Given the age and the sky-high prices of Toronto’s vintage housing stock, pretty much every Buyer is faced with the reality that property in their price point may require substantial work. Although your housing choices may rely heavily on a budget and a checklist of must-have needs and wants,…

  Like all solid, long-term decisions, there is an element of trust in your instincts when buying a home. To draw a parallel, when you select your mate, you assume that you are going to be together forever based on a number of criteria that you’ve assessed. But even though…

  As housing buzzwords go, there are few that cause the kind of alarm that asbestos does. And since we’re in renovation season, this topic becomes particularly important! Given the age of the housing stock in Toronto, encountering asbestos is not uncommon. Prior to 1990, it was used largely used…

  If you’ve been searching for a freehold property to purchase in the original City of Toronto, you’ve now discovered the age of the city’s housing stock ranges anywhere from 70 to 160 years, which means the condition of a lot of dwellings can be marginal at best. Compound this reality…

  Welcome to January’s Homewatch post. In this installment, we provide our favorite helpful hints when it comes to home maintenance. If last year’s weather was any indication, spring could arrive as soon as late March, so we’ve included our Seasonal ‘To Do’ Summary – spring cleaning may be only…

  Welcome to December’s Homewatch post. In this installment, we discuss the importance of having accurate homeowner insurance. While most property owners know of the necessity of property insurance, this post reinforces how critical it is your insurance coverage be detailed and correct. At this holiday time of year, when…

  With the holidays fast approaching, promising a full house of family and friends, time is running short to address any pressing home repairs and upgrades before company arrives! Thanks in part to the HGTV phenomenon, more and more homeowners are attempting to tackle those renovations with their own elbow…

  Welcome to September’s Homewatch post. In this installment, we discuss the potential pros and cons of investing in the stock market versus the Toronto real estate market, specifically in the world of today’s market conditions.   Given the roller coaster ride that is the frenetic Toronto real estate market…