Toronto Real Estate | Sylvie Conde's Blog

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Canadiana?

 CANADIANA?



Photos copyright Sylvie Conde 2009.  Santa Claus Parade, November 15, 2009.

 

 

 

 

For those of you wondering where the igloos are ... sorry ...
they must have melted before I got there.    :P

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Sylvie Conde, Broker  -  Your Toronto Realtor!
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc, Brokerage  416-966-0300
Independently Owned & Operated
sconde@sutton.com
www.sylvieconde.com
www.torontorealestatelife.com

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  Toronto Real Estate and Life Blog ....

   .... information on buying - selling - mortgages ... and all things Toronto and the GTA

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13 comments • Sylvie Conde, Broker | Toronto Real Estate • November 16 2009 10:05AM

SPEECHLESS SUNDAY - PUMPKIN COACH

 SPEECHLESS SUNDAY - PUMPKIN COACH - BAYVIEW & POST ROAD NEIGHBOURHOOD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sylvie Conde, Broker  -  Your Toronto Realtor!
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc, Brokerage  416-966-0300
Independently Owned & Operated
sconde@sutton.com
www.sylvieconde.com
www.torontorealestatelife.com

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  Toronto Real Estate and Life Blog ....

   .... information on buying - selling - mortgages ... and all things Toronto and the GTA

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18 comments • Sylvie Conde, Broker | Toronto Real Estate • October 25 2009 01:39PM

SPEECHLESS SUNDAY - NAKED IN TORONTO

 SPEECHLESS SUNDAY - NAKED IN TORONTO - YONGE & LAWRENCE NEIGHBOURHOOD

 

 

 

 

Sylvie Conde, Broker  -  Your Toronto Realtor!
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc, Brokerage  416-966-0300
Independently Owned & Operated
sconde@sutton.com
www.sylvieconde.com
www.torontorealestatelife.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Toronto Real Estate and Life Blog ....

   .... information on buying - selling - mortgages ... and all things Toronto and the GTA

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10 comments • Sylvie Conde, Broker | Toronto Real Estate • October 25 2009 01:11PM

Ontario's Waterfront

 A very small piece of Ontario's Waterfront
 

 

 





© Copyright Sylvie Conde 2009.

 

 

 

 

  

If you need real estate information on Toronto, or information on any of Toronto's neighbourhoods, call any time.

 

Sylvie Conde, Broker  -  Your Toronto Realtor!
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc, Brokerage  416-966-0300
Independently Owned & Operated
sconde@sutton.com
www.sylvieconde.com
www.torontorealestatelife.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Toronto Real Estate and Life Blog ....

   .... information on buying - selling - mortgages ... and all things Toronto and the GTA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

  

 

29 comments • Sylvie Conde, Broker | Toronto Real Estate • October 18 2009 05:42PM

Do you stop to smell the coffee? Tomorrow may be too late...

My parents live in Europe, and today my Mom called me, to tell me my cousin drowned yesterday.

He was in Portugal on vacation for a couple of weeks.
He was due to come back to Toronto any day now.
But he won't be returning.

I wasn't very close to my cousin.  In fact, I haven't seen him in years.
I was closer to his Mom, but I haven't talked to her in quite some time either.

We're always too busy, or the family isn't getting along, or we live too far ... or we think that 'one of these days', we'll make the time, and spend some quality time with friends and family...

I can't possibly imagine what his parents are going through right now, but I am so sad for them.
He was in his early 30s ... and their oldest child...

I don't know what I would do, if I was the one mourning the loss of my son.
It's heartwrenching.  I just can't imagine ...

I had dinner out with my son today.  (He treated - finally!) :)

We catch up and I always end the 'date' feeling like I could sit there for another 5 hours, catching up.  It's never quite enough time with him.  He's growing up so fast..... it seems just like yesterday - my little bundle of joy, .... and he's almost 19 now....

I always feel like I don't make enough time for him (not that he's complaining, because I'm sure 4 dates with Mom in a month, plus all the dinners together at home, is more than enough). 

But then I talk to other REALTORS and they tell me that they rarely have dinner with their families, or rarely see their husbands/wives or children.

 

Do you make time for your family?

Do you take a break?  Time out to smell the coffee?

What is your number one priority?

How do you make it up to your family, when you don't see them all week?

Do you sit down for dinner and turn off your phone?

Do you continue to stay attached to your phone when you walk in the house?

When was the last time you read a good night story to your children?

Do you know what their favourite book is?

When is the last time you had a date with your husband or wife?

 

Life is too short.  Tomorrow could be too late.
Work will always be there ....

It's time to have another look at what our priorities SHOULD be.

 

I hope you all have a safe Summer (what's left of it).

 

 

 

 

Toronto Real Estate and Life Blog - Sylvie Conde, Broker
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc, Brokerage    416-966-0300
sconde@sutton.com
www.sylvieconde.com
www.torontorealestatelife.com

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17 comments • Sylvie Conde, Broker | Toronto Real Estate • August 28 2009 09:10PM

Feng Shui Tips and Advice: Do you NEED a Feng Shui Consultant? By Feng Shui Long Island & NYC

More, from Carole Provenzale, your Feng Shui LONG DISTANCE consultant, if you can't afford to have her to come to your home, to do what she does best.

I hope you find her articles as useful and interesting as I do.

 

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Via Carole Provenzale Owner, Feng Shui Long Island & New York (Feng Shui Long Island & New York City):

Feng Shui Tips and Advice:  Do you NEED a Feng Shui Consultant?  By Feng Shui Long Island & New York

Feng Shui The Series Part 7

After having practiced Feng Shui in New York for many years, I am still often asked if people can read books and learn enough about Feng Shui to attempt to make changes on their own.

The purpose of this Feng Shui Series has been to provide you with more information and encourage you to TRY Feng Shui.   Often you will see or feel changes that will encourage you to pursue your knowledge and/or hire a Feng Shui Consultant for a complete assessment. 

Feng Shui Bagua Feng Shui Long Island & New York City

The simple Feng Shui Tips and Advice previously posted can never take the place of an individualized, custom Feng Shui Consultation but I do believe you should try some things at home or your place of business to not only see what changes occur but to FEEL the Energy of those changes.

If you are trying Feng Shui on your own, find one author that you feel comfortable with and stick with their methods.  It's often confusing in Feng Shui with all the different methods and schools of thought to jump from one author to another.  I especially like Karen Kingston and William Spear who help make Feng Shui easy to understand.

The results, however, are not likely to be as profound as having a personalized consultation.  They are designed for YOU and the results are often astonishing.  Feng Shui Consultations can often be done by someone who lives across the Country and be just as effective as an on site Feng Shui Consultation.

Wealth Feng Shui by Feng Shui Long Island & NYC Consultant

Although I am a Feng Shui Consultant in New York, I have worked with clients across the Country.  These are called "Distance Consultations."

What do I look for in a Feng Shui Consultant?

When looking for a Feng Shui Consultant, remember you are not limited by distance.  Years ago Credentials in Feng Shui were important; there are currently no rules or regulations about the Business of Feng Shui.  Anyone can read some books and put up a website as a Feng Shui Consultant or do an online study course, some lasting only a few days.

I suggest you look for someone who has been practicing for a number of years in Feng Shui.  You will not last in this industry if you are not consistently producing real RESULTS for your clients. 

Experience is priceless in my opinion.  As a Feng Shui Professional I can say that while my clients may be having the same issues, they are all unique individuals and Feng Shui Consultations must be tailored and customized to THEM.  Years of experience in Feng Shui have taught me lessons I would have never found in a book or online. 

Black Sect Feng Shui by Feng Shui Long Island & NYC Consultant

Since you will be sharing some personal information with your Feng Shui Consultant, do find someone you "connect" with.  You will need to be comfortable with this person to truly address the issues in your life so they can best know how to help you.  PLEASE check their follow-up rules:  Some Feng Shui Consultants follow up for only a certain period of time or number of phone calls....while others provide unlimited follow ups and are there when you need them. 

Finally, I do not believe in putting other Feng Shui Consultants down.  While it is fine to list your accomplishments, I have seen the practice of discouraging others from trying Feng Shui on their own and also have seen derogatory remarks about the way other Feng Shui Consultants practice or how you will not get results from "THEM."

 With the influx of Feng Shui Consultants in New York, I have come across this and IN MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION, there are still many Feng Shui Consultants who do not charge exorbitant prices and do have your best interests at heart. 

http://www.FengShuiLI.com

By Carole Provenzale, New York Feng Shui Consultant

**Carole Provenzale has been a New York Feng Shui Consultant since 1997 and is the Founder of Feng Shui Long Island & New York.  On Site Feng Shui Consultations provided for New York City (Manhattan), Queens and all of Long Island for Homes, Apartments, Businesses, Corporations, Renovations and New Construction.  http://www.TheFengShuiVoice.com

 

2 comments • Sylvie Conde, Broker | Toronto Real Estate • August 26 2009 08:59PM

Government Incentive for Electric Cars

Remember when GM killed the electric car?


Well, now they want us to believe that this is a great idea; they will bring it back, they will make them greener, they will make them more affordable, etc.

The Provincial Government is offering up to $10,000 towards the purchase of a Chevy Volt.

Not only will they give you some money, you will get priority on the HOV Lanes.
(You'll fly by all the other old gas guzzlers in the slow lanes...)

 

 

The Volt, however, will probably cost $40,000+ (so I'm not sure how great "up to" $10,000 will be).


The Volt will also only go about 60 km on one charge (but up to 1000 km if you fill the gas tank too).

 

 

How much is it going to cost in electrical bills to charge the Volt?

How much is it still going to cost, to fill the gas tank?

What if, for whatever reason, you/it only qualifies for a $4,000 rebate?

Will you buy a Volt, or any other electric car?
Will they still be too expensive?
Will 60 km be enough, to convince you to buy an electric car?

 

Why was it that GM thought the electric car originally was a bad idea, and now want Ontario to be the place where this car will be "reborn"?

Is it too late?

Will we be throwing more money at GM - first to save them, and now to help them build a car they killed off years ago?

 

Maybe we won't be as dependant on foreign oil, and maybe our air quality will be better .... but how much better? 

How many cars, at this price, can the regular guy afford to buy?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto Real Estate and Life Blog - Sylvie Conde, Broker
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage    416-966-0300
sconde@sutton.com
www.sylvieconde.com
www.torontorealestatelife.com

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6 comments • Sylvie Conde, Broker | Toronto Real Estate • July 15 2009 11:19AM

CANADA ROCKS!

I 'stole' Susan's blog, with her permission, of course.

I believe you will enjoy it as much as I did.

HAPPY CANADA DAY!  (and Happy 4th of July to our neighbours)

 

Sylvie Conde, Broker - Toronto Real Estate
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage   416-966-0300
www.sconde@sutton.com
www.sylvieconde.com
www.torontorealestatelife.com

 

Via Susan Emo RE/MAX ( Riverview Realty Ltd - Brokerage - 1000 Islands Canada):

JULY 1st -  CANADA DAY!

  1. Canada became a country on July 1, 1867
  2. Toronto in the largest city in Canada.  It is home to more than 4 million people and its dwellers are known to hold more university educations than any country in the world.
  3. Ottawa is our capital city to the surprise of many.
  4. The border between Canada and the US is officially known as the International Boundary, at 8,892 km, it is the world's longest border between 2 nations.
  5. At 9,984,670 square kilometres, Canada is the second largest country in the world behind Russia at 17,075,000 sq km.
  6. Canada has the longest coastline of any contry in the world at 243,042 km.
  7. North America's lowest recorded temperatue was -81.4 degrees Fahreheit on Feb 3rd, 1947.  It was recorded at Snag, Yukon Territory.
  8. Canada contains 25% of the world's wetlands
  9. Manitou Lake on Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron is the world's largest lake WITHIN a lake.
  10. Population of Canada as at July 2009 will be 33,592,686
  11. The longest river in Canada is the Mackenzie River: 4241 km long.
  12. Canada's largest, and one of the worlds'greatest, earthquakes happened on August 22, 1949, off the Queen Charlotte Islands
  13. Wood Buffalo National Park located in northwestern Alberta is Canada's largest park at 44,808 sq km.  It was established in 1922 to protect the last remaining herds of bison . It is one of the largest in the world.
  14. Alert, in Nanuavut Territory is the northernmost permanent settlement in the world.
  15. Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories is the deepest lake in Canada and the 10th largest in the world.
  16. The sun shines almost non-stop for 3 months during the summer in part of the Yukon and Nunavut Territories
  17. The island of Newfoundland has no snakes, skunks or poison ivy.
  18. CANADIANS INVENTED:  the caulking gun as well as tracer bullets
  19. DR. Frederick Banting - discovered insulin in 1923
  20. Alexander Graham Bell -  created the telephone on March 10 1876
  21. in 1889 he invented the phonograph/gramaphone
  22. Barbara Bain - discovered the Bone Marrow Compatibility Test in 1960
  23. Washing Machine was invented by Canadian James Brown in 1835
  24. Heart Pace Maker in 1950 by John A Hopps
  25. Plexiglass in 1931
  26. Television in 1927
  27. Green Ink for bank notes in 1862
  28. The Blackberry in 1999 
  29. The electric lightbulb in 1874
  30. The Chocolate Bar in 1910
  31. Frozen Food in 1929
  32. Electric Range
  33. Trvial Pursuit Game in 1980
  34. Lawn Sprinkler in 1870's
  35. Standard Time in 1878 by Sir Sanford Fleming 
  36. Paint Roller
  37. Green Garbage Bag in 1960
  38. Zipper in 1913
  39. Wonder Bra in 1964
  40. Apple Pie
  41. Alkaline Battery in 1959
  42. Instant Mashed Potatoes in 1966
  43. Velcro
  44. Short Wave Radios
  45. The Ski-Doo (was supposed to be Ski-Dog [to replace dog sled] but a typo resulted in the name)
  46. Bloody Caesars in 1961 - YUMM - Thank you Walter Chell !!!
  47. Botox
  48. the Jolly Jumper
  49. Vachon cakes
  50. Prince Edward Island accounts for 0.1% of Canada's total surface area
  51. In 1967, Sir John A Macdonald became the first Prime Minister of Canada.  He was from Kingston - my home town which was the first capital of Upper Canada.
  52. Canada has the largest French population that never surrendered to Germany
  53. We have the largest English population that never, ever surrendered or withdrew during any war to anyone, anywhere!
  54. The Regina Tornado of June 30th 1912 rated at F4 was the most severe tornado known in Canada. 
  55. The most severe flood in Canadian history occurred on Oct 14, 1954 when Hurricane Hazel dumped 214 mm of rain in 72 hours.
  56. The average dog sled team can kill and devour a full grown human in under 3 minutes
  57. Joe Shuster, co-creater of SUPERMAN was born in Toronto
  58. The tuck-away handles on our sacret two-four beer cases was the brainstorm of Canadian Steve Pasjack in 1957
  59. The highest mountain in Canada is Mount Logan, Yukon Territory at 5959 metres.
  60. Canadian Music to our Ears:  Bryan Adams
  61. Will.i.am.
  62. Paul Anka
  63. Anne Murray
  64. Rush
  65. The Guess Who
  66. Bachman Turner Overdrive
  67. Joni Mitchell
  68. Leonard Cohen
  69. Diana Krall
  70. Neil Young
  71. Gordon Lightfoot
  72. Shania Twain
  73. Alanis Morrissette
  74. The Tragically Hip (also from Kingston)
  75. k. d. Lang
  76. Celine Dion
  77. Sarah McLachlan
  78. Michael Buble
  79. Ice Hockey, lacrosse, baseball are all Canadian games
  80. The Baseball glove was invented in Canada in 1883
  81. The goalie mask was invented in Canada
  82. The size of our football fields and one less down, make then Canadian
  83. Basketball was invented by a Canadian, James Naismith in 1892
  84. 5 pin bowling was invented in Torontoin 1909
  85. Wayne Gretsky, The Great One, was created in Canada
  86. Other celebrities: Jim Carrey
  87. Dan Ackroyd (also from Kingston)
  88. Mary Pickford of the silent screen
  89. Mack Sennett
  90. Keanu Reeves
  91. Howie Mandel
  92. Martin Short
  93. Michael J Fox
  94. Rick Moranis
  95. Kim Cattrall
  96. Kiefer Sutherland and his Father
  97. Donald Sutherland
  98. Pamela Sue Anderson
  99. Bobby Orr
  100. Mike Myers
  101. Avril Lavigne (from just outside Kingston)
  102. William Shatner
  103. Terry Fox
  104. What we are proudest of is our Freedom!

 

9 comments • Sylvie Conde, Broker | Toronto Real Estate • June 30 2009 11:18AM

MAKE SURE YOUR BROKER/SALESPERSON IS REGISTERED!

I received a phone call from someone in Florida today, asking me for some housing information in Toronto.

At first I thought it was a person interested in relocation to Toronto from Florida, but in fact, it turned out to be a 'salesperson', wanting me to send some listings along to him, so that he, in turn, could show those homes to his client, who was coming with him.

I tried to explain that only a person registered in Ontario can sell homes in Ontario, but I didn't get very far.

I was then asked if they could use their friend from Vancouver, to come along and show those homes here.  I said no.  Someone from British Columbia, or any other Province cannot sell in Ontario, unless they have a valid Ontario license.

Apparently they have done this before, and had no trouble.  Why was I being difficult?

I finally said:  Do you realize you can go to jail if you try to sell real estate in Ontario, without a valid registration? 

He hung up on me.  I looked at the phone, and the number that called was scrambled (a whole lot of zeros, so I don't even know exactly where they were calling from).

 

Make sure the REALTOR you are working with is licensed.

You can ask them to show you proof of registration. 

For anyone working in Ontario, the registration will show:

REAL ESTATE COUNCIL OF ONTARIO:  REGISTRATION# _______________
CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION

It will have the person's NAME, the COMPANY NAME they are affiliated with, that company's registration #, and it will say what the category (Broker or Salesperson) is, along with the expiry date.

Insist on being shown the certificate, especially if you have never worked with this person before.

It must be in our possession at all times, according to the ACT.

You can also call the company listed on the registration to confirm that this person is registered.

You can also verify registrations online at the Real Estate Council of Ontario's website: http://www.reco.on.ca/SearchRegistrant.aspx

 

 

Make sure you protect yourself.

Work only with a licensed/registered REALTOR.

 

 

 

 

Toronto Real Estate by Sylvie Conde, Broker
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage     416-966-0300
sconde@sutton.com
www.sylvieconde.com
www.torontorealestatelife.com

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5 comments • Sylvie Conde, Broker | Toronto Real Estate • June 05 2009 11:26PM

National Hunger Awareness Day

 

Today is National Hunger Awareness Day.

Don't forget those who need it the most ... donate to the Food Bank.

 

Campbell Soup is donating a can of soup, for every VIRTUAL can we give.

 

Please take a moment and click ... and you will be helping someone.

                                        Help Hunger Disappear!!

 

Please get your friends to participate. 

For every can ACCEPTED, Campbell's will donate a real can.

It's our responsibility to give back.

Thank you.

 

 

7 comments • Sylvie Conde, Broker | Toronto Real Estate • June 02 2009 10:54AM