Corso Italia

Across Canada, Canadians are familiar with Corso Italia.  Its fame hit a high when Italy won the 1982 World Cup and in excess of 500,000 people celebrated on St Clair Avenue.  Its fervour for all things Italy comes naturally, as it is the first home for the largest influx of Italian immigrants to Canada around the turn of the 20^th century.

Corso Italia, also known by many Canadians as Toronto’s “Little Italy, is home to the first licensed outdoor cafe in Toronto – La Sem Pattiserie Cafe – licensed in 1963.  That first cafe can claim to be the grandfather of the myriad outdoor cafes that flourish during Canadian summers in every major town and city in every province, and the grandpa of the numerous “Little Italy” retail/restaurant collections in other Canadian centres.

While Italian still is spoken by many residents on the street, Portuguese people make up 26% of the population, with strong representation by Turks, African and  South American (Brazil) nationalities.  Like the original British and Scottish (and, then, Jewish business) settlers in the area, many Italian families, as they prospered, moved out of the area into more trendy, upscale communities.

Contrary to popular wisdom, the mobility of the ethnic populations, the varied mix, and the more modestly priced homes have not resulted in pockets of crime.  The area, indeed, boasts one of the lowest crime rates in the city, and is an inviting place day or night. Particularly during World Cup, Portugal, Italy and Brazil fans intermingle in a friendly rivalry that is uncommon in many soccer stadiums around the world.

In spite of being an eclectic mix of nationalities today, Corso Italia remains the “centre of the Canadian universe” for celebrating Italian culture, during its annual Fiesta street party.

No celebration of Italian (or any) culture would be complete without savouring ethnic foods.  There is no shortage of great Italian restaurants in the area (Big Ragu, Marcello’s, La Paloma’s Getali, Tre-Mar Bakery, Novocento), as well as a fine mix of Portuguese, Brazilian, Mexican & Vietnamese food outlets.

Corso Italia has developed a solid reputation as the place to find European fashions, unique food products, and innovative clothiers, housewares & unique retailers.

Transportation, education  & housing stock are positives for the area.

The St Clair streetcar project is set to open, both to the dismay and joy of proponents and opponents of the initiative.

Older homes in Regal Heights mingle with more modest two- and two-and-one-half detached homes.  Many are early 1900s homes, with brick fronts, verandas and bay windows.  Owners have commonly undertaken interior renovations, leaving the exterior character intact.

While Clinton Public School may celebrate its 125^th birthday in 2013, it is far from old in outlook and attitude.  In 2009, it received the Gold status in Eco-school Certification, offering a litterless lunch, recycling program, revitalized yard with newly planted trees and an outdoor classroom.  Notable alumni include Leo Timmins and hockey player, Connor Byrne.  Other local  schools include Dewsen Street Junior Public School and Harbord Collegiate Institute.

Corso Italia may be recognized Canada –wide, but locals know it, more intimately, as a welcoming and diverse community.

 

Davenport

Davenport is aptly named: an old, well-worn community, the area has adapted to fit the people, like a well-worn and comfortable sofa. Many of the features of homes in the neighbourhood are a throw-back to earlier days, with the homes themselves a collection of modest single-family homes(detached & semi-detached), as well as bungalows .Many are solid brick structures built in the 1950s.

Backyard gardens often replace lawns, while “cantinas,” or root cellars grace the sub-levels of the homes.  Older homes mix with the new condominiums such as Electric City and Brownstones on the Park

Davenport’s history easily pre-dates the arrival of British Isles settlers in 1906.  Indeed, its history pre-dates Davenport Road, which was a trail used by First Nations people for hundreds of years.  The trail, in fact, follows the coastline of old Lake Iroquois.

Ironically, the Davenport name originates with local officer, Major Davenport, and is French for “the town on the trickling stream.” In 1861, the Northern Railway line opened, and a station was built.  In 1889, Carleton, West Toronto & Davenport merged to form West Toronto. In 1909, West Toronto was annexed to Toronto.

While First Nations, then French fur traders, followed by British labourers can lay claim to starting the community, the Italian community has flourished to the north, followed by an influx of Portuguese residents.  As factories closed in the 1970s and 1980s, new townhomes have sprung up, slowly fading out the industrial elements of the area.

Largely, however, the area still is recognized as the cultural and business centre of the Italian community.  Yet, West Indian, Portuguese, Greek, Mexican and East Indian families have added to the cultural flavour of the area.

On the south side of Davenport Road, convenience-type stores offer shopping alternatives, within walking distance, for locals.  The Galleria Mall, a variety of restaurants and grocery store round out local shopping experiences.

Significant draws for the area include beautiful parks (Earlscourt Park, Hillcrest Park & Melita Park), good public transportation, recreation facilities (Wallace Emerson Community Centre), and proximity to downtown Toronto.

As a tribute and link to Davenport’s history as a link along the old transportation trail, Davenport Road, one of the five original tollgates set uyp along this route has been restored, and, in 2008, opened to the public.  The Tollkeeper’s Cottage, built around 1830, can be found along Davenport Road at Bathurst Street.

Schools in the area include Earlscourt Junior, General Mercer Jr., Hughes Jr., Oakwood Collegiate Institute, Pope Paul and Richard W. Scott Catholic schools.  Far removed from the labourer origins of the old Davenport Village, these schools boast alumni that include Jully Black, Kardinal Offishall, Ivan Reitman and Bob Ezrin – all well known in the arts and entertainment fields.

Brockton Village

Like many of the villages and small communities that have their origins in the early- and mid 1800s, Brockton Village was named after a well-known Loyalist  commander. The dispute, however, is whether it was named after Sir Isaac Brock or Captain James Brock, his first cousin.  The land, however, was owned by James Fitzgibbon’s widow, Lucy, and John Dunn just prior to being subdivided into village lots in 1860.  Colonels Dundas, Givens and O’Hara also held considerable land in the area. In 1884, it was annexed by the City of Toronto.

While land owners of some fame lend their names to the history of such communities, it is the influx of new residents that provide its flavour and character.  Brockton Village’s flavour derives from the early Portuguese, then Brazilian, and, today, even Vietnamese residents. Its earliest settlers, though, were Irish immigrants, arriving during the great potato famine of Ireland in the 1840s.

The old village town hall, erected in 1882, was converted, at the request of the village council at amalgamation by Toronto, to a fire hall, police headquarters, public hall and free library.  It still stands, converted to commercial use.

Today, home buyers can choose from a diverse array of housing.  A large number of the homes have older, brick exteriors, wrought iron railings and font porches.  These houses date back to 1880-1920.  Many served time as rooming houses, before finding their way back to individual homes. With narrow homes and lots, the houses rub shoulders with each other.  However, newer developments offer more contemporary looks.

Schools in the area include Brock Jr., Kent Sr., Shirley St. Jr., or City View Alternative School Sr.

Brockton Village residents choose from a wide variety of shopping experiences, and are close by many malls and different retail and restaurant options. High Park (a 399-acre park well-known in Ontario) is within easy walking distance.  The lakeshore is comfortably close, where a beach, outdoor pool, waterfront trail, and home of the Canadian National Exhibition beckon. The Ricoh Coliseum, Direct Energy Centre, Medieval Times Dinner Theatre, and other unique entertainment experiences are close at hand, as well.

Because of its key location, residents are moments away from downtown Toronto, and have easy access to Lakeshore Boulevard and the Gardiner Expressway.  Excellent bus and streetcar access is also available.

While Brockton Village lacks the local fame of other nearby communities, like Roncesvalles Village, or the distinctive cultural identity of Corso Italia, it provides a very welcoming, eclectic mix of experiences for residents that is helping to drive its reputation as an affordable, attractive community in which to live.

 

7 tips for successful real estate investing

Many people think being a landlord and investing in real estate is a way to make easy money. It can be financially rewarding if you do your homework and reduce your risks. But easy, it isn’t and it can lead to financial ruin if not done properly.

Moneyville columnist Alison Griffiths wrote about her adventure as a landlord

earlier this year. It’s a humorous look at what can go wrong and the lessons learned, but anybody thinking about an investment property might want to read: Why did I think being a landlord was easy money?

The trick is to end up with money in your pocket at the end of the month after paying your bills and collecting the rent as you slowly pay down the mortgage

and end up with a nest egg. Here are some tips:

• Research the area where you’d like to buy. Is it in decline or on the way up? A good indication is if chains like Wal-Mart, Tim Hortons and Home Depot are moving in. These companies do a lot of work on demographics and income before deciding where to locate. You can get a big picture look at vacancy rates at settlement.org, a federally funded site that helps immigrants with information and resources to settle in Canada.

• Use a real estate agent who also is an area investor. Ask them to show you their properties and the rents. Ask for the names of other investors they have helped. Call them. Make sure they have a team of professionals you can use, such as property managers, insurance advisers, mortgage brokers, home inspectors, accountants and lawyers.

• Once you own more than four rental units, find a reliable property manager. You don’t want to take a call in the middle of the night. A rule of thumb is that you should allocate up to 10 per cent of monthly rent to a property manager. They will make sure your building is properly maintained and can help find tenants.

• Do not be in a hurry to rent a vacant unit. Take your time to qualify any potential tenant, since it can take months to evict a problem tenant. Call all tenant references, ask for a current pay stub and speak to at least two prior landlords. Where possible, require the tenant to pay for utilities. The tenant will have to apply to the utility company for an account, which amounts to an extra credit check being done by the utility company.

• Be careful with basement apartments and homes rented to students. Although these units can provide additional income, you must make sure that they are legal, comply with the fire code and have any required licenses to operate.

• Buy and hold your property for the long term. This way, you have an income and slowly start to pay down your mortgage.

• If you are investing with others, have a partnership agreement. Problems may occur later if the friendship breaks down, especially if one partner loses their job and cannot pay their share of expenses, or if one partner wants to sell while the other does not. With a partnership agreement, you can provide what will happen in these situations in advance, without having to pay costly legal fees to figure it out later.

Investing in real estate is not easy. But by taking the proper precautions, it can be very rewarding.

 

Mark Weisleder  is a lawyer, author and speaker to the real estate industry.

5 more ways to avoid buying the wrong house

Here are five more things to keep in mind.

1.  Understand bidding war rules

The main reason you overpay is panic while you are caught up in a bidding war.  In advance, find out first what the house should sell for.  Many sellers deliberately list for a price below market to attract a lot of buyers. Do not tip your hand. If you give your offer too early in the day, the seller’s agent will call everyone to try and encourage a bidding war.  Bring in your offer around 7pm and make the irrevocable period no more than four hours.  Put the pressure on the seller, not on yourself.

2.  Ask the seller hard questions

Ask the seller or the seller agent if they know about any problems with the house, things like basement flooding, mould or roof leaks, even if the leaks have been repaired.  Then ask if they know about the neighbourhood that would have an impact on your purchase.  Tell them you are relying on this information.  Watch how they answer. Most sellers will refuse to sign property disclosure statements, but they are required to respond truthfully to these questions if you ask them directly.  If the seller refuses to answer or acts suspiciously, then you need to discuss this with your home inspector and your real estate agent and either adjust your purchase or walk away.

3.  Basement apartments must be legal

If the home contains a basement apartment and the income is important to you, make sure that it complies with zoning and the fire code bi-laws.  If it doesn’t, then all it takes is one complaint from a neighbour and you may be forced to spend thousands of dollars to make it comply after you buy.

4.  Check about your insurance premium early

Find an insurance agent right away and if possible, check what it will cost to obtain insurance a soon as you sign your agreement and before you waive any conditions.  An insurance agent can check the history of claims in the neighbourhood and can let you know claims for sewage back-ups or vandalism. This is important information that any buyer should have before deciding to waive there conditions and complete the deal.

5.  Look into after sale warranty protection

More companies are entering this market, where for a fee of up to $500 per year, buyers can obtain after sale warranty protection on their furnace, air conditioning, electrical and plumbing systems as well as on all major appliances.  This is needed since no seller will warrant these items after closing. Check out the deductibles and what may be excluded from coverage under these polices, as they are all different, yet they can provide peace of mind and only one number to call when you have a problem later.

If you follow these simple steps and buy with your head instead of your heart, chances are you’ll get the house you want at a price you can afford, with no unwanted surprises later.

Mark Weisleder is a lawyer, author and speaker to the real estate industy

Six ways to make sure you buy the right house

A year ago I wrote the most common mistake home buyers make is buying with their heart instead of their head — usually because they panic while involved in a stressful negotiation for which they are unprepared.

The result is that buyers pay more than they should, or are disappointed later when they find defects in the home or discover the neighbourhood isn’t quite what they thought.

So, here’s an updated list of six ways to prepare yourself:

1. Sell or buy first?

We are still in a seller’s market in the GTA, with the number of buyers exceeding the number of available homes. In this type of market, you should buy your new home first and then sell your existing home. If you sell first, you may find yourself running out of time, with no home to move into, as the closing date nears. This leads to panic buying.

In a buyer’s market, sell your home first as you won’t have as much trouble finding a new one.

2. Research, research, research

Check police websites for neighbourhood crime statistics. Ask at City Hall if new developments are planned or whether a new large employer is relocating to the area. Jobs mean demand.

Walk any neighbourhood you are interested in and talk to people. You will learn the demographics of the area and its facilities. What schools are in the area and is there a waiting list to get in? Are there activities nearby for children, including parks, libraries and community centres? You also get a sense of the friendliness of the community and whether there are surprises that no one is going to advertise — vandalism, former grow houses, or the neighbour from hell.

3. Find the right agent

Do not go into an open house alone, thinking you can save commission. The agent is working for the seller and their job is to get the seller the most money possible. While focusing on saving a few dollars negotiating commission, you will invariably give away important information about yourself, which will hurt you later.

Start by asking family and friends for a buyer agent referral. Then study the agent’s own website. Do they offer information that will assist you with your search? Do they have a team of professionals they can share with you? When you interview them, ask them about their knowledge of the area; in particular, is it known for sewage backups, termites, flooding or mould. Ask for their own success rate when working with buyers, especially in bidding wars, and then call those buyers yourself.

4. How much can you afford?

You should never live just to pay your mortgage, or else the rest of your life will suffer. Meet with a mortgage broker in advance to determine how much you can safely borrow, based on your income and family needs. Buyers should also realize the lender will do an appraisal and if the lender believes you paid more than the house is worth, they will not give you the full amount of the loan you expect. So, be very careful about stretching yourself to the limit when you make an offer.

5. Choose a home inspector carefully

The home inspection is becoming even more important, as it is one of the only ways for a buyer to check against unwanted surprises after closing.

Ask for references and call these references yourself, especially the ones who bought older homes, where problems are more likely to occur later. There are now additional inspections that test specifically for mould or termites. There are video cameras that can tell you the condition of your sewage system and scanners that can look behind walls. If it is an older home, it is worth this extra investment.

Remember, most inspection firms have a limitation of liability clause, which states that if they miss something that costs you money, they are not responsible. Ask the company if they have ever been sued by a buyer.

6. Title insurance is a mustTitle insurance can be arranged through your lawyer. You will be protected against unpaid taxes or water bills by the seller, as well as problems that are not known at closing. This includes problems where part of the home or swimming pool is in fact on your neighbour’s property.

However, it is a mistake to believe title insurance will protect you against everything. For example, it won’t compensate you if you thought your lot was 50 feet and a later survey showed it was only 48 feet. That is why you should always ask for an up-to-date survey on the property.

Mark Weisleder is a lawyer, author and speaker to the real estate industry. Contact Mark at mark@markweisleder.com

 

CURB APPEAL

Toronto Neighborhood Focus – Seaton Village

Seaton Village bears John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton’s name. Lord Seaton was Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1828-1836.

Like many of the local communities in the Annex area of Toronto, Seaton Village was an unincorporated village until being annexed in 1888. Also in common with many of the villages, the land on which the community was built was grant land provided to Loyalist officers.

Seaton Village’s land owners were Colonel David Shank & Captain Samuel Smith, of the Queen’s Rangers. They sold their properties to George Crookshank, Many of the other land patentees were also friends and relatives of Lieutenant Governor John Simcoe.

Many of Seaton Village’s houses are 1990s vintage Victorian style semi-detached homes. Many have solid brick construction or brick facades. Even many of the trees planted at the time that the houses were built are still standing, a visual front line of defence against the encroachment of more urban and modern styles.

On Clinton Street, visitors will find one of the more whimsical homes in the area. Its exterior is almost completely covered by circular disks cut from billiard cues.

The area is popular with university students looking for affordable houses in which to live during the school year (U of T is close by). However, it also is a popular family-oriented area, due to its smaller, less expensive homes. Vermont Park, near the centre of Seaton Village, offers a variety of recreational programs through the St. Alban’s Boys’ and Girls’ Club.

Schools such as Palmerston Avenue Junior Public School (K-6), Essex Junior & Senior Public School (K-8), Harbord Collegiate Institute (9-12), Central Technical School (9-12, with specialty courses), Western Technical Commercial School (9-12), and Central Commerce Institute (9-12) have produced many notable alumni, and offer quality public education for every interest & skill.

On the southern border of the area is Koreatown, with its assortment of Korean restaurants, food stores and gift shops.

The Seaton Village Residents’ Association (SVRA) is a not-for-profit community organization open to all residents of Seaton Village, located in Toronto, Canada.  The purpose of the Association is to improve living conditions in the Seaton Village Area and to promote and express the interests of the area residents through municipal representation.

Although the Koreatown shopping district is at its southern border, it is sometimes referred to as the “West Annex”. The Bloor Street shopping area, in contrast, bustles with contemporary cafes, nightclubs and restaurants.

Along Bathurst Street, small cafes and businesses geared to the locals provide a more intimate feel, while the area also boasts the presence of a large national grocery chain.

The origins of the community’s name may be somewhat confusing, but there is no confusion as to the value of history mixed with contemporary living in this area.

Toronto Neighborhood Focus – Earlscourt

The musical, Oliver, portrayed a life lived to the fullest by the residents of the mean streets of old London. This fictitious portrayal of the spirit of the poor of England played itself out, in many ways, in the village of Earlscourt, now a community of Toronto, during the earliest part of the 20th century.

A collection of tar paper shacks, housing the poor British and Scottish labourers in the local factories, were the temporary homes of these immigrants, while they saved to build a proper brick home.

Houses in the area mostly were built between 1910, after Toronto annexed the village, and 1960. However, a few of the older homes still stand as a testament to the hardy, persevering nature of the early settlers. In the 1960s, a significant influx of Italian immigrants contributed other unique elements to the community.

Homes of these hard-working new residents almost inevitably had a cold cellar, and lawns gave way to backyard gardens. Following the arrival of the Italian population, arrivals from Portugal, then Greece, West Indies, India & Mexico contributed to the diversity of the area.

Like the fictitious characters in Oliver, Earlscourt residents know how to celebrate. BrazilFest, held each July in Earlscourt Park, is Canada’s largest Brazilian cultural event. Dusk Dances is another unique event held in Earlscourt, where contemporary and traditional dance is presented in local parks.

Since the influx of the Italian community in the 1960s, Earlscourt has become their cultural and business centre. Corso Italia Shopping Area is the hub of this commercial experience, and has been the filming site of many Hollywood movies. St Clair Gardens, Davenport and Dupont , as well as the nearby Galleria Mall round out the retail & restaurant offerings.

36-acre Earlscourt Park forms the recreation centre of the area, with tennis courts, indoor & outdoor pools, indoor soccer, and a host of other recreation amenities. Yet, there are numerous other parks and playgrounds and wading pools interspersed in Earlscourt.

Ask anyone on Earlscourt for directions, and they will be unable to say, “You can’t get there from here.” Close to downtown, Earlscourt is moments away from the Allen Expressway, next door to a variety of bus routes, and a short bus ride away from three subway stations, or the GO train at Bloor Street.


The numerous schools (7 elementary public schools, 5 Catholic and one public high school), De la Salle College, George Brown College,
St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, and Ryerson University) nearby mean that the area is sure to produce some exceptional alumni. Hon. Madam Justice Silberman Abella (Supreme Court of Canada judge), Hon. Elinor Caplan (former federal cabinet minister) and Vincent del Buono (awarded Nigeria’s top medal of honour) are just a few.

Earlscourt is a storied community that continues to show that life in the area offers a wealth of opportunity, excitement and entertainment.


Toronto Neighborhood Focus – Davenport

Davenport is aptly named: an old, well-worn community, the area has adapted to fit the people, like a well-worn and comfortable sofa. Many of the features of homes in the neighbourhood are a throw-back to earlier days, with the homes themselves a collection of modest single-family homes(detached & semi-detached), as well as bungalows. Many are solid brick structures built in the 1950s.

Backyard gardens often replace lawns, while “cantinas,” or root cellars grace the sub-levels of the homes. Older homes mix with the new condominiums such as Electric City and Brownstones on the Park.

Davenport’s history easily pre-dates the arrival of British Isles settlers in 1906. Indeed, its history pre-dates Davenport Road, which was a trail used by First Nations people for hundreds of years. The trail, in fact, follows the coastline of old Lake Iroquois.

Ironically, the Davenport name originates with local officer, Major Davenport, and is French for “the town on the trickling stream.” In 1861, the Northern Railway line opened, and a station was built. In 1889, Carleton, West Toronto & Davenport merged to form West Toronto. In 1909, West Toronto was annexed to Toronto.

While First Nations, then French fur traders, followed by British labourers can lay claim to starting the community, the Italian community has flourished to the north, followed by an influx of Portuguese residents. As factories closed in the 1970s and 1980s, new townhomes have sprung up, slowly fading out the industrial elements of the area.

Largely, however, the area still is recognized as the cultural and business centre of the Italian community. Yet, West Indian, Portuguese, Greek, Mexican and East Indian families have added to the cultural flavour of the area.

On the south side of Davenport Road, convenience-type stores offer shopping alternatives, within walking distance, for locals. The Galleria Mall, a variety of restaurants and grocery store round out local shopping experiences.

Significant draws for the area include beautiful parks (Earlscourt Park, Hillcrest Park & Melita Park), good public transportation, recreation facilities (Wallace Emerson Community Centre), and proximity to downtown Toronto.

As a tribute and link to Davenport’s history as a link along the old transportation trail, Davenport Road, one of the five original tollgates set uyp along this route has been restored, and, in 2008, opened to the public. The Tollkeeper’s Cottage, built around 1830, can be found along Davenport Road at Bathurst Street.

Schools in the area include Earlscourt Junior, General Mercer Jr., Hughes Jr., Oakwood Collegiate Institute, Pope Paul and Richard W. Scott Catholic schools.

Far removed from the labourer origins of the old Davenport Village, these schools boast alumni that include Jully Black, Kardinal Offishall, Ivan Reitman and Bob Ezrin – all well known in the arts and entertainment fields.

Davenport may arouse images of an outdated old couch that has outlived its usefulness, but there is nothing that should be discarded about Davenport Village!