Kinnear's Komments
Volume 17, Issue 3
May 2009
Nothing is opened more often by mistake than the mouth
Julie's Scoop
High Park in Spring by Tania Liu
Happy Spring! As I write this I am overlooking our street, in my home office and loving the emerald green grass and the beautiful flowering trees.
Lots is going on these days as usual - we happily have plastered our office with the Easter Kids Kolouring Kontest as so many of our clients children sent in their drawings. We randomly drew our "winner" and posted her artwork on our website for Isobel Grant
As most of you know, we are all training & raising funds for the ride to www.ConquerCancer.ca Check out Julie's blog there and how much we have raised so far, at last check over $16000.!! Pls donate even $10 or $20. to our team, today!
Speaking of training, Holly was just in Tucson Arizona on a 7 day triathlon training camp - sweating in the heat. Jen spent some time with her Mom and sister Elena for a getaway to Vegas, and is off to Northern Quebec to help the dog community. KJ has been in Vancouver and New York City, visiting with family and going to his fave rock concerts of The Grateful Dead. Steph is in the midst of her big move from her Queens Quay condo to a house in Bloor West Village - perfect location for walking to the office! Mary and I enjoyed 20 dogs and their owners in High Park for Bella's 8th and Mickey's 3rd birthday party - and we are looking forward to the Victoria Day long weekend when we get our boat and dock back in the water.
Dog walk
The market has completely changed and improved in the past month or so. Ironically our last newsletter mentioned the record low prime rate, and since then it went even lower to 2.25% and buyers in all price ranges are taking advantage. There is a great confidence in the Toronto real estate market and things are moving and selling again. In lower, 500k and lower it is multiple offers on anything good, and we have had 3 listings where the first showing brought in an offer, so bidding wars are back. Prices haven't generally gone through the roof.
In keeping with our Mission to continually educate ourselves and improving our systems to add value to the lives of others, are Holly and I are going to San Fran for a conference to learn more By Referral Only-tm strategies, in order to benefit you, our cherished clients. Our team just finished reading Outliers, and is currently greatly inspired by reading Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude by Clement Stone & Napolean Hill. Powerful!
Hope you enjoy a happy & productive spring,
Cheers,Julie
Chit Chat
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Tara Shelton's spring "scoop" is that she has moved her creative space from her claustrophobic Toronto house to a lovely, airy old schoolhouse. This real studio is ideal for making new creations! Tara will be painting, sculpting and making jewellery in it, and offering painting groups on Saturdays. If you're an artist looking to hold a show of your own, check it out, as it's a nice, bright, open space.
pigeons
You can find Tara just outside London, near Komoka, on Gold Creek Drive, off Komoka Rd. Open weekends: 416-558-4665 -
- Michelle Jones & Michael Kralka have a new puppy named Milou. She's a Jack Russell terrier - packed full of energy. She loves their Distillery District neighbourhood because she meets a new dog every day! Oh...and the scooping part - ha! We're doing our part to keep the neighbourhood clean of that!
- Elena Reshitnikova & Lu Rosati enthusiastically welcomed home their new toy poodle puppy Francesca. Julie met the little fluff ball who is so much fun and well behaved at 12 weeks.
- On a sadder note. Jen's long time canine companion Suki passed away. She will be missed. The fragile circle of life especially with so many of us losing our beloved animals at one time or another, makes us continually grateful for our time together.
Babies
- Pedro Mendes & Marijke Friesen are thrilled to announce the loving adoption of son Jonah from Korea born April 3, 2008.
- Heather MacInnis & John Pitblado and big brothers Luke, Aiden, & Ryder are ecstatic about their 4th son Jake, born...
- Cara Sweeney & partner Todd Aiken are pleased to announce the birth of their son Patrick William Sweeny Aiken, Born March 5.
- Eric & Krista Hargrave welcomed their beautiful baby girl Emma Marie on May 4/09.
- Brian Courtney & Elinore Dawson happily announce the birth of their healthy baby girl Lianne, born May 5, 2009.
Are you Feeling like Giving Back?
Charity of the month - Benefitting the Princess Margaret Hospital www.ConquerCancer.ca
Today, please take this last opportunity to support the JKT Cycling Team (our fearless cyclists KJ, Wendy, Holly, Cynthia, Jen, Tori & Julie) as we prepare or the 200 km Ride to Conquer Cancer from Toronto to Niagara Falls. The ride is just 4 weeks away - June 13-14!
The Ride To Conquer Cancer is our charity of choice this year and we are looking for help from you to meet our team goal of $32k. Conquering cancer is a goal close to all our hearts and we value your support. Please go to www.ConquerCancer.ca, click Ontario, then click donate and type in The Julie Kinnear Team.
Mortgage rates
- courtesy of Carrie Davidson of Dominion Lending
current variable rate is 2.85%
current prime rate is 2.25%
MARKET WATCH
Sales are on the rise
In April 2009, Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 8,107 sales - down seven per cent from April 2008. While April sales remained lower than last year, the housing market gained momentum on a month-over-month basis. The seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales in April, at 80,900, was up 26 per cent from March and up two-thirds compared to January's ten-year low.1
"Conditions in the resale housing market have improved markedly this Spring," according to TREB President Maureen O'Neill. "Home purchases have increased as households have taken advantage of low interest rates and slightly lower home prices."
The average price for April transactions was $385,641 - down three per cent from last year.
"The rate of average price decline continued to diminish last month. This is due in large part to a tightening in the resale market," stated Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis. "The level of sales relative to new listings increased in April."
In the under 500k range buyers are beginning to find a reduced number of homes to choose from and in this price range things are really booming. The higher range are also selling swiftly if it is good value.
Did you know?
by Alejandro Flores
Atlantic residents are the most likely to pay more for a "green home", whereas Ontario residents are the least likely to pay more for an eco-friendly dwelling.
The survey found that Canadians are willing to pony up cash for greener home features. Of the majority of Canadians who are willing to pay more for an eco home, 62 per cent are willing to pay between $5,000 and under $20,000 for green features, while eight per cent of respondents are willing to spend $20,000 or more on a home deemed green.
Julie has been taking courses from NAGAB, a non-profit association of real estate agents committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The association's Greenrealestate curriculum provides an education and certification program for real estate agents. It has more than 15,000 affiliate members coast-to-coast and has support from major corporate and government sponsors.
Competitive Advantage Series (=more reasons to refer!)
Is there value in working with our top team?
Another Julie Kinnear Team Advantage... Using leading edge technology with Videos on-line
If you look at the average MLS listing, you'll see some (including ours) with a "virtual" tour (still photos stitched together) - but how many agents offer a real video commercial? Just like YOUTUBE, we use the Vimeo server to bring you a live action packed video tour of our properties for sale as well!
Keeping up with the computer savvy busy life that everyone seems to lead, and the short time & attention span we all have, we implemented our "vimeo" video commercial.
This video tour is a short audio and video live action walking tour of the house, usually filmed and narrated by our very own Julie Kinnear! The tour gives detailed description of the features of the property - much more in depth then your average virtual tour.
This is Julie's chance to be on TV!!! We have improved our videos, since buyers like to know who they are hearing on the video, you will see a crazy shot of Julie's shining face before she walks you through the property and highlights all its good points. As our friend Sarah says "don't quit your day job Jules!".
Now you know that when you sell your home with the JKT you'll get the video advantage and how you can benefit from our Team using leading edge technology!!
Check out our listings videos www.LovelyTorontoHomes.com today!
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: ' + '') /*]]>*/
The Julie Kinnear Team's GEMs (Genuine Evidence of Merit)
Your team has been great to work with - we greatly appreciated KJ's expertise on many issues and his knowledge not only of the real estate market but of houses and what can be done to them.
We are thrilled with our house!!
Degan Davis & Alison Pick
What They Got! A continuing column of the Julie Kinnear Team's Sales
394 Euclid Avenue
Little Italy
394 Euclid Avenue #203
Asking Price $419,900.
Selling Price $410,000.
34 Allen Avenue
South Riverdale
34 Allen Avenue
Asking Price $439,000.
Selling Price $432,500.
91 Bertmount Avenue
Leslieville
91 Bertmount Avenue
Asking Price $489,000.
Selling Price $478,000.
524 Soudan Avenue
North Toronto
524 Soudan Avenue
Asking Price $579.000.
Selling Price $573,000.
217 Humberside Avenue
217 Humberside Avenue
Asking Price $699,000.
Selling Price $675,000.
134 Leacrest Road
Leaside
134 Leacrest Road
Asking Price $1,499,000.
Selling Price $1,400,000.
JKT - A few of our Favourite things
Jen
Loves gardening. She enjoys her perennials, and goes out to her back patio every day to see what new plants have come out. It is a thrill checking to see how close the flowers are to budding, reviewing the progress of the hostas starting to open up, and watch as the clematis flowers are about to bloom - awesome!!
Jen advises that planting annuals is great to fill the empty spots so the garden is full of colour and when it's too early to plant, and you feel like you should do something - edge! Edging makes the garden look great with minimal work...
For plants, she's found great options near her Leaside home at the 'hidden' Loblaws on Redway Rd (off of Millwood north of the Leaside bridge), or Home Depot. Winners has just opened up a garden section for great deals on pots, statues, table cloths, etc. The Winners at Laird and Eglinton has a garden centre...
KJ
KJ is fully of vim and vigor these days! He loves his P90X work outs that he started on May 1st. He dedicates 6 days a week to work out at 6am daily to help refocus and take care of the physical side, and keep up with his 2 little girls and the fast paced real estate market. KJ still loves his Jet Fuel coffee in Cabbagetown - apparently the best coffee and best value in city!
Holly
Holly is very happy that spring really is here and we are at minimal risk of freak snow storms. She's loving her new super light Cervelo race bike from Wheels of Bloor. She loved the triathlon training camp with pro Ironman Triathlete and head coach of Absolute Endurance (on Merton Street), Tara Norton. On first day in Arizona, after swimming an hour or so, they went on a 7hr ride which included riding up Mt Lemmon; a 40km climb up to an elevation of 8000ft. Super gruelling but fun!
Julie
Julie went to Globe Restaurant and was blown away by the attentive service from all the staff. It really made her feel like they cared, and she and Mary enjoyed the nice atmosphere, cool décor and great food. Find it on the Danforth near Broadview. Julie's also loving discovering areas of Toronto on her bike now, especially the Lower Don path.
Stephanie
Her favourite things include her mother's insane travel stories from her last 6 months of adventures, her beloved cottage on Lake Catchacoma and the inevitable long weekend season that is finally upon us! In Toronto Steph cherishes patio season - especially The Wellington at Wellington/Portland (low end) and the top of the Park Hyatt (high end)!!