DNA Condo Toronto

Billed as Downtown's Next Address, the DNA condo is an ultra-modern and cool place to live. It has a strong sense of design that is very different from many of the new condo's that have been built recently in Toronto.

I always like to come here and show buyers through the building. They can see the difference right away.

There are great design elements one finds in many suites, the bathroom and kitchen fixtures, the shower stall design, portable kitchen islands on wheels, great high-end washer dryers.

Located right in the middle of the King West Village area, it has its own Starbucks outlet on the corner of the building at Shaw and King St. What could be more convenient than that!

I am a modern professional RE/MAX agent - be sure to check out my website. If you are looking to buy a suite here, sell, lease a unit or you'd like to rent someone else's place, let me know. I'm Ralph Evans and I'm here to help!

Toronto MLS Housing Statistics for October 2008

Today the Toronto Real Estate Board published the numbers for the Toronto home sales for the month of October 2008. The average selling price across the GTA was $352,974. This is down 4.2% from the monthly average the month before and down 11.3% at the peak of May 2008.

It is not surprising that there has been a pull back in the real estate market in Toronto, but certainly nothing like the decline the stock market has seen! Homes remain a very stable long-term investment. The number of sales is well below the volume recorded in past years for the month of October. Mostly, people are being cautious at this time. People who do not need to be selling their homes are not selling. They are happy to stay put and will make a move when market conditions improve. But this then has an effect of skewing the average sales price. Fewer high-end homes are selling. The overall mix of homes may be different and thus the average is impacted.

But then current market conditions provide an excellent opportunity to be a buyer. The supply of homes for sale is up and the number of bidding wars and multiple offers is way off. The buyers have much more control for setting the terms of negotiation.

It is also a good time for move-up buyers in the same market. If you are selling one house and buying another within the Toronto market you are still okay. You may lose some value on the sale of your existing home. But you get a good deal on your purchase and then if you are moving-up to a better home, it should appreciate more rapidly than the home you have moved from.

If you would like to discuss the current market conditions more or understand how this impacts your current situation, please give Ralph a call.

Toronto Condo Rentals

Are you looking to rent a condo in Toronto?

The Ralph Evans and the Toronto Real Estate Help Desk from RE/MAX Professionals is fully equipped to help both Landlords and Tenants.



Some Places to consider:

Toronto Downtown Core

Bloor / Bay St / Yorkville

CityPlace / Rogers Centre

King West

Queens Quay

High Park

Yonge / Eglinton

Yonge / Sheppard

Etobicoke Humber Bay Waterfront

Palace Pier / Palace Place

Loggia Condo - 1040 The Queensway

Did you know that RE/MAX helps people find rental suites? We have access to a large number of privately owned condo suites that are available for rent. These generally are a whole lot better than the typical "rental buildings" in Toronto.

If you are a condo owner looking for help finding good tenants or someone looking for help finding a great place to live, let me know.

Contact me through my website at www.RealEstatehelpDesk.ca

Etobicoke Builders

The central part of Etobicoke, on the west side of Toronto is a popular spot for in-fill builders. They look for the right opportunities to locate an older bungalow on a suitable lot. They then demolish the existing home and build a modern home in its place. While this has been most popular on 50-foot lots, I have recently been involved with one property built on a 40-foot x 125-foot lot.



The owner and builder of this home is an architect, and it shows. They have created a new home with style and character. The flow of the home is perfect and no space is wasted.



The quality of the materials and workmanship of this home is better than many other new homes I see in the area, yet this home is actually priced less. Here is your opportunity to own a fabulous new 4-bedroom home in a quiet leafy Etobicoke neighbourhood for under $1-million!

Call me at 416 577-5486 to find out more, or come to my Real Estate Open House - 77 Charleston on Saturday November 1st, 2008 www.RealEstateHelpDesk.ca

First Time Buyers Seminar

Are you looking for the information to make your first purchase of a condominium or house a success? Get the assistance of the Toronto RE/MAX Real Estate Help Desk. Ralph Evans is a modern, professional RE/MAX agent comfortable explaining the process to others.

Meet with Ralph Evans at your home, office or at his office.

This free presentation will provide you with the knowledge you need to successfully purchase your first home.


You will learn about the various choices of home styles you can choose from. The differences between condominiums and freehold homes. The characteristics of townhouses, semi-detached, and detached homes.

You will learn about the financial aspects of home ownership. You will see how mortgages work and how to calculate what you can afford. You will find out about the special programs available to you to help make home ownership as affordable as possible. You will see what other costs you'll need to consider. You will find out where to go to get the best possible mortgage rates and how to lock in those rates, while you look for a home.

You will find out about the many advisors you will need to complete the purchase of your home. You will understand the role of the real estate agent along with the home inspector, the lawyer, the mortgage broker and the insurance agent.
Get all your questions and concerns answered.

If you do want Ralph's help to look for the perfect home with you, that would be great too! I'm here to help. www.RealEstateHelpDesk.ca

Call me at 416 577-5486 or contact me at ralph@RealEstateHelpDesk.ca

How different is the Canadian mortgage market compared to USA?

Canadians like to define themselves by pointing out how they are different from Americans. We are seeing an incredible decline in the entire US housing market, with declining home values, negative equity, foreclosures, defaulting mortgages and so on.

Yet, how can Canada be so very different? Please read this report written by Will Dunning, Chief Economist to the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP). It does an excellent job of explaining the many ways the fundamentals here in Canada are supporting our housing market.

You know, we simply don't allow for NINJA mortgages here - No income, no job, no assets!

Please let me know what you think about this report.

Article on the differences in the mortgage market between USA and Canada

Toronto MLS Housing Statistics for September 2008

September's numbers are in. There were 6,866 homes sold across the GTA in the month and the average price was $368,549. While the financial markets are seeing big changes, the Toronto real estate market remains fairly steady. The volume of homes sold continues to track below last year's record volume. Price wise the September number is up 1.0% from the month before, but still 7.1% below the market peak of last October.

The current market conditions are considered to be "balanced", and present excellent opportunities for both buyers and sellers. There is a good supply of homes for sale for buyers to choose from, and the number of bidding wars is much less frequent. Home sellers need to ensure there homes look great and are priced competitively.

My approach for sellers is to work with them to prepare their homes for sale, completing necessary repairs and staging the home.

Toronto Real Estate Market Meltdown?

The Toronto real estate climate has changed significantly in the past couple of weeks, with home buyers holding off making purchases as a result of the uncertainty in the US Financial markets. Canada remains in a far stronger position than the United States. The property foreclosure rate in Canada has remained at the “normal historical levels”. There is no mortgage crisis here, people are still able to afford and are still paying their mortgages normally. We do not have the ARM mortgages that reset to higher rates. It is more difficult to qualify for mortgages and the almost everyone has positive equity in there homes – i.e. their mortgages are for less than the total value of their homes. Canadians are not walking away from their homes at all. Our Financial Institutions are strong and are looking for acquisitions of weak US companies to acquire. However, we all watch the US media and the concern does impact buyer perceptions. So too there are many links in the economics of the two countries.

Thus, we are seeing a slowdown in real estate buying activity, but not a concern of plunging home prices. The housing situation is just following the general economy and is not leading the decline the way it has in the States.

The Toronto market is presenting some terrific buying opportunities.

I do not foresee any meltdown of the Toronto real estate market.

August Toronto Real Estate Statistics

He are the results from August 2008 for real estate sales in all the Greater Toronto Area...

Looking back, we can see that the Toronto market reached a peak in October 2007, weakness in the winter followed by a spring rally that brought Toronto prices back to near their historics levels. And most recently 5-months of price declines places the Toronto market about 8% below the October 2007 peak.

Toronto MLS Real Estate Prices for July 2008

The key numbers for the month ending July 31st 2008 was 7,806 home sales and an average price for all of the GTA of $371,427.

The Toronto Real Estate Board stated "Prices remained stable throughout the GTA in July. At $371,427 the average price increased slightly more than one per cent from $366,012 recorded in July 2007 and nine per cent from the $342,034 figure of two years ago."

Of course what they are saying is true, but how accurate a picture is this of what is happening to real estate prices in the Toronto area right now? July's numbers are the 4th month of monthly price declines. Toronto home values peaked in April and we are now 6.9% below that point, with most of the decline coming in the past month. In fact, July 2008 saw a decline of 6.2%. That is a pretty significant shift in prices for one month.

Real Estate treated as a long-term investment is always a good-buy at any time. In the long-term, the price appreciation is terrific. Its better to buy real estate and wait than to wait to buy real estate.

Here is my monthly chart...