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Winter in Toronto is decidedly cold. The seasonal drop in temperatures across the country can cause debilitating spikes in heating costs. To keep your home heating costs steady through the year, there are a number of little things you can do during the winter months.

Seal windows/doors

One of the best ways to minimize a hike in heating costs when Toronto temperatures drop is to make sure your windows are properly sealed and your doors have weather stripping. If you are unable to add/replace the weather stripping on your doors, then get draft blockers to make sure that any cold air entry points are blocked off.

Using drapes/blinds properlya

You can also pull the drapes/blinds on windows that don’t get direct sunlight. By keeping the drapes/blinds drawn you will prevent any possible cold air from seeping into the room. Conversely, if you have windows that get a lot of direct sunlight – be sure to keep those blinds/drapes open. The sunlight will create passive heat that can help raise the temperature in your home even on the coldest days.

Thermostat regulation

If you don’t mind waking up chilly, you can turn your thermostat down at night. Wait for as long as possible after you get up to turn them up again. If you don’t like the cold air first thing in the morning, then program your thermostat to turn on a half hour before you get up. If you are susceptible to the cold and don’t relish the thought of turning the heat down at all, then you could keep your thermostat steady at a lower temperature throughout the day.

Residual heat

Baking is a good way of warming up your home without turning up the thermostat. While it is unsafe to use your oven as a method of heating your home, by baking more often you can organically benefit from the heat produced. Once your baking is done, leave your oven door open to better help disperse the heat into your kitchen.

Dress warm!

Dressing in layers is a great way to stay warm. Instead of turning up the heat in your home, wear a sweater over a T-shirt. Wear wool or cotton socks to help your feet breathe. Use slippers to keep your feet warm. If you are prone to being chilly, you could also wear a warm hat to keep your body temperature even.

Be strategic

Another way to stay warm without raising the heat in your Toronto home is to keep blankets readily available in every room. Blankets are especially good for when you are doing low energy activities such as watching TV or working on a computer.

Stay active

Exercising regularly will automatically raise your body temperature and help you to withstand the cold.

Water and heat

If you feel really chilled, a good way to raise your body temperature quickly is to soak in a warm bath or to take a warm shower. You could also use a heating pad placed strategically on your feet to warm yourself up.

Keeping energy costs down in your Toronto home is always a challenge during the winter. However, by using a few of the tips mentioned above, you can mitigate the more drastic energy cost swings you would otherwise experience.

Welcome back!

2021 in the Toronto real estate market is certainly taking its lead from the last quarter of 2020. Despite the pandemic buyers were eager and their enthusiasm drove the real estate market to post record gains in some sectors. Although the city condo market remained flat, the housing market heated up.

The latter half of the year posted especially strong numbers. Toronto housing prices increased by 13.8% in November, year-over-year. And, the usually very quiet holiday month of December saw housing sales increase by an extraordinary 64.5%. According to an article in the Toronto Sun, experts are expecting the strong seller’s market to continue.

The surge in activity in the Toronto property market is really a tale of two realities – houses vs condos. While the housing marketing is red-hot, the condo market is facing some tough head-winds. The reality of the pandemic and the difficulty people have found of living in a city in small condos with little room to move around vs owning a house in either the suburbs or the country has been the catalyst for this uneven market.

With the pandemic still not under control, people will likely continue looking to make significant lifestyle changes. Should this trend continue then the Toronto real estate market is heading towards another banner year – especially given the continuing shortage of inventory for single family homes – a factor that will certainly push prices up further.

Regardless of market conditions, you should only jump into the current market if you are very well prepared financially

Toronto’s condo market, which for years was robust and posted yearly gains, has softened and regular investors are having to make difficult choices. According to the Financial Post, where investing in a condo seemed like a solid, secure investment even just a year ago, because of the pandemic and the exodus from the city’s core, rents have plunged and condo prices have dropped.

If you purchased an off-plan condo two years ago at the peak of the market as an investment, then you could very well be underwater today unless you are able to carry the loan costs. With the dip in what owners can ask for in rent, many condo buyers are seeing themselves in the scary position of either having to sell at a loss or cover the shortfall in rent that would have otherwise covered the mortgage payment. Since rents have fallen significantly since the start of the year, what an owner can now ask for in rent will, in many cases, no longer cover the mortgage, insurance, condo fees and taxes – leaving owners out-of-pocket for the difference.

The hardest hit sector are condos that are yet to be finished. People who have bought off-plan and are waiting for their condos to be completed are now seeing that they will likely be unable to afford their units once completed. In fact, according to the Financial Post article, many of these buyers are even willing to sell at a loss just to get out of their contracts.

There is no doubt that the market will recover. However, until that happens the condo market is likely to remain flat and could potentially see an even larger drop than the 3% decline that we have seen this year.

While the market might be facing some challenges right now, once the pandemic is over and life begins getting back to normal, there is every reason to believe that people will once again want to live in the city and that condo sales will again be a solid investment.

Toronto real estate has been so hot buyers want whatever edge they can get when bidding. Hence, many have begun writing letters to sellers to help land their perfect next home. We’ve all heard about these letters – the person who bid thousands under the list price but whose offer was accepted because of the letter they wrote. Whilte such cases do exist, they are not the norm, and letters can help in very specific instances. However, you want your letter to help your offer – not hinder it, and there are some very crucial elements to include that will do just that.

>p>So, what makes a good letter? A good letter will have a personal touch. It will speak to the seller on an emotional level and create a link between you and them. A good letter will tell the seller why you want to move into their home and how it will make your life that much better. Let them know that having a dog park right next door is perfect for your little Fido. Describe how you fell in love with the fireplace and can’t wait to celebrate the holidays with family around a roaring blaze. Or, let them know how the large kitchen is perfect because you love to cook and you will relish being able to really sharpen your culinary skills. By letting them know that you have made an emotional connection to the house your letter will stand out from the pack.

The things you want to avoid at all costs are negativity, a tone that’s too business-like and even the merest hint of condescension. You also want to avoid anything that doesn’t pertain to the sale or rental of the property. Sellers won’t care about your personal problems or current living situation. They won’t sell you their house for less just because you have a hard life and come from a stressed situation. Including anything negative is more likely to turn a seller off than seal the deal. A seller is more likely to sell for less if they feel that they have connected with you over the potential you see in their home.

Interestingly, while letters of purchase are commonly assumed to be written for home purchases, they are increasingly making a difference to renters as well. In fact, a letter of intent for a rental unit will show the owner of the unit that you are respectful of their property and will take care of it. Such letters can have a huge impact even in a slow rental market.

So, paint a happy picture of how you can see yourself living in the house or apartment and how well you would integrate into the neighbourhood and you will definitely increase your chances of getting the home you want.

For nearly two decades the condo market in Toronto has been on a tear. Sales have increased month-over-month and year-over-year with no end seemingly in sight… Until now. The pandemic has brought to light the limitations of condo life. When people have to self-isolate within their own homes, and that home is a one-bedroom condo it can get very tight, very fast especially if you are sharing it with someone else. although the easy fix would be to give up your rental or to sell your place and move out to a bigger one, the more realistic fix is to find ways to make self isolation in a limited amount of space less stressful and more appealing.

With condo boards shutting down amenities such as games rooms, fitness rooms, indoor pools, etc… Many condo residents have had to find creative ways to stay in shape while remaining self-isolated. During the summer it would have been possible to go outside daily for some fresh air and a change of scenery. However, with the weather getting colder it is necessary to find other ways of staying fit and sane while indoors. If you live in a high-rise condo, you can use the stairwell as a modified stair climber. Or, you can get your steps in by walking up and down the corridors. If you don’t feel secure enough to leave your unit, then it is possible to find exercise videos on YouTube aimed specifically at people who live in apartments or condos and don’t want to make noise while working out. These handy videos can help you stay in shape and keep your sanity while stuck inside.

Another good idea for keeping your spirits up while self-isolating is to create zones for yourself. Even if you live in a studio-like condo, designate areas for certain activities. If you are working from home, set up a home office somewhere other than next to your bed. Even if it has to be at your kitchen island or at the table, separating your work from where you go to sleep is very important. Let your sleeping area remain your sleeping area. it will help you to unwind and relax after you shut off your computer at the end of the day.

And, that is another important point – make sure to actually shut off your computer and put it away at the end of the day. You will be less tempted to check emails and to continue working if it is out of sight. It is very necessary to your mental health to power down and to give yourself a break. It is very easy to continue working well into the evening and night, especially when you’re confined to your home with nowhere else to go. However, this can be highly detrimental to your state of mind and your well-being. Torontonians are known for their strong work ethic, but in this instance it is better to take care of your sanity than to answer that last email.

Whenever the weather permits it is a good idea to go on walks in nature. If you are able to get out to a nature reserve or walk to a park near your place, then definitely do so. Studies have shown that walking in nature helps to ease stress and tension.

Keep in touch with family and friends via zoom or other communication platforms. It is very important to have connections with your circle during such a time. This is especially important now that the pandemic has been going on for so long and we are currently in a second lockdown.

Lastly, make sure your condo has good airflow and invest in an air purifier with a HEPA filter if you can. Keep surfaces clean and sanitary and if anyone does come over make sure that you are wearing your mask and you keep 2m apart.

We will get through this!