Review: Barrymore
January 31st, 2011
(Review: Barrymore continued...)
Barrymore
Elgin Theatre (Yonge just north of Queen)
Now through March 9
Lifestyle, Toronto Real Estate News
Art in Shoes – Shoes in Art Exhibition
January 31st, 2011
Photo by Charlyn Wee
Looking for something to do on a chilly February afternoon in Toronto? Don‘t watch a movie at home or take a nap. Even though it may be cold, take a walk around the city, visit a museum or an exhibition! For instance let me suggest to you the “Art in Shoes ~ Shoes in Art” exhibition, currently taking place in the Bata Shoe Museum right here in Toronto!
(Art in Shoes – Shoes in Art Exhibition continued...)Home Prices Declined
January 28th, 2011
Photo by Lara
Home prices in Canada declined for the third consequent month in November, according to the Teranet National Bank Composite House Price Index. After the September fall of 1.1 percent and an October drop of 0.4 percent, the index fell by as much as 0.2 percent in November.
(Home Prices Declined continued...)Consumer Confidence Up
January 27th, 2011
Ferris Wheel by
D. Sharon Pruitt
Here is some positive news! The confidence of Canadians in the economy has increased in January! To be specific, the overall consumer confidence index went up by 2.3 points to 98.4. This is according to the TNS Canada’s survey conducted telephonically between January 10 and 13 on 1,015 respondents.
(Consumer Confidence Up continued...)GTA January Sales
January 26th, 2011
Photo by Raul Esquivel
Each month Greater Toronto Area housing information is released midmonth and here is the update for January. When compared to the first fourteen days of January 2010, there seems to be a slight decline. Generally however, the sales can still be considered quite high, Toronto Real Estate Board President Bill Johnston said.
(GTA January Sales continued...)Leading Economic Index Up
January 25th, 2011
Photo by Elvire R
Canada’s composite of leading economic indicators rose more than expected in December, Statistics Canada reported. The index went up by as much as 0.5 percent from November, with 5 out of the 10 index components increasing last month. No noticeable change was recorded in 3 components and two of them fell.
(Leading Economic Index Up continued...)Curling Club
January 25th, 2011
Photo by James Gonneau
The Leaside Curling Club: this stunning photo of the day was captured “in honour of the Olympics,” as James Gonneau the photographer of this image says.
(Curling Club continued...)No Change of Interest Rates
January 24th, 2011
Photo by Eduardo Otubo
Here’s some interest rate news! Just as expected, the Bank of Canada kept its key overnight lending rate at the level of 1 percent in January. Any future rises of the rate will have to be carefully considered, especially due to the predicted limited pace of recovery in Europe and a strong Canadian dollar, the Bank declared.
(No Change of Interest Rates continued...)Canadian Growth Slower, Reports IMF
January 24th, 2011
Photo by Bruce
The International Monetary Fund has recently updated its World Economic Outlook report! According to the report, the world economy is going to grow 4.4 percent in 2011. This is a 0.2 percent increase if compared to predictions from October. In 2012, the economy is expected to go up by 4.5 percent, no change in the forecast here.
(Canadian Growth Slower, Reports IMF continued...)December Home Sales
January 23rd, 2011
Photo by Gord Webster
Housing activity in the fourth quarter of 2010 was better than expected, Canadian Real Estate Association said in a recent report. Even though there was a drop in existing home sales in the biggest Canadian markets, recorded in December (from November), the sales activity in the country was above its usual December level.
(December Home Sales continued...)Sunnybrook Restaurant
January 23rd, 2011
Photo by Katherine Mossop
What a beautiful photo of the day! Nice shot captured by talented Katherine Mossop in her favourite restaurant situated just inside Leaside neighbourhood.
(Sunnybrook Restaurant continued...)Protect Your Credit During Divorce
January 22nd, 2011
Photo by Darwin Bell
My last long article was dedicated towards newlyweds. This one is partly related to relationships as well, but from a very different point of view. Unfortunately, a very high percentage of marriages end up in divorce. I’m not going to give you ideas on how to avoid divorce, since I’m not a specialist in this field; but I want to offer you a few tips on how to protect your credit during this not so pleasant period of your life.
(Protect Your Credit During Divorce continued...)Affordability Is A Problem
January 22nd, 2011
Photo by Daniel Nascimento
The 2011 Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey has been published. It analyzes 325 urban markets across Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Ireland and New Zealand. The most affordable homes seem to be in Atlanta, while Hong Kong ranked as the least affordable market.
(Affordability Is A Problem continued...)Worsening State of Toronto Neighborhoods
January 21st, 2011
Photo by Colin
The state of Toronto neighborhoods seems to be worsening, a study released by United Way Toronto shows. The number of high-poverty neighborhoods in the city keeps on growing and over the last thirty years, it has actually more than quadrupled.
(Worsening State of Toronto Neighborhoods continued...)Trade Deficit Fell in November
January 20th, 2011
Photo by Flowizm
Here’s some mixed economic news! The seventh subsequent decline of the Canada’s trade deficit was recorded in November, Statistics Canada reported. The deficit quite surprisingly fell to only $81 million. Just for comparison, the 2010 record high trade gap, seen in July, was $2.44 billion. This is certainly a big difference, isn’t it?
(Trade Deficit Fell in November continued...)Leaside Bridge
January 19th, 2011
Photo by Jason Allies
Extraordinary and breathtaking photo of the day captured by the talented Jason Allies in the Leaside neighbourhood.
(Leaside Bridge continued...)Housing Starts: 2009 and 2010
January 18th, 2011
Photo by Mr T
Here are the promised overall 2009 and 2010 housing starts’ comparison details, as released by the Canada Mortgage and Corporation. The number of new housing starts in the country this past year went up by 19.7 percent from 2009, it shows. The total number of homes constructed in 2010 was 182,903, compared to only 149,081 in 2009.
(Housing Starts: 2009 and 2010 continued...)Housing Starts Down in December
January 17th, 2011
Photo by Andrew Borgen
Here is some more December housing news: housing starts in Canada decreased last month, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation announced. Their seasonally adjusted annual rate went down from 198,200 units in November to only 171,500 units in December.
(Housing Starts Down in December continued...)Low November Housing Permits
January 16th, 2011
Construction site by Fuka
November 2010 was not a successful month for building permits in Canada, it seems. As Statistics Canada reported; the permits during the month declined by 11.2 percent to $5.49 billion. Not only that, this is the lowest level since September 2009 and the percentage decrease in November was the largest since February 2009.
(Low November Housing Permits continued...)When Will the BoC Raise the Rates?
January 15th, 2011
Photo by Veronique Debord Lazaro
The Bank of Canada is going to raise the interest rates in the first half of 2011! This is the opinion of the majority of Canada's primary securities dealers, the results of a recent Reuters poll show. It will not happen on January 18, as most of them predict.
(When Will the BoC Raise the Rates? continued...)Mount Pleasant Cemetery
January 15th, 2011
Photo by Daniel Varnus
In the early 19th century, the Mount Pleasant Cemetery was the only authorized cemetery within the city of Toronto. In 2000 the cemetery was designated a National Historic Site of Canada and today it is considered one of Toronto’s tourist attractions. The cemetery forms the north border of the Moore Park Neighbourhood and this extraordinary detail became the inspiration for this photo of the day captured by skillful photographer Daniel Varnus.
(Mount Pleasant Cemetery continued...)Employment Situation Improved
January 14th, 2011
Maple Leaves by Mark Theriault
The end of the year was pretty successful in relation to the employment situation in our country, it seems. As Statistics Canada reported, approximately 22,000 new jobs were created in the last month of 2010 and the unemployment rate remained at the level of 7.6 percent.
(Employment Situation Improved continued...)GTA Housing in December
January 13th, 2011
Photo by Danielle Scott
GTA housing results are finally in from the last month of a turbulent 2010, and hence a brief summary for the whole year have been published! According to Greater Toronto Realtors, 4,395 existing home sales were recorded in December, adding up to a total 86,170 homes sold during 2010.
(GTA Housing in December continued...)In a Neighbourhood Park
January 12th, 2011
Photo by Shahid Sharafuddin
This great photo was captured after a snow storm in a neighbourhood park of Toronto. The photographer of this photo of the day is the talented Shahid Sharafuddin.
(In a Neighbourhood Park continued...)Economy Below Capacity
January 12th, 2011
Photo by Richard Hagen
For some time now, we have been reading reports about how great the Canadian economy is and how well it is doing in comparison with other countries. Interestingly, a recent analysis by economist Jim Stanford from the Canadian Auto Workers claims the opposite of what we have heard over the last few months.
(Economy Below Capacity continued...)Newlyweds Searching for a Home
January 11th, 2011
Photo by Baldur Helgason
the two number ones in 2011 may seem quite magical. And how unforgettable would it be to get married on 11/11/11? I guess there are many couples who agree and will indeed say I DO to each other then. These days many couples move in together before the wedding, but here is some real estate advice for newlyweds, specifically those who are just about to purchase their first home together.
(Newlyweds Searching for a Home continued...)Housing Starts Rose
January 10th, 2011
Photo by Francois
The first housing starts related article I am posting this year is quite positive! According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, housing starts in the Greater Toronto Area went up quite noticeably in November if compared to November 2009, and to the least successful month (regarding starts) of this year, October.
(Housing Starts Rose continued...)David A Balfour Park
January 10th, 2011
Photo by Ned Lyttelton
Breathtaking photo of the day captured by the talented Ned Lyttelton during a walk in a foggy David A Balfour Park located in the Sommerhill neighbourhood.
(David A Balfour Park continued...)Total Recall to Be Shot in Toronto
January 9th, 2011
Total Recall by Jack Quick
Toronto will be the venue for the shooting of another big movie in 2011, according to The Star. The movie, a remake of a famous 1990's movie "Total Recall" with Arnold Schwarzenegger, is supposed to start filming in Pinewood Studios in about two months, sometime in March.
(Total Recall to Be Shot in Toronto continued...)Home Resale Prices Fell
January 8th, 2011
Short Sale by
The Truth About Mortgage
Home resale prices in Canada decreased for the second time in row in October. That is according to the recently published data from the Teranet National Bank composite house price index. It shows that from September, the prices went down by 0.4 percent. However, in comparison to October 2009, prices were still up by 6.02 percent.
(Home Resale Prices Fell continued...)Earnings in Canada Up
January 7th, 2011
Photo by Pfly
Here is some quite positive, employment related news from Canada! According to Statistics Canada, average weekly earnings in non-farm jobs went up by 4.4 percent this October from October 2009. Weekly earnings two months ago were at an average level of $863.33.
(Earnings in Canada Up continued...)Public Art
January 7th, 2011
Photo by Becky Johnson
Neighborhoods in Toronto are hiding different nice details, which ordinary citizen will not notice. Thanks to Becky Johnson, the heedful photographer, we can admire interesting public art made by two artists in collaboration – James Gauvreau and Anna Panchev.
(Public Art continued...)Economy Not At Full Steam
January 6th, 2011
Photo by Shellorz
Canadian Chamber of Commerce has followed a number of other groups and organizations and published its outlook for the Canadian economy! The economy is “chugging along but not at full steam”, the group said, predicting it would grow at an average annual rate of less than 2.5 percent this year.
(Economy Not At Full Steam continued...)Best Christmas Cities for Kids
January 5th, 2011
Photo by Rob Gallop
Christmas 2010 is already over, but here’s some interesting research about the holidays anyway! The Toronto-based Martin Prosperity Institute has created a list of best cities for the kids to wake up on the Christmas morning. Unfortunately, there was only one Canadian city in the top 10 list.
(Best Christmas Cities for Kids continued...)Bios
January 5th, 2011
Kelly Holiff
Kelly Holiff is thrilled to be part of the first Cabaret at the China House, alongside these other gloriously talented folk. She has been working professionally in musicals for 3 years now. Kelly is also an established solo performer who has created and produced her own shows in Toronto. She currently plays the role of Joanne in Rent, and you can catch her as Tracy, in Hairspray this summer.
(Bios continued...)Scotia Economics about Canada
January 4th, 2011
Photo by Ruben Schade
Scotia Economics has released its new Global Real Estate Trends report! And well, it seems to be quite positive about Canada! Its housing market belonged to the best functioning market during this past year, the report states. On the other hand, it was also one of the most volatile markets in 2010.
(Scotia Economics about Canada continued...)Untouched Bench
January 3rd, 2011
Photo by John FitzGerald
Great mood captured in this photo of the day! Thanks to John FitzGerald, the talented photographer, we can almost feel the freezing December evening inside the Forest Hill Neighbourhood.
(Untouched Bench continued...)New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home
January 2nd, 2011
12 Woodlawn Avenue
The year 2010 has gone by, perhaps too fast. Most people make resolutions related to themselves directly, such as: I will stop smoking, and so on. Let’s not forget about our home, though.
(New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home continued...)IMF About Canada
January 1st, 2011
The International Monetary Fund has just released its newest outlook for Canada and its economy! According to the fund, after 2010′s expected growth of approximately 3 percent, our economy is going to grow by 2.3 percent this year.
(IMF About Canada continued...)January 1
January 1st, 2011
Photo by David Pratt
This impressive photo of the day was captured at the New Year’s Day inside The Annex Neighbourhood. Thank you David Pratt for this interesting angle and composition study!
(January 1 continued...)
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