Everyone who’s ever been to San Francisco knows the famous Painted Ladies on Steiner St.
The Victorian and Edwardian houses painted with multiple colours that make their architectural details pop are truly stunning.
So if you’re tired of the mostly grey architecture of Toronto and want a little of that San Fran flare, well look no further than 126 Woodbine Ave.!
The living room.
This exquisite townhome is bright, colourful and very Painted Ladies -esque.
The living room all dressed up for the holidays.
As you step into this charming three-bedroom, three-bathroom home, you’ll discover why the sellers, who have been there for the past 15 years, have cherished every moment here.
The newly renovated kitchen.
126 Woodbine Ave. features a gorgeously renovated kitchen and bathrooms that exude contemporary elegance.
The dining room.
The open-concept living and dining areas, coupled with a charming Juliet balcony, create an inviting space perfect for entertaining.
The backyard.
The kitchen conveniently leads to a stylish west-facing backyard with a gas line for your BBQ, ideal for alfresco dining.
A bedroom.
The second floor boasts two bedrooms and a den, perfect for those balancing work and home life.
The primary bedroom.
The third-floor primary retreat is a sanctuary in itself, complete with a spacious ensuite, walk-in closet, and not one, but two private balconies facing east and west, offering stunning views and ample natural light.
A bedroom on the lower level of the home.
Boasting an abundance of space and storage, this home is a haven for those seeking roominess without compromising style.
The garage.
And let’s not forget the garage, equipped with a lift and level two car charger, it’s a true automotive enthusiast’s dream and one of the seller’s favourite parts of the home, according to listing agent Simon Milberry.
But what will the sellers miss the most about bidding farewell to this gem?
The den.
Milberry told blogTO, they will miss the wonderful community spirit fostered by great neighbours. They’re also going to really miss how close the home is to Woodbine Beach and the boardwalk for leisurely strolls.
The backyard.
But they’re not moving too far, Milberry shared they bought another home in the neighbourhood.
A small home gym.
So if that doesn’t show you how great this location is, then we don’t know what will.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says construction of new homes in Canada’s six largest cities rose four per cent year-over-year during the first half of 2024, but housing starts were still not enough to meet growing demand.
The agency says growth in housing starts was driven by significant gains in Calgary, Edmonton and Montreal.
A total of 68,639 units began construction, the second strongest figure since 1990, however the rate of housing starts per capita meant activity was around the historical average and not enough “to reduce the existing supply gap and improve affordability for Canadians.”
The report says new home construction trends varied significantly across the markets studied, as Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa saw declines ranging from 10 to 20 per cent from the same period last year.
Apartment starts in the six regions increased slightly, driven by construction of new units for rent, as nearly half of the apartments started in the first half of 2024 were purpose-built rentals.
But condominium apartment starts fell in the first six months of the year in most cities, a trend which the agency predicts will continue amid soft demand as developers struggle to reach minimum pre-construction sales required.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2024.
TORONTO – One expert predicts Ottawa‘s changes to mortgage rules will help spur demand among potential homebuyers but says policies aimed at driving new supply are needed to address the “core issues” facing the market.
The federal government’s changes, set to come into force mid-December, include a higher price cap for insured mortgages to allow more people to qualify for a mortgage with less than a 20 per cent down payment.
The government will also expand its 30-year mortgage amortization to include first-time homebuyers buying any type of home, as well as anybody buying a newly built home.
CIBC Capital Markets deputy chief economist Benjamin Tal calls it a “significant” move likely to accelerate the recovery of the housing market, a process already underway as interest rates have begun to fall.
However, he says in a note that policymakers should aim to “prevent that from becoming too much of a good thing” through policies geared toward the supply side.
Tal says the main issue is the lack of supply available to respond to Canada’s rapidly increasing population, particularly in major cities.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17,2024.
OTTAWA – The Canadian Real Estate Association says the number of homes sold in August fell compared with a year ago as the market remained largely stuck in a holding pattern despite borrowing costs beginning to come down.
The association says the number of homes sold in August fell 2.1 per cent compared with the same month last year.
On a seasonally adjusted month-over-month basis, national home sales edged up 1.3 per cent from July.
CREA senior economist Shaun Cathcart says that with forecasts of lower interest rates throughout the rest of this year and into 2025, “it makes sense that prospective buyers might continue to hold off for improved affordability, especially since prices are still well behaved in most of the country.”
The national average sale price for August amounted to $649,100, a 0.1 per cent increase compared with a year earlier.
The number of newly listed properties was up 1.1 per cent month-over-month.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.
