Topham Park is a Toronto neighbourgood seemingly untouched by the hands of time. The quaint saltbox style homes built in the 1940s, are shaded by a mature tree canopy that lines the quiet streets of this East York neighbourhood. Topham Park was conceived as a Wartime Housing development that at the outset was given the nickname "Sunshine Valley", and then later renamed Topham Park in honour of Frederick Topham, a Victoria Cross recipient who once lived in this neighbourhood. Today, this neighbourhood has become a Toronto hot spot for families looking for real estate value within a half hour commute of downtown Toronto. 

In the past 12 months there have been 52 houses sold in Topham Park. The average sale price of $425,000 is affordable by Toronto standards. The growing popularity with homebuyers saw these houses sell on average in just 15 days. The average list to sale price ratio was 101% which meant there were multiple offers on many of these sales. The houses here are all well maintained and many have been nicely renovated. All the housing stock in Topham Park is detached. The bungalow and one-and-a-half storey houses sell for between $320,000-$500,000. The 2-storey homes sell in the $485,000-$860,000 price range.

TorontoneighbourhoodGuide.com real estate sponsors Anne Balkou and Guido Perciasepe Broker/Sales representative, Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage provide the following insight: "Topham Park really is a small village within a big city. With the park at the heart where neighbours gather to watch the kids in the splash pond, have a game of tennis or play in the sports field it really has an old-fashion appeal to families young and old. There are 3 schools and 2 churches and you never have to leave the boundaries of Topham Park or cross a busy street to get to them".

Toronto homebuyers working downtown will definitely want to check out this neighbourhood. Balkou and Perciasepe point out:  "Topham Park is a nice quiet neighbourhood, totally self-contained by 3 major roads (Victoria Park, St. Clair and O’Connor). It’s has easy access to the DVP and you can catch the TTC from over 10 different bus routes that go past it’s perimeter. You can be downtown or uptown in no time".

In addition to excellent value for your real estate dollar the Topham Park neighbourhood offers convenient access to shopping and public transit as well as an excellent selection of schools. The neighbourhood recreational hub also referred to as Topham Park, located in the centre of this neighbourhood, features a baseball diamond that is the home field for men's, ladies' and children's softball leagues. This park also has two tennis courts, a clubhouse, and a children's playground. In the wintertime, Topham Park has an outdoor natural ice rink that is used for pleasure skating and hockey. Recreational programs for the public are also held at Selwyn School located at 1 Selwyn Avenue. With so many fabulous amenities for families it is no wonder that the Topham Park neighbourhood is in such great demand with homebuyers.

For prospective Topham Park homebuyers Balkou and Perciasepe explain: "the housing stock in Topham Park is a mix of bungalows, one & a half storeys, and new construction with very few listings at any given time making it still a sellers’ market. People who move here rarely move out. It is a gem of a neighbourhood and one of Toronto ’s best kept secrets".

** Anne Balkou, Broker and Guido Perciasepe, Sales Representative with Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage are the TorontoNeighbourhoodGuide.com real estate sponsors for the Topham Park neighbourhood. Anne and Guido can be contacted at their email: abalkou@bell.net and gperciasepe@trebnet.com or direct 416-358-5511 (Anne), 416-543-4998 (Guido) or through their office 416-481-6137

(C) www.TorontoNeighbourhoodGuide.com

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

Hiilcrest Village is a family oriented midtown Toronto neighbourhood in great demand with homebuyers. It is affordable by midtown standards and the neighbourhood amenities are superb. Some of these neighbourhood attractions include Hillcrest Public School, Hillcrest Park, and the landmark Wychwood Barns which hosts many artistic and cultural events as well as a popular Farmers' market that is open year round. The Hillcrest Community Centre and Wychwood Public Library are also neighbourhood landmarks. 

The TorontoNeighbourhoodGuide.com real estate sponsors for this neighbourhood are Michael Loewith and Jennifer Greenberg, Sales Representatives with Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd. For prospective homebuyers in this neighbourhood Loewith and Greenberg point out: "The housing market in Hillcrest is strong. As with many neighbourhoods in and around the City core, Hillcrest has become a destination for the young professional couple. With its ease of transport to and from downtown and all the major highways, Hillcrest has become a neighbourhood on the rise. With the influx of young families moving and renovating homes, Hillcrest has enjoyed a cultural, social and commercial revitalization.

In the last 12 months fifty Hillcrest Village houses were sold. These sales ranged from an entry level price of $400,000 to all the way over $1.2 million. The average price of a house in this neighbourhood is currently $638,000. House sales under the neighbourhood average consisted mostly of semi-detached starter homes on narrow lots. Most of these homes do not have driveways, however parking is quite often available off a laneway at the rear of the property. Detached houses start in the $700,000 range. These are architecturally whimsical two and three storey houses with pretty front porches and street facing roof gables with inset dormer accents.

Loewith and Greenberg attribute the surge in real estate in Hillcrest to the following: "People are choosing Hillcrest as their home for many reasons. Location as we all know in real estate is key. Hillcrest is situated 10 mins from downtown and the 401. Today, Hillcrest has become a destination and cultural centre providing, great new shops and restaurants, leading edge schools, and its thriving arts community and weekend farmers market.

Hillcrest Village real estate is poised to take off with the recent completion of the St. Clair streetcar line which has helped to revitalize this entire area. Many excellent restaurants and retail shops have recently moved into the area. The growing popularity of this neighbourhood is evidenced by the fact that houses in Hillcrest Village have been selling on avaerage in just 14 days and the list to sale price ratio achieved on these sales has been an impressive 103%. 

Loewith and Greenberg add: "The social hub of the Hillcrest neighbourhood has become The Artscape Wychwood Barns or (The Barns). The huge repurposed barns cover a massive 5,574 square meters (60,000 square feet!) and house space for artists, public green areas, a conservatory, and a must visit weekend farmer's market. Located within blocks of several “destination” restaurants, shops, and the St Clair street car, The Barns has become not only a weekend hot spot, but a cultural and social meeting place for the community".

With so many great amenities and a prime midtown location it is no wonder that this neighbourhood has emerged as a hot spot for Toronto homebuyers looking for value close to the downtown core. 

(c) www.TorontoNeighbourhoodGuide.com

* Michael Loewith and Jennifer Greenberg sales representatives with Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd. are the TorontoNeighbourhoodGuide.com real estate sponsors for the Hillcrest Village neighbourhood. Michael and Jennifer can be contacted at their email: m@loewithgreenberg.com or direct 416-857-2697 or through their office 416-441-2888

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.

Markland Wood is a quiet family oriented neighbourhood surrounded by parkland and a golf course. The streets are curvi-linear with many quiet crescents. The housing stock was built in the 1960s. The first Markland Wood resident paid approximately $26,000 for their home. Today the average sale price of a home in Markland Wood is $749,000. Local real estate expert Marti Philp of Re/Max Professionals Inc., explains: "Markland Wood is a community that was built in the early 60's with the first people to purchase in the area being young families who have nurtured a strong sense of community right from the start. The schools, churches, shopping, transit and Markland Wood Golf Club all have worked to make this a close knit family. New Homebuyers are usually aware of this and want to be a part of that tradition for themselves and their children.

A strong neighbourhood real estate market needs a strong foundation and a pride of ownership from its residents and Markland Wood certainly has these qualities. As Philp points out: "Markland Wood has one of the strongest home owner associations in the GTA. The association has been in existence for over 50 years and in 2010 won the Community Heritage Award. The "Circle of Friends" motif that is displayed on signage on Bloor Street defines what this neighbourhood believes in. Every year, there are traditional acitivities such as The Christmas Caravan (past 44 years), The May Garage Sale Weekend, The Annual Fun Fair, Socials and other charitable or educational activities (including scholarships for area children). There is something for everyone.

The houses in Markland Wood consist of ranch-style bunglaows and split-level homes. These are mostly 3 bedrooms. There is also a large selection of 2-storey houses with 4 and 5 bedrooms. The bungalow and split-level houses range in price from $600,000-$800,000. The 2-storey houses start at $800,000 with some of these now selling for just over one million dollars. If you want to buy a home in Markland Wood Philp offers this advice: "As Markland Wood is still a very strong family oriented neighbourhood, most sales occur during the winter and spring months, with moving taking place during the summer months to coincide with the school year. Of course, this is not always the case and houses are bought and sold at all times of the year.

Markland Wood houses are all detached with two-car garages either built-in or attached to the houses. These homes are situated on well treed lots with expansive frontages that average 50-55 feet. Premium lots in Markland Wood have 60-70 feet of frontage. Many of these houses have a small recessed front porch or portico entranceway with pretty vistas looking out to tree-lined streets and manicured gardens.  

The beautiful setting and nice selection of homes together with great schools, parks, and access to shopping and public transit have made Markland Wood a popular choice for Toronto homebuyers. There have been 42 sales recored thus far in 2011. These homes have sold on average for 100% of asking price and have taken on average just 16 days to sell. Philp points out that "Markland Wood is a very desirable location and homes on the market do not usually last too long, making it a sellers market but pricing and strategies are still important to making a successful sale wherever a home is located".

(c) www.TorontoNeighbourhoodGuide.com

* Marti Philp sales representative with Re/Max Professionals Inc is the TorontoNeighbourhoodGuide.com real estate sponsor for the Markland Wood neighbourhood. Marti Philp can be contacted at her email: marti@martiphilp.com or direct 416-716-8326 or through her office 416-232-9000

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.

BIXI Winter Warrior Contest

This winter, using BIXI Toronto could be rewarding! From January 1st to March 31st, 2012, each time you use a BIXI bike will count for the Winter Warrior Contest. On April 5th, 2012, a top 5 members with the most kilometers, will win great prizes.

For details visit BIXI Toronto

The new Skate Pavilion and Food Concession building in Nathan Phillips Square officially opened with the beginning of the skating season. It's the third element of the Nathan Phillips Square Revitalization project to be completed (the new City Hall Podium Green Roof and upgrades to the existing children's playground were the first two). The building features new skate rental and change room spaces to serve the public, new public washrooms, rink support facilities and a roof terrace where the public can take in the panoramic view of the square. The food concession space will be outfitted to offer snack foods later this year.

Residents in the city of Toronto who live on or near ravines and forests (typical coyote habitat) should expect to have more coyote sightings during winter months. 

Coyotes have become a natural part of the urban landscape in Toronto. They can thrive in urban areas because of the abundance of food and shelter available to them. 

Residents can expect to see coyotes more often in winter for the following reasons:
• It is easier to spot coyotes in parks and ravines in the winter because they are not hidden by foliage. 
• Coyotes are wary by nature and are more comfortable roaming in residential neighbourhoods when fewer people are outside. 
• The months of January and February are mating season for coyotes, which means coyotes are more active during this time, making them more visible. 

Coyotes may approach pets that are not supervised, especially cats and small dogs. It is always a good idea to keep an eye on your pet while they are outside. It is very unlikely that a coyote will be attracted to a child; however, close supervision of children is also important. 

Residents are advised to follow these practical steps that will help to minimize negative encounters with coyotes:
• Never feed a coyote or any wild animal. Feeding wild animals is detrimental to the community and to the animals themselves.
• Do not feed domestic pets outside.
• Ensure all household garbage is inaccessible to animals.
• Place garbage at the curb the morning of the scheduled pick-up.
• Consider using green bins instead of composters for food waste.
• Always supervise pets - keep dogs on a leash and cats indoors or supervised while outside. 
• Remove dense brush and weeds around property to minimize hiding spots for coyotes.
• If you encounter a coyote, wave your arms aggressively, make loud noises, and throw objects in its direction (but not at it) to scare it away. These actions teach coyotes to be afraid of humans and this will minimize conflicts. If these actions do not scare a coyote, back away slowly from the animal. Do not turn your back or attempt to run away. 

In this last scenario, if the coyote is not scared away, please call Toronto Animal Services, through 311. There is no need to call if you simply spot a coyote exhibiting its normal behaviour.

If every member of the community commits to following these steps, we will experience fewer negative encounters with coyotes in Toronto.

For more information, call 311 or visit http://www.toronto.ca/animal_services/coyote.htm 

The following photos are credited to a very talented photographer named Tony Pus. They were taken in High Park. Yes, there are Coyotes in High Park. Tony has a wonderful knack for capturing wildlife photos in our great city. 

Scotiabank GTHL Top Prospects Game.

The Greater Toronto Hockey League's top 15-year olds put on a show last evening at Herbert Carnegie Centennial Centre in the 3rd Annual Scotiabank GTHL Top Prospects Game.
Team Clark put on an offensice display on their way to a 9-2 victory over Team Kypreos, giving Wendel Clark his first Scotiabank GTHL Top Prospects Game win in his third attempt. For complete game stats click here. Don Cherry was on hand to present the MVP awards to Dante Salituro from Team Clark and Sam Bennett from Team Kypreos.
The game was broadcast on Rogers TV cable 10/63 in Toronto/Scarborough and will air on Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 8:00 pm.

Celebrity Head Coaches for this season’s event were former Toronto Maple Leaf captain Wendel Clark, who returned for his third appearance, versus former Toronto Maple Leaf and current Sportsnet hockey analyst Nick Kypreos.

Founded in 1911, the Greater Toronto Hockey League is a non-profit organization and is the largest amateur minor hockey league in the World.  There are over 40,000 participants registered annually in the GTHL.  GTHL jurisdiction spans Toronto, North York, Scarborough, Vaughan, and Markham and includes players ranging from the ages of 4-20.

You Are Invited...  The Village of Islington has just printed a self-guided walking tour of Toronto's Village of Murals. These ARTWALK brochures are available in local shops. This five-block walk showcases over 20 of Toronto's most beautiful fine art murals nestled among Islington Village sidewalk cafés, coffee houses, shops, pubs, restaurants and services. A great way to spend an hour or so learning about local history and getting some fresh air and exercise at the same time. You can view some of the Islington Village wall murals on the TorontoNeighbourhoodGuide.com website or by visiting the Village of Islington BIA website where you can download their wall mural walking tour brochure.

Guildwood Village is a beautiful family oriented neighbourhood located along the Scarborough waterfront near the landmark Scarborough Bluffs. From the minute you enter the stone gates off Kingston Road with the Guild Inn signage and begin a descent into what appears to be a sleepy hollow you know you have entered upon a special place. Bordered by a ravine on one side and the waters of Lake Ontario on the other side this is not an easy neighbourhood to stumble upon. However, judging by the 46 home sales that were recorded on Toronto MLS in Guildwood Village in 2011, word is spreading that this hidden jewel offers excellent value for Toronto homebuyers.

"People buy in the Guild because it is a great 'classic' family neighbourhood, while close enough to downtown to be convenient but far enough away to have preserved that small town feeling", says Kim Nilsson, Broker, Royal LePage Signature Realty. Nilsson adds: "The unique setting of the Village, atop the Scarborough Bluffs, overlooking Lake Ontario is a major feature of living in the Guild.  Fantastic views, walking trails and the slighter cooler in summer and warmer in winter temperatures are adored by the residents!".

The average sale price of a home in Guildwood Village is a very reasonable $507,000. These houses take on average just 17 days to sell and have an average list to sale price ratio of 99%. These sales included a mix of housing styles including: bungalows, split level houses and detached 2-storey houses. Most Guildwood Village homes are situated on large lots with nice perennial gardens and include either a garage or car port. The streets are quiet and lined with trees. The more expensive houses afford homeowners nice vistas of Lake Ontario and the Scarborough Bluffs. 

For homebuyers looking to buy into this neighbourhood Nilsson offers the following advice: "It is a seller's market in Guildwood and has been for quite a while.  Upwardly mobile families want to get into the neighbourhood but seniors are not in a hurry to leave and many have lived here for over 45 years.  A lot of the homes are bungalows or ranch bungalows which means the original residents don't need to move!  Many of the streets don't have sidewalks so snow removal isn't a big issue either.  When homes do become available, a buyer needs to be working with a realtor who can keep them informed right away so that they have an opportunity to get into the house quickly. Due to the family-centric character of the buyers who are waiting to come here, many buyers try to purchase in the spring and summer so they can get their children into the very well regarded schools in September. However, or course there are sales going on at all times of year".

Kim Nilsson is the TorontoNeighbourhoodGuide.com real estate sponsor for Guildwood Village. Kim can be reached at Royal LePage Signature Realty 416-443-0300 or cell 647-401-4740 or by email: knilsson@royallepage.ca

(C) www.TorontoNeighbourhoodGuide.com

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.

Canada's World Junior Hockey Team is off to an excellent start in this years tournament held jointly at venues in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta. The team has just completed the preliminary round and gone undefeated. They now begin gearing up for the semi-finals with their focus squarely on capturing a gold medal for Canada. This years squad features seven players from the Greater Toronto Area.

The GTA players include: goaltender Mark Visentin from Waterdown, goaltender Scott Wedgewood from Brampton, defenceman Jamie Olesiak from Toronto, defenceman Dougie Hamilton from Toronto, forward Freddie Hamilton from Toronto, forward Ryan Strome from Mississauga, and forward Devonte Smith-Pelly who also serves as an assistant captain. Canada's semi-final match is scheduled for January 3 with the opponent yet to be determined as of this blog entry. For up to date scores and information visit www.hockeycanada.ca