Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan

Canada’s housing market is back on a roll, a finding that should be evident in the September sales data that the Canadian Real Estate Association will release on Tuesday.

The slump that began in the summer of 2012 came to an end this past summer, with sales topping economists’ forecasts, and the market showing a surprising amount of momentum.

It’s worth noting that the market was in the doldrums at this point last year, which inflates the year-over-year comparisons. But the numbers still point to a market that has recovered, and then some. The 7,411 houses sold in the Toronto area was 9.6 per cent higher than the 10-year average for September. Calgary’s sales are 14 per cent higher than the long-term average for that month, and Vancouver’s sales are now back in line with the average.

Bank of Montreal senior economist Robert Kavcic said he expects that sales nationally will come in about 15 per cent higher than last September, and that prices will have risen by 8 per cent over the year.

While Mr. Kavcic sees the housing market as “pretty balanced and well-behaved,” Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce economist Benjamin Tal thinks it is probably too hot for the comfort of regulators and the federal government.

Economists are watching to see how much of the recent strength stems from buyers jumping into the market to lock in preapproved mortgage rates. Some experts expect sales to slide in the next month or two, as that phenomenon wears off in the face of higher rates.

Meanwhile, housing starts continue to top expectations, with developers betting that the market still has legs. Last week, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said there were 193,637 housing starts in September on an annualized basis. Economists had been forecasting 185,000 starts.

Everything around us is all about energy, and the principles of Feng Shui teache us to manage and balance that energy in the right way so that the positive vibes make our lives better and help us be free from the negative energy.

Home is where the hearth is, they say, and to make it even more peaceful and to increase the happiness quotient in the family follow these simple Feng Shui tips. - 

In today’s ever-changing economy, global investors face a broad landscape of business challenges and opportunities. Despite the recent economic problems in other sectors, the real estate market in Canada continues to fare well, thanks in part to continuous historically low mortgage rates and relatively strong economic growth (under the circumstances). Real estate opportunities in Canada, recently published by Grant Thornton LLP and produced with the assistance of Colliers International, provides a framework for foreign investors looking to take advantage of opportunities in Canadian real estate.

The commercial property market in Canada has benefited from a stable economy and the continued health of the banks and capital markets. According to Investment Property Databank’s (IPD) 2011 Global Annual Property Index, capital growth combined with income growth to provide a total return for all property types in Canada of nearly 16%, placing Canada at the very top of the IPD Index.

“Commercial property in Canada continues to be a keenly sought-after investment product. The combination of solid market fundamentals, such as low vacancy, stable-to-rising rental rates and readily available capital through both debt and equity offerings, has driven prices up,” says Bo Mocherniak, CA, CBV, Partner, National Leader, Construction, Real Estate and Hospitality. “Many foreign investors are looking for places to invest their capital and Canada is consistently cited as a preferred destination. Canadian commercial real estate gives them what they’re looking for—a stable economy with a reasonable return.”

In Canada, there are specific rules and regulations for those interested in investing in real estate. This guide is designed to help foreign investors navigate these new waters. It outline factors that should be considered when a non-resident wants to undertake real estate activities in Canada, and contains a wealth of information foreign investors might need to know to familiarize themselves with the Canadian landscape. It also includes a detailed profile of the residential and commercial property market, as well as information on banking, capital markets, government incentives, sources of financing and tax obligations for non-residents. The report also features an economic outlook for various types of commercial, leisure/hospitality and residential property types.

Foods to Avoid

Certain foods are believed to be responsible for up to 30 percent of all migraines. Here, a list of potential migraine-triggering foods you might want to avoid—and what’s in them that can cause migraines.

Foods that have been pickled, fermented, or otherwise marinated sometimes contain monosodium glutamate, also known as MSG. MSG is a flavor enhancer that has been shown to trigger migraines. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains that MSG is safe, but it remains controversial.

MSG is commonly added to Asian foods, particularly Chinese food, as a flavor enhancer. Other foods that may contain MSG: canned soup, frozen foods, processed foods, seasonings, and canned vegetables. Because of the controversy surrounding MSG, food manufacturers list it on the label.

Chocolate contains caffeine, as do sodas, tea, coffee, and energy drinks. In small doses, the caffeine in these foods and drinks can increase alertness. Plus, caffeine can actually help the body absorb pain-relief medication more quickly when migraines do occur. But high doses of it (like the levels found in some energy drinks in particular) can cause irritability, insomnia, anxiety, and migraines. Additionally, long-term uses of caffeinated products can result in a chemical tolerance in your body. If you abruptly stop consuming caffeine, you may experience withdrawal symptoms that trigger a migraine.

Tyramine, a monoamine found naturally in many foods, has been identified as a migraine trigger. Aged cheeses, such as blue cheese, Parmesan, and cheddar, contain tyramine, as do dried and cured sausages and smoked fish.

Use caution at the deli counter if your migraines are caused by meat. Many brands of hot dog, bacon, salami, sausage, luncheon meat, and pepperoni contain tyramine. These foods typically also contain the preservative sodium nitrate, which may be a trigger and set off a migraine.

They may make you cry when you cut them, and if you’re a migraine sufferer, you may cry again when you eat them. That’s because onions contain the migraine trigger tyramine.

Many diet sodas, snack foods, and low-calorie treats contain the artificial sugar aspartame (also known as NutraSweet or Equal). This sugar substitute has been linked to headaches and migraines, especially in people who consume it regularly over a long period of time.

Red wine, in particular, may be linked to an increase in migraines, but beer and white wine can cause the severe headaches, too. That’s because both beer and wine contain tyramine. Also, alcohol increases blood flow to the brain, which can trigger a migraine or intensify the effects of an existing migraine.

Fasting or skipping meals can trigger dips in blood sugar that may set off a migraine. If you’re prone to migraines, eat regular meals, and maintain a balance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meat so your body isn’t left hungry before your next mealtime.

Starts: October 5, 2013

It’s no secret that the housing sector in Canada has been strong and leading the economic recovery since the last recession. Both new housing starts and sales of existing homes through MLS® Systems have been buoyant in recent years, although both sectors eased slightly in early 2013.

But just how important has the housing sector been to the revitalization of the Canadian economy? Tremendously! In this post, I explore recent research that points to the important role that resale homes play in the Canadian economy.

It’s easy to understand that new home building, and associated activities like the development of streets, school, parks and community centres that come with new development, creates economic activity. You can see the jobs created by the construction workers on site, the truck drivers, architects, etc. Moreover, the wood, bricks, steel, glass and other materials manufactured in this country and transported to building sites also have an obvious economic impact.

But a housing resale is a transaction between two parties of a home that was built, sometimes years before. In a good transaction, both parties will benefit, but does this also have spin-off benefits to the rest of us in the economy? Yes, according to our recent research at Altus Group for The Canadian Real Estate Association, which tracks the many ties between resale housing transactions through MLS® Systems and the broader economy.

All told, some $22.5 billion per year of ancillary spending has been generated as a result of purchases and sales of homes through MLS® Systems over the 2010-2012 period. Moreover, an estimated 176,420 jobs per year were also supported by this activity.

It turns out there are lots of things that home buyers spend money on – spending that is incremental to normal annual spending by households. Over the first few years following a purchase, home buyers spend on a wide array of goods and professional services, such as furniture, appliances, general household purchases such as bedding, towels, lighting fixtures, tools, blinds etc., legal fees, appraisals, etc. Also, buyers have moving costs and pay considerable taxes to governments, including land transfer taxes in many jurisdictions.

Over and above all of these obvious spending items is renovation. Most homeowners in Canada spend something on renovation and repair every year, but recent buyers spend a lot more on renovations than the rest of us, up to $9,075 extra over the first few years that they own a home.

All this spending, of course, is good for the economy, and given that recent home sales through MLS® Systems have averaged about 452,500 units per year, it adds up to a tremendous boost to Canada’s underlying rate of growth.

Importantly, even if housing sales ease, the economic impacts from recent sales will continue to provide a boost to the economy, given the lags (say, the time between move in, and the decision to undertake renovations), so there will continue to be positive impacts on the economy from recent activity well into next year.

Prime Downtown Orillia Location.High Visibility/Exposure.Great Opportunity For Small Business Or Professional Office.Available Immediately.

Total Area:1,000 Sq Ft

October 3, 2013 -- Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 7,411 residential sales through the TorontoMLS system in September 2013, representing a 30 per cent increase compared to 5,687 transactions reported in September 2012. Year-to-date, total residential sales reported through TorontoMLS amounted to 68,907 during the first nine months of 2013 – down by one per cent compared to the same period in 2012.

“It’s great news that households have found that the costs of home ownership, including mortgage payments, remain affordable. This is why the third quarter was characterized by renewed growth in home sales in the GTA. We expect to see sales up for the remainder of 2013, as the pent-up demand that resulted from stricter mortgage lending guidelines continues to be satisfied,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Dianne Usher.

The average selling price for September transactions was $533,797 – up by 6.5 per cent year-over-year. Through the first three quarters of 2013, the average selling price was $520,118 – up by over four per cent compared to the first nine months of 2012.

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark for September was up by four per cent year-over-year. The annual rate of growth for the composite benchmark has been accelerating since the spring of 2013.

“The price growth story in September continued to be about strong demand for low-rise home types, coupled with a short supply of listings. Even with slower price growth and month-to-month volatility in the condo apartment market, overall annual price growth has
been well above the rate of inflation this year. This scenario will continue to play out through the remainder of 2013,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

Let there be light

Metabolic rate is affected by several factors including age, weight, and genetics. Although there’s not a whole lot you can do about those things, there are still choices that can cause metabolism to fire up or fizzle. If losing weight is your goal, avoid these metabolism-slowing mistakes in the morning.

1. Eating too late: Skipping breakfast is one of the worst things you can do for weight loss since it causes your metabolism to slow down. When you don’t eat, the brain sends a message to the rest of the body to conserve energy, signaling it to hold onto the stored fat that you’re trying to get rid of. Eating within an hour of waking sparks the metabolic process called thermogenesis that turns the food you eat into energy. And no — a cup of coffee does not count as breakfast! Instead choose one of these high-protein breakfast ideas under 350 calories. Make sure to eat throughout the day to maintain blood sugar levels since any drops can cause the body to burn muscle for fuel.
2. Not exercising: Research shows you continue burning calories up to 24 hours after working out, and studies also show that morning exercises burn more calories than those who sweat it out during other times of the day. If you’re planning on exercising anyway, for maximum calorie burn, your best bet is to get it done in the a.m. Include high intensity cardio intervals since challenging yourself is proven to activate fat-burning genes, which translates to an increased post-workout calorie burn — 100 to 200 more.
3. Not pumping iron: Lean muscle mass burns calories, and just adding five to 10 pounds of lean muscle to your frame will increase your daily calorie burn by 100 calories. Include strength training in your morning routine such as this 10-minute metabolism-boosting workout.