NORTH YORK A BONAFIDE CONTENDER TO DOWNTOWN LIVING

I’ve not been focusing too much on North York recently as the demand for assistance in buying condos and lofts downtown remains at an unbelievable level! I’ve tried bringing on assistants but each time I have, I have been forced to realize that there is just no easy way to give personalized service without doing it in person (duh!?!).

This article and resulting interest in North York in general has resulted from another failed attempt with an assistant. I invest time, energy and serious personal resources to train registered Realtors sufficiently to interface with my clients only to frequently have clients come back to me frustrated.

In this instance, the client is a first time buyer who had rather straight forward needs. He had emailed me and Registered with simplycondos.com for my services and I had referred him to my newest assistant. I recall my assistant contacting me to ask about four developments that the client was requesting input on. Three of the developments are along the Yonge line just south of Finch and the other was isolated out in Downsview. I had advised my assistant to avoid the Downsview developer as their product was very mid market and the location at best secondary. For a first time buyer it would be a stretch to see upside return and even though clients are looking to live in it right now, you always have to factor in the down the road resale. I left it in my assistant’s hands to take him to the three sites.

A couple weeks went by and I was surprised by an email from my client that pretty much said it all. I wrote back an immediate apology and he replied respectfully. It is embarrassing to have this type of perspective of my company in the market. I understand from other clients (with 24,000 “Hits” Per Day and literally tons of emails from thousands of prospective buyers weekly I am literally overwhelmed when trying to communicate directly with you all) have experienced the same poor service (infrequently I hope) and for this I apologize. The fish swims from the head and the buck stops here so I herewith formally apologize to anyone who has felt slighted by our inability to follow up with your inquiry in a timely manner.

Once the fence was mended with this genuine buyer I assured him I would do the research myself to insure that he is aware with all of the primary competitors for top product recognition in North York and surprising narrowed down the field to the three that my client had already recommended. We arranged to visit each site on that weekend.

Of the three developments that appealed to my client dia, a boutique condo development offering lofts, condos and townhouses (a limited selection of each) stood out above the rest. We decided on a nice two bedroom two bathroom corner suite with floor to ceiling glass on two walls, and a very nicely upgraded appointment package (stainless steel appliances, granite counter, engineered wood flooring, etc.).

If you are considering North York please call me today at 416-783-5000 or email me and I’ll arrange access to view. Please do not stop into the sales site before talking with me. My services are paid for by the developers providing you have not visited their sales site or Registered with them. You don’t want to pay for my services, as valuable as they are, and as they are FREE, providing you play by their rules, there is no reason why you cannot enjoy the benefits of my 30 years experience with them paying for you. Register with me now and mention that you want to check out Dia with me and I’ll arrange to meet you there.

I was really impressed to see how North York has continued to develop. There are high-rise condos and lofts literally everywhere although the overall quality is somewhat questionable with most. Dia is a refreshing surprise. There are a couple other exceptions however, it is good to remember that there is a lot of mediocre product sitting on the market (both re-sales and presale).

You have got to be familiar with everything on the market to be able to make informed decisions. I have spent the past days exclusively visiting every site in North York to insure that I know who’s who and what’s what and can tell you that if you are trying to do this on your own you are fighting a losing battle. Factual comparison is impossible. You have no way of knowing the background of the developers other than by what they tell you in their promotional material. Even the guys who promote having been around for generations leave a great deal to be envied. Possibly more so than downtown Toronto you need an insiders view of the market, the various locations, the amenities in the area, and the history of the developer. I work hard to keep myself apprised of the inner workings of the market in downtown Toronto and have realized my best expansion market is North York as the need is absolutely so great there!

Avondale, a new community launched about three or four years back has now seen it’s concept drawings manifest into high-rise, mid rise and townhouse condos. The Carriage Homes of Avondale (Shane Baghai) offer some interesting choices in upscale stacked townhouses with Avondale Mansions (another Shane Baghai development) offering pleasant over the park views from this mid rise development.

Shane also built the twin towers at the north west of the site and is doing another loft building (furnished lofts - pied de terre’s) at the corner of Yonge and Avondale. Menkes completed the twin towers known as Spectrum I & II and Tridel rounds out the site with Skymark I & II.

Doris Avenue offers a virtual smorgasbord of condo/loft choice and townhouses about in the area (unlike downtown). Monaco is now fully occupied and Monet is about to complete with move in’s scheduled for this winter. Monet has also built and is building more stacked townhouses that are quite affordable.

Again, don’t just run out and visit these sites. Call me first and/or register with me first and we’ll visit together thereby not voiding their undertaking to pay our Buyer Agency Fees FOR YOU (you pay $0.00)!

In every market you find at least one gem and in North York today . . . . Dia is that gem! If you are seriously looking then get in touch with me today.

Charles "Laurie" Hanes 416-783-5000
Sutton Group Tower Realty Inc., Broker

This site is not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale