The Power of Discipline.

The Power of Discipline.

Why are some people more successful than others?

Why do some people make more money, live happier lives and accomplish much more in the same number of years than the great majority?

I started out in life with few advantages. I did not graduate from high school. I worked at menial jobs. I had limited education, limited skills and a limited future.

And then I began asking, "Why are some people more successful than others?"

This question changed my life.
Over the years, I have read thousands of books and articles on the subjects of success and achievement.

It seems that the reasons for these accomplishments have been discussed and written about for more than two thousand years, in every conceivable way.

One quality that most philosophers, teachers and experts agree on is the importance of self-discipline.

As Al Tomsik summarized it years ago,

"Success is tons of discipline".

"Some years ago, I attended a conference in Washington. It was the lunch break and I was eating at a nearby food fair.
The area was crowded and I sat down at the last open table by myself, even though it was a table for four.
A few minutes later, an older gentleman and a younger woman who was his assistant came along carrying trays of food, obviously looking for a place to sit.
With plenty of room at my table, I immediately arose and invited the older gentleman to join me. He was hesitant, but I insisted.
Finally, thanking me as he sat down, we began to chat over lunch.It turned out that his name was Kop Kopmeyer.
As it happened, I immediately knew who he was. He was a legend in the field of success and achievement.
Kop Kopmeyer had written four large books, each of which contained 250 success principles that he had derived from more than fifty years of research and study. I had read all four books from cover to cover, more than once.
After we had chatted for awhile, I asked him the question that many people in this situation would ask,

"Of all the one thousand success principles that you have discovered, which do you think is the most important?"

He smiled at me with a twinkle in his eye, as if he had been asked this question many times, and replied, without hesitating,

"The most important success principle of all was stated by Thomas Huxley many years ago. He said,

''Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.'"

He went on to say,

"There are 999 other success principles that I have found in my reading and experience, but without self-discipline, none of them work.

"Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness."

It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity.

I describe seven areas of your life where the practice of self-discipline will be key to your success.

These areas include goals, character, time management, personal health, money, courage and responsibility.

It is my hope that you'll find a few "nuggets" that will help make your dreams come true .

The Power of Discipline




.

Canadian Property investment in the USA at all-time high

Daily Real Estate News June 29, 2009

Canadians Seek U.S. Property Bargains.
Canadians are snapping up property in the United States.

The Canadian “Loonie” is at par with the U.S. dollar for the first time since 1976—an exchange rate that makes homes and condos in the U.S. look like a real deal.Canadian investment in U.S.
real estate more than doubled in one year, from 11 percent in 2007 to 23.5 percent in 2008, making Canada the largest foreign real estate investor in the U.S., according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

Mark Dziedzic, a former financial planner from Toronto, currently living in Arizona, says, “When the Loonie hit a $1.10, it created a real buzz for Canadians, not only those looking to buy second homes, but we’re also seeing them buying purely from an investment standpoint.”

Source: The Sierra Vista Herald (06/24/2009)

Torontonians Believe their City is being inefficiently run

Torontonians Believe City of Toronto Not Being Run as Efficiently as Possible

Sixty per cent of Torontonians, believe that the City of Toronto is not being run as efficiently as possible, according to public opinion poll results released today.

The poll was conducted by the Environics Research Group Ltd. for the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB). The City of Toronto's Executive Committee is scheduled to review the City's proposed 2009 Operating Budget tomorrow.

"REALTORS® strongly believe that City Council should be making every effort to ensure that the City is being run as efficiently as possible," said Maureen O'Neill, President of the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB).

"Clearly, the public believes that the City has a lot of work to do."
REALTORS® are calling on City Councillors to focus their budget efforts on options recommended over a year ago by an independent blue-ribbon panel of business and labour representatives, appointed by Mayor Miller.

"Over a year ago, the Mayor's Fiscal Review Panel identified, literally, hundreds of millions of dollars in savings and efficiencies that the City could be taking advantage of," said O'Neill.

"Toronto taxpayers deserve to know what actions have been taken to implement the recommendations of the Mayor's Fiscal Review Panel. Clearly, the majority of Torontonians don't believe that the City is being run efficiently."

The poll also found that 70 per cent of Torontonians believe that the recently implemented Toronto Land Transfer Tax is not a fair way for the City to address its budgetary needs.

This is up from 62 per cent of Torontonians who felt the same way according to an earlier Environics poll conducted for TREB in 2007, prior to the implementation of the Toronto Land Transfer Tax.

This means that public opposition to this tax, which was already strong before it was implemented, has risen substantially, from 62 per cent prior to implementation to 70 per cent, after it was implemented.


"Two years ago, when the City first proposed the Toronto Land Transfer Tax, the public overwhelmingly agreed with REALTORS® that this is an unfair tax, and, now that it has been implemented, they agree even more strongly today," said O’Neill. "The City's budget efforts should be focusing on fair options, like those recommended by the Mayor's Fiscal Review Panel."

The poll of 500 Toronto residents aged 18 years or over was conducted by telephone, and is considered accurate to within +/- 4.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20. (CREA)

Green is Good for Toronto - Commercal Green Capital Incentives

"By taking advantage of our available 'green capital' incentives you can achieve asset returns

through more competitve operating costs, more satisfied tenants and higher, long term

occupancy levels. Energy conservation is good for the skyline and the bottomline."

R. Wayne Proulx, Director, BOMA Toronto CDM Program

HELPING YOU IS WHAT I DO"

I Believe in building relationships.
I am here to meet your needs- to Serve & Protect - Your Investment.

As a Real Estate Consultant I am dedicated to the Real Estate Investor & Home Owner- who is willing to work for one of the most precious things in the World - Freedom.

Peter Tarshis
HomeLife Realty One
I Love Toronto
416-922-5533 office/pager416-922-5808 fax
416-705-1181 cell

PeterTarshisRealtor@gmail.com

Check out my bloghttp://petertarshistorontorealtor.blogspot.com/

Your personal web site - 1 of 100 - Marketing tools I provide to sell your House : www.142bedfordroad.com

www.41stafford.com

Free Home appraisal & Free Home Staging - to maximize your return.

I will find your Dream Home.

PS. I am NEVER too busy to help any of your friends or family.

Who's the next person you know that is thinking of buying or selling ?

Don't keep me a secret !

My free reports & seach listings at:www.homeliferealtyone.com

Thank You !

Leased Condominium Apartment Rentals up 38% Toronto

Leased Condominium Apartment
Transactions Up 38%

In the first four months of 2009, TREB members
reported 3,945 leased condominium apartments,
representing a 38% increase over the 2,854 units
leased during the same period in 2008. Almost 93 per cent
of all residential rental transactions on the MLS® involved
condominium apartments.

With the exception of three-bedroom units, average
condominium apartment rents declined. The average rent
for the benchmark two-bedroom apartment fell two per
cent from $1,852 to $1,813.

While the number of rental condominium apartment
transactions increased by almost 40 per cent, the number
of listings increased by over 60 per cent. Renters
experienced more choice and thus more negotiating power
with regard to rents.

Much of the increase in rental listings can be attributed to
a strong increase in the number of condominium apartment
completions at the end of 2008.

According to the Canada
Mortgage and Housing Corporation, fourth quarter
2008 condominium apartment completions increased by
96 per cent year-over-year in the GTA.
Most of these completions took place in TREB’s central districts.

Many completed apartment buildings registered as condominium
corporations in the first four months of 2009, resulting in
an increased number of investor-held units entering the
rental market.

* Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, January 2009, “Housing Market Tables: Selected South Central Ontario”

Central Area

• In TREB’s Central districts, Members reported rental
transactions for 1,496 one-bedroom and 903 twobedroom
condominium apartment units, which
leased for an average of $1,478 and $2,043 per month
respectively.

The average one-bedroom apartment rent
was down two per cent compared to the same period
last year. The average two-bedroom rent was down four
per cent.

• There were only 61 townhouses rented in the central
districts, of which 19 were three-bedroom units. The
average rent for these three-bedroom transactions was
$2,045 per month.

"HELPING YOU IS WHAT I DO"

I Believe in building relationships.
I am here to meet your needs- to Serve & Protect - Your Investment.

As a Real Estate Consultant I am dedicated to the Real Estate Investor & Home Owner- who is willing to work for one of the most precious things in the World - Freedom.

Peter Tarshis
HomeLife Realty One
I Love Toronto
416-922-5533 office/pager 416-922-5808 fax
416-705-1181 cell
PeterTarshisRealtor@gmail.com

Check out my bloghttp://petertarshistorontorealtor.blogspot.com/

Your personal web site - 1 of 100 - Marketing tools I provide to sell your House : www.142bedfordroad.com
www.41stafford.com
Free Home appraisal & Free Home Staging - to maximize your return.

I will find your Dream Home.

PS. I am NEVER too busy to help any of your friends or family.
Who's the next person you know that is thinking of buying or selling ?
Don't keep me a secret !

My free reports & seach listings at:www.homeliferealtyone.com

Thank You !

Toronto Real Estate Board - Civic & Government duty

June 26, 2009 --

Although REALTORS® often go to impressive lengths to serve their clients, most people don’t expect them to go as high as the White House.

Well, at a recent event hosted by the Toronto Real Estate Board, REALTORS® did go almost that high. The event that I am speaking of was the Toronto Real Estate Board’s Civic Connections Reception, which brought together numerous elected representatives, REALTORS®, other real estate industry representatives, housing charity leaders, and media to reinforce the message that REALTORS® make it a priority to work with governments to represent the interests of home buyers and owners, and to ensure that our economy continues to prosper.

The highlight of the event was a keynote speech by David Plouffe, who, as Campaign Manager, was instrumental in President Obama’s successful, and unprecedented, campaign to reach the White House. On the surface, it may not seem obvious how face time with Mr. Plouffe can benefit REALTORS’® clients; but, for REALTORS®, who, over the years, have fought numerous campaigns to stand up for the interests of home buyers and owners on government policy, Mr. Plouffe’s insight was invaluable.

The better prepared that REALTORS® are to speak up on government policy, the more success we will have in ensuring that home buyers and owners are treated fairly. With this in mind, we were paying very close attention to the advice that Mr. Plouffe had.Perhaps the most interesting insight that Mr. Plouffe provided was the importance of grassroots efforts. In this regard, Mr. Plouffe confirmed what REALTORS® already know: that our close connections with our communities allow us to effectively communicate with the public and, when necessary, rally their voices to speak up on government policy decisions.

REALTORS’® efforts against the City of Toronto’s Land Transfer Tax were a good example of this type of grassroots work. Although Toronto City Council eventually implemented this unfair tax on home buyers, grassroots efforts, from the public and REALTORS®, helped to delay its implementation and achieve significant concessions.
While REALTORS’® connections to their communities has helped to achieve significant political victories benefitting home buyers and owners, we are equally proud of the work that we do to give back to our communities. With this in mind, I was happy that our Civic Connections Reception not only gave us an opportunity to collaborate with Mr. Plouffe, but also to present a cheque for over $340,000 to the REALTORS® Care Foundation, which supports shelter-related charities in Ontario.
I was also happy that the event gave us the opportunity to present two scholarships of $5,000 to two impressive students from the GTA. I will be providing more detail on these initiatives in a future column.REALTORS® are proud of the work they do to represent home buyers and owners with governments, and to help improve our communities. We will continue to do so, and we will continue to learn from the experiences of others, like Mr. Plouffe.

Maureen O’Neill is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.

Understanding Title Insurance -Canada

Understanding Title Insurance

Title Insurance gives homeowners protection should someone else claim a legal interest in their property.
It also protects homeowners against loss resulting from pre-existing municipal work orders, survey issues, certificate of location defects, unpaid taxes by previous owners and a number of other covered title risks such as Title Fraud.

What is Title Insurance?
When you purchase a home you're actually paying for title to the land: you acquire the right to occupy and use the space. Part of the price paid will be for the improvement, or the actual home, but the major cost of most property is the land itself. You obtain title to property when the owner signs the deed (transfer document) over to you. Title is then registered in the government’s land registration system.

Prior to closing, public records are "searched" to determine the previous ownership of the property, as well as prior dealings related to it.
The search might reveal, for example, existing mortgages, liens for outstanding taxes, utility charges, etc., registered against the property.

At closing, the buyer expects the property to be free of such claims, so normally they must be cleared up before closing.

For example, the seller's mortgage will be discharged and outstanding monetary expenses (such as taxes and utility charges) will be paid for (or adjusted for) at closing.If the title is restricted by rights and claims of others; this could in turn limit your use and enjoyment of the property and even bring financial loss.

However, such issues may not be discovered or remedied before closing. Title insurance will protect you against these situations.

Do I need Title Insurance?

Title insurance is not a requirement in some provinces. To fully understand what type of protection title insurance can provide you, talk to your lawyer, title insurance company or insurance agent/broker to determine whether or not you should purchase title insurance or if other options exist.
Once you get all the facts, you can make an informed decision based on your specific situation and needs.

Who is protected with Title Insurance?

Title insurance policies can be issued in favour of a purchaser (on new/resale homes, condos and vacation properties), a lender, or both the purchaser and lender. Lenders will sometimes require title insurance as a condition of making the loan. Title insurance protects purchasers and/or lenders against loss or damage sustained if a claim that is covered under the terms of the policy is made.

What does Title Insurance cover?

For a one-time fee, called a premium, a title insurance policy may provide protection from losses, such as:

Unknown title defects (title issues that prevent you from having clear ownership of the property);

Existing liens against the property’s title (e.g., the previous owner had unpaid debts from utilities, mortgages, property taxes or condominium charges secured against the property);
Encroachment issues (e.g., a structure on your property needs to be removed because it is on your neighbour’s property);

Title fraud;

Errors in surveys and public records; and other title-related issues that can affect your ability to sell, mortgage, or lease your property in the future;

Your title insurance policy will protect you as long as you own your property, and will cover losses up to the maximum coverage set out in the policy. It may also cover most legal expenses related to restoring your property’s title.

For a risk to be covered, generally it has to have existed as of the date of the policy. As with any type of insurance policy, certain types of risks might not be covered, for example, native land claims and environmental hazards are normally excluded. Be sure to discuss with your lawyer what risks are covered and what are excluded.

How long is the insurance coverage?
Residential title insurance coverage lasts as long as you own the property. Most residential title insurance policies extend coverage to your heirs through a will, to a spouse in the event of a divorce, or to children when the property is transferred from parents to children for nominal consideration.

In the case of title insurance covering a lender, the policy remains in effect as long as the mortgage remains on title. A lender covered under a title insurance policy is insured in the event the lender realizes on its security and suffers actual loss or damage with respect to a risk covered under the policy. Lenders are usually covered up to the principal amount of the mortgage.

The premium for title insurance is paid once (at the time of purchase). Generally speaking, in Canada the purchaser of the property pays for the title insurance, though there can be situations where the seller pays for it.
Some policies automatically cover both the purchaser and lender; others will cover both for a small additional fee.

Protection and peace of mind Title insurance can help ensure that a closing is not delayed due to defects in title.
And, if an issue relating to title arises with respect to a risk covered under the policy, the title insurance covers the legal fees and expenses associated with defending the insured's title and pays in the event of loss.
It is important to keep in mind that title insurance does not replace legal advice when purchasing property.

If your home is important to you, don't overlook this important piece of insurance.
..............................................................................

Real Estate Market watch across Canada - June 2009

Market Watch - June 2009 Housing Sales Continue to Trend Upward

Figures released by real estate boards around the country are showing a positive upward trend in sales driven by improved affordability and less uncertainty about the future.

"Home sales have bounced back from the extraordinarily low levels recorded during the winter months," said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. "Improved affordability and less uncertainty about the future are the main factors driving home sales higher."

“This was the best May on record for residential resale home sales in Ottawa,” said Board President Rick Snell. “Homes in every price range are selling well, from starter homes to luxury properties. Homebuyers and sellers are showing a lot of confidence in the Ottawa real estate market,” he added.

“We're now seeing greater balance in the housing market than what we have over the last while," says Linda Smardon, President of the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS®. “The bridge between buyer demand and housing supply is continuing to narrow, which helps maintain stability in housing prices," she adds.

Below is a brief summary of sales activities in some areas across the country:

Alberta - Housing sales continue to trend upward

Calgary, June 1, 2009 – According to figures released by the Calgary Real Estate Board, 1,584 homes was sold in the Calgary metro area in May. This is a 23% increase on sales in April.
“The spring market has received an added boost from a growing number of first-time buyers entering the market,” says Bonnie Wegerich, President of the Calgary Real Estate Board.
In the month of May, homes in Calgary metro priced at $400,000 or less accounted for nearly 70% of all home re-sales. “We are seeing the first year-over-year gain in single family home sales since last September,” says Wegerich. “A pent up demand has been building—with many first-time home buyers now taking advantage of affordable prices, record low interest rates and federal government housing incentives,” added Wegerich.

The average price of a single family Calgary metro home in May 2009 was $436,427, showing an increase of 2% from April 2009, when the average price was $426,311, and showing a decrease of 9% from May 2008, when the average price was $479,564. The average price of a Calgary metro condominium was $275,212, showing a 1% decrease from April 2009, when the average price was $277,953, and a decrease of 12% over last year, when the average price was $311,816.
“The gap between supply and demand at the end of last year was pushing prices down,” says Wegerich. “But since December we have seen five consecutive months of increases in home sales, while inventory continues to trend lower. The gap has narrowed and prices are stabilizing.” Single family Calgary metro new listings added for the month of May totalled 2,235, up 11% from the 2,010 new listings added in April 2009, and showing a decrease of 35% from May 2008, when 3,432 new listings came to the market.

British Columbia - Home sales continue to climb

Vancouver, June 11, 2009 – The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reported that Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) residential sales in the province rose 3% to 8,270 units in May 2009 compared to the same month last year. It was the first year-over-year increase since December 2007. The month of May also posted the highest number of residential sales since April 2008, on a seasonally adjusted basis, and was the fourth consecutive month of rising home sales.
"Home sales have bounced back from the extraordinarily low levels recorded during the winter months," said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. "Improved affordability and less uncertainty about the future are the main factors driving home sales higher."
"The combination of stronger consumer demand and fewer homes for sale is stabilizing home prices in many BC markets," added Muir.
Year-to-date, MLS® residential sales dollar volume was down 31% to $11.7 billion over the same period last year. A total of 26,359 units were sold in the first five months of 2009, down 26% from 2008, while the average MLS® price declined 7% to $443,252. Nova Scotia - Average price of homes rises to new record in April

Nova Scotia, May 22, 2009 –
The average price of residential properties in Nova Scotia climbed to its highest level on record in April 2009. According to statistics provided by the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS®, the average price for residential properties sold through the MLS® system in Nova Scotia was $206,668, a 5.4% increase over April of 2008.
The national average price was down 3.2% year-over-year. The average price in Halifax-Dartmouth, where homes are more expensive than in other markets in the province, rose by 6%. The increase in average price was greatest in the Annapolis Valley region at 15%, followed by the South Shore at 11%.
“The pricing trends indicate that consumers still have confidence in our housing market,” says Linda Smardon, President of the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS®.
The number and value of sales were down in April 2009 when compared to April 2008. A total of 857 houses traded hands via the MLS® system in Nova Scotia, a 27% decline in sales activity. The value of all MLS® residential property sales in Nova Scotia decreased by 23%.
New listings posted their fourth consecutive year-over-year decline in April 2009, down 7% from year-ago levels.
“We're now seeing greater balance in the housing market than what we have over the last while," says Smardon. “The bridge between buyer demand and housing supply is continuing to narrow, which helps maintain stability in housing prices," she adds.
Active listings continue to rise in Nova Scotia, but year-over-year gains are slowing as new listings trend lower. The number of active residential listings increased by 9% which is the smallest year-over-year increase in 11 months.

Ontario -
Record-breaking number of resale homes sold in May

Toronto, June 2, 2009

– Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 9,589 sales in May which is almost 2% up from May 2008—the first annual increase since December 2007.
“The resale housing market in the GTA has remained resilient in the face of challenging times globally,” according to TREB President Maureen O’Neill. “Many home buyers have taken advantage of extremely low mortgage rates.”
The average price for May transactions was $395,609—down less than 1% compared to the same month last year.

“The average resale home price has moved in line with last year’s level because of tighter market conditions experienced this Spring,” stated Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. “Home sales have increased strongly relative to new listings, bolstering home prices.”

Ottawa, June 3, 2009

– Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,969 residential properties in May through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,896 in May 2008, an increase of 3.9%. That number also represents a 19% increase over the 1,594 sales recorded in April 2009.
Of those sales, 348 were in the condominium property class, while 1,621 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e., detached, semi-detached, apartment, etc.) which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.

“This was the best May on record for residential resale home sales in Ottawa,” said Board President Rick Snell. “Homes in every price range are selling well, from starter homes to luxury properties. Homebuyers and sellers are showing a lot of confidence in the Ottawa real estate market,” he added. The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in May in the Ottawa area was $312,045, an increase of 5.3% over May 2008.

The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $231,351, an increase of 4.6% over May 2008.

The average sale price of a residential-class property was $329,368, an increase of 4.7% over May 2008. The Board cautions that average sale price information can be useful in establishing trends over time but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. The average sale price is calculated based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold.

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Green Home eco Renovations

Making the decision for an eco-renovation

For a complete homeowner's guide to green renovation please call me.
Some of you may be considering your home renovation ideas with your extended families and friends.
While you're imagining your new and improved lifestyle in that dream kitchen, en-suite, basement or addition, I encourage you to think about greening your renovation as well.
If you are going to have your house turned into a construction zone anyway, why not take advantage of the opportunity to incorporate some green upgrades that will pay you back over time while increasing the energy and environmental performance of your house and reducing your carbon footprint
.
As it happens, both the federal and provincial governments are offering healthy financial incentives -- up to $5,000 each - if you undertake certain recommended retrofits. The minor wrinkle, and this is why I mention it now, is that you have to have an energy audit done in advance so that you know which retrofits will qualify for funding.

Since the provincial program piggy-backs on the federal program, I'll describe the latter, but keep in mind that the program designs are virtually, if not identical.

Most importantly, you need to contract with a licensed energy advisor who will conduct a detailed on-site assessment of your home's energy use including a "blower door" test to find air leaks. The advisor will provide you with the actual energy efficiency rating of your home along with a report and list of recommended retrofits.

After you have completed your energy upgrades, the advisor will conduct a second evaluation and calculate a new energy efficiency rating that indicates the improved energy use in your home. From there, the advisor will determine exactly how much you can expect to receive, prepare the paperwork for you to sign, and submit the grant application(s).

Just to give you some examples, you can recover $500 if you install an ENERGY STAR gas furnace, $300 for installation of a heat recovery ventilator, and $200 for an energy-efficient hot water heater. Insulation grants for exterior walls can range up to $1,500 depending upon the area insulated and the R-value, with additional grants available for attic, basement and crawl space insulation. Replacement windows and doors are funded at $30 each.

While the cost of the energy audit is not covered through the federal program, the Ontario government will fund up to $150 and some local municipalities or financial institutions may chip-in as well, so be sure to check.

It's natural and understandable to get caught up in all the fun stuff that comes with renovating - the design, the specifications, the finishes, the colours - but greening your renovation can be just as rewarding, particularly when both levels of government are chipping-in.

The key to a green reno is advance planning and the same thing goes for finding a contractor because the best ones are booked well ahead and you don't necessarily want the ones who can start tomorrow or who are knocking on your door today.

I maintain a roster of professional renovation contractors who are committed to our Association's Code of Ethics and our renovation-specific Code of Conduct under the auspices of our RenoMark™ program.

For more information on the RenoMark™ program and for links to the green renovation programs described above, visit www.renomark.ca.

To locate an energy advisor or to get more general information on the ecoENERGY Retrofit program, you can visit www.ecoaction.gc.ca or call 1-800-622-6232.

"HELPING YOU IS WHAT I DO"
I Believe in building relationships.
I am here to meet your needs
- to Serve & Protect - Your Investment.

As a Real Estate Consultant I am dedicated to the Real Estate Investor & Home Owner- who is willing to work for one of the most precious things in the World - Freedom.

Peter Tarshis
HomeLife Realty One
I Love Toronto
416-922-5533 office/pager 416-922-5808 fax
416-705-1181 cell

PeterTarshisRealtor@gmail.com
Check out my bloghttp://petertarshistorontorealtor.blogspot.com/

Your personal web site - 1 of 100 - Marketing tools I provide to sell your House : www.142bedfordroad.com
www.41stafford.com
Free Home appraisal & Free Home Staging - to maximize your return.

I will find your Dream Home.
PS. I am NEVER too busy to help any of your friends or family.
Who's the next person you know that is thinking of buying or selling ?
Don't keep me a secret !
My free reports & seach listings at:
www.homeliferealtyone.com

Thank You !

Canadian Mortgage finance system supports home ownership

Canadian mortgage finance system supports homeownership

I recently returned from a BILD-organized housing study tour of Denver, Colorado and while the participating builders and designers took plenty of inspiration and ideas from the many great communities we visited, the thing that stuck in my mind the most was how many times I heard the "F-word" while in the U.S.

No, I don't mean the four letter word. The F-word I kept hearing was "foreclosure."

On our first morning in Denver, the cover story on the front page of USA Today was "Mortgage crisis robbing seniors of golden years" and it spoke of the growing number of seniors facing or experiencing foreclosure on their properties.

The next morning's Wall Street Journal had two full pages of Foreclosure Notices for Denver which in many cases showed outstanding balances that were even higher than the original principal amounts if not equal or just slightly less, reflecting the likelihood that these homeowners had taken out interest-only mortgages, one of the sub-prime mortgage products which has caused so much grief for U.S. homeowners.

That same day, CNN reported that there were more than one million foreclosures in the U.S. so far this year as a lead into a story on a Foreclosure Prevention Summit taking place in Baltimore. The summit was apparently quite successful in assisting many homeowners to avert foreclosure which is great, but the very fact of the summit is disturbing.

Thankfully, foreclosures, which occur when a mortgagee defaults on their payments to the point where the mortgagor sells their home out from under them, are a rarity in Canada thanks to cultural, regulatory and market differences.

Culturally, we strive to pay off our mortgages as quickly as possible and our banks compete on features such as weekly or bi-weekly payments with further options to increase regular payments or make lump-sum payments. Americans aren't nearly as inclined to pay off their mortgages quickly which probably has a lot to do with the fact that they have mortgage interest deductibility there.

From a regulatory standpoint, Canadian homebuyers borrowing more than 80 per cent of the purchase price of the home are subject to minimum down-payment (5 per cent), maximum amortization periods (35 years) and compulsory mortgage insurance requirements. Moreover, the lending standards, which include minimum credit scores, maximum debt ratios and loan documentation standards are both strict and strictly adhered to.

As for market differences, the problem that many U.S. homeowners are experiencing is the double whammy of depreciation exacerbated by the fact that they weren't building equity in their homes. The trouble with banking on appreciation is self-evident. If lending rates go up or house prices go down, or worse yet, both happen simultaneously, you end up with a home worth less than your mortgage, and that's exactly what happened in the U.S.

Here in Canada, our prices never went up as far or as fast and being conservative, pay-down kind of people, we are not suffering from the same woes as in the U.S., and that's a very good thing.

Lest I leave you with a completely negative impression of Denver, it is a beautiful City to visit and one of the healthier U.S. housing markets, relatively speaking. We chose Denver for the variety of outstanding low- and high-rise developments on the market there and enjoyed tremendous cooperation from their builders' association as well as the individual builders who welcomed us with open arms to their communities.

That said, I'm grateful that we enjoy very high rates of homeownership here in Canada thanks to a very sound mortgage finance system.

New Home Rebates - Federal - Provincial

New Home Rebates

There are rebates available from the federal and provincial governments in support of home ownership, for which you may be eligible.

GST Rebate

When you buy a new house or a substantially renovated one as your primary place of residence, you may be entitled to a rebate of part of the federal goods and services tax. You can receive several thousands of dollars, although the amount decreases when houses cost more than $350,000 and disappears on houses costing more than $450,000. However, you should be aware that in the competitive GTA housing market, the tax is normally included in the sales price. As a result, the rebate is already accounted for, and in the purchase agreement you sign over the rebate to the builder

Note: If you purchased your new home prior to July 1, 2006 and will be taking possession after July 1, 2006 you may be eligible for an additional GST rebate of up to one per cent. Click here for more information and rebate form from the Canada Revenue Agency (Posted June 2006)
Click here for more information, including a handy table showing the transitional adjustment on different house prices. For an information sheet from Canada Revenue Agency click here.
Land Transfer Tax Rebate

First-time buyers of newly-built homes in Ontario, with certain restrictions, may apply for a rebate for part of their land transfer tax. The maximum rebate is $2,000, which is roughly the amount payable on homes priced up to $240,000, including GST. This special program does not apply to resale homes. For more information, call 1-800-263-7965.

Additional Rebates
In addition to high ratio mortgages and using RRSP funds for down payments, both discussed earlier, you may also be able to take advantage of a tax deduction for your moving expenses.

Toronto housing is seriously Unaffordable

Greater Toronto housing seriously unaffordable

If your were asked to list off the top of your mind the world's most expensive housing markets, chances are you would come up with London, England, New York or Los Angeles if not Paris, France or Dubai.

If you just did that exercise in your mind and came up with Vancouver, give yourself a small prize, because according to the 5th annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey, Vancouver is the fourth most unaffordable housing market among the 265 cities ranked from six countries (Australia, Canada, the U.S., New Zealand, the U.K. and Ireland).

The way the survey works is by converting the median house price and the median income into a median multiple measure, essentially how many years income it would take to purchase the median priced house in a given market. Cities are then categorized as severely unaffordable, seriously unaffordable, moderately unaffordable or affordable.

In Vancouver, the median income of $58,400 and the median house price of $492,600 results in a median multiple measures of 8.4, meaning that one would have to work 8.4 years to achieve home ownership there. By comparison, in Youngstown, Ohio, the most affordable market surveyed, one would only have to work 1.8 years.

Outranking Vancouver on the dubious scale of severe un-affordability were the Gold Coast, Australia at a median multiple of 8.7, Honolulu at 9.1 and the Sunshine Coast, Australia, at 9.6 times. Demographia notes that as far as major markets go, Vancouver is tops, which on this listing is not a good thing.

Among Canadian cities joining Vancouver on the list of severely unaffordable cities were Victoria B.C. (7.4 times), Kelowna, B.C. (6.8 times) and Abbotsford, B.C. (6.5 times).
As you would expect, London, England, New York and Los Angeles made the severely unaffordable list with median multiples of 6.9, 7.0 and 7.2 times respectively.
I know what you're thinking - how did Toronto (for survey purposes, Toronto means the Greater Toronto Area) compare? The good news is we're not severely unaffordable - the bad news is that with a median household income of $67,100 and a median house price of $324,700, we made the seriously unaffordable list, coming in at a median multiple of 4.8 times, tied with Calgary, Alberta as it happens. Hamilton and Edmonton are the other Canadian cities on the severely unaffordable list.

The next breakdown on the survey is for moderately unaffordable markets with median multiples ranging between 3.0 and 4.0 and Ontario cities on that list include London, Brantford, Sudbury, Barrie, Guelph, Ottawa, Kingston and Kitchener.

As for affordable markets, overall there are 87 affordable markets, all of which are in North America. Canada had ten cities on the list with the most affordable, ranking fifth among the 265 markets, being Cape Breton, Nova Scotia at 2.1 times. Ontario cities making this list included Thunder Bay, Chatham and Windsor.

The Demographia survey had lots to say about the causes of housing affordability, which it links directly to the extent of land use regulation in a given market, but that's worth a column unto itself. If you're really keen, you can go to demographia.com but please do not read anything into my own views based on the content at that site beyond the fact that I found the affordability survey results to be quite interesting.

Music on Bloor - Royal Consevatory - June 2009

Music on Bloor

June 19, 2009

Of all of Toronto's major cultural institutions physically reinventing themselves into the 21st century, the renovation of the Royal Conservatory of Music on Bloor Street is the one that seems to have taken the longest.

While the ROM next door went from hole in the ground to completed - and controversial - Crystal in three years, it seems that construction trailers have been parked in front of the Conservatory's red brick and sandstone entrance for much longer, though the end is finally in sight with the sneak preview this week of Koerner Hall, the showcase concert hall in the new Telus Centre For Performance And Learning wing.

Yesterday morning press and guests were allowed in small groups into the hall in hard hats and steel-toed boots, to watch the final stages of construction after a press conference where the inaugural season of concerts was announced.

Referring to the hall as the "final jewel in the cultural crown of Toronto," RCM executive director Mervon Mehta detailed an opening festival that kicks off on Sept. 25, and features everyone from Chick Corea, Ravi Shankar and Keb' Mo to the Emerson String Quartet, cantopop stars Frances Yip and Anthony Lun, and a stop on the farewell concert tour of mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade.

The inaugural season beginning afterwards will feature an equally diverse lineup of shows, including Paquito D'Rivera's quintet, Quarteto Gelato, pianist Andras Schiff, violinist Midori, choral legends The Tallis Scholars and local jazz star Jane Bunnett.

Mehta said that the hall - named in honour of donors Michael and Sonja Koerner - would feature around 100 nights of music in its first year, and that the Conservatory intended to feature an education component as often as possible.

The exterior of the hall, designed by Marianne McKenna of KPMB Architects, is decidedly unassuming - a glass box attached to the main Conservatory building (the original home of McMaster University) by an airy atrium, facing the ROM's west wall across Philosopher's Walk.

Photography wasn't allowed inside the building while it's still unfinished, but the key details were already in place, including the broad basket-weave bands of black plaster on the walls, and the undulating strips of laminated wood flowing up from the stage onto the ceiling.

Seating capacity is a maximum of 1,135, but sightlines are unobstructed throughout the orchestra seating and the two galleries.

Construction is expected to be done by the end of July, at which point two months of acoustic trials for the new space will begin, a tense and crucial process for any concert venue, but especially in a city that endured the years-long growing pains at Roy Thompson Hall - a project also completed by KPMB.

Tickets are already on sale, though Mehta insists that a policy of putting $10 rush seats on sale 90 minutes before each performance would be Conservatory policy.

New Info on the 13% harmonized Tax- (HST)

Changes Proposed for HST on New Housing

June 19, 2009 --
The provincial government has announced some proposed changes to the way it would apply the proposed Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) to the purchase price of newly constructed housing.

The provincial government has also announced proposed transitional details for newly constructed properties.BackgroundThe provincial government has announced that it intends to combine the eight percent Provincial Sales Tax with the five percent federal Goods and Services Tax, creating a 13 percent Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).

• The HST is NOT YET IN EFFECT.

The provincial government has indicated that it intends to bring the HST into effect beginning on July 1, 2010.
• HST will not apply on the purchase price of re-sale homes.

• HST would apply to services such as moving cost, legal fees, home inspection fees, and REALTOR® commissions.

Proposed Changes for New Housing RebateHST will apply to the purchase price of newly constructed homes.
Originally, the provincial government indicated that it would provide a rebate to ensure that, on average, new homes under $400,000 would not be subject to an additional tax burden. Homes priced between $400,000 and $500,000 would be eligible for a portion of the rebate, and homes priced above $500,000 would be subject to the full HST.

However, the provincial government is proposing some significant enhancements to these rebates,
as follows:
• Enhanced new housing rebate - The province is proposing to enhance the new housing rebate so that new homes across all price ranges would receive a 75 per cent rebate of the provincial portion of the single sales tax on the first $400,000. For new homes under $400,000, this would mean, on average, no additional tax amount compared to the current system.
• New rental housing rebate - Similar to the enhanced new housing rebate, the province is proposing a rebate for new residential rental properties. This proposed rebate would support affordable rental housing across Ontario. Proposed Transitional Rules for New HousingThe province is also proposing transitional rules for new housing.
Generally, as part of the transitional rules, sales of new homes under written agreements of purchase and sale entered into on or before June 18, 2009 would not be subject to the provincial portion of the single sales tax, even if both ownership and possession are transferred on or after July 1, 2010.
The tax would also not apply to sales of new homes under written agreements of purchase and sale entered into after June 18, 2009 where ownership or possession is transferred before July 1, 2010.More DetailAdditional detail on the proposed enhancements to the new housing rebate, rental housing rebate, and new housing transition rules is available from the Provincial Government here.

6/19/09

Condo Sales on a Roll - May-June 2009

Globe and Mail, Jun 19, 2009
CBC News, Jun 19, 2009
Financial Post, Jun 19, 2009

Condo resales are on a roll - torontorealestateboard.com

- The new-condo market may be just starting to warm up again but the resale market is hot, according to May statistics from the Toronto Real Estate Board.

In fact, condo resales, at 2,081 units in May, were up about 2 per cent from the same month a year earlier.

Condo resales are again moving in lockstep with single family homes and townhouses

41 Stafford Rd, North York, Ontario - virtual tour

www.41stafford.com

quiet, totally renovated from the ground up.

Check out the virtual tour !

"HELPING YOU IS WHAT I DO"

I Believe in building relationships.

I am here to meet your needs- to Serve & Protect - Your Investment.

As a Real Estate Consultant I am dedicated to the Real Estate Investor & Home Owner
- who is willing to work for one of the most precious things in the World - Freedom.

Peter Tarshis
HomeLife Realty One
I Love Toronto
416-922-5533 office/pager
416-922-5808 fax

416-705-1181 VIP cell

PeterTarshisRealtor@gmail.com

PS. I am NEVER too busy to help any of your friends or family.
Who's the next person you know that is thinking of buying or selling ?
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www.142BedfordRoad.com - Virtual Home Tour

Obeo Leading Virtual Home Tours Provider

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Finish Strong - the Choice is Yours- Simple Truths

Finish Strong...

The Choice is Yours,

Finish Strong is more than a statement, it's an attitude.

It's an attitude of believing you can do something and having the courage and determination to see it through.

And of course, you can apply this "finish strong attitude" to your business or your life!

It is also one of the most inspirational books we've published at Simple Truths.

It is filled with amazing stories about people from all walks of life who, in the face of adversity, against all odds...finished strong!

In the excerpt below, you will read about one of the most inspiring true stories of survival ever recorded.

Enjoy!

Excerpt from Finish Strong by Dan Green

On August 1, 1914 Sir Ernest Shackleton set sail with a crew of 28 on an exhibition to the Antarctic. The mission of their expedition was to cross the Antarctic on foot - something never done before.

Shackleton was a successful and highly respected explorer known for his faith, determination, creativity and conviction. He was knighted for his successful expedition to Antarctica in 1907-09.
In order to recruit his crew of 28 he took applications from 5,000 men.
Many believe that he placed the following ad in a London newspaper to attract the applicants.

While there is no evidence that this ad actually ran, it does quite appropriately frame the environment that Shackleton was trying to recruit for

.Men Wanted: For hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.

This expedition was going to be different than any other one that Shackleton had led. Five months into the expedition their ship, the Endurance, became stuck in the heavy ice flows near Antarctica.

It was not uncommon for ships to get stuck periodically in the ice flows and Shackleton believed that the ice would eventually recede and free the ship. His focus was on the expedition and he held fast on that course.

However, over the next three weeks the ship became solidly frozen in the ice. Attempts to free the ship were futile. At the end of February, 1915, the crew prepared the ship to become their camp for the remainder of winter. At this point, Shackleton abandoned his primary goal for the expedition and turned his focus towards returning to England. His expedition had become a rescue mission. By October, eight months after being stuck, the pressure created by the ice finally took its toll on the Endurance. The ship began to come apart and sink; making it uninhabitable. The order to abandon ship was given and the entire crew began to salvage as many supplies as they could. They took the sled dogs, food, gear and three lifeboats and moved their camp to the ice flow next to their sinking ship. The temperatures were brutal; reaching -15°F on average.

For the next five months the expedition camped on the ice flow surviving on what little food they had left. In April the ice flow they were camped on began to break apart. Shackleton ordered the crew to take only essential supplies and board the life boats. They fled the disintegrating ice flow and traveled seven days by sea to Elephant Island. Elephant Island was a barren place to be stranded; made up mostly of rock covered snow with temperatures reaching -20°.

For the next nine months, under Shackleton's leadership, the broken expedition remained loyal, optimistic, focused and faithful to their leader's belief that they would survive. Ultimately, Shackleton knew that their survival depended upon his ability to reach a whaling outpost that was more than 800 miles across the most treacherous ocean seas in the world. Determined to save his crew, Shackleton set-out in one of the lifeboats with five crewmembers to make the journey.

The odds of making it were 1 in 100.

Nautical scholars consider this journey by lifeboat to be one of the greatest nautical accomplishments in maritime history. Shackleton successfully made it to the outpost and returned to Elephant Island with a rescue party four months later.

On August 30, 1916 after 22 months of being stranded on a barren rock in sub zero temperatures, the crew of the Endurance was rescued. All twenty eight crew members survived the ordeal and most were quick to credit the strong faith of their leader as the catalyst in their survival.
What an extraordinary story.
But wait, there's more. When Shackelton landed on the island of the whaling outpost, they were on the opposite side of the outpost. He and his two companions had to hike over the mountains to reach the outpost. In thirty five hours and sub zero temperatures and without any hiking gear, they made their way over the mountains to reach the outpost.
A few years ago, a group of climbers retraced the path that Shackleton took over the mountain. With modern climbing equipment and experienced climbers, it took 48 hours to retrace the steps of Shackelton - almost thirteen more hours than the trio did ninety years earlier.

Now that's what I call finishing strong...

Finish Strong -Attitude- Simple Truths

Green Roof By-law - Commercial developement in Toronto

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail, Wednesday, Jun. 17, 2009

When Toronto's city council passed a bylaw May 27 mandating green roofs on new commercial, industrial, institutional and high-rise residential construction, its proponents hailed it as a major step toward preserving the environment.

The city would be the first in North America to make roofs planted with greenery a must on almost everything except the smallest structures.

The development industry, however, warns that the laws of unanticipated consequences may start kicking in and that a city-ordered focus on green roofs may actually slow the steady march toward energy conservation and environmental preservation.

"What the bylaw does is limit our options for future buildings," says Stephen Upton, vice-president for development at Tridel Corp., one of the city's major high-rise condominium developers. "Council has decided on this path without investigating any other options or even creating pilot projects to work out details and measure results."

The mandate for green roofs may impede acceptance of other technologies, says Keith Major, senior vice-president for property management at Bentall LP, which manages office towers such as 200 King St. West. As he explains, budgets for new developments may include room for only eight items directed toward energy conservation and environmental protection.

"Now that green roofs are mandated, that will bring the number of line items we can include down to seven," he says. "Decisions have to be made on cost-benefits analysis - getting the biggest bang for the buck. We may not be able to go with another technology which would deliver greater benefits because we must build green roofs."

The new bylaw says that new commercial and institutional structures larger than 2,000 square metres in total floor space and built after Jan. 31, 2010, must devote a portion of their roofs to green plantings with the size of that green space escalating from 20 per cent to 60 per cent depending on the size of the roof. Industrial buildings of the same size need devote only 10 per cent of roof space to greenery and they will get an extra year's grace to start incorporating it into designs.

Residential structures are affected if they are more than 20 metres or about six storeys tall. There is also a clause, however, that allows developers to opt out by making a payment to a new fund that will be used to promote retrofitting existing structures with green roofs.

"I think one of the main concerns about the bylaw is that it is just one more thing the development industry has to deal with, one more cost, one more demand to face at a time when they are already being squeezed by recessionary pressures," says Scott Addison, executive managing director, Toronto, for Colliers International, a major real estate broker.

"On the office and industrial side you already have tenants pressing for lower rents; construction costs are rising; there is fierce competition for development in surrounding municipalities."
Industrial developers are especially concerned about health problems, he adds. A large chunk of Toronto's industrial buildings are devoted to the food industry, and green roofs would seem a natural habitat for rodents and insects.

"It was an easy win for the city because it is hard to argue against anything that helps preserve the environment, but green roofs have all kinds of implications that don't seem to have been considered and worked out," Mr. Addison says.

One of those implications is the towering heights new residential and commercial towers are reaching in Toronto, says Lyle Scott, director of sustainable design at Cohos Evamy Integrated Design Inc., which has created green roofs on such Toronto projects as Minto Midtown condominiums at Yonge and Eglinton.

"What has been forgotten in the process is the height Toronto buildings are reaching," he says. "Many recent structures top 70 storeys. I can't think of another city where green roofs have been tried on buildings that reach so high in the air."

While champions such as Steven Peck, president of the Toronto-based group Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, cite Chicago as a glowing example of their success, Mr. Scott points out two major differences from Toronto.

First, green roofs in Chicago can be found mainly on lower and mid-rise structures, and second, Chicago achieved its leading status through a program of incentives to developers and not by city mandate.

Mr. Peck admits he cannot give an accurate picture of the overall benefits green roofs are likely to yield to the city.

"We need an idea of just how much roof area will be involved," he says. "The city does not have those numbers yet. What we do know is that it has been significant in places like Chicago."
****
Up on the roof
A FEW ROOF-FRIENDLY PLANTS
Shrubs
Juniperus communis: common juniper
Prunus pumila var. susquehanae: sand cherry
Spiraea alba: meadowsweet
Grasses, grass-like plants
Agrostis scabra: ticklegrass
Danthonia spicata: poverty oat grass
Panicum acuminatum: hairy panic grass
Flowering plants
Aster oolentangiensis: sky-blue aster
Liatris spicata: spike blazing-star
Rudbeckia hirta: black-eyed Susan
Source: York University Greenroof project
****
GREEN ROOF BYLAW
A green roof is required for all new development in Toronto above 2,000 square metres of gross floor area. Here are the required percentages of greenery:
20 per cent: Portion needed for 2,000 to 4,999 square metres
30 per cent: For 5,000 to 9,999 square metres
40 per cent: For 10,000 to 14,999 square metres
50 per cent: For 15,000 to 19,999 square metres
60 per cent: For 20,000 square metres or greater
Source: City of Toronto
****
OVERHEAD BENEFITS
If every roof in Toronto larger than 350 square metres had 75 per cent of its area in greenery it would reduce the heat-island effect caused by sunlight reflecting off pavement and roofs by 26 per cent. It would also slash storm-water runoff by 38 per cent, save 22 per cent on the energy required to heat and air condition buildings and ease the burden on combined storm and sanitary sewers by 16 per cent, says a 2005 report commissioned by the City of Toronto and conducted by Ryerson University.

But ask Jane Welsh, acting manager, environment, in the city's planning department, just how much impact the new Toronto bylaw will bring and she admits it is difficult to pin down.
"If this was before the current [construction] slowdown, we could have projected the impact," she says. "But right now since none of us has a crystal ball, we can't say. What we do know is that green roofs offer a great package of benefits."

Green roofs come in three versions, the report explains: A complete system, whose design integrates the underlying roof structure; a modular system, slipped into place on conventional roofs, and pre-seeded blankets that are rolled over drainage mats and root barriers on conventional roofs.

The types of plants they carry depend on access and view. The Manulife Centre at Bloor and Bay Streets has had a green roof over its parking garage for 25 years; its mature trees now reach three storeys high.

The green-roof effect at 410 Richmond St. West, a converted warehouse, was achieved by putting the growing medium and plants in moveable containers.

The one at York University's computer sciences building is inaccessible, so it relies on hardy plants such as alpine varieties that require little care.

"HELPING YOU IS WHAT I DO"

I Believe in building relationships.
I am here to meet your needs- to Serve & Protect - Your Investment.
As a Real Estate Consultant I am dedicated to the Real Estate Investor & Home Owner- who is willing to work for one of the most precious things in the World - Freedom.

Peter Tarshis HomeLife Realty One
I Love Toronto 416-922-5533 office/pager416-922-5808 fax416-705-1181 cell

PeterTarshisRealtor@gmail.com

PS. I am NEVER too busy to help any of your friends or family.Who's the next person you know that is thinking of buying or selling ?
Don't keep me a secret !

Thank You !

Five ideas for fixing Building Codes - Today

The Building Code of Hammurabi, 3700 years old

For at least 3700 years, since the code of Hammurabi, builders of houses have had building codes, a government minimum standard intended to protect the health and safety of its citizens. Possibly in all that time, the majority of builders have considered it the maximum as well- don’t do any more or build any better than you have to.

Now it looks like builders might actually have to build better, as building codes move beyond health and safety and get serious about energy efficiency.

Everybody loves to talk about increasing the efficiency of cars, but buildings are boring. Even though Edward Mazria and Architecture 2030 tell us that buildings are responsible for almost half of our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and over three quarters of our electricity consumption, radical and significant measures have not been taken. Yet.

But there is action on two fronts: the Waxman Markey Bill "establishes enforceable “national energy effficiency building codes,” and the New Buildings Institute and the American Institute of Architects are proposing big changes to International Code Council.

But they both do too little, too late, and too slow.

The Passivhaus standard beats 2030 code standards right now.

Joe Romm's Climate Progress has good coverage from a guest blogger and explains:
States and local governments will be required to adopt the new national codes, or codes that achieve equal or better energy savings. Noncompliance will result in loss of significant funding. If they still do not do so, the Federal government itself will step in and enforce the national energy efficiency building codes. (Nobody actually wants that to happen, but you have to be willing to do it to enforce compliance.)
The proposal has some significant reductions in it, looking for a 30% reduction from 2006 standards, or "baseline", by around 2012, up to 75% by 2029.

More in Climate Progress.
Meanwhile, the AIA/NBI proposals look for a 25% increase by 2012.

"it was our intention to make sure that the new energy codes would be stringent enough to advance our stated goal of achieving carbon neutrality in buildings by 2030,” said Christine McEntee, Executive Vice President / CEO of the American Institute of Architects.

“We feel it is important for the private sector to take a leadership position on this important issue that relates to the built environment.”

Right. But buildings built now, unlike cars, will most probably still be around in 2030 and a few years after that. Aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030 is way too late, especially since we know how to do it now.

If you are going to do something serious about buildings, you have to go beyond the building code, and you have to do it now.

Five Ideas for Fixing the Building Codes

Net Zero houses in the UK right now.
1) Bite the Bullet and Be like Britain
They are bringing in codes that will look for 25% improvement in energy by 2010, 44% by 2013 and to be energy/carbon neutral by 2016. That is a tough schedule.

Now where is the nearest milk store? image source k.obscura

2) Recognize that buildings are only one part of the issue. Policies for planning neighborhoods and communities are also essential.

Building a house is not an isolated event, it happens in a framework of land development and urban planning. Increasing the efficiency of a house by 20% doesn’t do much in the larger scheme of things if you build 5,000 square feet an hour’s commute from work, and if getting a quart of milk requires a 20 minute drive. It is all a bigger picture- the design of the community, the frontage of the lots, the ability to walk to school or to a decent transit system, these are the things that really influence energy use. Let’s have a building code that sets a minimum density for development to reduce the amount of land lost and fuel used for transport.

The Healthy House

3) It isn't just about energy; Health is important too.
Sealing houses up tight as a drum without worrying about air quality is going to lead to big problems. Let’s have a building code that insists on healthy materials, and gets rid of formaldehyde, vinyl and VOC laden finishes. Healthy houses should be the building code standard.

4) Everything is relative. But it shouldn't be.

Through the energy crises of the 70's to today, energy efficiency standards kept going up, but the amount of energy used in a house went up faster because they just keep getting larger. Yet the code changes all propose relative standards. Instead, why not change our building codes to permit a specific amount of energy consumption, period. If you want to build a house twice as big as, say the design consumption of a 2000 footer, you have to double the insulation in the walls or cover the roof with photovoltaics. If you want a six burner professional stove, add some more insulation still.
This shouldn't affect the rich; they can afford the insulation. It will help the poor; small houses, properly built, don't need a lot of energy at existing standards. It may hurt the middle-of-the road suburban McMansions, but they are dinosaurs anyways.

Pcac.ca

5) Do it now.

The housing industry and the financial industry that supported it bear much responsibility for the current Great Recession, and any complaints that they have about these changes "affecting affordability" should be thrown right back in their face. They had all the time in the world to build affordable, efficient houses but didn't give a damn. Nor did building a freestanding house in the burbs for anyone who wanted one turn out to be such a great idea.

So lets make sure that when we start building again, we do it right, and now, not in 2030.

"HELPING YOU IS WHAT I DO"

I Believe in building relationships.
I am here to meet your needs- to Serve & Protect - Your Investment.

As a Real Estate Consultant I am dedicated to the Real Estate Investor & Home Owner- who is willing to work for one of the most precious things in the World - Freedom.

Peter Tarshis
HomeLife Realty One
I Love Toronto
416-922-5533 office/pager416-922-5808 fax 416-705-1181 cell

PeterTarshisRealtor@gmail.com

PS. I am NEVER too busy to help any of your friends or family.Who's the next person you know that is thinking of buying or selling ?
Don't keep me a secret !
Thank You !

GTA ReSale Housing Sales up 19% in the 1st. half of June

GTA Resale Housing Sales Up 19 Per Cent in the First Half of June

TORONTO, June 17, 2009 -

Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 5,185 transactions in the
first half of June – an increase of 19 per cent compared to the same period last year.

"Households in the GTA have become more confident in purchasing a home over the past three
months," said TREB President Maureen O’Neill. "Affordability, due in part to very low borrowing costs, has played a key role."

The average price for MLS® sales was $407,716, up by two per cent compared to last year.

"Heightened interest in ownership housing this spring has solidified resale home prices,"
according to Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis. “The number of home
buyers has been high relative to the number of listings, pushing the average price above last
year's level.”

Summary Of Mid-June Sales And Average Price
June
2009 2008
Sales
Average
Price Sales Average Price
City of Toronto ("416") 2,023 , $449,946 ,-1,733 , $439,469
Rest of GTA ("905") 3,162 $380,698 - 2,641 $371,686
GTA 5,185 , $407,716 - 4,374 , $398,542

Source: Toronto Real Estate Board

For a complete copy of the Market Watch Report visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com

Greater Toronto REALTORS® are passionate about their work.

They adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service. Serving over 28,000 Members in the
Greater Toronto Area, the Toronto Real Estate Board is Canada’s largest real estate board.

"HELPING YOU IS WHAT I DO"

I Believe in building relationships.
I am here to meet your needs- to Serve & Protect - Your Investment.

As a Real Estate Consultant I am dedicated to the Real Estate Investor & Home Owner- who is willing to work for one of the most precious things in the World - Freedom.

Peter Tarshis HomeLife Realty One
I Love Toronto
416-922-5533 office/pager
416-922-5808 fax
416-705-1181cell

PeterTarshisRealtor@gmail.com
PS. I am NEVER too busy to help any of your friends or family.Who's the next person you know that is thinking of buying or selling ?

Don't keep me a secret !

Thank You !

Understanding Title Insurance

Understanding Title Insurance

Title Insurance gives homeowners protection should someone else claim a legal interest in their property.

It also protects homeowners against loss resulting from pre-existing municipal work orders, survey issues, certificate of location defects, unpaid taxes by previous owners and a number of other covered title risks such as Title Fraud.

What is Title Insurance?

When you purchase a home you're actually paying for title to the land: you acquire the right to occupy and use the space. Part of the price paid will be for the improvement, or the actual home, but the major cost of most property is the land itself. You obtain title to property when the owner signs the deed (transfer document) over to you. Title is then registered in the government’s land registration system.

Prior to closing, public records are "searched" to determine the previous ownership of the property, as well as prior dealings related to it. The search might reveal, for example, existing mortgages, liens for outstanding taxes, utility charges, etc., registered against the property. At closing, the buyer expects the property to be free of such claims, so normally they must be cleared up before closing.
For example, the seller's mortgage will be discharged and outstanding monetary expenses (such as taxes and utility charges) will be paid for (or adjusted for) at closing.
If the title is restricted by rights and claims of others; this could in turn limit your use and enjoyment of the property and even bring financial loss. However, such issues may not be discovered or remedied before closing. Title insurance will protect you against these situations.

Do I need Title Insurance?

Title insurance is not a requirement in some provinces. To fully understand what type of protection title insurance can provide you, talk to your lawyer, title insurance company or insurance agent/broker to determine whether or not you should purchase title insurance or if other options exist.

Once you get all the facts, you can make an informed decision based on your specific situation and needs.

Who is protected with Title Insurance?

Title insurance policies can be issued in favour of a purchaser (on new/resale homes, condos and vacation properties), a lender, or both the purchaser and lender. Lenders will sometimes require title insurance as a condition of making the loan. Title insurance protects purchasers and/or lenders against loss or damage sustained if a claim that is covered under the terms of the policy is made.

What does Title Insurance cover?

For a one-time fee, called a premium, a title insurance policy may provide protection from losses, such as:

Unknown title defects (title issues that prevent you from having clear ownership of the property);
Existing liens against the property’s title (e.g., the previous owner had unpaid debts from utilities, mortgages, property taxes or condominium charges secured against the property);
Encroachment issues (e.g., a structure on your property needs to be removed because it is on your neighbour’s property);

Title fraud;
Errors in surveys and public records; and other title-related issues that can affect your ability to sell, mortgage, or lease your property in the future;
Your title insurance policy will protect you as long as you own your property, and will cover losses up to the maximum coverage set out in the policy. It may also cover most legal expenses related to restoring your property’s title.
For a risk to be covered, generally it has to have existed as of the date of the policy. As with any type of insurance policy, certain types of risks might not be covered, for example, native land claims and environmental hazards are normally excluded. Be sure to discuss with your lawyer what risks are covered and what are excluded.

How long is the insurance coverage?

Residential title insurance coverage lasts as long as you own the property. Most residential title insurance policies extend coverage to your heirs through a will, to a spouse in the event of a divorce, or to children when the property is transferred from parents to children for nominal consideration.

In the case of title insurance covering a lender, the policy remains in effect as long as the mortgage remains on title. A lender covered under a title insurance policy is insured in the event the lender realizes on its security and suffers actual loss or damage with respect to a risk covered under the policy. Lenders are usually covered up to the principal amount of the mortgage.

The premium for title insurance is paid once (at the time of purchase). Generally speaking, in Canada the purchaser of the property pays for the title insurance, though there can be situations where the seller pays for it. Some policies automatically cover both the purchaser and lender; others will cover both for a small additional fee.

Protection and peace of mind
Title insurance can help ensure that a closing is not delayed due to defects in title. And, if an issue relating to title arises with respect to a risk covered under the policy, the title insurance covers the legal fees and expenses associated with defending the insured's title and pays in the event of loss. It is important to keep in mind that title insurance does not replace legal advice when purchasing property.

If your home is important to you, don't overlook this important piece of insurance.
..............................................................................
"HELPING YOU IS WHAT I DO"

I Believe in building relationships.
I am here to meet your needs- to Serve & Protect - Your Investment.

As a Real Estate Consultant I am dedicated to the Real Estate Investor & Home Owner- who is willing to work for one of the most precious things in the World - Freedom.

Peter Tarshis
HomeLife Realty One
I Love Toronto
416-922-5533 office/pager416-922-5808 fax416-705-1181cell

PeterTarshisRealtor@gmail.com

PS. I am NEVER too busy to help any of your friends or family.
Who's the next person you know that is thinking of buying or selling ?

Don't keep me a secret !
Thank You !

Buying a Home? Take Charge and Be in the Pliot Seat

Buying a Home? Take Charge and Be in the Pilot Seat!

Does the idea of buying a home seem overwhelming to you?
Do you ask yourself questions like:
How much can I afford? How can I find the best loan? Should I buy a new or a resale home?
Should I use an agent or look at homes on my own?
You probably have many other questions too.

Buying a home is one of the major decisions that you will make in life, and is one of the largest financial transactions in your lifetime.
Although there is much to consider when buying a home, if you do your research and approach the home buying process with confidence, you will most likely buy a house that you will be proud to call home.

Below are the three most important things to remember no matter where you are on the road to home ownership. If you follow them closely, you will be happy with the end result!

1. Understand the home buying process. When buying a home, there is nothing that is complex that can't be easily explained to anyone. If you don't apply for a thirty year mortgage once a week, don't take the first one that comes along. You'll need to do your research, learn some new terms, apply some new concepts, and take the time to understand the entire process. If something happens at any point that you don't understand, simply ask for a full and complete explanation from someone you trust like your real estate agent, accountant or your lawyer.

2. Become the most important person in the process. In the world of real estate sales, YOU are the most important person in the home buying process. It's easy to think that everyone else carries more weight than you but that's not the reality. The seller owns the house and has all the money and the real estate agent tries to sell the house for the seller. However, you, the buyer, are the one person in the transaction that makes it all happen. This entire process could come to a stop if you decide not to buy. So why not take command of this process?

3. Surround yourself with a team of professionals that you trust and make them work for you. A good realtor, mortgage specialist and a property lawyer are some people that you can count on to help you. They all save you time and money. They know your community, they know what is important when buying and selling a home, and they know all the intricacies of the process, from finding a home, to negotiating a price, to closing a deal and to ensuring the paperwork is done right.

As you can see, if you approach home buying with intelligence and confidence, you are more likely to buy a house you’re happy with and know that you made the right decision. When you start to walk down this road, take charge from the first step and be in the pilot seat to ensure your satisfaction. Remember, YOU are the most important person in this process!
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Pricing your Home to Sell Fast in a Buyer's Market

Pricing Your Home To Sell Fast In a Buyer's Market

It's tough being the seller in a buyer's market.

However, you can improve your odds with the right research.

In many cases, making a smart deal and getting the best price comes down to studying your market and being an educated seller.

It doesn't really matter how much money you think your home is worth.

Nor does it matter what your agent thinks.

The person whose opinion matters is the buyer who makes an offer.

Price your home right -

Pricing homes is part art and part science.

It involves comparing similar properties, making adjustments for the differences among them and tracking market changes.

Study the supply and demand within your neighbourhood to consider whether to price your home above or below the market value.

Pricing your home lower than your competitors can essentially generate more offers, thereby driving the price higher.

On the other hand, pricing it too high and you risk buyers going into “sticker shock”.

The benefits of pricing right -

Your property sells faster because it is exposed to more qualified buyers.

Your home doesn't lose its "marketability".

The closer to market value, the higher the offers.

A well-priced property can generate competing offers.

Real Estate Professionals will be enthusiastic about presenting your property to buyers.

The result of overpricing -

Many sellers believe that if they price their home high initially, they can lower it later.

Often, when a home is priced too high, it experiences little activity.

Gradually, the seller will lower the price down to market value, but by that time it's been up for sale too long and some buyers will be wary and reject the property.

On occasion, the price is dropped below the market value because the seller runs out of time and the property is sold for less than its value.

Missing the right buyer -

You may think that interested buyers "can always make an offer," but if the home is overpriced, potential buyers looking in a lower price range will never see it.

Those who can afford a home at your asking price will soon recognize that they can get a better value elsewhere.

The importance of early activity -

As soon as a home comes on the market, there is a flurry of activity surrounding it.
This is a crucial time when Real Estate Professionals and potential buyers sit up and take notice.
If the home is overpriced, it doesn't take long for interested parties to lose interest.

By the time the price drops, a majority of buyers are lost.

The longer your house sits on the market, the less cash it commands.

If you have to sell in a slow market, study the current trends, forget old values, recognize current values, and price your house lower than others in your market.

Start at a sale price that is going to entice buyers from the get go. You will be the first one to sell in your neighbourhood and you will win from there.
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This week Canada

The Week — Canada’s heavy hitters were out in force thi sweek, providing ample monetary and fiscal support for the country’s fledgling recovery.

Mr. Carney re-iterated his commitment to keep borrowing costs low, while Mr.Harper outlined the massive federal spending initiatives that will be growth supportive later this year and next.


Our Best Rates

TermsPosted Rates
Our Rates 6 MONTHS4.75%3.95% 1 YEAR3.90%2.75% 2 YEARS4.05%3.05% 3 YEARS4.15%3.65% 4 YEARS4.84%3.99% 5 YEARS5.25%4.28% 7 YEARS6.60%5.25% 10 YEARS6.70%5.25%
Rates are subject to change without notice. *OAC E&OE

Prime Rate is typically 2.25%.*

*Currently, Prime rate may vary according to lender.
Be sure to check for full variable-rate mortgage pricing details. Rates are subject to change without notice. Fixed mortgage rates shown in table above and quoted variable mortgage rates are available nationally to qualified individuals. Lower rates may be available in certain regions, or to those with higher credit scores or higher net worth – check with your Invis mortgage professional for full details.CMHC Survey

Canadian Home Purchasers Savvy and Optimistic:

CMHC Nearly 90 per cent of recent home purchasers across the country believe that home ownership is a good long-term investment and that almost 70 per cent think that now is a good time to purchase a home in their community. That’s according to the 2009 Mortgage Consumer Survey by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The survey results also indicate that recent purchasers are knowledgeable about the mortgage process and their lender’s assessment of eligibility.

For example, 86 per cent are of the view that the level of total housing and other monthly payments should generally not exceed 40 per cent of gross household income, which is in line with generally accepted mortgage lending practices.

The survey shows that recent purchasers are prudent mortgage managers. According to the survey, 75 per cent of purchasers have a goal to be mortgage free sooner than their original amortization. In fact, 20 per cent of recent purchasers report having made a lump sum payment to their mortgage.

Similar to CMHC’s last Mortgage Consumer Survey, the 2009 survey also indicates that Canadians continue to be well served by the mortgage industry, with 77 per cent of recent mortgage purchasers expressing satisfaction with the service received from their lender or broker.

More Grow- Ops in Toronto -June 12.2009

More co-op on grow ops
June 12, 2009

In recent years, the Greater Toronto Area has seen the rise of indoor marijuana grow operations: illegal activity that uses innocent-looking properties to grow millions of dollars worth of marijuana.

Often, these are sophisticated operations, run by organized crime, right in the middle of average middle and upper middle class neighbourhoods. According to the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP), indoor marijuana grow operations can, and have been, set up in a wide variety of buildings including detached homes, apartments, and industrial warehouses.
While the vast majority of homes are never used as marijuana grow operations, it is important for homebuyers to be aware of this potential because the effects of these operations can have serious health and safety impacts that persist even after the illegal activity has ended.

For example, the humid environment associated with the growing can create toxic levels of mould. Also, stresses and alterations to the electrical system could increase future risk of fire. REALTORS® have worked hard to help address this issue.

Efforts by the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) have included:• creating standard clauses that can be inserted into agreements of purchase and sale to help provide legal assurance for both homebuyers and sellers;• educating REALTORS® and their clients about these properties;• organizing forums to bring together government and law enforcement to find solutions;• participating in a provincial government task force on this issue through our provincial association, the Ontario Real Estate Association; and,• lobbying governments at all levels for action.Fortunately, some government action has been taken.

Most notably, the provincial government enacted a law that requires municipalities to inspect these properties, once they have been dismantled by police, and ensure that they meet building code requirements.

This was a good step, but more is needed.

REALTORS® have called on the provincial government to implement a province-wide registry of former grow operations, which would help prevent unsuspecting homebuyers from being victimized.

REALTORS® are not the only ones calling for this.

Toronto City Council has also asked the Province to implement a grow house registry. Grow house information is already being provided in some municipalities. For example, Ottawa Police recently announced that they will make this information available to the public. The London, Ontario Police also provides this information to the public. While this shows that this action can be taken, a province-wide rather than a patch-work approach , would better protect consumers.When shopping for a home, it is not fair to expect homebuyers to guess about something as serious as potential criminal activity.

The Toronto Real Estate Board and REALTORS® will continue to press the provincial government to provide homebuyers with the information they deserve.

Toronto Commercial Real Estate - Peter Tarshis

June 5, 2009 --

As our market has demonstrated, there is no better long-term investment than real estate.

While many people choose to invest in additional property for personal use, it can pay to take the road less travelled.

Commercial real estate is a complex business that can be intimidating to first time investors but with the help of a commercial REALTOR®, the pay-off can be substantial. The benefits of owning commercial real estate are unique.For example, commercial property is valued differently than residential real estate. Rather than being determined by market comparables, commercial values are based on the income that a property produces.

This means that you have more control over the property’s value by increasing its income or adjusting operating costs.As well, unlike many residential properties, commercial real estate can sometimes be divided into multiple units, allowing you to collect several rental incomes. This mitigates risk because rental income is spread over several tenants rather than just one.Like other types of investment though, it’s important to be clear on the costs you will face before realizing a return.

Appraisals, engineering, improvements, environmental reports, etc., can add thousands of dollars to the cost of even a small commercial property.

As well, securing a mortgage may not be as simple as the process you experienced when buying a home, as lending practices are much more stringent when it comes to commercial property.
Lenders will not only want to ensure that you are purchasing a quality property, they will want to substantiate that there is sufficient cash flow after operating expenses to cover the mortgage, property taxes, maintenance, utilities and vacancies.

You will also find that commercial mortgages are generally priced considerably higher than residential mortgages.

Once you have overcome these challenges though, you will find that purchasing Commercial real estate can be an excellent long-term investment.

To get started, visit the Toronto Real Estate Board’s commercial property website, TREBCommercial.comOn this site you can access the latest news on the market, search for properties and find a REALTOR® who specializes in Commercial real estate.

The Members of TREB’s Commercial Division must meet a strict set of admission criteria and only those who have reached the standards established by their peers are eligible to become Members.

Commercial REALTORS® know the intricacies of buying and/or selling property, from space planning, zoning information, dealing with municipal government, environmental issues, architecture, offer preparation, tax assessments, appraisals, financing and market values, to detailed paperwork and closing procedures.

Be sure to have one on your side before you begin to build your real estate portfolio.

"HELPING YOU IS WHAT I DO"

I Believe in building relationships.
I am here to meet your needs- to Serve & Protect - Your Investment.

As a Commercial Real Estate Consultant I am dedicated to the Real Estate Investor & Home Owner- who is willing to work for one of the most precious things in the World - Freedom.

Peter Tarshis HomeLife Realty One
I Love Toronto 416-922-5533 office/pager 416-922-5808 fax 416-705-1181 cell

PeterTarshisRealtor@gmail.com

PS. I am NEVER too busy to help any of your friends or family.Who's the next person you know that is thinking of buying or selling ?
Don't keep me a secret !

Thank You !