Sightseeing options in Toronto

April 3rd, 2008 by torontorealestate

Toronto neighbourhoods offer a vast array of interesting places.
If you’re wondering what to do on the next weekend or you’re visiting
the city, be sure to take a look at our list of top spots in town and
learn a thing or two!

The CN Tower - Once the world’s largest building,
the CN Tower attracts more than 2 million visitors every year. This
widely recognized icon of Canadian pride is over 550 meters tall and
allows you to enjoy a breathtaking look from four separate lookout
levels, one of them having a see-through glass floor and outdoor
observation area. The bravest ones should definitely take the elevator
to to the SkyPod, which is officially the World’s Highest Public
Observation Deck allowing tourist to take a look at the city from
astonishing 447 meters. If you’re not short on money, you might want to
visit the revolving restaurant, which amongst great food also offers
over five hundred choice labels from its wine cellar.

St. Lawrence Market - This two hundred year old
Toronto feature is considered by many to be one of the world’s 25 best
food markets. The St. Lawrence Market is positioned in the heart of the
historic Old Town, at the crossing of Jarvis and Front Streets. It’s
not just a place for grocery shopping, so be sure to take one of the
many the many walking tours coupled with food sampling and storytelling
to unfold it’s excellent historical value as well.

Eaton Centre - Toronto’s premier shopping area
leaves no-one cold - this glass-roofed galleria houses over three
hundred stores and dining places, 17 cinemas and the magnificent
Mariott hotel. It was amongst the first major shopping centers built on
the continent. For references, just ask any of the one million visitors
who cross this plaza every week… The Eaton Centre is is located Yonge
Street, bordered by Queen Street West on the south, Dundas Street West
on the north and Trinity Square on the west side. It’s easily
accessible from TTC stations Dundas and Queen.

Ontario Science Centre - Considered to be one of
the best interactive museums in the world, the Ontario Science Centre
is an astounding tribute to science. One visit is barely enough to just
scratch the surface of what this place has to offer, as this place is
anything but typical - let your kids attend one of the special
sleepovers, camps, celebrate your birthday or contribute to
cutting-edge scientific research by playing a part in one of the
center’s payload science projects. The OSC is easily accessible by car
or the TTC stations Pape or Eglinton. Oh, and don’t forget to test your
musical skills by playing the aquatic music fountain in the outdoor
exhibition area!

The Toronto Zoo - The city zoo in Toronto offers a
vast array of animals to look at and play with. Teach your children
about the wonders of our planet by giving them the pleasure of
first-hand experience in one of the four zoogeographic regions housing
more than five thousand animals in their natural environments.

Harbourfront - Being one of the busiest development
areas of Toronto, the waterfront is shaping up to be the new major
pedestrian zone of the city. Be sure to stop by to see the recently
awarded Harbourfront Centre, as the fascinating design houses many art
galleries, theatres, craft boutiques restaurants, offices, hotels and
marinas fronted by an astonishing waterside promenade. The entire
waterfront area is spectacular by itself, and the new re-greening plans
will ensure that this 46 kilometer frontline will have a pleasant
long-term effect on the entire city.

Ontario Place - Just a look alone at the Ontario
Place will stand in memories for a long time, as this entertainment and
culture park complex is built on three man-made artificial islands over
the lake. It features a water play areas, mini-golf, an outdoor
amphitheatre, restaurants and many attractions. One of the highlights
of Ontario place is the Cinesphere, which is a theatre with a
magnificent six story movie screen.

I hope you liked this guide.

Julie,

your Toronto realtor.

Home Selling - Your Checklist

February 11th, 2008 by torontorealestate

The process of selling your house can seem very overwhelming at the
first glance. The reality is, luckily, different - read this article
and you’ll get a good idea about what to expect and what to prepare for
in just a few minutes!

Analyze your reasons - Do you have a clear picture
in mind about why are you making the change? Are you going through a
lifestyle change, perhaps looking for a new career or moving to a new
position on the housing scale? Do you need more space for your family,
belongings or simply crave a better setting for relaxation? Writing
down an answer to these questions and clarifying your reasons will make
it much easier to proceed. You’ll find this very useful when
communicating with the other individuals involved in the selling
process.

Market value - It’s important to find out the
market value of your home before listing. Know what you can expect and
ask what adjustments could you make to your house that will get you
more money in the end for your investment.

Pre-listing house inspection - Opting for a
pre-listing inspection can significantly speed up the selling process.
There are many benefits to this - your buyer will know what to expect
but you’ll also know about any defects to be fixed before anyone would
consider your property.

Get your home ready -Make adjustments, repair and
otherwise improve the property based on your research in the point
above. Don’t underestimate how much time do these steps take and factor
in your timing needs.

Timing is crucial - To get the most out of the
selling process, you need to understand whether you’re in a buyers or a
sellers market. The latter makes it very easy to sell your home at
market value or above. A buyers market requires better marketing and
certainly the help of a professional At this point is also important to
decide: What is more important given your current situation, selling
your home faster or for more?

FSOB or a realtors assistance? - If you haven’t
before, decide whether you want to market your home by yourself or
benefit from the assistance of a real estate agent. In theory, the
first option can save you money, but it’s rather questionable whether
the efforts will be worth the time. An agent will likely have better
negotiating skills and have more options at his/her hand. Ask your
realtor about the combination of these two options and see if you can
arrange a deal that is good for both sides.

Marketing - When you’ve decided upon your selling
method, it’s now time to think about marketing. Getting your property
on the MLS should be the first priority. There are many other options -
print media & tv advertisement, for sale signs for example - but
your best bet is the Internet. There are so many options here that only
your imagination and effort is the limits. Ask your realtor what
options can he or she offer. Craigslist is one of your best bets.

Showings - Staging your home and tasteful
decoration of your interiors and exteriors can push up the final
selling price significatly. Depending on the market value of your
property, you should consider touching things up yourself or even
hiring a designer. Your realtor should also be able to provide you with
tips and good advice on the topic. Don’t forget to check some of the
related articles on our site!

Paperwork - Get prepared and know how you’ll handle
all the paperwork in advance. The closing process can involve a truly
amazing amount documents to sign, and sadly they are often delivered at
the last minute. What you can do is to request copies of the standard
contracts and look them over carefully, discussing with your realtor
and possibly a lawyer as well. Keep in mind that it’s in your interest
to move quickly in this step. The period between the time an offer is
presented and your response is critical - buyers are free to withdraw
from the transaction at any point.

More information on my website: Toronto Realtor

Recycling in Toronto

January 14th, 2008 by torontorealestate

Join our efforts to help our city become greener by following our Toronto recycling tips and other articles in the green lifestyle section!