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Backing into a renovation at century-old Danforth home – The Globe and Mail

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On the back of Barbora Malhotra’s Danforth-area home, renovations have grafted an entirely modern, and strikingly beautiful, addition that reads as a separate dwelling.Nanne Springer/Nanne Springer

As has been widely reported, a three-year global pandemic with a work force suddenly moored to houses and backyards created a boon for home renovation companies and landscapers. It also helped sales of running shoes: as early as April, 2020, CNN reported that New York sidewalks were crammed with joggers, and, in June, 2021, worldathletics.org published a Nielsen study of 10 countries declaring that 13 per cent of all runners had taken up the sport in the past year.

And all of that running caused at least two Torontonians to ditch their old house altogether.

“We, just like a million other people, started running,” says Barbora Malhotra. “So [my husband] and I, we had [two] little kids who were stuck at home, so we would take turns and we ran to this neighbourhood, it’s about 2K, so a five-kilometre run back and forth. … We ended up looking at this house even before it came up for sale, we just fell in love with it.”

Granted, the couple had been feeling the squeeze of their little Leslieville semi near Queen Street and Jones Avenue and had discussed moving. But to fixate on a house that’s not on the market? Dangerous certainly, but this one, in Toronto’s Greektown, was like a siren in The Odyssey: it called to them.

That’s because, unlike the rest of the neighbourhood – which contains Craftsman-style houses built just after the Prince Edward Viaduct opened in 1918 – this house was distinctly different. Built about 10 years before, when much of the area was undeveloped, it was more formal, more Edwardian, and rather than the usual second storey bay window topped by a small dormer on the third, this one had an asymmetrical, full-length, turret-style bay (with a matching bay on the side) and an unusual, compact, enclosed porch. Complete with a rare, wide driveway leading to a garage – its clay tile roof is really painted metal – it sang a song too sweet to ignore.

And in a sweet turn of serendipity, a conversation about that house at Ms. Malhotra’s husband’s work revealed that someone knew the owner, and, even better, that the owner had decided to sell but hadn’t listed the property yet.

“It was one degree of separation and we ended up having a coffee [with the owner] and came to look at the house,” says Ms. Malhotra.

That there had been drawings done by an architect to replace the old – and strangely skinny – addition to the back and replace it with something wider and much more contemporary intrigued the couple further. Eventually, by November, 2020, all shook hands on a $2-million price tag. And since Heather Asquith had already put her architect’s thinking cap on about the place, she was asked if she’d like to come back for another look. She said yes, but steered the couple to her previous clients to ensure they liked the work. They did, so Ms. Malhotra extended the invitation to meet at their “less than half the size” Leslieville place for a chat.

“You guys had done a lot of work to it,” Ms. Asquith says to Ms. Malhotra. “So it was kind of nice, it gave me a good idea of what style you were looking for.” By the time the couple took possession in March, 2021, the design was in place for the new addition and demolition could begin.

Stand in the backyard today, and it’s clear there were no shrinking violets on this team. Ms. Asquith has grafted an entirely modern, and strikingly beautiful, addition that reads as a separate dwelling due to its thick, exaggerated gable, bold balcony at the beltline and moody, dark first floor. “If these laneways really become populated, these aren’t back-of-house any more,” she says. “These are real façades.”

Walk around to the street and stand on the sidewalk and the addition vanishes completely – the right tact in a leafy, old neighbourhood. Open the front door and it’s still not clear that Asquith Architecture has modernized everything. That’s because the front door is original (as is the gorgeous hardware) and the original front parlour has been retained to serve as a home office. And, since it’s likely there was a fireplace in there back in the day, a little gas unit has been installed in the corner of the dark-painted room. Open to the foyer, the office sports new pocket doors with reeded glass to block it off from the kitchen and dining area.

Once inside the kitchen it’s all about change. One might notice the custom cabinets by Nick Day Design and how they give a slight nod to formality via a thin, raised frame around each door, or perhaps the eye will stop at the rich porcelain island and backsplash. Audiophiles will surely swivel their necks to the other side of the room in order to admire the audio listening station, complete with vinyl-appropriate cubbies and shelves.

Sprint up Ms. Asquith’s new staircase – the minimalist handrail and pickets are divine – and the sun worshipper will be pulled into the primary bedroom. Not only does it have a big, slide-open window, there is a tiny space to stand outside to sip one’s morning coffee. “This is always a bit of a debate, right, if we do a roof deck will anyone use it. … Will you just feel exposed sitting out there in front of all your neighbours?” asks Ms. Asquith. “So, the idea is this is a little more private but still gives you that inside-outside feel.”

In the ensuite, a wall of rich, mottled, moss-coloured tile and twin, earthy-green concrete sinks by Mudd help welcome the outdoors inside on the even coldest, darkest January day (and after one’s morning ablutions on that cold January day, there’s a cozy media room and gym in the completely renovated basement).

Cardio health, better sleep, endorphins: all benefits of running. Now, we can add better real estate, too.

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Greater Toronto home sales jump in October after Bank of Canada rate cuts: board

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TORONTO – The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board says home sales in October surged as buyers continued moving off the sidelines amid lower interest rates.

The board said 6,658 homes changed hands last month in the Greater Toronto Area, up 44.4 per cent compared with 4,611 in the same month last year. Sales were up 14 per cent from September on a seasonally adjusted basis.

The average selling price was up 1.1 per cent compared with a year earlier at $1,135,215. The composite benchmark price, meant to represent the typical home, was down 3.3 per cent year-over-year.

“While we are still early in the Bank of Canada’s rate cutting cycle, it definitely does appear that an increasing number of buyers moved off the sidelines and back into the marketplace in October,” said TRREB president Jennifer Pearce in a news release.

“The positive affordability picture brought about by lower borrowing costs and relatively flat home prices prompted this improvement in market activity.”

The Bank of Canada has slashed its key interest rate four times since June, including a half-percentage point cut on Oct. 23. The rate now stands at 3.75 per cent, down from the high of five per cent that deterred many would-be buyers from the housing market.

New listings last month totalled 15,328, up 4.3 per cent from a year earlier.

In the City of Toronto, there were 2,509 sales last month, a 37.6 per cent jump from October 2023. Throughout the rest of the GTA, home sales rose 48.9 per cent to 4,149.

The sales uptick is encouraging, said Cameron Forbes, general manager and broker for Re/Max Realtron Realty Inc., who added the figures for October were stronger than he anticipated.

“I thought they’d be up for sure, but not necessarily that much,” said Forbes.

“Obviously, the 50 basis points was certainly a great move in the right direction. I just thought it would take more to get things going.”

He said it shows confidence in the market is returning faster than expected, especially among existing homeowners looking for a new property.

“The average consumer who’s employed and may have been able to get some increases in their wages over the last little bit to make up some ground with inflation, I think they’re confident, so they’re looking in the market.

“The conditions are nice because you’ve got a little more time, you’ve got more choice, you’ve got fewer other buyers to compete against.”

All property types saw more sales in October compared with a year ago throughout the GTA.

Townhouses led the surge with 56.8 per cent more sales, followed by detached homes at 46.6 per cent and semi-detached homes at 44 per cent. There were 33.4 per cent more condos that changed hands year-over-year.

“Market conditions did tighten in October, but there is still a lot of inventory and therefore choice for homebuyers,” said TRREB chief market analyst Jason Mercer.

“This choice will keep home price growth moderate over the next few months. However, as inventory is absorbed and home construction continues to lag population growth, selling price growth will accelerate, likely as we move through the spring of 2025.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Homelessness: Tiny home village to open next week in Halifax suburb

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HALIFAX – A village of tiny homes is set to open next month in a Halifax suburb, the latest project by the provincial government to address homelessness.

Located in Lower Sackville, N.S., the tiny home community will house up to 34 people when the first 26 units open Nov. 4.

Another 35 people are scheduled to move in when construction on another 29 units should be complete in December, under a partnership between the province, the Halifax Regional Municipality, United Way Halifax, The Shaw Group and Dexter Construction.

The province invested $9.4 million to build the village and will contribute $935,000 annually for operating costs.

Residents have been chosen from a list of people experiencing homelessness maintained by the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia.

They will pay rent that is tied to their income for a unit that is fully furnished with a private bathroom, shower and a kitchen equipped with a cooktop, small fridge and microwave.

The Atlantic Community Shelters Society will also provide support to residents, ranging from counselling and mental health supports to employment and educational services.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.

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Here are some facts about British Columbia’s housing market

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Housing affordability is a key issue in the provincial election campaign in British Columbia, particularly in major centres.

Here are some statistics about housing in B.C. from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s 2024 Rental Market Report, issued in January, and the B.C. Real Estate Association’s August 2024 report.

Average residential home price in B.C.: $938,500

Average price in greater Vancouver (2024 year to date): $1,304,438

Average price in greater Victoria (2024 year to date): $979,103

Average price in the Okanagan (2024 year to date): $748,015

Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Vancouver: $2,181

Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Victoria: $1,839

Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Canada: $1,359

Rental vacancy rate in Vancouver: 0.9 per cent

How much more do new renters in Vancouver pay compared with renters who have occupied their home for at least a year: 27 per cent

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2024.

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