Courtesy of David Ortino

David's Mini Mag

DAVID ORTINO , M.B.A., Broker of Record Office: 416-222-SOLD (7653) • Direct: 416-428-9574 info@davidortino.com • www.DavidOrtino.com Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated 1060 Sheppard Ave W COMM103 Toronto, ON M3J 0G7 PLATINUM PIN REALTY Brokerage

Volume 17 | Number 03

STAGE YOUR HOME TO STAND OUT

With the spring market just starting, you may be considering listing your home for sale. One way to stand out above the competition is to stage your home. This can be done even if you're still living there while you wait for it to sell. Staging is essentially arranging the furniture and decor in your home so it will be most appealing to a large number of potential buyers. Think of it as putting your home's best foot forward with the help of someone who isn't emotionally attached to the rooms and items in them. It helps create a positive first impression, which we all know is so important these days.

When your home is staged, most often with the help of a professional, you are more likely to have buyers willing to pay top dollar and it often results in a quicker sale. Some home stagers work with the items you have in your home already and others will bring in their own furniture and accessories to highlight the best aspects of your home. You can consult with a few local home stagers to see what type of service will suit your needs and budget. The small investment of hiring a professional home stager should see a greater return on investment.

RASPBERRY-BANANA BREAKFAST TACOS

INGREDIENTS: 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup whole wheat flour 3 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 large egg 1 cup 2% milk 2 tablespoons canola oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/3 cup cream cheese, softened 3 tablespoons vanilla yogurt

DIRECTIONS: 1. Whisk together flours, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Combine egg, milk, canola oil and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. 2. Preheat a griddle over medium heat. Lightly grease griddle. Pour batter by 1/2 cupfuls onto griddle; cook until bubbles on top begin to pop and bottoms are golden brown. Turn; cook until second side is golden brown. 3. Meanwhile, beat together cream cheese and yogurt.

1 small banana, sliced 1 cup fresh raspberries

Spread over pancakes; top with banana and raspberries. Fold up.

Courtesy of www.tasteofhome.com

HAPPINESS? THE COLOR OF IT MUST BE SPRING GREEN. - Frances Mayes

An American writer, Francis’ memoir Under the Tuscan Sun was a New York Times best seller and the inspiration for the film by the same name.

CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer as you can't see, smell or taste it and you likely won't know it's affecting your home unless you have a carbon monoxide detector or are feeling unwell, which can end up being too late. You can purchase carbon monoxide detectors at your local hardware store or even online. Experts suggest you should install one on each level of your home and within 10 feet of bedroom doors. If you tend to sleep with your door closed, a detector inside the room is encouraged. They should also be installed near the door of a garage if it is attached to the home as vehicles emit carbon monoxide. Other sources of carbon monoxide include fireplaces, wood stoves and gas appliances to name a few. For the most part, if they are used and installed properly with

adequate ventilation, you shouldn't have to worry about carbon monoxide building up. However, it's often better to err on the side of caution and install carbon monoxide detectors whenever possible and ensure proper maintenance on all sources of this harmful gas. Be sure to replace the detectors according to package instructions as well.

GARDEN BY ZONE

With the mild winter seen across a lot of the country, many gardening enthusiasts are itching to start their outdoor gardens and are flocking to home garden centers to get everything they need for the upcoming season. However, when you're a beginner gardener, or new to a particular area of the country, it's important to know what can and cannot be started early indoors and then transplanted outside when the ground and weather are ideal. First you need to determine what zone you live

in. Head to planthardiness.gc.ca for an interactive look up tool and maps. Once you have your zone determined, you'll be able to find what should grow nicely and what might not be the best idea to plant based on the local environment. And from there, you can research which plants can be started indoors, planted now or need to wait. Your local garden center will be a wealth of information as well as the seed packets themselves should state their ideal growing conditions.

JOKES

Q: What do you get when you cross a bunny and a leaf blower? A: A hare dryer! Q: Why did the duck cross the road? A: To prove he wasn’t a chicken! Q: What did one ant say to the other ant when they got a mouthful of honey? A: Nothing, ants can’t talk!

Q: What kind of bow can’t be tied? A: A rainbow. Q: If 10 kids try to squeeze under one umbrella, how do none of them get wet? A: Because it wasn’t raining.

Courtesy of funology.com

1. Halt, tells the time

WHAT WORD?

2. Off opposite, bird home

Can you guess what ONE word being described? It is just ONE word and this can get a little tricky but fun. Example: Clue: Display the animal hair "Literal" Answer: Show Fur End Answer: Chauffeur

3. Tell the dog/cat to get away, car noisemaker

Answers: 1. Stopwatch 2. Honest 3. Shoehorn 4. Tailpipe 5. Arkansas 6. Cartoon 7. Copycat 8. Sweepstake 9. Forefathers 10. Detail

4. Animal wagger, used in plumbing

5. Noah's boat, aluminum container, cuts wood

6. Automobile, fix the piano sounds

7. Police officer, 5th letter, dog opposite

8. Clean the floor, cut of beef

9. 2+2, dads

Courtesy of: www.thinkablepuzzles.com

10. 4th letter, dog wagger

Toronto February Market Report

$1,657,026 detached UP 5.5% year-to-year

$726,608 condo/apartment DOWN 1.2% year-to-year

$870,571 condo/townhouse

AVERAGE SALE PRICES

4,347 NEW LISTINGS 1,971 SOLD LISTINGS

UP 3.3% year-to-year

detached 1,084

304 condo/town.

2.7 MONTHS OF INVENTORY

44.8% SALES TO NEW LISTING RATIO

26 DAYS ON MARKET

5,017 ACTIVE LISTINGS (residential inventory)

GTA REALTORS ® , March 5, 2024 – Greater Toronto Home (GTA) sales and new listings were up on an annual and monthly basis in February 2024. “We have recently seen a resurgence in sales activity compared to last year. The market assumption is that the Bank of Canada has finished hiking rates. Consumers are now anticipating rate cuts in the near future. A growing number of homebuyers have also come to terms with elevated mortgage rates over the past two years. To minimize higher monthly payments, some buyers have likely saved up a larger down payment, chosen to purchase a less-expensive home type and/or looked to a different location in the GTA,” said TRREB President Jennifer Pearce. REALTORS ® reported 5,607 GTA home sales through TRREB’s MLS ® System in February 2024.

The MLS ® Home Price Index Composite benchmark edged up by 0.4 per cent. The average selling price of $1,108,720 increased by a modest 1.1 per cent. “As we move through 2024, an increasing number of buyers will re-enter the market with adjusted housing preferences to account for higher borrowing costs. In the second half of the year, lower interest rates will further boost demand for ownership housing. First-time buying activity will also be a contributing factor, as many renters look to trade high monthly rents for a long term investment in which they can live and build equity,” said TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer. Statistics reflect market activity in February 2024 | Source: TRREB ® Toronto Regional Real Estate Board | Market values stated are average prices. Individual home market values will vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to-date evaluation of your home.

DAVID ORTINO • Office: 416-222-SOLD (7653) • info@davidortino.com

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