Are you kidding me?!? Apparantly Mr. Mayor David Miller thinks so. What he forgot to tell you is that the Housing Boom in Toronto threatens the tax base of Toronto. What the political pundits of Toronto, and the Mayor as well, don’t want to happen is that Toronto becomes a residential community. With more businesses in Toronto it lowers the tax burden on residents. Anyways, that’s the way I see it!
Read for yourself HERE.
As many of you know, the environmental movement is attaching itself to all sectors of the economy including real estate. Yesterday I attended the Toronto Real Estate Board’s Realtor Quest Trade Show. Realtor Quest bills itself as Canada’s largest Realtor trade show. Well, at the trade show there was an exhibition titled “The Sustainable Condo – Using Less, Enjoying More.” It was a very interesting display of technology and nature working together to provide a healthy environment to live in.
Keep your eyes here next week as I will post pictures and a write up on this fantastic vision. In the meantime, here is a very interesting article I came across today…..
New York City Aims to Make Affordable Housing Sustainable
NEW YORK, April 12, 2007 — The Arker Companies, The Domain Companies and Neighborhood Housing Services of Staten Island announced the closing of financing for the rental component of the $60 million redevelopment of Markham Gardens, an affordable housing complex located in the West Brighton neighborhood on Staten Island’s north shore.
The redevelopment initiative — a participant in the LEED for Homes pilot program — will create a total of 290 new affordable residential units comprising 240 rental apartments and 25 two-family homes. The rebuilding of Markham Gardens is part of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s 10-year New Housing Marketplace Plan to build and preserve 165,000 affordable housing units for 500,000 New Yorkers; the largest municipal affordable housing plan in the nation’s history.
Designed with environmentally sustainable, energy-efficient and green building techniques, 150 of the 240 mixed-income rental units will be reserved for Section 8 voucher recipients referred by the New York City Housing Authority, including former Markham Garden tenants wishing to return. The remaining 90 units will be affordable to residents with incomes between $30,082 to $85,080 for a family of four.
The redevelopment also includes 50 units in 25 for-sale two-family homes for moderate-income families, as well as a park, outdoor seating areas with extensive landscaping, and a 6,000-square-foot recreational center consisting of an indoor basketball court, exercise facility, computer center and classrooms.
The Secret. Apparently it’s a runaway literary success. Also comes with a handy dandy dvd and cd as well. Maybe you’ve heard of it. Maybe you haven’t. This much I do know – Everyone is looking for success. Success in business, at work, in life, in relationships, athletics and school. Success. It drives everyone everyday.
As I was thinking about The Secret and deliberating if I should read it a real estate agent who happens to be my friend sent me a MSN message asking if I’ve read the book or watched the ‘movie’. I answered “no”. He suggested that I not waste my time. Why? He said that it’s the same thing as Think and Grow Rich, Master Key to Riches, See You At The Top and other Success Themed books. And because I have read these books he said to same my money – I should already know ‘the secret’.
My question to you is – “Do you know the secret?”
In my opinion the secret is self-discipline. Having the discipline to know what I want. the discipline to set up a game plan. And the discipline to get to work and work the plan. An entrepreneur friend of mine who happens to be a trained and certified accountant told me the secret is still work. Plan your work and work your plan he says.
Then why, after so many success books, does another one need to be written and promoted? I think it’s because so many want to succeed but don’t have the discipline to carry the instructions or game plan. Same as weight loss programs. No matter what it’s called if I want to lose weight, I know I need to eat less and exercise more. But we all want the shortcut. We want the secret.
What does this have to do with you and real estate? Well, if you are in the business you want to succeed, right? Then go out and do something!! What’s your goal? What’s your game plan? Work your plan! Everyday. That’s the secret. The question you must answer now is, is this your dream, your raison d’etre? And are you willing to make it happen?
Until next time.
Karim Kanji
Hey there everyone!
Today marks a new beginning for our little BLOG in cyberspace. We have changed our name from CommissionAdvances.blogspot.com to CanadianRealEstateInformation.blogspot.com. This name change better reflects our BLOG’s purpose.
Secondly, I will bring to you more insights and commentary from the world of Real Estate. You will hear from mortgage brokers, Realtors, Builders, lawyers and everyone else associated with our real estate industry.
I will continue to provide you with timely information and news in real estate as usual.
So, that’s all for now. Remember to tell your friends about us and to post your comments here as often as you like.
Well, that’s all for now!
Have a great weekend!
Karim Kanji
Real Estate Information GURU!
“How Much Does It Cost For A Commission Advance?”
This is the most common question we receive. Guess what our answer is? “80 cents per $1000 per day!”
At that point we’re usually told that Company #2 has quoted them a less expensive rate.
Are they charging less? Or are they charging more?
RealCash charges a flat rate of 80 cents/day/$1000. No Administration Charges, No Hold Back Fees, No Hidden Costs. Why? Because it’s easy and simple!
Here’s an example:
RealCash Bancorp Inc.:
$3000 Purchase Amount – 60+10days
less 80 cents/day/$1000 $168.00
Net Advance $2832.00
Agent repays $3000 after 69 days and receives a $2.40 refund.
Total cost to Agent is $165.60.
Total Advance is $2832.00
Company #2:
$3000 Purchase Amount – 60 days
less 63 cents/day/$1000 $113.40
less admin fee $29.50
less HoldBack (2.5%) $75.00
Net Advance $2782.10
Agent repays $3000 after 69 days and receives a $33.75 refund.
Total cost to Agent is $184.15
Total Advance is $2782.10
HoldBack Fee – Everyone understands that an Agent, let alone a commission advance company, never receives their commission cheque on the day of closing. Obviously Company #2 knows this. Their rate for the days following the closing date jump from 63 cents/day to $1.25/day! That’s a 98% increase. RealCash simply creates a contract that runs 10 days past the closing date with no rate increase. Nothing is hidden.
RealCash’s contracts are straightforward and simple to understand. Our competitors may claim to charge less but as you can see from the above example, it simply is not so.
So, the next time you call Company #2, please don’t just listen to what they are saying because as in most cases, it is what they are not telling you that matters.
Most companies use the line, “Why wait till closing to receive your commission?” Obviously we agree with that philosophy but we add the caveat, “Why wait till closing to find out how much your commission advance really cost you?”
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to call me at 416.444.7790 and 1.800.265.2694.
Regards,
Karim Kanji
RealCash
Housing Starts Moving South… Globe and Mail and CBC report on this CMHC Report.
However, Canadian Housing Sector continues to buck U.S. Trend. Read what The Globe and Mail and Toronto Star have to say about this.
CMHC now making it EASIER for Self-Employed Home Buyers to realize goal of Home Ownership.
Royal and BMO assist Housing Boom by lowering mortgage rates!
Cross Country Canada Report:
If anyone has a Facebook account, please look us up at Canadian Real Estate and MORE!!!! This group exists to inform its members of real estate ‘stuff’. It will also be a great site for networking for people across Canada whose interests happen to be in real estate.
And now, on to the news…….
Hey! Remeber to visit www.RealCashCanada.com . You will find a News Link to Globe and Mail’s Real Estate News and more!
Western Housing Market ‘vulnerable’ because of unsustainable rapid growth.
Canadian Housing Market to remain high and strong.
The Condo VS House Debate rages on…not really, but this IS an interesting read!
The Debate between Renting VS Owning continues HERE. And this time the renters Win!!!
Mortgage Fraud Victory!! Hooray!!!!
CMHC predicts a ‘soft’ landing for Canadian real estate…
Expect a 5 year run for the Toronto Condo market.
March Madness: Real Estate vs RRSP’s
I thought CMHC said soft landing?!? Now they are saying that NEW construction will DROP over the next 20 months. And in Ontario expect a decline in the resale market. At the same time CREA is predicting an active year for the resale market nationwide and Toronto has started with a BANG to prove them right while Ottawa started with a wimper to prove them wrong. Are you confused about what’s happening in the real estate market? Me too!
Jim Adair reports on how Boomers will IMPACT the Demand for housing in Canada. I have had the opportunity to speak with Jim on many an occassion and he is nothing but a bright and insightful person. Anyways, check out his article HERE.
2007 starts off with a BANG in Toronto. Read all about it HERE.
What is Web 2.0 and how does it affect you and your real estate world?
New House Prices level off in December 2006. Read the financial post article HERE.