Your First Home & Condo - 2014

winter 2014 edition free

home&condo The Guide to Buying and Managing Your First Home

Highrise or lowrise?

Which option is best for you? your first mortGage

Demystifying this often intimidating topic

Spend vs. Save Tips to furnish every room in your first home

special edition

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winter

2014 table of contents 10

Editor’s Note

12

Community Profile

14

Fixed or variable, lowrise or highrise, city or suburbs?

For almost a century, families have chosen Monarch first Mortgage Roundtable

Demystifying this often intimidating topic

16

Community Profile

18

Community Profile

19

Expert Advice

Marydel Homes – coming soon to the town of Beaverton Now open – Menkes Dwell City Towns in Etobicoke Spend vs. Save: tips to help decorate your first home

22

Community Profile

23

Southwestern Ontario

26

Community Profile

28

Home Search

31

Spotlight on Condos

32

Home Search

Expect amazing things from Primont Homes in 2014 New homes and condos in Southwestern Ontario Reid’s Heritage Homes – 2013 Ontario Home Builder of the Year Plenty of options await buyers in Southwestern Ontario

36

Community Profile

38

BILD Report

42

Community Profile

44

Community Profile

Shaping Beautiful Cities with TAS Design Build Why condos make a good first-time buyer choice Make your first purchase memorable with Geranium Mirage offers great value at unbeatable Mississauga locale

An excellent choice for firsttime homebuyers Highrise in the city or lowrise in the suburbs?

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your first

home&condo vice-president, national real estate

Jacqueline Hill

Director of sales, national

Josh Heppner

Sales Manager, New Home guide GTA, new condo guide, home décor and renovations

Conni Robinson

associate publisher, New Home & condo guide SWO, lifestyle communities

Susan Maxwell

editor-in-chief, National real estate

Susan Legge

art director

Bianca DiPietro

Editor

Wayne Karl

12

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Contributing Editor

Sara Duck

senior account executives

Amanda Bell Nina Downs Dionne Fraser

Sales & marketing co-ordinator

Terry Bassett

production manager

Bala Gnanapandithan

production co-ordinator

Sandra Hanak-Vujnovic graphic designer

2

Mihail Terentiev

YOUR FIRST HOME & CONDO

500-401 The West Mall Etobicoke, ON M9C 5J5 T 416.626.4200 F 416.784.5867 NOW PUBLISHING 2X per YEAR - WINTER & FALL 2014 Advertising: Call 416.626.4200 for advertising rates and information.

16

Circulation ­Distribution 20,000 copies available at the Kismet Wedding Show, National Bridal Show, National Home Show, International Home Show and by consumer request and with the Wall2Wall Media city-wide retail distribution network.

Copyright 2014 All rights reserved by Wall2Wall Media Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Reproduction in any form is ­prohibited. Contents of this publication are ­covered by Copyright and offenders will be ­prosecuted under the law.

Terms Advertisers, Editorial Content and Your First Home & Condo are not responsible for typographical errors, mistakes or ­misprints. All prices are correct as of press time and are subject to change without notice.

E. & O. E. Editorial Submissions from interested parties will be considered. Please submit to the above address, to the attention of the editor.

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Please recycle this magazine! Wall2Wall Media participates in the Partners in Growth Reforestation Program through St. Joseph Communications. To date, Partners in Growth has planted over 2.5 million trees in parks, recreation and conservation areas, and other public spaces across Canada.

Established in 1990, this program was started with Scouts Canada to help replenish the environment.

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Monarch first.

Before the ‘60’s changed the world.

Before the Baby Boom began. Before the Roaring ‘20’s took us dancing to the Charleston or out to the movies, Monarch was here. First. For 96 years, families have trusted Monarch for the most important investment of their lives.

So choose the one builder who has always been there for Canadian families.

And visit Monarch. First.

8 YOUR FIRST HOME 2014

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MONARCH COMMUNITIES LOW RISE KLEINBURG | KLEINBURG CROWN ESTATES | NOW OPEN | SINGLES FROM THE LOW $800’S Sales Centre located at 165 Timber Creek Boulevard 416-495-3513 CALEDON | SOUTHFIELDS | NOW OPEN | SINGLES FROM THE UPPER $500’S TOWNS FROM THE UPPER $300’S Sales Centre located at 12515 Kennedy Road (Kennedy Rd. and Mayfield Rd.) 905-843-0707 AJAX | TRANQUILITY | NOW OPEN | FROM THE MID $500’S Sales Centre located at 3 Bignell Crescent (Salem Rd. North & Rossland Rd. East) 416-495-3542 SCARBOROUGH | EVERGREEN | NOW OPEN | TOWNS FROM THE UPPER $400’S Sales Centre located at 70 Town Centre Court (Town Centre Crt. and Borough Dr.) 416-495-3574 SCARBOROUGH | DANFORTH ROAD & EGLINTON | COMING SOON

HIGH RISE ETOBICOKE WATERFRONT | LAGO | UNDER CONSTRUCTION | FROM $219,990 Sales Centre located at 2167 Lake Shore Blvd. W. 416-495-3544 THE KINGSWAY | EPICUREAN | NOW OPEN | FROM $241,990 Sales Centre located at 4195 Dundas St. W. Entrance on Prince Edward Dr. 416-495-3530 ETOBICOKE WATERFRONT | WATERSCAPES | UNDER CONSTRUCTION | FROM $399,990 Sales Centre located at 2167 Lake Shore Blvd. W. 416-495-3544 DOWNTOWN TORONTO | PICASSO | UNDER CONSTRUCTION | FROM $403,990 Sales Centre located at 256 Queen St. W. 416-495-3549 ETOBICOKE WATERFRONT | RIVA DEL LAGO | COMING SOON | FROM MID $300’s Sales Centre located at 2167 Lake Shore Blvd. W. 416-495-3544

discover more

MonarchGroup.net

first.

*Limited time only. Some conditions apply. Please ask a sales representative for full details.

Prices, specifications and promotions are subject to change without notice. E.&O.E. 8757 2014 YOUR FIRST HOME 9

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Editor’s Note

N

Fixed or variable rate mortgage, lowrise or highrise home, city or suburbs?

Your First Home & Condo guides you through these important questions

o one likes to feel overwhelmed, and unfortunately, when you’re a first-time homebuyer, there’s plenty of opportunity. Where should I buy? House or a condo? What down payment do I need? Which mortgage is right for me?

Welcome to Your First Home & Condo, what we hope is a helpful step toward you becoming a homeowner – educating yourself.

For newcomers to the homebuying market, mortgages can be an intimidating and confusing subject. Fixed, variable, long, short, open, closed – these are important terms you need to understand and make decisions about. Add in the prospect of interest rate increases and changes to lending regulations, and you have a scenario in which many first-timers are left scratching their heads. For clarity, have a read of our Mortgage Roundtable on page 14, where a panel of three mortgage experts demystifies these and other key questions.

When it comes to where and what type of home to buy, these decisions are often guided by budget, work location and commuting options. Indeed, the possibilities are endless. The good news is that the GTA and the varied markets in Southwestern Ontario offer numerous excellent highrise and lowrise options for first-time buyers – and this issue of Your First Home & Condo explores many of them.

Buying your first home can also be an emotional experience. There will be homes you fall in love with, communities you want to live in and neighbours you envision befriending. Experts caution, however, not to let your emotions get carried away and to buy more with your heart than your head. This is why you should take your time, conduct your research and due diligence on every development, community, builder and home you consider.

In Your First Home & Condo, we address all of these pressing issues – and we’re doing it again later this year.

Due to readership needs and strong market feedback, we’ll be publishing a second edition in the fall. So if you haven’t crossed the homebuying threshold by then, we’ll be back with more content to help you take these important steps.

In the meantime, pick up one of our sister publications – New Home Guide (GTA and Southwestern Ontario editions), New Condo Guide or Resale Home & Condo Guide – to see what the market has to offer.

We’re confident you won’t be disappointed, and you’ll be well on your way to making one of the most important decisions of your life.

Drop us a line and share your experience with us.

Wayne Karl, Editor wayne.karl@wall2wallmedia.com twitter.com/WayneKarl

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Community Profile

Monarch Corporation

For almost a century,

families have chosen Monarch first

I

t is a time-honoured saying that the most important investment people ever make is a home. Since 1917, Canadian families have trusted Monarch, and made the name synonymous with dependability before the 1980s ushered in the electronic age, before the 1960s boomer generation changed our views and even before the roaring 1920s got us dancing.

As Canada grew, many of the most sought-after communities and inspired condominiums were built by Monarch, and are now woven into the country’s neighbourhoods where homes are cherished and memories are made.

Inquire around. You’ll be surprised how many of your family, friends and their families grew up in a Monarch home, chose Monarch for their home, even referred Monarch to friends.

First in single-family home communities

Monarch offers single-family home communities across the Greater Toronto Area. Now open in Kleinburg are manor-inspired homes at prestigious Kleinburg Crown Estates, and in Caledon, detached homes and two-storey townhomes at Southfields. In Ajax, Monarch is offering singles surrounded by lush forest at Tranquility and townhomes at Evergreen in Scarborough.

Register now for Monarch’s exciting new townhome community coming soon to East Scarborough.

For condominiums, too, it’s Monarch first

About Monarch

Headquartered in Toronto, Monarch is one of Canada’s oldest and largest home builders. Monarch has consistently been recognized in the home building industry and by its customers for superior quality and outstanding customer satisfaction.

Monarch builds and develops single-family detached and attached homes in Toronto and Ottawa and builds highrise condominiums in the Greater Toronto Area. Monarch focuses on style, design, quality and livability in all of its homes and is the Canadian brand of Taylor Morrison Home Corp. For more information on Monarch, please visit: Monarchgroup.net Twitter@monarch_group facebook/monarchcorp

Over the years, as changing needs called for different solutions, Monarch has always been there for Canadian families. In 1995, Monarch launched its first highrise development and entered the condominium market.

Since then, the company has sold more than 8,000 suites and has earned recognition as a pace-setter in this forward-looking and highly competitive environment. This notable level of success has been achieved through visionary thinking in selecting the most sought-after locations, designing award-winning floorplans and providing topnotch service.

Those looking for condominiums will find Monarch in the most desirable locations, such as downtown at Picasso on Richmond St. W. and in Etobicoke’s Kingsway where The Epicurean is now open. At Etobicoke’s waterfront, one of Toronto’s most desirable new neighbourhoods, Monarch’s Lago and Waterscapes are now under construction and some suites still remain. Coming soon, the boutique-style Riva del Lago is now taking preview registrations.

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Mortgage Roundtable

Your first mortgage

From regulations to rates, we demystify what for first-time buyers can be confusing and intimidating

by Wayne Karl

F

ixed versus variable rate, short or long term, open or closed… these are just some of the important – and complex – questions you’re likely pondering as you prepare to take out your first mortgage.

To help demystify this often-intimidating subject, Your First Home enlisted the help of three experts:

Alyssa Richard, CEO of RateHub.ca

Peter Kinch, award-winning mortgage broker and best-selling author of The Canadian Real Estate Action Plan

Calum Ross, senior vice-president and mortgage agent at The Mortgage Centre

YFH: For those who have never bought a home before, the topic of mortgages can be intimidating and confusing. How do you suggest first-time buyers begin to prepare?

Richard: Get educated. You can talk to an expert (mortgage broker or a bank), educate yourself online or do a combination of the two. There are so many resources online to choose from.

Don’t be scared to talk to family and friends who have purchased homes before; they probably had all the same questions.

Kinch: The first thing you should look at is your budget. It’s one thing to find out how much of a mortgage you can qualify for, but it’s another to look at how this new home is going to impact your budget. Analyze your current monthly housing expenses and determine the maximum amount you can afford. Research what monthly costs you should incorporate into your budget as a homeowner beyond the monthly mortgage payment – including property taxes, condo or strata fees, insurance, utilities and maintenance. Working within a budget will not only prevent you

from getting into a home you can’t afford, it will give you peace of mind. Once you have your budget in place, work with a broker to get a pre-approval and secure an interest rate for at least 120 days, so that you don’t have to worry about rising rates while taking your time to find the right property.

Ross: The most important thing a first-time buyer can do is prepare a household budget.

Once you have a really good indication of what your total household income is, after tax, then you can determine your ability to save for a down payment and an affordable monthly mortgage payment. One of the best resources available for first time buyers is still the CMHC website. The tools and data are very useful and since they are not trying to sell you anything it is unbiased. Visit the homebuying section at cmhc-schl.gc.ca YFH: Short, long, fixed, variable — what type of mortgage might better suit first-time buyers, and why?

Richard: If you’d prefer to pay the same amount each month, go fixed. If you’re comfortable with some level of risk and want to minimize costs, variable rates are proven to be cheaper in the long run. As for your mortgage term, it’s important for first-time buyers to think about a five-year timeline. Studies show that 70 per cent of homeowners break a five-year term at the 3.5-year mark, which if you went fixed could result in a big prepayment penalty. If there’s any chance you’d move in five years, go variable (penalty is only three months’ interest) or get a shorter term.

Kinch: The truth is, everyone has a unique set of circumstances. If you can get a five-year rate around three per cent, go with a long-term rate – otherwise take the variable. A fixed-rate

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exists only for a short period at closing and shortly thereafter, and depending on the difference between short- and long-term rates, the difference in payments can be substantial. Make sure you do the math and make the decision that won’t cause you to have payments over your cash-flow comfort level.

YFH: The last round of mortgage regulation changes took place in July 2012, which had the affect of holding some would-be buyers on the sidelines while they built larger down payments and otherwise better prepared. What do you foresee in the mortgage landscape in the coming six months to a year that first-time buyers should be aware of?

Richard: It doesn’t sound like interest rates will go up until late 2014 or even 2015. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty recently called Canada’s low interest rates “an anomaly,” but some economists say the numbers are normal based on our current rate of inflation. Of course, Ottawa can always change things, such as the minimum down payment requirements or the lending guidelines. In any case, I’d suggest first-time buyers pay close attention to what’s happening in their market and follow the news.

mortgage guarantees you a certain interest rate for a fixed term, such as five years. This rate is typically higher than a variable rate would be, but think of the extra cost as “insurance” against interest rates going up. A variable rate will start out lower, but there is no guarantee as to when or how high it will go, so there is a risk factor.

If you’re on a tight budget and you can’t afford for your mortgage costs to go above a certain amount, then take a fixed rate and sleep well knowing exactly what you can pay and afford for the next five to 10 years. If you have a little more flexibility in your budget, take a variable rate today, but increase your monthly payments to more than the minimum. You’ll accomplish two things: accelerate the speed at which you pay down your mortgage; and adjust your family budget so that if you renew into a higher rate environment five years from now, you won’t experience payment shock.

Ross: The challenge for first-time buyers is that they tend to want the stability of a payment – good for budgeting purposes. The problem is that they typically own the home for less than five years. Generally speaking, it is important to remember that the cash flow crunch typically

Kinch: The government is definitely trying to find ways to become involved in slowing down what it perceives to be a heated housing market. The question is, what is left? Ottawa can impact only high-ratio mortgages such as those insured

by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC). Currently, homebuyers can get a high-ratio mortgage with only five per cent down. I really don’t see them changing the down payment requirement to 10 per cent. An area they may intervene is the CMHC insurance premiums – such as increasing the premiums homebuyers have to pay based on how much they put down. They will also take a stronger look at qualification rules, especially for the self-employed.

Outside of CMHC, the Office of Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) will put more pressure on banks that currently offer a 30-year amortization on conventional mortgages (minimum 20 per cent down) to change the maximum amortization to 25 years. If the government or OSFI do make a rule change, it will come in February or March, and the unintended consequence will be an early start to the “spring market,” as homebuyers rush to take advantage of existing rules before the new ones take effect. This could create the very thing the government is trying to avoid – a heated spring market.

Ross: The lending environment may very well see more stringent mortgage guidelines in the next six to 12 months.

There is a growing concern about household debt levels, which could result in changes to the way mortgages are approved with both banks and other mortgage suppliers. At this time, I don’t think we are likely to see much in the way of changes for first-time buyers, but there is talk about moving the amortization period from 30 years back to 25, which could mean that the payments will be larger for mortgages.

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Community Profile

MARYDEL HOMES

Coming soon to the town of Beaverton Small town living near the shores of Lake Simcoe

E

ver wonder where you can find a new home community that offers small town living with a whole range of modern conveniences and amenities nearby? Welcome to Seven Meadows in the town of Beaverton, the latest offering from Marydel Homes – an exclusive collection of detached bungalows and two-storey homes starting from just $279,900.

Boasting spacious, open concept designs, Seven Meadows comprises a limited number of bungalows and two-storey homes – all within walking distance of Lake Simcoe and just a stone’s throw from schools, shopping, recreation and other amenities.

There’s a home design to fit every household’s unique needs. Eight bungalow designs range from 1,100 to 2,200 sq. ft., while eight two-storey designs measure from 1,600 to 3,200 sq. ft. – on spacious 40- or 50-ft. lots.

At Seven Meadows, Marydel Homes upholds its tradition of building excellence, with quality construction and finishes that include all-brick and brick and stone elevations, standard ceramic and hardwood floors and nineft. main floor ceilings. Starting from just $279,900, Seven Meadows offers unprecedented value to new-home buyers.

Marydel Homes strives to ensure that customers get exactly what they are promised: craftsmanship and dedicated service with the most modern

conveniences and efficiencies built in for today’s families. With more than 30 years of experience and a strong reputation for new home quality, Marydel puts you at ease with one of the biggest investments in your future.

With communities in Newmarket, Concord, throughout the GTA – and now Beaverton – Marydel’s homes all combine leading edge design, state-ofthe-art construction, attention to detail and the finest finishes. All of the company’s designers, project managers, construction staff and support personnel share a common goal: to build more than just homes – to build lifelong relationships with our clients.

Each new home is a carefully planned and coordinated effort that unfolds to bring form, substance and function to our homebuyer’s vision. We’re proud to have earned an exceptional reputation for not only the quality of our workmanship but even more importantly to us, we have continually exceeded customer expectations as one of the most trusted home builders.

The Marydel team has guided hundreds of new-home purchasers through the new home construction journey. The sales office at Seven Meadows is due to open in early spring 2014, with possession of homes scheduled for early 2015.

For more information, visit marydelhomes.com

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Opening March 2014 in the Town of Beaverton

Enjoy small town living near the shores of Lake Simcoe with this exclusive collection of detached bungalows and two storey homes on 40’ & 50’ lots.

$

Starting from

289,900

Register Now at MarydelHomes.com Prices & specifications subject to change without notice. E. O. & E. 2014 YOUR FIRST HOME 17

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Community Profile

MENKES DEVELOPMENTS

Now open – Menkes’ Dwell City Towns in Etobicoke Priced from the mid $300’s Please see a sales representative for details.

Situated conveniently just off Hwy. 427 at Holiday Drive, Dwell City Towns puts the exceptional shops of Sherway Gardens, the four-season offerings of the Centennial Park complex, neighbourhood sporting fields and everyday conveniences of Loblaws and Cloverdale Mall mere minutes away. The TTC Subway and GO Train are a short bus ride away, and Hwys. 427, 401 and the QEW are easily accessed, making getting downtown or out of town a breeze.

T

he wait is over! Menkes Developments’ much anticipated design-forward townhome community in the heart of Etobicoke – Dwell City Towns – is now open.

Dwell City Towns is where modern architecture and smart living spaces with premium features and finishes come together. An impressive array of features, including smooth ceilings and laminate floors in living and dining areas, define open concept living and entertaining spaces. Modern kitchens boast European-style cabinetry and premium quality stainless steel appliances. And for those who relish sunlit days and starry nights, private patios, balconies and rooftop decks provide superior outdoor living and entertaining space. This is your perfect home – for family milestones to be celebrated and new memories created.

Dwell City Towns offers unique product designs to suit a variety of tastes and budgets. Priced from $300’s, the two-storey Metreo Collection features townhomes ranging from 1,071 to 1,287 sq. ft. with spacious terrace or rooftop deck as per plan. The newly released Habitat Collection offers three-level townhomes starting from 1,506 sq. ft. The two- and threebedroom homes at Dwell City Towns will feature brick and stucco exteriors set along a harmonious, pedestrian-friendly streetscape. The community also offers secure underground parking, bicycle spaces and much more.

In addition to a wide array of fabulous features and finishes, Dwell City Towns offers a flexible deposit program with only a $5,000 initial deposit.

The presentation centre is located onsite at 2 Holiday Dr., off West Mall, north of Burnhamthorpe in Etobicoke. The sales office is open Monday to Thursday from noon to 7 p.m., and weekends and holidays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed on Fridays. Call 416.259.2525 or visit menkes.com for more information.

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Expert Advice

Spend vs. Save PAUL SEMKULEY Toronto-based interior stylist is principal of Re:Source Lifestyles.

He combines his love of art, fashion and design to offer a unique styling and design firm. Visit resourcelifestyles.com

by SARA DUCK

J

ust bought a new home and on a tight budget?

Don’t fret! With expert advice from Toronto-based interior stylist Paul Semkuley, we show you where to spend and save for each room in your house.

SAVE: Emmie Spets Sheet Set in White. $45. Visit ikea.ca

Table Lamp. $70. Visit bouclair.com

Hemnes Three Drawer Chest in Gray-Brown. $150. Visit ikea.ca

BEDROOM SPEND: MATTRESS AND BOX SPRING APPROX: $1,500 - $3,000

Although it is the least glamourous item to buy for the bedroom, it is the most important. A good mattress will make all the difference in getting your beauty sleep each night. “The mattress should last you at least 10 years,” says interior stylist Paul Semkuley. “Especially when you purchase it with the coordinating box spring – as it absorbs up to 50 per cent of the body’s impact.”

Semkuley also suggests getting comfy and cosy in store by laying on it like you would normally sleep, to see if the mattress is a right fit.

Whether you prefer a mattress that is firm, made of organic material or one that comes with a pillow top for extra comfort, buy the best one you can afford.

TIP: Don’t try to save money by using an old foundation or box spring with your new mattress. A mattress paired with its new box spring work together for all around better support, and keeps the mattress in shape longer.

Seagrass Block Headboard. $200-$390. Visit pier1.ca

FACT: A study conducted in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, UK, Germany and Japan found that a comfortable sleep surface and cosy sheets and bedding were rated the most important romantic elements in all six countries.

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KITCHEN

SAVE:

SPEND: FREE-STANDING RANGE APPROX: $2,000-$5,000

Gourmet Settings Non-Stop Flatware. $50 for 20-piece. Visit bedbathandbeyond.ca

Appliance shopping can be daunting – especially when you are deciding on a big purchase such as a freestanding range (hot plate on top, oven underneath). But this important appliance will make your cooking life easier if you spend a little more on a quality piece that is tailored to your needs. “Having a gourmet range will make a huge statement in your kitchen.

It will definitely add value to your home while you live there and especially if you plan to sell your home,” says Semkuley.

Bodum Chambord Four Cup French Press with Locking Lid. $50. Visit thebay.com

Royal Doulton Gordon Ramsay Maze White Dinnerware. $100 for 16-piece. Visit bedbathandbeyond.ca

TIP: There are plenty of options when it comes to your range, such as gas, electric and induction. Determine which type of fuel you will use based on what you have available and your personal cooking preference.

FACT: A study conducted by Visa Canada suggests 60 per cent of Canadians eat out once or more a week.

LIVING ROOM SPEND: SOFA APPROX: $3,500-$5,000

The living room is the main hub of any home. It’s where you will do most of your entertaining and it’s the place you will go to snuggle and watch movies together. It’s important, then, that you invest in a sofa that not only looks good, but is comfortable, durable and functional for your space. Paying a little extra now, means a sofa that will last through the years. “When you have great bones in a sofa, you can always reupholster it, knowing that you will have the comfort that you have enjoyed for so many years,” says Semkuley.

Hamilton Beach 1.7L Dome Electric Kettle. $60. Visit thebay.com

SAVE: Sequined Striped Pillow. $49. Visit chapters.indigo.ca

Bendale Rug by Korhani Home. $134 for 5x7. Visit rona.ca

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SAVE:

Simply Fine Lenox Chirp Bath Ensemble. $50. Visit bedbathandbeyond.ca

Fiona Bath Towels in Coral. $ 14. Visit bedbathandbeyond.ca

The Beverly Mirror by Tangerine Mirror Co. $80 for 24 by 26-in. Visit homedepot.ca

BATHROOM SPEND: VANITY AND COUNTERTOP APPROX: $2,500-$4,000

You may think this is an odd pick to invest your money in, but the vanity is a key item for the bathroom. Don’t forget you will be using the vanity every day, multiple times, opening and closing doors and exposing it to moisture. “The most important need of the vanity must be function,” says Semkuley. “Spending more on cabinetry that is made of solid wood will last much longer in a “wet” environment, than those made of a pressed wood compound.”

TIP: Buy a vanity that is proportioned to your space. You may have room for a big vanity but little room for anything else.

Heritage Aged Iron Chandelier by Hampton Bay. $99. Visit homedepot.ca

FACT: In 1890, the Scott Paper Company manufactured toilet paper on a roll, much as we know it today.

Floor Lamp. $140. Visit bouclair.com

Box Frame Coffee Table in Mango Wood. $429. Visit westelm.com

TIP: When sofa shopping, look for a sturdy frame, one that does not wobble or creak but sits squarely on the floor. Also, pay attention to fabric detail – you want a fabric that will wear well for every day use.

FACT: According to BBM Canada, the average Canadian adult watches 30 hours of television a week.

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Community Profile

Primont Homes

Expect amazing things from

Primont in 2014

A

t Primont, we’ve always prided ourselves in putting our customers first. Guided by this commitment, we’re continuing to go above and beyond to create the finest new home communities in the GTA. With several communities already under construction and more on the way, you can find the with Bramalea City Centre and a fine array of shops, home you’ve always wanted with Primont in 2014. schools, plazas and parks all just minutes away. With Construction is well underway at Primont’s popular inventory closings available, it’s never been a better Castlemore and Heirloom communities, so there’s never time to make the move to this highly prestigious been a better time to find the perfect family home with community. Call 905.856.5777 to learn more.

Primont. Like all Primont communities, Castlemore and In addition to communities that are currently Heirloom offer breathtaking collections of exquisite under construction, Primont also has several other family homes at some of the finest locations in the GTA. communities that offer beautiful homes and exceptional And with both communities offering early closings, you value at great GTA locations. Brampton’s Centretown won’t have to wait long to move in to your stunning community features an impressive array of breathtaking new Primont home. townhomes and picture perfect two-car garage singles Heirloom is an inviting family community of stylish in a positively stunning master-planned community freehold towns and semis at an exceptional Markham atmosphere. Located in the northwest part of Brampton, location, just minutes from Hwys. 404 and 407. Homes Mount Pleasant is a charming storybook community feature beautiful brick and stucco exteriors and a fine of unparalleled beauty. Bordering picturesque farmland, selection of interior features and finishes. And with yet offering all the major conveniences of Brampton schools, shopping, restaurants, a community centre, – such as shopping, schools, restaurants and more – neighbourhood parks and GO Transit nearby, you’re Mount Pleasant is a neighbourhood that truly offers the not just moving in to a home, you’re moving in to a best of all worlds. And with easy access to Brampton vibrant, established community setting. A Final Release Transit, GO Transit and Hwy. 410, it’s easy to get of executive townhomes is currently available. The anywhere you want to go when you live at Centretown Heirloom sales team is also proud to announce that in Mount Pleasant. they’ll now be operating out of an all-new designer Homebuyers are also falling in love with an exciting decorated model home on Fimco Crescent, located new release of stunning townhomes at Markham’s off of Donald Cousens Parkway, just south of Major Harmony community. Located right across from South Mackenzie Drive. Call 905.201.2804 to learn more!

Unionville Square, Harmony is an exclusive family On the other side of the GTA, Primont has been community of stylish executive townhomes. The receiving a lot of attention for its stunning family breathtaking homes in this established neighbourhood community in Brampton’s iconic Castlemore Village. offer homebuyers the rare opportunity to live in one of At Castlemore, potential homebuyers are sure to South Unionville’s most desirable areas. be impressed by the fine selection of stunning Coming Soon from Primont Homes are two new towns, semis and 50-ft. singles. This incredible exciting communities in highly sought after locations. northeast Brampton community offers inspiring vistas In Woodbridge, Renaissance Townes offers an elegant overlooking the West Humber ravine and the Claireville collection of executive townhomes at a central location.

Conservation Area. This natural setting is ideal for nature And Primont Caledon will offer an amazing selection of lovers, who can step out their front doors and enter 36-, 41- and 45-ft. singles with two-car garages. into a world of hiking, cycling and more. Residents For more information on any of these wonderful of Castlemore can also delight in the incredible Primont communities, visit primonthomes.com combination of natural beauty and urban convenience,

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WELCOME TO

Southwestern Ontario The following pages feature new homes and condos from some of the area’s most prominent builders

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Find Your Perfect Home.

Reid’s Heritage Homes – Ontario Home Builder of the Year, 2013 .

Reid’s Heritage Homes cares about creating the perfect family community as much as we care about crafting the perfect family home.

Our LiveWISE approach to new home building ensures you’ll find just the right home in one of our many award-winning communities across Ontario.

Visit reidsheritagehomes.com to find your perfect home, today.

Cambridge | Collingwood | Fergus | Guelph | Kitchener | Meaford | Owen Sound | Port Elgin | Puslinch | Thornbury

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QualityWISE: QualityWISE is about maximizing performance and efficiency while minimizing errors and waste through the use of relevant, reliable products and employing our time-tested processes.

The quality of our work has earned us the designation of Ontario Home Builder of the Year, 2013.

FutureWISE: We pride ourselves on staying abreast of emerging technologies and offering forward-thinking solutions to our customers, such as Solar Ready or geothermal heated homes.

Our legacy of firsts, such as Canada’s first LEED home and Ontario’s first Built Green home are a testimony to the trailblazing and innovative spirit of Reid’s Heritage Homes.

EnviroWISE: For three generations we have been committed to building high quality homes, which led us to research and implement best practices in sustainability, long before it became fashionable.

PeopleWISE: Our focus on people is based on the fundamental idea that satisfied customers are the building blocks of our success.

From our “intentional culture”, our continuous on-the-job training and the ten core values ingrained in all of us at Reid’s Heritage Homes, PeopleWISE speaks to the respect we have for each other, our customers and everyone we do business with.

Our commitment to people is underlined by our achievement as Best Small and Medium Employer in Canada.

ServiceWISE: We treat every home we build like it’s our own, and every homeowner like a neighbour. That is the ServiceWISE philosophy.

Whether it is while you work with our Sales Consultants, as you choose the fine features and finishes with our Décor Specialists, or when you meet with one of our Home Service technicians, we pride ourselves on the care and attention we bring to every service experience.

NeighbourhoodWISE: Building vibrant neighbourhoods is a passion at Reid’s Heritage Homes.

Our family communities like Westminster Woods and Summerside offer a great selection of homes in locations specifically chosen for their beautiful, natural settings and close proximity to parks, schools and urban amenities to compliment your lifestyle.

DesignWISE: From beautiful lakeside family enclaves to spectacular golf course communities, Reid’s Heritage Homes designs elegant, energy-efficient homes and creates harmonious communities by taking into account the totality of experience and what’s important to your family.

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Community Profile

Reid’s Heritage Homes

2013 Ontario Home Builder of the Year

R

eid’s Heritage Homes was named as 2013 Ontario Home Builder of the Year, at the gala awards ceremony of the 50th Ontario Home Builders’ Association Annual Conference.

The Ontario Home Builders’ Association, with 4,000 members and 30 local associations, is the voice of the residential building industry in Ontario.

OHBA President Leith Moore says, “The Awards of Distinction program is an opportunity to pay tribute and honour the creativity, innovation and talent of builders, renovators, designers and marketers within the new home building and renovation industry.”

Blake Seeberger, senior vice-president of residential construction at Reid’s Heritage Homes, says, “This award means a lot to every member of our Reid’s Heritage team, especially because it comes from our peers in the home building industry. We are proud of the homes and communities we create for each and every client we serve, and we’re delighted our commitment to quality and service has been recognized in this award.”

This is the latest in an impressive collection of awards garnered by Reid’s Heritage Homes over the past year alone. In June, the Reid’s Heritage Group of Companies received the Mayor’s Award for “Excellence in Workforce Training & Development,” presented by the City of Cambridge to the company that exhibits a continuous learning environment and proven excellence in workforce training and development. Reid’s Heritage Homes also received the 2013 City of Guelph Water Conservation and Efficiency Award, acknowledging the company’s continued leadership in the city’s Blue Built Home program. The company was also honoured with two 2013 Silver National Sales and Marketing Awards. The Reid’s Heritage Team will also be engaged over the next five years, as one of five home builders selected to participate in a National Net Zero Home building science project

with National Resources Canada and Owens Corning.

Seeberger adds, “Winning awards like these is not our first objective, but they emphasize that we are meeting our primary goal of building great homes in great communities for satisfied customers.”

For more than three decades, Reid’s Heritage Homes has designed and built single-detached homes, midrise condos, twostorey executive and bungalow townhomes, custom estates and active adult-lifestyle communities.

Reid’s Heritage Homes’ communities are located across Southwestern Ontario, from Guelph, Cambridge and Waterloo Region to Kincardine, Port Elgin, Thornbury and the Georgian Bay area.

Why not build with the best?

For more information, visit reidsheritagehomes.com

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Home Search

Location, location, location Plenty of options await first-time buyers in Southwestern Ontario’s varied markets

I

f location, location, location is

the golden rule of real estate, Southwestern Ontario is blessed with options for today’s new-home buyers. Indeed, the beauty of SWO is that it comprises so many different locales – from Hamilton to London to KitchenerWaterloo to Niagara – all distinct markets with their own local economies, employment pictures and other important influences.

One of the characteristic differences of SWO over the GTA, for example, is the region’s heavier reliance on a manufacturing economy. As the U.S. recovery strengthens in 2014, Southwestern Ontario is expected to be among the chief beneficiaries.

And, of course, SWO also has the benefit of lower average home prices. In Hamilton, for example, average prices are about $150,000 lower than in Toronto.

Here is a look at some of the key markets, highlights and opportunities in Southwestern Ontario, from 2014 Housing Market Outlook Reports from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) and other information.

KITCHENER-WATERLOO AND GUELPH: Steady as she goes Residential construction is picking up – in particular, single-detached starts have recently gained momentum due to a tightening of the resale market. With the resale market expected to begin softening only in the latter half of 2014, singledetached starts will finish the year slightly higher. Low inventories of completed and unabsorbed rowhomes and the recent growth in housing demand will lead developers to increase rowhome starts.

Following a brief slowdown in 2013, condo starts are set to return to elevated levels, as net migration will continue to support housing demand.

The economy will be moderately supportive of housing demand, as employment increased slightly in 2013 compared to the previous year.

Growth in the labour force, due primarily to migration, will cause the unemployment rate to increase. With the second largest goods-producing sector in Ontario, employment here will benefit from a strengthening U.S. economy in 2014.

KWC & GUELPH HIGHLIGHTS

» Single starts in KWC to rise 7.4 per cent in 2014 » Multiple starts in KWC to rise 52.4 per cent in 2014 » Single starts in Guelph to remain the same in 2014 » KWC unemployment rate to remain unchanged at seven per cent in 2014 » Guelph unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 6.4 per cent in 2014 HAMILTON: Still humming along Hamilton total housing starts expected to trend higher in 2014. Condo starts for 2013 were to exceed 2012 levels, as some home builders shift focus towards highrise structures. Intensification is increasingly becoming a viable option for residential development, particularly in the downtown core.

Lower inventories, improving economic conditions and steady in-migration of buyers from the GTA will support higher housing starts in 2014. Steady annual population increases have generated more households, which bode well for housing starts in the next two years.

Hamilton’s employment was down by 0.6 per cent in the first half of 2013, versus a 1.4-per-cent increase for Ontario during the same period.

This gap is expected to close faster through the course of this year. Looking further into 2014, The economy is forecast to add about 4,000 new jobs as some prominent projects open. For example, Maple Leaf Foods and Navistar are expected to hire more than 750 Hamiltonians. Manufacturing is the second largest sector in Hamilton, accounting for about 13 per cent of total employment. As a result, a strong U.S. economic recovery and a stable global economy will translate to higher demand for Hamilton’s manufacturing products. The construction sector is expected to advance, with job creation adding to homeownership demand.

Kitchener

Hamilton

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In 2014, job growth in the construction sector will be stronger as Hamilton prepares to host the Pan Am Games – and close to 7,000 athletes – in July 2015. One project, the $150-million refurbishment of Ivor Wynne stadium, is expected to be completed this year.

HAMILTON HIGHLIGHTS

» Single starts to rise 3.4 per cent in 2014 » Multiple starts to rise slightly by 0.7 per cent in 2014 » Steady in-migration from GTA » Unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 6.2 per cent LONDON: Affordability plus New construction is to grow by one per cent in 2014, with the majority of growth in single-detached homes. Rowhome construction will remain stable and condo starts will moderate, as units that are coming available for rent or purchase are inhabited. Growth of single-detached starts will be supported by stable employment and new construction outside the city. Through 2013, new home construction was especially strong in areas outside the city, such as St. Thomas and StrathroyCaradoc. This trend is expected to continue, as the relative affordability of new homes will support singledetached starts in these markets.

There has been a steady increase in the percentage of homes priced higher than $450,000.

This rate of growth will slow in a rising mortgage rate environment, although the higher proportion of more expensive homes will remain steady through 2014.

After a strong year of townhome construction in 2013, a similar result is expected for 2014. Household formation, slow income growth through 2013 and a rising interest rate environment will all support demand for rowhomes as an affordable housing option.

Employment is holding steady in London. Goods producing employment picked up in 2013,

London

Niagara Falls

while service employment softened. Strengthening of goods producing employment is expected through 2014, as the London Economic Development Corp. (LEDC) reports that the auto parts and building products sectors are doing well. Both industries are beneficiaries of demand from south of the border, where GDP growth is forecast to increase in 2014.

While employment in services softened in 2013, higher wage forms of employment as a group held steady, providing support to the higher-end of the resale and new home markets.

The unemployment rate will remain largely unchanged at 8.4 per cent in 2014. Wages growth will pick up in 2014 as local economic growth strengthens.

LONDON HIGHLIGHTS

» Single starts to rise 5.2 per cent in 2014 » Unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 8.4 per cent » Average incomes will resume growth in 2014 » Population growth to come from immigration and inter- and intra-provincial migration supported by a stronger employment outlook.

ST. CATHARINES-NIAGARA: Lowrise popularity Total starts were expected to increase for 2013, powered by a lack of resale listings and affordable mortgage carrying costs. Row and semi-detached housing will remain popular as purchasers favour affordable ground oriented units. Starts for 2013 were up due to higher starts in semi-detached and rowhomes. In 2014, construction will edge lower for all types of homes except for condos.

The new home price index was to rise in 2013, but will edge lower in 2014. Inventories of completed and unabsorbed new homes, which are edging lower, will rise as home sales slow. This will relieve some of the upward pressure on new home prices.

Full-time employment will recover in 2014, after declining in 2013. As a consequence, the housing market may experience some moderation.

Average incomes are expected to grow this year, supporting housing demand. Given St. Catharines-Niagara’s proximity to the U.S. border, tourism and manufacturing will benefit from the increase in Canadian business activity.

ST. CATHARINES-NIAGARA HIGHLIGHTS

» Increase in employment for 2014 will support housing demand across all types. » Average weekly earnings to increase » Upward trend in birth rates will contribute to demand for family-sized homes » Influx of migrants will support housing demand

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SPOTLIGHT ON

Condos

An excellent choice for first-time homebuyers

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Home Search

Highrise in the city or lowrise in the suburbs?

What are the options for first-time buyers in 2014? by anthony jong

I

n real estate, price and location go hand in hand. Other than personal reasons, such as family needs or commuting issues, buyers usually base their buying decision on – you guessed it – price. However, budget for most buyers remains static, and location becomes one of the most crucial variables.

When affordability is such an important influence in their choice of housing type and location, buyers begin to ask these questions: ›› What more can I get for the same amount of money in the suburbs as opposed to the city? ›› What less can I get for the same amount of money in the city as opposed to the suburbs?

Affordability is the percentage of the total gross household income that is paid towards the mortgage principal and interest payments, property taxes and utilities. In 2013, the affordability factor had risen to approximately 33 per cent – meaning it became slightly less affordable – a little higher than the mark set in 2012. The last time the affordability factor surpassed 33 per cent was in mid 2007 to 2008, and the time before that was 1994-95. With affordability in the GTA on the rise, and an all-time high in average home prices, buyers have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of their prospective area.

Average prices by major home types, as of November 2013

Detached

City

within 416

Suburb within 905

$855,188

$609,557

Semi-Detached

$640,208

$419,318

Townhouse

$472,722

$378,569

Condo Apartment

$385,968

$277,389

These figures are not surprising, in that real estate prices are based on location. It is inevitable that the closer you are to the city centre, the higher average prices are for similar housing types. For example, a buyer with a $400,000 budget must determine if purchasing a highrise condo in the city is worth the compromise, rather than a townhouse or semi-detached in

the suburbs for relatively the same price. The highrise condo may be smaller in size with no yard space compared to the semi or town, but is closer to amenities and public transit. It is common for many buyers to experience this “tug-of-war” before purchasing a home.

What’s good in the city is less so in the suburbs

Close to work. A long commute to work every day is not only a waste of time, but also energy and fuel (if driving). The estimated time that a Torontonian spends in traffic is at least seven hours per week. If you live in the suburbs and travel downtown for work, expect traffic jams and long commute times every day.

Proximity to amenities

Living in a highrise condo let’s you tap into many amenities without setting foot outside. Many developers have more elaborate in-building features to cater to busy lifestyles, including full service spa, tanning decks, swimming pools, gourmet kitchens with party lounges, cooking classes, tech lounges and 24-hour exercise facilities.

Some of the best restaurants in Toronto are in the downtown core. In addition to shops, gyms, supermarkets, coffee shops and movie theatres being around the corner, public transit

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the suburbs with greater selection of lowrise housing. Space is an important consideration, so for buyers with children or extended family members, the suburbs may be a better option.

Affordability issues in the city

Data compiled by the Toronto Real Estate Board shows that the city outperformed the suburbs in 2013. The year-over-year percentage change of average prices in three out of four home types in the city surpassed the suburbs, making the purchase of a home in the city less affordable than that of the same housing type in the suburbs.

Percentage change in average price, 2013

City

Suburb

within 416

within 905

Detached

16%

9.7%

Semi-Detached

9.9%

7.1%

Townhouse

6.4%

8.8%

Condo Apartment

10%

-0.4%

People and more people

is not only convenient but also conducive to supporting property values.

If you don’t like crowds, then living in the city, particularly the downtown core, may not be your best option. The suburbs generally have lower residential density and offer a more peaceful setting. In addition, traffic is usually lighter in the suburbs than in the city.

No car, no fuss

Extended family

If you could save the approximately $800 to $1,000 per month it would cost you in car payments, insurance, fuel and parking, you may be able to afford a more expensive home in the city. TTC has been designated as an essential service in Toronto, and car rental companies such as Zipcar can be found in convenient locations across the city.

Urban sprawl has caused many families to move away from the downtown core into the suburbs. Choosing to live in the city may translate to being away from close family members and a greater commute for weekend get-togethers.

Greater selection of highrises

The city has a higher density, which in turn affords buyers a larger selection within their budget.

There may be four or five highrise projects at a single intersection in the downtown core, versus one or two highrise developments in the suburbs.

What’s good in the suburbs is less so in the city

Downtown suburbs

Many large condo developments are turning into their own self-sustaining communities. Developments such as Downtown/Uptown Markham and World on Yonge are combining multi-building condos with commercial and office spaces. Residents are able to shop, bank and find essential services right at their doorstep.

Greater selection of lowrises

Building density is lower in the suburbs, with housing more spread out than in the city. There is a greater selection of lowrise housing types, such as detached, semis and townhouses than in the city.

Price and space

The price per square foot of a house or condo is generally higher in the city than suburbs, which results in less square footage of living space for the same amount of money. The Canadian dream has always been a lovely home with a large backyard and a white picket fence. This still holds true, but for a typical household with an average income, this dream is likely more plausible in

Anthony Jong, BA (Hons), M. Arch., is a broker at ReMax Hallmark Realty Ltd., Brokerage, specializing in residential homes, condos, and commercial properties. He can be reached at anthonyjong@live.com, online at anthonyjong.ca and by phone at 416.836.2821

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diverse, unexpected, curious, authentic. – Find your space in the Junction

@dukecondos

#junctionlife

www.junctionlife.ca

Presentation Centre: 2800 Dundas St. West, Toronto / 416 800 7738

Specifications are subject to change without notice. Exclusive broker: Paul Johnston, Unique Urban Homes. The Brokers are protected by E. & O. E. Illustrations are artististic impressions. www.tasdesignbuild.com

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Community Profile

TAS Design Build

Partnering with the community key to Shaping Beautiful Cities at TAS

W

e approach our projects with a lens on the city, engaging the local community to better understand their needs and their neighbourhood. “This is at the core of our culture and commitment to Shaping Beautiful Cities,” says Mazyar Mortazavi, president and CEO of TAS. “By partnering with local community groups, businesses and the local BIA, along with other community stakeholders, we engage in a collaborative process that prevents isolation and helps to create community cohesion.

At TAS, we strive to go above and beyond creating architecturally pleasing buildings by using our projects as an opportunity for community building.”

Mortavazi applies an enlightened urban design approach to residential development with the result that no one gets trapped in a bubble and no community feels invaded. It’s an attitude that respects the energy and history that go into making a community vibrant in the first place. TAS is rejuvenating Toronto’s most dynamic locations in ways that don’t just secure their unique character but enhance them.

DUKE, an eight-storey residential condominium in Toronto’s historic Junction neighbourhood, launched this fall after bonding with the community via hugely popular initiatives such as the TAS-sponsored Junction Flea and Stretch Your Limits, a free yoga session on the building site. Designed by renowned Quadrangle Architects, the Globe and Mail’s John Bentley Mays calls DUKE “an all-encompassing architectural gesture” for the revitalization of Dundas Street West. Key attributes: a dynamically geometric white brick façade, artfully cantilevered and articulated living spaces with a village feel, urban agriculture amenities such as custom terrace planters and a Green roof and live/work loft spaces that animate the adjacent laneway.

TAS’s latest project, in partnership with Main and Main Developments, is a midrise boutique building located in the up and coming Birchcliff Village Neighbourhood at Kingston Road and Victoria Park, often referred to as the Upper Beaches. The building, designed by award-winning Teeple Architects, will be eight and 10 storeys high and consist of 169 residential units. The south side of the building will have expansive views of the lake, while the tiered north face of the building takes advantage of the design by incorporating generous terraces with urban agricultural planters, allowing homeowners to maintain a generous vegetable garden and true outdoor living space. As with all TAS buildings, this project will be built to a LEED Silver standard and will include a rooftop vegetable garden and cooking area as part of

the project’s amenity area. This is a project that first-time buyers, empty nesters and growing families are all going to want to call home.

From west to east, TAS is taking Toronto neighbourhoods with edge and soul and boosting their liveability.

To do this, TAS relies on what they call the “Four Pillars of Sustainability,” which provides a framework for the company’s decision-making process through each stage of development.

These consist of: Social, Ecological, Cultural and Economic commitments to city building. Other developers explore emerging neighbourhoods, but TAS believes in the important role developers play in creating communities. Their view is that every action is connected. “Our commitment to Shaping Beautiful Cities is founded in our belief that we are guests in the neighbourhoods we build in and our host is the community, we treat them as we would treat a host at a dinner party,” says Mortazavi.

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what is the city of your

A city is not merely shaped by the function of its built form; it’s Kingston

defined by the spaces and ideas within it. By considering the

Rd

social, ecological, economic and cultural elements that nurture Victo

our communities, we can re-write the rules and enable our cities,

ria P ark A

and the people who live within them, to move forward to new

ve Que

en

possibilities. This is the philosophy behind our newest condomin-

St E

ium project coming soon to Victoria Park Avenue and Kingston Lake Ontario

Road. Thoughtfully designed with respect for the charming, authentic character of the area, it connects people and place, helping to strengthen the neighbourhood and expand what it means to be part of a thriving community.

Please register at www.tasdesignbuild.com/kr/

www.tasdesignbuild.com

037-Tas-Kingston 01-18-14.indd 37

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BILD Report

Why condos make a good

first-time buyer choice

by Bryan Tuckey

T

he facts don’t lie: first-time homebuyers are increasingly choosing the condo lifestyle – for affordability, convenience and other factors. If this describes you, and you’re in the market for a new condo, now is a great time to start your search.

With the cost of new ground-related homes at a record high and still growing, condominiums have become an affordable choice of homeownership, particularly for first-timers looking to take advantage of today’s low interest rates. Prices in the highrise category have declined slightly, but remain stable, and with a constrained rental market, could appeal to potential investors.

At the end of September 2013, there were 260 highrise projects under construction containing 65,858 homes. It’s worth pointing out that those are 86 per cent sold, which means more than 9,000 are still available.

As the market becomes more competitive, builders are now offering some very appealing incentives to potential purchasers, ranging from maintenance fee exceptions, covering your property tax for a few years or even handing out cash discounts worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Following the introduction of Places to Grow, our provincial government has placed a great emphasis on intensification, resulting in a shift in housing type toward higher density housing. In simpler terms, our industry was asked to build up, not out.

This has resulted in an increase in condominium construction, with the highrise sector holding approximately 60 per cent of the market share of

new homes. That’s quite different from a decade ago when groundrelated homes outnumbered its condo counterparts three to one.

New highrise communities in the GTA have been recognized on provincial, national and even international levels through awardwinning, world-class design. In addition to employing top local talent, the industry brings renowned Canadian and international architects to the GTA. Best of all, by buying a condo in the GTA, you’re also helping the building and development industry drive the local economy forward.

Every crane you see represents between 300 and 500 jobs in new home construction. In fact, our industry creates more than 200,000 jobs every year and is one of the leading economic engines of the region and province.

As we like to say here at BILD, buy new and buy now!

Bryan Tuckey is President and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) and is a land-use planner who has worked for municipal, regional and provincial governments. He can be found on Twitter (twitter.com/bildgta), Facebook (facebook.com/bildgta) and BILD’s official online blog (bildblogs.ca).

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UPTOWNES AT CARDINAL POINT DELIVERS

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THE CAREFREE

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DOWNTOWN COMES UPTOWN WITH AN EXCITING NEW TWIST Enjoy the carefree condo-lifestyle for thousands below city prices at Cardinal Point – Geranium’s Master Planned Ravine Community in Stouffville.

Within walking distance of GO Transit, theatre, parks, art centre, shopping, dining and more, Uptownes has everything you love just steps

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BILD 2012 HOME BUILDER OF THE YEAR CHBA 2011 GRAND SAM AWARD WINNER Prices are correct at press time and are subject to change without notice. Specic features are as per plan and series. Sq.ft. measurements are approximate. Map not to scale.

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See

FLAT FL AT ROOF TO STOUFFVILLE’S PREMIUM COMMUNITY

PANTRY

FLAT A ROOF

Each spectacular 3-storey townhome designed to take

Great Room that

STOVE

has been meticulously

dazzles with 10’

DISHWASHER

full advantage of

Relax and entertain in style in a fabulous

OPTIONAL BUILT COUNTER EXTEN-IN & SIONS

ceilings, Euro-style Gourmet Kitchen

abundant windows

and more.

and wonderful

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ale.

CONDO LIFESTYLE

flowing, open concept layouts.

Imagine summer evenings on a private

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to 380 sq.ft. complete with BBQ hook up.

GOODERHAM SERIES - MODE L S1 FABULOUS GRE AT ROOM

Cosy Ground Floor Flex Space with in-floor heating can be your den, home office, or home gym. Enjoy air conditioning in summer and all year, immediate access to your private garage.

Two Bedroom Designs 1,401 to 1,639 sq. ft.

geraniumhomes.com

SITE LOCATION

Millard St SALES CENTRE

9th Line

from

John Davis Gate

Hwy 48

364

$

900

Bakerhill Blv

LOFT INSPIRED CONDO TOWNS

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Mon to Wed: 1 – 7pm Wknds & Hol: 11am – 6pm Main St

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#" - - " / 5 3 " & 4 50 6 ' ' 7 * - - & 1 0 35 ) 0 1 & 80 0 % 4 50 $ , See sales rep for details. The ENERGY STAR® mark is administered and promoted in Canada by Natural Resources Canada. Used with permission. E & O E.

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Community Profile

GERANIUM HOMES

Make your first home purchase a memorable one with

Geranium in Whitchurch-Stouffville and Port Hope

Uptownes has main living areas buyers value most in a home

Exteriors of timeless appeal at Uptownes

Y

ou’ll always remember the thrill of owning your first home! Since 1977, it has been Geranium Homes’ privilege to be a part of this milestone occasion for many first-time homeowners. Today in Whitchurch-Stouffville and Port Hope, Geranium is selling homes to people who are finding the convenience of location, affordability, superb finishes and quality of construction the ideal first home purchase.

In Stouffville, Uptownes urban-style townhomes at The Neighbourhoods of Cardinal Point is a short walk from Main Street for shopping, dining and recreation.

Commuters will appreciate living close to GO Transit and Hwys. 404 and 407 to get into and around the city.

Uptownes’ three-storey, two-bedroom condo towns start from the $360’s and all have a spacious private rooftop terrace. Geranium’s marketing director Sue Webb Smith says, “Uptownes is a superb choice for those who want the condo lifestyle in a groundrelated home with a private garage and a low monthly maintenance fee of just $89.”

Buyers can choose from the Chicago Series of backto-back and The Gooderham Series of stacked units, all designed with living areas that people most value in a home. Plans range in size from 1,401 up to 1,639 sq. ft. and include a ground floor bonus recreation room that can easily be a home office, an exercise or games room.

The main living space on the second level is configured in an open Great Room, kitchen and dining area that will be light-filled from oversized windows and 10-ft. ceiling

The Verandas bungalows are stylish and spacious homes

heights. Two bedrooms are on the third floor along with the purchaser’s choice of either two standard bathrooms or one luxury bathroom.

At The Verandas in Port Hope, Geranium offers a community of detached bungalow homes on 42- and 48ft. lots with prices starting from less than $270,000. The Verandas is located just south of Hwy. 401, 30 minutes from Oshawa and Peterborough and 50 minutes from Toronto. Designs range in size from 1,118 to 2,397 sq. ft. with optional finished basement. “Anyone working in the GTA’s east end will find it well worth their time to visit our fabulous community in Port Hope,” says Webb Smith.

To find out more about Uptownes, call 905.640.9999.

The Verandas sales centre and three decorated model homes are open to view, call 905.885.0555. Visit geraniumhomes.com

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SUITES FROM THE LOW $200’S

INTRODUCING REMINGTON’S INCREDIBLE 5% DEPOSIT PROGRAM!

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Toronto has never seen such a unique, affordable and buyer-friendly Deposit Program before. IQ Condos Phase 2 is a brilliant master planned community centred around a beautifully landscaped park with thoughtfully designed suites and great amenities including an infinity pool, fitness centre, party lounge, outdoor terrace and more.

DON’T MISS THIS LIMITED TIME OPPORTUNITY. VISIT THE SALES CENTRE TODAY!

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1061 The Queensway Mon – Thurs: 12 – 6 pm Sat & Sun: 12 – 5 pm Friday: Closed Exclusive Listing Brokerage: Baker Real Estate Incorporated. Brokers Protected. *Limited time only. See a Sales Representative for complete details. Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Illustration is Artist’s concept. E.&O.E.

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Community Profile

THE CONSERVATORY GROUP

Mirage offers great value at an unbeatable Mississauga location

M

ississauga City Centre is one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in all of the GTA. It’s a place that offers a stunning array of upscale shopping and lifestyle amenities in a stylish urban atmosphere. When one explores this vibrant setting, they might find it hard to believe that within this neighbourhood is a condominium community that offers exquisite luxury, stunning architecture and exceptional lifestyle amenities at surprisingly affordable prices. It may seem too good to be true, but it’s no illusion – it’s Mirage. Conceived by esteemed builder The Conservatory Group, Mirage is a vision of inspired luxury at the heart of Mississauga’s most exciting neighbourhood. And for a limited time, you can enjoy huge savings at Mirage with no tax and no maintenance fees for one full year, so there’s never been a better time to buy in this exceptional condominium community.

The architecture at Mirage is stylish and contemporary – glass, steel and precast elements create a sleek, timeless look, while the numerous balconies and terraces brilliantly accentuate the unforgettable building design.

The stunning contemporary design is carried throughout the interior of the building, starting with the hotel-inspired entrance, welcoming residents into a grand lobby. Accented with shimmering stone, wood panelling and carefully selected wall art and staffed by a 24-hour concierge service, this elegant space sets the tone for this inspired condominium community. The suites themselves are even more luxurious, offering hip urban chic design and an impressive selection of features and finishes. Suites in one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations – many with dens – offer gourmet kitchens, sumptuous ensuites and open-concept layouts with expansive windows, filling each suite with rich light and spectacular city views. All suites also come with either private balconies or terraces, perfect for afternoon sunbathing and evening entertaining. With suites starting from the $260’s, Mirage offers luxurious urban living for less than you’d expect.

In addition to the stunning luxury suites, Mirage also offers a spectacular lifestyle and recreation centre in the condominium’s adjoining courtyard. Residents looking to enjoy the outdoors will love the landscaped exterior with its manicured walkways, park benches and a tennis court. Inside, residents will be blown away by the resortquality amenities in this sprawling two-storey recreation complex. The main floor boasts features such as an indoor pool, whirlpools, saunas and a state-of-the-art fitness centre – not to mention a party room, conference room, lounge and library. The second floor offers incredible entertainment facilities including a two lane bowling alley, billiards room, home theatre room, aerobics room, hotel-inspired guest suite and more.

Mirage also allows residents to enjoy the many wonderful area amenities nearby. Just steps away, Square One Shopping Centre is one of the GTA’s largest shopping and lifestyle destinations, with a colossal selection of upscale stores, boutiques, restaurants and other services. And commuting is a breeze with easy access to Mississauga and GO transit as well as Hwys. 401, 403 and 407, offering quick connections to downtown Toronto and the surrounding area.

For more information on this or any other community by The Conservatory Group, visit conservatorygroup.com or call 905.232.2400.

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mattamyhomes.com

Searching For A New Home Is EasyWhen You Choose Mattamy Homes.

Mattamy Kitchens Offer Plenty Of Room For Family & Friends

We have been listening to homebuyers since 1978. We have listened to their hopes, their dreams and their expectations. What we’ve learned is reflected in what we build.

No matter where it is that you’d like to live, it’s likely that we have a community right there.

Our communities have earned a reputation for their family-oriented, master-planned features such as parks, playgrounds, walking/biking trails, ponds and other natural elements and in some cases, schools and shopping right in the neighbourhood.

We are Canada’s largest new home builder with over 60,000 homes built in over 150 communities across North America.

We never stop learning and never stop being honoured whenever a family chooses us to build their most important possession.

Presentation Centre Hours: Monday to Thursday 1pm-8pm; Friday 1pm-6pm; Saturday, Sunday and Holidays 11am-6pm All illustrations are artist’s concept. All dimensions are approximate. Prices, specifications, terms and conditions subject to change without notice. E.&O.E.

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