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I
n each newsletter, our objective is to give you as much valuable real estate information as possible. In this April edition, we have shared with you the latest Toronto Real Estate Boards Statistics, (click here) and a video to watch (click here), to understand what is currently happening in the real estate industry. Consumer spending, population and immigration growth are all contributing to the economic recovery across the GTA. But, the commercial market remains a key factor in helping gauge when we’ll be on track to a full recovery. When looking at the current state of office and retail spaces, it’s clear that recovery will happen once lockdowns lift and widespread vaccination spark a permanent return back to workplaces for many employees. What we learned from the previous lockdowns, is despite them, life has to continue. There are new immigrants coming to the GTA, both international and from different parts of Canada. They need commercial space to rent as well as properties to buy. We believe the condo market will once again boom when immigration continues to build again. Many condo owners left the city for detached properties in the burbs, bringing a boom to many suburban areas where multiple offers became the norm with the shortage of available listings. That’s why real estate has been deemed an essential business. We have invested heavily in technology to enable our team to continue helping you, while at the same time following the provincial guidelines and keeping all of us safe. We can still list homes, still do virtual tours, show buyers properties and we can even sign offers and close transactions all virtually and safely! If you are considering buying or selling, please reach out to our team. Real estate may seem like a simple business, but really it’s not. We provide professional guidance to buyers and sellers by protecting their interests. We are here to support one of the largest complex financial transactions you will make in your lifetime. Best regards,
Theresa Baird - Broker The Realty Group 647-298-0997
Theresa Baird Broker
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CON TEN T S
22 26
6 14 6 14 17 18
AP RIL ISSUE - 2021
7 TIPS TO CREATE YOUR WHOLE HOUSE PALETTE Creating a whole house colour palette
7 EARLY PARKINSON’S DISEASE SYMPTOMS How to detect eary symptoms that are often overlooked
UNDERSTANDING INVESTMENT PROPERTIES What to look for when thinking of real estate investments
BREAK FREE FROM WINTER’S ICY GRIP Bonita Springs in Florida
22 26 29 30
CUL-DE-SAC LOCATION MEANS NO TRAFFIC 856 Chippenham Drive in Mississauga
9 PERENNIALS TO PLANT IN YOUR GARDEN THIS SPRING Start your spring planting with these beauties
ANDRE’S TIP OF THE MONTH Understanding the rules and regulations for mortgages
SPICED LAMB AND DILL YOGURT PASTA Delicious spring dish
Inspired living room by Future/David Lovatti
s p i 7TOTCREATE YOUR C
WHOLE HOUSE PALETTE
reating a whole house colour palette, before painting a single wall, was the best thing I ever did for my home.
After six years of home ownership, I was sick of the constant trips to the paint store to stare at way too many paint chips agonizing over which one would be best. Choosing wall colours on an as-needed basis caused extra stress and indecisiveness. And, in my last two homes, I never achieved a cohesive look. There was always one or two rooms that seemed disjointed from the rest. In this home, I set out to decide on a colour palette for the entire home upfront. Since then, I have not gone to the paint store in four years to pick out a new colour and I have never second-guessed a colour decision in my home. Because I did the work up front, I know I can use any color from my palette and it will fit right in with the rest of the home. And, no, my home is anything but boring and matchy-matchy. If anything, the restrained palette has opened up my creativity. We use a limited palette throughout our home, but vary how we use the
Modern L- sofe from Chic Home Interiors
If you are ready to end the colour in-decision and create a colour palette that works for your home, just follow the 7 steps below.
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Every home, no matter the size or layout, can benefit from a whole colour scheme. It doesn’t matter if your home is an open floor plan or a series of separate rooms.
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colours from room to room to keep it interesting. For example, dark teal appears on the upper walls in my dining room. I used the same colour differently in my basement family room on the painted media center. The same colour reappears as an accent colour in my master bedroom.
With a whole house colour palette, you will: 1) Create a home with a cohesive look that flows from room to room. 2) Make decisions upfront and never have to think of it again. 3) Feel confident in any wall colour choice you make, because you already know it goes with all the other colours in your home. Every home no matter the size or layout can benefit from a whole house colour scheme. It doesn’t matter if your home is an open floor plan or a series of separate rooms. It seems more obvious to use
coordinated colors in an open floor plan or small space, but even in a home with separate rooms you don’t want to turn the corner and have a jarring effect caused by an out of place colour. Here’s the goal: If someone were to see your home as a series of snapshots, each room a separate picture jumbled up with pictures of other people’s homes, you want them to know all of your rooms are from the same house. You create that connection with colour. If I gave someone a stack of pictures of each room in your home right now, would they know they were all from the same home? If not, read on and learn how to create your cohesive colour palette. There are only 7 steps
in this system, but choosing colours can be confusing and overwhelming. Here are the 7 steps to your whole house colour palette. 1. Understand Your Fixed Elements Before you do anything else, you need to understand the colours you are already stuck with. All of the fixed elements in your home automatically become part of your whole house colour palette. The fixed elements in your home include trim, cabinetry, flooring (wood, carpet, tile), wall tiles, and countertops (stone, laminate, wood). Do not skip this step. It’s the most important. Although most of your fixed elements are probably a neutral colour, even neutrals have colour undertones. To properly choose colours to go with your fixed elements, you need to understand what undertone colours you are working with.
Brown white bedroom from colours plus
Make a list of all your fixed elements. Next to each element, write the undertone. If the person designing your house did a good job, you should see some trends in the undertones. For example, most of the undertones of the fixed elements in my home are warm colours. My dark wood floors have a red undertone. My cinnamon maple cabinetry has a distinctly orange undertone. My white trim has a yellow undertone. Tile throughout our home has a pink undertone. Even the slate on our fireplace has warm undertones. Once you understand the undertones in your fixed elements, you basically have two options for building your whole house colour palette: Option A. Match the undertones. If your undertones are mostly warm colours (red, orange, yellow), choose a wall color pal-
ette of warm colours. If your undertones are mostly cool colours (green, blue, purple), choose a wall color palette of cool colours. Option B. Contrast against the undertones. If your undertones are mostly warm colours, choose a wall colour palette of cool colours to complement the warm undertones. If your undertones are mostly cool colours, choose a wall colour palette of warm colours to complement the cool undertones. I almost always prefer Option B, complementing the undertones, because it provides balance and prevents your home from being too warm or too cold. The rest of the steps show you how to choose wall colours. In Step 2, you will choose a color scheme. The remaining steps are like a choose-your-ownadventure for your colour scheme (monochromatic, analo-
Dark green rustic living room by Dulux
gous, or complementary). 2. Choose a Colour Scheme Popular advice suggests you choose your colour scheme based on some sort of inspiration. All too often, I think people either waste time looking for inspiration or use an inspiration image as a crutch. You may choose an inspiration you appreciate, but don’t love. You may not understand the colour theory behind your inspiration, which makes it impossible to add more colours to your palette. You get locked into your inspiration. I want to help you choose a palette that is best for your home. I want you to understand the basic colour theory behind your chosen colour scheme. I want you to know how to add colours to extend your palette. In my experience, it is better to start with the overall feeling you want for your home and what your favorite colour is. Your desired feeling and favorite colour will lead you
to the right colour scheme. Once you know which colour scheme is best, you can look for inspiration in nature, interiors, fashion, and fabrics to help you round out your palette. There are many colour schemes to choose from, but some practically require a Ph.D. in colour theory. To keep it simple, focus on one of these three colour schemes: Monochromatic Use one hue for your entire colour palette in different shades, tints and tones. This colour scheme is great if you only like one particular colour. It is also great for the colour-shy because using the same hue lessens the contrast in the space and reads more like a neutral space. If you are matching the undertones of your fixed elements, your starting color (in Step 4) should be on the same side of the colour wheel as your
dominant undertones. If you are complimenting the undertones of your fixed elements, your starting colour (in Step 4) should be on the opposite side of the colour wheel as your dominant undertones. Analogous Also sometimes called harmonious, this colour scheme uses colours adjacent, or next to each other on the color wheel. For example, blue, green, yellow or purple, red, orange. This colour scheme is very livable and generally feels relaxing and calm. If you are matching the undertones of your fixed elements, your starting color (in Step 4) will match your dominant undertone and then you will build your palette with colors next to it on the color wheel. For example, if your undertone is red, then the analogous colors would be purple, red, orange or red, orange, yellow or blue, purple, red.
If you are complimenting the undertones of your fixed elements, your starting colour (in Step 4) will be a colour opposite your dominant colour undertone on the colour wheel, then choose colours next to it to build the rest of your palette. For example, if your undertone is red, then start with green and use the analogous colours, like yellow and blue. Complementary Complementary colours are directly opposite each other on the colour wheel. For example, blue and orange, yellow and purple, red and green. This type of colour scheme is not for the colour-shy. It is a more energetic and lively colour scheme because it is all about contrast. If you are matching the undertones of your fixed elements, start with a monochromatic or analogous colour to your dominant undertone in step 4. If you are complementing the undertones of your fixed elements, then start with a complementary colour to your dominant undertone in steps 4. 3. Choose Your Neutrals Neutrals are an important part of any color palette. In this step, you need to choose a white and a dominant neutral colour. Choose a White Choose a white with the same undertone as your fixed elements or a complimentary undertone. This is a personal preference. I recommend testing samples of several whites. They all look white in the paint store, but on the wall next to each other, you will see the difference in the undertones. The white you choose here will be the default white colour used for trim, cabinetry, furniture, and ceilings. For example, my under-
tones are warm, so I chose a white that has a slight yellow undertone, making it a warm white. This is the colour of our trim and doors throughout our home. Choose a Neutral Choose a default neutral. This will be your go-to neutral colour to use in all the connected areas of your home, like open spaces, hallways, and lofts. It is also great for closets and bathrooms. You have three choices with your default neutral. Option A. A warm neutral is anything from warm white (yellow or pink undertone) to beige to brown. A warm neutral will coordinate with warm undertones, like red, orange, or yellow. A warm neutral will complement cool undertones, like blue, green, or purple. Option B. Cool neutrals are anything from a cool white (blue or green undertone) to gray to black. A cool neutral will coordinate with cool undertones, like blue, green, or purple. A cool neutral will complement warm undertones, like red, orange, and yellow. Option C. Greige colors were created for the indecisive. Greige is a mix of grey and beige. It is basically like a chameleon and can go well with warm or cool colours. I think griege works extremely well for complementary wall colour palettes. Since I prefer complementing undertones to create balance, the dominant neutral in my home is Driftwood Grey, which has a blue undertone. The blue undertone of my neutral complements the orange and red undertones of my cabinetry and flooring. Because my fixed elements have warm undertones, I can get away with cool wall
colours without ever worrying about my space feeling cold. 4. Choose One Bold Colour Bold is relative here, but this colour will be the boldest in your entire colour palette, meaning it will either be the darkest or most saturated colour. What color should you choose? A version of your favorite color, which either matches or complements the undertone of your fixed elements (based on your answers from Step 1 and Step 2). Your favorite colour is probably the only one you won’t tire of and the one you are most comfortable risk-taking with because you love it. My favorite color is turquoise, but I wanted to go even bolder. So, the boldest colour in my palette is Plumage, a very dark, saturated teal. Your bold colour might be a lot lighter and less saturated than mine, but it will be the boldest in your palette. If you are colour-shy, start with colours that act as neutrals. In the Sherwin Williams paint deck, they call these Fundamentally Neutrals. You know how blue jeans go with everything? It’s because they read as neutral. The Fundamentally Neutrals are the blue jeans of paint colour.
blue for your second colour. My wall colour palette is analogous. Since my bold colour is dark teal (which is a green), I chose a dark blue, called Azurite, for my second colour. It is the wall colour in our guest room, the accent wall colour in my studio, and the accent colour for the mural in our pirate-themed playroom. My second colour also happens to be bold, because I am not colour-shy. The intensity of the colours you choose for your palette is up to you. 6. Choose an Accent Colour This colour will be used sparingly in your home or used to create a dramatic impact. Either choose a colour using the guidelines below for your colour scheme or choose a neutral that contrasts with your default. If you are creating a monochromatic palette, then choose a tint (lighter version) or a shade (dark version) of your bold colour for this step. If you are creating an analogous wall colour palette, then choose either a tint of your second colour or an analogous colour on the colour wheel. For example, if your bold colour was purple and your second colour was blue, your third colour could either be a lighter shade of blue or it could be a green, which is next to blue on the colour wheel. If you are creating a complementary colour palette, then your accent colour should be a complementary colour (opposite on the colour wheel) to either your bold colour or your second colour. For example, if your bold colour is blue and your second colour is green, your complementary accent could be orange or red (the respective complements of blue and green). In my home, we chose a charcoal gray called Zinc as our accent colour. It is a dark charcoal gray, which contrasts with the lighter blue/gray of our default neutral. We use it on the walls in our living room and our office. It also appears on some of our larger upholstered furniture. We used this dark gray to make our 2 story living room feel cozier. 7. How to Extend Your Colour Palette The steps above result in a 5 colour palette. A good rule of thumb for a cohesive colour palette is to use no more than 5 distinct colours
5. Choose a Friend for Your Bold Colour The second colour you choose should be the best friend of your bold colour. If you are creating a monochromatic or complementary wall colour palette, then choose a tint (lighter version) of your bold colour for this step. If you are creating an analogous wall colour palette, then choose a colour next to your bold colour on the colour wheel. For example, if your bold colour is purple, then you would choose a red or
Living room photo from itl.cat
Bedroom photo from apppie.org
throughout your home. In this case, a white, a neutral, and 3 colours. But, that doesn’t mean you are limited to only 5 paint colours in your home. Here are two ways to extend your palette and stick within the 5 distinct colour rule: Choose more colours that are a shade (darker) or tint (lighter) version of your chosen colours. Choose colours that match an undertone in one of your neutrals and fit within your overall colour scheme. My whole house colour palette only has 5 distinct colours; white, blue/gray, dark gray, blue,
“ If you are colour-shy, start with colours that act as neutrals. In the Sherwin Williams paint deck they call these Fundamentally Neutrals.” and green. But, our actual paint palette has over 10 colours, because we have a few shades and tints of blue, green and gray. The dark gray we use in our living room, office and master bedroom, was the inspiration for the wall colour in my son’s room. The dark gray colour, called Zinc, has a green undertone. So we chose a green, called Schoolhouse Slate for my son’s room. With our overall blue and green analogous colour scheme, it
fits right in. I know that was intense. But, I promise if you work through this process once you will never have to think about your wall colours again. You can start living your life outside the hardware store paint aisle. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Written by Jackie on May 13, 2014 and published on www.schoolofdecorating.com.
Images from various website and are listed on each image.
7
EARLY PARKINSON’S DISEASE SYMPTOMS
E
arly Parkinson’s disease symptoms can be hard to spot, so visit your doctor if you’re experiencing several of these often-overlooked signs.
This neurodegenerative disease can start with small signs, and then get progressively worse, eventually causing trouble with movement, rigidity, stiffness, and other symptoms. One of
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According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, an estimated 84,000 Canadians aged 40 or older have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease...
About 70 per cent of people with the disease experience a resting tremor, and it can become more noticeable during stress or excitement. A resting tremor occurs even when a person isn’t moving; it might be a slight shake in your finger, thumb, hand, chin, lip, or lips when your body is at rest and your muscles are relaxed.
the most well-known signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are tremors or shaking.
These tremors are one of the most common symptoms and often tip people off to the disease, but when Parkinson’s patients think back, they some-
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What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease? According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, an estimated 84,000 Canadians aged 40 or older have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a disorder that most often occurs after age 50, and is more likely to affect men than women.
times realize they experienced other symptoms of the disease before the tremors began. Here are the ones you should know. Changed handwriting If your handwriting starts to go from big and loopy to small and cramped, this could be one of the earliest Parkinson’s disease symptoms. “Teachers with Parkinson’s will notice students complaining that they can’t read their handwriting when they write on the blackboard,” says Deborah Hall, MD, a neurologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Look for letters getting smaller and words crowding together. Many people have slower movement and trouble with repetitive tasks, like handwriting. Reduced sense of smell If you’re having trouble smelling pungent foods or can no longer pick up your favourite scents,
it could have many causes. It’s not the most common symptom of Parkinson’s, but Dr. Hall says patients who suffer a loss of smell
sometimes report it as being the earliest sign they experienced. The link between reduced sense of smell and Parkinson’s isn’t clear, but one theory is that the clumps of the protein alpha-synuclein, found in the brains of all Parkinson’s patients, may form in the part of the brain responsible for smell before migrating to other areas and affecting motor function. Trouble sleeping If you were once a peaceful sleeper, but now toss and turn, flail your limbs, or even fall out of bed, those sleep problems could be Parkinson’s disease symptoms. It’s normal to have an occasional restless night, but talk to your doctor if you or your partner notices extra movement when you’re in a deep sleep, or if you start sleep-talking. More research is needed to discover why disturbed sleep and Parkinson’s are related, but one theory is that the degeneration of specific regions of the brain stem that can cause disordered sleeping may play a role in other
Parkinson’s disease symptoms, according to the National Parkinson’s Foundation.
“Parkinson’s is characterized as a movement disorder because of a lack of dopamine in the brain, but there are also low levels of other neurotransmitters like serotonin, which are intimately related to depression,” he says.
Constipation If you’re not moving your bowels every day, or are increasingly straining, you’re not alone - constipation is a very common problem and usually has a benign cause (e.g., not enough exercise, dehydration, you need more fibre.) But in rare cases, this can be an early sign of Parkinson’s. The disease alters the body’s autonomic nervous system, which controls processes like digestion and bowel function. Constipation on its own isn’t unusual, but if you’re experiencing other symptoms like difficulty sleeping and trouble moving or walking, talk to your doctor.
Parkinson’s patients who are depressed tend to feel apathetic and generally disinterested in things they used to enjoy, compared to feeling intensely sad or helpless, as is common in primary depression. “They lose pleasure in the simple things of life, like waking up in the morning and buying the paper,” says Dr. Tagliati. Treatment for depression includes counseling, antidepressant medication, and in the most extreme cases, electric shock therapy.
Depression Sometimes patients can develop depression after learning they have Parkinson’s, but it’s also common for people to be depressed years before they start to exhibit physical symptoms, says Michele Tagliati, MD, director of the Movement Disorders Program at CedarsSinai Medical Center in California.
Stiffness and Slowed Movements Watch for an abnormal stiffness in your joints along with muscle weakness that doesn’t go away and makes everyday tasks like walking, teeth brushing, buttoning shirts, or cutting food difficult. If you no longer swing your arms when walking, your feet feel “stuck to the floor” (causing you to hesitate before taking a
step), or people comment that you look stiff when you haven’t been injured, the National Parkinson Foundation suggests seeing a doctor. Article written by Alyssa Jung and updated on March 15th, 2021 on www.readersdigenst.ca Photos are from the article as well.
Understanding
INVESTMENT PROPERTIES LOCATION
What to know if you’re thinking of buying an investment property of your own.
INSURANCE
The neighborhood should positively impact your home’s value and attract tenants or tourists. Make sure the property can generate enough rent income to comfortably cover your mortgage, plus property taxes, repairs and HOA fees.
Rental property insurance or landlord insurance covers property damage, lost rental income and protects against liability. Separate insurance exists to protect your vacation rental.
DOWN PAYMENT
Investment properties require a higher down payment if they’re not owner-occupied. The law says 20% minimum, but it doesn’t hurt to put down 30% if possible.
VACATION RENTAL
LONG-TERM RENTAL
PROS
PROS
• More upfront ROI • Flexible pricing • Personal use
• Consistent income • Easier to manage • Tenant-paid utilities
CONS
CONS
• Require more management • Inconsistent occupancy • Local laws vary
• Longer commitment • Takes time to find the right tenant
Using AirBnB or VRBO to rent your investment home? Vacation rental regulations vary by city and province. Get familiar with your local laws before listing on any site.
© 2020 Buffini & Company. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. RMMK APRIL C
FINDING TENANTS Run a credit check Verify income Do a background check Require renters insurance Request references Consider a property manager to find and work with tenants.
BEAUTIFUL FLORIDA HOME BEATS CANADIAN WINTER Look no further! This could be the perfect home for you if you are ready to escape next winter yourself or just own an investment location in paradise. This home features a single car garage, spacious great
room floor plan, granite countertops, an eat-in kitchen, upscale crown molding throughout, 3 bedrooms, a large den and 2 full bathrooms. Peaceful lake and clubhouse view from your lanai which is perfect for
entertaining. Bonita Beach is just a short drive away, you can’t ask for more! Pack your golf clubs and swim suit, that’s all you will need. Visit our website or call us today for more information.
BREAK FREE FROM
WINTER’S ICY GRIP Bonita Springs Florida
Fantastic golf club and so much more
Feel like some golf Vasari Country Club offers bundled golf membership with ownership in addition to many amenities such as bocci, tennis, fitness centre, golf clinics and a beautifully newly renovated club house for dining. The clubhouse is walking distance to this home which over looks the 18 tee and the clubhouse.
CUL-DE-SAC LOCATION MEANS
NO TRAFFIC 856 Chippenham Drive Mississauga
PICTURE YOURSELVES IN THIS BEAUTIFUL HOME Once you come in this home you won’t want to leave it but when you do there is the convenience of being able to hop onto the QEW with ease. This home is located at the end of a cul-desac and that means no traffic so you can easily spend time with your neighbours while the kids play together. Large open windows allow you to enjoy light
in every room with ease. Open floor plan main level allows you to be able to connect with your family from any room. The living room and dining room are conveniently located off the entryway featuring crown moulding and gleaming hardwood floors. Flowing into the sunfilled kitchen that is a cook’s dream with plenty of pantry space for all
your storage needs. This kitchen features quartz counters, subway tile backsplash and under-mounted lighting and let’s not forget the stainless steel side-by-side refrigerator, stainless steel stove, built-in dishwasher and microwave. Be able to work in the kitchen and enjoy the entertainment in the family room.
ENJOY NATURE FROM THE OUTDOOR PATIO
The upper level feature three beautiful bedrooms and two bathrooms. The master bedroom allows you peace and tranquility with a large window, gleaming light coloured hardwood floors, a built-in Pax Closet and a 4 piece ensuite bathroom featuring a great standup shower. The lower-level is fully finished with gorgeous grey laminate flooring and features above-grade larger windows.
9
PERENN TO PLAN IN YOUR GARDEN THIS SPRING
NIALS NT R N
G
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erennials, like roses and peonies, are the investment pieces of the plant kingdom, but that doesn’t mean they don’t require plenty of care. To ensure your garden blooms beautifully year after year, consult these need-to-know, flower-specific tips from Sarah Nixon of My Luscious Backyard - and get inspired by these ten gorgeous perennials varieties you can plant in your own yard this spring. Roses Roses bloom well in most Canadian climates, but specific varieties thrive better in certain locations. Be sure to ask an expert at your local nursery which strain will work best for you. Also be sure to watch for rust (an orange fungus) and blackspot (a disease that causes black splotches on leaves), both of which have a fondness for roses. Peonies Plant these delicate blooms in full sun at the correct depth; Nixon suggests one to two inches below soil level. With proper care, peonies should flower for decades. Irises Divide and plant irises between late July and late August to ready them for the following year. These flowers bloom in spring and last through early summer. Hydrangeas These bulbous beauties come in many different colours - pink, purple, blue and chartreuse, to name a few. Come fall, chartreuse hydrangeas will begin to fade to white. To preserve their colour through the winter, cut off any lingering blooms in the fall and bring them inside to dry.
Dahlias Dahlias will thrive year over year in most parts of Canada provided their tubers are dug up and stored indoors in the winter. To extend their blooming season, start growing dahlia tubers indoors around April, and plant them outside when the weather and soil warms up (around May). Day lilies Day lilies are an easy flower to grow - hey, beginners! - and tolerate most soil conditions. Bonus: They produce lots of beautiful bright flowers Foxgloves Foxglove seedlings can be planted right after purchase, or grown indoors starting in early spring. They should hit peak-bloom in late summer and begin flowering again the following spring. Purple coneflowers Purple coneflowers are easy to grow, even in poor soil conditions. And if you want your garden teeming with butterflies and bees, plant these! Lupines Some varieties of lupines thrive better as annuals, so check with your nursery before purchasing seedlings intended for a perennial garden. Lupines also favour cool summers, and seeds should be chipped or soaked before planting. Article and photos by Chatelaine updated on April 16th, 2020 on www.chatelaine.com
Andre’s
TIP OF THE MONTH
Advise from Andre Persaud Mortgage Agent, Lic. #M14000772 SAFEBRIDGE Financial Group Broker License #10524
A
s you may have been seeing in the media, OSFI (Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions) is looking at ways to slow the real estate market, and one of their proposals that they have thrown out there is to increase the Qualifying rate from 4.79% to 5.25% for UN-INSURABLE (non-CMHC insured mortgages) for purchases and refinances.
Why? And What Does This Mean? As you will see, all that the regulators are trying to do, is bring the uninsurable mortgages in line with the Insurable mortgages from a qualification standpoint as clients putting less than 20% down can take a max amortization of 25 years, and clients putting 20% or more down can go as high as 30 years. (4.79% at a 25yr amortization more or less works out to 5.25% at a 30 amortization). See below…. Here is what we determined. Currently, if you look at a 4.79%
and 25 year amortization, on a $100k income, with Property Tax of $4,800/year, the client would qualify for a mortgage of $482k. Currently, if you look at a 4.79% and 30 year amortization, on a $100k income, with Property Tax of $4,800/year, the client would qualify for a mortgage of $527k (roughly 10% more than a high ratio mortgage because of the 30 years). If they increase the qualifying rate to 5.25% on non-insurable mortgages and a 30 yr amortization, on a $100k income, with property tax of $4,800/year, the client would qualify for a mortgage of $500k…. only a 5% drop from what they qualify for today…and pretty darn close to the $482k insurable numbers. They are just trying to bring the conventional/non-insurable qualification in line with insurable. However, if I took this same client to a credit union to avoid the stress test, and paid an interest rate premium of 0.50%, the client would qualify for a 5 year at roughly 2.39% (Meridian at the moment). Using this contract rate and 30 years, the max mortgage is $706k….big difference for a small bump in rate. Absolutely nothing to worry about, but the media will make it seem like it is the end of the world. Spin it positively and simply tell your clients, that we still have many solutions. Another reason to use a mortgage broker! As always, I’m always here for you.
SPICED
LAMB AND DILL YOGURT PASTA
Y
By Sohla El-Waylly on www.bonappetit.com on April 2, 2020 Photos by Emma Fishman. Food styling by Pearl Jonesu
ou’ll find all the flavors of Middle Eastern shish barak (tiny lamb and pine nut) dumplings here, but made simpler and brighter with help from dried pasta and plenty of fresh dill. Yogurt makes this pasta creamy and comforting without feeling too rich. It is inspired by the Middle Eastern dish shish barak, tiny dumplings filled with lamb and pine nuts in a tangy yogurt sauce. You’ll find all those flavors here but made simpler and brighter with help from dried pasta and plenty of fresh dill.
NGREDIENTS 4-6 SERVINGS 3 large egg yolks 2 cups kefir (cultured milk) or wholemilk plain yogurt 3 cups (lightly packed) dill fronds with tender stems (about 1 large bunch), divided
½ cup pine nuts or slivered almonds ½ cup dried currants or raisins 1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more 1 Tbsp. ground cumin 1½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 lb. ground lamb
3 garlic cloves, divided
1 lb. orecchiette
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
½ lemon
P
REPARATION
Step 1 Combine egg yolks, yogurt, and 1½ cups dill in a blender; finely grate in 1 garlic clove and blend until smooth. Set purée aside. Finely chop remaining dill; set aside. Step 2 Melt butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Add pine nuts and cook, stirring often, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add dried currants and cook, stirring often, until plump, about 1 minute. Scrape nut mixture into a small bowl; season with salt. Step 3 Wipe out skillet and heat over medium-high. Stir together cumin, pepper, and 1 tsp. salt in a small bowl. Place lamb in pan and use a sturdy spatula to aggressively flatten (like you’re making smash burgers); sprinkle spice mixture over. Cook, undisturbed, until lamb is well browned and crisp underneath, about 4 minutes. Hold back meat and drain off all of the fat. Break up meat into small pieces and mix in reserved nut mixture. Finely grate in remaining 2 garlic cloves and add reserved chopped dill. Cook, stirring, until herbs are wilted, about 1 minute. Set aside until pasta is ready. Step 4 Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until 1 minute shy of al dente (pasta will finish cooking in the sauce). Drain pasta and return to pot. Step 5 Pour reserved purée over pasta and set over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens enough to cling to pasta and just comes to a simmer, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; finely grate zest from lemon half over pasta, then squeeze in juice. Season with salt. Step 6 Divide pasta among bowls and top with lamb mixture. Enjoy
SOLD
Our Client Say It Best...
Thank you “The TB Realty Group” for totally taking over and assisting in the preparation of our condo at “The Regatta” to go on the open market. With us living out of the country, we were so pleased that you took control of having our home painted, coordinated and chose all new lighting, totally staging our place and then selling it for us. We couldn’t have selected a better team to work with and we were thrilled with the results you got for us. We will happily refer you to all our friends. - Christine amd David
Theresa and “The TB Realty Group”, thank you for selling my condo in Toronto not only so quickly but for the best price for a unit my size. With all the building obstacles that you faced, we found a way to get around them and make it all work out so quickly. I would be pleased to share your name with all my family and friends looking to buy, sell or invest in the future. - Jessica Wow Theresa, I was blown away that exactly what you described would happen with the sale of my mothers condo was exactly what actually happened. You even fought for more money than I expected to get. I am so pleased that you and “The TB Realty Group” made my mothers home look so good and we that we had a fast sale. Thank you so much ladies for doing such a great job. - Susan
Hi Theresa and “The TB Realty Group”, Now that we have received the deposit cheque and I guess it’s official, thank you both and your team for the excellent work and advice which ultimately resulted in a very positive conclusion in a short time. We appreciate the time and effort, quality of material and professionalism throughout the process and look forward to working with you on the next phase…finding a house. Theresa, thanks for being engaged even though you were on your holiday and 6,000km away. “The TB Realty Group”, managing a multi offer situation can be tricky and you executed perfectly! Thank you. - Dante
THINKING OF BUYING OR SELLING THIS YEAR? GIVE US A CALL, AND WE’LL HELP YOU GET STARTED ON YOUR JOURNEY! REALTY GROUP
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HOMES SOLD BY
REALTY GROUP
Here are some of the homes we sold or helped our clients buy in 2020. We would love to earn the honour of having a photo of your home here too. Are you ready to list, buy or invest in your next home? Call us today to get started!