I Am Just a "Lookie-Loo"!

What a beautiful day! Days like these just do not come often, so we all have to enjoy them! One of my favorite things to do on a brisk evening as tonight will no doubt be is to walk around the neighborhood along Sheppard (between Yonge and Bayview) and house hunt. Now don’t look too much into this! I have no intentions of buying any of the attractive little bungalows or more modern developments. I simply enjoy a good walk deconstructing each house on my path.
Truly, what is wrong with that? Nothing in my opinion! I am a “lookie-loo” as they say, a passer-by who enjoys checking out the houses. It does not even matter if the house is “For Sale” or not, I enjoy seeing what works for me.
One thing that I have noticed in the Willowdale locale is that the area started off several decades ago as quaint bungalows with a lot of land in the back and front. Now with people’s needs changing and sales of these humble abodes in droves, people are bull dozing down old and building bigger, fancier new homes. So the area is really neat since you have your older homes mingling with the newer homes.
It is quite a site to see this going on in these neighborhoods. The area is so multi-cultural and each house (whether old or new, small or big) has a flavor all of it’s own. It is a neighborhood that definitely has something for everyone and is neat to walk around.

Looming HST

HST is so close; many can feel its mighty roar just around the corner. People are preparing themselves for the months ahead and it has become quite the hot button topic. Who will it affect? What will the repercussions be? Will people cut down their spending? Will people be more conservative on purchases? It is a big question mark that looms over our heads. I sit here and ponder, how will it affect real estate? That’s a big one. Time will tell!

Have You Seen the Sign? --By Shawn Shapiro

What do you think of when you think of Real Estate agents signs on a lawn? Words that come to my mind are: “Big”, “Bright”, “Explanatory” and “Written”. What have we come to know from these signs? First off we have come to understand that the information they convey from open houses to how you can reach the agent. What though, if there was more a sign could do? Crazy you say? I would have thought so too until last week when I saw a seemingly similar sign that blew my mind and changed how I looked at real estate signs forever!


It was 6:30 pm on Thursday May 6th, 2010 and I was driving in a car in the Bayview and Sheppard area. As our car passed by the houses we looked at all the signs that announced houses “For “Sale” or “Sold”.



There was one house that was different though. On the sign there was a button. Curiosity was on our side as we got out of the car and pressed the sign. To our astonishment it was a recording welcoming people to the house and giving information about the house. Our faces were struck with amazement? WOW! Yes, it seems simple and it does seem like the viable next trend but I just was not expecting it.

We quickly got back into the car and went up and down the streets searching for another talking sign. Was this one just a anomaly or are there more out there?



I ask, Have you seen this sign?

Spring to Summer

In many ways the spring season is switching gradually and quietly into summer. We see it in the weather patterns, we see it in the real estate market, we see it even at Shapiro & Cho in our offices. Is it coincidence or planned that all our recent and new clients are suddenly buying and selling property? Did they wait specifically to the start of May on purpose? What is it about summer that brings people to the forefront of the real estate market? Well this year unlike others we soon have the premiere of the HST tax and thus people are trying to beat it to the punch. There are so many reasons why on this day we see so many signs on lawns. It has been a great year so far for real estate, and we like everybody else hope it keeps up. Houses also show better in the summer when front and backyards look their best.


Our office in the past week has seen the hustle and bustle of the late Spring, early Summer rush and it has been invigorating. With smiles on our faces and hard work ethics we are making sure this is the best summer yet.

SPRING CLEANING

As the sun peaks through the bay windows at our Bayview and Sheppard office, the law clerks and lawyers bustle and work hard on a busy Thursday in April. What makes this day different than all others outside though? Looking out the window one can tell the beautiful weather has brought people out of their houses and apartments to do some spring cleaning. This is especially being the case for the rows of domiciles sporting a For Sale sign. It seems as if with every gradual raise in temperature the number of signs expands. Coincidence? I think Not! Spring cleaning time is the perfect time to sell your place! The nice weather allows for quality painting, washing and gardening time. So what are you going to use this weather for?

HST Is Coming... By: Shawn Shapiro

The long weekend is almost over. Now, beautiful spring weather is upon us and as time passes by rapidly we get closer to the beginning of summer which marks the introduction of HST. Harmonized Sales Tax or HST is coming to fruition this summer and as an agent or buyer or seller one must be ready for it. As the date comes closer, more posts will be included about HST and if you need or want a full handout we have available contact shawn@shapirocho.com

Why Spring? By Shawn Shapiro

Looking out the windows at the offices of Shapiro & Cho, much can be seen. On this chilly yet quite spectacular Tuesday in March, one could get caught up in the weather. It is not quite winter anymore, but not quite Spring just yet. People walk down Sheppard Avenue East towards Bayview clinging to their Tim Horton’s cups and rolling the rim. People are dressed as if Winter and Spring had an offspring season right in the middle. It is funny though how the minute we trade our snow boots to our rain galoshes, more and more people start the process of thinking about selling their property.


On a walk around the streets near the building, muddy lawns are littered with signs for all the local agents in North York; More and more of these go up as the days pass as one can notice. Spring is when people start really selling their homes in big numbers.

The question one can ask is “Why Spring?”, and the answers are numerous. First off with the nicer weather on its way people can get around easier. More importantly with nice weather on the way agents and their clients alike can spruce up their front and back yards. Things can look absolutely perfect-to a degree of course. The outside of a property can really help with the sale, so spring becomes a crucial time to start upkeep.

With nicer weather on the way be ready to see more signs popping up everywhere and use the season to your advantage.