Kinnear's Komments
Vol. 26, Issue 5, September 2018
Julie's Scoop
Happy End of Summer! Yes, Fall is about to officially come to fruition, but this new heat wave is a lovely reminder of what our awesome summer was all about in 2018!
Our team had a fun and productive summer as well as personally rewarding last couple of months. The market was cooperating all summer long, and our team has been busier than last year with many clients successfully buying and selling, (still many multiple offers), and it felt like there has been good momentum going into the new school year/Fall real estate market.
Our team had a blast continuing our "discover Toronto" JKTEAM "Fun Day" tradition. Every summer we pick a spot to get to know the city a bit better. And I have to say the Toronto Islands were a happy discovery for me. I haven't been to Centre Island or Wards Island or the like in decades. What a relaxing, meditative type space so close to the big smoke. It is such a gem. Feels like worlds away. Beaches, healthy foods, fun Centreville rides, parks, and paths for walking and biking.
Awesome JKTEAM "Fun Day" rediscovering the Toronto Islands!
Tyler had the biggest news this summer, which included investing in more real estate as Tyler as his wife Ashley bought a new home in the Norseman / Queensway neighbourhood, not too far from their current property. They are both home owners and landlords!
My own personal challenge/bucket list item this summer has revolved around my big 50th birthday celebration coming up in November. My sister & I are "Irish twins", born within a year of each other, so to mark the auspicious occasion, we decided to conquer the Whistler Granfondo. This is a 122 km road cycling event, where the participants ride from Stanley Park in Vancouver, all the way up to Whistler Village. They call this the Sea to Sky highway - as we literally are climbing 6200 feet up to the Village. Well, it lived up to its reputation, and was damn hilly/mountainous! It poured rain for first 50k - then it improved and then it was mostly dry. The views were totally gorgeous! It was super tiring and by the end I was wiped out but happy and proud. My sister couldn’t participate having broken her foot the week before the event, but I kept her in the loop and energy with all the tricks of technology, so we were right there together crossing the finish line! The best part was feeling pretty great the next day, which means all those hours of training paid off. Setting a goal like this has been very motivating and inspiring. Having so many friends and family support me this year has been overwhelmingly emotional. What a blessing it has been on life’s journey.
Life is a journey - it was fun picking a big birthday challenge!
As you probably noticed, our team has been busy working on expanding and growing the team and look forward to sharing more news in the near future.
guiding you home,
Julie
P.S. This year our Pumpkin event is going to be such a fun Halloween themed JKT Movie Matinee on October 27th to get you in the mood! Vote today on your choice!
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Chit Chat & Babies
- Have you seen our recent JKT Spotlight: Julia Wehkamp from One Art Nation (1AN) - has founded a place to bring art to a younger generation of collectors & newer interested parties. Through educational talks, artist showcases, & expert interviews, One Art Nation (1AN) is demystifying the process of buying and owning and investing in art from start to finish. They bring together prominent art experts from across the globe. Become a member.. It’s Free!
- Got a sweet tooth? Our fabulous client and friend Madhu Mohan and her business partner Megha Utukuri are the faces behind Baking Buddies. Whether it’s a Unicorn cake you’re after, or Ninja Turtle themed cupcakes, the duo will bake that up in a home kitchen using fresh, delicious ingredients. Check out their rave reviews on Facebook
- Our clients & friends Murray & Karen Jones are co-hosting their Fiesta Latina 2018 on Sept 29 - a Fundraising Event with Latin Music and food to benefit their CAFA not for profit, a registered Canadian charity that supports the rehabilitation of severely burned children in Peru.
Market Watch - GTA REALTORS® Release August stats
September 6, 2018 - Toronto Real Estate Board President Garry Bhaura announced sales and price increases on a year-over-year basis in August. Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 6,839 sales through TREB's MLS® System in August 2018 – an 8.5% increase compared to August 2017.
Both the average selling price, at $765,270, and the MLS® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark for August 2018 were up compared to the same month in 2017, by 4.7% and 1.5% respectively. The average selling price increased by more than the MLS® HPI Composite due, at least in part, to a change in the mix of sales compared to last year. Detached home sales were up by double digits on a year-over-year percentage basis – substantially more than many other less-expensive home types.
"It is encouraging to see a continued resurgence in the demand for ownership housing. Many home buyers who had initially moved to the sidelines due to the Ontario Fair Housing Plan and new mortgage lending guidelines have renewed their search for a home and are getting deals done much more so than last year. In a region where the economy remains strong and the population continues to grow, ownership housing remains a solid long-term investment," said Mr. Bhaura.
Month-over-month sales and price growth also continued in August. On a preliminary seasonally adjusted basis, August 2018 sales were up by 2% compared to July 2018. The seasonally adjusted August 2018 average selling price was down slightly by 0.2% compared to July 2018, following strong monthly increases in May, June and July.
"Market conditions in the summer of 2018, including this past August, were tighter than what was experienced in the summer of 2017. In August, the annual rate of sales growth outpaced the annual rate of new listings growth. We only have less than 2 months of inventory in the City of Toronto. This means that despite the fact the sales remain off the record highs from 2016 and 2017, many GTA neighbourhoods continue to suffer from a lack of inventory. This could present a problem if demand continues to accelerate over the next year, which is expected," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.
Feeling like giving back? September is World Alzheimer's Month
This month we have chosen the Alzheimer Society in Canada. Behind every person with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, there are hundreds of people dedicated to helping. The Alzheimer Society is the leading not-for-profit health organization working nationwide to improve the quality of life for Canadians affected by Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and advance the search for the cause and cure. Active in communities right across Canada, the Society has programs and services near you.
To donate please visit alzheimer.ca
The JKT Recipe of the Month from our calendar
Ingredients:
- 6 apples
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup chopped dried cherries, apricots, cranberries or raisins
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp grated nutmeg
- ½ cup apple cider or juice
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 2 tsp cornstarch
Directions:
- Core apples almost to bottom, leaving base intact. Slice off ¾-inch (2cm) wide strip of peel around hole at top; trim base to level, if necessary.
- In bowl, combine brown sugar, dried cherries, cinnamon and nutmeg; pack into apples. Place in slow cooker. Whisk together apple cider and butter; pour over apples.
- Cover and cook on low, basting several times, until wrinkly and very tender, about 3 to 4 hours. Transfer apples to shallow serving dish and keep warm.
- Whisk cornstarch with 1 tbsp (15 mL) cold water; whisk into liquid in slow cooker. Cover and cook on high until sauce is thickened, about 15 minutes. (Make-ahead: Let apples and sauce cool separately. Store at room temperature for up to 8 hours or refrigerate in airtight containers for up to 3 days. Reheat to serve.)
- Drizzle sauce over apples.
The Julie Kinnear Team's GEMs (Genuine Evidence of Merit)
Tyler helped me find my perfect condo in the Kingsway. Then when I needed to move out of Toronto he guided me through that too. He took care to understand my needs and constraints and created a path that fit my crazy schedule and got the unit sold when it went to market. I was traveling and it was easy to sign documents remotely and authorize the things that needed to be done to stage the sale. I was never pressured. He had trusted service providers that I have used since (local mover, cleaner, etc). I was informed of relative pros and cons to help me in my decision making. I also needed to get the final transfer done on the last day before a holiday and it was easily managed by the JKT. I would heartily recommend him and the team.
Kate
What They Got - More of our happy buyers & sellers!
A continuing column of the Julie Kinnear Team's sales...
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1000 King Street West PH#12 – King/Queen West Sold Over Asking |
99 Edwin Avenue – Junction Triangle List Price: $699,000 Sold Over Asking |
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48 Seaforth Avenue – Roncesvalles Sold Over Asking |
22 Skelton Street – Mimico Sold Over Asking |
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77 Constance Street – Roncesvalles Sold Under Asking |
674 Durie Street – Bloor West Village Sold Over 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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