Toronto Condo and Real Estate Blog

The Condo Guide Magazine

Following the tremendous success of Phases I and II of its College Park community, Canderel Stoneridge Equity Group is proud to announce the third and final phase of the popular condo development – Aura at College Park.

With Phase I construction nearing completion and its 663 suites sold out, and Phase II’s 540 condos already 98% sold, Aura promises to be the most exciting phase of The Residences of College Park. And there’s plenty to be excited about!

When it rises, the Aura condominium building will become a landmark in this area. Located on the northwest corner of Yonge and Gerrard, the all-glass modern tower will dazzle with its blue-grey tint. Aura was designed inside and out by renowned and award-winning architectural firm Graziani + Corazza. By creatingthe interiors to mimic the tower’s simplistic design, the resulting look is a timeless, elegant space in an urban setting.

Part of this downtown centre’s rejuvenation plan, The Residences of College Park has turned this once unused area into a thriving community. When Phase I and II are completed, over 1,500 residents will occupy these 51- and 45-storey towers on Bay.

Aura, the last piece of the puzzle, will offer its residents a state-of-the-art recreation centre, a four-storey lobby, guest suites, spectacular views and exclusive finishes that are signatures of each Canderel Stoneridge building.

The soaring downtown condo project owes its strong popularity with purchasers as much to its prime location as to its industry-leading list of amenities, features and services.

Located in the heart of Toronto’s art deco-inspired, historic College Park community, The Residences of College Park has become one of the downtown Toronto’s most desirable and most sought-after addresses.

Residents who choose to call Aura’s chic and fashionable location “home” will also soon come to appreciate the convenience of its direct indoor access to the College Park Subway Station, underground parking and its proximity to a host of the city’s most popular restaurants, entertainment and cultural venues, boutiques, shops and cafés – all just outside their door. And, some of the world’s top-name retailers will set up shop in Aura’s 100,000 sq. ft. of retail space.

With its prime Yonge and Gerrard location, Aura will be close to the major hospitals on University Avenue, the University of Toronto, Ryerson, Mars Discovery Centre, Eatons Centre, AMC theatres and all of the shopping and entertainment of Bloor-Yorkville.

Phase II of College Park has just released 12 luxury townhomes backing onto a one-acre city park. Starting from the $850,000’s, these homes offer over 2,200 sq. ft. of luxury living and include double-car garages, a terrace, balcony, plus much more.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information

Dear friends and clients,

A “bump” in the market tends to happen every couple of years but history has proven that the mutual fund investor who stays invested profits. The investor that does not profit is the one who consistently buys high and sells low, who lets emotion rule, who listens to banks and other independent advisors recommend selling product and paying a high penalty to transfer-out. Penalty charges are not always applicable to mutual fund investing.

Paying a penalty every couple of years to move investments around is the absolute worse mistake investors make. In my eyes an advisor who recommends a client to sell out investments at a loss and pay a large penalty should not be in the money management business period. If you are not happy with a situation or a product there are better options available than for you to throw hard earned money at it.

An advisor you can trust should be going above and beyond to assure that you do not incur early redemption penalties and you are invested in quality product. In some circumstances I will even absorb a portion or 100% of a penalty charge for a client.

A question which was asked by one of my investors “is there an advantage right now to moving investments to a different sector or a different geographic location”. My answer was “there is no advantage right now to moving investments to another sector or geographic location seeing that almost every area of the market was seeing red especially worldwide financial markets – most mutual fund investments hold a large component of financials”.

Remember that certain investments pay monthly distributions to your account every month whether in a bull or bear market. Holding distribution paying investments such as dividend funds during a contractual period like this is a major benefit to you as an investor.

I feel strongly that we have reached the end of the extreme market volatility experienced over the last four weeks. Most portfolios have seen a 4-5% loss. It might be turbulent for a few weeks longer but we should eventually get back to some normality.

Over the last five years most equity investments averaged approximately 1% return each month. This means it could potentially take four months to recoup the loss. Best case scenario we see 2-3% gain in one month period and another 2% the following month. Keep in mind that a 4-5% loss on paper is not extreme and can easily be recovered.

Is this a buying opportunity or a time to sit back and reflect? What if you could purchase $20,000 worth of a dividend paying investment at a low of $7.32 (a unit) which is usually valued at approximately $7.80-$7.90 (a unit)? Do you buy it now or wait until it is back up to around $7.80 and mainly seeing gains through reinvested dividends?

This is what I have to contemplate every day and discuss with some clients. There are pros and cons to both buying now or waiting… but if you told me that you have a minimum of a three year time horizon before you need the money – I would say this is a perfect buying opportunity for you!

Stay positive – Stay confident – Stay invested

Arron Appleton
Investment Advisor
FundEX Investments Inc.
c/o: Applestock & Associates Inc.
265 Yorkland Blvd., Suite 401
North York, ON M2J 1S5
Bus: (416) 221-1313 ext. 4517
Fax: (416) 498-4667
Email: aappleton@baywoodfinancial.com
Visit: www.investwithapplestock.com

Derek Raymaker - Globe and Mail

The last five years have seen a tremendous explosion of condominium construction in 905 communities that have traditionally been known for suburban sprawl and tract housing.

Brampton and Vaughan are a long way from being transformed by condo development into high-density, transit-oriented communities. Construction starts on multifamily dwellings make up only about 10 to 15% of all starts there.

The condominium projects that are most successful in the two municipalities tend to cater to people who already live in them, and those tend to be older residents who have already raised children, but don’t want the hassle of taking care of a big house any more.

The fact that people want to stay is a pretty good sign in terms of the evolution of a suburban community. All these cities grew as bedroom communities whose residents commuted into Toronto to work. Now, thousands of white-collar and manufacturing jobs have settled in the 905. Along with them, so have multiple generations of families.

The oldest members of these families want to leave the big house - and lawn care and maintenance bills - behind, but they do want to stay close to their friends and family. And the condos that are most attractive to these empty-nester buyers tend to be those that are outfitted with upscale features.

These are picky buyers, after all, and they’re also not under any pressure to buy the first suite that comes along.

Renaissance, a sleek 27-storey building under construction on George Street in downtown Brampton, is viewed as at the vanguard of high-end, high-density projects.

Over 80% of the Alterra-built project’s 292 suites are sold. Seven penthouse models ranging from 1,255 to 1,971 square feet are available in the $450,000 to $540,000 bracket, with prices including a parking spot.

Even the regular suites, which start at $174,490 for 530 square feet, with sizes running to 1,170 square feet, are tricked out with dens, top-end appliances and inviting floor, wall and bathroom finishes.

Downtown Brampton is nicely suited to become a condominium pocket in light of its close proximity to the GO Train station. And condominium construction is expected to play a major role in the downtown’s revitalization.

In June, Inzola Group, which has been involved in refurbishing several aging landmarks in the downtown area, launched Park Place on James Street. This 223-suite tower project seems to be aiming for the busy, professional-type buyer, but its features also will appeal to older buyers. Prices here range from $160,000 for 632 square feet to $600,000 for 1,764 square feet. One parking spot is included, along with access to a series of common amenities, including a full fitness room and a concierge.

Further north and east, the city of Vaughan is also widely considered to be morphing into a more mature community, even after years of aggressive tract housing development.

A condominium pocket is taking root around the massive Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre on Rutherford Road, just east of Highway 400.

Bellaria, a two-tower project by Solmar Development Corp., has successfully landed buyers for nearly all of the 242 suites in its first phase, a 16-storey tower. Prices start at $234,900 for 724 square feet. Penthouses are 1,200 to 2,000 square feet and cost up to $1.2-million. Only one penthouse remains available.

Like Renaissance, Bellaria is dripping with upscale features, and with domed rooftops and a limestone-and-granite lobby, will be an especially striking architectural presence in an otherwise drab stretch of mall country.

Also impressive are the high, bronze-tinted windows that will look down on a lushly landscaped grounds, which will include nearly three kilometres of walking trails along waterways. Prices here also include a parking spot, and construction of the first tower is under way.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information