John Lavin Realtor Mississauga - Toronto Real Estate

Why are Toronto Condominiums abandoning City re-cycling program?

Toronto condominium corporations representing about 75,000 owners and residents decided to opt out of the city run recycling program over the last 2 years.

Why?

"The waste rate program was unfair, punitive and un-transparent" a spokesman for the greater Toronto Apartments Association told a recent public works committee meeting.

A confusing and punishing rate system has resulted in roughly 375 of the 5000 multi-unit buildings deciding to leave the city system in favour of private removal providers.

The public works committee voted to recommend that council approve a new flat fee system in order to halt the defections and possibly recapture some or all of the Toronto condominium corporations that have left the program.

The new fee system would be similar to one offered by private removal providers.

If the new system is similar or the same as private removal providers, why would Toronto condominium corporations go through the hassle of switching suppliers with no cost benefit to them?

What do you think?

If you are looking for Toronto Condominium Listings or Mississauga Condos For Sale why not put my 25 years of experience to work for you. Stop by my site at www.john-lavin.com and get to know me.

Chaing Mai Temples and Sites - Thailand

These were taken at various locations in Chaing Mai, Thailand

Photos taken in Chaing Mai, Thailand by John Lavin

If you are looking for Toronto Condominium Listings or Mississauga Condos For Sale why not put my 25 years of experience to work for you. Stop by my site at www.john-lavin.com and get to know me.

Will G-20 Meeting interfere with sales of Downtown Toronto Condominium Listings?

The G-20 meeting will take place in Toronto between the dates of June 25th - 27th.

How will this affect showings and sales of Toronto Condominium Listings?

If you own a Toronto condominium located within the security zone outline on the map below you will certainly be affected.

Just to get home you will need to pass a five tier system of security.

Your freedom to stroll the area will more than likely be severely restricted.

Toronto real estate agents with buyers for Toronto Condominium Listings will probably be avoiding any showings in this area.

Out of town buyers on the advice of their government will postpone or cancel any trip to the city during this period.

If you are planning on selling your Toronto condominium you will be wiser to list it after the G-20 meeting.

Buyers looking for a Toronto condominium within the security zone area will avoid lots of frustration by waiting until after the G-20 meeting.

The bottom line for Toronto Condominium Listings within this high level security zone is a dramatic drop in showings and offers during the time leading up to and including the meeting period.

With the ensuing upheaval and the halt to business activity in this area do you think the G-20 meeting should be held in Toronto?

Important decisions by participating nations have usually been decided upon before the actual meeting.

Given this is the physical meeting just window dressing that could be handled another way?

In this advanced technological age is there any need for the leaders of the G-20 nations to descend on the City of Toronto?

Would the troublemakers of the world be thwarted if the G-20 meeting were held in a difficult to get to destination?

Given the possible mayhem, destruction of property and rioting that may take place where do you think it should be held?

John Lavin is a full time realtor with 25 years experience helping buyers and sellers of homes, condominiums and investment properties in Toronto and Mississauga . Stop by my site at www.john-lavin.com and get to know me.

Mississauga Condos for Sale - Market Report

The month of May 2010 saw a decrease in the number of active Mississauga Condos for Sale as well as a significant decline in the number of unit sales.

Does this spell trouble for the Mississauga Condominium market?

To gain some insight into that question we need to look at what has been happening in the market over the last few months.

A shortage of Mississauga Condos for Sale resulted in bidding wars and price increases.

A generally heightened awareness of the probable increases in interest rates led to increased activity by Mississauga Condominium buyers particularly in the first 4 months of the year.

Changes in mortgage rules by the federal Government also led to more Mississauga Condominium buyers entering the market ahead of the April 19 deadline.

And last but not least was the introduction of the dreaded and much publicized Harmonized Sales Tax by the Province of Ontario on July 1 2010.

All of these events coming together in the same time frame created the perfect storm of activity in the Mississauga Condominium market for the first 4-5 months of the year.

The number of active Mississauga Condos for Sale has increased slightly more than 57% since January while the percentage of sales to those active listings has steadily declined as outlined in the following:

 Month          Active Listings    Sales      Percentage of Sales to Active Listings
January             650               207                        32%

February           711               288                        40.5%

March                878               438                        50%

April                 1140              452                        40%

May                 1023              309                         30%

Percentages have been rounded off.

Where are we headed from here?

The Canadian Real Estate Association is expecting a decrease of 2.2% in price levels in 2011 for the overall marketplace.

Mississauga Condos for Sale will continue to sell for the balance of the year but not at the same frenzied pace nor perhaps, at the same price levels.

John Lavin is a full time realtor with 25 years experience helping buyers and sellers of homes, condominiums and investment properties in Mississauga and Toronto. Stop by my site and get to know me; www.john-lavin.com

Robert looked kind of lonely as the only one posting photos in this group, so here are some of mine from one of my trips to Thailand. I do not recall the name but it is about a 40 minute drive fro Roi-Et in the Northeast of Thailand.

Photos taken in Thailand by John Lavin

If you are looking for Toronto Condominium Listings or Mississauga Condos For Sale why not put my 25 years of experience to work for you. Stop by my site at http://www.john-lavin.com/ and get to know me.