Stonegate-Queensway: Your Guide to the Area

Stonegate-Queensway borders North to South from Bloor to the Queensway; and West to East; from Islington to the Humber River. Home of the Queensway Business Improvement area. Living in Stonegate-Queensway area is central to everything!

Who Lives Here

Originally known for affordable housing and larger lots. The majority of homes in the area are single family residential homes. The largest demographic living here are of the ages between 45 and 64 with post- secondary education. The majority are also couples and families. The Queensway has significant growth occurring with many new boutique condos being built and as well as thriving eclectic small businesses coming into the area.

Neighbourhood Amenities

Besides being close to the Gardener and 427, pretty much anything you need to do is in the area. Bus stops line Islington and Royal York that go directly to the Islington and Royal York Subway stations. Many intimate restaurants and pubs line Queensway and all kinds of shopping can be had. From the big box stores of Costco and Ikea to small mom and pop run shops and eateries such as BPC (Best Portuguese Chicken). Which you should try BTW!

Local Favourites

Dinner and a movie starting at one of the many popular restaurant chains on the Queensway and head to the VIP Cineplex Cinemas for a fun date night. Head over to the long running Tom’s Dairy Freeze where they serve delicious hand cut fries and ice cream. Another hot spot is the Queensway Park Rink and Trail. Winter offers outdoor skating while in Summer there’s two ball diamonds and 2 tennis courts. Along with a playground.

Stonegate-Queensway Real Estate

This area isn’t quite as affordable as it was once known to be! The larger lots are quickly snatched up once brought to the market and are making way for many high-end homes being built in the area. The Queensway is now becoming a beautifully boutique condo lined street among flourishing businesses. It’s an excellent area of Etobicoke to Live, work and shop!

The kitchen is the focal point of a home and the meeting and gathering place of a home. It’s the room that brings family and friends together and has quickly become the heart of the home. With the last two years surviving the pandemic, it’s no surprise the kitchen has become the most gathered-in room of the house. Kitchen renovations are at an all- time high and here’s what to do if you are planning your own kitchen reno.

1-Focal Point

Start with a focal point in the room and build your design from that. Concentrate on building flow with a functional space and added in storage. Don’t forget about your floors and ceilings in the overall design.

2-High Cabinets & Colour

Cabinets tend to be the most- costly part of a kitchen renovation but if the budget allows for new cabinets, opt for high cabinets. The trend is to use semi-custom cabinetry right now and to mix natural wood finishes with coloured cabinets. This really adds a great design element and depth in the room.

3- Smart Kitchen

Replacing taps and appliances to high end sinks and faucets that have sensors to turn the water on and off. Some have voice activating features. Using appliances like smart fridges and ovens can help save time and energy while cooking. There are some unbelievable features on the market!

4- Add a Kitchen Island

This should be number one on any list. Adding a single level island in the kitchen brings perfect multi -function to the space. While adding more seating for gathering, it also adds to the surface space and storage in the kitchen.

5- Make it Quartz!

Quartz counters are a crowd pleaser. They are less maintenance and more cost effective than their competition granite. Corian is another great option for stone surfaces!

6- Create a Mood with Lighting

Turn up the lighting! An easy way to put your own design stamp on your kitchen is with lighting. Having a well- lit kitchen is key but adding some mood lighting and pendants to areas in the kitchen create a space.

7-Colour

Choosing neutral paint colours allows for a bright open space. You can add your personal touch of colour to backsplash and cabinetry. New trends in backsplash are big tiles with patterns and designs. Subway tile is out. Elevate the hardware with Black, Gold or Brass. This adds a brilliant overall effect to the look and feel of your new kitchen.

While there are certain pros and cons of selling your home in the Winter, try these 3 tricks before putting your house on the market.

Landscaping and Exterior

Just because it’s Winter don’t neglect the curb appeal of your home. Consider using more exterior lighting to create a welcoming appeal and remember to keep all sidewalks and lanes shovelled and slip free. During Winter months there is less natural colour, so adding some Winter landscaping will ensure beautiful pops of colour. Check out some great options here: Plants that survive Winter

Interior Maintenance

On top of regular home winterization such as getting your furnace professionally maintained, it’s a good time to check and fix any leaks and seals around windows and doors. Natural lighting also plays an important factor in the sale of a home so ensure your lighting is updated and adequate for each space. Painting rooms in neutral colours allows for you to decorate with colour.

Stage your Home

Staging your home is the best way to achieve top dollar on your investment. Staging a space is really creating a space. It’s allowing a buyer to come in and completely envision themselves living there. A stager effectively layers both colour and textures such as pillows, throws and rugs.

There are usually less homes for sale during the Winter months, but also less buyers. The buyers looking are usually more serious buyers. So these are three great ways to get started before selling your home in the Winter.

Contact me below for more selling your home tips and tricks!

It is that cozy time of year again. It’s time to pull out your sweaters and go for long walks outdoors. It’s time to be outdoors, sip on hot apple cider and celebrate the Fall harvest! As the leaves change and turn colour, the air is pungent and crisp,  and it’s one of the most vivid and beautiful times of the year.

Get out and explore! See what Fairs are around you or check them all out!

1- Luminato Festival in Toronto

Wednesday October 13^th – Sunday October 17^th

Enjoy the best artists from around the World right here in Toronto. One of the greatest Art Festivals in North America! Nearly 10,000 Artists from 40 Countries.

For more information or for tickets visit: https://luminatofestival.com

2-Hops and Harvest in Milton

Friday October 1^st – Sunday October 3^rd

Autumn festival celebrating the changing colours of the escarpment. Enjoy local food, beverage and market vendors.

For more information or for tickets visit:

https://www.hopsandharvest.ca

3- Balls Falls Thanksgiving Festival

Thursday October 8^th – Monday October 11^th

Ball’s Falls Conservation area

3292 Sixth Ave, Lincoln Ontario

Enjoy farmers market, live entertainment, and Vendors.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit:

https://thanksgivingfestival.ca

4- Bala Cranberry Festival

October 15^th – October 17^th

Enjoy rides, live music, art exhibit, busk entertainment and much more!

For more information or to purchase tickets visit:

https://www.balacranberryfestival.on.ca

5- Norfolk County Fair

Tuesday October 5^th – Monday October 11^th

Norfolk County Fairgrounds

Enjoy the 5^th largest Fair in Ontario!

For more information or to purchase tickets visit:

https://norfolkcountyfair.com

6- Woodbridge Fall Fair

Saturday October 9^th – Monday October 11^th

Woodbridge Fairgrounds

100 Porter Ave Vaughan Ontario

For more information or to purchase tickets visit:

https://www.woodbridgefair.ca

After so many months of staying at home and being cooped up, many Ontarians have been searching for a recreational property. Back in May, RE/MAX released a Cottage Trend report and found that due to this high demand we were likely to see a 30% increase in recreational markets. Read the full report here: Cabin & Cottage Trends.

If you are in the market for a Cottage this year there are things you should be aware of. It’s also a good idea to have the help of a local realtor who can advise of flood areas and have great information on water, septic and of course the local lakes etc. But there’s more to it than that. How do you know if you can afford a recreational property or Cottage?

What Type of Property does this fall under?

Cottage and Lake Cabins fall into two types of properties. Type A and Type B.

Type A Properties:

Easiest described as all season cottages. Usually has year- round access to the property, is winterized with a permanent heating source. Type A properties have running potable water set on a permanent foundation lying below the frost line. You can still get Cottage Mortgage Financing, usually at a higher Interest Rate.

Type B Properties:

Type B Cottages are considered seasonal and not all year residences. These are properties that can have seasonal access, no permanent heating source, no running water and could sit on a floating foundation (Concrete block or Piling). You can get Cottage Mortgage Financing, usually at a higher Interest Rate.

A very popular way to afford financing on a Cottage is to use the equity you have in your home. Setting up a HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) could pay the down payment or full purchase amount of the Cottage. You can extend credit up to 80% of the value of your home.

How Much Down payment do you need?

You can purchase a Type A or Type B property for as little as 5% or 10% down. If you put under 20% you will still be subject to Mortgage Default Insurance. Same as it applies on first residential homes. You can buy a second home with as little as 5% up to 500K, 10% up to $999,999.00 and anything over 1M will require 20% down.

If you put over 35% down, typically both Type A and Type B properties would be approved for Cottage Mortgage Financing. Check out Scotia’s Secondary Home Financing Program. 

Fractional Ownership cottages such as timeshares, will not qualify for any type of Mortgage Financing.

Waterfront properties can be harder to Finance:

Waterfront properties can be more difficult to obtain financing as the banks will want security knowing about potable water, erosion, flooding and so on.

Making such a big purchase requires a little digging into what it is you’re purchasing. Knowing the land and surroundings and doing your homework on the operations of the Cottage. For more information on Cottage Financing and Recreational Properties get in touch with us here!

As a Realtor, getting a house ready for the market requires a lot of planning and strategy, and one of the most important steps before presenting the home to the public is the staging. Staging a house most definitely adds value to the sale. Whether that’s positioning the home to sell quickly or whether it’s obtaining top dollar, it does work!

1:  Remove Clutter and de-personalize

This is an extremely important step in the staging process. You want to remove all personal photos and belongings and any clutter from rooms and closets. A buyer wishes to walk into a neutral space and envision themselves living there. Closets should look light in that they do not have too much stuffed into them. The closets should show off how much storage the home offers.

2: Paint

Painting is so inexpensive and makes one of the most dramatic differences in the overall effect of staging a home for sale. Choose a neutral palette for each room. If you want to add a little bit of drama to a room or create a focal point, you can paint an accent wall in a deeper colour.

3: Deep Clean and Repairs

The idea of staging is to have your house look like a showroom. It must be spotlessly clean and virtually look unlived in. Don’t forget the smallest of details like the faucets and mirrors in each room. The floors should shine as should the windows! Buyers coming through should not know you have pets. Watch for pet smells that could dampen your sale.

4: Create a Mood

Create mood with lighting, colour and textures. Now that you have a blank canvas, it’s time to create a feeling in the room. Start by picking the focal point of the room and build a space around that. Updating electrical light fixtures also easily transforms any space and assists in keeping the theme of the room. Find optimal furniture placement being mindful of traffic flow areas and create conversation areas. You can balance spaces out with two lamps and the right shape and sized rug for the area. Layering textures and colours could mean a few accent pillows and throws.

5: Don’t forget the Curb Appeal!

Finally, you’ve put all this effort and energy into a winning interior, so don’t forget that it’s equally important to create an appealing curb appeal out front. Clean up the yard, plant trees or bushes. Flower beds and pots look great at the door. Think about a colour scheme out there. Perhaps a new front door? Look that the lighting is inviting and that everything looks to be well cared for.

These are proven methods to help you sell your home as quickly as you can and for the most amount of money. And remember, you want to create a great first impression!

If you are thinking of Selling get in touch with us today and see how our professional staging can help you!

Adding a deck to your yard can completely change your outdoor space and quickly make your yard an inviting and beautiful place to BBQ, relax or entertain.

With dozens of decking options on the market these days, we will stick with comparing your classic wood decks vs. composite or PVC decking.

Wood Decks: The Pro’s and Con’s

Many types of wood decks used are Redwood, Cedar, IPE (Exotic Hardwood) or Pressure Treated Boards. Pressure treated boards are soaked with chemicals and put under pressure making the boards resistant to rot and insects.

Of these types of wood decking, the pressure treated board lasts the longest and are the heartiest in repelling rot and bugs.

Wood decking requires more maintenance than a plastic or composite deck but is all natural and will always have that timeless look. It’s constant staining, sanding and sealing.

You will want to regularly stain and sand your wood deck. It’s a part of preserving the boards and extending the life span of the deck.

I have heard of pressure treated decks lasting up to 50 years when properly maintained. And you can always change the colour with dozens of different stain colour options. And when rot does occur, you can easily change out the boards to preserve the structure of the deck.

There’s no question that there’s a certain nostalgia to a natural wood deck and adds natural beauty to any space.

Composite and PVC Decking: The Pro’s and Con’s

Composite decking is made with small wood fibers that are encased in plastic. They won’t splinter or be as susceptible to rot and wood eating insects.

PVC (Polymer) is also made up of wood and resin which have no organic material to rot.

Besides being hearty and long-lasting, there are a wide variety of colours to choose from. Unlike wood, you cannot change stains over the lifespan of the deck.

Some of the benefits of Composite decking are the long life and durability and that they are easy to keep clean and maintain.

There are pitfalls of plastic as well. Plastic decks have the ability to warp, swell or sag and you cannot refinish them. Composites are pricier than wood but generally last between 25 and 30 years. Plastic decks can also get very hot in the sun and can be slippery in the rain and snow.

Check out Home Depot for great decking options and colours. Are you looking for a contractor? You can start your search here at Homestars for company’s in your area and their ratings.

So which material will you choose? Both options will certainly add incredible curb appeal to your home and yard.  Having a deck always seems to bring people together and create usable spaces in your yard.

The Annex borders the streets, west from Bathurst to Avenue Road on the East and North up to Dupont and south down to Bloor. If you aren’t familiar with this area you should spend a day walking around to take it all in! You will see beautiful mature tree lined streets and large stately homes. Most of which having been renovated or restored.

The Annex remains one of Toronto’s premier Neighbourhoods and here’s why!

Who Lives Here

This is one of Toronto’s oldest areas with large stately homes and mature tree lined streets. The Annex’s first residents included Timothy Eaton of Eaton’s Department store and George Gooderham, president of Gooderham and Worts Distillery. This area is home to many students and the faculty of the University as well as prominent artists and business people. It’s an area rich with culture and vibrancy.

Neighbourhood Amenities

Rich with culture and the Arts, and bordering on the University of Toronto Campus, makes this area home to many students and fraternities. With that comes fun and popular student venues such as Madison Avenue Pub and Restaurant known for the many British style pubs and patios. You’ve got to try Paupers Pub as it’s another well-known restored Building with casual eatery and excellent City views!

Green Spaces

The Annex is Known for its big impact on the community is the The Annex Residents Association. They saved the area from the Spadina Expressway preserving the History and Architecture.  The Annex Residents Association was established in 1925 and is a 100% volunteer run organization fully committed to improving and preserving the Annex Neighbourhood. Learn more about the Association here: The Annex Residents Association.

Local Favourites

Besides the well-known high-end shops and dining on Bloor, there are also many tucked away eclectic cafes and indie bookshops making for a great evening stroll out in the City.

If you are in the area near Bathurst Street, check out the Hot Docs Ted Rogers century old Cinema. This is a year-round home for Canadian and International Documentaries. Originally this was built as a movie theatre and actually still operates as a cinema today, however it also hosts many Independent Film festivals and is a part of the Bloor Street Culture Coridor (BCC).

Your Next Home

I had recently spent some time walking the area and I loved seeing these large old homes restored to their former beauty. Homes known as an “Annex Style House” were mainly built in the late 1800’s up to the early 1900’s which showcased large Victorian and Edwardian Architecture.

The Annex style house concept was attributed to E.S. Lennox whom was a prominent architect in the late nineteenth century Toronto. He borrowed elements from American Richardson Romanesque and the British Queen Anne Revival. You will notice many large round arches and decorative turrets. Many homes in this area are protected today by the Toronto Historical Board so you won’t see many of them being torn down.

While there’s no shortage of Historic neighbourhoods in Old Toronto, this certainly remains one of the most prominent.  Are you ready to learn what it takes to live here?

Check out this listing in the Annex! 128 Pears Ave.

With all that’s been happening in the World this past year; it’s the perfect time to support local businesses. Fresh farm eggs, homemade breads, cheese, meats and mouth-watering vegetables have never been so easy to acquire. These three Markets made our favourites list!

It’s so easy, it’s free and it’s fun! Make it a family affair!

Montgomery’s Inn Farmers’ Market:

Wednesdays 2pm – 6pm

Running from May to October Annually

4709 Dundas St West Toronto

Montgomery’s Inn Farmers’ Market

Shop in person or pre-order online

With over 20 Vendors! Vendors Include: IXIIM, Alma Bakery, Bees Universe, Huron Sun Foods, Nith Valley Organics and The Smoke Bloke.

Humber Bay Shores Farmers’ Market:

Saturdays 9am to 2pm

Running from May 29^th to October 9^th

Humber Bay Shores Park West

Humber Bay Shores Farmers’ Market

With such an eclectic range of vendors to choose from! Plenty of Local Farmers, prepared foods, honey, crafts, and services. What a great way to spend your Saturday mornings!

Annette Village Farmers’ Market:

Wednesdays from 3pm to 7pm

Running from June to October

Runnymede Presbyterian Church

Annette Village Market

Annette Village is a wonderful supportive and friendly community. The Market is small and intimate but offers the best of local fresh goods. Be sure to stop by!

Long Branch was once known as a sleepy little Neighbourhood in South Etobicoke. Life is still relaxed here but oh see how it’s changed!

If you are thinking of calling Long Branch home, here’s what you should know…

Long Branch is tucked between Marie Curtis Park and Colonel Samuel Smith Park on the South Western shores of Lake Ontario and is the most southern point to what was known as the former Township of Etobicoke. This picturesque neighbourhood offers a relaxed lifestyle that has become very popular with the younger crowd over the past years.

WHO LIVES HERE

The one thing about Long Branch that really stands out,  is that they are well known to be a very tight knit community. The members of the community are very interactive and involved when it comes to exactly what changes come into effect in the area. Lake Shore has gone through major gentrification over the years and more and more trendy dining and shopping have come to the area. You are seeing a balanced mix now of young singles, young couples and middle-aged families. Including lone parent households. With the draw of the Lake and a simpler lifestyle in the City, more and more are calling Long Branch home.

NEIGHBOURHOOD AMENITIES

It’s very easy to get around in Long Branch and navigating out of the area is also very easy. You have the Lake Shore TTC street car, bus and the Long Branch GO station and you are only minutes to Sherway Gardens Mall and Farm Boy. If you are looking for Golf, the Toronto Golf Club is also only minutes away. You can spend a day take a leisurely stroll along Lake Shore as they offer wonderful dining and eclectic shops.

GREEN SPACES

There is so much to do in Long Branch, especially for those that love spending time outdoors. Marie Curtis Park offers a sandy beach, playground, splash pad, picnic sites and off leash dog park. You can also take a hike or walk the Etobicoke Creek trail nearby that has great walking and riding trails.

LOCAL FAVOURITES

Make sure you stop in at Woody’s Burgers where you can order a specialty homemade burger and poutine! My mouth is watering thinking about a Woody’s burger! Long Branch Fish and Chips is well known and offers great food at very reasonable prices. Finally stop into Southside Johnny’s Bar and Grill for excellent pub fare and live music.

YOUR NEXT HOME

Real Estate has really increased in Long Branch over the past ten years and you will see a large mix of new build custom homes among the original homes that line these mature streets. Detached homes in the area only make up about 15% of real estate. There are mainly a lot of low- rise apartment buildings here. Want more information about living in Long Branch?