Open House

Come by my open house for some Halloween treats from 2-4pm! 99 Coleman unit 103, a stunning unit that is listed at only $399,900!

Power House of Terror Coverage

Power House of Terror

This morning I was watching Breakfast Television and saw that they were reporting from the Power House of the former Lakeshore Psychiatric Centre. I have heard about this building before as it has a reputation for being haunted. The Power House was created in 1936 by the patients of the Lakeshore Psychiatric Centre and it was shut down in 1979. This building and those around it have been listed as the most haunted sites in Toronto.

This Halloween the Power House has been opened up to raise money for Sick Kids Hospital with 5 terrifying attractions to spook the daylights out of you.

The Asylum - Enter...if you dare...a maze of ultimate madness. Once you enter The Asylum there is no escape. Whatever you do stay together and do not make eye contact if you want to survive!

Shady Acres - If you survive The Asylum, you will enter the realm of the Crypt Keeper ---The Thief of Souls. The Crypt Keeper craves new mortals and awaits your arrival. Allowing you to leave, however, may be a little more difficult.

Terror in the Maze - What! You escaped the realm of the Crypt Keeper? Impressive! You are braver then we thought! The zombie Marsh and corn maze will surely seal your fate.

Terror under the Big Top!!! Enter a dimension where reality as you know it will cease to exist. Afraid of the Dark? You should be!!!

The Last Ride - A Personal, Solo, Extreme Experience involving all the senses. Ever been in a real coffin before? Experience a simulated burial and get buried alive! This ride allows you to lie in a REAL coffin and feel what it would be like to be buried alive. If you’re claustrophobic, now is time to test your bravery.

For some reason I am intrigued by these attractions at the same time I am not sure I could handle it. I remember my first time at Screemers years ago I was walking through one of the haunted houses and the characters freaked me out so bad I fell to the floor in fear. It took me a good 3 mintues before I got up and that was after the girl finally stopped freaking me out and told me I was o.k. Looking back now I can laugh but at the time I was petrified, so I have mixed feelings about checking this out. Although I know a few of my friends would just love this. If this is something that interests you please check out their website at http://www.charityhaunt.ca/

For more information about the asylum please check out this website. http://www.asylumbythelake.com/

The Toronto Maple Leafs

You know winter is on its way when hockey season kicks off again. The Leafs are back playing again, meaning that people will once again have their get togethers to watch hockey, especially on Saturday nights for "Hockey Night in Canada". No matter where I am on Saturday night, I always seem to manage a way to watch the Leafs game or at least see how they are doing. With a great start to the season there is a lot of buzz around the city about this newly built team and it seems as though people around the city are glued to their TV sets in anticipation that this year may be the Stanley Cup year.

Last week my husband and I took our dog down to see the newly built Maple Leaf Square down by the Air Canada Centre. MLSE has developed the area into a "meeting place" with a team store, sports bar and a 50 x 80 foot HD outdoor screen that shows every Leafs (and Raptors) game. On a warm spring evening, it's easy to imagine a couple of thousand fans watching the game there. Although a chilly October Thursday night didn't attract many people, it was easy to see the potential Maple Leaf Square has. In the winter, Real Sports Bar at Maple Leaf Square is a great place to watch a game, with North America's largest indoor tv. What makes watching the Leafs fun is when there is lots of other Leafs fans to watch with.

If you aren't able to get tickets to a game which is always very difficult but a great experience if you ever have a chance to go, a few other great places I recommend to watch the game that are conveniently located close to the ACC are Hoops Sports Bar and Grill, the Loose Moose and Wayne Gretzky's. Hoops Bar and Grill has a 140 screens and every booth has a personal screen to catch all the action. The Loose Moose always has a great atmosphere to watch the game and great food. As for Wayne's Gretzky's who wouldn't want to watch the game from the Great One's very own restaurant. One of the best ever place I have ever been to, to watch the game was WEGZ Stadium bar. Although it is located all the way in Vaughn it is the closest thing to being at the game. It is a great place to bring the whole family with the wide variety of entertainment they offer!

This season has started off great and one can only hope it will continue into the playoffs. Let's keep the excitement going GO LEAFS GO!

A walk in Withrow Park

This Saturday I took Bailey for a walk to the popular Withrow park to check out the local farmers market. I have been busy this summer and just haven't had a chance to go and as things are now slowing down I thought it would be nice to see what they had. Every Saturday from May 22 to October 31st Withrow park is a host to a farmers market. This weekly event arose from neighbourhood members appalled over the declining control over the food we eat and the need to create more opportunities for farmers and local food entrepreneurs. All the food at the farmers market is certified organic or ecologically sustaining produce. The market was filled with not only fresh fruits and vegetables but also an assortment of home baked breads and fresh baked goods. There was even a great stand with organic, gluten-free and vegan desserts!

There are also activities that take place at the farmers market each week. Next week on October 23rd you can come and Carve your own Pumpkin. Then on October 30th to end off this year's farmers market there is a Halloween Dress Rehersal and Spooky Crafts. The lovely Anne Prior another local resident will also have a photo booth set up to take photos of you with your family with your costumes on. In addition, there will also be a ghost rivers walk so join Helen Mills on a tour of Riverdale's hidden and lost urban waterways. It is a wonderful weekend ritual I know I would like to take part in more often so please come check out every Saturday from 9am-1pm.

Open House

10 Navy Warf Court Unit 709

Open House Sunday October 17, 2010

2pm-4pm

Rookie mistakes to avoid when buying a home

Great Article

By Vivian Song

They’re often heedless, emotional, rigid and, even worse, uninformed.

Experts say they see the same rookie mistakes in first-time homebuyers who are entering the housing fray: they don’t do their research, underestimate their finances, and let their emotions carry them away.

But with falling house sales and declining prices in the GTA, first-time buyers may find that market conditions are currently in their favour.

“We’re moving towards a balanced market right now,” said Mark Salerno, GTA district manager at the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “Because the pace of sales has slowed, houses remain listed for longer, which gives people more time to do research, and do their homework without any pressure.”

To help first-time homebuyers avoid making the same rookie — and costly — mistakes as their predecessors, experts at CMHC and the Toronto Real Estate Board have provided some helpful advice on common homeowner traps.

Mistake 1: Jumping into homeownership without understanding the implications.

Just because market conditions seem ripe doesn’t mean you’re ready to become a homeowner. If you’re a renter, the first thing to do is check the terms of your lease agreement, says Bill Johnston, president of the real estate board. What are the conditions of termination? Can you sublet?

“Fifteen-hundred dollars in rent can be a significant burden if you suddenly find that you’re stuck,” he said.

The CMHC also reminds first-time buyers that being a homeowner means being responsible for all payments, repairs and maintenance, which requires additional time and money. If you have an unstable jog, or if you’re not prepared to deal with leaky pipes or spend the weekend shovelling and painting, you may want to reconsider buying.

Mistake 2: Not getting pre-approved.

Shopping for a home without getting pre-approved could dash your dreams if you set your sights on houses that are out of your price range: you need to know how much you can afford to play with.

One of the first orders of business is to get pre-approved by a lender. Your pre-approval will depend on your gross household income, down payment, credit history, assets and liabilities. Online mortgage calculators can give you a rough idea of your maximum loan amount.

The general rule lenders use to determine your maximum mortgage is that your monthly housing costs — mortgage, taxes, heating and other expenses — should not exceed 32 per cent of your gross monthly income. Secondly, your debt load should not be any more than 40 per cent of your gross monthly income, which includes housing costs, car payments and credit card payments.

Mistake 3: Underestimating the costs.

Don’t forget that in addition to your mortgage, the closing costs for sealing the deal can range from 2 to 5 per cent of the home purchase price. That includes lawyer fees, home inspection, deposits, land-transfer tax, moving expenses, property tax and home insurance.

If you’re buying a house, chances are you may have to purchase major appliances, furniture, window treatments and lawn or snow-clearing equipment, as well as connection fees for cable TV, phone and Internet. If you’re buying a condo, you have to factor in maintenance fees.

It’s also estimated that maintaining your house will cost 1 per cent of the home purchase price per year.

Mistake 4: Having preconceived notions of downtown or suburban living.

Here’s where our experts are divided. Although the knee-jerk reaction may be to look farther afield to the suburbs to get more bang for your buck, first-time homebuyers need to look at the whole picture, advises Salerno of CHMC.

“If you work in the city, while your house may be more expensive, the proximity may mean you don’t need two cars, or before- and after-school programs for the kids,” he said. “I would caution people to really think about the time it takes to live in the suburbs.”

He also reminds prospective homeowners that condos usually come with amenities, such as swimming pools and gyms, and are also typically close to city parks.

Johnston, on the other hand, advises expanding your horizons and keeping an open mind about location. A knowledgeable realtor, for instance, could find the exact home you’re looking with all the amenities you need — just in a different neighbourhood than you wanted.

“A realtor will give you options,” he said. “For instance, I ended up in Richmond Hill and I swore there was no way I would live north of Steeles Ave. But I love it.”

Mistake 5: Not considering the resale value of the home.

“One of the things with homebuying is that you have to step back and recognize that while you are moving into the house now, you will move out years later,” Salerno said.

Try to look at the house objectively, experts say. In addition to considering how it fits your needs, consider if it could also fit the needs of future homebuyers, such as families and couples. Although a nearby railway or highway may not disturb your sleep, it may be a major deterrent for future buyers.

Check zoning and development plans for the area, especially if there are vacant lots, empty fields or underdeveloped areas.

Take a drive through the neighbourhood and check out the level of amenities nearby, such as grocery stores and shopping, as well as the quality of schools.

Mistake 6: Not shopping around for the best mortgage.

Don’t make the mistake of bellyaching about your high-interest mortgage because you didn’t take the time to shop around.

Mortgage brokers are great resources because they will act on your behalf and try to secure the lowest possible rate. Because they’re paid by the lender, there’s no additional fee for you.

You may also miss out on valuable first-time homebuyer incentives if you fail to do your research. For example, the federal government introduced a First-Time Homebuyers Tax Credit last year that could provide up to $750 in federal tax relief for eligible buyers.

For those who buy a fixer-upper, you can also apply for a home renovation mortgage, or purchase plus improvement, which lets you finance the purchase and renovations as one loan.

“Everyone is frenzied in the homebuying process,” Salerno said. “The buyer wants to get into the house and the realtor doesn’t want to lose the sale, which can result in all parties missing opportunities.”

Mistake 7: Not doing a home inspection.

Here’s where the adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover” applies. Don’t be fooled by the little old lady who reassures you the house is a well-oiled machine.

Behind shiny new, stainless steel appliances could lurk rotting wood, busted pipes and families of rats. You’re already plunking down wads of money to buy your dream home; you don’t want another loan to fix things you never knew were broken.

If you find yourself in a bidding war, no matter how much you want the house, don’t make the mistake of forgoing the home inspection as a condition of purchase.

Mistake 8: Letting your emotions dominate.

Homebuying can be an emotionally charged event, especially for first-timers who are making the biggest purchase of their lives. But letting the heart overrule the head can cloud your judgment and end up costing you dearly.

“The mistake a lot of buyers make is that they get caught up in the frenzy of the marketplace, which is driven by fear and greed,” Johnston said. “Buyers who are lined up in multiple offers will then end up paying too much for a property.”

Take advantage of today’s quieter market, but do your research first.

Inside the Minds of Animals

Inside the Minds of Animal

I watched Oprah on Monday and her show was sparked upon this recent article in Time Magazine called "Inside the Minds of Animals". It is a riveting article that explores the depths of the minds of animals. For any animal lover this is a must read article as it opens your mind to such thought provoking questions Can they feel? Do they experience empathy or compassion? Can they love or care or hope or grieve? And what does it say about how we treat them? I have included the article so please click above to read it if you so wish to do so.

As a dog owner and for many of you out there you know first hand that a dog can show you a full spectrum of emotions such as happiness, sadness, jealousy, embarrassment, gratefulness and love. I thought it was a great article to bring to light and to encourage people to think of animals as more then just creatures placed on this earth for us to do what we please with. I hope this article will open people's minds and get more people out there talking about how animals should be treated more fairly and be given better lives then what exists now.

For any of you who watched the Oprah show this Monday it was a tear jerker. I loved all the stories they shared out there and I hope it will get more people realizing the love animals can bring to us and the need for them in our world.

Some Nuit Blanche Photos

Nuit Blanche

On Saturday Night Toronto's annual sunset to sunrise celebration of contemporary art returns for the 5th year. Nuit Blanche was first conceived in Paris, France in 2002 in attempt to bring contemporary art to the masses. It is now reproduced in over 6 cities across the world and continues to grow every year.

This will be the first time I am going to take part and Nuit Blanche and I am very excited. My friend Adrienne and I haven't planned anything out but are just going to see where the night takes us. The event is broken into 3 zones Zone A, curated by Geral McMaster explores the night transformed into an unforgettable experience sculpted by light. Zone B, Downtown West, curated by Anthony Kiendl, explores how art and popular music create cultural moments. The Downtown East Exhibition, curated by Sarah Robayo Sheridan, looks at the night of future past addressing histories revisited, futures explored and the present in flux. Curated by Christof Migone, this Exhibition explores the concepts of movement, gridlock and mobility.

I look forward to being dazzled and entertained tomorrow night and will share my photos with you on Monday! I hope all of you will go out and share in this artistic phenomenon.