For More Details Click Here – Only 349,000 — very affordable

ASHLEY FRAY – Sales Rep.
Top 1% in Condo Sales in all Toronto 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011
Re/Max Condos Plus
Direct: 416.917.4007
Fax: 416.987.0813

Web: www.aBetterwayHome.ca
Blog: www.ashleyfray.com/blog
Video Channel: www.youtube.com/user/condodowntowntoronto

<INDX Condo Building>

Introducing INDX, a stunning 54 storey condo at Bay and Adelaide that’s next to the historic Graphic Arts building. 

Impossibly close to work and filled with every play-hard amenity you could imagine, this actually is, where work meets life. 

So before you buy more toys or waste a dollar on eye candy, secure your home base. 

Your pad should be slick and dressed to the nines. A great view and amenities are mandatory too. 
It’s in the heart of the Financial District and at the core of everything downtown.

Prices: From the mid $200,000’s

Monthly maintenance: $0.50 per sq. ft per month

Check HERE for more pictures and Contact Ashley Fray for more details.

<Night View of INDX Condos>

SALES COMMENTARY:

March sales on the Toronto Real Estate Board continued the trend of previous months. Sales were 8% higher than March of 2011, and average prices were up by almost 10% from a year ago. These overall results mask a clear division within the market. Condo sales were unchanged from this month a year ago. Within the 905 Region, condo sales were ahead by 3%, whereas the 416 Region recorded a 2% drop from March of 2011. In terms of downtown condo sales, the results were even worse – sales were lower by 13%! Condo sales for the Etobicoke waterfront, which usually trails the downtown market, were up 10% from the previous March. Sales from the first two weeks of April confirm these trends that first began in February. House sales are outperforming the condo market in terms of sales growth and price appreciation.

So how do we explain the downtown condo market? A lack of overall listings is not the simple answer. In fact Active Listings are up 6% over March of last year. Either the number of end user buyers for condos is leveling off or buyer needs are not matching available listings. Developers better hope it is the latter and that they need to build bigger units. That’s a challenge as the product in the pipeline – preconstruction sales –consists of even smaller condos on average than units in today’s resale market. Buying opportunities exist in the resale market, particularly in bigger units over 1,000 sf. Condo resale prices continue to appreciate but at a much smaller pace – less than 4% on average.

To support this position, we looked at sales at The Element, at 20 Blue Jays Way in the heart of the Entertainment and Business District. Built by Tridel, it has great amenities that appeal to younger buyers. Condo fees are 56 cents/sf/mo. The first unit we tracked was a two-bed/two bath unit with balcony and parking. It sold in December for $464,000. The same unit sold previously in June of 2008 for $406,000 and in July of 2007 for $365,000. The one year increase from 2007 to 2008, when the market was peaking was 11%. Note the market correction was 2008/2009. Over the last three and a half years, the increase was only 14%. The unit is 880 sf., which translates into a price of $527/sf. (including parking). The second unit we looked at was a one bedroom plus den, balcony, and parking. It sold in June of 2011 for $350,000. The same unit also sold in 2008 for $308,000. Over 3 plus years, it has appreciated by 13%. At 655 sf., it currently sells for $534/sf. Both units are on lower floors in this 24-story building, so views are limited. Again compare this building and prices to pre-construction prices in the Entertainment District today and it is hard to justify the premium being placed for future delivery in four years’ time.

RENTAL COMMENTARY:

Rental activity started to accelerate with units being leased for May and June 1 occupancy. Volumes almost doubled from last month and rental rates were unchanged. Studios averaged $1350. Over 350 one-bedroom units were leased at rates starting at $1500 without parking to $1750 for parking and a den. Two-bedroom units started at $2,000 and went as high as $2550 on average which included parking and a den. This month three, three-bedroom units were leased at an average of $3,000 and all of them were leased within seventeen days. The list to lease ratio is virtually 100% for all units. For investors, there is no problem in leasing your unit. The issue is that rental rates do not support current prices and because of this, we would expect to see a drop in new investors because they cannot cover their interest and operating costs.

As a Torontonian and a Realtor, I’m proud to share this with you: The GTA Condo Market Generated $12.7 billion with 28, 466 units sold in 2011.  20, 000 new condo sales are expected in 2012.

Infographic from Buzzbuzzhome.com

Located in one of Toronto’s best neighborhoods, the up and coming Junction Triangle boasts one of the city’s oldest high-rise buildings. Built in 1919, the iconic Sterling is being converted into Authentic Loft living. Castlepoint Numa, one of Toronto’s leading heritage developers, is restoring this unique building. The Sterling will once again be an iconic beacon for the rejuvenation of this vibrant community. Situated amongst some of the best shops, cafes and restaurants in the west end, this is the place to call home. With plenty of transit options for loft owners – including the Bloor Subway and Go Transit station only steps away – downtown is a short streetcar or subway ride away, making the commute effortless.

Never the less, The Sterling has the best price as low as $455 per sq. ft. Starting at $199,900

VIP Brokers Incentives

• $ 3,000 on Signing
• 5% in 30 days
• 5% in 120 days
• 5% in 365 days
• 5% at occupancy

FREE Parking

(3 years free parking rental for 1 br, 1 br + den, 2 br suites)

$1,500 Cash Back Bonus

(Discount at closing for All Studios)

Check HERE to read more about The Sterling Lofts

Prices and floor plans are available upon request, sales are first come first serve. If you are interested on The Sterling Lofts, please do not wait and contact Ashley at 419 – 917 – 4007 now!

From 109OZ and Reserve Properties:

It’s vibrant, unpredictable, ever changing. With restaurants catering to the adventurous. Galleries and studios showcasing for the boundary pushers. Boutiques and night spots that move to beats all their own.

Let the vibe surround you. Embody you. 109OZ opens the doors to it all. These inspired lofts veer towards the unexpected. With a clean modern aesthetic complete with organically stacked profile and vibrant splashes of colour.

109OZ defies all the rules, with its angular stacked 6 storey profile composed of sleek glass, brick and metal.

Ultra modern 1 bedroom, 1 bedroom plus den, 2 bedroom and 2 bedroom plus den lofts offer glass balconies and terraces punctuated by vibrant splashes of colour.

This is unquestionably, undeniably Ossington.

This project is not yet open to the public. Register with Ashley Fray’s Team to get FREE priority access.

Toronto home sales and prices were up year-over-year in March according to Greater Toronto REALTORS®.

REALTORS® reported 9,690 sales through the Toronto MLS system in March, up almost 8 per cent when compared to the 8,986 sales during the same period in 2011.

The average selling price in the GTA was $504,117 in March, up 10.5 per cent in comparison with March 2011 figures.

“The GTA resale market has not suffered from a lack of willing buyers this year. Buyers have been spurred on by the positive affordability picture brought about by low mortgage rates,” Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver said in a statement that accompanied the report.

“The challenge has been a lack of inventory. Many listings have attracted multiple interested buyers. Strong competition has led to annual rates of price growth well above the long-term average.”

So far, so strong in the GTA housing market in 2012!

The article was posted on Buzzbuzzhome.com on April 2012

St. Lawrence Market has been named the world’s best food market by National Geographic.

The famous Toronto market beat out well-known food markets like the Union Square Greenmarket in New York and Cours Saleya in Nice. Take that world! St. Lawrence is numero uno…

Here’s what the magazine had to say about every Torontonians go-to place for fresh fish, produce and peameal bacon sandwiches:

“This farmers market emporium has operated since 1803, when it cohabited with Toronto’s city hall. Redeveloped between the 1970s and 1990s after long neglect, the area’s mix of homes and businesses showcases urban regeneration. More than 120 retailers dispense everything from seafood to coffee.”

A little international recognition goes a long way and we think this is a pretty great selling point for all the awesome condo projects that are currently under construction or in preconstruction in the area.

We compiled a short list of our favourite developments that are only a short walk away from the St. Lawrence Market…

• 25 The Esplanade
• 88 Scott Street Condos by Concert
• Abbey Lane Lofts by Harhay Developments
• Backstage by Castlepoint Realty, Cityzen and Fernbrook Homes
• Imperial Lofts
• King George Square
• King’s Court Condominiums
• London on The Esplanade
• Market Square
• Market Wharf by Context
• New Times Square
• Spire
• St. Lawrence Market Lofts
• The Berczy by Concert
• The L Tower by Castlepoint Realty, Cityzen and Fernbrook Homes
• The Modern Condos by Empire Communities
• The Wellington
• Post House by Alterra

Obviously there are many benefits of having the Market right at your doorstep, but the one we think we’d appreciate most is not have to wake up absurdly early on Saturday to get the freshest of the fresh produce and meat.

The One Place to be in Downtown East.  Introducing the newest addition to the neighbourhood that’s attracting attention from around the world – One Park Place. Located in the heart of Downtown East, this is the place to be in Toronto.  One Park Place will be surrounded by new shops, a lush six-acre park and right next to the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre and Urban Mews that will connect many of the local amenities and become a central gathering place for local markets, retailers and community performers.  This is where the spirit of the city becomes ONE.

Regent Park Revitalization

The historical downtown Toronto neighbourhood of Regent Park (spanning from the east side of Parliament Street to River Street and bounded by Gerrard Street East and Queen Street East) is undergoing a remarkable transition.  Toronto Community Housing is replacing the long-isolated social housing neighbourhood with an innovative mixed-income, mixed-use community.  The Regent Park Revitalization will take 10-15 years, over 6 distinct phases.  In April 2010, Toronto Community Housing announced plans for the second phase of the project, including the selection of The Daniels Corporation as its developer and construction partner.  The first two phases of Regent Park Revitalization will cover 30 acres of land.

The Most Powerful Ownership Program in Canada

1. Own a condo with ZERO savings today!

2.  Boost your down payment from 5% to 15% – INTEREST & PAYMENT FREE!

Check HERE for more details

We were thrilled to read today that Canada is among the happiest countries in the world.

According to the World Happiness Report, a global study on social and economic well-being of various countries, Canada ranks fifth in the world. Only Denmark, Norway, Finland and the Netherlands came in ahead of our home and native land.

The report found that wealth, political and personal freedom, strong social networks and an absence of corruption are the most important factors in determining the happiness of a nation. The latter three factors combined are more significant than wealth in “explaining well-being differences between the top and bottom countries.”

The report was published by the Earth Institute and co-edited by super-economist Jeffrey Sachs. Professor John Helliwell of the University of British Columbia was also on the editorial board though we’re sure that has nothing to do with Canada’s high placement.

Here are a few more intriguing conclusions the report reached:

• As living standards have risen, happiness has increased in some countries but not in others
• On average the world has become a little happier in the last 30 years
• Unemployment causes as much unhappiness as bereavement or separation
• Job security and good relationships do more for job satisfaction than high pay and convenient hours
• Behaving well makes people happier (tell that to your kids)
• In advanced countries, women are happier than men while the position in poorer countries is mixed

Does Canada’s position put a smile on your face or what?

Article Posted on Buzzbuzzhome.com at April 2, 2012