Kinnear's Komments

Volume 18, Issue 6
November 2010

Seven days without laughter makes one weak.

~Mort Walker

Julie's Scoop

Well, it is my favourite month again. Once a year it rolls around just like clockwork :) Many of you have been subjected to my happy obsession with my birthday! My mom says she is going to send a marching band down Yonge Street to celebrate the occasion.

Lots of exciting news with the JKT. The first and foremost being Steph's new additions to her family – the cutest little puppies – Havanese/Poodle mixes that are so sweet and quiet and making her very happy. Lucky girl. Lucky dogs – Rizzo & Frenchie – (the pink ladies!)

 

Pumpkin Day

Did you get a chance to see the pics of Pumpkin day on our site? What an amazing day. We had just the greatest kids come in costume to play some games, win some treats, and celebrate Hallowe'en early. It was an honour to spread the love with our clients and a truckful pumpkins – plus $301 dollars was raised for breast cancer. Special thanks to those who came by to visit with us, and Heidi for organizing most of it!

I'm sure most of you are as relieved as I am that the election is over. Now the debate for us Torontonians is how we can make our great city even better.

The real estate market is a funny one these days. Hard to predict is probably the most apt description. Some properties are still getting multiple offers, and some are staying on the market longer than anyone ever expected. Prices have dipped, and it is a good time to trade up. I love how all these "market experts" are all quoted in the paper giving their forecast for the future. It seems that if we look back on 2010 – no one could have known ahead of time what really happened. Lots of ups and downs. The market is most definitely price sensitive right now – and buyers are sometimes on the fence. All in all there are many properties changing hands and people living out their dreams.

This is the time that we start planning for year end. Arranging Christmas vacations, holiday parties, and of course brainstorming for 2011. I love the anticipation of the good to come. We have so many fantastic ideas brewing and look forward to rolling them out and sharing them with you.

J.

MARKET WATCH

Excerpts from Toronto Real Estate Board
October Price Growth Reflects Healthy Housing Market Conditions

November 3, 2010 - Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported that the first ten months of the year, sales amounted to 75,582 – up one per cent compared to the January through October period in 2009.

"The annual change in sales and average selling prices has been quite uniform across the GTA and by property type as the market has balanced out from record levels of sales in the second half of 2009 and first few months of 2010," said Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Bill Johnston.

"The composition of GTA home sales does differ depending on location. Condominium apartments accounted for 42 per cent of total sales in the City of Toronto and almost 60 per cent of sales in TREB's central districts," Johnston continued. "In regions surrounding the City of Toronto, in contrast, low rise home types accounted for almost 90 per cent of transactions."

The average price for October transactions was $443,729 – up five per cent compared to the average of $423,559 reported in October 2009. The average selling price through the first nine months of the year was $430,802.

From Toronto Real Estate Board

Did you know?

Only a few more months to cash in on many of those government grants for energy! March 31st 2011 is the deadline for getting the work done!

Try GreenSaver – they might be able to help and save you some $$.

GreenSaver is a not-for-profit organization that specializes in Energy Efficiency and Energy audits. They have been around for 25 years, doing energy audits for over 10 years.

Getting an energy audit qualifies a homeowner of up to $5000 worth of grants which can range from changing windows and doors, to furnaces and hot water heaters. There are a wide variety of other renovations that are eligible for grants as well. Greensaver handles all of the paperwork throughout the process and works hard to maximize their clients' opportunity for grants.

Fast Facts about GreenSaver

• Ontario's only independent non-profit dedicated to environmental energy efficiency
• GreenSaver pioneered residential energy conservation over 25 years ago
• GreenSaver has helped over 40,000 households and businesses improve their comfort, lower energy bills and increase resale value, while improving the environment and the world we live in
• GreenSaver's four diverse divisions provide a wealth of services from energy audits to  energy education and outreach programs to local communities, and from specialized services for draft proofing and insulation to management of complex conservation programs
• GreenSaver operates its own fleet of renovation trucks and installation crews to ensure our customers receive the highest quality workmanship to save energy

Photo by Liz Jones

Our Mission: To help our customers achieve energy efficiency, reduce green house gas and carbon emissions, and encourage alternative energy use across Canada.

Our Vision: To be the leaders and trusted experts in energy conservation and alternative energy solutions to improve the environment and the world we live in.

For more information contact GreenSaver at 1-888-855-3106

www.GreenSaver.ca/

Chit Chat

• 

  Liz Usher has a great website that helps us understand that we need to bridge that gap between what we eat and what we actually require. Are you getting enough of the essential vitamins? Check out her website www.LizUsherJuicePlus.com for a SIMPLE ANSWER & SOLUTION.

• Congratulations to Alison Pick – her new novel called 'Far to Go' and it has made the Top 40 list at Canada Reads! Unbelievable company she was in, what an honour! Canada Reads
  
  Here are 2 reviews that sing her novel's praises!

  "... very deftly structured and the storytelling is seamless. … Far to Go appears poised to gain a wide and significant readership, and deservedly so."
  The Globe and Mail

  "Far to Go's thoroughly absorbing narrative is expertly c rafted in every sense."
  The Toronto Star

• Diane Buckell spent a fabulous month in September touring the UK, Bristol, Cornwall, Isle of Man and St. Anne's on Sea, and the weather was glorious. But her most wonderful news is that her daughter, Christine, will be having her kidney transplant on December 9th. Diane sends her blessings and thanks to Christine's donor.

• 
  Carrie Davidson

  Carrie Davidson is proud that her company has just started a FREE program about educating Canadian youth on how to be responsible with their finances from an early stage in their lives. Great idea – and awesome program – yes, it's FREE!
  
  The program is for ages 12 – 23. The course is at The Mississauga Living Arts Centre on December 18th 11:00am -2:00pm or 4:00pm -7:00pm. If you are interested in going please contact Carrie @ to reserve a seat.

• We've got resources of all kinds of independent small businesses that are trusted services that our clients and friends of The JKT offer and you may need! For example – need someone to help you pack & declutter? Or unpack? Or need your leaves raked? Call us and we'll pass the info along.

Babies

• 
  

  
  Photo by James Brandon

  Ryan Bohren and Rachel Bodig had a baby boy, Theo, on September 1st! Theo weighed in at 9.5 lbs. Ryan and Rachel are elated and exhausted.

 

Would you like to give back?

Charity of the Month – ProstateCancer.ca and the MovemberCampaign.com

The Mo, slang for moustache, and November come together each year for Movember.

• 

  Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men's health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple, start Movember 1st clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month.  The moustache becomes the ribbon for men's health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for prostate cancer.  Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days.

• The idea for Movember was sparked in 2003 over a few beers in Melbourne, Australia.  The plan was simple – to bring the moustache back as a bit of a joke and do something for men's health. Inspired by the women around them and all they had done for breast cancer, the Mo Bros set themselves on a course to create a global men's health movement.

• In 2009, global participation of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas climbed to 255,755, with over one million donors raising $47 Million for Movember's global beneficiary partners.  We are proud to announce that last year's Canadian campaign was the second largest in the world behind Australia, with 35,156 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas coming together to raise $7.8 million for Prostate Cancer Canada.

Mortgage rates – Carrie Davidson's website

CURRENT VARIABLE MORTGAGE RATE IS 2.35%
CURRENT PRIME RATE IS 3.00%

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

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:

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 Julie Kinnear Team's GEMs (Genuine Evidence of Merit)

Photo by Desi

"Thank you for the lovely bouquet of cookies!  It was very sweet of you! Thanks so much for all the hard work to make our first home a dream come true!  We greatly appreciate your dedication and thoughtfulness. And we will most definitely be recommending you!"

Jen Silk & Josh Valade

What They Got!
A continuing column of the Julie Kinnear Team's Sales

33 Princess Margaret

Princess Ann Manor/Gardens
33 Princess Margaret Blvd
Asking Price $1,299,000
Selling Price $1,285,000

100 Twenty Seventh

Long Branch
100 Twenty Seventh
Asking Price $ 799,900
Selling Price $ 760,000

73 Anglesey

Humber Valley Village
73 Anglesey Blvd
Asking Price $ 699,900
Selling Price $ 705,000

94 Westmoreland

Dovercourt Park
94 Westmoreland Ave
Asking Price $ 429,000
Selling Price $ 429,000

1209 Queen 41

Leslieville
1209 Queen St E. #41
Asking Price $ 329,900
Selling Price $ 325,000

170 Monarch Park

Danforth Village
120 Monarch Park Ave
Asking Price $ 529,900
Selling Price $ 530,000

JKT – A few of our Favourite things

Jen

Photo by Paul Stocker

Spending time with my relatives in Spain!
I am always amazed how wonderful family is – although I hardly ever get to see my relatives in Madrid, when we do get together it is like no time has passed. That is what family is really all about!

Movies on airplanes!
There isn't a faster way to kill an 8 hour flight then watching 4 movies in a row! I love having my own personal TV screen which I synched with my niece so that we could laugh at the same time!

Holly

Coco's Closet
Consignment shop at 413 Jane, just north of Annette
Nadia Trelle, a former associate buyer at Holt Renfrew opened this well organized, pretty little boutique in the spring. Here you'll find high quality designer clothing at a fraction of what it would cost to buy new. It's a treasure hunt for fashionistas where the prize could be the perfect pair of Cole Haan leather boots, an Hermes scarf or Prada dress for one quarter of what it would cost to buy retail. It pays to stop by often.

Facebook
Seriously.  As mentioned above, my friend Diane's daughter needed a kidney transplant. To find a kidney donor, she started a page on Facebook. She found a donor. A complete stranger that she found on Facebook is giving her a kidney! In December she undergoes the transplant. Yay for social media.

Stephanie

Frenchie Rizzo

Frenchie and Rizzo, my new Hava-poo puppies! 4 months old and full of love!!

The TV show Parenthood.
Every Tuesday night at 10:00 on City! Amazing cast, different and great story lines about one family and all its diversity!

Heidi

 

Halloween

Heidi & her kids

Having 3 kids under age 7 1/2, I'd better love Halloween! Riverdale is absolutely the best neighbourhood to trick-or-treat in. The houses are all decorated; there are light shows and haunted houses; and a neighborhood musical production on Langley Street that literally draws an audience of hundreds every year!!

 

 

 

Fall walks at the BrickWorks
this newly refurbished brick factory on Bayview has footpaths that stretch in every direction. There are ponds with ducks and turtles, trees that boast the best fall colours in the city, and a fabulous Saturday Farmer's Market. My kids usually find, catch and release caterpillars, grasshoppers and frogs! Just good clean (or rather dirty) family fun!! http://ebw.evergreen.ca/

Julie

Photo by Bfishadow

Our new iPad.
Yes we just "had" to get it. It is a ton of fun, and rather addictive. Love the size and weight, and ease of transport and use. The games are unreal, feels like I'm a kid again addicted to video games. Also love to access youtube, the TED channel inspiring vids, and making notes about our cottage reno. We check the weather every morning – can show all our pics. We also found Netflix that is a heckuva a better deal than cable to easily ($8/month unlimited) for watch any movies @ home and old episodes of your favourite tv shows. It is abit of glorified Iphone, but way easier to navigate the web especially epicurious and use it for recipes etc (thanks Mary!). It is on our wifi network @ home and groovy.