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Tiny homes in Toronto are a growing trend. While most people look to tiny homes as an alternative to traditional housing in a bid to build an inexpensive and affordable home, a large number of people are opting to make their tiny home finishes high-end and luxurious. While this may increase the cost of their tiny home, it also means getting finishes they would have otherwise had to forego – but now its luxury on a scale that they can afford.
 
Given the sustainable nature of tiny homes one of the most populars trends is to finish the interior using recycled or repurposed materials. For instance, the floor from an old bowling alley was used to create the stairs in one tiny home while the old copper pipes from a defunct factory was refashioned into a modernist light fixture for another home. Such innovations aim to use existing materials in a new way and this imparts a uniqueness to tiny homes that truly reflect the personalities and sensibilities of their owners. Such unique, created elements are sustainable, but come at a cost – they are definitely more expensive than traditional finishes, but they add immensely to the final product.
 
Then there are the more commonplace types of luxuries – such as granite, quartz, hardwoods – essentially natural materials – that become affordable in small doses.
 
Probably the most luxurious element of any tiny home is the customization that can be done to it. You can truly create the home that works for you. Whether it is the kind of storage you need or the space and light you require, tiny home designers are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and what’s can be done.
 
Investing in a tiny home is now a labor of love that will serve you for years to come.

Tiny homes are quite the rage right now. It is no wonder really; with the cost of real estate reaching record levels, young people and those who want to simplify their lives have started looking for an alternate way to enjoy the kind of lifestyle they want without severely impacting their budgets. However, before rushing out to join the Toronto tiny home craze, there are several questions that you need to answer.
 
The first and most obvious question you need to ask yourself is whether you will be able to live in a greatly reduced space. Tiny homes are typically less than 500 square feet. While this may sound like a lot of space, remember that it will be fitted up with everything you need – kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom. You will have to be able to live contentedly in a confined area.
 
The next question to answer is whether you are ready to give up your possessions. Naturally in a small space you will not have room for your book or record collection except for those items most precious to you. Are you willing to either give away or sell your “stuff” because you will definitely not be able to take it all with you. Then again, your wish for moving to a tiny house is probably to simplify your life – in which case you probably won’t want a whole lot of material items anyway.
 
The other very serious consideration you will have to take into account is the question of entertaining. Your ability to entertain at home will be greatly reduced simply due to a lack of space for hosting more than a couple of friends. If you are a very social person who enjoys having people over every evening or on the weekends, then you will have to alter either the way you entertain or save all of your entertaining for the summer when you can host your family and friends outside.
 
Despite the questions above, many people have successfully transferred their lives to a tiny home and have never looked back. If you are willing to give up the material accoutrements we take for granted, then you will certainly thrive in a tiny house.

Successful Toronto realtors know that they always need to be one step ahead of the game in order to keep their clients happy. To this end, they will opt for all of the latest tools available for displaying their listings in the best possible light. One of those ways that is currently gaining in popularity is drone photography.
 
Drone photography in Toronto is taking off (no pun intended!) in large part because it presents a listing in a unique and unexpected way. Giving potential homebuyers an elevated view of the home they are thinking of purchasing has the following advantages:
 
Allows homebuyers to see the whole scope of the property
Shows the true state of the roof and eaves
Captures the full beauty of the structure and its surroundings as well as the neighbourhood
 
If you are contemplating drone photography for your listing, it’s important to hire professionals. Unless you have experienced drone photographers on your team, you won’t get the kind of shots and angles that truly show-off your listing to its full potential.
 
Imaginahome has some of the best, most experienced drone photographers in the industry. One of the first real estate marketing companies to adopt drone photography, their trained professionals know exactly how to capture a property’s essence and to show it off for maximum effect.
 
So, for your next high-end listing considering using drone photography to give your extra special property that extra special boost with homebuyers. Contact Imaginahome today to find out how they can help.

Drones have become very popular in the past few years. They have become so popular, in fact, that even children are in on the action and receive them as gifts at Christmas time! However, if you are planning on flying a drone in Canada, then you should be aware of Transport Canada’s rules.

In Canada you can fly a drone for recreational purposes without any special permission as long as it is under 35kg and follows all of the guidelines set out by Transport Canada.

However, if you are using it for commercial or research reasons, then you are required by law to get a Special Flight Operations Certificate.

Additionally, the following is taken directly from the Transport Canada website:
Fly your drone:
below 90 m above the ground
at least 30 m away from vehicles, vessels and the public (if your drone weighs over 250 g and up to 1 kg)
at least 75 m away from vehicles, vessels and the public (if your drone weighs over 1 kg and up to 35 kg)
at least 5.5 km away from aerodromes (any airport, seaplane base or area where aircraft take off and land)
at least 1.8 km away from heliports or aerodromes used by helicopters only
outside of controlled or restricted airspace
at least 9 km away from a natural hazard or disaster area
away from areas where its use could interfere with police or first responders
during the day and not in clouds
within your sight at all times
within 500 m of yourself
only if clearly marked with your name, address and telephone number
You are exempt from these rules if you are at a field or event approved by the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada.

Failure to comply with these rules can result in fines totalling a maximum of $3000.

For more information on illegal drone operation click here.

Tiny Toronto homes might be the way of the future. Already serving the needs of young couples who want to live debt-free, these innovative constructions are typically less than 500 square feet and have clever features for storage and for incorporating all of the amenities found in regular-sized houses but in a way that saves space and has some items doing double duty.
 
The tiny home movement started a few years ago and was born out of a desire to live simply and to avoid the pitfalls of tremendous debt. They are also portable and easily moved from one place to the next, making them ideal for people who wanted flexibility and the ability to just up and move when they wanted.
 
Tiny homes present a unique opportunity for people who want to rid themselves of the very high costs of purchasing and maintaining a regular sized house. Given the very high prices of the real estate market in a large North American cities, many younger people find themselves squeezed and priced out of purchasing property – but still want a place to call their own. Hence, the birth of the tiny home. They are a great way for someone to own property and to live with a very low overhead until they feel ready to move to a more conventional home – if that is ever something they want.
 
The price of a tiny house costs around $266/square foot – making them actually more expensive than a regular house, but given the overall scale of the tiny house, it ends up costing a lot less in the long run. And, the tiny house comes with finishes that are a lot superior than those in a regular house simply because the smaller square footage allows you to customize and add those high-end touches in a more cost-controlled way.
 
Tiny homes might not be suitable for everyone’s lifestyle or needs, but they are a terrific option for people who want a simpler lifestyle, less expense and little to no debt.

Buying real estate in Toronto is almost a given for many people who want to put down roots and have a place to call their own. Regardless of the high values of the current housing market, people still see the property market as a solid investment. There is another real estate available that most people don’t even think about until faced with its reality – cemetery plots. Yes, cemetery plots in Toronto are a real commodity, the price of which can come as a shock when faced with purchasing them when the need presents itself.
 
No one really wants to think about having to purchase a cemetery plot – but as the saying goes the only things sure in life are death and taxes. At some point everyone will need a cemetery plot. Planning for this eventuality is unpleasant but will make life a lot easier for those left behind to sort things out when you are gone.
 
Similar to housing values, the cost of cemetery plots rises every year. So, getting a plot when you are still young is actually a very smart investment strategy. Naturally, there are many reasons why people put off this most important purchase. When you are young, people want to concentrate on living! They want to buy a house, cars, put their kids through school and go on vacation – cemetery plots rarely fit into those plans. However, taking a moment to actually look into a cemetery plot is definitely worth your while.
 
Cemetery plots in Toronto run the gamut in pricing from about $2000 for a double plot in the GTA and suburbs to closer to $20,000 for a double plot in the city – and these prices are going up every year. Like any other property investment, the higher demand the costlier that piece of land will be. You can cut down costs by opting for cremation and a smaller plot, but if you want the full burial, then you need to plan for the purchase of this plot after you are gone. And, once you have bought a plot, those prices are guaranteed and you won’t have to worry about price increases in the future.
 
Many cemeteries now provide purchase plans for people similar to car loans or even mortgages where they can purchase their plot and plan their funerals down to the last details so that their relatives don’t have to worry about it after they are gone. It is probably the best gift that you could ever possibly give your relatives.