Recent Blog Posts by Paul Indrigo

The Sold Report ™-Toronto Loft Edition January-April 2012.

Welcome to the first copy of "The Sold Report ™-Toronto Loft Edition. The reason you won't find this report anywhere else? Not even the MLS publishes stats just for lofts. The effort I put into creating these informative reports for my loyal clients who enjoy being ViP members is worth every bit of the time it takes to create it. PS This report is ONLY available online as my clients prefer ...

Ups and Downs of Toronto Real Estate 2001-present

I see charts everyday that show how the market is doing. Everyday those charts are added and modified by various news sources and its hard to see the big picture. Treating Toronto real estate as a "journey" vs a "destination" is the right way to see things. I hope this infographic is helpful.      

Toronto Housing Market Charts- April 2012

Every month we have the chance to view these housing market charts. Have a look at how things were going back to 2009. Its not that hard to assume that June 2012 is gearing up to be a huge month. Knowing how to be properly exposed to the market right now is critical to being a smart buyer or seller.

Life is lived ON the wire

What does Karl Wallenda (the famous tight rope walker) have to do with your life? Everything. His famous quote is "life is lived on the wire." This can resonate into everything you do. Whether its your family, your life, your health and even real estate. The moment you stop focussing on living...its game over. Be sure to enjoy every day of your life. Have a great weekend!! PS Be sure to visit Niagara ...

The Sold Report™-Leslieville Edition. Jan-April 2012.

My love affair with Leslieville started back in 2001. Walking tours of the amazing homes and historic lofts led to helping many of you buy, sell and rent your first spaces with me. Enter 2012. The rise of the "infographic" goes along with the increasing demand for creative marketing of properties in order to stand out. 

The Top 5 D-I-Y Home Improvements for 2012

Sometimes a picture tells the story. In this case, here is a quick review of the top 4 DIY projects for those of you planning to sell soon. Although some seem obvious, trust me, not ALL sellers do them. There are a few more on my list for ViP Sellers but these give you a good start at the process. Source: houselogic.com via Paul on Pinterest

Is Canada headed for a US Style Subprime Mortgage Crisis? Hell NO!!

                    To the couple who read the newspaper in 2009 and decide to not buy that condo in the Distillery.                 Call up the newspaper and demand your $300k that you lost due to some hyped up story about the market.                   Let ...

How do buyers find a luxury home in Toronto?

Let's say you are moving to Toronto soon and can afford to buy a home that is $2 million or $5 million or $10+ million dollars? How does it actually start? Its often starts with a buyer (or his proxy) looking into areas or streets of interest. This is where PROPERTY ADDRESS MARKETING (PAM) comes into play. If you were to type the address of many of Toronto's best luxury homes, you will likely ...

Toronto Real Estate Feb 2012 at a glance

My first go at summarizing a 26 page market report for Toronto Real Estate into a 1 page infograph. Whaddya think? Please share if you LIKE it!

Competition Bureau Threatens to Dismantle Privacy Safeguards of Home Sales 75% of Ontarians Opposed

Not every news release is one you should read. This is one you SHOULD read!! Today, the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) released the results of an Angus Reid Vision Critical poll. The vast majority of Ontarians clearly expressed their opposition to abandoning the privacy safeguards of the current MLS® System. When asked about the consequences of the Competition Bureau’s actions, Ontarians ...

Start March the right way & sign up for the NEW Toronto Real Estate Guide Daily E-news

With over 3300 now following my Toronto Real Estate Adventures, its fair to say that YOU guys like deciding what is news and what is NOT. After a great week away with my family on a roadtrip to Disney, its time to share some of the best ideas of 2012. The email newsletters most realtors send include topics THEY feel are important. I dont think this is the way to go in 2012. The reason I have ...

Yes, we monitor rentals too :)

Over the last decade, I have kept as close an eye on the rental market as I do on the buying and selling market. It's actually, dare I say, a better indicator than most of what is really going on. If you simply consider that if someone isnt buying then they are likely renting...it gives a good idea of what is happening in the investor market. With some quoting vacancy rates at approx 1% for some ...

PUBLIC ALERTS/OPEN HOUSE THEFTS/ MORTGAGE FRAUD UPDATES (Updated Jan 2012)

There is a very good reason I'd rather do PROACTIVE loft/condo or house tours vs public open houses. Although some realtors claim they have sold a home at an open house, the point is...there is a better way. To date, there have been almost a dozen occurances of theft, scam artists, harrassment etc posted on our member site. Having handled many of these individuals in the past, it helps to have someone ...

And now for my 2012 Predictions

"I posted this on my Facebook page and due to the good reviews...I decided to share it here...hope you enjoy"-P And now my 2012 gift to all of you who put up with my sometimes boring updates OR work stuff. Here are my 2012 predictions. Enjoy & share if you wish 1) People will wait in lines overnight for iPads shaped like Air Jordans. 2) The newspaper WILL report 3 major recessions & 3 major ...

The 2012 edition of "50,000 Air Miles Challenge to help Easter Seals starts soon...are you up for it?"

"The only way to find the limits of the possible is by going beyond them to the impossible"- Arthur C. Clarke 2012 marks my 3rd year of setting a goal that some consider impossible. To give out 50,000 Air Miles (1000 per buyer or seller I help) in one year and when I reach that goal, to send 5 Easter Seals kids to camp. Like any huge effort, I am still trying to reach this massive goal. As you ...

$15,000 in Scholarships available from TREB realtors

This story is one ALL parents will appreciate:   November 29, 2011 -- TREB’s Past President’s Scholarship Program, now in its sixth year, has expanded to offer two additional scholarships. Two $5,000.00 first-place scholarships and two $2,500 second-place scholarships will be awarded on behalf of REALTORS® to four graduating high school seniors going on to pursue post-secondary ...

Occupy Toronto....another approach to this movement

The picture above is of how I view St. James Park in St. Lawrence Market area of Toronto. A beautiful, shared space in the city that my downtown condo owners truly love & visitors worldwide think highly of. For over a decade, my buyers have all shared some of the anger that is being expressed by protestors that have been occupying the park for much of the last few months of 2011. Why should ...

Your Help Is Critical: Toronto Land Transfer Tax Repeal Final Push.

This message applies to ALL of you who may be buying your 2nd home in the years to come.   Based on an average of $400k, this extra tax can cost you approx $4000 more to buy a new home.   Remember you CANNOT complain later if you did nothing about it now!!     September 7, 2011 -- Homebuyers Still Being Targeted! Your help is needed NOW to help ensure that Toronto City ...

Hot off the presses....Federal EcoEnergy Retrofit Program Renewed

July 13, 2011 -- The federal government has renewed the ecoEnergy Retrofit – Homes Program, which provides grants of up to $5,000 to eligible homeowners to make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes. Details The renewed program is effective from June 6, 2011 until March 31, 2012.  Homeowners who participated in the previous version of the program before April 1, 2011, and who did ...

Need a reason to NEVER believe a bank OR newspaper real estate article again?

There is no doubt that all of you are following the battle we are involved with of keeping our well established real estate system doing its best. Surely, no good has happened in the U.S. from allowing organized real estate to become a free for all approach. My beef today is the ability of the banks and newspapers to announce unfounded "opinion" pieces in a tone that makes buyers think twice. Well.....buyers ...

Getting married? Start with a success plan.

You have found the perfect partner. You decide it's time to take the plunge and get married. Congratulations and the best decision you can ever make. Having a partner in life can be a very key part of being successful. One seminar I went to years before I married mentioned "finding the right partner for your life & business is truly the key to success". I have every reason to believe this ...

City opens Sarah and Morris Feldman Sensory Garden and Accessible Water Playground in Earl Bales Park

This is SUCH great news for parents of children with learning disabilities that need a specialized play area.

My 4 letter word solution to the U.S. housing crisis...

Yes, Obama...this one's for you. And the four letter is word is.....CMHC (U.S Division). We should gift the idea of creating a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for the U.S. That's right. Seeing as sharing is such a common part of our everyday life, maybe we should let our struggling neighbours to the south borrow our conservative approach until they get back on their feet. No more NINJA ...

Find the Perfect Space

This is the ideal way to start your search for the perfect space....

Introducing the Showcase Lofts. Coming to Leslieville.

Introducing the Showcase Lofts ViP Site. NOTE: You MUST not be registered with the builder to receive my Group Buying ViP incentives. PLUS when you register with me once, I can register you for 100s of projects if you wish.