The Rapp Report
Anita "Rapps" It Up
How to Choose a Neighborhood
The Best Places to Live in the City: A (Mostly) Scientific Ranking of All 140 Neighbourhoods in Toronto. Click below for article.
In a city like Toronto, there are a handful of neighbourhoods that command premium prices for various reasons. The neighbourhood may be in a great school district and easily accessible to transit. Or it could be like Cabbagetown or Riverdale which are close to the core so that you have access to everything the city has to offer. It could be like the Annex where everything is within easy walking distance and the homes offer lots of space. The challenge is that because so many people want to live in these neighbourhoods, the demand becomes HUGE and the real estate becomes unaffordable for the majority of buyers.
One of the greatest things about our city is that it has a multitude of neighbourhoods – in fact, the city lists 140 of them, which means there’s another place in the city that offers the amenities you’re looking for and a home that fits your needs – you just have to keep an open mind. HGTV has published a comprehensive guide of questions to ask so that you find your dream neighbourhood within your budget.
http://www.frontdoor.com/real-estate/how-to-choose-a-neighborhood
Toronto Neighbourhoods Map
Interesting information regarding the demographics of each district and area. If you are curious about the makeup of a neighbourhood click on any number on the map and all the stats are there. http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/profiles_map_and_index.htm
Visit Allan Gardens...one of Toronto's hidden treasures
One of the oldest (1858) and finest conservatories in North America, Allan Gardens is
definitely worth a visit by you and your family. This summer the remarkable Agave tree flowered for the first time in 75 years. It had grown so big that that they had to remove a panel from the conservatory roof for it to grow. Be sure to check out the photo gallery in the attached link. http://www.toronto.ca/parks/featured-parks/conservatories/allan-gardens.htm
http://www.thestar.com/life/2013/07/19/century_plant_blooms_at_torontos_allan_gardens.html
Looking for something free to do in a beautiful setting? Take a walk to Allan Gardens, one of the oldest parks in Toronto. It has a conservatory, a playground and two fenced off-leash areas for dogs. Check it out! http://www.toronto.ca/parks/featured-parks/conservatories/allan-gardens.htm
The towering agave plant that sprouted through the greenhouse roof at Allan Gardens Conservatory has blossomed for the first — and last — time in its 75-year-old life.
Credit goes to the city’s stifling heat wave for giving the agave americana, a species native to Mexico, the final boost to bloom. Slowly the large blossom heads are now turning yellow. They consist not of petals, but hundreds of tiny stems.
You can visit many corners of the Earth all year around right downtown on Gerrard St. E. between Jarvis and Sherbourne.
Gorgeous cacti, exotic plants, banana and papaya trees, turtles, goldfish, amazing flowers and even a waterfall will make your stress level disappear. Allan Gardens is one of the most remarkable conservatories in North America and one of Toronto's hidden treasures.
Top Five Issues You May Miss Without A Home Inspection
In hot housing markets, buyers sometimes offer to waive the inspection to help their offer stand out from the crowd, writes Dan Steward, an industry veteran. But most real estate professionals agree this is a bad idea. Here's 5 reasons why.
The Good News.... Home sales gaining momentum
According to Tara Perkins of the Globe and Mail, "Canadian home sales are edging back towards the levels they were at before Ottawa decided to tighten the market last summer.
For the first time in a year, the number of homes that changed hands over the Multiple Listing Service last month came in higher than one year earlier, driven by rebounding markets in Vancouver and Toronto.
The larger gains are partly due to the fact that last month's sales are being compared to a weaker market last July when sales plunged after Finance Minister Jim Flaherty changed the rules, cutting the maximum length of an insured mortgage to 25 years.
But the numbers show momentum nevertheless and most economists expect sales to gain traction in the coming year.''
The Bad News....'soft landing' menaced by oversupply
According to Rob Insight, also of the Globe and Mail, "data released August 15 by the Canadian Real Estate Association showed continued modest growth in both both home resales and prices in July; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. issued their own figures and analysis, suggesting that the country's modest housing slowdown has generally stabilized and will turn upward heading into 2014.
Both reports add further evidence that the Canadian housing sector may have pulled off the most elusive of economic events: The soft landing.
Like many nice stories, this one may be too good to be true. Toronto Dominion Bank economist Dina Ignajatovic said in a recent research note that an estimated oversupply of 250,000 new homes - more than a year's worth of construction- is expected to hit the market in the next 18 to 24 months. The market may have crept a bit closer to balance thanks to the slowdown of 2012, but it is destined to be swimming in supply if it maintains close to it's current pace."
The moral of these "good news, bad news" stories is that if you are planning to sell do it now and if you are planning to buy it is still a good time to do it before the rise in interest rates. The Market is very much like the weather.... you never know for sure.
Latest Market Watch click below
Kitchen Remodeling Decisions You’ll Never Regret
Afraid your kitchen remodeling choices will look so 2013-ish in a few years? Relax, we know how to make your kitchen timelessly gorgeous and functional
Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/kitchens/classic-kitchen-remodeling/#ixzz2cL2ItkUDhttp://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/kitchens/why-white-kitchens-stand-test-time/
GUSTO !! great summer restaurant find
GUSTO
101 Portland Ave.
Just south of Adelaide
with two great patios.
Portland great place to have a sip and the best French fries with their own "secret ketchup" recipe. See attached link.
http://gusto101.squarespace.com/
Contact Information
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AS ALWAYS, thank you for your past and future business. Referrals are always greatly appreciated. Please share The RAPP REPORT with family and friends or anyone you think may be interested.
Regards,
ANITA
Email: arrapp@royallepage.ca
Website: www.anitarapp.com
Location: 55 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON, Canada
Phone: 416-921-1112
Facebook: facebook.com/AnitaRapp-RoyalLepageRealEstate
Twitter: @realestaterapp