Julie Kinnear's Blog: All Categories

An "inukshuk" [plural: inuksuit], is an Inuit word that literally translated means "stone man that points the way." Inukshuks are stone cairns that were erected by Inuit at prominent locations throughout the barrens to serve as guideposts or markers.

Inukshuks can now be seen in people's gardens and yards, on the shores by their cottages, out front of condominiums, in the boardroom. There are stunning pieces of art in all shapes & sizes, from silver coins to mini rock figurines, to gorgeous oil paintings.

Our Toronto realtor team has chosen the Inukshuk to symbolize our business. We are here to guide you safely and comfortably through the sale and/or purchase of your cherished asset, your home. We are not just here for today but for life. Our goal is to…

Recently, I found some interesting statistics on gender and real estate. (Interesting combination, isn't it?)

A poll recently conducted  by Ipsos-Reid, among women aged 20 to 45 who have purchased a home as an individual rather than jointly brought out the following details.

Their average age to purchased their first home was 29 years

• 82 per cent are single
• 80 per cent have no children
• 49 per cent have a University Degree
• 86 per cent still live in the last home they purchased
• 81 per cent made one home purchase as an individual

These financially and well educated independent women indicated:

• 71 per cent advised buying a home was a good investment
• 61 per cent advised they did not want to pay rent anymore
• 54…

Recently, I held a special Easter-themed 'Krazy Kontest' on my website, this time for kids only. I called it 'Kolouring Kontest for the Kiddies'.I was thrilled by thenumber and enthusiasm of all the kids who coloured their hearts out! I can't resist showing you the winning Easter Bunny, chosen by random draw.

Here it is, it was coloured by the 5-year-old Marcus Leszek.

What do you think of it?

Many areas of Toronto have been enriched with cinematic history. It is an exciting city to live in anyway, but perhaps even doubly so when you know that your very own neighbourhood has been immortalized in a major motion picture. This - in many cases - does not merely mean that the movie was filmed in the area, but that it was actually set there.

I am a huge movies fan. That's why I've decided to write about some of the motion pictures that our city is in the focus of. Please check out Toronto in the movies, the latest addition to my Movie Guide.

We're supposed to have a really cold snap in the next few days and you might be feeling drafts inside your snug home.  Here are some ways you can improve your home's energy efficiency and cut costs!

• Caulk, seal & weatherstrip your home to prevent heat loss
• Install a programmable thermostat to regulate temperature at different times of the day & night, automatically
• Replace or clean your furnace filter regularly to help the unit run more efficiently
• Keep your blinds & drapes open during the day to allow the sunlight to radiantly heat your home.  At night, close them to prevent heat from escaping

Are you tired of the same old dining & entertainment - looking for something culturally interesting and different to do?  Our friend & client Rosemary Leach is getting ready for Toronto Art Expo at the Metro Convention Centre, March 6th to 9th...and she's offering FREE tickets for the gala opening Thursday March 6!!  There will be 350 other artists there as well.

To check out Rosemary's work, please visit www.rosemaryleach.com  If you really love her work, Rosemary's offering you a chance to become a patron of the arts by helping to host a private show in your home and is offering one of her beautiful paintings in exchange!!  If you're interested in hosting a private show, please contact her through her website.  Your chance to roll with high society… Read Full Post

With thousands of Realtors in the Toronto area, selecting the right one to represent you in the sale of your home can be confusing, especially when each one seems so convincing. When it comes time to making one of the most important decisions in your life make sure you're not risking precious time and money. The key is knowing the right questions to ask when you are choosing a Realtor.

   1. Do your past clients and other contacts refer your services to their families and friends on a regular basis? What percentage of your business comes from repeat and referral sources?
   2. Can I get out of the listing agreement at any time if I am not happy with the service being provided? Without any penalties?
   3. Since 80-90% of all homes are sold by another…

There are three broad categories of home ownership: freehold, condominium and cooperative. I know that all my colleagues know exactly what these basic definitions are, but maybe you find it useful to have it all at one place.

Freehold Home:
Freehold homes offer the most privacy and freedom of choice of any other type of home. As owner of the entire structure and grounds, homeowners are free to decorate and renovate as they please. But with that freedom comes a lot of responsibility. All of the maintenance (indoors and out) is the sole responsibility of the owner, which can be costly in terms of both money and time. Freehold ownership is the most common type of home ownership.

Condominiums:
Condominiums are typically a less costly alternative…