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Maximize
your style
Is a
townhouse
right for
you?
Strategies
for selling
your home
now
Condo
features
that
never go
out of
style
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Interior Design by Brian Gluckstein Design Planning
See sales representative for details. Prices and specifications are subject to change. E.&O.E. September 2015.
YO R K V I L L E
Introducing
Five Spectacular
Townhomes
in the Heart
of Yorkville.
5
ONLY
Discover a stunning new collection of
luxurious townhomes steps to the city’s most
fashionable shopping, dining and culture.
Situated at Avenue Road and Davenport,
these five townhomes sit at the very
apex of the city’s two most commanding
neighbourhoods; Yorkville and The Annex.
Townhome residences
starting at $2.495 million
By appointment only.
416.323.0100
Presentation Gallery
& Model located at
127 Pears Avenue
just west of Avenue Rd.
menkes.com
4
REAL ESTATE COLLECTION
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This content was produced
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The Globe’s editorial
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18
With developments that are steps to light rail, like Aspen Ridge’s Chelsea Maple Station in Vaughan,
there’s no compromise when you choose to live away from downtown.
Does any season evoke images of
home more than autumn? Think of
piles of fallen leaves, glowing flames
in the fireplace, and hearty comfort
food on the table.
In this issue we look at the
advantages of listing your home
at this time of year, explore
condominium features that never go
out of style and offer up smart décor
and design options.
We also look at what draws us to a
new home, be it detached, a condo
or townhome. For some of us it’s
proximity to water or the countryside.
For others, it’s a quiet place to read a
book or entertain friends.
So with summer in the rear view
and winter on the horizon, it’s time
to embrace the comforts of fall while
you fire up your own search for your
new home.
contents
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
Condo features that never go out of style
Modern luxury with a splash of cozy
Is a townhouse your next best move?
Weather’s cooling off but the housing market isn’t
Maximize your style
No-fail sales strategies for fall and winter
Just a train ride away
The sweet spot between city and cottage
Building on excellence
COVER PHOTO: The Annex’s urban sophistication and
Yorkville’s easy glam meet at Pears on The Avenue.
A Bespoke collection
of sixty-five signature
townhome manors
Call Mississauga Road, one of Canada’s
most prestigious lanes, home.
Introducing Heritage Gate, a bespoke
collection of signature townhome
manors designed to exude elegance,
sophistication and heightened luxury.
Surrounded by million dollar estates
and close to the urban excitement of
Sawmill Valley and Streetsville, this
master planned community will boast
outstanding features, including stainless
steel appliances and soaring 9’6”
ceilings. Relish in the best of both worlds
at Heritage Gate.
NEW-WORLD
LUXURY,
OLD-WORLD
PRESTIGE.
Move in this fall
Luxury Town Manors
1,500 to 2,800 sq. ft.
Starting from the low $700’s
Sales Centre
190 Queen St. South, Streetsville, ON
By Appointment Only,
Weekends & Holidays 12 – 5 pm
416.236.9800 I [email protected]
dunparhomes.com
6
REAL ESTATE COLLECTION
SPONSOR CONTENT
Condo features that never go out of style
Experts share tips on avoiding fad-filled developments
Ever hear of a condo with an in-house
shoe shinery? How about a cat cuddle
room to alleviate stress or a timeshare
in the Barbados? These days, it’s hard to
separate condo fact from fiction when
it comes to amenities and features.
A recent condo in Brooklyn, New
York included a wine tasting bar as
part of its amenities package. A luxury
Manhattan condo currently in the works
is advertising a Turkish bath — also
known as a hamam —to satisfy the
well-heeled owner who has everything.
This practice of creative condo
amenities isn’t new. In the early 1980s, a
luxury downtown Toronto condominium
called The Bentley gifted purchasers
with a lifetime membership to the Rockley Resort, a timeshare in Barbados.
While a Caribbean escape may sound
enticing with our wind-chill winters,
amenity trends can quickly become dated. Condo features from even a decade
ago, such as golf simulators, business
centres and single-lane bowling alleys,
may seem laughable today, but they
once had buyers lining up in droves.
So when you’re buying how can
you tell which features will last?
FOCUS ON THE CLASSICS
Sam Crignano, founding partner and
president of Cityzen Developments,
the firm responsible for the Pier 27
condo project at the foot of Yonge
Street, says people lose interest in
fads. Instead, classic features, such as a
swimming pool, carry greater longevity and better value for your buck.
A pad to put up your visiting
inlaws is good too. “Guest suites are
popular and are booked frequently,”
Mr. Crignano says. “Also theatre and
party rooms are always in demand.”
One element driving the condo
amenity craze is buyers’ changing
expectations. While marble or granite
countertops were once an upgrade,
they’re considered a standard feature
today. Forget about offering purchasers anything less than nine-foot
ceilings; at the first two phases of Pier
27, 10 foot-ceiling heights are standard. At The Davies, a condo in preconstruction by Brandy Lane Homes
nestled between Forest Hill and the
Annex, the ceiling heights are 9 feet.
And in years past, you’d have been
specialties include luxury hotels and
premium residential projects. The
Davies’ elegant spaces are by Lukas Design Interiors. Both projects also have indoor gyms.
Clockwise from top: The timeless allure of a condo pool, as seen with Pier 27. The eye-catching
exterior of Pier 27; its open, modern gym. The natural oasis of a rooftop reading garden will be part
of The Davies.
lucky if your condo party room had a
foosball table, microwave, and hand-medown furniture from residents. So developers are upping their game. At The
Davies, its Avenue Room party space
features a full catering kitchen adjacent
to an intimate lounge space and dining
area, as well as a conference room.
So what else is guaranteed to
never go out of style? Well, even if
it’s just to work off that Christmas
turkey, an indoor gym is something
almost every resident will use at
one time or another. A luxurious
lobby, if the design is understated,
will hold its wow-factor for decades.
Pier 27’s interiors are by Studio
Munge, an interior design firm whose
THINK GREEN SPACE
While Pier 27 (third phase under
construction) enjoys a never-ending
vista of Lake Ontario, private outdoor
space, even if it takes the form of a
Juliet balcony, is a plus. If you’re lucky
enough to buy in a building adjacent
to a protected green space, that’s as
good as money in the bank. The Davies, at Avenue Road and Cottingham
Street, overlooks Robertson Davies
Park. It also boasts a rooftop lounge
with an outdoor reading garden.
Reading gardens may seem like a
niche feature, but in a city of readers — the Toronto Public Library
has the highest per capita circulation
of any library system in the world
— this has widespread appeal.
BALANCE FUTURE WITH FUN
It’s also important to think about the
future of technology. Fiber optics connectivity and a video game room may
seem state of the art today, but these
futuristic features can become a relic
of the past far too quickly. Instead,
look for non-niche technology items
that have a greater impact on society,
such as the electric car: At The Davies,
each resident’s parking spot will have
an individually-metered, 110V power
outlet, ideal for recharging your Prius or
plugging in a vacuum for a quick tidy.
In her bestseller, French Women
Don’t Get Fat, author Mireille Guiliano
says: “Learn to say no, with an eye to
saying yes to something else.” Sage
advice, since this doesn’t apply just
to French food, it applies to condo
buyers. It’s human nature to want
the newest, biggest, or trendiest,
but it’s healthier for one’s return-oninvestment to remember to balance
the obviously trendy with the timeless. In fact, when buying a condo, try
to adhere to a 70/30 ratio: Choose 70
percent timeless features, and indulge
in 30 percent for trendy features.
Besides, isn’t it more fun to keep
the wine tasting at the winery and
the cat cuddling to the living room?
8
REAL ESTATE COLLECTION
SPONSOR CONTENT
Modern
luxury
with a
splash
of cozy
Designer Brian
Gluckstein adds
bright, elegant
touch to the
Pears on the Avenue
townhouses
If there’s one word to describe the five
new townhouses situated near the
corner of Toronto’s Avenue Road and
Davenport it’s this: bright.
As part of the exclusive Pears on the
Avenue condominium development –
named not for the fruit, but its location
on residential Pears Avenue – the
townhouses perfectly encapsulate the
personalities of the Annex and Yorkville
neighbourhoods they border. Think
intellectual elegance combined with a
healthy dose of glitz.
That sense of smart and sophisticated luxury is exactly the tone designer
Brian Gluckstein wanted to achieve
when he embarked on the project –
planning the 2,800-square-foot living
space, choosing the finishes and even
decorating the model home. Recognized nationally as Canadian House &
Home’s favourite interior designer, Mr.
Gluckstein has created three levels of
airy and light-filled space as ideal for
curling up with a book in front of the
fireplace as hosting a decadent dinner
party for 12.
“The idea was to have these great
open spaces ideal for entertaining,”
explains Mr. Gluckstein. “There’s a
sense of what I call modern luxury in
this house.”
Design details of Pears on the Avenue townhomes flow from the foyer and dining area, top, to the
sleek full-sized kitchen, above right, and spacious balcony.
Creating this space has meant building a large and open foyer separated
from the kitchen by a modern brass
screen. The adjoining living room, dining room and full-scale kitchen all benefit from the ample light that shines in
from multiple sides of the house. Clever
use of glass and layout on the top two
floors create the same effect.
“When you walk in, it’s jaw-dropping,” says Janice Fox, director of sales
for Menkes, the developer for Pears on
the Avenue.
CONDO STYLE
WITH TOWNHOME SPACE
It’s not surprising that developers such
as Menkes are building sumptuous
condo townhouses at the base of their
tower properties. Townhouses are popular, particularly in hot markets such as
Vancouver and Toronto where buyers
are looking for new-build alternatives
to older renovated homes. According
to a recent Google trends report on
Canada’s housing market, “townhouse”
has been a frequent online search word
in those cities.
But Pears on the Avenue townhouses
stand out on their own, offering an
at-home experience with condominium
amenities.
Homeowners simply have to slip out
the door and visit the 20-storey Pears
on the Avenue tower next door. There
they can take advantage of the 24-hour
concierge, indoor pool with cabana
style seating, a fully equipped gym, a
yoga and meditation studio, a media
screening room and even a private
board room. If there are more friends
and family visiting than can comfortably
fit in the townhouse’s two bedrooms
and upstairs den, they can spread out
in a hotel-styled guest suite in the
tower too.
NATURAL SPACE FOR
A SENSE OF PLACE
Hosting an annual holiday soirée or
summertime barbeque? The multipurpose party room and terrace on
the mezzanine level of the Pears tower
offers a catering kitchen and wet bar,
as well as a fire pit and ample seating
outside.
“Our buyer is really someone who
wants the convenience of condo living,
but may not be ready for a condominium. They want the space a house
offers,” says Ms. Fox.
That also includes natural space.
Each level of the townhouse provides
outdoor access, from the small courtyard in front and second- and thirdfloor balconies to a rooftop deck set up
for a gas barbeque and garden.
PRIVATE PARKING,
PERSONAL ELEVATOR
But perhaps the biggest draw is not
found outdoors, but underground. All
townhouses have access to underground parking. Homeowners can then
walk through their own secured basement door to a foyer – where their private elevator awaits. Each unit comes
equipped with this elevator, which can
access all levels of the house.
It’s a perfect solution for boomers
and retirees who plan to eventually age
in place, a choice that 83 per cent of
Canadians say they would prefer over
living in a retirement residence, according to Royal Bank of Canada survey
data.
With selling price starting at $2.4-million, Pears on the Avenue townhomes
will be ready for moving day by the
end of 2015. The Gluckstein-designed
model home is open for viewing now.
WELCOME HOME
PENTHOUSE BEDROOM
POOL
MOVE IN NOW!
OUR M.O.V.E.
PROGRAM IS BACK
MAKING OWNERSHIP VERY EASY
Visit the Menkes Condo Centre for details
PENTHOUSE LIVING ROOM
FITNESS AREA
BRYON PATTON DESIGNED MODEL SUITES AVAILABLE FOR TOURING!
Gibson Square is North York’s perfect condo address, with direct access to Empress Walk Shopping Centre
and North York Centre Subway Station.
Spacious Penthouse Residences Available
1,313 sq. ft. to 1,926 sq. ft. I Starting from $836,990
Limited number of North & South Tower Suites Available
From 1,025 sq. ft. I Starting from $645,990
Visit the Menkes Condo Centre Today
4954 Yonge Street, south of Mel Lastman Square
Condo Centre Hours : Mon - Thurs 12-6pm, closed Friday, Sat & Sun 12-5pm
416.730.9722 I menkes.com
See sales representative for details. Prices and specifications are subject to change. E.&O.E. September 2015.
facebook.com/MenkesLife
@MenkesLife
10
REAL ESTATE COLLECTION
SPONSOR CONTENT
Is a townhouse your best next move?
Experts share
tips on how to know
for sure
Plenty of people adore condo living,
but often get to a point where it just
doesn’t work for them anymore.
“Typically, young single people will
buy a condo and live there until they
meet someone that they want to share
their life with or start a family with.
Then they want more space, and often
something that is more upscale too,”
says John Zanini, the president of
Dunpar Homes, which specializes in
high-end townhomes. “The next logical
step is either a small detached single
family home or a townhouse.”
So how do you know if a townhouse
is right for you?
PRIVACY OVER POOL
Upgrading to a townhouse means losing some of the shared amenities that
come with condo living, such as a pool
and gym, but gaining private amenities, such as much more interior space,
a backyard or deck and more parking
spaces. Losing those shared amenities
also means no longer having to pay
hefty condo fees, with some townhouse
developments having a much lower fee
structure to cover maintenance and
landscaping (around $150 a month
with Dunpar Homes), while others
have no fees at all and homeowners are
responsible for these tasks.
One major gain homeowners get
from living in a townhouse is a lot more
privacy. “You don’t have to interact
with anybody if you don’t want to,”
says Heather Weeks, marketing manager for Rosehaven Homes, which has
three luxury townhome developments
in the GTA. “In a townhome you just
walk out your front door and leave
for work. In a condo you wait for the
elevator, along with everyone else who
is heading out at the same time,” she
says.
EASY TO MAINTAIN
For many homeowners, a townhome
makes more sense than a detached
home because you’re dealing with a
small plot of land which is going to take
up a lot less of your precious spare
time to maintain. “If you’re at that
point in your life before kids, where
you’re concentrating on your career,
this makes more sense,” says Mr.
Zanini.
Stone crafted planters line
Dunpar’s Riverside Village,
top left, and classic brickwork
characterizes its Nautical Lane,
top right. Rosehaven’s Urban
Towndominiums in Brampton, left,
boast modern curb appeal.
When looking for a townhome,
different developments are going to
offer different layouts and amenities
that may better suit some lifestyles
than others. For example, Rosehaven
townhouses such as the Urban Towndominiums in Brampton come with a
backyard that Ms. Weeks says is a nice
size to have a garden or patio, or add
in a hot-tub if you want, but isn’t an
overwhelming yard space.
Dunpar on the other hand builds big
decks on their townhomes, which Mr.
Zanini says suit their owners, many of
whom are young professionals working nine to 10 hours a day and on the
weekends they just want to relax on
the deck.
MADE-TO-MEASURE LAYOUT
When it comes to interiors, the way
that space is managed is really important in a townhome. You’ll want to look
at how the space is planned as much as
how much square footage the townhouse has.
“We’ve spent many years refining
and perfecting the space planning in
our homes, so that you can fit a kingsized bed in the primary bedrooms, or a
good-sized dining table into the home,”
says Mr. Zanini, “All the space is very
generous. We’ve been able to create
layouts that work in our townhouses.”
In terms of architecture, both Dunpar and Rosehaven developments have
enduring classic looks.
Weeks says that the architects
designing Rosehaven townhomes draw
from architectural styles that have
stood the test of time, and have ornate
finishes that make each one look spectacular. “Every time you drive up, you’ll
go, ‘Wow I love my home,’” says Ms.
Weeks. Once you get inside expect high
ceilings, hardwood floors, and high-end
finishes throughout, such as Kohler
fixtures and huge soaker tubs.
BIG-TIME FINISHES
Dunpar Homes, such as Trafalgar Ridge
in Oakville, pride themselves on attention to detail and using the finest of
finishes. You’ll find nine-foot-six-inch
ceilings on the main floor, upgraded
kitchens, huge windows, beautiful
plank flooring and top-quality materials
throughout.
“It’s a more gracious and comfortable
lifestyle to be living in a high-end townhouse than it would be in a condo,”
says Mr. Zanini.
THE BEST OF LAKE SIMCOE - NOW OVER 50% SOLD!!
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Orchard Point Harbour, located where Lake Simcoe meets Lake Couchiching,
offers an exciting alternative to traditional lakeside living. Here you’ll enjoy
sophisticated design, resort-style amenities and spectacular views – all within
an hour’s drive of the GTA.
ELEGANTLY APPOINTED SUITES ranging from 800 sq. ft. to over 2000 sq. ft.
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1-800-713-7134
Brokers Protected. Specifications are subject to change. Renderings are artist’s concepts. E&OE.
12
REAL ESTATE COLLECTION
SPONSOR CONTENT
As the weather cools, the GTA
housing market stays hot
Buyers set sales
records for August
as interest rates
remain stable
If the GTA housing market were a
steak it’d be sizzling right now.
A recent report from the Toronto
Real Estate Board (TREB) suggests buyers continue to show their
appetite for home ownership.
The average sale prices of homes
has risen 10 per cent in the past year,
resulting in the average price of a
detached home in the GTA selling
at about $792,000, while condos are
selling for about $380,000. There’s
also been a 5.7-per-cent increase in
sales in the past twelve months.
Demand for homes continues to
outstrip availability, especially for
those looking to purchase a lowrise detached, semi-detached, or a
townhouse, according to the report.
FUELED BY DEMAND
Buyers are still eager to scoop up
whatever properties are available
and are paying little heed to persistent rumors of a real estate bubble.
Despite the competition, buyers remain confident in their ability to purchase and pay for a
home over the long term, says
TREB president Mark McLean.
“They see ownership housing as
a quality investment that has historically produced positive returns while
at the same time providing owners
with a place to live in their chosen
community,” said Mr. McLean.
Continued low interest rates are of
course contributing to buyers’ enthusiasm, as well as their desire to purchase
into their chosen GTA neighborhoods.
This high demand is pushing
prices up, as buyers compete for
each home that becomes available, leading to every seller’s favourite two words: bidding war.
MORE CHOICE FOR BUYERS
The TREB report did show some
Centrally located, The Davies by Brandy Lane Homes, above, is the type of condo being snapped up
in this hot Toronto real estate market. The Chelsea Maple Station from Aspen Ridge, below, offers
the kind of value that’s also driving brisk sales.
good news for those looking to buy
into this hot market. There’s been
an 8.3-per-cent raise in the number
of homes put up for sale in the past
year (12,628 homes in the GTA were
listed for sale in August, 2015 as opposed to 11,659 in August, 2014).
Looking into the percentages, it is
condo sales that saw the most growth,
13.8 per cent this year. Detached
homes only saw an increase of 3.7 per
cent. Sales of semis bumped up 1.7 per
cent, and townhomes 0.7 per cent.
Why are condos outselling other
homes? Prices might be more in line
with buyers’ budgets. And condos are a good way for some to get
into the market, and into desirable
neighbourhoods, at a lower price.
As well, it’s likely there are simply
more condos being released and available for sale, with fewer other types
of properties becoming available.
GEOGRAPHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Those looking to purchase a condo
in Toronto proper can expect to
pay an average of $406,587 according to the TREB report, an increase
of 9.5 per cent from last year. While
those looking to invest in a condo
in the suburbs will spend an average of $319,764. That’s an increase
of 4.1 per cent from August 2014.
There are of course plenty of
condos selling for way more than that:
In August of this year four condos
in the GTA sold in excess of $2-million, according to the TREB report.
Certain areas in the GTA will always
be more affordable if you are looking
for more space, or a back yard to call
your own. While the average price of a
detached house in Toronto Central may
be out of reach at just over $1-million
dollars, heading out to Dufferin County
you can expect to pay an average of
about $453,000 for a detached property.
Breaking into the housing market in the GTA may not be as
easy as buyers would hope, but
by adjusting expectations it is going to be a possibility for many.
421 The Kingsway $4,980,000
Spectacular Contemporary Home Backing onto St. George’s
Golf and Country Club. 7600+ Sf across 0.65 Acres. Inground Pool, Radiant Floor Heating, Crafted from Concrete
and Steel. Featured in Movies and TV Shows. $4,980,000.
www.KingswayModern.com David Oey* Ext. #488
84 North Drive $4,880,000
Private 11⁄2 Acre South Exposure Ravine Lot. Create Your 12,000+
Sq Ft Private Paradise Nestled In Muskoka-Like Treed Setting.
Prestigious Community, One of the Largest Lot Sizes Available. Rarely Available. $4,880,000. www.84NorthDrive.com
David Oey* Ext. #488
18 Raymar Place $5,980,000
One of a Kind South Richvale Gem
Steps to Downtown Oakville on Prime Waterfront Lot 6 Bedrooms, 9 Bathrooms, 4 Car Garage, Inground Pool,
7,000+ square feet, Award Winning Sunroom Renovation
- Rarely Available Waterfront with a Majestic Shoreline.
$5,980,000 www.DavidOey.com David Oey* Ext. #488
$3,995,000. One-of-a-kind, custom-designed masterpiece.
5+1 bedrooms, beautifully finished principal rooms with
5,000+ sq ft of impeccably finished living space + 2,500 sq
ft lower level. 4 car gar. Mature landscaping.
Ed Abdou* Ext #307 17OrlonCres.com edabdou.com
Spectacular Contemporary Victorian
Yorkville/Annex. Stunning Heritage Semi on Boswell, Home
of Week. Renovated, Open Light-filled Oasis – Magnificent
Deep Treed Lot 25’ x 140’ Luxury Comforts, Pro Kitchen,
Picture Windows, Multiple W/outs, Skylights, Roof Terrace.
3+1 Bd, 5 Wr, 2 pkg. $2,795,000. R. Farb-Eckler* Ext. #202
Exceptional Location, Rare Offering
Toronto ~ Bayview / York Mills
Toronto ~ Thorncrest Village
Toronto ~ Rosedale Estate $4,680,000
Resplendent home sited on gated estate-sized lot (106’ x
253’). 2-storey atrium crowned with skylight. Soaring 22’ ceiling height in spectacular living room. 6 bedrooms, 8 baths.
5 fireplaces. Elevator. Lower level walk-out, home theatre,
kitchen & wine cellar. $6,988,000. Elise Kalles** Ext #291
Unique one-of-a-kind contemporary home. 15’ ceilings accentuate dynamic flow. Lower level Recreation Room, informal dining
area, full kitchen & entertainment room. Exquisite landscaped
gardens, pool & hot tub enchant & delight, offering magical
oasis in West-Toronto. $3,250,000. Elise Kalles** Ext #291
Queen W/Soho/Beverley. Perfect turnkey Townhome Soho
Sq (Rare End Unit!). Brilliant location. 1 Bl. To Queen W.
Quiet. Overlooking Open Green Space & Trees in Quality
Reno All 3 Levels. 2 +1 BR, 4 WR, 2 + 2 parking (incl
Garage). $1,495,000. Robin Farb-Eckler* Ext. #202
Era of graciousness & grandeur represented in original
residence where timeless beauty of elegant architectural
design & old world traditions blend with meticulous restoration & modern enhancements. Grand principal rooms.
Enchanting gardens, waterfall & pool. E. Kalles** Ext #291
14
REAL ESTATE COLLECTION
SPONSOR CONTENT
Maximize your style
Learn how the
right furniture and
hidden shelving can
make design work
for you
Great design is all about things that
work in your space. Simple lines and
proper proportions are a good start. But
it’s also about design you can’t see.
Fortunately, there are smart options
to make the most of your space, from
hidden rolling shelves to choosing the
right furniture.
For design that can be readily seen,
size matters, says Bill Forberg, creative
director of Shelter, a popular décor
store in Toronto. “But it isn’t the only
thing. Scale is an important consideration too for making small spaces feel
airy and inviting.”
For more than 39 years, he has
been buying furniture and décor items
around the world for his customers. His
store, Shelter, now in its fifth year of
business, has become a hit among both
homeowners and designers who love
the downtown style at an affordable
price.
Since the retailer opened, Mr. Forberg and his team of professional design
experts have helped many customers
find perfect items for spaces big and
small. Consider these tips to maximize
your style at home.
CREATE SPACE
Keep in mind just measuring your
space isn’t enough. Though a room can
accommodate a piece of furniture, that
doesn’t make it necessarily a good fit.
If you’re trying to maximize space and
flow, look for chairs with open backs,
such as Shelter’s Hot Mesh chair in blue
or white. Sofas with legs that elevate it
seven to 10 centimetres from the floor,
such as the Bank or Liam models, are
just a few of the options on offer at
Shelter.
Pay close attention to colour. A
monochromatic palette or white walls
The modern Bank sofa from Shelter comes
in a size that will suit your space, top. A
sliding tray drawer from Gliding Shelf
Solutions will ensure easy, clang-free
access to your pizza stone or cookie trays,
bottom.
Forberg. “Everything should look like
it belongs and relates to everything
else. There should be an easy flow
to a room.” A common mistake for
homeowners living in small spaces is
purchasing furniture that is too heavy
looking, weighing down a room and
making it appear constricted.
Looking for more guidance? Homeowners can enlist the help of the decorating experts at Shelter. Using your
room’s measurements and floor plans,
they can steer you to what works best.
And if you want something unique,
this is the place. About 90 per cent of
the items at the store are not available
anywhere else in Toronto, so you can be
assured that your home décor looks like
no other.
give a room an unrestricted ambiance.
Keep it simple. Think clean lines and
avoid clutter. Don’t overcrowd walls
with artwork. Place it strategically and
consider what makes the most appealing focal point in the room.
“Harmony is really what you’re
aiming for with your décor,” says Mr.
SHELF HELP
Keeping harmony and simplicity in this
age of accumulation is no easy feat.
This is where smart, invisible design
comes into play.
One Canadian company is offering
gliding shelves to transform cabinets
so they can accommodate more, while
keeping everything neat and close at
hand. Gliding Shelf Solutions makes
clutter disappear by installing shelves
into existing cabinets in bathrooms and
kitchens, linen closets and pantries.
It makes good sense, according to
Marianna Keselman, Gliding Shelf Solutions dealer in Toronto: “When you have
items in the back of the cabinet that
haven't seen the light of day for a long
time, that means they are not easily accessible. You just forget about them or
they are a hassle to reach. That is when
gliding shelves are of great benefit.”
Even cumbersome items like cookie
trays, cutting boards and platters can
be secured neatly in a roll-out pantry
or pull-out shelf so they don’t fall out of
cupboards and make a mess every time.
Gliding shelves on full extension rails
can bring forward everything at the
back of cupboards and cabinets. It’s a
practical solution to maximizing space
in tight spaces, such as bathrooms,
where they can help you turn wasted
space around the sink and pipes into
usable storage.
Piling up items into a tower doesn’t
work since the pot on the bottom of the
stack is usually the one needed – not
to mention the strain of having to bend
or get down on your knees to hunt for
them. Gliding Shelf Solutions offers free
in-home consultations to fully assess
your existing space and create solutions
on how to make the most of it.
16
REAL ESTATE COLLECTION
SPONSOR CONTENT
No-fail sales strategies for
fall and winter
Experts says
boost your home’s
cozy factor for a
quick sale
Turn up the heat, put a batch of cookies
in the oven and light some candles to
create a sense of welcoming warmth
for potential buyers in fall and winter,
advises David Oey, an agent with Harvey
Kalles Real Estate in Toronto.
“You want the house to have a nice
cozy feeling,” says Mr. Oey. “And if it’s
in a family neighbourhood, you want to
create a joyful, playful atmosphere.” This
can even extend to building a snowman
on your front lawn in the snowy months
if you're catering to the family market.
Although many people think of spring
as a prime time to sell their homes, fall
and winter can be an excellent time as
well. “One of your best times to list is
late January or early February,” contends John Fortney, also a realtor with
Harvey Kalles. “There’s nothing on the
market, but everyone is looking to buy,
especially if the weather is good. That
can mean a higher price for the seller.”
The exceptions, he points out: the
month before Christmas when people
are occupied with holiday parties and
events. Neither does he advise listing a
new property on any religious holiday,
from Christmas and Thanksgiving to
Yom Kippur and Ramadan. “People have
other engagements, so buying a house
becomes less of a focus.”
TAKE STAGING OUTSIDE
The key to generating maximum interest
in a property in winter, according to Mr.
Fortney: Make sure your house appears
as a warm, bright haven to buyers as
the days grow shorter and colder. That
means indoor and outdoor lights should
be switched on to make the place appear
welcoming. And if you have a fireplace,
switch it on (in the case of gas) or put
a two-hour pre-fab log in the fireplace.
“You’re creating a dream,” says Mr. Fortney. “You want buyers to walk in and say,
‘I want to live here.’”
Sellers should also make sure their
Seal a winter deal by making your home
a cozy haven from the elements. And
remember to make each room as bright as
possible.
walkways are clear of leaves and snow.
Mr. Oey suggests raking leaves daily in
the fall. “Then you get the beauty of
the surrounding neighbourhood with
the changing colours,” he says. “But
when potential buyers walk onto your
property, it’s nice and clean. They’re not
slipping on wet leaves.”
In snowy conditions, shovel the walk
and perhaps the patio – particularly
if you’ve got stonework below. And
you can enhance curb appeal with fall
or winter planters filled with gourds,
evergreen branches, birch branches and
winter berries.
Another tip: Mr. Fortney advises
taking photos of your garden in bloom
and your patio furniture in place now,
even if you don’t intend to list your
property until later in the fall or early
winter. “People sometimes tell me they
don’t want to list until spring when their
flowers are out,” says Mr. Fortney. “But
the buyers aren’t waiting – they want to
buy now and be in the house by May or
June.” Photos of the garden at its prime
can still be a selling feature if they’re
incorporated into the feature sheet, the
listing, and other marketing materials.
As with any sale, your house should
be in great shape before you put it on
the market. “You need to declutter, clear
stuff out, organize your closets, paint if
needed and replace anything that needs
replacing,” Mr. Fortney advises. He suggests buyers purchase new white towels
to be used only when there’s an open
house. “White is clean and fresh and
goes with any décor.”
SELL WITH STRATEGY
And when it comes to pricing a home
to get top dollar, there are a number of
different strategies to use. Recently, for
example, Mr. Oey sold a three-bedroom,
three-bathroom detached house at
61 Runnymede Road. Although the
assessed value was considerably under
$1-million, the home’s market value was
about $1.1 million, “so we straddled the
middle ground,” he says. The list price:
$1,049,000 was aimed at generating
multiple offers.
Mr. Oey reasoned that the home had
most of the amenities that families want,
including a garage and proximity to
High Park and the shops of Bloor West.
And, he points out, “the million-dollar
home – plus or minus a bit – is the most
liquid and active price point for buyers.
Plus, this house was fully renovated and
in move-in condition. That made it a
golden home for many buyers.”
He set a date for receiving offers one
week after the listing came out and
received several bids. The home sold for
$1,120,000, about $70,000 over asking.
When Mr. Oey sold a higher-priced
property at 279 Riverside Drive, however, he took a different approach. “If
you have a property worth more than
$2-million – unless it’s a very special
property – it will take some time to sell.”
For that reason, contends Mr. Oey,
setting an offer date creates a false
sense of expectation. Instead, he priced
the property at almost $3-million – even
though nothing had sold for more than
$2.5-million in that neighbourhood. Then
he waited for the right buyer to come
along. It took 16 days, but the property
sold for $2.9-million.
Ultimately, says Mr. Fortney, the
strategy your realtor uses to sell your
home depends on a number of factors,
including your home’s size, location and
proximity to good schools and green
space. The good news: You don’t have
to wait for spring. Says Mr. Fortney:
“There’s almost no bad time to sell in
Toronto.”
18
REAL ESTATE COLLECTION
SPONSOR CONTENT
Just a train ride away
A home close
to rapid transit
is becoming
increasingly
important to buyers
For years, the car was synonymous
with freedom. But in gridlock-gripped
Toronto, more and more people are
thinking about other ways to get around
when they’re shopping for a new home.
A growing number of condo and
townhouse buyers are looking for easy
access to rapid transit and it’s not just
downtown. In places like Vaughan and
Markham, proximity to rapid transit is
increasingly important.
“I think the primary reason is the
traffic congestion,” says Christene
DeGasperis the marketing manager at
Aspen Ridge Homes.
Aspen Ridge Homes is currently
working on two developments that put
access to rapid transit front-and-centre:
Chelsea Maple Station, a townhouse
development in Vaughan, and UNION, a
townhouse and condo development in
Markham.
The Chelsea development is made up
of 76 modern townhomes, ranging from
1,875 to 2,378 square feet. Prices start
at around $725,000. It’s expected to be
completed in spring 2016.
UNION will have 31 two- and
three-storey townhomes next to two
four-storey condo buildings, with a total
of 70 units. The townhomes range from
1,760 to 1,816 square feet and start
in the low-$500,000s. The condos will
range from 657 to 1,400 square feet and
start in the mid-$200,000s. It’s expected
to be completed in fall 2017.
“We’re also seeing a trend, especially with the younger demographic,
to move to a one-car family,” says Ms.
DeGasperis. “A lot of young couples are
coming in saying ‘We only have one car,
my spouse takes it to work and I need
to be near transit.’”
And with Aspen’s Chelsea and
UNION projects, you don’t even need a
Aspen Ridge’s UNION project, top, and the Chelsea, below left and right, offer urban sophistication
and an easy commute to the city.
car at all.
“Those two specific projects that we
have are in walking distance to the GO
train. You don’t need a drop-off or a car.
A lot of times you have to drive even to
a GO train,” Ms. DeGasperis says. “You
don’t have to deal with traffic and you
can read your magazine or book or do
whatever you want on the GO train.”
Toronto buyers aren’t alone: In cities
across North America a growing number of people are cutting back to one
car or getting rid of them altogether.
In Vancouver, where property prices
are much higher than in Toronto, a city
study found that between 18 and 35 per
cent of parking stalls at condo buildings
went unused. In the United States, the
percentage of 16-year-olds with driver’s
licenses fell by 15 percentage points
between 1983 and 2008.
“The amount of marketing we’re putting towards emphasizing that you’re
near a GO station wouldn’t have existed
20 years ago,” says Ms. DeGasperis. “I
think it is similar to living in the city
and living near a TTC stop. I think that’s
a new phenomenon.”
Serge Younan, a real estate broker
with Century 21 Leading Edge Realty
who also owns CondoPromo.com,
which advertises condos that are under
construction, says it’s something he has
seen as well.
“A lot of buyers pay heavy attention
to transit scores and walk scores,” he
says.
According to Mr. Younan there’s
higher demand for properties near public transit stations and those properties
also rent out faster for a higher price.
“Once you’re near a public transit
station or a subway station, that allows
you to eliminate the car, so not only do
you have better real estate,” he says,
“you start saving a lot of money as
well.”
There’s also an environmental factor.
Commuters taking the train to work
aren’t adding to air pollution the way
cars idling in traffic jams do. It’s a winwin for the planet, a greener lifestyle
without have to give anything up.
Ms. DeGasperis says around 80 per
cent of people buying townhomes at
Chelsea are between 30 and 40. Her
clients are usually a young couple just
starting a family who may work downtown but can’t afford a house in the city.
Besides ease of transit, there are
also lifestyle factors that draw new
homeowners to Aspen Ridge Homes’
developments. The Chelsea townhomes
are located near schools and shopping.
Small parks dot the development and a
large park nearby is also in the works.
“It’s that classic urban lifestyle in
the suburbs,” Ms. DeGasperis says
“and that’s the same with our UNION
site as well. You can walk to downtown
Markham.”
LIFE IS ALL ABOUT SPACES. YOU NEED SPACE
TO GROW. SPACE TO THINK. A SPACE TO LIVE IN.
AND SOMETIMES, YOU JUST NEED YOUR SPACE.
GREAT GULF BEGAN IN 1975 WITH A BELIEF THAT
WE WEREN’T JUST BUILDING HOMES, BUT CREATING
SPACES. SPACES THAT WORK. SPACES THAT LAST.
NOW, 40 YEARS AND SOME 40,000 HOMES LATER,
THAT BELIEF HAS HELPED EARN US THE ONE
THING THAT EVERY GREAT BUILDER ASPIRES TO:
A SPACE IN OUR CUSTOMERS’ HEARTS.
20
REAL ESTATE COLLECTION
SPONSOR CONTENT
Orchard Point Harbour, above, is within easy reach of Toronto. It features stainless steel appliances and oversized kitchen islands, below right, and over 500 metres of prime waterfront, left.
A sweet
spot
between
city and
cottage
Lake Simcoe’s
Orchard Point
Harbour combines
urban and country
living
There are few places where you can
catch a live concert mere minutes after
hooking a plump lake trout. Or go golfing, kayaking and gallery hopping in the
same afternoon. Or leave your car in an
underground garage and cycle to a buzzing complex of spas, steakhouses and
poker tables.
These rare spots are often described
as the best of both worlds.
And in the case of Orchard Point Harbour, a condo community on the shores
of The Narrows between Lake Simcoe
and Lake Couchiching, the two worlds in
question are Ontario’s glorious cottage
country and a sophisticated urban scene.
You could be forgiven for thinking
these worlds can't collide. Indeed,
the limited supply of prime lakefront
condos within an hour’s drive of the GTA
partly explains Orchard Point Harbour’s
popularity, says property development
director Carmela Kervin. “If you truly
value your time, you can’t beat the combination of what we have here.”
The community is proving to be especially popular with Torontonians who
want to reach their lakeside lock-andleave retreats in an hour, give or take.
“This is a great opportunity to have a
secondary residence that’s both upscale
and affordable,” Ms. Kervin adds.
How affordable? One- and twobedroom suites range from just over 800
square feet to more than 2,300 square
feet, yet start around mid-$300,000.
This adds up to tremendous value when
stacked up against the few comparable
condo developments on the market, Ms.
Kervin says.
How upscale? The best-of-both-worlds
theme continues across the community,
with Phase 1’s 49 suites bringing urban
style and comfort to a cottage-country
setting. How many traditional cottages,
after all, include granite countertops,
oversized kitchen islands and stainlesssteel appliances? And forget about dragging a propane tank to a distant service
station. At Orchard Point Harbour every
suite features terraces or balconies with
barbeque outlets.
At the same time, Orchard Point
Harbour delivers the advantages of a
standalone cottage. Prime waterfront?
Check: There are 500 metres of it on the
property. Dock space? Check: Dozens of
covered boat slips are available on-site.
Hiking and cross-country ski trails?
Check: Several wind past the low-rise
condo buildings.
Then there are those sought-after
amenities you won’t find at a cottage including a fitness centre, infinity pool and
yoga studio, as well as a rooftop terrace
and lounge.
Big city-dwellers aren’t the only ones
discovering Orchard Point Harbour.
Downsizers from the surrounding area,
who aren’t inclined to relocate to smaller
spaces in the busy, pricey GTA, are also
moving in, as are snowbirds who split
their time between cottage country and
warm winter havens.
While Phase 1 is already sold out and
occupied, the 88-unit Phase 2, is more
than 50-per-cent sold months after being
launched. Construction is slated to start
this winter with occupancy planned for
fall of 2017.
Orchard Point Harbour would be
alluring enough on its own, but it also
happens to be within walking distance of
downtown Orillia. The aptly-nicknamed
lakeside “Sunshine City” lures anglers
and watersports enthusiasts by the boatful. Its cultural heritage as the birthplace
of folk singer Gordon Lightfoot and
humourist Stephen Leacock explains the
abundance of festivals, theatres, museums and galleries. All of this contributes
to a substantial dining and shopping
scene. It’s even home to an urban attraction Toronto lacks: A short drive or bike
ride north of Orchard Point Harbour,
Casino Rama features dining options,
spas, a 5,000-seat entertainment venue,
and countless ways to try your luck.
Regardless of their reasons for
choosing Orchard Point Harbour, all
owners have something very important
in common, says Ms. Kervin. “They’ve
discovered a community that’s more
than a new way to spend time in cottage
country. It’s a new way to live.”
22
REAL ESTATE COLLECTION
SPONSOR CONTENT
Building on excellence
Great Gulf still
making waves after
40 years
Forty years in the business of building
and Great Gulf still knows how to make
a splash.
The company’s Toronto addresses
include landmark buildings that have
helped transform the city’s urban landscape such as The Morgan, The Hudson,
18 Yorkville, Charlie, X, X2, Pace and
One Sherway. And several projects
under way, including One Bloor, Yonge
+ Rich and Monde Condominiums, build
on the company’s tradition of innovation
and high design.
Take Monde: Ground broke in April
for the 552-unit building at the foot of
Sherbourne Street and completion is
scheduled for the spring of 2019.
BY THE WATER’S EDGE
Designed by renowned architect Moshe
Safdi, the somewhat triangular shape of
the 44-story-building is narrow at the
lake and widens to the north, ensuring
most units have views of Lake Ontario.
Balconies and terraces are staggered and situated for optimal light and
privacy. On the shared Amenity Deck
residents can experience the calming effect of the infinity pool’s water as it flows
seamlessly into an unobstructed view of
Lake Ontario.
“After a stressful day at work you can
come home and get peace of mind by
just sitting in your living room, looking
out at the water,” says Christopher
Wein, president of Great Gulf. “Nature
contrasts with the hustle and bustle of
the city. It’s incredibly therapeutic.”
Besides the serenity of Lake Ontario
views, Monde will also be part of the
heartbeat of the city with its proximity
to urban amenities and lobby-level retail
and restaurants.
Integration of Monde’s waterfront
location was key in its design.
“There are not many places in Toronto that slow you down. The waterfront
is one of those places where you are
captured by the beauty of the landscape.
Monde on Toronto’s ‘new blue edge’
incorporates its surroundings to full
effect, left. The Hudson shows Great Gulf’s
timeless commitment to quality, above.
This building is certainly part of that
beauty,” explains Janet Rosenberg, the
project’s landscape architect, in a video
on Monde’s website.
Located in an area called East Bayfront between Lower Jarvis and Parliament Street, Monde is near trendy Sugar
Beach and is adjacent to Sherbourne
Common. The 1.5-hectare park spans
more than two city blocks from Lake
Ontario to Lakeshore Boulevard, on both
sides of Queen’s Quay.
Part of Waterfront Toronto’s “new
blue edge,” Sherbourne Common features green space, dramatic sculpture
fountains by artist Jill Anholt, and a
children’s playground with a splash pad
that turns into a skating rink in winter.
40,000 HOMES IN 40 YEARS
Monde Condominiums is another
example of Great Gulf development that
uses inspired design to deliver interactive spaces, integrated indoor-outdoor
living and functional beauty.
The secret to this Canadian real
estate developer’s success? The business has been built on three core values
– design, technology and experience.
Whether in a house, townhouse or
condominium, a Great Gulf home has
high standards and delivers these core
values.
By using proprietary technology,
Great Gulf first constructs its homes
digitally, allowing every aspect to be
perfected before actually laying the
foundation.
But Great Gulf’s success really boils
down to experience and a deep commitment to its customers. The company
takes care to understand its buyers’
needs in order to elevate their day-today home life.
Over the years, by listening and
adapting to buyers’ changing desires,
Great Gulf has been able to step forward
and continually upgrade its construction. Every home built takes this knowledge into consideration, which results
in a strong relationship between the
company and its homebuyers.
Great Gulf’s excellence has also
been recognized by the industry and in
2014 it received three BILD awards for
Project of the Year High Rise (Yonge +
Rich), Best New Home Design (25004000 square foot, Active House) and
Best Signage (One Bloor Hoarding). It
was also recognized by International
Property Awards in Dubai as the Best
International High-Rise Development
(One Bloor).
And the developer has gotten this nod
of approval from an important audience
too: its statistics show that one-third of
its residential homebuyers have purchased more than one Great Gulf home.
“WE LOVE OUR KITCHEN
CUPBOARDS AGAIN!
Gliding Shelf Solutions provided us
with the accessibility and extra
space we needed.”
TRANSFORM YOUR EXISTING
CABINETS WITH CUSTOM
PULL-OUT SHELVES
MADE
1OO% CANADIAN
• Easy access • Increase space • Get organized
Our consultants understand the importance of investing in
your home for future mobility and organizational needs.
For more than five years Gliding Shelf Solutions have been
introducing Canadians to practical ways to gain easy and
safe access to their cabinets.
While the testimonial provided is accurate,
the image does not depict the actual person.
“Adding the glides to our cabinets
not only increased our storage space
and organization, but provided the
much needed accessibility for my
husband’s bad back”
COME VISIT US AT THE TORONTO ZOOMER SHOW
OCTOBER 31ST, NOVEMBER 1ST, BOOTH #217
AT THE ENERCARE CENTRE (formerly Direct Energy Centre),
EXHIBITION PLACE
CALL
1-877-895-9766
FOR AN AUTHORIZED
DEALER NEAR YOU OR VISIT US ONLINE AT
www.glidingshelf.ca
© Aspen Ridge Homes. Prices and specifications are subject to change. See sales representative for details. All Rights Reserved. E.&O.E. October 2015
Yonge Street
NOW PREVIEWING
ROSEDALE’S REVOLUTION IN LUXURY LIVING.
St. Clair
Amidst a neighbourhood known for its discerning tastes and sophisticated visual pallete, The Jack boutique
residence is simply iconic. A monument to Rosedale. A legacy for all of Toronto with elegant limestone street
facades, its upper-level terraces facing south and west, and its continuous balconies facing east are all carefully
detailed to reflect a contemporary aesthetic encompassing a luxurious lifestyle.
Presentation Centre
& Model Suite
2 Jackes Avenue
Mon - Thur: 12pm - 7pm
Fri: By appointment only
Now Previewing at the corner of Yonge and Jackes Avenue. Model suite to view.
CONSTRUCTION STARTING 2016.
From the $400,000’s to over $2.5 million.
thejackcondo.com
Sat - Sun: 11am - 6pm
416.203.7034