This is an interesting article on the carrying costs of residential condominiums. The underlying message is that carrying costs including realty taxes, maintenance fees and debt service are now higher for investors as property value and interest rate increases are rising faster than rental … [Read more...]
King Street Pilot Data Seemingly Contradicts Complaints From Business Owners
Toronto officials say data from debit- and credit-card machines show total consumer spending inside the city's King streetcar-priority zone is in line with the rest of the city – even though some King Street restaurateurs complain the pilot project is killing their … [Read more...]
Evaluating Creditworthiness
In the many strip malls nationwide, owners might deal with one supermarket or big box store - a rated tenant - and dozens of smaller businesses that are non-rated tenants. Although nonrated tenants such as restaurants, nail salons, boutiques, and office tenants may be creditworthy, no … [Read more...]
Real Estate Asset Protection
Ownership of real estate has many benefits from an investment and tax standpoint. There is downside risk, however, since the value of real estate holdings may be significant and can be used to cover damages awarded in a lawsuit. Therefore, it’s important to consider asset protection … [Read more...]
5 reasons to love the Bloor W bike lane project
On Wednesday, May 4th, City Council voted to install a pilot bike lane on Bloor St W, between Shaw St. and Avenue Rd. The lanes have now been in place for a couple of months. The pilot will be monitored for 1 year. Top 5 reasons to build bike lanes on Bloor St even if you don't ride a bike: … [Read more...]
Cloud based Property Management solutions for do-it-yourself owners.
Why Use Property Management cloud based solutions? As a property owner, you know the name of the game is organization. You have to manage lease applications, rent payments, maintenance requests and listings of vacancies, among other things. Whether you’re using a pen-and-paper manual … [Read more...]
How are Realty Taxes calculated fo mixed-use buildings in Toronto?
This update is from the City of Toronto Website. 2016 Property Tax Rates Your final 2016 property taxes consist of a City levy, education levy and transit expansion levy. Residential Properties The City levy has been calculated by multiplying your property's 2016 phased-in … [Read more...]
Ontario Gets Failing Grade for Commercial Property Taxes
Nov 24, 2015 The Globe and Mail reports that the C.D. Howe Institute has handed out report cards on Canada’s business property taxes – and Ontario gets a failing grade. The Toronto-based think tank’s third annual business-tax-burden report gave Canada’s biggest province “Fs” for both the … [Read more...]
Artscape – Making Housing More Affordable for Artists on Queen W.
Sept. 24, 2015 One of the ugly truths about gentrification is that those that start the process of urban renewal are eventually displaced as the neighbourhood becomes pricier. This is certainly the case for the artists who were located in the live/work loft buildings in the area known as the Queen … [Read more...]
Bathurst Street – Built Form and Land Use Study.
June 10, 2014 The City has been working with stakeholders to come up with a plan to amend the zoning on Bathurst Street to allow for, in some cases, higher density and mixed uses. The street has been divided up in to 8 different areas that the city feels have unique characteristics. Different … [Read more...]
