If you are sticking around the City this weekend – Check out BlogTO’s calender of events happening around the City. From Chocolate Making Workshops to ArtFest Toronto at the Distillery District – there are lots of great options!

If you are heading North, I’m sure you will be firing up the BBQ! Check out Chestnut Park’s recent blog posting on the best summer-fresh foods and goodies in the Muksoka, Huntsville & Lake of Bays area!

Have a great weekend!

If your answer is never, you may want to take a peek!  The attic is one of the most important parts of your home and could be hiding a number of different problems, for example: inadequate insulation & ventilation, bad wiring and vermin intrusion…just to name a few. Checking your attic should be part of your regular home maintenance inspection.

Lets take a look at some of the common problems:

Ventilation & Insulation: There should be ample air movement in your attic.  The goal is to have the same temperature and humidity as the exterior air while striking the correct balance of ventilation and insulation.  There are a couple things to keep in mind while trying to find this balance. You need to have enough vents and make sure they are not covered with ventilation – this is a common problem! If your vents are covered with insulation – they can’t do their job!  Mike Holmes from Holmes on Holmes says it doesn’t matter if your vents are soffit, gable or ridge vents – just as long as they are open! The fans and lighting in your home can also affect the heat in your attic. Make sure your fans are working properly and use LED or CFL lights – which give off less heat. High levels of heat and access moisture can not only be a safety concern but create problems with mould.

Wiring: Having bad wiring or exposed junction boxes is a very common problem which can raise fire hazard concerns. Because attics are typically open and unused space – it is easy for trade workers to run wires for new projects. This can lead to junction boxes being left open or buried in insulation.

Vermin Intrusion: Roof Rats? No thank you! Rats will chew through everything and anything can get their paws on. Here is a site that offers 6 different tips on how to keep creepy crawlers out of your attic.

Make sure to contact someone who is qualified to help you out with any issues or concerns you may have with your attic.

Here is how the “Walk Score” rating system works:

Check out your “Walk Score” here.

Although not offered on the MLS system, two other useful tools to check out when buying your next home is the “Bike Score” & “Transit Score”.

The Bike Score is based on 4 equally weighted components: bike infrastructure, topography, destinations and road connectivity. Operating the same as the Walk Score, the Bike Score give you a number out of 100 that rates the bikability of your address.

Here is how the “Bike Score” rating works:

Check out your score here.

Last but definitely not least, the Transit Score is based on an algorithm that calculates the usefulness of transit routes. This score is also out of 100 and will rank how well your location is serviced by pubic transit.

Here is how the “Transit Score” works:

Check out your “Transit Score” here.

These three scores are valuable information to keep in mind when purchasing your home.  If you need more information on different neighborhoods or are looking to buy or sell…I am just a phone call away!

No matter how big or small your yard, balcony or terrace is, there are endless options out there! I have compiled a few links to get you inspired for outdoor living this spring and summer.

To get started…Click here for a list of 11 inspiring outdoor spaces. My favourite is the Cheerful Eclectic Courtyard and the Bright Contemporary Deck! House & Home also offers an amazing gallery of outdoor spaces. Both of these sites show off how truly unique and special your outdoor space can be. Looking to host a dinner party? Style at Home and House & Home show off 5 fabulous outdoor dining spaces perfect for hosting your family and/or friends!

If you are working with a small outdoor space, don’t worry.  No matter the size of your outdoor living space – there are still plenty of options, however, you may need to get a bit creative. To get the creative juices flowing – Sarah Hartill & Stacey Smither’s from House & Home demonstrate how to transform an uninspiring condo balcony into a warm and cozy space. Watch this makeover from start to finish – and you will see what less than $1,200 can do for your balcony. Love the Ikea wood deck tiling! In addition, here is a 98 square foot balcony that is both functional and low-maintenance. When living in a condo, creating a functional outdoor space can help you to maximize the use of your overall living space.

Hope this post inspires you to transform your outdoor living space – no matter what the size!

I will be by my phone waiting for my invite to your next outdoor dinner party

With 100′S Of Thousands In Upgrades From The Builder’s Finishes, This Suite Of 2,206 Sq.Ft Promises To Delight. The Contemporary Feel Is Augmented By The Light Oak Stained Floors, The Sight Lines From The Entrance Elevator Through To The Terrace, & The Clean Lines Of The Cabinetry. Think Of MuseumHouse As Toronto’s Rival Of Manhattan’s Best.

MuseumHouse has a state-of-the-art fitness room open 24/7, a lounge party room with terrace, individual locker rooms for privacy and security, and 24/7 concierge/valet service providing unrivalled convenience and peace of mind for the residents. These suites were designed by the prestigious award winning design team of Page + Steele architects and Powell & Bonnell Interior design, with a builder of unmatched credentials in Veisman Construction.

Museum House is the epitome of luxury living at it’s finest!

Stainless Steel Fridge, Gas Range With Convect Oven, Dishwasher, Microwave, Washer/Dryer, All Draperies & Hardware, Gb & Equip., Cac, All Broadloom W/Laid, All Elfs. Excl Dr. Chandelier, Bkfst Rm Elf, Pwder Rm Elf.

Republic of Rathnelly.

“Huh. Where?” you might ask. This neighbourhood is small but mighty, offering everything you need, just a hop, skip and jump away from Dupont subway station, various parks, and great schools. Homes in this area are typically solid and unpretentious. Most common house types are detached or semi-detached from the Victorian era. Some homes are on a reverse ravine lot which offer warmer micro climates – great news for spring flowers. Make sure to check out my neighbourhood profile for more details on The Republic of Rathnelly.

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The East End Danforth

This neighbourhood is slowly but surely starting to gentrify. If you are looking for a detached house at an affordable price, look no further. With convenient access to both the GO train and TTC, this area is very well connected. The Upper Beach Manor (near Main & Gerrard) recently sold out offering 32 stacked townhomes from 881 sq.ft to 1,195 sq ft. Check out Toronto Life’s Guide to new shops and businesses in this up and coming ‘hood.

If you would like more information on listings in these neighbourhoods – I’m here to help.

Here are the basics:

If you have a fixed rate mortgage, the penalty will be the greater penalty of two options:

OPTION 1 – Three Months’ Interest:

OPTION 2 – Interest Rate Differential:

In this example “OPTION 2 – Interest Rate Differential” is higher so you would pay a $6,000 mortgage penalty fee. YIKES!

If you have a variable rate mortgage the fee is simply calculated based on 3 months interest.

Make sure to talk to your lender about the mortgage penalty fee. It is possible that the penalty may cancel out any savings you would have to re-finance at a lower rate. You should know how much it will end up costing you before you break your mortgage!

If you’d like some advice on this subject or just want to talk real estate “buzz”, I’m a phone call or email away.

If you are looking to do your part for the environment and improve your personal health, you might consider starting your very own vegetable garden. 

Whether you live in a condo 20 floors up with a balcony or a detached house with a large backyard – there are gardening options for you! You can grow in your backyard, your windowsill or in patio containers.

There are many benefits to growing your own food.  Here are my TOP 5 reasons:

• It’s delicious, fresh, environmentally friendly – and right where you live!
• One hour of gardening can burn more than 400 calories! Exercise that doesn’t feel like exercise…YES please!
• Great way to meet your neighbours – share food, tips and gardening stories!
• It’s safe! Know that your food is free of pesticides.
• It’s cheap! A pack of seeds cost less than $2.00.

Getting started can be daunting. So,

Need more help?

The City of Toronto offers amazing resources and support for both beginners and veteran gardeners.

Young Urban Farmers is another helpful site.  They even offer a free consultation to come out to your unique space and see what gardening options would be suitable.

If you are 65 or older in Ontario, you could qualify for a substantial tax credit towards certain home improvements. You are able to claim up to $10,000 worth of eligible expenses and get up to $1,500 back in your pocket! Eligible expenses are improvements to your home that will help seniors get around the house more easily. A couple examples are: Widening passage doors, walk-in bathtubs, lowering cupboards, installing pullout shelving under counters, and non-slip flooring in the bathroom.

Click here for more information