My name is Steven Fudge, and I’m a realtor and property consultant in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I’m mostly known for two things. I’m the real estate veteran who’s been guiding prospective purchasers & sellers through their real estate journeys for nearly 36 years. And I’m the guy who began his real estate career that day in 1989 when the Toronto real estate bubble burst. So the current real estate climate feels quite familiar to me.
Two generations of Torontonians have never experienced a market correction of this magnitude. Of the approximately 70,000 realtors who are members of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, only 3% have been working in the industry for 25 years or longer. This means that the pool of licensed property professionals with the knowledge, experience, and wisdom to guide property owners through our current market conditions is quite select.
As the Toronto real estate market continues its very slow recovery, I hope you follow our Urbaneer Blog, where I provide in-depth market updates. We’re committed to providing relevant information and poignant insight from a foundation of experience – like this post entitled ‘Let’s Talk About The State Of The Toronto Condo Market‘ – and exploring the concerns weighing heaviest on the minds of property Buyers & Sellers (‘Toronto Real Estate Reality Check: From Frenzy To Fatigue And The Hangover Of FOMO‘).
I love to read Toronto’s and Canada’s daily papers – like The Star & The Globe – as well as top-notch mags like Toronto Life, REM, and Dwell. All of this helps me stay informed.
Did you see the Toronto Life article a few months back in October that focused on where homebuyers should look for their next purchase? Acknowledging that Toronto has some of the most expensive real estate in the country, a savvy buyer looks to up-and-coming Toronto neighbourhoods that haven’t fully come into their own yet. If you can get in at ground level in these burgeoning communities, you’ll be able to watch them gentrify around you and your property value increase! I applaud the research done for this piece, which encompasses not only housing stock and neighbourhood composition, but transit, amenities and convenience:
The article is called: ‘Where To Buy Next!’
Here’s their opener:
“Change comes slowly to Toronto. Name almost any exciting new infrastructure project and it’s probably years behind schedule, at best. In our frustration, we obsess about current realities and rail against the transit gods, city planners and provincial overlords, but Toronto is on the precipice of enormous transformation. By the end of the year, the Eglinton Crosstown should be flying from Weston to Kennedy, and by 2031, the Ontario Line will be barrelling from Liberty Village up to Don Mills—and that’s just the beginning. Construction is underway for the East Harbour Transit Hub, a massive new interchange just south of Riverside; five high-traffic GO routes are being expanded; and the city is getting honest-to-god, from-scratch new neighbourhoods in the Port Lands and Downsview.
In short: tectonic changes are afoot. And while everyone stands to benefit, certain pockets have much more to gain. Once-overlooked areas will become highly coveted, and property values will rise accordingly. The trick? To spot them early and get in before other buyers catch on. To that end, we undertook months of exhaustive research and identified 12 neighbourhoods where transit accessibility, housing stock and desirability are most likely to skyrocket. Here, our comprehensive guide for property hunters and gawkers alike.” – Toronto Life
Here’s their top 10 list:
We have a fantastic listing right now in Oakwood Village (scroll down for details and pictures)! Here’s what they have to say about that community:
“Oakwood Village – The growing pains of a new light rail line are finally paying off!
Unending construction on the Eglinton Crosstown has wreaked havoc on this neighbourhood, but Oakwood station is really and truly almost done. When it is, Oakwood Village—which extends from St. Clair to Eglinton and Winnett to Dufferin—will get an injection of new life.
Little Jamaica is already home to a steady stream of entrepreneurial bustle: long-standing jerk chicken joints are nestled alongside independent grocers and flower sellers like Best Choice and Yips. Now that direct transit to the rest of the city is on the horizon, the area is poised to become the latest west-end foodie hotspot.
Ossington, Dundas and Geary are well-known, but culinary offerings up here, like carb-haven Primrose Bagel Company and Porzia’s, home of the one-pound slab of lasagna, are becoming must-tries. The neighbourhood’s detached homes and low-rises are also within walking distance of Cedarvale Park, where sugar maples and dogwood trees add a dose of natural calm.
Randy’s Takeout – This is the best spot for a Jamaican patty, according to basketball star Tristan Thompson, actor Shamier Anderson and Drake.
Rap’s – Rap’s is to jerk chicken what Michael Jordan was to basketball—the undisputed GOAT.
Earla’s Kitchen – Earla’s is the place to try Grenada’s national dish: breadfruit, salted meat and dumplings in seasoned coconut milk.
Always Fresh (Restaurant Canadian Caribbean) – A local favourite, Always Fresh is a sleeper hit for well-executed Caribbean classics. “
A big thank you to Toronto Life for allowing us to feature their article here. It was written by the fabulous
(*We hold no rights to the quotations nor the cover cartoon).
We have a handsome family home for sale in Oakwood Village right now, if you’d like to take a peek!
We’d be delighted to show it to you: A Sensational Sun-Kissed Semi In Oakwood Village, NOW SOLD!
Located just south of Eglinton Avenue West and one block west of Oakwood Avenue, this heart-grabbing 2-storey 3-bedroom character dwelling (built in 1926) possesses all the charm and beauty you’d expect from a well-maintained Edwardian home. It’s steps to the shops of Oakwood Village, a 7-minute walk to the soon-to-be-open Oakwood Station on the new Eglinton Crosstown LRT, and a 7-minute stroll to the Fairbanks Memorial Swimming Pool, Park & Recreation Centre!
Here are several blogs you may enjoy:
Let’s Talk About The State Of The Toronto Condo Market
Toronto Real Estate Reality Check: From Frenzy To Fatigue And The Hangover Of FOMO
Toronto Real Estate Then & Now: The Lost Decade Of The 1990s
Turning A Blind Eye To The Real Costs Of Toronto Real Estate Investment Properties
Dear Urbaneer: Has The Toronto Real Estate Market Gone SLO MO?
Since 1989, I’ve steered my career through a real estate market crash and burn; survived a slow painful cross-country recession; completed an M.E.S. graduate degree from York University called ‘Planning Housing Environments’; executed the concept, sales & marketing of multiple new condo and vintage loft conversions; and guided hundreds of clients through the purchase and sale of hundreds of freehold and condominium dwellings across the original City of Toronto. From a gritty port industrial city into a glittering post-industrial global centre, I’ve navigated the ebbs and flows of a property market as a consistent Top Producer. And I remain as passionate about it today as when I started.
Please consider contacting me at 416-845-9905 or emailing me at Steve@urbaneer.com. It would be my pleasure to assist you.
We’d love to introduce you to our services.
Serving first-time Buyers, upsizers, downsizers, and people building their long-term property portfolios, our mandate is to help clients choose the property that will deliver the highest future return on their investment while ensuring it best serves their practical needs and their dream of “Home” during their ownership.
Are you considering selling? We welcome providing you with a comprehensive assessment free of charge, including determining your Buyer profile, optimizing your return on investment, and tailoring the listing process to your circumstances. Check out How Urbaneer’s Custom Marketing Program Sold This Family-Friendly Home In Riverdale to learn more about what we do!
Consider letting Urbaneer guide you through your Buying or Selling process, without pressure or hassle.
We are here to help!
-The Urbaneer Team
Steven Fudge, Sales Representative
& The Innovative Urbaneer Team
Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage – (416) 322-800
– we’re here to earn your trust, then your business –
Celebrating Thirty-Five Years As A Top-Producing Toronto Realtor
*Did you know we were recently listed as one of The Top 60 Best Toronto Blogs & Websites? And we earned the #5 spot on Feedspot’s Top 30 Toronto Real Estate Blogs & Websites’ List!
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*Love Canadian Housing? Check out Steve’s University Student Mentorship site called Canadian Real Estate, Housing & Home, which focuses on architecture, landscape, design, products, and real estate in Canada!