10 tips for buying a condo in Toronto

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10 tips for buying a condo in Toronto

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More people are buying condos in Toronto than ever before. And while acquiring a condo in the city can prove a valuable investment down the road, there are also pitfalls if you don't make an informed decision on your building and unit. Keeping the following tips in mind will save you money, time, and the mental trauma of spending half your monthly pay cheque on unused maintenance fees.

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Here are 10 tips for buying a condo in Toronto.

1. Know your location, and know it well

You probably already have a good idea of where you'd like to live. Still, before sealing the deal on anything, be sure to check out proximity to grocery stores, transit, schools, or any other relevant amenities. Some resources available to you in this capacity is this very site's neighbourhood guide, the TDSB's school finder, and the city of Toronto's neighbourhood rankings.

2. Don't be afraid to ask/pay for upgrades

If you're shelling out mad cash for a pre-owned condo, do not hesitate to ask the former owners for upgrades before your move-in date. If you're buying pre-constructed, it pays to invest in the right upgrades right off the bat. You'll reap the rewards later. What should you do? Here are two lists of suggestions for Toronto condo upgrades.

3. Assess the building's overall physical condition, inside and out

Some faults are easy to spot, while others pose more of a challenge. Hiring a home inspector is less common for condo units, but the investment is typically minimal ($100-200), and could prevent a lot of headaches down the line. Find a home inspector using this directory. Another option? Bring an experienced friend/relative/advisor.

This one is pretty much a given - if you like the people working there, chances are you're going to like living there. Plus, if ever anything should go wrong with your unit, it pays to have the staff on your side. The same rule applies should you need to bend the rules: extra parking passes are a sweet, sweet gift.

5. Research the condo developer and corporation

You don't want to put your faith in a developer with little experience building condos nor you certainly do you want to be buying into a place that's loaded down by debt. Researching those who are behind the construction and management of your condo is crucial. Review the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's tip sheet for buying a condo, which covers the basic research you should do.

6. Make sure you won't lose your view

What's being built next door? If another sky-high condo is in the works and threatening to block your hard-earned view, you may want to steer clear. You might be able to check this just by touring the neighbourhood on foot, but you'll want to also check the Toronto Development Applications website.

7. Evaluate the building's current residents

Is your home to be comprised mostly of renters? Do the current residents seem loud, or, on the other hand, intolerable of noise? Your condo's demographics are likely to have some impact on resale value - not to mention the happiness of your residence there. This can't be internet research; you have to speak to staff and current residents to sketch the picture.

Condos.ca is a good resource for some of this information, but it's a good idea to test the mettle of your real estate agent. Find out how much the unit sold for previously and try to determine how much money you can expect to make down the line. Market trends change, but it's key to go through these exercises before buying.

9. Buy a parking space if you can

It might sound counter intuitive with condo dwellers increasingly giving up on car-focused lifestyles, but even if you don't drive, if you're buying a new condo, make sure to fork out for a parking space. When it comes time to sell, you'll thank yourself for it.

10. Beware of occupancy fees

There's always a period of time between when you take occupancy of your condo and the building becomes officially registered in Ontario, during which you must pay occupancy fees or what is sometimes called "phantom rent" (because it doesn't go to your mortgage). This is unavoidable, but the period is generally shorter when dealing with 1) experienced developers and 2) the higher up your unit is (low floors move in sooner).

What did I miss? Add your tips and suggestions in the comments.

Photo by tomms in the blogTO Flickr pool

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What does an RMB trading hub mean for Canada, Toronto Star

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What does an RMB trading hub mean for Canada?

Canada has been designated a trading hub for China's currency. What does it mean in terms of jobs, the economy and international trade?

Canada has been designated a trading hub for China’s currency, a move aimed at boosting international business between the two countries while also nudging China’s once cloistered “redback” toward global status.

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Among other things, it means for the first time, Canadians can open bank accounts in Canada that contain China’s yuan, also known as the renminbi (RMB).

Canadian institutional investors, such as pension funds, will also be able to buy up to 50 billion yuan worth of Chinese bonds and stocks directly. That’s roughly $9.2 billion.

The deal will “continue to boost the Toronto region’s status as a global financial centre,” Janet Ecker, president and chief executive officer of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance, said in a statement.

But the main reason Canada sought the deal was to encourage Canadian business to trade more with China, the world’s fastest-growing and second-largest economy.

“What this is, hopefully, is a wakeup call to Canadian business to do more trade with China,” said Jason Henderson, head of global banking for HSBC Canada. Instead of being 21st on China’s list of trading partners, he said, Canada should be closer to 10th or 12th based on the relative size of the economy.

Both Harper and central bank governor Stephen Poloz have urged Canadian business to expand their international trade efforts, both to reduce Canada’s dependence on the U.S. economy and also offset sluggish domestic demand. How fast and how much of that actually happens will depend on how good a job the banks do of selling the idea to Canadians.

“Our next step is to get out and explain this to our customers,” Henderson said.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has estimated the hub could boost Canada’s exports to China by as much as $32 billion over the next decade. Most of it will happen in commodities, such as wood, oil and minerals. Canada’s current two-way trade with China is $73 billion a year.

The deal could also cut Canadian importers’ costs by as much as $2.75 billion, the chamber also estimated last month, saying those savings could “potentially” be passed onto consumers in the form of lower prices, mainly on consumer goods.

Currently, Canadian companies buying and selling in China have to convert the funds used to finance those deals into an intermediary – usually U.S. dollars – an extra step that adds costs.

More than half of Chinese businesses would offer Canadian importers discounts of up to 5 per cent if Canada’s banks could convert Canadian dollars directly into Chinese yuan, a survey by HSBC bank found.

Some of the details of the RMB trading hub agreement, announced Saturday in Beijing by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Li Keqiang, have yet to be worked out, such as where the hub will be located.

Toronto and Vancouver had been rivals for the designation, which has previously been assigned to a city, not a country. Other cities, such as London, Frankfurt and Seoul, already have it, while Paris and Luxembourg are in the queue.

For now, the designation is Canada.

A hub is mainly a virtual concept. It doesn’t create a new building or a new organization. Rather, it means China’s central bank — the People’s Bank of China — has authorized a centre to complete RMB transactions.

“The goal here in Canada, from my perspective, is we want a Canadian company anywhere in Canada to be able to walk into their local bank of choice and say, ‘I need this RMB product.’ Whether it’s in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montréal or Ottawa shouldn’t make a difference,” C.J. Gavsie, global head of foreign exchange products for BMO Capital Markets, said in an interview.

China named ICBC, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, in Toronto, as the clearing house for the currency transactions.

The deal is backed by a three-year, $30 billion currency swap agreement with the Bank of Canada, which means the central bank would step in to backstop any deals if credit dried up during a crisis.

For China, creating trading hubs is a controlled way to “liberalize” its currency, which could one day rival the U.S. dollar as the currency of choice for international deals.

Canada is the first place in the Americas to win the designation, giving Canadian companies a competitive edge over their U.S. rivals.

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Review: On The Bachelor, the women bump cars and butt heads

Arie takes women on first 'Bashelor' demolition derby and words fly when one woman gets greedy about Bachelor's time.

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2017 Best Places to Buy a House in America

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2017 Best Places to Buy a House in America About this List

Explore the best places to buy a house based on home values, property taxes, home ownership rates, housing costs, and real estate trends. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, Zillow, and other data sources. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

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Easton Park

• Neighborhood in Tampa, FL

• Neighborhood in Indianapolis, IN

Houserville

• Town in Pennsylvania

Niche User : The people in this town are very friendly and willing to help. But the town seems to get swallowed up by the college students in it. It seems to be about the only thing this town is known for which to me as a person who grew up here is sad.

Read 12 Reviews

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Grand Hampton

• Neighborhood in Tampa, FL

Bradford Woods

• Suburb of Pittsburgh, PA

East Grand Rapids

• Suburb of Grand Rapids, MI

Niche User : There is almost no crime in East Grand Rapids. Sometimes the police wait at certain intersections to give speeding tickets. The police/public safety station is in Gaslight Village, very visible and accessible.

Read 17 Reviews

North Central

• Neighborhood in Indianapolis, IN

• Suburb of St. Louis, MO

• Suburb of Indianapolis, IN

Current Resident : This is a very nice and safe area to live. There are many public schools, stores, restaurants, hotels, companies, pretty much everything is close by. Driving downtown during rush hour is the only downfall to living in Fishers!

Read 273 Reviews

• Town in Pennsylvania

Current Resident : Lemont is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. It has a small town atmosphere while being close to the larger State College community.

Preston Highlands

• Neighborhood in Dallas, TX

• Town in Indiana

Current Resident : Great schools, friendly neighbors, safe, bike-friendly, kid-friendly, award-winning youth sports programs, many outdoor art festivals and activities. Great place to live!

Read 191 Reviews

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA

Northaven Park

• Neighborhood in Dallas, TX

Poplar Grove

• Neighborhood in Indianapolis, IN

• Town in Illinois

Niche User : Dunlap is a very safe place. It has the least amount of crime in the area.

• Neighborhood in Indianapolis, IN

Kings Mills

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH

Niche User : Quiet area with both many families with school-aged children and retired couples. Near many amusement parks, but not overly tourist-y, though there are plenty of places to eat.

New Bethel

• Neighborhood in Indianapolis, IN

White Rock Valley

• Neighborhood in Dallas, TX

• Town in Alabama

Current Resident : This town is booming. It's growing so fast, we don't know what to do with it! Our community is much more diverse than most in Alabama because of a nearby army base and loads of engineering opportunities.

Read 137 Reviews

Prairieville

• Suburb of Baton Rouge, LA

Current Resident : Prairieville, Louisiana is a great city. The city offers plenty of shopping nearby including multiple grocery stores to choose from. There is a neighborhood Walmart less than a mile from my home. The public school system is one of the top in the area and continuing to grow and do better. My one concern is the traffic in this area. There are currently in the process of widening our main highway. It will not be complete for several more years and neighborhoods are continuing to be built making things worse. My concern would be that by the time the expansion is complete it will not be enough.

Read 74 Reviews

Chesterbrook

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA

Parent : We have never felt unsafe, older children can play outside without worrying about them, police are friendly and very responsive. We have had some break ins recently but that is about it.

Read 43 Reviews

Grosse Pointe Farms

• Suburb of Detroit, MI

Current Resident : This is a wonderful lakefront community that has the feel of a small town. Neighbors still know one another in this tightly knit community. Did you say you needed help, or a cup of milk? Yes, neighbors still care about one another. As a bordering suburb of Detroit, GP Farms remains one of the safest communities in the region, boasting top ranked public schools for both academics and sports. With private access to beautiful Lake St. Clair, via Pier Park, this is the closest to a dream for raising a family. Ten minutes from Downtown Detroit, with a sense of timelessness that Peter Pan would have loved! No shoveling snow from your walk, putting trash to the curb, or bagging leaves, either. GP Farms city services are the best. Lastly, the AAA credit rating makes GP Farms economically responsible for continued, long term success!

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Shoal Creek Valley

• Neighborhood in Kansas City, MO

Niche User : This a fantatstic community and theres proof of that in the growth of homes and businesses that are being built in the arear. The only downside is the amount of traffic can be overwhelming if your not used to city life. This used to be a very quite community but since it has a great school system the growth has exploded here so getting around to do errands can be time consuming. Other than that a wonderful community for growing families.

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How to Sell a House on Contract

Purchasing your first home can be very confusing. An alternative to buying it through a standard mortgage from a lender is to consider using a land contract. This method of home finance is usually available through the current homeowner or builder. Purchasing a house this way allows more flexibility in regard to the down payment and other terms of the contract.

Review a sample sales contract to help you better understand the terms of a land contract. The deed for the property will remain in the seller's name until the seller has received a predetermined amount of money. Land contracts are available online and can be printed for your reference.

Choose the home you want to purchase. You can find many land contracts available by checking with a Realtor, local builders and for sale by owner newspaper and Internet advertisements. Some real estate advertisements will include the acceptable terms of purchase such as owner financing or the willingness of the seller to enter into a land contract.

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Discuss the terms of payment with the seller. Land contracts usually require a down payment. The down payment may be less than what is required by a lending institution.

Execute the sales contract. Be sure to be specific regarding the terms of the contract. List the exact down payment offered and the payment plan. The payment plan would include how much per month you will be paying the seller and when the deed transfer will occur. With a land contract, the seller will hold the deed to the property until a specified amount is paid or until the house is completely paid off, depending on the written terms of the contract.

Review the current tax credit for first-time and existing homeowners. The IRS has expanded the tax credit, and a land contract may qualify you for a tax refund or tax liability reduction.

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10 of the cheapest U

10 of the cheapest U.S. beach towns to buy a home

Photo courtesy of Zillow

You don't have to spend half a million dollars on a beach house -- if you know where to look.

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Typically, waterfront homes are worth twice as much as their landlocked counterparts. In California and New York's Long Island Sound, that means many millions. But in parts of Florida, which boasts some of the more affordable waterfront property in the nation, that could mean less than $150,000.

Of course, it may not stay that way for long. The saying among real estate agents, "They don't make waterfront property anymore," is no joke. Thanks to limited available waterfront property and escalating insurance costs, there's simply less available, affordable property to go around.

So if winter is making you dream of ocean views and tropical temperatures, check out these 10 towns around the U.S. where the median home sale prices is under $250,000, or even less.

Editor's Note: Since this piece was published, Hurricane Harvey caused significant damage to Corpus Christi, Texas and LaPorte, Texas.

Pensacola, Florida

Photo courtesy of Zillow

Median home sales price: $105,600 *

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Average temperature: 67.6 degrees Fahrenheit ***

Florida's Pensacola Beach is one of the Top 25 beaches in the U.S., according to TripAdvisor, and it's actually pretty cheap to buy property there. Cyclists and kayakers are lured by the longest stretch of protected seashore in the country, and families come for seafood and fun in the sun that doesn't cost a fortune.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom home near Perdido Key is on the market for $190,000. It has a breakfast bar, two-car garage, screened swimming pool, hot tub, spa-like master bath, sun room, open floor plan, fireplace, skylight and an attic.

* Source: RealtyTrac, most recent data, October 2014

Mobile, Alabama

Photo courtesy of Zillow

Average temperature: 66.7 degrees

Mobile is located near Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, offering waterfront access without a ridiculous price tag. Once called the "Paris of the South," it's also the home of the Battleship Memorial Park, the Mobile Carnival Museum (which provides a history of the community's famed Mardi Gras celebration) and the BayFest music festival. Though beachfront homes are definitely pricier than other real estate, beach lovers don't have to spend big bucks.

This two-bedroom, two-bathroom Mobile cottage is listed at $149,900. It features a remodeled master bath, walk-in closet, fireplace, breakfast nook, backyard deck, shed and double porch swings.

Delray Beach, Florida

Photo courtesy of Zillow

Median home sales price: $121,000

Average temperature: 74.8 degrees

Delray Beach, which calls itself "Florida's village by the sea," was named the most fun small town in America by Rand McNally's Best of the Road in 2012. Its Atlantic Dunes Park, Delray Municipal Beach, golf, tennis and arts community lure around 1 million tourists each year, according to the Downtown Development Authority.

This one-bedroom, one-bathroom co-op near the water is currently on the market for $265,000. It has a porch, tiled floors and access to a pool and putting green.

Corpus Christi, Texas

Photo courtesy of Zillow

Median home sales price: $175,000

Average temperature: 71.8 degrees

The Corpus Christi Bay area sits behind the Padre and Mustang islands. The region's McGhee and North Beaches were both winners of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association's Best Restored Beach Award in 2012. Visitors and residents also enjoy easy access to the Texas State Aquarium, South Texas Botanical Gardens and the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, among other attractions.

This two-bedroom, two-bathroom home near Corpus Christi Bay in the Padre Island subdivision is listed at $149,000. It has a breakfast bar, enclosed patio, laundry room and laminate flooring.

Deerfield Beach, Florida

Photo courtesy of Zillow

Median home sales price: $123,250

Average temperature: 75 degrees

Deerfield Beach's "Blue Wave" waterfront got its name from the Clean Beach Council based on its clean water, good beach conditions, habitat conservation, safety services and public information. The Quiet Waters Park also offers opportunities for fishing, camping, skating and "cable skiing," a popular local sport combining surfing, skiing and wakeboarding.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch house in the Commonwealth Manor subdivision is on the Deerfield Beach market for $169,900. It features granite countertops, stainless steel kitchen appliances, a laundry room and tiled flooring.

Biloxi, Mississippi

Photo courtesy of Zillow

Median home sales price: $159,900

Average temperature: 67.2 degrees

The Mississippi Gulf Coast offers an inexpensive alternative for white, sandy beach lovers. Beach Boulevard, which runs along Biloxi's coast, offers views of the beaches, most of which are public. But homes line the Back Bay and Mullet Lake, and ocean-facing condos are easy to find. For rainy days, the city offers a number of casinos, while the city is not far from New Orleans, Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida.

This modern 1,250-square-foot condo is on the market for $189,000. It is located right on Beach Boulevard, with front-deck views of the ocean, while the beach is just a few feet away. It has two floors, two bedrooms and two bathrooms and is just a mile from the Beau Rivage casino.

Titusville, Florida

Photo courtesy of Zillow

Median home sales price: $69,900

Average temperature: 71.6 degrees

Titusville sits along what is known as Florida's "Space Coast," within striking distance of the Kennedy Space Center. But the area also offers its own unique opportunities for surfing, fishing, swimming and boating along the seashore and even manatee-watching in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Plus, it's the least expensive market on this list, with a median home sale price that's more than six figures less than in the U.S. overall.

This waterfronttwo-bedroom, two-bathroom condo offers a large, screened-in balcony for watching the sun rise. It include a kitchen, living room, in-unit laundry and a dining room, and is on the market for $104,900.

Hobe Sound, Florida

Photo courtesy of Zillow

Median home sales price: $228,000

Average temperature: 73.1 degrees

Hobe Sound, Florida, located along the Atlantic Coast, has about 10 beaches to choose from, including Jensen Beach, Bathtub Reef Beach and Santa Lucea Beach. It attracts tourists and local nature-lovers with its Blowing Rocks wildlife preserve, Hobe Sound Nature Center and Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge.

For $220,000, you can buy this three-bedroom, three-bathroom house near the actual Hobe Sound. The Hobe Hills subdivision property features a balcony, spiral staircase, finished basement and patio.

Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Photo courtesy of Zillow

Median home sales price: $103,870

Average temperature: 66.8 degrees

Bay St. Louis may be only 60 miles from busy New Orleans, but this coastal town is a bit quieter and more folksy. According to CoastalLiving.com, it's the perfect spot for people "with a penchant for old architecture and affordable renovation spaces." Its main sandy attraction is the aptly named St. Louis Bay Beach.

This four-bedroom, three-bathroom contemporary home near the Bay St. Louis waterfront is listed for $199,900. It has an eat-in kitchen, backyard pond and patio, two-car garage, fireplace, and stainless steel kitchen appliances.

LaPorte, Texas

Photo courtesy of Zillow

Median home sales price: $152,950

Average temperature: 69.5 degrees

LaPorte near Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, is the oldest town in Texas' East Harris County. The historic site is home to Sylvan Beach, along with many other parks and recreational areas where visitors and residents can hike, play golf or bike.

This four-bedroom, three-bathroom Victorian house in the Bay Front La Porte subdivision close to Galveston Bay is on the market for $182,000. It features hardwood flooring, a deck, breakfast bar, four-car garage and an attic.

• 

Ilyce R. Glink is an award-winning, nationally-syndicated columnist, best-selling book author and founder of Best Money Moves, an employee benefit program that helps reduce financial stress. She also owns ThinkGlink.com, where readers can find real estate and personal finance resources.

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9 Tips for Cleaning Out Your Late Parent - s Home - Next Avenue

9 Tips for Cleaning Out Your Late Parent’s Home

The job can be an exhausting ordeal, but with the right help you can get through it

When my mother died last year at 87, I was torn between grief and the immediate need to empty the New York City apartment she had lived in for 50 years.

Emotionally and physically, the task was draining. I had to make snap decisions about what to keep, toss, sell, give to family members or donate to charity. This difficult experience led me to want to help others going through the same process.

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As Julie Hall, an appraiser and liquidator and author of How To Clean Out Your Parents’ Estate in 30 Days or Less says, “Feelings are raw and you're in crisis mode — that doesn't lend itself to good decisions."

So here are nine tips, based on my ordeal and subsequent reporting, that should ease the way if you need to clean out your parent’s home:

Mom often tucked cash and jewelry into her clothes pockets and always said "check the pockets" before giving anything away. Sage advice.

3. Locate all key financial documents. Before throwing away any papers, find and put aside your parent’s will, trusts and addenda; life insurance policies and statements, real estate deeds and titles; recent bank statements (you can get older ones electronically); stock certificates; 401(k) records; tax returns and receipts necessary for filing next year's income tax return.

Talk with an attorney about how to transfer assets to named beneficiaries.

To find a trustworthy appraiser, ask an estate attorney for a referral or look for one on the website of the American Society of Appraisers, an accrediting organization.

Hall recommends checking the appraiser's site to see whether he or she has specialized training. "Appraisal societies offer continuing education through universities in art, antiques and rugs," she says. "It's a good sign when appraisers continue to gain certifications, since that shows they want to keep learning."

5. When it comes to your parent’s belongings, remember that family comes first. This is Julie Hall's mantra — a good one. Have your siblings create a wish list of the items they’d like from the estate. Then, try to divide the assets equally by monetary value, which you’ll know through the appraisals.

If one brother or sister chooses high-ticket items, he or she should pay the other siblings an amount that will even things out.

6. Preserve sentimental photos and memorabilia. These are irreplaceable. I brought home a suitcase filled with family photos (some dating from the 1890s) as well as my dad's World War II medals, poems my mother wrote for special occasions and a newspaper article featuring my parents as newlyweds at Fort Custer in 1943. Many of these mementos (or pictures of them) will appear in a family history book I'm preparing for our grandchildren.

As I sorted through her things, I felt surrounded by her presence. In a way, it helped me say my final goodbye.

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Next Avenue Editors Also Recommend:

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