 Does your home sometimes feel a little cramped? If so, this month's article shares some terrific space saving strategies that will help you get the most out of your square footage!
There's also a quick tutorial on how to remove those annoying Google Ads from your search page as well as some tips on how to get your family back into the school routine.
Thanks so much for checking out this month's newsletter. Please get in touch if you have any questions or comments regarding the articles, or real estate in general -- it would be great to hear from you!
Sincerely,
Armand |
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| GTA Home Prices Up In July |
 There were 7,570 resale sales in July 2012, representing a decline of 1.5 per cent compared to 7,683 sales reported in July 2011. This is a reflection of two factors. One is a normal seasonal slowdown in the market and the other is a shift that is starting to take place in the condo segment of the market.
The decline was most pronounced in the condominium apartment segment in the City of Toronto. Total sales in the rest of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) were up compared to the same period last year.
This same trend continued into the first half of August as you will see in the August update below. The August information also shows canges by type of dwelling for both the 416 and 905 areas codes.
The average selling price in July 2012 was $476,947 – up by four per cent compared to July 2011. The MLS® Home Price Index (MLS® HPI)* composite index, which allows for an apples-to-apples comparison of benchmark home prices from one year to the next, was up by 7.1 per cent year-over-year.
In the August update you will also see the prices changes by type of dwelling. The detached house price increase reflects both rising prices and also a shift with more higher priced homes selling.
Let me know if you would like an update for your neighborhood and I will be pleased to put it togetther for you. |
| Market Trends to August 1 to 14, 2012 |
| Toronto MLS Sales & Average Price By Home Type August 1 - 14, 2012 |
| Sales | Average Price |
| 416 | 905 | Total
| 416 | 905 | Total |
| Detached | 322 | 1,032 | 1,354 | 763,603 | 562,607 | 610,406 |
| Yr./Yr. % Change | -6% | -4% | -4% | 28% | 7% | 12% |
| Semi-Detached | 88 | 214 | 302 | 509,090 | 395,385 | 428,518 |
| Yr./Yr. % Change | -14% | 6% | -1% | 2% | 6% | 3% |
| Townhouse | 117 | 356 | 473 | 435,520 | 353,035 | 373,438 |
| Yr./Yr. % Change | -6% | 10% | 5% | 13% | 4% | 6% |
| Condo Apartment | 475 | 197 | 672 | 341,270 | 277,679 | 322,628 |
| Yr./Yr. % Change | -19% | -24% | -21% | -3% | 5% | -1% |
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| Thinking Big & Living Large |
 Living in a small space may be practical but you still want your home to appear as large as possible. The following tips will help transform your cramped quarters into something much more spacious: Surprise! These tips also work really well for new limited space condos.
- Cut a Rug - Avoid area rugs as using the same type of flooring throughout adjoining rooms creates a feeling of spaciousness.
- Is That a Door In Your Pocket? - Installing pocket doors is an easy and inexpensive way to create loads of extra useable space.
- Mirror Mirror - Strategically place mirrors throughout your home for the illusion of added space and also to reflect light to adjoining rooms.
- 'Tis the Season - Divide your clutter into seasons. By displaying just one box each season, you’ll reduce clutter, change scenery and keep every last item that you can't bear to part with.
- Hide & Seek - Maximize every bit of hidden space you have such as using shelving pockets on the backs of doors or bed risers for that all important under the bed storage.
- Open Up - Arrange your furniture so you can see as much of the floor as possible. Moving furniture away from entrances will make a space appear larger as rooms with blocked views can feel cramped.
- Lighten Up - Painting walls a soft shade and the ceiling bright white will give the illusion of added height. Letting in plenty of natural sunlight also helps a space appear larger so keep window areas clear of heavy drapes.
Whether you're getting ready to put your home on the market or you just want to create more space for yourself, the easy and inexpensive tips above will help give you a bit more breathing room.
By thinking big and getting creative, you can comfortably live large in even the smallest of spaces. |
| Google Ads Begone! and Web Surfing Privacy |
 You expect to be exposed to a few ads here and there when you surf the web but if you're fed up of ads dominating your Google search screen, we have a solution for you! Here's all you need to do:
- The first thing you need to do is install Firefox which is a popular Internet browser.
- Next, download Adblock Plus and click "Add to Firefox".
- Click "Install Now" in the box that opens up. If the box does not automatically open up, you may need to click "Allow" in the banner that appears on the top of the web browser.
- Restart Firefox once the download is complete.
- Select "Tools" from the menu on the top of the Firefox Browser. Then click on "Adblock Plus Preferences" from the drop-down menu.
- Click on "Filters" and then select "Add Filters".
- Type http://*.googlesyndication.com/* into the box that appears. Then click "OK".
It's also easy to uninstall or change preferences if there are certain sites you do wish to see ads on. There are also ways to block Google from snooping through your online activity as this kind of tracking can be a major invasion of privacy. Just Google it to figure out how :)
If you have any concerns about your privacy while you are surfing the web, take a minute and check out this excellent article by Marc Saltzman that appeared in the Toronto Star.
www.moneyville.ca/blog/post/1232697--how-and-why-to-surf-the-web-incognito |
| Getting Ready for School Daze |
 The "getting back to school" routine is a big adjustment after the lazy days of summer. Most of us find it very hectic but there are a couple of things you can do to make it less stressful on everyone.
The first few weeks of school are especially busy as everyone’s trying to adjust to the routine. Keep things running smoothly by postponing weekend getaways or home improvement projects.
To keep things organized, hang a family calendar in a central place where everyone can write down their activities. Keep a file next to the calendar for school notices and permission slips so everything's organized and in one place.
Don't forget to roll back bedtimes a week or two before school starts so you're in the routine for the first week back. It's definitely a period of emotional adjustment for children so try and make yourself available as much as possible for the first few weeks. |
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