variety to the streetscape. A fair number of houses back onto ravine land which commands a premium for the beautiful vistas and privacy.

With so many positive attributes it is not surprising that Bayview Village houses are in great demand. The average days on the market for a home in this neighbourhood is just 10 days. These houses are snapped up quickly ! The list to sale price ratio is among the highest in the City at 106%. This either means the listing agents are listing too low to encourage multiple offers or there is simply great demand for the neighbourhood and not enough supply. Either way prices appear to be rising in this neighbourhood.

More than just real estate prices are rising in Bayview Village. This neighbourhood has seen a proliferation of iconic high-rise condominium buildings completed in the last few years. These condominiums are located along Sheppard Avenue. There have been over 200 condominium units sold already this year with the bulk of these occuring at the NY Towers condominium community across from the Bayview Village shopping centre, and at Shane Baghai's St. Gabriel Village.

The entry level price for a 1 bedroom Bayview Village condominium unit is around $300,000. The 2 bedroom units range from $350,000 all the way up to 1.4 million depending on the age of the condominium, the square footage and interior finishes of the unit, and the building amenities. The older condominium townhomes along Leslie Street provide the most affordable entry into the neighbourhood. These generally sell for between $250,000-$350,000.

There is no question that the new Sheppard subway line has greatly impacted development in this neighbourhood and contributed to its rapid growth and popularity. Many of the residential streets in Bayview Village are named after famous race horses. This seems appropriate as Bayview Village is quickly closing in on the ranks of becoming one of Toronto's most popular neighbourhoods.

Downtown Oakville Presents The Twelve Days of Christmas Contest

Nov 20, 2011

Counting down to Christmas has never been so much fun and rewarding! Downtown Oakville will be holding a very special Twelve Days of Christmas Contest in the spirit of the famous seasonal song. Starting on December 13th with daily prize draws until Christmas Eve, you could win one of twelve fabulous Grand Gift Bags, including a $2000 shopping spree!

Each Grand Gift Bag echoes the theme of the celebrated Christmas Carol. “On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a Partridge in a Pear Tree”, and the corresponding gift bag includes prizes from florists, landscapers and hair salons. Two Turtle Doves are represented by home décor, kitchen goods, interior design, photography and framing. Three French Hens contains gifts from butchers, gourmet food retailers, and other specialty shops. Four Calling Birds include travel services, gift shops, greeting cards, copying services and stationary.

Five Golden Rings is comprised of jewelry, fashion accessories, optical and eye care gifts. Six Geese-a-Laying includes baby food products, bakeries and patisseries. Seven Swans-a-Swimming will contain yoga, health and wellness, as well as beauty and spa gifts. Eight Maids-a-Milking brings treats from coffee shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs. Nine Ladies Dancing contain prizes from dance studios and women’s fashion. Ten Lords-a-Leaping will be full of running and athletic gear as well as men’s fashion gifts. Eleven Pipers Piping will include gifts from variety stores, cultural attractions, and art galleries and craft retailers. And the Grand Prize on the last day is celebrated by Twelve Drummers Drumming and a spectacular $2000 Shopping Spree courtesy of our friends from Mercedes-Benz Oakville!

Simply visit one of the participating Downtown Oakville retailers to fill out your ballot and deposit it into an official ballot box between November 18 and December 23, 2011, and you could win one of these fantastic Grand Gift Bags and celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas in style.

The Twelve Days of Christmas Contest is brought to you by the businesses and merchants of the Downtown Oakville Business Improvement Area (BIA) and Mercedes-Benz Oakville. The Downtown Oakville Business Improvement Area (BIA) was established in 1978 through an initiative of the local business community and with the approval of the local Municipal council. Today, the Downtown Oakville BIA represents over 450 shops and services.

Wanless Park Real Estate Update

Nov 19, 2011

It has been a busy 2011 for Wanless Park Real Estate agents with 63 home sales recorded so far this year. The median sale price in the neighbourhood is $1,000,000. The lofty prices can partly be attributed to the influx of new custom homes being built in the neighbourhood. These luxury houses range in price from 1.2 million to 2.5 million dollars. The exclusive pocket of houses east of Wanless Park are situated on wider lots. New custom homes in this part of the neighbourhood can command prices well in excess of 2.5 million.

If you are looking for a more affordable entry into Wanless Park then you might want to consider the following options: The average semi-detached home in this neighbourhood is currently selling for $690,000. Most of these houses have had some renovations and in many cases include at least one off-street parking space and a decent size backyard. Houses on the higher traffic arterial streets such as Mount Pleasant Road and Lawrence Avenue also tend to offer more affordable options. A small number of multi-plex houses also exist. These can offer additional income to help offset mortgage payments.

The Wanless Park neighbourhood is a very popular choice with young families. Bedford Park Public School has just recently transitioned from a JK-6 to a JK-8 school. This school building is the shared home of the Bedford Park Community Centre which offers a myriad of community programming including swim lessons. The Yonge and Lawrence subway, an excellent selection of shops and restaurants and the George Locke Public Library are all valued neighbourhood amenities.

Without question the most popular draw for homebuyers is Wanless Park itself, a beautiful recreational greenspace situated right in the middle of this neighbourhood. This park has an excellent children's playground, soccer field and baseball diamond, and an excellent public tennis club. Homes that face the park tend to command a premium as these homeowners enjoy beautiful vistas. The popularity of this neighbourhood is reflected in the fact that houses in this neighbourhood sold on average, in just 15 days and recorded a list to sale price ratio of 102% which is well above the city average of 98%.

CALVACADE OF LIGHTS: PRESENTED BY SCOTIABANK

Nov 18, 2011

On Saturday, November 26 at 7pm, Cavalcade of Lights a spectacular 45-year Toronto tradition presented by Scotiabank, returns to Nathan Phillips Square. The night will feature the lighting of the City of Toronto's official Christmas tree, fireworks and live musical performances by award-winning artists Jarvis Church, Kellylee Evans, JRDN, rising star Justin Hines and singer Victoria Duffield. The concert will be hosted by Citytv's very own Kevin Frankish and Flow 93.5's Jeni and culminates in a spectacular fireworks display at 8pm, followed by a skating party sponsored by Timothy's World Coffee on the Nathan Phillips Square rink. Meet champion figure skater and sports icon Jamie Salé at the Burt's Bees tent for autographs and pictures.

Throughout the holiday season, brilliant creations of light will beautify the city as neighbourhoods and tourist attractions participate in the Cavalcade of Lights festival.

Participating Neighbourhoods

Albion Village BIA

Bloor Yorkville BIA

Bloor West Village

Church Wellesley Village BIA

Chaplin Estates Real Estate Update

Nov 17, 2011

Chaplin Estates has recorded 40 sales thus far in 2011. This is definitely one of the preferred destination neighbourhoods for corporate executives which is reflected in the average sale price of $1,061,000. The vast majority of these sales were detached houses that also included a handful of multi-plex homes. Entry level homes in Chaplin Estates start around $785,000 however there are very few of these opportunities except on the busier streets. Prices rise sharply from there with 26 houses selling for $900,000 or more and 19 sales topping the one million dollar mark.

Chaplin Estates has many fine attributes that have made it one of Toronto's most coveted neighbourhoods. Residents enjoy convenient access to the Davisville and the Eglinton subway stations. Oriole Park situated at the sound end of this neighbourhood is a wonderful greenspace that has recently been revitalized with a new design and playground. The Kay Gardiner Beltline Trail skirts this park and provides access to a myriad of recreational opportunities.. The Eglinton Way shopping area and the Yonge and Eglinton area both include an excellent selection of shops and restaurants. Oriole Park Junior Public School and nearby private schools attract alot of families to this neighbourhood.

The architecture in Chaplin Estates is outstanding. In particular I am referring specifically to the original housing stock which consists of beautiful Georgian, Tudor, Carftsman and English Cottage styles. The original developers of Chaplin Estates had strict building codes that insured these houses would be of the highest quality. For example stucco finish was intended as an accent only and not to cover more than half of the house. While this bylaw is no longer in effect, predominantly brick and stone houses are still the preferred choice among homebuyers and generally command the highest prices.

Chaplin Estates popularity with homebuyers is readily apparent when you take a look at the list to sale price ratio for sales in this neighbourhood which this year stands at 102%. The Toronto Real Estate Board average is 98%. Further the average total days on the market for a Chaplin Estates home this year is just 14 days. Back in 1913, Chaplin Estates lots sold for between $500-$9,000. William John Chaplin and his son James D. Chaplin would be astounded to see how their development has grown.

Deer Park Real Estate Update

Nov 16, 2011

The Deer Park neighbourhood has recorded 30 house sales to date in 2011. The median sale price of these homes was $1,345,000. Particularly noteworthy is that these homes sold for an average list to sale price ratio of 102% whereas the Toronto Real Estate Board average typically hovers around 98%. The average days on the market for a Deer Park home was just 24 days.

A further analysis of these Deer Park sales reveals that 18 sales were detached houses - two of these were multi-plex dwellings - and 12 sales were semi-detached houses or townhomes. The starting price for a house in Deer Park is approximately $800,000. This will buy you a small entry level house that will likely require some updating. At the other end of the scale many of the grand old Deer Park houses and the new custom finished townhomes sell for well over the average neighbourhood price of $1,354,000.

Deer Park also offers homebuyers one of the finest collection of condominium apartment buildings in Toronto. There have been 70 condominium units sold in Deer Park this year. Signature condo buildings in Deer Park include: Granite Place, Park Avenue, 10 Delisle, 33 Delisle, Avoca Vale, One Balmoral, 5 Rosehill and the Westclair. In addition to condominium buildings there is also the popular Avoca co-op apartment buildings on Rosehill Avenue that look out over David Balfour Park and the Rosehill Reservoir.

The 1 bedroom apartments in Deer Park have been selling for between $340,000-$425,000. The 1+1 bedroom apartments are currently selling for between $425,000-$550,000. The 2 bedroom apartments start at $450,000 but in the newer buildings with the nicer finishes, the starting price is closer to $650,000 and goes upwards of one million dollars. The 2+1 Bedroom condo units (the plus being a den) are generally 1100 square feet or larger. These start at $725,000 and can can soar to well over 2 million dollars. You will find a very limited number of 3 bedroom units but only at the very top end of the price scale.

Deer Park really has alot going for it. This is a convenient midtown location with plenty of shopping and restaurants and easy access to public transit. There is also an abundance of parkland within short walking distance that offers a myriad of recreational opportunities. Excellent public and private schools are just steps away. The housing stock is among the most varied of any Toronto neighbourhood with new townhomes and elegant older houses integrated seamlessly together with new condominiums and older apartment buildings. Deer Park sounds idyllic and in this case the name fits.

Cabbagetown Real Estate Update

Nov 14, 2011

Cabbagetown is recognized for having one of the largest collection of Victorian homes of any neighbourhood in North America. These heritage homes have stood the test of time and are more popular than ever. While not all the homes in Cabbagetown are Victorian, most would fit this description with long and slender brick exteriors capped by a sharply pointed front gabled roof. These gables are decorated with ornate wood trim that gives these homnes a whimsical appeal.

Sixty-one Cabbagetown houses sold to date in 2011. Six of these were detached houses while the vast majority of home sales were semi-detached houses or row townhouses. The median price for all these sales was $760,000 while the average price was $864,000. These houses were on the market for an average of just 17 days. There were 27 sales that sold at or above asking price reflecting the huge popularity of this historic downtown Toronto neighbourhood.

Cabbagetown is designated as a Heritage Conservation District which ensures that the architectural integrity of these homes will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.The Cabbagetown Preservation Association holds an annual Restoration Award Competition and also recognizes one resident each year for a "garden of merit" award. There is certainly a great deal of pride of ownership among Cabbagetown homeowners and it shows in the lovingly maintained houses and beautiful gardens that combine to form one of the prettiest streetscapes of any Toronto neighbourhood.

Liberty Village Real Estate Update

Nov 12, 2011

Liberty Village has emerged in recent years as one of Toronto's fastest growing and most vibrant neighbourhoods. The demand for real estate in this neighbourhood stems mostly from young professionals looking to purchase their first home. These buyers are attracted to the hard loft conversion of old buildings in the neighbourhood that are retro cool and have catchy names such as: Toy Factory Lofts, Electra Lofts, Candy Factory Lofts and Gotham Lofts. There is also a myriad of shiny new condominium buildings that dot the Liberty Village landscape. Pockets of new condominium townhomes are also part of this housing mix.

The bulk of Liberty Village sales this year took place under $500,000. There was a frenzy of first time buyer activity in this price range with an amazing 176 sales tallied under the $500,000 mark. Starting in the low $200,000s you can scoop up a bachelor apartment in this neighbourhood. Just be sure to bring your Murphy bed as space will be at a premium. Getting serious if your looking for a 1 bedroom unit, then you better get financing for a purchase somewhere between $250,000-$370,000 because that is what the 1 bedroom units are selling for. If your purchase is under $300,000 chances are you may not have parking. Hey your downtown. Who needs a car.

Without question the affordable real estate is a big drawing card for this neighbourhood; however the area amenities are also an attraction. A variety of shops and restaurants are located in and around the Liberty Market Building on East Liberty Street. Nearby; both King Street and Queen Street West offer many great restaurants as well as hip and trendy shops. Some of the best furniture stores in Toronto are located in this area so furnishing your new home should be easy. Liberty Village residents enjoy easy access to Toronto's waterfront recreational activities. The nightlife is also excellent with Toronto's entertainment district within walking distance.

Expect to pay somewhere between $450-$550 per square foot for an entry level condo depending on the finishes, the view, the building amenities and whether or not parking is included. It is not uncommon for these units to be snapped up in less than a week so it is imperative that you work with a real estate agent who will alert you to any new opportunities when they come on the market. Expect higher square footage prices with the larger 2 bedroom units above $500,000. Prices in the $550-$600 per square foot range are not uncommon. Typically, these larger units take two to three weeks to sell so you will have more time to arrange financing options.

It is worth noting that while Liberty Village is known for its affordable real estate there were also 59 sales recorded so far this year in excess of $500,000. There were 14 townhomes included in this total, that sold for between $550,000-$650,000. These townhomes are 2 or 3 storey, typically with 3 bedrooms and 3 washrooms. This year some new benchmarks have been achieved with 6 condos selling in excess of $700,000. Two of these sales were for over one million dollars. Lofty heights indeed for a neighbourhood definitely on the rise.