Kinnear's Komments
Vol. 22, Issue 8, March 2015
Happy Spring Forward!
I have to say the time change really makes the evenings and days seem longer, and the break in the weather has brought a welcome spring feeling!
Another sign of spring? Our annual Easter Kolouring Kontest! Yes it is that time again – get your kids drawing and submitting – by , scan, posting on our JKT Facebook page, where-ever – by March 27 - and the treats will be distributed and winner will be announced! Download the drawing here.
Julie, Brenda & Jay
This winter has been highlighted by our team in their many personal passions from winter cottaging, to winter getaways, to new puppies and birthdays. This Feb/March has also brought a big milestone birthday for my Mom Brenda who many of you know – she is feeling much better now and she and Jay celebrated their 60th and 70th birthdays respectively. I flew to Vancouver for a quick visit and special dinner out. Check out our Favourite things column on the next page for more scoop!
I was blessed with attending the annual “Family Reunion” conference in Orlando Florida for our brokerage Keller Williams Realty. It was 5 intense days of learning about new ways to help our clients & teams, & the incredible growth of the Keller Williams International. A big part of that is the expansion into Canada. We also now have a network all over the world including the UK, Spain, South Africa, Vietnam etc...
Keller Williams Convention
KW was named the TOP training company (in any business) in the world. They were also named the largest brokerage with more than 110,000 associates worldwide. Yes we have a huge network to learn from & to expose our listings to! Our team was also awarded #5 in Canada @ Keller Williams in 2014 based on GCI. Very exciting company to be a part of.
This month we have also added a new section of this popular newsletter... For now we have replaced the home owner tips with 6 Fun Facts about one of our team members – starting with Tyler.
As mentioned in the Market Watch section of this newsletter - The Toronto Real Estate market has clearly ignored the chilly Feb temps and has been very active so far. Interestingly what we have really noticed is a jump in buyers wanting to find properties that they can live in and rent part out, to offset the costs, as prices rise. Another typical real estate situation is sellers and buyers not on the same page as far as market value. Sometimes sellers are reading the headlines too much and either over pricing, or under pricing and expecting too much more and not getting it. Sometimes properties go surprisingly over ask, as buyers covet certain locations and properties more than others. It is unique and different throughout the city of Toronto. Feel free to call on us for help as we can help you navigate through this time whether you are planning to buy or sell.
guiding you home,
Julie
P.S. Enjoy the JKT's annual Easter Kolouring Kontest – please submit your children's masterpieces today! Feel free to make copies for all the siblings, grandchildren, godchildren, nieces and nephews! Every child is welcome to enter! Download the drawing HERE.
QUOTE of the day:
You see things; and you say 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?'
George Bernard Shaw
Chit chat…
✦ Julia Wehkamp would like to share some exciting news about her business One Art Nation. She offers art collectors & enthusiasts, both emerging & established, online education on all aspects of art collecting. Their free courses cover anything from "Building A Collection Like A Pro" to "What Drives The Price Of Great Paintings?" Check it out www.oneartnation.com
✦ Meighan Sutherland and Abdel Tahir have started a new business venture! They have launched a new Toronto location of Tutor Doctor, a leader in customized, in-home, one-on-one tutoring for all ages and subjects! If you are looking for tutoring, or know someone who is? Find out more information at www.BestTorontoTutors.ca, by phone at 647 792 0240 twitter (@BestTOTutors) or Facebook.
Babies...
✦ Toni-Lynn Raponi & Mike Kislasko welcomed their first daughter Grace who is growing fast and already 4 months old.
MARKET WATCH excerpts from
Toronto Real Estate Board
Robust Sales & Price Growth in February
March 4, 2015 - Toronto Real Estate Board President Paul Etherington announced that GTA Realtors® reported a substantial 11.3% year-over-year increase in transactions compared to February 2014 for most major home types, in the City of Toronto and surrounding GTA regions.
"Even with the record low temperatures last month, we still saw an increase in the number of people purchasing homes. This speaks to the importance households place on home ownership and the fact that buyers continue to view ownership housing as a quality long-term investment in which they can live," said Mr. Etherington.
The overall supply of homes for sale, as measured by the count of active listings at the end of February 2015, was down by 8.7% compared to the same count in February 2014. This means that market conditions became tighter, leading to more competition between buyers.
The overall average selling price for February 2015 home sales was up by 7.8% compared to the average for February 2014. Driving this increase was the detached market segment. In the City of Toronto, the average detached selling price moved above $1 million dollars for the first time in a calendar month.
For the month of February:
Average sale price for a home in Toronto (416) areas based on type was:
$1,040,018 – Detached
$702,035 – Semi-detached
$507,843 – Townhouse
$369,655 – Condo
Feeling like Giving Back?
Plan Canada "Because I am a Girl" Campaign
Sunday March 8th was International Women's Day. According to my brother who lives in Europe, it is even a more significant day there than Mother's Day. Join us in celebrating girls & women around the world. It is a time to recognize the accomplishments & incredible potential of women around the world. Women & girls make up half the world’s population, yet they still face barriers to achieving equality & even to accessing their basic rights.
I noticed 2 of my clients companies recognized this week for placing more emphasis in their businesses and breaking through barriers by creating policies to empower and encourage their female employees. Including Vancouver based mining company Goldcorp. And Lerner's LLP in Toronto.
Removing these barriers is key to transforming lives. When we invest in girls, we support a generation of empowered women, mothers, workers and leaders who will improve the lives of everyone around them. Spread the word! If you believe, like we do, that we all benefit when girls and women are empowered, share our message on Twitter or Facebook. Together, we can create a brighter future for girls & women everywhere.
To Donate go to: www.becauseiamagirl.ca or phone 1-866-321-2392
Many of our clients have had their personal experiences with The JKT caught on video instead of the regular written word – they're even posted on YouTube! We so appreciate your kind testimonials. Our YouTube channel is growing exponentially and has had over 215,473 hits!
What they got! More of our happy buyers have found their new home!!
A continuing column of the Julie Kinnear Team’s sales…
Ronan Avenue - North Toronto
Asking Price: $989,000
Selling Price: $1,115,000
27 Protea Gardens - Bayview Village
Asking Price: $838,000
Selling Price: $808,000
528 Quebec Avenue - The Junction
Asking Price:$429,900
Selling Price:$565,555
356 McRae Drive #401 - Leaside
Asking Price: $399,000
Selling Price: $384,000
1093 Ogden Avenue - Mississauga
Asking Price: $509,900
Selling Price: $495,000
20 Gothic Ave #322 - High Park
Asking Price: $429,000
Selling Price: $420,000
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!
6 Fun Facts About Our Very Own Tyler Delaney
Tyler Delaney
1) If you were a super hero what powers would you have?
"It might be a bit cliché, but teleportation...with the ability to bring people with me. I could get across the city everyday without having to deal with traffic on the Gardiner! I could spend my weekends on a beach in Fiji or on the slopes in Whistler with friends!"
2) What's the furthest you've ever been on holiday?
"Ashley and I spent almost three months in Thailand in 2008 to celebrate finishing school. We played with tigers; zip lined through the jungle, slept in a tree house 150 metres off the jungle floor, got in a nasty moped accident and were saved by Buddhist Monks! There are so many amazing stories and memories from that trip that we'll never forget."
3) Have you ever met any celebrities?
"I've met a few. But the most memorable was working as a Kellogg's cereal mascot when I met "The Great One", Wayne Gretzky. Unfortunately I was in costume as a giant cow at the time, so I'm not sure if it really counts!"
4) What do you like on your toast?
"That's a tough one to choose...but I think I have to go with the classic: Peanut butter and banana drizzled with honey."
5) What would be your dream car?
"1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302. Hands down. I have weird feelings for that car that people don't usually have for automobiles."
6) What was a nickname you had growing up (or still to this day)?
"First Name Mista, Middle Name 'Period', Last Name "T". And I pity the foo who don't buy or sell with the JKT!"
Mortgage rates – Courtesy of Carrie Davidson - Dominion Lending Centres Service First Mortgages #12089 License #M08003121 www.carriedavidson.com Phone: 416-693-6946
VARIABLE RATE as low as 2.2%
CURRENT PRIME RATE IS 2.85%
Some conditions may apply.
Rates subject to change without notice! *O.A.C. E. & O.E.
The Julie Kinnear Team's GEMs (Genuine Evidence of Merit)
"Dear Julie, Thank you for the wonderful work you and the team did getting us ready for and through the sale process. The terrific process produced a result that was everything we wished for, and honestly, a bit more!"
Ann & Rod
See their full video testimonial on juliekinnear.com
The JKT – A few of our Favourite things:
Stephanie
✦ My EOS peppermint lip balm! Love it!
✦ My birthday dinner at Montecito with my best friend Hank!! I highly recommend this restaurant & Chef Jonathan Waxman's chicken! It is the best chicken I have ever eaten!!!
Claire
✦ My new dog Teddy! We picked her up on Valentine’s Day and she has brought so much joy & happiness to us every day. At the same time a puppy’s truly a lot of work! Holy moly! She is an adorable Bichon Poo, half toy poodle &half Bichon Frise = a whole lot of cuteness. I welcome the company of another bitch in our home!
Tyler
✦ The Loaded Pierogi in St. Lawrence Market! I'm a sucker for pierogis, and these guys do pierogis like nobody's business. Mixing pierogis with amazing foods like butter chicken, cheeseburgers, lobster, kimchi and duck. Why didn't I think of that?
✦ Winter cottage adventures! Nothing beats laying out on the dock at the cottage in the summertime, but how about beer-bogganing and board games by the fire with friends in the winter? - a truly Canadian experience!
Jen
Sunset in Mexico
✦ My trip to Mexico with my sister Elena! Just came back from a beautiful week of fun in the sun. It was so nice to escape the horrible stretch of cold weather we have been having along with the snow and now snirt :) Thankfully spring is on the way.
Holly
✦ Spring. Spring followed by summer.
✦ Packing up winter clothes. Good-bye winter! Please
Julie
✦ Mr. Flamingo restaurant on Dundas West in Little Portugal – we attended an awesome Pinot Noir wine tasting with chef's menu. Yum!
✦ Mary's FitBit – I gave this to my wife for Valentine's day and it is keeping us both accountable! Walking, stairs and sleeping habits keep getting better!
✦ Community Theatre – check out my Facebook page for more details – very proud of all you amateur actors, singers & dancers who put it out there on stage with the Riverdale Players and the Bedford Park Players - you work so hard to make the most fun productions and raise $ for great causes.