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The Best of Bloor West Living

The Building

Constructed by renowned builder Tridel, One Old Mill is a touch of modern elegance in the classic and quaint neighbourhood of Bloor West Village. The condo is ideal for young professionals, new families, and older couples looking to downsize.

The 12 storey, 278 unit structure was completed in late 2014, and has provided the area with a much needed luxury condominium option. The south side of the building fronts on Bloor Street west, while the north side looks over the greenery of the Humber River Trail, making the building a sort of gateway between activity and serenity.

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Bloor West Village

Bloor West Village is one of the last communities in Toronto with a small town feel. Dozens of fantastic shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment are just steps away from the building. On weekends, Bloor Street is filled with pedestrians roaming the shops and fruit markets.

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Transit/Driving

Jane Subway Stations is a mere 200 metres from the front door of One Old Mill, allowing for quick and easy access to all Toronto has to offer. The Gardiner Expressway is just minutes away, allowing quick access to the downtown core by car. Access to other major highways such as the 400, 401, and 427 is quite convenient, allowing for easy weekend getaways.

Parks

Plenty of green space is located near One Old Mill, allowing for an escape from the concrete views that many experience in Toronto. The Humber River is a stones throw away from One Old Mill, and it flows south through Toronto’s west end, all the way to Lake Ontario. Numerous walking and cycling paths run adjacent to it, and many beautiful parks and gardens are located at various points along the river. Park is an incredible 400 acres of forest, playgrounds, recreational space, dog park, and zoo, that offers a little something for everyone. High Park is located just west along Bloor Street from One Old Mill.

Amenities

Few condo buildings in Toronto can compete with the amenities available to residents of One Old Mill. All rooms were designed with luxury and functionality in mind.

They include:

-Full Gym

-Yoga/Dance Room

-Indoor Salt Water Pool

-Whirlpool

-Theatre Room

-Private Dining Room

-Multi Purpose Library/Party/Gathering Room

-Rooftop Garden Lounge with BBQ’s

-2 Guest Suites

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Check out our featured listing at One Old Mill here. Unit 729 is a spacious 2 bedroom, 3 bathroom condo overlooking the Humber River.

18A Westmount Park — where luxury meets exclusivity

Welcome to 18A Westmount Park Road in Toronto. This home is sleek and elegant, with all of the sophistication one could ask for in a home. Since many professionals no longer have time to escape to their vacation home or cottage as much as they would like to, this home is like a retreat away from home, right in the great City of Toronto.

Privacy like you’ve never seen

When driving down Westmount Park Road, you cannot actually see the house from the street, however you can see a laneway with a bronze “18A” affixed to the bark. Set back more than 200 feet from the street, this home has a level of privacy rarely seen in Toronto.

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Breathtaking views

Every inch of this home features breathtaking views of the lush ravine that surrounds it, making it feel like an oasis away from home.

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Kitchen masterpiece

With 12 foot soaring ceilings, an open concept main floor with a beautiful balcony overlooking the ravine just off the family room, the main floor hosts the kitchen which is ideally positioned within the home to be a functional space for the aspiring chef or for the weeknight family dinner. The kitchen features a waterfall island with custom leather-finished granite imported from Brazil with a moveable extra-thick walnut addition, top of the line appliances and exceptional amounts of storage, making the room both functional exceptionally beautiful.

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Outdoor space created for entertaining

With more than 7,000 sq. ft. of outdoor terraces, an indoor/outdoor sound system, an L-shaped pool and 17 foot swim spa, this home was created with entertaining in mind. Hang with your family on the weekends or host an amazing and memorable party —this home was built to accommodate whatever you have in mind.

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A Master retreat that is a true escape

This extremely spacious master bedroom is truly an escape from the world. It features a private terrace overlooking the ravine, an exquisite ensuite bathroom with custom bathtub and exceptional views for relaxing, and a dressing room built to impress.

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A ground floor with some WOW factor

With a built-in gym, infrared sauna with a built-in LCD screen, a cedar aromatherapy and massage room and more, the ground floor of 18A Westmount Park Rd is built for relaxing and entertaining alike. Featuring a guest room with ensuite bathroom, a kitchenette for entertaining and a walk-out family room that creates an indoor/outdoor space with custom suspended wine rack, this home is sure to impress and fulfill the needs of the modern active family.

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Dying to see more? Visit 18A Westmount Park on our website to learn more about this spectacular home today, or call our office to book your private tour.

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2016 Change to Mortgage Qualifying Rules for First-Time Home Buyers — Explained

You might remember an uproar regarding real estate in October 2016, but what was that all about?

Without notice or preparation, the Canadian government announced on October 3rd, 2016 several major changes to mortgage rules aimed at curbing high demand in two of the country’s fastest growing markets — Toronto and Vancouver.

Bank of Canada implemented what they call a “stress test” for first-time buyers, forcing them to qualify for their mortgages at the Bank of Canada posted rate or 4.64% rather than the actual mortgage rates, reducing buying power for first-time home buyers across the board.

Why?

This was a very clear message from the Bank of Canada that interest rates would soon start rising, and true to form, they’ve already started. Since first-time home buyers often stretch their budgets and take on more than they can afford (and many lenders don’t prevent this from happening) this is the government’s way of protecting our housing market from a potential crash as a result of rising interest rates.

What’s the actual impact? (view the CBC article here)

Although this may temporarily slow the market in some areas, this move is expected to have positive ripple effects on the economy and is a much needed shifting of the winds for Canada.

In 2016, a mere 33 percent of individuals looking to purchase a home were first-time home buyers and in 2017, stats are showing over 50 percent of people with an eye for the home buying market will be first time purchasers. Even more astounding, over 60 percent of those buyers are under the age of 35. 2017 will most likely be the year that the Millennials begin their real estate takeover and the market will never be the same.

Looking for your first home or know someone who is? Contact a member of our team today to learn how we can help you with your real estate transaction and mortgage financing needs.

Toronto Real Estate Update – April 2016

At the beginning of 2016, The Toronto Real Estate Board (“TREB”) outlook for the year pointed to a strong possibility of a second consecutive record year for home sales. This outlook was based, in part, on upbeat consumer survey results pointing to robust home buying intentions.

With Toronto recently having been named the best city to live in on a worldwide scale, Toronto is attracting many new residents from around the world, further driving real estate sale volumes and pricing.

The positive annual growth in sales was not mirrored on the listings front. The number of new listings entered into TREB’s MLS® System during March and the first quarter were down compared to the same period in 2015.

The supply of listings continues to aggravate many would-be home buyers. Toronto could have experienced even stronger sales growth if it had not been constrained by supply of listings, especially in the low-rise market segments. Jason Mercer, TREB’s Director of Market Analysis reported recently that the resulting strong competition between buyers has underpinned the double-digit rates of price growth experienced so far this year.

What’s going on in the Toronto Condo Market?

With continued price increases in the single-family Toronto real estate housing market, homes are unaffordable for many Toronto families. But many young professionals with smaller families don’t have a surplus of time to commute from the GTA to the downtown employment hub.  This reality is pressuring young families to live and work in downtown Toronto and to consider condo living as a viable option. More condo developers are now creating 2 + Den and 3 bedroom condos as part of their new developments to cater to this market.

What’s going on in the Toronto Housing Market?

With our prevailing and forecasted low Canadian Dollar and mortgage interest rates, coupled with the increased popularity of Toronto on a worldwide scale, the Toronto Housing Market continues to be red hot. Foreign investment is pouring in from Western countries.  As compared to other popular cities around the world, Toronto is still an affordable option for foreign investors and Canada is a safe place for their funds.

What are people looking for?

Location is a big driver for many buyers looking for new property. Homes that are in great, central neighbourhoods with big lots will command top dollar in the coming year, especially ones that have been upgraded to include modern finishes and contain live/work space such as a home office. Homes that have been upgraded well are commanding multiple offers in many areas in central Toronto.

Toronto Housing Market Snapshot

In summary, TREB announced a record-breaking first quarter for home sales in 2016 in the City of Toronto, with home sales up 15.8 per cent from Q1 2015.

In the month of March:

  • Sales were up 16.2 per cent over March 2015
  • Prices were up 12.1 per cent over March 2015
  • Less new listings were available than March 2015

Demand was not an issue, with many eager buyers looking for properties. Even though home sales were strong, they were constricted by limited supply.

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Looking for a home? Browse our Distinctive Collection and give us a call to find your perfect home today.