KINNEAR'S KOMMENTS

Vol. 19, Issue 3
  May 2011

"When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts.  A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child."

~Sophia Loren

Julie's Scoop

Photo by Morgan

Wow the spring seems to be flying by! Mary and I have been so darned excited about our trip that we've planned for her 50th birthday in Italy and now the time has finally come. Can't wait to share our stories!

As you've probably seen we have had a great year so far and have been happily selling a number of listings at record prices. This market has been generally pretty crazy with some multiple offer situations although it is not a predictable market and high prices are not across the board - it is kinda selective and buyers are definitely more willing to go big on the renovated or "perfect" ones. The lack of inventory helped the market this year.

All's well with the team, we're having lots of fun working together!

Jen in her spare time is nursing her horse back to health after she cut herself on a fence, and her dogs from being "quilled'. Poor babies! She's looking forward to going up to Northern Quebec at the end of May to help IFAW with the spaying & neutering of the dogs up there.

Claire and Steph are working really hard behind the scenes. I know Addison (Claire's son) is enjoying the hockey playoffs. Steph enjoyed a little R & R in Barbados with some friends.

Holly was recently in Arizona for bike training and the weather was not great, even cooler than Toronto!  What a small world - it turns out that our long time clients and also cycling fanatics participate in these intense bike trips Joe Fehervari & Alison Lacy. Holly and I are starting to fundraise for our big Ride to Conquer Cancer in June.  It is inspiring when you know you're riding for all these people who are supporting us...So don't be surprised if you receive an email plea or just go to conquercancer.ca!

Come on by our Royal LePage Garage Sale Fundraiser on May 14th – it is behind our Bloor West Village office. Steph is on the organizing committee this year. This fabulous Canada-wide event raises $$ for women's shelters across the country. For our sale the proceeds specifically go to The Redwood Women's Shelter - and I've been collecting stuff all year to donate. To make it even MORE successful, if you have items to add to it, Atlas Van Lines will bring a truck and collect your donations directly from your home.  It is such a worthy cause and all those extra items that collect dust in your house can find a new home and raise welcomed funds.

Julie

P.S. Congratulations to Nathan Wilson , the "grand prize" Easter Kolouring Kontest Winner!

Second Best March on Record

Photo by Richard Taylor

MARKET WATCH excerpts from Toronto Real Estate Board

Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 9,262 transactions through the TorontoMLS® system in March 2011, representing the second best March result on record. The number of transactions was 11 per cent lower than the record result reported in March 2010.

"The strong home sales reported in March and throughout the first quarter of 2011 have been based on a solid affordability picture and improving economic conditions in the GTA and country-wide," said Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Bill Johnston.

The average selling price for March 2011 was up five per cent year-over-year to $456,147. The strongest average annual price growth was reported for condominium apartments and semi-detached houses, at approximately seven per cent for both home types.

"Market conditions were tighter in March compared to last year. With more competition between buyers, we have seen a strong but sustainable rate of price growth," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

Chit Chat

Photo by Chris Yunker

• Exciting news from Christine & Bruce Felstead – who fulfilled a dream of owning a home in Italy – they'll use it personally and it is available for rent if you've dreamed of Italy too! They found & completely renovated a unique 2bdrm/2 bath property that is part of the original castle wall of Spina in the Perugia area of Umbria, just south of Tuscany. Architect-designed and restored to a high standard, close to shops and services and ideally located for exploring. Sleeps 5 people for pictures and information visit www.ownersdirect.co.uk/italy Property reference #IT4824. Julie & Mary will be staying there for part of their holidays!

• Martin Hering & Nadine Kadri long time clients who recently sold with us in Toronto, just had their fabulous home in Hamilton featured in The Globe & Mail on April 8th. They bought & this interesting little piece of history originally built in 1939 – 170 Longwood. Highlighted for its architecture and "Super Rare" Art Moderne style. For the full story and pictures visit www.170longwood.ca

• After landing her role as Vice President, Client Solutions at Fusion Learning (Canada's fastest growing sales effectiveness company and a Profit 100 company 4 years in a row), Janet Logan is now a partner in the firm. Congratulations Janet on this professional success story!

Photo by Salim Virji

• Help recycle, keep our landfills clean and get bikes into the hands of those that need one. Toronto Bicycle Recycling offers a free, wasteless, environmentally friendly solution for your unwanted bikes and puts them into the hands of less fortunate families. Contact Brendan at 647-352-7433 or www.torontobicyclerecycling.com

• Please help Cathy Anagnostopoulos a 44 year old mother of 3 living in Leaside has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. She is in desperate need of a stem cell transplant to save her life. It is a simple as a cheek swab, for information of how you can help please contact www.onematch.ca, or www.bethematch.com.

• Congrats to Leah Smith & Tiff Daniels on the announcement of the birth of their new bundle of joy son - Bennett George Daniels. 3lbs 5oz born on February 9 2011 at BC Women's Hospital. He's doing great, but keeping us up at nights being a hungry boy?

• Huge special Happy Birthday to Mary Palacios as she will be celebrating the big 5-0 on May 6th in Italy. Wishing you a fantastic year!

Are you feeling like Giving Back?

Charity of the Month– Toronto Human Society- www.torontohumanesociety.com The Toronto Humane Society is "dedicated to providing compassionate care, shelter, adoptions to caring homes and a voice for abandoned, abused and injured companion animals."

Toronto Humane Society

The Society provides a desperately needed adoption facility and haven for injured and abandoned animals in the City of Toronto. The injured receive veterinary care, and abandoned animals are given a safe haven 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Immature and/or injured animals are placed in foster care until they are old enough and strong enough to be placed for adoption.

For more information on so many different ways to help, either donating, volunteering or to adopt an animal please contact:

The Toronto Humane Society
11 River Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 4C2
Phone: 416.392.2273 Fax: 416.392.9978

Did You Know?

Many of our clients have had their experiences with The JKT caught on video instead of the regular written word – they're even posted on Youtube! We so appreciate your support. Our Youtube channel is growing exponentially – and has had now over 41,600 hits!

Mortgage rates

Courtesy of Carrie Davidson AMP, Dominion Lending www.carriedavidson.com Phone: 416-693-6946
Fax: 416-693-4103

CURRENT VARIABLE MORTGAGE RATE IS 2.25%
CURRENT PRIME RATE IS 3.00%

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

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!

May 2011 editorial by JKT member Claire Hartviksen

Photo by Peter Dutton

Yeah it's May! Goodbye spring showers we need May flowers! A special happy Mother's day to all you wonderful hard working Mom's out there. May you all have a wonderful day filled with love laughter and happiness!

As the JKT was out celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a client & friend Kath Perry we got into the discussion of streets and how they are mispronounced names. Low and behold 1 week later The Metro News paper came out with an article titled "Tarawna, Where the Streets Have Mispronounced Names".

1st one and the one that we were referring to is Balliol Street which runs between Yonge Street and Bayview Avenue. Many pronounce it ba-loyle but it's actually bailey-ole.

2nd – Roncesvalles Avenue some say Rawn-sez-valls, others say it ends with "vale" while others just give up and call it Roncy.

3rd – Princes Gate – The CNE's grand entranceway is often referred to as the Princess Gates but it's actually Princes'.

4th – Baby Point – Now you think how could you not get this one right? It is actually pronounced Bawby or Bobby.

5th – Strachan Avenue – The name of this street running from the lake to Trinity Bellwoods Park is Strawn not Strack-an.

What They Got!

A continuing column of the Julie Kinnear Team's sales…

153 Humbercrest

153 Humbercrest Blvd. – Baby Point
Asking Price: $749,000
Selling Price: $861,350

53 Robinson

53 Robinson …. – Trinity Bellwoods
Asking Price: $659,000
Selling Price: $659,000

47 Kingsmount

47 Kingsmount Park Rd– Upper Beaches
Asking Price: $539,900
Selling Price: $565,000

292A Woodfield

292A Woodfield Road– Leslieville
Asking Price: $489,900
Selling Price: $521,000

380 Macpherson 221

380 Macpherson Ave #221 – Summerhill
Asking Price: $387,000
Selling Price: $384,500

34 Western Battery 411

34 Western Battery Rd. #411– Liberty Village
Asking Price: $374,900
Selling Price: $374,900

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)

"Many, many thanks! Thanks again for an incredibly efficient and successful outcome to our house sale – Can't believe how amazingly fast and painless that was. You are the best! (easy to say from 3,500 km away)" Siobhan & Alex

The JKT – A few of our Favourite things:

Get Volunteering

Jen

• The website www.getvolunteering.ca. You put in your interests, time commitment, etc. and the website matches you with organizations that need volunteers. It's like a dating site, but for volunteering!

• On-line banking – it's a no-brainer. Fast, easy, efficient.

Holly  

• Massage Therapist Mirella Miele. Besides the fact that she has a portable massage table that she brings to my house (beyond convenient!) Mirella is extremely good at what she does. I credit her with keeping me relatively injury free over the past year or so of triathlon training. She can be reached at 416-889-5116.

• SPRING!!!

• BBQ Pro. They cleaned my BBQ so it almost has that "new car" smell. It works better than ever! www.barbequepro.com

Photo by Philip Dean

Stephanie

• Long weekends! We are busy busy right now so it was fun on Good Friday to spend the day with my whole family in High Park and then hosting an Easter Egg hunt for my nieces and nephew then lunch for them all at my condo!

• Mitzi's on Sorauren in Roncesvalles Village for brunch. Whatever it is they put on their home fries makes me crazy for them and the oatmeal pancake should come with a warning "you will need to have one every weekend", I don't even want to think of the calories!!! Such a great atmosphere, it's a real neighbourhood hang out!

• Bella's Birthday walk! It's my 3rd year going to the walk and it was amazing to have my own dogs to bring this year. Such a fun group of people, great dogs. The off-leash hike in High park is really good exercise, even in the rain, sleet and snow that we encountered this year!!

Claire  

• The heimlich maneuver & my friend/co-worker Stephanie! Yes might sound strange but that would have to be my favourite thing for the month since it saved my life literally. I think it is so important for everyone to learn as you never know when it might happen to someone around you. Poor Stephanie is still spooked by the experience but I am so grateful to her for knowing how to do it.

• On a brighter note I am oh so looking forward to sunny skies and nice weather of Spring/Summer.

Photo by Julian Wylegly

Julie  

• Will and Kate's Wedding – what is not to love! Have to say I've always been a Royal fan and so we got up to watch @ 5am and then PVR'd and watched it again. History in the making. Fabulous fairytale! Love hearing everyone's personal celebration stories!

• Stanley cup playoffs - Go CANUCKS! Yes I'm originally from Vancouver, and all my cousins are huge Canucklehead fans, although The Leafs are really my team, I say Go LOUUUUUUUUUU!