What we love for the home for 2012.

February 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

With 2012 now upon us we want to share our top picks for 2012. As a couple of us on the team are in the process of redecorating our homes, we especially wanted to tell you about ideas we are doing ourselves!

Colour

We’re big fans of….citrus? Yes, oranges, greens and yellows.

You can find some amazing orange accents right now at Flik by Design (greenwood and queen on the north-west corner…look closely or you might miss it!). They even have orange Hermes boxes as shown in the photo below – a great accessory to pull of this look without major commitment :)




ABC Dragoo eclectic living room

Also referred to as “Kelly green” we are fans of this as an accent colour.

green and neutral family room eclectic family room

For those who are want to look on the bright side, particularly during the dreary days of winter, yellow works with almost anything and looks great against woods.

Living room / Library modern living room

Bay window kitchen nook contemporary kitchen

For those of you looking to live somewhere in the middle, pale purple/mauve can take any beige room and add an element of elegance and softness. It’s an easy colour to integrate….sometimes a simple purple orchid is all you need, other times it’s a couple of pillows or one fun statement piece.



We’ve noticed a return to some traditional, even patriotic palettes. Navy blues, blood reds and soothing neutrals are bringing both a sense of stability and optimism.

Living room eclectic living room

We painted this very colour in our home office…it’s even more stunning in person!
Hale Navy HC-154 by Benjamin Moore


And what is the new neutral? After spending 2010 and 2011 ‘greying it up’, some have gone too far and have realized the need to warm it up. Moving away from blue based grey tones, the holy grail is now ‘greige’….that perfect balance of a grey that is a bit warm, and a beige that is a bit cool.

Here are some recommendations but this is a tricky one. It can change dramatically depending on the light so make sure you do a good size sample on your wall before you commit. Otherwise you can end up with a blue-ish hue and often a purple glare!

Sherwin Williams – Repose Gray SW7015


Martha Stewart – Heavy Goose MSL261


Accessories

Texture and layering is always a key ingredient to warming up a room and giving a sense of comfort and both are decor trade techniques.

In a land of manufactured, synthetic replicas of nature a room can feel cold without the tones and dimension of natural products.

Going for a industrial chic metal piece? Pair it with a hide rug or mohair cushions. We’re big fans of sheepskin rugs. For around $50 at Home Outfitters or Ikea, you can make a space feel instantly luxurious and warm.

Niche Interiors: San Francisco Interior Designer modern living room

We have one in our own daughters’ room. We’d include a picture but she’s sleeping right now :) The look is similar to this however…

Pearsons Room traditional kids

Fur throws are another big trend that we think will continue…again a feeling of luxury in any room for a good price. West Elm has them on sale (we have the grey one) for just over $80.




What direction should you go?

My only complaint about ‘design trends’ for the year are that many of them do not resonate with us. First and foremost, you have to be able to live with what you do.

You’ve heard this before but stay neutral with the elements you can’t change easily or inexpensively. I.e. cabinetry and millwork, large furniture.


And moderation is the key. Just because you like green doesn’t mean every single accessory in your home should be that colour. Just as in getting dressed, remove one thing before you are done.

Consider the room. Do you want your walls and linens to scream at you while you’re trying to get to sleep? Are you looking for peace and serenity in certain rooms or inspiration and fun?

Consider yourself. Look at how you dress…do you take risks and have fun with accessories? Or do you keep it neutral and elegant?

Keep track of what inspires you. We’re massive fans of ideabooks – an old school hardcopy photo album right to online versions – Pinterest, Houzz etc… Whenever we’re in doubt about what direction to go, we look back on what we keep choosing to include in these ideabooks.

And that is what design trends are meant to be….inspiration. So take what you like and save it somewhere – whether you are decorating or renovating now or for years to come.

And if you need help, just ask us! A home isn’t just something you buy, it’s something you create. That’s why we have our own in-house decor consultant to help everyone who works with us to buy a home.

Learn more…

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The best gifts EVER!

December 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Check out our teams’ personal favorites for gift giving this holiday season!

Jenny loves Luxe Box




What is Luxe Box? Every month you get sample sizes of amazing beauty products – check out this video to learn more!


To order, go to http://www.loosebutton.com/.

Arthur loves the Air Swimmers…

Wait….what the heck is an Air Swimmer? Only the COOLEST gift for kids. It’s a fish or shark ballon with a remote control that allows it move through the air. Check out this video. Keep in mind it’s hard to find and Arthur figured out you can buy it at the ‘as seen on tv’ store at the Eaton Center.



Selene loves iTunes (not the gift cards!)

Have you ever wanted to get someone the gift of music but the days of mix tapes are long gone? Especially when you compiled the MOST AMAZING PLAYLIST ever? As someone who loves to think she’s a dj but truly is not, Selene loves to give the gift of a customized playlist.

Send a song, an album, a TV episode, an entire TV show, or a movie — even give a custom mix of songs — to anyone. Buy a gift and iTunes immediately sends an email to your recipient, who just clicks a link. Your gift starts downloading to your recipient’s iTunes library, ready to play or sync to iPod, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. Want to deliver your gift personally? Tell iTunes to print it instead. If your recipient loses the emailed or printed gift, you can resend it via your Purchase History or the iTunes Store.

Martin loves the Book of Awesome…

We assured him he was listed in there somewhere but he’s still looking.

In the book you’ll find 200 awesome reminders of simple pleasures we take for granted.

Things like “The first scoop out of a jar of peanut butter.”
“The sound of scissors cutting construction paper.”
“Tripping and realizing no one saw you.”
“The sound of rain from inside a tent.”

Just $17.87 on Amazon!

Shannon loves flowers…

If you really want to make an impression, send someone flowers every month for a year. And no Shannon, it doesn’t count if you call the flower shop and pretend to be your husband ordering it for you.

Our florist of choice is Beechwood Flowers in the Beach at Kippendavie and Queen. They make the most stunning arrangements for our clients and they take care of our planter outside out office.

They also charge a slice of what most of the high-end flower shops charge for the same quality and creativity. Anyone in the neighbourhood will know of the owner Jasmine’s habit of always throwing in an extra little something for you.

http://www.beachwoodflowershop.com/

(416)-691-8185

Suzanne loves towels…

But only the good ones! If you think about it, these are things that you use every day yet few of us will actually splurge on the best.

Giving someone something they would never spoil themselves with is a good way to go.

Maybe it’s already in the Book of Awesome but she thinks there’s nothing better than wrapping yourself in a huge luxurious bath towel. And some of the best towels can be found at Restoration Hardware.

They currently have an 802-gram Turkish Bath Towel in just about any colour you can imagine.

Even better, they have a 20% off sale right now!

Mark just loves to give…

For those of you who are buying for someone who has everything, why not make a donation on their behalf?

On CanadaHelps’ website you can search thousands of Canadian charities to find one that is close to their heart and make an online donation right there an then. http://www.canadahelps.org/.

If none of these ideas are working for you, may we kindly suggest you buy that loved one a new house? ;)

Happy Holidays!

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best ever halloween decorating ideas

October 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Check out our favourite decorating ideas for Halloween…don’t be scared – these are actually pretty easy to do :)
















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to variable or not?

October 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Check out this article courtesy of Peter Majthenyi and Andre Semeniuk about variable mortgages…



The Decline of the Mighty Variable Mortgage… which we predicted in the spring

The bad news is that all international economies will struggle throughout 2012. The current lingering Euro-Crisis, combined with low domestic consumer confidence, will likely result in no significant interest rate increases until 2013. The good news is that low interest rates will make things more affordable for all of us, and will also allow the GTA real estate market to maintain reasonable sales momentum. Ultimately, we would all prefer a better economy even if it meant interest rates needed to be marginally increased.

A more difficult choice for 2012 is what mortgage to choose. Most Canadian mortgage rates are at an all-time historic low; generally speaking, the cost to borrow is now 3%. It’s no secret that the 5-year variable mortgage has performed best since it was widely introduced in Canada about 15 years ago. This mortgage relies on interest rates rising and falling within a reasonable range, resulting in less interest paid over a longer period of time. Variable mortgages are also convertible, which allows the borrower to switch their mortgage early without penalties. Also keep in mind that the Bank of Canada usually only adjusts a variable rate mortgage by .25% a few times a year to address any inflation concerns. These obvious benefits have resulted in huge demand for variable mortgages in recent years. With easy access to more information, an increasing number of consumers have realized it is both safer and cheaper to choose a variable mortgage over a fixed term… a real “no-brainer”. Then the mortgage world changed almost overnight!

Even though there is no hard data or statistics to support choosing a 5-year fixed mortgage over a variable product, lenders, for the most part, prefer that most borrowers do opt for the fixed product. Variable mortgages can be less profitable and therefore, are usually discouraged by lenders. But borrowers have become more independent thinkers and their growing demand for variable mortgages has resulted in lenders changing variable rate mortgage pricing practically overnight so they may be more profitable quickly. The days of borrowers enjoying variable mortgages at “prime less something” are over – and probably for a very long time. The new world is one in which 5-year variable mortgages will be priced at Bank prime (currently 3%). So if you are lucky enough to have a variable mortgage at “prime minus something”… hang on to it!

For mortgage newcomers, there is the burning question: “Should I choose a 5-year variable at 3% or a 4-year fixed at 3%?” Currently there is no significant difference between fixed and variable interest rates… so why take any chances on a variable mortgage in a potentially increasing interest rate environment? Why not go with a fixed mortgage – at least temporarily – at the same rate as a variable, and then return to a variable mortgage at renewal, when the interest rate spreads likely return? And then there’s the 10-year fixed mortgage – currently at an all-time low of 4.75% – which may prove to be a bargain in the long run.

All these choices are good ones, and all these mortgage rates are cheap! Having said that, now more than ever, it is imperative that we make an informed and comfortable choice for each individual borrower. Let’s talk about you, your expectations, and marry you with the mortgage that makes you most happy! .

To make sure everyone is treated fairly, and has all the right mortgage information… we are here.

Anytime… Peter, André & Team

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Fall 2011 Market Watch

October 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Check out our review of the fall real estate market…

Mark Richards Market Minute

For the full Toronto Real Estate Board Market Watch, see below…

October 5, 2011 — Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 7,658 transactions through the TorontoMLS® system in September – a 25 per cent increase over September 2010. Sales during the first three quarters of 2011 amounted to 70,588, representing a 2.6 per cent increase compared to the first nine months of 2010.

“We have experienced strong growth in sales so far this year, with a much more active summer compared to 2010. However, while sales have been strong, we have continued to experience a shortage of listings, resulting in more competition between home buyers,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver.

“Over the past few months, the listing situation has started to improve, so we expect home buyers will have more homes to choose from in the months ahead.” With annual growth in sales (+25 per cent) outstripping annual growth in new listings (+15 per cent) in September, market conditions became tighter and the average selling price continued to grow by close to 10 per cent on a year-over-year basis.

“Strong price growth through the first nine months of the year was mitigated to a great degree by low interest rates and rising incomes,” said the Toronto Real Estate Board’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis Jason Mercer. “As buyers continue to take advantage of the affordable home ownership options in the GTA, we remain on pace for the second best year for sales under the current TREB market area.”

To view the full TREB Market Watch Report, click here.





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Bank of Canada Holds Rates

October 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Check out this announcement from the Bank of Canada – it is holding its overnight lending rate and expects no further changes for the next few quarters…

Ottawa – Bank of Canada maintains overnight rate target at 1 per cent

For immediate release – 25 October 2011

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent.

The global economy has slowed markedly as several downside risks to the projection outlined in the Bank’s July Monetary Policy Report (MPR) have been realized. Financial market volatility has increased and there has been a generalized retrenchment from risk-taking across global markets. The combination of ongoing deleveraging by banks and households, increased fiscal austerity and declining business and consumer confidence is expected to restrain growth across the advanced economies. The Bank now expects that the euro area—where these dynamics are most acute—will experience a brief recession. The Bank’s base-case scenario assumes that the euro-area crisis will be contained, although this assumption is clearly subject to downside risks. In the United States, diminished household confidence, tighter financial conditions and increased fiscal drag are expected to result in weak real GDP growth through the first half of 2012, before growth strengthens gradually thereafter. In Japan, reconstruction activity is projected to boost growth over 2012-13, although Japan’s economy will be constrained by reduced global activity and the sharp appreciation of the yen. Growth in China and other emerging-market economies is projected to moderate to a more sustainable pace in response to weaker external demand and the lagged effects of past policy tightening. These developments, combined with recent declines in commodity prices, are expected to dampen global inflationary pressures.

The outlook for the Canadian economy has weakened since July, with the significantly less favourable external environment affecting Canada through financial, confidence and trade channels. Although Canadian growth rebounded in the third quarter with the unwinding of temporary factors, underlying economic momentum has slowed and is expected to remain modest through the middle of next year. Domestic demand is expected to remain the principal driver of growth over the projection horizon, though at a more subdued pace than previously anticipated. Household expenditures are now projected to grow relatively modestly as lower commodity prices and heightened volatility in financial markets weigh on the incomes, wealth and confidence of Canadian households. Business fixed investment is still expected to grow solidly in response to very stimulative financial conditions and heightened competitive pressures, although it will be dampened by the weaker and more uncertain global economic environment. Net exports are expected to remain a source of weakness, owing to sluggish foreign demand and ongoing competitiveness challenges, including the persistent strength of the Canadian dollar.

Overall, the Bank expects that growth in Canada will be slow through mid-2012 before picking up as the global economic environment improves, uncertainty dissipates and confidence increases. The Bank projects that the economy will expand by 2.1 per cent in 2011, 1.9 per cent in 2012, and 2.9 per cent in 2013.

The weaker economic outlook implies greater and more persistent economic slack than previously anticipated, with the Canadian economy now expected to return to full capacity by the end of 2013. As a result, core inflation is expected to be slightly softer than previously expected, declining through 2012 before returning to 2 percent by the end of 2013. The projection for total CPI inflation has also been revised down, reflecting the recent reversal of earlier sharp increases in world energy prices as well as modestly weaker core inflation. Total CPI inflation is expected to trough around 1 per cent by the middle of 2012 before rising with core inflation to the two per cent target by the end of 2013, as excess supply in the economy is slowly absorbed.

Several significant upside and downside risks are present in the inflation outlook for Canada. Overall, the Bank judges that these risks are roughly balanced over the projection horizon.

Reflecting all of these factors, the Bank has decided to maintain the target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. With the target interest rate near historic lows and the financial system functioning well, there is considerable monetary policy stimulus in Canada. The Bank will continue to monitor carefully economic and financial developments in the Canadian and global economies, together with the evolution of risks, and set monetary policy consistent with achieving the 2 per cent inflation target over the medium term.

Information note

A full update of the Bank’s outlook for the economy and inflation, including risks to the projection, will be published in the MPR on 26 October 2011. The next scheduled date for announcing the overnight rate target is 6 December 2011.

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Ghost-White Gourds at Halloween!

October 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We noticed these awesome gourds thanksgiving weekend….the ghostly effect is spooky!!!


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CityNews Feature! How to properly stage your home with Mark Richards

October 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Check out this great feature on CityNews featuring Mark on how to properly stage your home for the maximum value by clicking below!

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The need to own real estate…

September 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I wanted to share a great blog post from Ken McLauchlan that brings some perspective to the current economic atmosphere…

Courtesy of www.kensblog.ca

The “need” to own real estate is strong

I have never been one to be a “big” investor in stocks and bonds. Don’t really know much about this sort of investing, although I do realize the importance it plays in the scheme of things. I suppose I look at the stock market as an quick reference indicator to how things are doing out there in our country and abroad. For me the stock market is so fickle, reacting to so many triggers – it’s hard for me to get a handle on it. That’s why I primarily stick to real estate investing – preferring long term holds (real estate) over short term. Real estate is something I know and something everyone needs.

Today’s stock market is a bit concerning. It seems collectively the markets have decided that the US is headed for a double dip recession. This way of thinking is fueled by terrible job creation rates, the sorry state of the US economy and the continual lack of a plan to get things in financial shape. Europe is in a mess for the most part with talk now of Italy, Spain and Portugal soon needing a Greece like bailout. It doesn’t seem good for the short term, BUT what can we – the average consumer and investor do about it all?

We need to think long term rather than reacting to daily news bursts about economies. What little confidence we have in various economies would be shattered if we followed our various news sources with their spin on the negative. Sure we must be aware of how things are, but in the long run – there is nothing much we can do about it.

Keep going about our business. The real estate market will have its ups and down and quite possibly we are heading into a “down period.” The down period will consist of fewer sales and a softening on price acceleration. But the need to “own” real estate is strong locally.

In the fall, our real estate markets will continue to be fueled by low mortgage rates, immigration, the local economy, and supply. When the housing supply picks up, turnover will slow down and price acceleration will ease.

So buy those investment properties, people need a place to rent. Buy a principal residence, in the long term your asset will grow, and if you have the need, buy a recreational property – your choices are great.

One other thing – quit watching and listening to negative news spins – it’s all done with a purpose.

- Ken McLauchlan, Broker/Owner RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.

If you’d like to discuss opportunities to invest in the real estate market, contact me today.
Email: mark@markrichards.ca
Phone: 416.728.2499

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Cooler winds on their way…

September 12, 2011 By

When the temperature starts dropping and kids are back in school, the fall real estate market gets into full swing!

With buyers coming out for this typically busy time of the year, inventory is starting to ramp up. And we know there is a good amount of pent up demand from buyers who have been searching during the summer but have not had the selection they are looking for.

If you’re thinking of listing your home, here are things you need to consider…

1. Allow time to prepare.

Although a home that is in great shape and well organized can be listed within a week or so, it’s important to allow a few weeks to maintain your sanity and take advantage of all of the things we can do to maximize the value of your home. For our clients, we go well beyond decluttering and touching up a few paint chips…

2. Buyers’expectations.

With the average detached home in E02 up to $840,000, and so much of our Beach market moving well into the $1M+ range, buyers’ expectations are higher than ever. And with the inventory coming into the market, you have to consider the competition.

Your home needs to be scoured from top to bottom from a buyer’s perspective to not only ensure there is nothing left to criticize, but to ensure they make a true emotional connection to your home.

Although buyers know logically that many homes could fit their needs (school district, # of bedrooms), you always hear them say “they just know” and “they have a feeling” about the home they end up buying so we go beyond staging to evoke that response.

3. Pricing Strategy

A home needs to be priced based on a combination of current market conditions and the seller’s personal goals.

Do you want a quick sale to minimize showings? Are you willing to take a bit of a risk by pricing just below market value to hold offers and go above asking? Or are you testing the market and the motivation to move is not as urgent?

We assess our detailed comparative market analysis and then determine the marketing and pricing strategy based on our understanding of your specific goals…it’s important to give this good consideration to maximize the outcome you’re looking for.


In Summary…

Many times people are thinking about listing but are not enthusiastic about talking to a real estate agent for fear they are not going to leave them alone until there is a for sale sign on the lawn!

We are there for our clients for the long term, whether the conversation starts weeks or even years before they are ready to make a move. We’ve even helped people start renovations on their homes when they aren’t even going to sell for a year or two.

So the best thing you can do now is know all of your options, get a good understanding of the market, your home’s potential value, and then decide if now is the time for you to sell.

To start that conversation, contact us any way you’d like and we’d be happy to help.

Cheers,
Mark
416.728.2499
mark@markrichards.ca

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