April 2012 Newsletter

Spring is in the air… and the Real Estate Market is in full bloom! This is generally the busiest time of year for real estate, with eager buyers often viewing dozens of properties each week. One of the largest challenges faced by buyers this year is a lack of inventory. Many of the properties that are listed are sold in a matter of days. Competing and losing in bidding wars can be very discouraging for potential purchasers. If you have been considering listing your property for sale, this would be an ideal time! The abundance of buyers, current low mortgage rates, a lack of available real estate in the city and sunny spring days all make for an excellent situation for sellers. Call today to find out what your home is worth!

In April we see a lot of people wearing daffodil pins, which shows their support for those who have been affected by cancer and help find a cure for this terrible disease. Distinctive Women Magazine is presenting a fundraising event to support Sherry Abbott and Facing Cancer Together. They help women who are fighting cancer look their best and boost their confidence during such difficult times. The evening promises to be exciting and will feature cocktails, a silent auction, a fashion show by Images that Suit, door prizes and so much more! Read more about it in the Events section, or for more details visit: DistinctiveWomenMagazine.com.

In a final note, REM (Real Estate Magazine), an informative resource for those in the industry, features an article this month on “How to Keep Your Clients Loyal”. I was interviewed for the article, and it reminded me of how great it is to have worked with so many of my clients on several of their real estate ventures over the past 29 years. You can read the full article below. I love to stay in touch, although sometimes I feel like I need an extra day each week to do so properly. I find this newsletter is a nice way to reach out, but I also enjoy hearing from you. If you have any stories you would like to share about your past experiences selling or buying with me, please feel free to send them in!

Elli Davis
Celebrating 29 Years in Central Toronto Real Estate

April 2012 Newsletter

• Hot Listings!
• Market News: Will Condos Outpace the Low Rise?
• REM: How to Keep Your Clients Loyal
• Market Watch Report: March 2012
• Toronto Events Calendar for April!
• eMbody Fitness: What’s the Hype with Hemp?

Hot Listings!

Central Toronto - Forest Hill
128 Kilbarry Road
Gorgeous "10 years new" family home custom built by Queensgate! Sophisticated design with impeccable detail, fabulous finishes and millwork.

See more

Toronto - Downtown
20 Blue Jays Way #2302
The Element" located in the heart of the city! This distinctive 3 bedroom suite has a unique private terrace, appx 700 square feet, plus a balcony off the master bedroom.

See more

Toronto - Toronto
76 Garnet Avenue
Detached 3 bedroom home in trendy Christie Pits neighbourhood. Renovated, with in-law suite and detached 2 car garage on quiet one way street in Seaton Village!

See more

Thinking of Buying? Thinking of Selling?

Visit our website for the Buyer’s Guide and Seller’s Guide or feel free to
contact me at and I will get right back to you.

Real Estate News

Market News: Will Condos Outpace the Low Rise?
High-rise sales are down. Low-rise sales are up. But do the new-home sales numbers for February mean the end of one market trend and the beginning of another? Lisa Van de Ven of the National Post gives a surprising overview of current housing trends… and how Toronto is predicted to take shape in the coming years.
Read More

REM: How to Keep Your Clients Loyal
Real Estate Magazine, an informative resource for those in the industry, features an article this month on “How to Keep Your Clients Loyal”. I was interviewed for the article, and it reminded me of how great it is to have worked with so many of my clients on several of their real estate ventures over the past 29 years. To work in Real Estate you have to be a “people person”, and I must say it is one of the favourite aspects of what I do each day. Read the article to see what top realtors across Canada say about keeping their clients loyal!
Read More

Market Watch Report: March 2012

Greater Toronto Realtors reported 9,690 sales through the torontoMLS system in March 2012. This result was up by almost eight per cent in comparison to the 8,986 deals reported during the same period in 2011.

The average selling price in the GTA was $501,614 in March – up by 10 per cent in comparison to march 2011.

“The number of new listings was up last month in comparison to March 2011. However, based on the historic relationship between price and listings, the GTA resale market should be better supplied,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

Read the full March 2012 Market Watch Report .

Toronto Events Calendar for April

Fundraising Event: Facing Cancer Together

Distinctive Women Magazine is presenting a fundraising event to support Sherry Abbott and Facing Cancer Together. They help women who are fighting cancer look their best and boost their confidence during such difficult times. The evening promises to be exciting and will feature cocktails, a silent auction, a fashion show by Images that Suit, door prizes and so much more! Wednesday, May 2 at the Weston Golf & Country Club.

The Green Living Show 2012

Toronto’s largest green-oriented consumer show returns for its sixth year. If you want to learn more about the newest solutions for living a sustainable lifestyle, mark your calendar for The Green Living Show 2012. Many innovative products, demonstrations and ideas will be offered at The Direct Energy Centre from April 13 – April 15. If you donate your e-waste, you can enter for FREE. Otherwise, entrance fees range from $6.00 to $15.00 per person.

TIFF Kids International Film Festival

TIFF Kids International Film Festival (formerly Sprockets) runs from Tuesday April 10 – Sunday April 22. This year it marks its 15th anniversary with a lineup of more than 130 exciting films from over 40 countries. To make it more family friendly, organizers decided to split the festival into two separate events. This is the first, for children aged 3–13, and a second one, TIFF Next Wave for youth aged 14 – 18, will be presented May 10–12. Screenings take place at The TIFF Bell Lightbox – Reitman Square.

Riverdance

The internationally–acclaimed celebration of Irish music, song and dance that has touched the hearts of millions around the world for the past 16 years, is now saying goodbye and will be performed in Toronto for the last time! “A phenomenon of historic proportions!” raves The Washington Post. “An explosion of sight and sound that simply takes your breath away,” cheers the Chicago Tribune. “A family evening unlike anything else!” declares The London Times. Don’t miss the last chance to experience the stage spectacular that started it all… Riverdance! April 19 - 21 at The Sony Centre.

eMbody Fitness April Bites

By Debra Basch, RHN
Director of Nutrition &
Certified Personal Trainer

What’s the Hype with Hemp?

What is all the hype over Hemp Hearts (shelled hemp seeds)? It used to be that those of us consuming ground flaxseed on a daily basis were so ultra healthy. Now flaxseeds (whole and ground) are showing up in mainly white flour bagels sold at popular coffee chains. In other words, flax has gone main stream. As a result, the healthy foodies have upped the ante. They are filling their carts with chia, salba and hemp food products. These rich vegan sources of omega-3 fatty acids and fibre are high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.”

Hemp Hearts™ are marketed as the most concentrated and best balanced source of proteins, essential fats and vitamins in Nature. What is also important to note is that these powerful little shelled hemp seeds are void of excess carbohydrates, sugars and saturated fats. These little, white orbs of nutrition are H E A L T H Y !

Who could benefit from a daily dose of 2 to 4 Tablespoons of these “super seeds” blended into a shake, sprinkled on oatmeal, or mixed into Greek yogurt and berries?

1. People interested in preventative health and wellness
2. People with obesity
3. People with chronic constipation
4. Elderly individuals with chronic health problems
5. People with high blood pressure
6. Individuals on carbohydrate-reduced diets
7. Individuals battling high cholesterol
8. People with Celiac Disease
9. People battling depression
10. Pregnant and lactating mothers

Nutrient Profile of Hemp Hearts™ (Chia and Salba are very similar)

A 4 tablespoon serving supplies: 240 calories with a nutrient breakdown that is Oscar-worthy: 15 g of essential fats, 15 g of protein, 4.5 g of carbohydrate, 2.5 g fibre,

• More digestible protein than meat, whole eggs, cheese, cow’s milk or any other high protein food
• Better spectrum of available proteins than soybeans
• Can be eaten by those unable to tolerate nuts, gluten, lactose or sugar; there are no known allergies to hemp foods
• Gluten-free, sugar-free, milk-free, nut-free

It is important to note, that the higher caloric and essential fat content should not be a turn off. Higher concentrations of healthy fat provide satiaty, reduce inflammation which in turn can help prevent disease and aid in weight loss, and assist in creating a much healthier cholesterol profile (hemp seeds are full of plant sterols). All too often, we go for the “cheap”. The low cal, no-fat food only to find we aren’t making any head way in our efforts to achieve our health goals and this creates confusion and discontent. When you finish your current supply of flax, get edgy and try these super seeds and reap the benefits.
 

Recipe: Asian-flavoured Chicken Burgers

Makes 4 servings

1 lb of lean ground chicken
1 egg
3 green onions chopped
2 tbsp green capers, chopped
1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
1 tbsp cornstarch
2 tsp minced gingerroot
3 cloves of garlic minced
Fresh cilantro – chopped (or basil)
¼ cup oatmeal
Freshly ground pepper and salt to taste

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients except for oatmeal; mix gently. Stir in oatmeal
2. Form 4 ½ inch thick patties
3. Grill or broil burgers for 6 minutes or until brown on top. Turn over and cook for another 3 minutes or until no longer pink inside.
4. Serve with Homemade Coleslaw (May Nutrition Bites 2011) and steamed bok choy, kale and or broccoli

Tip: These patties may look small, but the truth is they are a good serving. When “designing” your meal plate, ¼ should be the protein, ¼ the wholegrain carbohydrate and the other half full of vegetables and fruits.