Відео

It's fascinating to reflect on how the loft market has evolved over the years. Back then, who could have predicted the soaring value of these lofts today? I completely agree with your observation about the smaller lofts at the Merchandise Lofts-they really were like bowling alleys with no windows. Your experience with touring Merchandise and Candy Factory during their conversion days highlights some key points. The Merchandise Lofts, the smaller lofts often had those awkward and impractical designs, like the 3 steps up/down in the entrance hall and the very long hallway leading to the living area. And yes, back in 1999, the area was pretty underdeveloped, with Rabba Foods on Wellesley being one of the few nearby shopping options and many homeless shelters and Filmores, was just a few steps away. The Candy Factory Lofts did have some nice units, but their high prices and carrying costs made them less appealing compared to houses at the time. It's interesting to note that they struggled to sell 1-2 years after occupancy. It's great to see these lofts still being popular today, as discussed in the video. Their journey from new and challenging real estate options to highly sought-after properties is quite a story!

Love that name!

Khaled, thank you for your support. It means alot to me.

Glad it was helpful!

That's an interesting take! Toronto's rich definitely seem to keep a lower profile compared to the flashy lifestyles you see in Dubai. Do you think this more subtle approach to wealth changes how people perceive Toronto compared to a city like Dubai?

@SellingReality I think the wealthy in West are just old-school focused on wealth preservation, risk management, and rationality - and the country is ageing. In Canada you will see millionnaires who are 50 to 60 year old who worked hard in their 30s - whereas in the Arab world - you have young Arab Prince who will often have 10-20 brothers and sisters - wealth gets divided but spending does not. Also, wealthy billionnaires in the West, like Mark Zuckerberg or Jeff Bezos - tend to keep low profile - maybe because we live in a democratic society , and wealthy are often critisized for not paying taxes or good salaries/wages. A CEO in a western company is more answerable. Very few westerners behave like Donald Trump, who would brag about evading taxes and spending millions on golf (not being political here, just stating an opinion) Another cultural issue - I have seen millionnaires in Canada fixing their garages in the weekends - you don't see that in Asia - they hire workers to do that for you. Speaks a lot about humility- and I am complimenting Western mentality here.

@@ahmedzakikhan7639 You make some great points about how wealth is handled differently around the world. It's true that in the West, wealthy people often keep a low profile and focus on preserving their wealth, while in other regions, there's more of a display of luxury. In Canada, it's not unusual to see millionaires doing their own home repairs, which shows a lot about their humility. I actually talked about this in a video about "stealth wealth" in Toronto.ua-cam.com/video/XKEljhkYuJc/v-deo.html If you're interested, you should check it out! Have you noticed any other differences in how wealth is displayed around the world?

@@SellingReality Your content is really good and unique in its own way. I will definitely check.

@@ahmedzakikhan7639 Thank you I appreciate your support.

Not everyone might be a fan, but which Toronto lofts do you prefer?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Everyone's taste in music is different, and I respect that. I'm glad you took the time to watch the video nonetheless. What kind of music do you usually like? I'm always open to suggestions for future videos!

If you go to the 'Plan Your Trip' and then check times from Clarkson to Union starting at 6:30 in the morning on a weekday you'll see the express trains. I think they leave every 15 minutes and there's 7 or 8 in a row.

Very very little. I'm not an expert on this but I see the Port Credit River as probably a main source of run-off from the city entering the Lake but there are now very strict environmental controls and expensive fines. I paddle board on the lake in the summer but I wouldn't go swimming in it as other people do.

Yes, the sewage treatment plans can smell quite bad, especially on warm summer days but the city of Mississauga is investing $26m to make improvements to control the smell. I've seen this done at Toronto treatment facilities and now I can't smell them anymore. There's a big development going in very close so I expect the smell issue has to be dealt with.

I lived in Long Branch area for 5 years (38th Street / Lakeshore). I don't recall ever smelling sewage. Where were you exactly?

@@wadexyz It was near No Frills

@@BerezhnyiOleg that store was very close to where i lived, hmm, i just don't recall that. i was south of lakeshore by about 50 meters. it was a KFC then, but now it's a Tim's. the thing about Long Branch that's good is the proximity to downtown via GO. Clarkson is a bit more of a haul for sure.

Most middle-class Canadians find these neighborhoods out of reach and are drawn to the US for better affordability and value. Where are you from?

@@SellingReality Phoenix, where housing values are inflating partly because of monied Californians, Canadians, and investors buying homes here. Of course, for those of us who have been here for decades and who didn't make their money in places like Canada and California, housing is now unaffordable for anyone who didn't get on the property ladder decades ago and rents have gone through the roof. Fortunately, I bought a foreclosure in 2010, sold it for a good profit nine years later, and used the profit as a large down payment on a condo closer to downtown. But young people from here have zero chance at ever owning any home, let alone one like the ones in this video.

@@timward3116 Absolutely, you've really hit the nail on the head with that observation. It's a tough situation all around. I can imagine how frustrating it must be for young buyers in Phoenix, watching the dream of homeownership slip further away. Your own journey with the foreclosure and condo purchase is quite the rollercoaster, but it's great to hear you found a way to navigate the market. It's just a shame that it's getting trickier for others to follow suit. This conversation definitely needs to keep going-it's too important to ignore.

@@SellingReality I'm not a smart investor type. Just cautious. And I have always tried to buy less than I seemed to be able to afford because, well, you never know when plague and pestilence are going to hit, LOL. Really, I just kind of felt my way in the dark and was fortunate. Here, my very modest 1975 condo (863 sq. ft) has increased at LEAST 60% in value in five years and my mortgage payment is literally one-quarter the going rent (thanks to a low interest rate and a big downpayment). But I honestly don't know how anyone under 40 survives unless they're married and have two incomes. I loved the neighborhoods in your video, though. Just beautiful! And the homes are spectacular. Very fun to watch!

Hi Tim, Many young buyers in Toronto are leveraging the "Bank of Mom and Dad" to enter the market. Parents are remortgaging their homes and providing substantial down payments as gifts. Have you begun to observe a similar trend emerging in Phoenix?@@timward3116

@thecityplanner Yeah, it's like trying to swim upstream when the pronunciation doesn't match the spelling, right?

You're right, my video really refers to families worth hundreds of millions which are much more plentiful but I did use the word billionaire in my title. I do think there are a lot more billionaires than 18 in the GTA though, I live in a nice Mississauga suburb of 750 homes and I know 2 or maybe 3 families are billionaires but not on any public lists and prefer anonymity.

Thanks!

Thank you for your support.

Thank you for the suggestion Oleg. I'll keep that in mind. Do you have any other content ideas? I'd love to hear from you.

@@SellingReality The rating of developers and its importance when buying a property. Top districts with the best schools in Toronto. I would also be interested in videos about the Port Credit and Long Branch areas. Interesting GTA districts that can be reached by GO Train in less than an hour.

@@BerezhnyiOleg These are all great content ideas. I'll take them into consideration. I'm working on a video for Port Credit. Slava Ukraini!

Thank you for the support. The Canadian Government needs a national policy to build more housing in the cities and end single family zoning to support the growing population. If Japan was able to do it in Tokyo, Canada can do it in Toronto.

Glad it was helpful!

How much is the cost Elizabeth!

@@cynthiarandall5393 Depends on the loft building and location. For example, the last sale at The Candy Factory sold in April 2024 for $944 a sq ft. It was a renovated 1 bedroom 1228 sq ft with parking for $1,160,000.