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Having a fish pond in your Toronto garden can add serenity and tranquility to your backyard. You can landscape your fish pond to look natural and add benches and sitting areas around it to maximize the return you can get from its beauty. While fish ponds require a bit more care than an average garden, they are not so complex that you cannot master the art fairly quickly.
 
If you have ever owned an aquarium then you already know the basics of maintaining a healthy fish pond in your Toronto backyard. You will have to follow the same kind of guidelines that you would to keep any indoor aquarium life healthy.
 
Here are the recommendations:
 
1 – Don’t overfeed your fish! Fish will eat all that they need within 2-3 minutes. Any leftover food should be removed from the water immediately. Food that isn’t eaten usually falls to the bottom of the pond and rots.
 
2 – Keep a healthy balance of plants around your pond. Your pond should be shaded by plants, but it should be by no less than 40% of the surrounding surface and no more than 60%. Any level that doesn’t fall within those numbers will unbalance the pH level of the water in your pond. You should also remember to keep your pond shaded during the hottest days of the summer. Water temperature should not exceed 75 degrees fahrenheit as then oxygen levels in the water will drop and your fish will have a harder time breathing.
 
3 – Have a good pump. Make sure that the pump you have for your pond is the right size for the area you have. You should always have a good circulation of water going. Reading the specs of the pump on the box will let you know whether the one you have is right for your pond.
 
4 – Keep your pond clean. Make sure that you clean your pond frequently to prevent the build-up debris and decay. When debris starts to decay, it will raise the ammonia levels in the water, which is hazardous to aquatic life.
 
Keeping your pond healthy is not that difficult. As long as you are able to follow the simple guidelines outlined here, you can enjoy your fish friends for years.

If you live in the bustling Toronto metropolis, then it is normal to imagine escaping to your own island on weekends or holidays. Such dreams are much more attainable as you might think, but you must be prepared for the costs that come along with island living.
 
First finding the island – there are hundreds of island available for purchase from under $100,000 to nearly 5 million dollars. The cost really depends on location, size, accessibility and amenities. If the island already has some infrastructure in place, then it will naturally be more expensive than an island that is bare-bones. Likewise, an island off the coast of the Bahamas will be far more expensive than an island in a remote part of Nova Scotia.
 
If you are serious about looking for an island to develop, then it is necessary to deal with a broker who specializes in island purchases. You will also need a very good lawyer as there are many different scenarios involving lease and freehold islands and only an experience legal professional will be able to help you navigate those intricacies. Occasionally, island buyers have run up against squatter’s rights where someone contests the sales because they have been using the land for years. Some sales have fallen through due to such claims. Then you also have to be aware of what the expectations of your island include – will you have to allow access to your beach, your dock, etc…? Those questions can all be answered by a lawyer who can ascertain these facts prior to your purchase.
 
Accessibility is another very important aspect of owning an island. It is best to look for something that is about one km or less away from shore – otherwise, you will be forced to commute a long way to get to your island every time you want some peace and quiet. However, if you are wanting that kind of seclusion and want to be away from everyone and everything, then the island you purchase can really be anywhere – just remember that if it is undeveloped then you will have to factor in getting your materials and work crews to the island in the cost of your build.
 
Lastly, depending on your budget, you might want to shell out a bit more for something that is already developed over something that you have to develop from scratch. While there is something very appealing about customizing your island, unless you are ready for the hassle and expense of starting from nothing, then looking for something that won’t require as much work might be a good idea.

The answer to the question of whether to buy or rent a cottage in Toronto is one that will always be a very personal one. The decision to either purchase your own country place or rent one every year will come down to several factors including your financial situation, your lifestyle, and your goals. Building memories, putting down roots in a community, and knowing your area are a few of the reasons for which people tend to prefer buying their own place, but the financial costs to carrying two properties must be factored into any financial plan.
 
The idea of owning a cottage is very tantalising – escaping on the weekends to a quiet place on a lake where you can forget about the workweek is something that is definitely alluring. But, what will happen to the cottage during the winter and during the week? Will someone still be using it? If not, you will have to ensure that it is properly winterized so that pipes don’t burst and critters don’t enter. If you plan on using it as a part-time rental, then you will also have to budget for a cleaning service and monthly maintenance. The other costs to consider are utilities, cable/satellite, phone service, septic maintenance, snow clearing, taxes and insurance. Then there is the actual maintenance of cleaning the place, moving the lawn, cleaning the gutters, etc… that you will eat into your downtime.
 
Renting a cottage means only paying the rental fees for the time you wish to use it. While such a no-fuss arrangement means that you simply show up and enjoy the property, it also means you share a place that many families use, that you are limited to the time it is available and if someone rents it before you, then you might miss out on your preferred dates. However, the cottage isn’t yours and you can’t decorate it as you want, and you won’t be able to truly make it your own or build the kind of affinity with the community as you would as an owner. On the plus side, you really don’t have to worry about any kind of upkeep.
 
Whether you rent or own a cottage the one thing both options have in common is that you will build beautiful memories with your family that will last a lifetime.

In Toronto buying a new build-home is always exciting – and increasingly the only way to get an affordable place. While new-build homes provide buyers with a way of customizing their residence, they also require a much higher level of supervision and diligence on your part to ensure you get what you paid for. Let’s take a look at some of the key elements to keep in mind when eyeing a new build home.
 
Upgrade smartly
Many people look at a show home and simply fall in love and are ready to sign right away. However, this is a mistake that should be avoided. Why? Because show homes are full of upgrades that won’t be there in the house you actually move into unless you are willing to pay those enormous upgrade fees. If you do want to spring for the upgrades, remember that it is through those upgrades that builders add to their profit margins. The base price of a new home or condo is never negotiable, but any of the upgrades you request definitely are negotiable – especially if you are asking for a lot of upgrades. Usually the greater the number of upgrades, the higher percentage off you can get. The reason behind this is very simple – any upgrade will be charged to you at double the cost that the builder can acquire it for.
 
Get all details in writing
You cannot take for granted that the what you see on an artist’s rendition or on your floor plan is actually what you are going to get. Ask to see the builder’s blueprints and plans with the exact interior dimensions of the unit or home you are looking to buy. Many new-home sales people will actually include the exterior wall dimension and/or the balconies in the total square footage, which can seriously skew what you get as actual living space. The other reasons to get everything in writing is to avoid hidden closing costs that can really spike the price you pay. Many builders will tack on all manner of closing costs from charging to have gas or sewage hooked up to having to pay for public art fixtures. Make sure you know what you are on the hook for up front – and then get your contract looked over by a lawyer to make sure that you are getting what you the sellers says you are getting. If the seller doesn’t want to give you time to take the contract to a lawyer, make sure to put in a clause that the contract is subject to review by your lawyer.
 
Make sure to have inspections done
Don’t pass up the inspection! Although it is a new home, it is still necessary to have an inspector go over it halfway through the build, at the end of the build and at the end of the first year. Those are the crucial times at which you will be able to catch inconsistencies and/or anything that is not up to code or part of the plan. You can then have those things corrected while it is being built or still under warranty.
 
Buying new is a great way to build as much equity in a property as possible – however, you have to protect yourself and understand that there are pitfalls to watch for. However, if you are wise and do things properly, you can definitely come out way ahead of the game.