Living in the Junction: Get to Know a West Side Neighbourhood

October 25, 2018October 30, 2018

Curious about living in the Junction? Learn what makes the area so special in our neighbourhood guide…

There’s been whole a lot of buzz surrounding the Junction in recent years, and it’s no wonder. This quaint west side neighbourhood boasts heritage homes, mature trees, and a thriving strip of hip local businesses along Dundas Street West. We love the area for its strong sense of community—not to mention its funky village feel. If you’re considering a move to the Junction, here’s what you need to know.

The Basics of Living in the Junction

Not to be confused with the nearby Junction Triangle, the Junction is bordered by St Clair West, Annette Street, Runnymede Road, and the CNR railway line. This charming enclave is a great place for families, and the local schools—which include Indian Road Crescent School, Saint Rita Catholic School, and Lucy McCormick Senior School—are part of the reason for that.

While they don’t sit smack dab in the middle of the city, Junction residents have everything they need within arm’s reach. No matter where you are in the neighbourhood, you’re just a short jaunt away from the local No Frills grocery store and the Sweet Potato (a large shop specializing in healthy, organic, and eco-friendly products). Along St. Clair, you’ll also find the Stock Yards Village shopping mall—home to some of North America’s most popular retailers.

Who lives in the Junction

The Junction offers a bit of something for everybody, which is why it attracts a diverse mix of homeowners and renters. In particular, you’ll find many creative professionals in the area, as well as young families who are starting to put down roots.

Where to eat & shop

Living in the Junction means being a stone’s throw away from some of the hottest restaurants, cafes, and shops in the city.

If you love upscale Italian food, check out Nodo. The Dundas Street eatery does pizza and pasta perfectly, and its elegant-yet-laid-back atmosphere makes it a great spot for special occasions and weeknight dinners alike. If you delight in pairing savoury dishes with the perfect wine, Bricco Kitchen and Wine Bar is your local go-to (the spring pea risotto is perfection). Seafood fans will also feel right home in the Junction, thanks to Honest Weight—a cozy little restaurant with a fish counter.

Crema serves up exquisitely-crafted coffee beverages, while the Hole in the Wall is the best local spot for a pint and a plate of (creative) comfort food.

You’ll also find no shortage of charming shops in the Junction. Some of our favourites include Coal Miner’s Daughter for funky women’s clothing, Red Canoe for ultra-comfortable men’s and women’s outdoor apparel, and Type Books for local and international literature. We also love the Beau and Bauble (which features whimsical trinkets for women and girls) and its brother store Beau Men’s (where you’ll find stationary, books, gadgets, and more).

Things to Do

Living in the Junction means you’ll never get bored. One of the biggest draws of the neighbourhood is its proximity to High Park. If you enjoy the great outdoors, you’ll love this 400 acres of greenspace—which features a zoo, a museum, and some of the most beautiful hiking trails in Toronto. We get especially excited when cherry blossom season approaches!

From spring to fall, we suggest checking out the Junction Farmers Market for fresh, sustainable local foods. And if you’re part of a family of bookworms, the Annette Street Library has a great selection of literature for readers of all ages.

Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for seasonal celebrations. Our favourites include the Holiday Market (a great place to support community vendors before Christmas) and the Junction’s Summer Solstice Festival (which features live music, art, and entertainment for the whole family).

Getting Around

The Junction is well served by transit, with major bus routes running along St. Clair West, Jane Street, and Dundas. Both the 40 and 312 buses stop at Dundas West Station (which connects to the subway on the Bloor-Danforth line). The 312 also stops at St. Clair Station (which connects to the Yonge-University line).

Real Estate

There’s a great mix of architectural styles in the Junction, including a variety of heritage homes that were built in the early 20th century. You’ll find an abundance of gorgeous Victorian, Edwardian, and Tudor homes in the area, along with a growing number of modern condos, if you are looking to downsize. Average prices for detached homes sit around the $1 million mark, while condo typically fall between $500,000 and $700,000.

Thinking of making the Junction home? We know the neighbourhood inside and out. Send us a message and we can discuss what you’re looking for!

URBAN HERO: Stuart Sankey helps young curlers reach the next level

October 22, 2018

NEWS OCT 18, 2018 BY JUSTIN SKINNER TORONTO.COM

Stuart Sankey has long harboured a love for the sport of curling and once came a win away from making the Ontario championship. Now with a successful real estate career, he’s devoting time and money to help youngsters reach the pinnacle of the game.

Rather than simply sponsoring teams, however, Sankey has gone above and beyond the call of duty, setting up tournaments across the GTA to help teams get the experience and exposure to the top competition they need to take their game to the next level.

“A lot of people were calling and asking me to sponsor their teams, but you can only do so much there,” he said. “I came up with the idea for a foundation that young teams can apply to so they can be eligible for tournaments.”

Sankey noted that Toronto never had an Olympic-qualifying event — surprising, given the sport’s booming popularity nationwide and the number of rinks, clubs and teams in Canada’s biggest city.

To counter that, he started up a number of tournaments, including the Stu Sells Junior Tankard for teams under 21 years of age and the Stu Sells Toronto Tankard. Aspiring teams can win a spot at those tankards and compete against some of the nation’s best curlers.

“They get to play against (Olympic gold medallist and world champion) Brad Gushue, (five-time world champion) Glenn Howard — names like that,” Sankey said. “It’s a different level of competition than what they would normally face.”

He also holds mixed-doubles tankards, tankards in Oakville and Halifax, and an under-18 event to spread the love of curling among youngsters.

“I took curling back in high school and I loved it,” he said. “It can be hard to get money (for tournaments) when you’re a young team, so I want to help these young people get experience and get better at the sport.”

Ideally, some day young teams at the Stu Sells Toronto Tankard will be able to say they faced off against world champions who improved their own curling game thanks to the good works of Stuart Sankey.

Toronto housing market sees a shift to mid rise development

October 22, 2018

There’s a subtle shift under way in the Greater Toronto Area’s presale condominium market in 2018: As developers are launching fewer towering projects designed to woo investors, they are finding there’s still a strong market for people looking to pay a little more money for a larger, family-friendly unit in neighbourhoods outside the downtown core.

In 2017, developers set records for launching projects and units: 105 projects comprising 32,813 units were presold, compared with 2016’s 81 projects with 16,732 units, according to data collected by Urbanation Inc. The vast majority were high-rise projects that typically feature higher volumes of low-cost studio and one-bedroom apartments. Those are the kind of units investors looking for a piece of the market have traditionally snapped up, oftentimes renting their condo or looking to flip it on the equity appreciation. But there has been a slowdown in the number of projects wooing that buyer.

Continue to read: Globe & Mail

Tips for Downsizing: How to Live Smaller

October 10, 2018October 12, 2018

Need tips for downsizing? Here are our top five tips so you can start living smaller…

Are you thinking of moving into a smaller home? If so, you’re not alone. Toronto is full of empty nesters, budget-conscious professionals, and couples looking to combine two households into one. While there are many motivations for downsizing, there’s one thing that almost every home hunter who goes through the process discovers. Scaling down can get disorganized—quickly.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to simplify the process. To stay sane while transitioning to a smaller space, use our top five tips for downsizing.

1) Embrace the opportunity

Downsizers who have to move for financial reasons don’t always feel optimistic about the change. If you’re less than thrilled about your upcoming transition, try focusing on the positive.

Moving into a smaller space is an opportunity to cut down on clutter and create a more orderly living space. That’s great news, because an organized home can boost your productivity and even improve your mental and physical health.

2) Know your dimensions

Have you ever had to abandon a couch because it wouldn’t fit through the front door of your new home? Trust us: it’s not a fun moving day surprise. That’s why one of our top tips for downsizing is knowing the dimensions of your furniture—and the house or condo you’re moving it into.

Be sure to measure the height, width, and depth of each piece of furniture you’re planning to bring with you. When you measure your new space, record the dimensions of each room along with all doors, hallways, and staircases. Don’t forget to note the diagonal width of these passageways.

For comfort’s sake, you’ll also want to think about furniture spacing. We suggest factoring in more space than you think you’ll need—for example, you should leave about a foot and a half between a coffee table and a sofa.

3) Go on a decluttering spree

For most of us, letting go of stuff (even stuff we no longer use) is hard. To avoid last-minute panic, we suggest creating an attack plan for getting rid of clutter—and giving yourself plenty of time to carry it out.

Create a timeline for all decluttering activities. Include specific tasks, like clearing out the garage or dropping off boxes at your donation centre of choice. As you’re going room-by-room, create categories for your belongings according to what you plan to do with them. There are items you’ll want to sell or give to friends, some you’ll choose to donate, and others that won’t be worth salvaging.

4) Consider having a yard sale

Moving can be expensive, and holding a yard sale is a great way to help cover your costs. The best part? You’ll need to get rid of a lot of stuff as part of the downsizing process anyway. Selling possessions you no longer need will allow you to kill two birds with one stone.

Once you’ve decided which items to sell, there are a few basic rules you should follow to help ensure success. First off, choose the date wisely—bad weather has derailed many a yard sale. Advertising is key, so post bold signs in well-frequented spots around the neighbourhood. Group similar items together, and be sure that all prices are clearly labeled.

5) Look for unexpected storage spaces

You’d be surprised by how much unused space exists in most homes. That’s why one of our favourite downsizing tips is getting creative with storage. That could mean making the most of wall space by adding floating shelves. It could mean fitting more in your closets with vacuum bags or expandable shoe racks. It could also mean finding furniture that has built-in storage. The point is to think small. Familiarize yourself with space-saving design trends and think about how you might implement them in your new home.

Downsizing can be a stressful process, but it doesn’t have to be. Planning ahead will reduce your stress, while an experienced real estate agent can help ensure that the more-compact home you buy meets your needs.

Need more tips for downsizing or planning to move into a smaller space? We have the local market experience to help you find your next dream home. Get in touch—we’d love to learn more about what you’re looking for and discuss next steps!