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Choosing the right sink

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In any Toronto house, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It is where family and friends automatically gather. Since the kitchen sees so much use – it is only natural to want good finishes and amenities included in it. One of those crucial elements is the sink. A solid, serviceable sink is essential for so many reasons – it must handle temperature extremes, pots and pans, kitchen implements and everything you want to wash in it.

In the past sinks were rather basic and utilitarian – either stainless steel or enameled cast iron. But today, there are a number of very interesting options including granite composite, copper and stone. Your ultimate choice will depend on design, your cabinets and also on how you work. Do you require a double sink, an extra deep bowl, a triple bowl, a drain board? Before rushing out to buy the first sink you see, you should carefully weigh your options and choose based on your lifestyle and needs.

Overmount vs undermount

The first thing to think about is whether you want an undermount or overmount sink. Overmount sinks are easier to install as you simply drop them into the precut hole in your countertop. The lip of the sink forms a seal that prevents water from leaking underneath it. Undermount sinks have become trendy because they expose more of the counter creating a better visual. They can be trickier to install as the edges need to be sealed from underneath to prevent water damage.

Materials

Yes, you can stick with stainless steel, but unless it is a high gauge of steel, these sinks tend to get scratched up easily and will look worn quite quickly. However, they are a tried and true option that have served very well for generations.

Enamel cast-iron sinks are another stable option, however, unless properly cared for, the enamel can wear off, which can leave the coating dull and discoloured.

Granite composite sinks are newer but get very good reviews since they are tough, they don’t scratch easily and they don’t stain. They can also be found in a number of colour variations to suit your design needs.

On the more premium-end of the scale are copper sinks. These beauties last a very long time and retain their good-looks for generations – however, they are sensitive to acids, heat and harsh cleaning agents and are also susceptible to dings and scratches, which often end-up adding to their cachet. However, be prepared to pay for their elegance and to spend more time maintaining them.

Bowls and drainboards

Choosing the correct number of bowls is very important. If you wash a lot of large pans or pots, then one bowl might be more convenient than two because you will be able to fit them in completely. On the other hand, if you wash a lot of dishes, then you might want two sinks so that you can wash in one and rince in the other. The depth of the bowls is also important. They usually range between seven and twelve inches. Although very convenient, the deeper the sink the harder it can be to wash in the corners – unless they are rounded.

Finally do you need a drainboard or not? Drainboards are not as popular in Toronto as they are in Europe but they are convenient no matter where. If you wash your dishes and dry them on a drainboard on the side of your sink, then having an integrated board might be the right option for you. Having them built in means easier clean-up and fewer chances of water spilling over.

With the number of sink options on the market today, it is easier to choose the model that will most suit your needs and design preference.

Keeping it cool – the best ways to lower the temperature in your home without air conditioning

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Summer has hit Toronto. The heat is palpable and perfect for barbecues, swimming and heading to the beach – that’s under normal conditions. Due to the pandemic most people are staying put and sticking close to their home. Keeping cool on hot days doesn’t necessarily have to include air conditioning. For those who don’t have an air conditioner at home, here are some handy ways of staying cool even at the peak of a heat wave.

Close your blinds! Yes, having beautiful sunlight streaming in through your windows can cheer up any room, however that sunlight is increasing the heat in your Toronto home by 30%. One of the simplest ways of keeping the heat down is by closing your blinds – even better, invest in black out blinds. Blackout blinds can actually lower temperatures inside your house by upto 20 degrees.

Open your windows at night. Temperatures naturally drop at night when the sun goes down, making it the best time to get the heat out of your house and let in that fresh night air. It is best to open windows on opposite ends of your home to encourage a crosswind to blow to really get the air circulating. Then just before the heat of the day starts to increase, close your windows and lower your blinds or close your curtains.

Another good way to keep the temperature in your house down is to keep rooms that are rarely used closed. By closing the doors to rooms that aren’t used on a daily basis, the heat from that room doesn’t spread to other areas of the home and conversely, any coolness in the house doesn’t need to be shared with that extra room.

Use your fans wisely! Did you know that ceiling fans have two settings? In the summer, they should be set to turn counterclockwise to create a cooling wind. If you only have pedestal or table-top fans, try setting up a bucket of ice in front of the fan – as the wind blows and the ice melts, it will send a refreshingly cool breeze into the air.

Another good hack to staying cool in the dog days of summer is to cook outside on your grill. Using your grill is fun, easy and will keep the heat outside. If you don’t have a grill, then avoid using your oven. Use the stove top sparingly and avoid the oven altogether. The heat from an oven can dramatically increase the temperature in your home, so keep the cakes on hold until the temperature dips.

Staying cool during a heat wave can be done – by following just a few of these tips, you can control how hot your home gets.

Proper seating for a home office

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If you have been forced to work from your Toronto home because of the Covid 19 situation, you have likely realized that having a proper work space is crucial to your productivity. And, one of the main factors when setting up a home office is having a good work chair. When you consider that you will be sitting for about 8 hours every day on your chair, it becomes clear that having the right support and proper cushioning for your needs is necessary for maintaining a healthy body while you work.

First off, what should you look for in a chair? Simple, your chair should have:

Adjustability: you should be able to adjust every part of the chair from the arm rests to the recline tension to get the optimal settings for your physique.
Lumbar support: get a chair that provides adequate support for your lower back. If you are able to adjust the amount of support you get, even better!
Base: get wheels! Unless you want to scratch up your floor, wheels are very important in an office chair. And, if your floor is carpeted, wheels will also make it easier to move around.
Swivel feature: being able to swivel at your desk will give you a greater range of motion and will make reaching for various items on your desk that much easier.
Breathability: sure leather chairs look great – but having a breathable fabric will be more comfortable over the long run and over long periods of time.

Now let’s look at what your posture should be while you are sitting. Your chair should allow your feet to be planted flat on the floor so that your knees and hips are in line. Your hips should be as far back on the seat as possible and the back of the chair should be slighting reclined, so that you are not sitting at a ninety degree angle. Your keyboard and monitor should both be directly in front of you. Your monitor should be slightly higher than eye level, as this will relieve pressure in your neck. Your shoulders should be relaxed. If you catch yourself rounding them or raising them, get up and shake them out before sitting down again. Rounding or raising your shoulders can result in injury.

Now you can go out and get yourself the perfect chair for your Toronto home office.

CMHC tightens mortgage rules

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The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation announced last week that as of July 1 they would be tightening the lending criteria for anyone wishing to purchase a property. The government-backed agency made the move amid growing concern that housing price continue to increase rapidly despite many Canadians being out of work due to the Covid 19 crisis.

As of July 1st, the CMHC plans to increase the minimum credit score required from the current 600 to 680. It will also strictly enforce the 35% of annual income limit of gross debt servicing ratio as well as the total debt servicing ratio of 42%. Right now those ratios can go as high as 39% and 44% respectively.

The biggest surprise about the announcement last week was that the minimum downpayment required for homebuyers has remained at 5% of total home cost as many analysts believed that it would be increased to 10%.

They are also disallowing any non-traditional sources of down payment that, in their words, “increase indebtedness”.

The housing market has continued to see price growth despite the levelling off of buying/selling activity, driven mainly by a lack of inventory making available homes worth more than ever. However, the CMHC does not believe that this growth is sustainable and is introducing these new measures to dampen price increases despite the on-going Covid pandemic.

Sources:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cmhc-rules-1.5599987
https://www.canadianmortgagetrends.com/2020/06/reaction-cmhcs-new-restrictions-insured-mortgages/

Paying down your mortgage quickly

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Toronto real estate prices have been on a pretty steady climb for over a decade now. Even with the slight correction experienced at the end of 2019, prices are very high and it is only normal for couples to wonder how they will ever be able to pay off their mortgage quickly. Believe-it-or-not, there are strategies you can use to get pay down your home far quicker than what your amortization tells you.

1. Buy a home you can easily afford – and, this is definitely much easier said than done in Toronto’s hot property market, but if you smart about what you can afford, you will be able to comfortably meet and exceed your financial obligations on your home. Instead of just trusting that your financial institution will only give you a loan for what you can afford, do the math yourself. Instead of calculating your mortgage affordability based on your gross income, calculate it on what you get after taxes, savings, utilities, communications, food, insurances and your car costs have been deducted. What’s left over is what you can really afford. And, even from that sum you will have to factor in property taxes and maintenance costs. As long as you stick within that figure, you will be fine.

2. Make extra payments. Yes, it seems so straight forward, but making extra payments from the very beginning of your home loan will attack the capital from the start. Reducing your capital will immediately reduce the amount of interest you have to pay back and will also reduce your loan amortization. If you can, make an extra mortgage payment every quarter or round-up the amount you pay.

3. Switch to a bi-weekly payment schedule. When you pay down your debt weekly or bi-weekly, you are effectively making one full extra month’s payment towards your loan. That will eat into your capital and reduce your amortization dramatically.

4. Rent out a room for extra income. If you don’t have the extra cash to put towards your mortgage every month, it might be worth converting an extra room into a space you can rent. The extra income could go entirely towards paying down your mortgage. However, this only works if you have the extra room to spare and if you are willing to share your space with a stranger.

5. Use your tax-refunds and bonuses wisely. Another source of income that could be put to good use is any tax refund you receive or bonuses you get. Instead of taking a big vacation or buying things that depreciate, use that extra money to make a lump sum payment towards your mortgage.

As long as you don’t incur additional consumer debt and if you are focused on paying down your mortgage and follow these simple steps, you can be debt-free quicker than you ever imagined.

To list early or wait

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Welcome to 2020! We hope you enjoyed your holiday season and are refreshed and ready for another year.

As you know the buying season is gearing up and in just a few weeks this year’s market will start to hum. If you are thinking of listing your house this year, then the ideal time to do so is coming up. The spring rush is that perfect time when buyers emerge from their wintery cocoons and hit the realty market in search of their dream home. However, listing your place just ahead of the rush could actually be more advantageous depending on your goals.

There is a distinct lack of inventory in February and March meaning that buyers will appreciate any new listings that hit the market. It also means that if a good property comes up there is more likely to be a bidding war on it than if there is a large supply of homes for buyers to choose from. In fact, March tends to be the best month for home sales for the year.

Buyers who start their search for a home in Toronto in February and March also tend to be more motivated, understand the market and are keen to close a deal. They typically tend to be those who missed the fall rush of the previous year and are motivated. Naturally you will also have those who believe in starting early to scope out what’s available and then decide, however, savvy buyers will understand that to get what they want they need to move fast and come with their best offer.

Listing early is good for buyers as well since they are able to buy and move in by the summer making the move easier than doing so later in the year.

When you are ready to list – whether it is early in the year or at the height of the spring rush, just be sure to choose your Toronto realtor with care. It’s best to hire someone who specializes in your neighbourhood so that they know how to promote your listing and where to find motivated buyers.

Condos with purpose

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With Toronto real estate prices for single family homes out of reach for many people looking to buy, condos have become the go-to entry-level property. While condos are still less expensive than a traditional house, the gap in pricing has been getting closer in recent years. Among the reasons for this closing of the gap is the lack of real estate in key areas, the continued upward rise in the price of single-family homes and the rethinking of condos overall. Instead of building condos as mere residential complexes, many new developments are seeing them as self-contained, mini-cities.

Condo complexes offering residents fitness centres, swimming pools and party rooms is not new – these have been around for many years now. What is new is the incorporation of services into the complex – everything from grocery stores to boutiques, restaurants and yoga studios and full-service luxury spas are being included in many of the newer, high-end condo concepts. While these services are convenient and definitely appealing to many buyers, the inclusion of these mixed use spaces do drive the cost of the condos themselves up.

If you are in the market for a condo and like the idea of a complex offering a slew of services, then the best time to buy into such a project is off-plan. Many of the newer building developments are allowing buyers who purchase off-plan to unbundle services – to essentially choose what finishes they want to include, if any. Then they can upgrade later on as the building moves into the construction phase. It is the more affordable way of getting into the housing market if you aren’t already. It is a great way to build equity in a solid investment that will certainly appreciate over time.

If you like the idea of a condo with purpose – a complex where you can meet all of your basic needs, along with some of your wants, then keep an eye out for new developments that will give you the flexibility of enjoying that lifestyle at a price point that fits within your budget. When such a project presents itself, be sure to be among the first to buy while it is still off-plan.

Doorless showers

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If you are looking to renovate the ensuite in your Toronto home and would like to increase its size, open up the flow and give it a stylish look, then consider installing a doorless shower stall. These new-again showers are becoming increasingly popular and with good reason. Not only are doorless shower stalls attractive in any setting, they are also very practical. However, when it comes to installing a doorless shower stall there a certain things to keep in mind.

Unless you want a flooded bathroom, you need to be sure that the floor of your shower is properly sloped towards the drain in the floor. For this reason, installing a doorless shower is not entirely DIY-friendly. It will also require more intricate tile work. However, if you really don’t want the potential of water leaking all over your bathroom, installing a small lip around the shower is a good idea. A half wall or a glass wall are also two very good ways of mitigating water seepage from a doorless shower. Providing ample room as a splash zone is always a good thing, and lastly, choosing the right shower head can mean all the difference between a wet and dry bathroom. A rain head tends to cause less splash and will also give your shower a very spa-inspired look and feel.

Another thing to consider carefully with a doorless shower is the flooring or tile that you choose for the base. It is best to choose something that will provide grip when wet and not be entirely slippery. Also, it is best not to replace all of the bathtubs in your Toronto home with walk-in showers as it will decrease your home’s resale value given that many buyers require at least one tub in a property.

Walk-in showers can give your ensuite a sophisticated look and feel. They are also far more accessible that showers with tubs. Interestingly enough, doorless showers were normal in many parts of the world and are now coming over to North America – and are being embraced for their ease of use, lower maintenance and contemporary look.

With so many pros, a doorless shower might be the perfect solution for your next bathroom reno.

Organizing your garage

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If you have a garage in Toronto, you are among those fortunate enough to have space to park your car. If you are like a large number of families out there, your garage is your dumping ground and rarely used for actually parking your car. However, you can change that with a clear mission of how to use the space you have.

One of the main reasons that people tend to ignore their garages and use them for storage is because they are rarely finished properly. Usually they have drywall up with concrete flooring. Occasionally the walls with be damaged through the years making the whole atmosphere that much more uninviting. Hence the first thing to do in your attempt to organize your garage is to properly finish it. Paint the walls to brighten the space and use an epoxy on the floor to make it easier to clean and maintain.

Next, figure out dedicated spots for everything you need to store in your garage. If you have a lot of bulky, seasonal items such as decorations, outdoor furniture or camping gear, consider getting a storage system that hangs from the ceiling. These systems can usually be accessed either through a pulley system or, with the more expensive kind, an electric system that will lower the shelving automatically. You can also invest in shelving that sits high off the floor to free up floor space. Use hooks for hanging bikes and invest in sturdy shelving to organize tools, garden implements and other items usually found in garages.

If you want a workshop, then consider installing a workbench at the back of the garage along with a worktable and use peg board or some of the more sophisticated mounting systems for hanging tools in easy to access places.

Garages are a blessing and a bane – they provide space and storage and a convenient spot for parking. However, they can also be frustrating when they get cluttered up. By organizing your garage, you will be able to turn your dumping ground into a usable and convenient space that will enhance your quality of life immensely.

Laneway housing: what is it?

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Toronto’s housing market is hot. It has been rising steadily for years now with no signs of slowing down. This situation has created a shortage of affordable housing for people who want to live in the city. Whether looking to buy or rent, the city has few options with many interested parties waiting in line. It is no surprise, therefore, that city authorities have begun allowing the construction of laneway housing.

Laneway housing is a completely self-sufficient, detached housing unit built at the rear of an existing property – and they usually open up into the laneway. Whether to be used as an in-law suite, an apartment for adult children or as a rental suite that can help pay down the mortgage, these structures are already quite popular in Vancouver where the housing affordability has been under tremendous pressure.

Laneway housing in Toronto has 78 approved projects in construction as of April 2019. These projects are among the first sample of these forward-looking trend that has the potential to address many of the issues facing existing homeowners as well as to create affordable new housing for those looking to rent.

While the laneway houses will contribute to the densification of the city, many of the projects are actually being planned smartly and are energy efficient and even include features such as green roofs. Even with the innovative features laneway housing is much are valued much lower than regular housing. Current prices hover between $250 to $500 per square foot, whereas a regular build property ranges from $800 to $1200 a square foot.

Whether you are looking for your first home, want to rent something affordable or have a big mortgage with a big yard that you can use for a laneway house – be sure to keep an eye out for these interesting forms of housing.