Toronto Condo and Real Estate Blog

By Linda Mitchell - Monarch Corporation

Today’s savvy condominium purchasers have a wide array of information sources at their disposal, with the Internet topping the list. Educated shopping decisions are preferable to the alternative – but make sure you organize your research results in a way that allows you to compare apples to apples.

Today’s savvy condominium purchasers have a wide array of information sources at their disposal, with the Internet topping the list. People come into our sales offices with ads, articles and website printouts, having already researched Monarch and our competition.

Educated shopping decisions are preferable to the alternative – but make sure you organize your research results in a way that allows you to compare apples to apples. I have seen purchasers buy based on price and square footage alone, and then regret their decisions later when they realize they didn’t consider all the factors. A little logic goes a long way in avoiding this kind of mistake.

With more than 230 condominium projects underway in Toronto, how can you juggle all the variables? Probably more than 150 of them will not be located in an area you want or offer the suite size or configuration you are looking for. Consider the location in relation to where you work, where your family lives, and whether public transportation is easily available.

Then prioritize before you start your serious looking. Create a two-part checklist that you copy and take with you to sales offices. List all your must-haves and make a separate column for items that would be nice-to-have.

It’s human nature to want it all, but realistically that’s rarely possible. Hold out for your must-haves, and if there are some nice-to-haves included, consider that a bonus.

By all means, decide what condo suite size you need, but keep in mind that square footage is only one measure of livability. Take notes on how the suite is configured, and whether or not your currentfurniture will fit. Are there large windows and/or a terrace or balcony that will offer views?

Be particularly careful when comparing features and finishes. Those who consider elegant entertaining a priority may be happier in a more compact suite appointed with granite countertops and hardwood floors than a larger one without these finishes. For single women, the building’s security features may rise to the top of the list.

Choose a condominium that has amenities you’ll use, rather than the one that encompasses the most elaborate collection. If you don’t swim, a pool should not be a big factor in your choice unless you consider it important to your suite’s resale value.

Find out how much maintenance fees are and what they cover.

Keep a level head when you decide on upgrades, and be sure to factor those into your comparison list in a fair way. And remember to research the builder/developers of the condos you’re comparing, so you purchase from a reputable company that has a proven track record.

There are so many wonderful condominiums in Toronto, that with a little organization on your part, you’ll find just the right one.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information

By Linda Mitchell - Monarch Corporation

The saying may seem overused, but that’s because it’s so true – location, location, location is the number one determining factor in choosing a condominium.

Whatever claims developers make about location, ultimately it’s up to you to determine what’s hot and what’s not. If you intend to live in the condominium you purchase, then consider your lifestyle needs.

If you are buying a condo as an investment, remember that buildings situated on the waterfront, close to public transportation and in established neighbourhoods are always in demand. You may also consider purchasing in an up-and-coming area to get in on the ground floor while prices are good so you can reap more return on investment when you eventually sell.

With so many condominiums on the market in Toronto, how do you narrow down your location choice? Answer a few questions. Do you want or need to live close to family? Do you own a vehicle, or is it necessary for you to live near public transportation?

If you drive to work, what will the commute be like from your potential choices? And don’t simply measure distance to estimate. Take a look at traffic and different routes, and better yet, get out there and drive the commute during rush hour before you make your decision.

Other considerations might involve views. If you work in an office tower in the heart of the concrete jungle, you may want to come home to surroundings that include the greenery of an adjacent park. Perhaps you are a regular theatre- or opera-goer; living within walking distance of theatres and restaurants may be ideal.

Go jump in the lake

If that statement sounds like heaven to you, maybe a lakeside condominium is the best choice. For those who keep a boat moored on Lake Ontario, lakeside living is convenient in more ways than one. Imagine breathtaking water views and a sandy shoreline being part of your everyday life.

Active Toronto residents who live along the lake also have easy access to the Martin Goodman Trail, which invites walking, jogging, bicycling and inline skating along a 22 km pathway that leads through scenic parkland. The shoreline is dotted by marinas, and some of the city´s finest dining, entertainment and cultural amenities are within walking distance.

You certainly don’t have to head to a cottage to enjoy resort-style living. The appeal is widespread; the cross-section of purchasers who are snapping up suites in Toronto’s many waterfront condominium communities covers the gamut of the new home buying market. Remember, too, that the demand for waterfront condominiums in Toronto is increasing, yet there is only so much shoreline to go around.

Whatever location you choose, be sure to think about the many parameters of location before you sign on the dotted line.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information

If you take a walk through the building and through the lofts at Bloorline, you’ll never guess that it was once a mattress factory.

While Plazacorp has gone to great lengths to keep the original structure of the building, the new roof, windows, plumbing and wiring make the Bloorline Lofts a wonderful, yet historic, place to call home.

One-, two- and even three-storey lofts are available ranging in size from 367 to 1,110 sq. ft were priced starting at just $107,900. Each suite is different from the next with gigantic windows, brick walls, exposed ducts and beams, and wooden ceilings. It’s easy to get creative when decorating and turning the open spaces into something uniquely yours.

Brand new blonde laminate flooring, soaring ceilings up to 15 ft., sleek, modern kitchens, new bathrooms, and air conditioning make the suites at Bloorline Lofts both modern and comfortable. Most of the suites have a private ground floor courtyard entrance.

A small maintenance fee of $.32 per square foot allows for worry-free loft living. Heat, air conditioning, water, exterior building insurance and grounds maintenance are all taken care of. All you have to pay for is cable, hydro and your telephone bill.

Located in the heart of an established neighbourhood just a two-minute walk away from the Lansdowne subway station on the Bloor line, the Bloorline Lofts are just minutes from the eclectic shops and restaurants of Roncesvalles Village and Bloor West Village, and the tranquil beauty of High Park.

With all of the lofts ready to be lived in, you can start calling Bloorline Lofts home within two weeks of purchase. So don’t delay! Make an appointment and take a walk through the suites. Remember that each loft is unique and can inspire different ways of being creative, so be sure to walk through as many as you can.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information