Kinnear's Komments

Volume 18, Issue 4
July 2010

Dance as though no one is watching you; love as though you have never been hurt before, sing as though no one can hear you, live as though heaven is on earth.

Alfred Souza

Julie's Scoop

Loving the heat wave! One day it was actually 44 degrees with humidity – all I can say is thank god for air conditioning! Mary and I are really excited for our holidays up at our cottage at "Crooked Creek"!

Heidi Girvan

There has been a lot of action with the JK Team these days. We have a big announcement, as we have added a new team member. As you know we don't take these decisions lightly, so we are absolutely thrilled to welcome Heidi Girvan. She will work as our Marketing Co-coordinator and help with Client Care. She works behind the scenes with Steph, and you may hear from her one of these days soon. Heidi comes to us with an arsenal of knowledge and real life experiences – as she has her Bachelor of Commerce Degree, and has worked as a teacher for many years, before taking a break to raise her 3 young children. Most recently, Heidi created, developed and marketed her own product line – www.HappyHelperz.com – These educational learning tools help kids learn responsibility & empower them to do things for themselves & get organized. We were able to offer her an opportunity to have some life balance, with a flexible schedule, in order for her to incorporate her responsibilities of life with children.

Other exciting news is the changes to our website. Have you noticed too? We've had a few people let us know how much they like our new look. It is fresh, newly organized and is intended to be even more user friendly, while still staying current with the market. It even includes my daily tweets and some really cool video testimonials and YouTube vids; as well as maintaining our neighbourhood info (each area we specialize in is updated monthly with accurate sold prices and pin point specific data for that neighbourhood).

I thought I would take this opportunity to discuss the lack of capital gains tax on your primary residence. If you own your own home, you get to reap the benefit over the years of the value increasing. And guess what? You are not taxed on it! Your own home is usually your largest and one of your only tax free investment vehicles. It is amazing the power of using that leverage to "move up" and create a tax free nest egg at the end of the day. I have witnessed the benefit of this over and over with our clients and in my own personal life. Not to take away from other investments, as I know there are options that get around tax issues, but so many times that I cash in on a stock that has gone up, I end giving a lot of it back to the government in taxes. That is one of the main reasons that Mary and I stretched to increase the value of our own personal residence, because one day when we go to cash it in, we won't have the government taking their huge share of it. Keep that in mind :)

Happy Summer!

Cheers, Julie

MARKET WATCH

Excerpts from Toronto Real Estate Board

Greater Toronto Realtors reported 8,442 sales through the Multiple Listings Service (MLS) in June. This represented a 23% decrease compared to 10,955 sales reported in June 2009. Sales for the second quarter of 2010 amounted to 28,870 – up 1 % annually. The average price for June transactions was $435,034 up 8% from last year.

Average sales Report – GTA June 2010

Region    Average Price
East          $341,625
West         $410,670
Central      $611,644
North        $466,418

Did you know?

The summer is here and there are lots of ways families can "go green" around the house and in the yard. Every little bit helps!

www.toronto.ca/livegreen/greenlife_savewater_gardens.htm

In the kitchen

These tips will help you save energy and water in the kitchen:

ON by Tudor

• Run your dishwasher only when it's full.
• Clean the condenser coils on the back of your fridge.
• Make sure the fridge door fits tight and replace damaged seals.
• Allow foods to cool before placing them in the refrigerator.
• Use pots with tight fitting lids - the food cooks faster. And use pans that match the size of the burner.
• Use a microwave oven when possible.
• Don't open the oven door to peek at cooking food.
• Electric kettles use less energy than boiling water on the stove.
• Use reflector foils or pans under electric stove elements to reflect heat.

In the laundry room

• Wash or adjust the setting to the size of load you are washing (small, medium, large).
• Wash in cold water. Many of today's detergents work well in cold water.
• Consider a front-loading washer – they use less energy and water. Toronto Water offers rebates on high efficiency, front-loading washing machines.
• Hang clothes outside to dry.
• Clean the lint filter after each load to maintain airflow and efficiency
• Drying several consecutive loads means the dryer has to heat up only once.

 In the Garden & on the Lawn – keep lush without extra water

• Too much water can kill your lawn. The average Toronto lawn, with our clayish soils, only needs 1 inch a week including rainfall.
• A rain gauge is a simple tool to measure how much water your lawn is getting. Get a free rain gauge at your local Community Environment Day.
• Toronto Water offers free assessment visit to help you create a beautiful, water-efficient lawn and garden. More than 7,000 homeowners have participated to date. To request a free assessment, phone 416-392-7000, or email .
• Don't water your driveway. Sweep off your driveway and sidewalks with a broom instead of using a hose.

Chit Chat

• 

  Shelagh Cummins has launched a new website for parents called Practicalmum.com. It is chock-a-block full of practical parenting ideas and solutions written by the experts - other parents!  Come and visit to find helpful and practical parenting ideas, recipes, product reviews, give-a-ways and read Shelagh's blog: The Minivan Chronicles - navigating the winding road of parenthood one speedbump at a time!

• Emily and Greg Wong, niece and nephew of Julie and Jen, have graduated from high school. Em will continue working at the vet's office for a year before applying to the field of veterinary technology. Greg is entering bio/medical science program at Western. We are all so proud of the twins! Good luck in the next chapter of your lives.

• Heather Giffin has started her own business last year. It that fits that ideal niche for those of you planning renovations large or small – Heather can help by saving you time and unnecessary expense when you work through the designs, source out interior furnishings, negotiate with the General Contractors, oversee and give you some experienced management all the way from the planning through to the final job done. We recommend personally recommend after having hired her to help us in our house
  
  Contact Heather
  @ HG Management Renovation
  416-436-3599 or

• 
  Michelle Kelly

  Michelle Kelly – has a very cool blog – that is so timely for this summer! She blogs about cottage design and decor hosted by Cottage Life magazine, CottageLifeStyle. It's at www.StyleBlog.CottageLife.com, or you can find it through www.CottageLife.com

Babies

• Michael and Lina Sloan are very happy first time parents. Hayden John Correia Sloan was born on May 29th at Women's College Hospital.  He was 7 lbs 15 ozs and is doing very well!  

• Adi Pai and Divya Mirza had a beautiful baby boy February 4th, named Aryaman. He is an absolute delight and keeping them very busy. Hopefully they are getting a little bit of sleep at night now!

Would you like to give back?

Charity of the Month –Juvenile Diabetes - www.jdrf.ca

In June Heidi and her family raised money and participated in the JDRF Walk at the CNE. They walked for "Team Niels". Niels is a 7 year old boy who is a great friend of Heidi's son, Josh. The spirit and camaraderie of the team made the Girvan family feel like they were giving back to the community. The Team consisted of over 100 individuals – primarily from the Riverdale neighbourhood. It was a great learning moment for all of the kids, as they understood that it is important to pitch in and support a cause in any way that you can. Although monetary donations to a charity are so helpful, it is also important to recognize other methods to volunteer and "give back".

Facts about Juvenile Diabetes:

Diabetes Needle
by Raymond Gilford

• Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.
• Type 1 diabetes strikes children and adults suddenly, leaving them dependent on injected or pumped insulin for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications.
• Living with type 1 diabetes requires approximately 1,460 needles a year (based on four injections per day) and 2,190 finger pokes a year to test blood sugar levels.

Mortgage rates – Carrie Davidson's website

current variable rate is 1.90%
current prime rate is 2.50%

Some conditions may apply. Rates subject to change without notice. *O.A.C. E.& O.E.

Curious George

See a For Sale Sign/Sold you were wondering about? We are happy to let you know about houses in your neighbourhood - feel free to contact Steph at:

Our Purpose

Our purpose is for you to be so outrageously happy with the service we provide that you gladly refer us to your friends and family before you've even bought or sold with us!

The Julie Kinnear Team's GEMs (Genuine Evidence of Merit)

"We're feeling more and more settled into our new home. It's hard to believe that after hunting through such a tough market we still feel that we got the perfect house for us and at a steal as well.
Thanks to Jen Palacios!"

Michelle Kelly & Rich Thompson

What They Got!
A continuing column of the Julie Kinnear Team's Sales

383 Kingswood Road

The Beach
383 Kingswood Road
Asking Price $489,000
Selling Price $507,000

5 Minto Street

Leslieville
5 Minto Street
Asking Price $447,000
Selling Price $482,000

160 Baldwin Street

Downtown
160 Baldwin Street # 416
Asking Price $499,900
Selling Price $480,000

116 Crawford Street

Trinity Bellwoods
116 Crawford Street
Asking Price $799,000
Selling Price $846,000

327 Durie Street

Bloor West Village
327 Durie Street
Asking Price $799,000
Selling Price $840,000

515 Indian Grove

High Park/Junction
515 Indian Grove
Asking Price $649,000
Selling Price $663,500

JKT – A few of our Favourite things

Jen
My new GPS! I know, I'm probably the last Realtor left in Toronto that didn't have one (and am the only one who still drives standard) but now that I have one, it's amazing! I'm still getting used to the bossy tone and the fact that she doesn't say "please" - the time I've saved makes up for it. If you drive a lot, and don't have a GPS, I highly recommend them!

Wimbledon Watching those fantastic players whacking the ball in their traditional whites - what's not to love? I'm looking forward to enjoying a strawberries and cream party to watch the finals!

Holly
Tour de France! Exciting to see the gutsy riding of Canadian Ryder Hesjedal who led the pack for most of the third day. Probably the greatest cyclist since Steve Bauer. I will also be cheering on Thor Hushvold of the Cervelo Test Team (another Canadian connection) as he fights for the maillot vert (green jersey), the prize for the best sprinter.

Pink Grapefruit flavoured Perrier. Very refreshing during a heat wave! Even better after about an hour in the freezer (don't leave it too long as it might explode).

Lilliput Hats. Karyn Gingras is the owner/designer of this amazing shop/workshop on College Street and she has the best collection of high quality hats around. The hats are crafted on site using old world millinery techniques and they are so beautiful! The shop is at 462 College Street and hats can also be found at Holt Renfrew and at the One of a Kind Show

Stephanie
My cottage in the Kawarthas! It is the perfect place to rest, relax, boat and have cocktails. It is my Zen place. I love the buzz up there – there is action if you want it, and serenity if you don't.

Walking to work. I certainly don't love it in the winter months but it is divine right now. I walk through High Park, grab a coffee at McDonald's (I still argue that it's the best in the city!) and by the time I get to the JKT office, I feel energized, awake and I've already had my morning exercise!

Heidi
Fruit King on the Danforth. This market sells absolutely the best variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Their products turn over so quickly that they sell fresh strawberries for only $1 a quart and English cucumbers are 79 cents! You can't beat those prices when you are feeding a family of 5.

Withrow Park Wading Pool – this gorgeous park is a central hub of the Riverdale area. When the wading pool opens on the July long weekend, kids flock to it and the sight and sound of the wading pool gives me the best feeling - summer is here!

Julie
Splendido (on Harbord in the Annex). I had a delicious dinner at the new Splendido restaurant. We celebrated a good friend's retirement and we enjoyed a fabulous night. Décor and atmosphere are a little more relaxed, and the menu, courtesy of Chef Victor Barry, is out of this world yummy!

Flag- raising at Toronto's City Hall. The first Monday of Pride week at noon is when the city council exchanges the Canadian Flag for the Pride colours, and opens the week of celebrations. It is empowering to hear the Mayor salute all those leaders in our community.