Peng
Hock
Tan
Broker
February 2012 Volume 02 Issue 05
Tan and the
eeam
Visit Us At: www.TANteam.com
CONTENTS February 2012 Volume 02 Issue 05
FEATURED CONTENT pg 06
Peng Ann the Ace of ACE
pg 14
The Abridged Interviews of a Real Estate Agent
pg 18
Strong Sales/Price Growth Continue in 2012 January Mid-Month Resale Market Figures
pg 19
FEATURED PROPERTY LISTINGS
Albina Way A
pg 20 Durant Crescent- Absolutely Stunning and Immaculate One Of A Kind
Home. Lot Of $$$ Spent On Upgrades. Front Door Entrance Open To Above, Granite Floor On Main Floor. Kitchen Updated With Granite Top. Gleaming Hardwood Floor Throughout Main And Second Floors....More On pg 20
pg 21 Albina Way - Beautiful And Well Maintained 3-Bedroom Townhouse (Looks
Like Brand New). Sunny Rooms, Large Kitchen With Granite Countertops And Breakfast Area. Located In High Demand Area. Backing Onto Open Space, Freshly Painted (2011-2012). Finished Walk-Out From Recreation Room To Private Backyard. Large Garage With Extra Storage Area....More On pg 21
Durant Crescent
Grand Ravine
7DQĂ•JD]LQH 1(:6 pg 04
Why It’s A Good Time To Buy A Home
pg 10
Year of the Dragon - a symbol of power and superior control
pg 12
Mortgage lending tightens for selfemployed, immigrants
Peng
Hock
Tan
Broker
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Why It’s A Good Time To Buy A Home Mark Weisleder January 27, 2012
believe there has never been a better time to buy a home. I’ve been in the industry for 28 years as a lawyer and I haven’t seen so many positive signs for housing, whether you are thinking or buying or locking in a mortgage.
environment, steady real estate market, the natural resources people want and few social tensions. That makes us a safe haven in a volatile world. Our immigrant draw: Because of the above, we’re a draw for immigrants, often wealthy ones. When they get here, they need a home. So in my view while the real estate market may level off in some areas of Ontario, it should stay strong in most of the GTA and likely Canada’s other large urban centres as well. Mortgage defaults: According to CMHC, over 99 per cent of Canadians pay their mortgages on time. It quite a different picture in the U.S. where 7 million homes are in foreclosure and perhaps another 7 million homeowners are under water. This represents almost 15 per cent of all homes. So while the American housing market will likely be weak for the next few years, this should not occur in Canada. Our banks are not dumping homes onto the market, so there is no downward pressure on prices.
Mortgage rates at historic lows: They can’t get any lower. Four to five-year fixed mortgages at 3 per cent are unheard of. It is lower than the variable rate that most Canadians have been paying for years. Rates have nowhere to go but up, either later this year or next. If you are paying a variable interest rate, lock in now.
Recourse Mortgages: In many U.S. states, if you can’t pay your mortgage, the only thing the bank can do is foreclose; they cannot sue you for any shortfall. So when homes go under water, owners give the keys back to the bank. In Canada, loans are almost all Recourse, meaning if you don’t pay and there is a shortfall, the lender can sue you for the difference. This is another reason why, in my opinion, even if times do get tough, Canadian homeowners will find a way to make the payments until things improve.
Canada’s appeal: This country has everything going for it — a stable banking and political
Income-to-price ratio: Another misleading statistic is that in major markets, like Toronto, the
Here’s why:
4 | penghocktan.com
Tan.gazine NEWS
average price of a home is now 4.6 times the income of the average Canadian. This same statistic was found just before the U.S. and UK markets went into the tank. However, if you look at median incomes of Canadians against the median cost of homes, this average comes down to around 3.5, which is not dangerous. Using averages are wrong. A person receiving social assistance will not buy a home, and should not be included in any relevant statistic. High consumer debt: The warnings about rising debt ratios must be examined carefully. The Governor of the Bank of Canada is worried that the average personal debt ratio is now 156 per cent in Canada. This means a household making $100,000 per year, owes $156,000, two-thirds of which is mortgage debt. Why is this so bad? At an interest rate of 3 or even 5 per cent, the amount needed to service the debt is manageable. Most people do not pay off their mortgages in one year. Still, this is another good reason to consolidate your debt now, at these low interest rates, and lock in. No guarantees: Nobody can predict the future and there’s always the possibility of a major economic shock. Yet, in a U.S. presidential election year, politicians will do whatever is necessary to prevent it. If the economy goes into the tank, so do re-election chances. The U.S. is already showing signs of economic recovery. No matter what, do not take on a monthly payment higher than what you can afford. Meet with your lender or mortgage broker in advance to figure out what you can afford before you start looking for a home. It may be the best time to buy, but you need to buy smart. Mark Weisleder is a lawyer, columnist, author and speaker to the real estate industry. You can contact Mark at mark@markweisleder.com
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Peng Ann the Ace of The harbinger of hope and happiness to the Wat Than Slum Community of Cambodia Peng Ann, Advisor/Director Sing-Cam programs February 18, 2012 I visited a slum community in the heart of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia and found children going without a proper meal for days. They run about aimlessly without guidance, without love. I realized I had to do something. No point watching and talking. Do something was my immediate reaction. Instead of asking why, my immediate thought was what can be done. Together with a Cambodia friend who is the founder of a local NGO, we bought this poor child a bowl of porridge and saw the smile on his face. With this, the Porridge for Hope Program was conceived. The rest is history. I sought donations from caring friends in Singapore to develop a program for the community. This culminated in the start of the Sing-Cam Centre. With the Porridge for Hope Program and the Sing-Cam Centre, we were able to provide the following support for the children and youths since October 2011.
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A
Understanding the Cambod
The Social Leadership Situation There is a severe shortage of Cambodian youths with leaders were killed to prevent uprisings. The effect is the shortage of
Cambodians need the skills to make their own decisions and There is a need for good and conducive environments for lea
Unfortunately, due in part to the legacy of the Khmer Rouge do not have the means to afford a good education will contin opportunities in student councils, extracurricular clubs and ot
There is an urgent need to develop a generation of effective y university education and confidence attitude as we need to bu will be the role-models for the new generation.
ACE Unique role in the dilemma Many NGOs in Cambodia already provide leadership training inclusion of Cambodia’s poorest and most vulnerable citizen between the rich and poor, as those with means seek to main
ACE is also unique by providing a very tightly integrated prog leadership experience on a daily basis. We guide the students projects.
Tan.gazine NEWS
ACE
dian Dilemma
ship skills especially from within the poorer communities. During the Khmer Rouge period, many educated Cambodians social leadership as can be seen by the enormous role played by foreign run NGOs.
solve their own problems in order to achieve sustainable social development and change, through self-governance. arning and applying leadership skills, and for developing good social role models.
e regime, the public schools in Cambodia are inadequately funded. The effect is the poor segment of the community who nue to be left behind. The schools these children attend also lack the resources to develop good leaders through learning ther organisations. The gap between the rich and the poor gets wider.
youth leaders, especially from the poorer segment of the community. It is necessary to provide poor people with uild professionals within the poor community who can act as change agents for the community. Moreover, these youths
g, but their programs are targeted towards, and only affordable to, middle and upper income Cambodians. This lack of s has resulted in the main beneficiaries of these programs being the wealthy. This further entrenches the wealth disparity ntain systems which reinforce their privilege and thus further impoverish the poor.
gram where students not only learn leadership training, but live in a self-governed environment and gain practical in their studies and give them a place to enhance their leadership qualities through organization of the ACE’s other
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Saint Patrick Saturday , March 17, 2012
Did You
Know?
According to legend, Saint Patrick used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish people. The shamrock has become a modern day iconic symbol of St. Patrick’s Day.
aint Patrick's Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig; Ulster-Scots: Saunt Petherick's Day) is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick (c. AD 387–461), the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutheran Church. Saint Patrick's Day was made an official feast day in the early 17th century, and has gradually become a secular celebration of Irish culture in general. The day is generally characterised by the attendance of church services, wearing of green attire (especially shamrocks), and the lifting of Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol, which is often proscribed during the rest of the season. Saint Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador and in Montserrat. It is also widely celebrated by the Irish diaspora,
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Tan.gazine NEWS
k's Day
specially in places such as Great Britain, Canada, he United States, Argentina, Australia, and New ealand, among others. Today, St. Patrick's Day is robably the most widely celebrated saints day in he world.
Originally, the color associated with Saint Patrick as blue. Over the years the colour green and its ssociation with Saint Patrick's day grew. Green bbons and shamrocks were worn in celebration of t Patrick's Day as early as the 17th century. Saint atrick is said to have used the shamrock, a hree-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the agan Irish, and the wearing and display of hamrocks and shamrock-inspired designs have ecome a ubiquitous feature of the day. In the 1798 ebellion, to make a political statement, Irish oldiers wore full green uniforms on 17 March in opes of catching public attention. The phrase "the earing of the green", meaning to wear a shamrock n one's clothing, derives from a song of the same ame.
Who’s Patrick? His Story:
Little is known of Patrick's early life, though it is known that he was born in Roman Britain in the 4th century, into a wealthy Romano-British family. His father and grandfather were deacons in the Church. At the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken captive to Ireland as a slave. It is believed he was held somewhere on the west coast of Ireland, possibly Mayo, but the exact location is unknown. According to his Confession, he was told by God in a dream to flee from captivity to the coast, where he would board a ship and return to Britain. Upon returning, he quickly joined the Church in Auxerre in Gaul and studied to be a priest. In 432, he again said that he was called back to Ireland, though as a bishop, to Christianise the Irish from their native polytheism. Irish folklore tells that one of his teaching methods included using the shamrock to explain the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Irish people. After nearly thirty years of evangelism, he died on 17 March 461, and according to tradition, was buried at Downpatrick. Although there were other more successful missions to Ireland from Rome, Patrick endured as the principal champion of Irish Christianity and is held in esteem in the Irish Church.
Have A Wonderful St. Patrick’s Day! - Tan and the TAN Team Above: St. Patrick depicted in a stained glass window
penghocktan.com | 9
Tan.gazine NEWS
<HDU RI WKH 'UDJRQ D V\PERO RI SRZHU DQG VXSHULRU FRQWURO eal estate sales in and around Canada, particularly in Vancouver and Toronto can expect big things to happen in 2102, thanks to the Lunar New Year of the Dragon, which is typically a great year for sales. In myths and fairytales, dragons may breathe fire and hold fair princesses captive until they can be rescued by their handsome heroes. But when the dragon of Chinese astrology arrives with the Lunar New Year on Monday, the mythical creature will bring with it optimism and hope for better times ahead in 2012. The dragon is the most auspicious and powerful of the 12 signs of the zodiac, one associated with high energy and prosperity. It's also the only mythical creature in the Chinese astrological stable that includes horses, rats and pigs. This year is considered especially auspicious
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because it is the year of the water dragon, something that happens once every 60 years. The dragon is a symbol of power and superior control. The dragon is a good symbol. It also represents change and mobility. “Dragons seem to be a change year, and usually from bad to good," says Paul Ng, a feng shui master in Richmond Hill, Ont., north of Toronto. In general, in the dragon years, the world economy does a little better. Given how the world economy has been getting along, that wouldn't be a bad thing. People like to choose an auspicious moment, dates and years to do big things because they think this will be more successful and the Year of the Dragon is regarded as a very good year to do anything big. “Big” in this context could include career changes, having children and perhaps spending millions of dollars on real estate. This year of the Dragon will be a busy time for Chinese buyers and with recent volatility in the stock market, buyers could be even more eager to invest in property. The dragon is one of a 12 animals represented chronologically in the Chinese zodiacal system. The Year of the Dragon returns in 2024. Next year will be the Year of the Snake.
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Annemarie Maksimovic Sales & Leasing Consultant
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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be tougher for the self employed, new i get a mortgage as concerns continue to mount ove 6XVDQ 3LJJ 7KH 6WDU )HEUXDU\
tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be tougher for the self employed, new immigrants and higher-risk borrowers to get a mortgage as concerns continue to mount over the state of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s housing market. CIBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wholesale mortgage arm, FirstLine, quietly announced Tuesday that it will no longer accept new applications from â&#x20AC;&#x153;stated incomeâ&#x20AC;? homebuyers who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t prove they have the annual net income to qualify for home loans. FirstLine also set a $1 million cap on what it will lend for a home purchase. The major change in policy, which is bound to pique the interest of other major lenders, came on the same day it was revealed that the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. could be forced to cut back on the mortgages it insures. The moves are seen as among the clearest indications yet that Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hot housing market and record levels of household debt are a concern far beyond just the Ottawa offices of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s despite a Bank of Montreal report this week that says Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s housing market is more balloon than bubble and more likely to deflate than pop. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The signs are there that everyone is worried, with the exception of BMO. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not like there is just one
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person saying there is a problem with the housing market,â&#x20AC;? said Jason Friesen, a mortgage consultant with the Callum Ross Team. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impossible to know, given all the doom and gloom in the rest of the world, what will happen over the next three months or the next six months, but lending institutions are looking for ways to protect themselves.â&#x20AC;? The CIBC was unable to comment last night on the changes, other than to say FirstLineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision â&#x20AC;&#x153;reflects the normal course of business.â&#x20AC;? But that, coupled with CMHCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s predicament, is sure to raise concerns. CMHC has traditionally backstopped loans, especially to first-time homebuyers who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t raise the traditional 20 per cent downpayment for a home. But the housing corporation has recently received â&#x20AC;&#x153;an unexpected level of requests for large amounts of CMHC portfolio insuranceâ&#x20AC;? that has pushed it close to the $600-billion cap on insurance set by the federal
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immigrants and higher-risk borrowers to r the state of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s housing market. government. Those requests have come from financial institutions looking for, in essence, taxpayer backing on pools of previously uninsured low-ratio mortgages. While a CMHC spokesperson insisted this â&#x20AC;&#x153;does not affect the availability of CMHCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mortgage insurance for qualified home buyers and will not impact the cost of buying a home,â&#x20AC;? the federal housing company may inevitably be forced to take a harder look at who it insures down the road, housing experts say. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s led to speculation that CMHC, too, could back away from self-employed home buyers who often need insurance to get a mortgage. CMHC declined to comment on those suggestions Tuesday, other than to say â&#x20AC;&#x153;CMHC continues to manage its mortgage loan insurance business in accordance with the $600 billion insurance in force limit.â&#x20AC;? FirstLineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s announcement is â&#x20AC;&#x153;a pretty substantial change in thinkingâ&#x20AC;? from the second-biggest mortgage lender in the country, said Friesen. The question is whether other institutional lenders will follow suit. CMHCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s situation is equally worrisome in that the federal limit could see a tightening of lending conditions that leads to a cooling of a market many housing experts consider â&#x20AC;&#x153;overheated.â&#x20AC;? As of Sept. 30, CMHC had insured $541 billion in loans, up from $501 billion a year earlier. Just three years ago, CMHC was insuring $450 billion in loans and asked Ottawa for approval for the $600 billion cap. The increase in insurance-backed loans is not only evidence that increased prices are pushing houses further out of reach of many homebuyers, but that people are still so keen to get into the market, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re willing to pay for mortgage default insurance, said TD Bank economist Sonya Gulati. Maintaining the cap could have a dampening effect on demand for housing, but would be â&#x20AC;&#x153;an indirect way of making it tougher to get a mortgage,â&#x20AC;? she said. Ottawa has raised concerns about record levels of household debt, fuelled by high-spending baby boomers and historically low interest rates. But restricting CMHC â&#x20AC;&#x153;is a bit trickier,â&#x20AC;? said Gulati, than having Ottawa tighten up mortgage rules yet again by insisting on higher downpayments and shorter amortization period.
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Tan.gazine NEWS
the abridged interviews of a
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7KLV LVVXH RI 7DQ JD]LQH ZLOO EH VRPHWKLQJ VSHFLDO for the casual or frequent readers of this unique magazine. We would like to invite you to look out for our short yet enlightening interviews with Real Estate Broker, Peng Hock Tan as we have him shed light onto unsure real estate markets and bring to notice issues that modern day consumers may come across one day in one of the biggest decision making situations in your life. Q: I’m glad you have taken some time off for this interview Mr. Tan, I want to kick start off our new section on your own Real Estate magazine with the question most people would be interested in asking you or any other potential real estate agents. What’s the big question right now in real estate?
Tan: Personally I believe I take quite a unique approach to this question then some Realtors® do and at the same time shock consumers who do ask me this question. Without answering the question I put it back to them and ask simply: “Why is it you ask me this question?” Most consumers I spoke to are quite intrigued with that and quite usually respond to it with the predictable “I just wanted to know what you think about it” – I then presume to ask if they are playing the real estate market at this point of time. Most will say “not yet” so then I ask them if you aren’t in the position to sell or buy, what my thoughts about the so-called looming bubble would be meaningless to you and be of wasted air.
If you need to buy then now is the best time to buy. If you need to sell, now is the best time to sell.
What I do believe about the market in all fairness to the curious consumer, is that while you may be at odds with the market, I believe that this so called bubble is a fairy tale book yet to be opened on some shelf way over our heads. In short, I can’t predict when and if it happens, I do have confidence to believe it won’t be tomorrow and anytime soon but if it happens it happens. Some if not most consumers in my opinion are adding to the over sensationalized news. They see “Real Estate Bubble” on the front page of the news and they instantly hit the panic button in their minds or because they saw it on headlines they instantly are lead to believe the housing market is done for.
Q: Among asking when the right time to buy and sell, consumers also tend to ask yet another good question in light of the current real estate market trends. Consumers are worried that there may be a real estate bubble looming ahead, what is your take on it?
What consumers ought to do is take the news and the hype with a pinch of salt and think; “If I buy my dream home tomorrow and sell my current home, what impact will the current market have on my current situation.” It’s at this point when you as a consumer should be seeking out Realtors® with
Tan: The big question as it has always been is “When is the right time to buy or to sell?” It’s the always the same old million dollar question that probably tickles most Realtors® into a giggle. Consumers will ask this question in a upswing or downswing market so its probably the question among all questions. With most experienced Realtors®, the answer is pretty simple.
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Tan.gazine NEWS
al estate agent extensive knowledge on the market and see if there is a shot at a golden opportunity amidst of an unsure market. Q: That makes perfect sense, whether there is a bubble or not, the varied opinion of a well versed Realtor® can only do so much to explain their best only if you as the consumer are in a position to sell or buy at that point of time considering how the real estate market is constantly changing on a day to day basis. You mentioned that consumers ought to take a pro-active stance at seeking Realtors® with extensive real estate market experience if they are in the position to buy and sell. What can you elaborate on that excellent pro-tip? Tan: As a consumer way before I became a Realtor® myself, I came across two types of Realtors®. You have one that are trained well to buy and sell properties. The other one is a Realtor® that are trained well to “assist” buyers and sellers buy and sell their properties. There is a clear distinction that I’m sure you can see. Realtors® are a trained profession. We live, eat and sleep real estate, day in and day out. Most of us are early birds in the morning (I hope) and become nocturnal into the late hours of the night and repeat this process until it makes us go either insane or become Realtor® masochists. The point I’m making here is, consumers obviously want to hire a Realtor® who is competent in making sure that they get their dream property and or sell their current property for the best bang for the buck all bundled with great value and professionalism they’d expect from a costly investment for their opportunity, the costly investment being the agent
of course. A good Realtor® is not someone who ensures that a transaction was carried out as smooth as melting butter on skillet but one who can see to their ever changing needs and deliver results that impresses and will go as far as they can in their own power to make sure that the consumer is satisfied and well informed. Consumers are encouraged to find a Realtor® when they are ready to buy or sell a property be it commercial and or residential and explain their objective to their Realtor® of choice to help them realize their goal. A good indicator of a good agent is one that digs all the necessary information of your story and puts it into perspective that makes sense to you. On the contrary, off the bat if you get a Realtor® who starts placing their needs first before yours, you might want to thread likely and consider if they are really just after that hefty commission and in a hurry to get to the next unsuspecting consumer willing to un-thoughtfully put their money into the wrong hands yet again.
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Canadian Housing Market to Remain Steady &KDUOHV 6DXULRO 0HGLD 5HODWLRQV &0+& 'HFHPEHU
ousing markets are expected to remain steady in 2012 and 2013, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (CMHC) first quarter 2012 â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the Canadian economy set to expand at a moderate pace and mortgage rates expected to remain low, activity levels in 2012 in both new home construction and sales of existing homes will stay close to levels seen in 2011,â&#x20AC;? said Mathieu Laberge, Deputy Chief Economist for CMHC. Housing starts will be in the range of 164,000 to 212,700 units in 2012, with a point forecast of 190,000 units. In 2013, housing starts will be in the range of 168,900 to 219,300 units, with a point forecast of 193,800 units.
457,300 units. In 2013, MLSÂŽ2 sales are expected to move up in the range of 417,600 to 517,400 units, with a point forecast of 468,200 units. The average MLSÂŽ price is forecast to be between $330,000 and $410,000 in 2012 and between $335,000 and $430,000 in 2013. CMHCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s point forecast for the average MLSÂŽ price is $368,900 for 2012 and $379,000 for 2013. The moderate increases in the average MLSÂŽ price are consistent with the balanced market conditions that occurred in 2011, and that are expected to continue in 2012 and 2013. As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 65 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable housing solutions. CMHC also provides reliable, impartial and up-to-date housing market reports, analysis and knowledge to support and assist consumers and the housing industry in making informed decisions.
Existing home sales will be in the range of 406,000 to 504,500 units in 2012, with a point forecast of
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Tan.gazine NEWS Strong Sales/Price Growth Continue in 2012 In January, the median price was $463,534 from the $425,762 recorded during January of 2011. Toronto, February 3, 2012
Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 4,567 sales through the TorontoMLS® system in January 2012. This number was 8.8 per cent higher than the 4,199 sales reported in January 2011. Sales growth was strongest for low-rise home types in the regions surrounding the City of Toronto. “A favourable affordability picture bolstered by very low posted fixed mortgage rates has kept home buyers confident in their ability to achieve the Canadian goal of home ownership,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver. “The buyer pool remains diverse in the GTA with strong interest in home types across the pricing spectrum,” continued Silver.
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The average selling price for January 2012 transactions was $463,534 – up by almost nine per cent compared to January 2011. “Low inventory levels have kept competition between buyers strong, resulting in robust annual rates of price growth over the last year. Strong price growth is expected to attract more listings. A better supplied market should result in a slower rate of price growth, especially in the second half of 2012,” said Jason Mercer, the Toronto Real Estate Board’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.
Tan.gazine NEWS Greater Toronto REALTORS® Report Mid-Month Resale Market Figures TORONTO, February 16, 2012 – Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 3,206 sales through the TorontoMLS® system through the first 14 days of February 2012 – up by more than nine per cent compared to the 2,933 sales reported during the same period in 2011. New listings were up by 13 per cent over the same period. “The GTA resale home market became better supplied during the first 14 days of February. If growth in new listings continues to outstrip growth in sales this year, competition between home buyers will ease. More balanced market conditions on a sustained basis would result in a lower annual rates of price growth later in 2012,” said Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Richard Silver. The average selling price during the first 14 days of February was $491,493 – up by nine per cent compared to the first 14 days of February 2011. On average, sellers received 99 per cent of their asking price and their homes were on the market for an average of 25 days. “Both buyers and sellers are aware of the substantial competition that exists for most listings in the GTA. There is not a mismatch in expectations, so homes sell quickly at close to the asking price,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.
penghocktan.com | 19
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20 | penghocktan.com
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penghocktan.com | 21
Tan.gazine NEWS
DIY - Recipe For February 2012 Check out food.chatelaine.com for more cool recipes
February 18, 2012
Herbed C recipes
with m
P Preparation time: 10 minut Cooking time: 25 minutes C Makes 4 Servings M
I Ingredients 112 skinless, boneless chicken 11/2 tsp salt 2 tbsp olive oil 2 red peppers, chopped 2 tsp Dijon mustard 2 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp lemon zest 11/4 cup chopped fresh mint Nutrients per Serving N 3300 calories 334 g protein 5 g carbohydrates 116 g fat 1 g fibre 4470 mg sodium
Roberto Caruso
Tan.gazine NEWS
hicken
mint-pepper salsa
tes
n thighs
Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Get Cooking! 1. Trim any excess fat from chicken and discard. Sprinkle with salt and season with fresh pepper. 2. Heat a large frying pan, preferably non-stick, over medium-high. Add 1 tsp oil, then peppers. Stir-fry until peppers soften, about 2 min. Remove from pan. Add 1 tbsp oil to pan, then chicken. Cook until lightly golden, 3 to 4 min per side. Transfer to a plate. Do not crowd pan. Work in batches if necessary. 3. Whisk remaining 2 tsp oil with Dijon, lemon juice and zest in a large bowl. Stir in peppers and mint until combined. Set aside. 4. Return chicken and juices to pan. Add 1/2 cup water. With a wooden spoon, scrape up and stir in any brown bits from pan bottom. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until chicken feels springy when pressed, 4 to 6 min. Transfer chicken to a platter and keep warm. Increase heat to high. Boil sauce until reduced, about 5 min. Pour sauce over chicken. Serve with salsa and French fries.
penghocktan.com | 23
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