When you’re sitting in traffic, sweating, rushing to work or trying to get home, do you ever try to clock up how many hours you’re spending in traffic each day? How many hours per week, per month, per year?

Put away those calculators, because according to TomTom’s fifth annual traffic report, commuters in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal lost an average of 84 hours a year in traffic in 2014. That’s 3 and a half hours a day, every day.

Sitting in Traffic

According to this index, these three cities, the most congested in Canada, have seen an increase of seven per cent in congestion. TomTom was quick to lay the blame on the traditional work week, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, which forces large amounts of people onto the roads all at the same time. They recommend that more workplaces begin integrating more flexible working hours, to reduce congestion and save valuable travel time.

Speaking on behalf of the Amsterdam based road authority, President Jocelyn Vigreux said that local governments and road authorities can use the information TomTom has collected to better manage traffic flow during the hectic rush hours, and that businesses can similarly use the data to help their employees skip sitting in traffic for hours and develop more humane working hours. Finally, the data is available to the public to help drivers avoid congested roads and get where they’re going faster.

Bumper to Bumper

Toronto is the second most congested city in Canada, after Vancouver, and is currently at 31% of the average evening rush hour congestion rate, while Vancouver is at 35%. Traffic has worsened in five out of seven of the cities measured for Canada, with Calgary and Vancouver’s traffic congestion rate staying the same as previous years.

Ironically, while Vancouver is the most congested city in the country, Calgary is the least congested in the country. Thursday evening is generally the most congested evening commute, with some exceptions in Calgary, Edmonton and Quebec, where Friday and Wednesday’s are the busiest evenings. In Toronto, morning congestion levels remain fairly consistent from Monday to Friday but the evening levels tend to worsen from Tuesday through Thursday before leveling off on Friday and the weekend.

Some of the ways you can avoid this hellish commute is to take public transport, or even relocate to be closer to work. For those living in the suburbs and commuting into downtown, the harsh commute may be the biggest issue they face, but by moving into the city they can cut the commute drastically, or even remove it completely depending on where they work.

Tired of Living in Toronto?

Toronto has definitely lost its groove. Its no longer the jewel it used to be. As such, now is the perfect time to leave Toronto. One of the best places to live outside of Toronto is Alliston. If you’re ready to move, we at Previn Court can build a home for you. With over 35 years of experience, we have built homes for over a thousand families, including detached, townhome, and unique attached single units, and we can help you find the perfect home for you.

Take a tour of our incredible models, or contact us today for more to let us know your needs in terms of bathrooms, bedrooms and budget.

For years, condo life was seen as the pinnacle of big city living for the young, hip set. Steps from amenities, right by downtown, easy to reach, and every night and day’s a party.

Even today, the city is plastered with posters selling promises of condo life, but more and more people are opting to skip the condo experience, with many of today’s condo owners and renters moving on to other housing choices, like renting in the suburbs where the prices are lower.

Has YOUR Condo Bubble Burst?

Originally, condos encouraged low-income Canadians to buy homes rather than renting, but in the past few years, people are more interested in living downtown for work, better opportunities and being able to say they live downtown. The increasing number of seniors and lower rates of marriages and births are fuelling demand for smaller and more affordable homes. However, as time has passed, the luster has begun to fade for many.

“I would say buyers in their 20s probably won’t live in that condo for five years,” David Fleming, a Realtor with Bosley Real Estate and writer of the Toronto Realty Blog, said.

“They’re going to either outgrow it, or find a mate and want a bigger, better or different place.”

You’re No Longer Single

Another issue, and one often overlooked, is the demographics that condos are attracting. Developers are focused on condos with one-bedroom units, which attract two specific demographics: first-time buyers moving out of their parents’ place and the older generation who are downsizing from larger homes. Statistics Canada reported in 2011, that the majority of condo owners are below 35 and older than 65.

The two generations often end up sharing a floor, which understandably leads to clashes between the two generations. As a result of these issues, and many more besides, more and more people are simply renting or otherwise avoiding the world of condos, and taking greater care of themselves and their bank account once the glamor of downtown living has worn off.

Tired of Living in Toronto?

Toronto has definitely lost its groove. Its no longer the jewel it used to be. As such, now is the perfect time to leave Toronto. One of the best places to live outside of Toronto is Alliston.

If you’re ready to move, we at Previn Court  build a home for you. With over 35 years of experience, we have built homes for over a thousand families, including detached, townhome, and unique attached single units, and we can help you find the perfect home for you.

Take a tour of our incredible models, or contact us today for more to let us know your needs in terms of bathrooms, bedrooms and budget.

According to 84% of people surveyed by Angus Reid, “it is unrealistic for young people to expect to own a house and a yard in the GTA.”

45% of those surveyed admitted to being forced to shop outside the GTA due to the high cost of owning property and living in the city.

In hot markets like Toronto and Vancouver, high flying prices and low amounts of properties are forcing prospective homeowners to take desperate measures, including turning to craigslist, leafleting, posting flyers and even knocking on doors in search of properties for sale.

Desperate Times

Kate Whyte, of Vancouver, described her time knocking on doors: “I had a lot of elderly people tell me I was crazy… I had a lot of people say they totally understood. I had a lot of people say they had done the same thing.”

Real estate agents are similarly being forced to take an active role in searching for clients. Ryan Thompson, an agent with Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate in Toronto, blindly sends letters asking if homeowners are interested in selling and has even begun cold-calling homeowners to see if they’re interested in selling. Before, they would only have done this for difficult clients, but now it’s a weekly event.

Expensive and Unliveable

Recently, a home with holes in the roof, where agents advised potential buyers to bring a flashlight, sold for more than one million dollars. It is believed to have been bought primarily for the location: “steps from the lake in one direction and seconds to the shops and restaurants in the other.” That’s a prime location, even if the house in question is “uninhabitable.” Houses can be torn down and rebuilt.

According to TREB, prices will continue to go up until the number of listings begin to match or exceed the number of sales. Until this happens, expect to hear more stories like these.

It’s impossible to predict when this bubble will (preferably) deflate or even burst, but the Bank of Canada already considers investing in the housing market to be a financial risk. While the Bank of Canada wants to boost the country’s sluggish growth, cheaper money could lead to an even more frenzied housing market in two of the country’s biggest cities.

Realosophy Real Estate president John Pasalis believes that the market may calm down a bit when construction slows, but added “I think (prices are) going to continue where they have been going.”

Ready to Move out of Toronto?

As Toronto continues to grow, the cost of buying a home also increases. Its becoming increasingly difficult to buy a home in Toronto because of the high costs involved. As such, many people are now considering moving outside of Toronto in search of affordable homes. That is where we at At Previn Court Homes can help.

Since our inception over 40 years ago, we have constructed in excess of 1500 homes in Canada, and in the process made the dreams of 1500 families come true. Take a tour of our incredible models, or contact us today for more to let us know your needs in terms of bathrooms, bedrooms and budget.

Established as a city in 1853, Barrie is the 34^th largest city in Canada, sitting on Lake Simcoe. It’s historic downtown and waterfront are at the heart of its tourist industry, and hosts hundreds of festivals, including a Jazz and Blues festival, Ribfest, Kampenfest and Barrie Film Festival.

Here’s a glance at what’s coming up this fall.

Ardagh Bluffs

In the Fall, many tourists and locals flock to Ardagh Bluffs to see the Fall colours. You get 17 km of trails over 524 acres. Since motorised vehicles are banned on the trails, the trail system is used by walkers and hikers. The trails run through the wooded area of County Rd. 27 and Ardagh Road in the south west end of Barrie.

Barrie International Comedy Festival

Running from September 15^th to 20^th, the Barrie International Comedy Festival is a project of the Talk is Free Theatre that is entering its third year this year. Some of this year’s performers include Brent Butt (Corner Gas), Andrea Martin (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and Chris Gibbs (Howie Do It). Other events include Q&A sessions, quizzes and a selection of comedic short films.

Chappelle Farms Pumpkin Festival

’Tis the season to get spooky at Chappelle Farms. Running from September 21^st to October 31^st, you can pick your own pumpkins, a themed “Haunted Adventure,” and attend magic shows. The farm also features hay mazes, a craft barn and a petting zoo. Tickets range from $6 (on weekdays) to $11 (on weekends). Children under 2 enter for free.

Screen One Monthly Film Series

Running on the Wednesday and Thursday of the month, the Screen One film series plays a showcase of international gems all year. October will host Learning to Drive, a comedy with Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley who bond over driving lessons. Tickets cost $10 for adults, and $8 for students and seniors.

Autumn Harvest

On October 3^rd, you can enjoy a fresh autumn afternoon at Memorial Square in downtown Barrie. With free face painting, wagon rides and games, as well as free apple cider between 10am and 2pm. It’s fun for the whole family.

18^th Annual Barrie Film Festival

Now in its 18^th year, the Barrie Film Festival runs for 10 days, from the 16^th to the 25^th of October. Featuring more than 20 of the finest films from Canada and around the world, with an opening Night Party on October 16, a Short Film Competition showcase/awards presentation the 17^th with Q&As with special guests. They have yet to release the full schedule, so be sure to check back.

Think About Moving to Barrie, Ontario

Simply pick up the phone and call the experts at Previn Court Homes.

Scheduling an appointment is the best way to get all of your questions about the real estate market answered. It’s the first step to purchasing the home of your dreams. Why not get started today?

We all know and have probably experienced the “phantom bid.” “I know you need to think about it, but I’ve already got a lot of interest from different people.” “You really should buy now, it probably won’t be here next week.” Even though it can be easy to spot the scam artists, proving it’s a scam was a different story. Until now.

Under new Ontario legislation, it is illegal to imply any kind of offer has been made, unless the offer is in writing and is signed. No offer is valid until it is signed, regardless of individual circumstances. Agents will also be required to keep record of every offer on file for 12 months, so that any customers who suspect they were duped can make sure one way or another.

New Laws for the “Phantom Bid”

The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) have been tasked with enforcing these new rules and protecting customers from unscrupulous real estate agents. Prior to this, they did receive complaints about phantom bids, but very few: “We don’t believe that it’s a rampant practice. But if it happens, it’s very serious and we would take it very seriously,” according to Joseph Richer, RECO registrar.

The current chaos in the Toronto housing market is being credited with creating the surplus of phantom bids by using the surplus of buyers and dearth of properties on the market to cover their tracks. Under this new legislation, anyone caught can be fined up to $50,000 or face two years in jail. On the other hand, they could simply face a disciplinary committee, who can order them into educational courses or fine them $25000. These are very harsh punishments for an agent to potentially face.

Protecting Home Buyers

President and chief executive of Royal LePage, Phil Soper, believes other provinces will introduce similar laws. “What tends to happen is that one province will put something in place . . . and it’ll spread to other provinces,” said Soper. “The regulators in the provinces tend to keep in pretty tight step with each other in terms of how legislation is developing.” Despite this, officials across the other provinces have been quick to point out that they haven’t received that many complaints, and do not believe that their real estate agencies are in need of tighter regulations.

So far, the pre-existing legislative tools have proven sufficient to police the world of real estate in other provinces, and there is no sign of further interference from provincial governments.

Looking for a New Home?

At Previn Court Homes, we know that home buyers are looking for a residence that will make them feel both physically and financially comfortable.  Learn more about our beautiful affordable new homes to buy, or contact us to register for priority updates and special offers, and find the perfect home for your budget.

July saw a record number of Toronto-area homes sold, with an average selling price of $609,236 for the month.

According to Mark McClean, Real Estate Board President: “9,880 homes sold in the Greater Toronto area in July 2015, representing an 8 per cent increase from the sales in July 2014.”

According to a recently released report, the sales broke the sales record for July, a month that’s typically slower for the real estate industry. “It is important to point out that home ownership demand has been driven not only by low borrowing costs, but also by the fact that the GTA economy has been performing quite well,” McLean said in the report.

Sky High Real Estate Prices in Toronto

The TREB report found that the average sale price in the GTA was $609,236 for the month of July, up 10.6 per cent from July 2014, when the average was $550,625. Even though the average sale price reached a record high in July, prices are actually lower than the average price in June.

According to these findings, the city of Toronto is set to break the record for number of homes sold in a year, previously set in 2007. The previous record was 93,193 homes sold, with an average selling price of $327,236. With this report, TREB has recorded 64,514 sales in 2015. Records have consistently been broken across the year, with April, May, June and July all exceeding expectations. Additionally, monthly sales have been higher year-over-year every month of 2015, when compared to last year’s sales.

Expensive Condos

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation have stated that a surge in condo construction pushed Canada’s housing starts figure to its highest level of the year in August, at 196,565.

We’ve all heard the stories about crazy house sales in Toronto, like the eight feet wide three storey property that features a garden, balcony and a sauna that’s currently on the market for $750,000. Or the dilapidated house on the Beaches that sold for more than a million, despite not being hooked up to hydro, with holes in the roof and animals inhabiting a few floors and just generally being deemed “uninhabitable.”

The fact is, the Toronto real estate market is heating up, with no sign of cooldown coming any time soon. According to TREB, the rate of sales growth is outpacing the rate of listings growth by a wide margin. In a release, Jason Mercer, TREB’s director of market analysis, stated: “As long as this situation persists, expect home prices to trend strongly upward.”

Tired of Living in Toronto?

Toronto has definitely lost its groove. Its no longer the jewel it used to be. As such, now is the perfect time to leave Toronto. One of the best places to live outside of Toronto is Alliston. If you’re ready to move, we at Previn Court build a home for you. With over 35 years of experience, we have built homes for over a thousand families, including detached, townhome, and unique attached single units, and we can help you find the perfect home for you.

Take a tour of our incredible models, or contact us today for more to let us know your needs in terms of bathrooms, bedrooms and budget.

Race to the Bottom

There isn’t a single buyer who benefits from a bidding war. When two or more purchasers enter into a bidding war for a home, only the sellers win. Real estate markets with intense competition, in particular big cities like Toronto, can result in a difficult buying process that ends up inflating the cost of real estate.

The economics are simple: demand for a limited resource always ends up in a price spike, regardless of whether or not the commodity is worth the price. In order to get the best bang for your buck when buying a home, avoiding competing buyers helps to reduce the cost of your investment.

Have Your Own Home Built

Get a new home built just for you, without the need to worry about other people bidding it out of your clutches. You can lock up your dream home in nearly developed areas, such as the ones we offer.

These types of homes are built strategically to provide fantastic quality and a neighbourhood plan ideal for families. Since many of these projects take place on parcels of underdeveloped land, builders choose locations that are far enough from hectic locations, but close enough to enjoy the conveniences of the big city.

Previn Court has been creating custom homes and building neighbourhoods from scratch since the 1970s.

Avoid Hot Markets

For several years, Canadian real estate has been in a continuous boom, with prices and demand for homes rising on a consistent basis. Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary have witnessed some of the strongest gains, which have resulted in skyrocketing prices, restricted availability and frantic development of condos to help cater to rising demand.

As a whole, over the past decade, the Canadian real estate market has accelerated rapidly, party due to Canada’s reputation as a steady economic performer during times of international economical strife. The influx of foreign investment attracted by Canadian economic stability, especially in Vancouver and Toronto, has resulted in massive quantities of real estate inventory snapped up in expectation of profit.

When you attempt to enter incandescent markets, you increase the risk of being burned by the intensity of the competition for limited housing stock. Finding areas that are adjacent to hot markets can result in a solid investment, particularly when buying a newly constructed home that guarantees you don’t have to worry about previous occupants.

Are You Interested in Buying a Home in Alliston?

Are you tired of living in downtown Toronto? Are you considering buying a home in Alliston? We can help. With over 35 years of experience, we have built homes for over a thousand families, including detached, townhome, and unique attached single units, and we can help you find the perfect home for you.

Contact us to let us know your desired number of bathrooms and bedrooms, as well as your budget, and we’ll send you priority updates and special offers on our beautiful new homes.

When making the all-important decision of choosing the neighbourhood in which your family lives, selecting the type of surroundings that your child is exposed to is one of the most pressing concerns.

While big city life does offer a variety of cultural and educational offerings that can enrich your child, the hustle and bustle of city life may also be a distraction. Big cities have plenty of pollution that has proven to be damaging to the physical development of children, in particular their cardiovascular system.

This has lead families looking to purchase a home to ask themselves: is it better to raise kids in a small community, or shell out the cash to buy a home in the big city?

Extreme Living

The pros and cons of big-city living have mostly to do with the population density that big cities are known for. When millions of people pack into geographic locales of limited space, the large number of people who live in close proximity rises significantly. Instead of a few families living on a sleepy cul-de-sac, there’s a good chance that dozens occupy a small amount of real estate, especially in a condo setting.

This extreme population density attracts many of the best and brightest to the city, giving your family the chance to meet many of the brightest people in the province. Opportunities for education and culture increase, as the promise of large audiences draw some of the best artists and performers from around the country.

The Evolution of Small Communities

Despite the perceived cultural and educational gap between big cities and smaller communities, the differences between the two have shrunk. Small communities recognize more and more the importance of culture and education for their citizens. As a result, big cities are no longer the only place for children and adults to engage in great cultural events.

At the same time, moving into a smaller community results in a quiet, more laid-back lifestyle. Rather than the noise of traffic, police and human industry, families can enjoy peace and quiet away from dense populations.

Another huge benefit is the reduction of pollution that you and your family experience living away from heavy traffic and industrial activity. Dozens of studies show the health difficulties children face when surrounded by air pollution, increasing the number and severity of asthma cases, among other health issues.

Small communities, especially ones located far from pollution but close to amenities, provide the best of both worlds. Builders such as Previn Court houses create master-planned communities that give home buyers the option of bringing their families into small neighborhoods which provide easy living for their loved ones.

Want to Raise Your Kids in Alliston?

If you want to raise your kids in a small community, you should consider buying a home in Alliston. At Previn Court, we are proud to present our beautiful community of Victorian Village Alliston. An exquisite collection of 32′ & 40′ designs that reflect the unique Victorian architecture found in Alliston with updated details that will make this the most desireable new community.

Contact us today more information about buying a home in Alliston.

Parents looking for the best environment in which to raise a child have to weigh the pros and cons of buying a home versus purchasing a condo.

A variety of factors come into play, such as cost, convenience, market conditions and availability, but for most parents, the most crucial variables involves finding the best place to raise and develop their child. One of the biggest advantages of purchasing a home revolves around the benefits of having a yard for your children.

Healthy Development

An important part of a child’s growth takes place during the time they spend playing outdoors, discovering the natural world that surrounds them. Providing your family with a yard is one of the safest ways of facilitating this sort of growth, in particular when your kid is young.

Large yards that feature trees, bushes and vegetation introduce your child to the natural world. In fact, studies show that children who play in the dirt enjoy a variety of developmental boosts, including a stronger immune system, improved mood and a reduction in obesity, depression and disorders like ADD and ADHD.

Children who grow up in condos tend to be surrounded by a landscape dominated by concrete and glass. This can make it difficult as a parent to expose your children to nature, especially when living in a downtown metropolis.

Leaving a Legacy

When you purchase a house that includes a yard, especially a large space with plenty of greenery, the value of your investment is much more stable than if you purchased a condo. A survey conducted by the National Association of Landscape Professionals revealed that home buyers possess an overwhelming demand for green space when they consider the purchase of a domestic property.

Nine out of ten respondents revealed a preference for abodes adjacent to grass, plants, trees and other features of natural landscapes. In terms of the importance of living close to green space, 91% of respondents answered that it’s important to live close to natural spaces, while 60% believe that it’s very important to do so.

Condos simply cannot meet this demand. While there are other factors that are important when it comes to the value of real estate, the fact that home buyers seek to have some sort of connection with nature results in reduced perception of the value of condos.

Previn Court Homes have a portfolio of real estate that offer fantastic yards, green spaces and investment value. Contact us to learn more about terrific houses that match the needs of your family.

Buy Your Family a Home in Alliston

If you have a big family, you should definitely buy a home with a yard as opposed to buying a condo. If you’re an Alliston resident, we at Previn Court can build one for you. We know that home buyers are looking for a residence that will make them feel both physically and financially comfortable.  Learn more about our beautiful affordable new homes to buy, or contact us to register for priority updates and special offers, and find the perfect home for your budget.

Back in the 1950s, Toronto was considered one of the most dull cities on earth. The 1960s and 1970s helped transform the city from a stolid town into a dynamic cultural center that’s currently on the precipice of being an international presence.

Unfortunately, city planners likely didn’t foresee the rapid growth in population and influence that Toronto has enjoyed. This has resulted in a variety of problems that have yet to be addressed, causing residents to seek a new place to live.

Here are four of the biggest signs that it’s time for you to leave Toronto.

Population Increase

Roughly speaking, the Greater Toronto Area attracts more than 100,000 new residents on a yearly basis, which increases the stress that the city’s infrastructure experiences. The addition of a million residents every decade or so requires huge investments in infrastructure such as transportation.

Unfortunately, due to the municipal, provincial and federal government dragging their feet on investing in Toronto’s roads and public transit system, the city has developed a variety of issues that are proving difficult to solve.

Sprawl

Instead of taking advantage of the many wide open spaces that Torontonian geography provides, builders have been taking the approach of completing projects that waste land which could have be put to more fruitful use. The growth of population in the GTA hasn’t been administered appropriately, which has resulted in a large amount of development spreading across longer greater areas.

Traffic Gridlock

The combination of an increase in population without adding additional infrastructure has resulted in a commute that’s considered among the worst in North America. Billions of dollars of productivity are lost on an annual basis as drivers sit on the Don Valley Parkway, Highway 401, the Gardiner Expressway and the Queen Elizabeth Way for a couple of hours every day.

Housing Prices

Along with Vancouver and Calgary, Toronto has witnessed some of the most extreme inflation in real estate prices, including both condos and house sales. This spike in price has made it extremely difficult for non-millionaires who wish to buy the home. Families living off off an average middle-class income can no longer afford to buy houses, and have been forced to look at the condo market or even the rental market to provide a housing solution.

Thankfully, there are plenty of options to consider when you make the decision to leave Toronto. Companies such as Previn Court develop real estate projects that give people the opportunity to pursue their dream of owning the home.

Tired of Living in Toronto?

Toronto has definitely lost its groove. Its no longer the jewel it used to be. As such, now is the perfect time to leave Toronto. One of the best places to live outside of Toronto is Alliston. If you’re ready to move, we at Previn Court build a home for you. With over 35 years of experience, we have built homes for over a thousand families, including detached, townhome, and unique attached single units, and we can help you find the perfect home for you.

Take a tour of our incredible models, or contact us today for more to let us know your needs in terms of bathrooms, bedrooms and budget.