Kinnear's Komments
Vol. 26, Issue 2, March 2018
Julie's Scoop
Happy March Break! And of course Happy St. Patrick’s Day too to all who love to celebrate one of the more fun excuses to drink beer all year!
It’s funny listening to the headlines these days about the Toronto real estate market including those in Market Watch etc. It seems that there is a bit of a disconnect between the sales numbers that are "down" but in reality, as we are here full time with "boots on the ground," we are experiencing multiple offers again on many properties. Spring has sprung. The deep cold is gone and daylight savings has come, and the new mortgage rules haven’t toppled anything.
Currently we are getting calls from many buyers looking to move this spring, and sellers needing help preparing to sell as well. Good news for any of our clients planning on making that move - I personally get a real sense of buoyancy at this point, so you can feel free to ignore the negativity. I heard a great quote that is such a reminder about all reporting - "The news informs us of what to include on our prayer list." The numbers being down from last Feb is probably healthy in fact. In many reports 2017 is being considered an "outlier year".
Mary and I enjoyed a very special opportunity and trip to Australia & New Zealand recently. Absolutely stunning wine country, beaches, natural beauty, and some of the most iconic sites.
The Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach | Whitsundays
It goes to show you that when you put your bucket list together and keep it front of mind, your dream trips can come true. Life is short and so we decided to just go for it while healthy and able. Thankfully the team was here to help all our clients with their own real estate dreams while we were gone.
Auckland Muriwai Beach | 3 Sisters, Blue Mountains in New South Wales | Villa Maria | New Zealand
Jen and our team experienced a very sad shock as Jen & Mary's cherished Mom and my extra special mother-in-law Sondra Palacios passed away quite unexpectedly in January. Sondra was dearly loved by all her friends and relations and our JKT family lost one of most beloved supporters.
We are incredibly grateful for her contribution to our team and to our lives. "Sondy" was a fixture at all our events, helped with our newsletter and mailings for years, and was very present on a daily basis and is sadly missed. We are so blessed for the family and friends and clients who have been so understanding and good to us. Thank you.
guiding you home,
Julie
P.S. Easter is coming early this year! We have our annual Kolouring Kontest ready for all kids of all ages to join in the fun and everyone receives a prize.
Easiest thing is to go on-line and download the picture here - and scan or take a photo and mail it back, and you can keep the artwork posted up in your own home! Due date is April 5th! We’ll be posting on-line and sharing the Easter Bunny LOVE!
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Chit Chat & Babies
- Alison Liphardt is the owner and founder of GoodOrder.ca and an active member of the Professional Organizers of Canada (POC). Having 3 kids of her own, and living in the core of Toronto, with a good sense of design, Alison understands how space has to function in a family environment, and how "stuff" can pile up and seem overwhelming. Looking to downsize or move? Good Order can help you prepare for the sale. Good Order will help you save time, reduce stress and focus on other more important things in your life - and Alison is fun to work with! Call her at: 416-476-6100
- Jessica Moore & Degan Davis and big sister Ayla are blessed with the sweetest twins Arlan Arthur Woolf and Silas Galen John born November 16th, 2017.
- Tyler Delaney is so excited to welcome his very first niece, Laila, born on January 25th, 2018. Mom and baby are healthy and the whole family is thrilled. See Tyler’s favourite things for more info. Congrats Delaney family!
Market Watch - GTA REALTORS® Release February stats
March 6, 2018 - Toronto Real Estate Board President announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 5,175 residential transactions through TREB's MLS® System in February 2018. This result was down 34.9% compared to the record 7,955 sales reported in February 2017.
The number of new listings entered into TREB's MLS® System was a 7.3% increase compared to February 2017. However, the level of new listings remained below the average for the month of February for the previous 10 years.
"When TREB released its Outlook for 2018, the forecast anticipated a slow start to the year compared to the historically high sales count reported in the winter and early spring of 2017. Prospective home buyers are still coming to terms with the psychological impact of the Fair Housing Plan, and some have also had to reevaluate their plans due to the new OFSI-mandated mortgage stress test guidelines and generally higher borrowing costs," said Mr. Syrianos.
The MLS® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark was up by 3.2% on a year-over-year basis for the TREB market area as a whole. This growth was driven by the apartment and townhouse market segments, with annual benchmark price increases of 18.8% and 7.5% respectively. Single-family detached and attached benchmark prices were down slightly compared to February 2017.
The overall average selling price for February sales was down 12.4% year-over-year to $767,818. However, putting aside the price spike reported in the first quarter of 2017, it is important to note that February's average price remained 12% higher than the average reported for February 2016, which represents an annualized increase well above the rate of inflation for the past two years.
"As we move further into the spring and summer months, growth in sales and selling prices is expected to pick up relative to last year. Expect stronger price growth to continue in the comparatively more affordable townhouse and condominium apartment segments. This being said, listings supply will likely remain below average in many neighbourhoods in the GTA, which, over the long-term, could further hamper affordability," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.
Feeling like giving back? Canadian Diabetes Association
Eleven million Canadians are living with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Every three minutes, another Canadian is diagnosed. Chances are that diabetes affects you or someone you know. Diabetes is a chronic, often debilitating and sometimes fatal disease, in which the body either cannot produce insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it produces. Both Mary and myself have immediate family members with Diabetes. Please give generously!
To donate please visit: www.diabetes.ca
The JKT Recipe of the Month
Serves 6.
A savoury breakfast makes a welcome change from the overload of sweet stuff often served at brunches. While it’s not necessary, a poached or fried egg on top makes this dish even more divine. For crispier, almost hash brownesque cauliflower, be sure to finely chop the florets. Try blending hummus with a handful of chopped basil to pump up the flavour.
Ingredients:
- 1 head cauliflower, chopped
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 to 3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
- 4 tsp (20 ml) + 1 Tbsp (15 ml) extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- Sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- 6 organic boneless, skinless chicken thighs, chopped into small pieces
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 fennel bulb, cored and slivered
- 1 Tbsp (15 ml) smoked paprika
- 2 tsp (10 ml) chilli powder
- 1/4 tsp (1 ml) ground cinnamon
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) chopped fresh dill
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) prepared hummus
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) pepitas
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) chopped toasted almonds or pistachios
Directions:
Preheat oven to 475 F (250 C). Divide cauliflower, onion, and unpeeled garlic cloves between 2 large baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Drizzle each with 2 tsp (15 ml) oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast in preheated oven, switching racks halfway, until lightly charred, 20 to 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, toss chicken, minced garlic, and fennel with 1 Tbsp (15 ml) oil, paprika, chilli powder, and cinnamon. Heat large wide frying pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add chicken and stir-fry until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in dill. For best results, work in batches so chicken browns evenly.
Remove roasted garlic cloves from baking sheet. Squeeze out and mash with flat side of knife. Stir into hummus and add enough warm water so it’s thin enough to drizzle.
Divide cauliflower among plates and top with chicken and fennel mixture. Sprinkle with pepitas, cranberries, and almonds. Drizzle with hummus.
The Julie Kinnear Team's GEMs (Genuine Evidence of Merit)
Hello All at Julie Kinnear,
Just received your newsletter and realized we have been remiss in not expressing for your audience our delight in the service we received. Jen not only found our condo for us but managed the sale of our home in record time. We had previously had our home on the market with another agent and had no luck... As a matter of fact it was an unsatisfactory and unpleasant experience. Jen did a superb job for which we will be eternally grateful”
Al and Adel
What They Got - More of our happy buyers & sellers!
A continuing column of the Julie Kinnear Team's sales...
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322 Berkeley Street ~ Cabbagetown Sold Under Asking |
232 Melrose Avenue ~ North Toronto List Price: $1,259,000 Sold Over Asking |
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128 Evans Avenue ~ Bloor West Village Sold Over Asking |
42 Groomsport Crescent ~ Bridlewood Sold Under Asking |
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102 Riverhead Drive ~ Etobicoke Sold Under Asking |
17 Barberry Place TH#120 ~ Bayview Village Sold Under Asking |
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 JKT - A few of our Favourite Things:
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Tyler
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Claire
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Jen
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Holly
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Julie
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