Courtesy of Stuart Gass

Stuart W. Gass Sales Representative, ABR ® , SRES ® , RENE Office: 416.391.3232 | Cell: 416.200.2020 gass@sympatico.ca www.StuartGass.com FULL TIME SALES REPRESENTATIVE SINCE 2003

Volume 16 | Number 2

INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS FOR 2023 A group of top interior design experts put their collective creative heads together and determined that these will be some of the most sought-after design features this year. Multi-purpose Room : Having a room that serves more than one function is a design feature experts feel is here to stay. A living room can also be a games room if you bring in the pool table, or the entertainment room if that ’s where the big screen TV is located. Many clients of the top designers want their homes designed in such a way that any room in the house could fulfill more than one function. Sustainability : The concept of sustainability has become a way of life. This includes making sustainable choices inside our own homes. Many designers and builders have embraced the sustainability movement by constructing homes that are both energy efficient and non-polluting, far beyond anything constructed before. Reduce, reuse and recycle has become the mantra of many in Canada – a movement that includes everything from LED lightbulbs to incorporating vintage furniture in a design rather than purchasing new items. Open Floor Plans : While not every designer agrees, the bulk still believe that wide open space in the form of an open floor plan is still the preferred design choice. One school of thought says an open plan is yesterday’s choice, but for many the clean open expanse from the kitchen to the living room is a welcome contrast to the cloistered, private workspaces often found in modern offices.

MEATLOAF: THE PERFECT COMFORT FOOD

Courtesy of www.natashaskitchen.com

MEATLOAF INGREDIENTS: 2 lbs lean ground beef 1 med. onion, finely chopped 2 large eggs 3 garlic cloves, minced 3 tbsp ketchup 3 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped

GLAZE INGREDIENTS: ¾ cup ketchup 1½ tsp white vinegar 2½ tbsp brown sugar 1 tsp garlic powder ½ tsp onion powder ¼ tsp ground black pepper ¼ tsp salt

¾ cup Panko breadcrumbs 1 / 3 cup milk 1½ tsp salt, or to taste 1½ tsp Italian seasoning ¼ tsp ground black pepper ½ tsp ground paprika

DIRECTIONS: 1. Line a 9”x5” loaf pan with parchment paper and preheat oven to 375˚F. 2. In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients for the meatloaf. Mix well to combine. 3. Add meat to the loaf pan, gently press meat down and shape evenly and bake meatloaf at 375˚F for 40 minutes. 4. In a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients together for the sauce. Spread the sauce over meatloaf then return to oven and bake an additional 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature is 160˚F. Rest meatloaf 10 minutes before slicing. Drizzle with baking juices from the pan.

" WHEN A TRADITION GATHERS ENOUGH STRENGTH TO GO ON FOR CENTURIES, YOU DON’T JUST TURN IT OFF ONE DAY.” -Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian novelist, poet and critic who is regarded as the dominant figure of modern African literature. His first novel and magnum opus, ‘Things Fall Apart ’ (1958), occupies a pivotal place in African literature and remains the most widely studied, translated and read African novel.

OLD IDEAS ARE FINDING NEW LIFE IN OUR MODERN WORLD

What ’s old is new again – it ’s an adage that many Canadians now know as they have either rediscovered, or learned for the first time, the value and pleasure that comes from making goods and products with their own hands. As therapy, as hobbies, and in some cases as homebased businesses, a myriad of different products and practices have been saved from creative extinction thanks to the dedicated effort of crafters from coast to coast to coast. Basket weaving, has now found a fascinated audience. Using fibers as diverse as reeds, grasses and even synthetic materials, artists are producing beautiful and practical items that could include everything from simple baskets, to mats, art pieces and even furniture. Another resurrected Canadian craft is candle-making. What was once a farmhouse necessity is today a creative and often lucrative hobby or business. Working with everything from paraffin and beeswax to such exotics as gels and even soy, home made candles bring light, warmth and aroma into a home.

Ceramic enthusiasts have once again discovered the potter’s wheel and the joy of shaping wet clay into something that could potentially last for centuries. Ceramic societies have sprung up, and college level courses are regularly taught to provide knowledge and inspiration to those with a yearning to create.

HOMEOWNERS HAVE CHOICE WITH

ROOFING MATERIAL

A key part of the structure, look and efficiency of any home is its roof. But as no two people are the same, so it goes with the choice of roofing material used in the construction of Canadian homes. These are some of the common roofing materials employed by contemporary builders. Clay or Concrete Tiles can add a combination of texture and elegance to a roof. Coming in a variety of colours and styles, you can choose designs that are flat, scalloped or ribbed in appearance. Clay and concrete tiles help to regulate indoor temperatures, are great for shedding water and are highly durable. However, these tiles are very heavy and cannot be supported by all roof structures. Consult an engineer if you are thinking about clay or concrete tiles for your home.

Asphalt Shingles are one of the most common materials used in roofing today. Relatively inexpensive to produce and straightforward to install, asphalt shingle roofs are used throughout North America and are suitable for a wide range of architectural styles. Metal Roofs are highly resistant to extreme weather conditions, and are in use across the country on everything from sub-urban homes to log cabins. Metal roofs normally come in one of two different styles. Panels or shingles and can be constructed of different materials including aluminum, copper, stainless steel and even zinc.

BRAIN TEASERS Courtesy of www.rd.com 1. No matter how little or how much you use me, you change me every month. What am I? 2. Spelled forwards I’m what you do every day, spelled backward I’m something you hate. What am I?

3. I have branches, but no fruit, trunk or leaves. What am I? 4. Two in a corner, one in a room, zero in a house, but one in a shelter. What am I? Mathdoku Complete the puzzle by entering the numb s 1 through 9 in each empty white cell. Each number will be used exactly once, a d there is only one unique solution that will satisfy all six equations. Good luck!

1. A calendar 2. Live 3. Bank 4. The letter “R.”

Answers:

= 17

×

+

MATHDOKU Complete the puzzle by entering the numbers 1 through 9 in each empty white cell. Each number will be used exactly once, and there is only one unique solution that will satisfy all six equations. Good luck!

–

–

×

7

÷

+

=

+

+

+

= 10

–

+

=

=

=

7

12

23

Courtesy of www.printable-puzzles.com

Puzzle ID: UUJ642U7

Moderate

Toronto January Market Report

$1,486,124 detached DOWN 21.2% year-to-year

$711,171 condo/apartment DOWN 6.5% year-to-year

$827,974 condo/townhouse DOWN 13.1% year-to-year

AVERAGE SALE PRICES

3,010 NEW LISTINGS 1,108 SOLD LISTINGS

detached 714

179 condo/town.

48.1% SALES TO NEW LISTING RATIO

31 DAYS ON MARKET

2.2 MONTHS OF INVENTORY

ACTIVE LISTINGS (residential inventory) 3,880

GTA REALTORS ® Release, February 3, 2023 – As we moved from 2022 into 2023, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) housing market unfolded as expected. The number of January sales and the overall average selling price were similar to December 2022. On a year-over-year basis, both sales and prices were down markedly, continuing to highlight the impact of higher borrowing costs on affordability over the last year. “Home sales and selling prices appear to have found some support in recent months. This coupled with the Bank of Canada announcement that interest rate hikes are likely on hold for the foreseeable future will prompt some buyers to move off the sidelines in the coming months. Record population growth and tight labour market conditions will continue to support housing demand moving forward,” said Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) President Paul Baron. GTA REALTORS ® reported 3,100 sales through TRREB’s MLS ® System in January 2023 – in line with the December 2022 result of 3,110, but down 44.6 percent from January 2022. The average selling price for January 2023 at $1,038,668 was slightly lower than the December 2022 result and down by 16.4 percent compared to the January 2022 average price reported before the onset

of Bank of Canada interest rate hikes. The MLS ® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark was in line with the December result, but down by 14.2 percent compared to January 2022. “Home prices declined over the past year as homebuyers sought to mitigate the impact of substantially higher borrowing costs. While short-term borrowing costs increased again in January, negotiated medium-term mortgage rates, like the five-year fixed rate, have actually started to trend lower compared to the end of last year. The expectation is that this trend will continue, further helping with affordability as we move through 2023,” said TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer. “All three levels of government have announced policies to enhance housing affordability over the long term, including many initiatives focused on increasing housing supply in the ownership and rental markets. Most recently, we were encouraged to see Toronto City Council support the Mayor’s 2023 Housing Action Plan as part of the City’s overall $2 billion commitment to housing initiatives,” said TRREB CEO John DiMichele. Statistics reflect market activity in Jan. 2023 | 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.

Stuart W. Gass Sales Representative, ABR ® , SRES ® , RENE

Complimentary Market Evaluation Call today and I will be happy to provide a professional market evaluation of your property, at no cost or obligation. This service will assist you in determining the market value of your real estate holdings.

gass@sympatico.ca www.StuartGass.com

Cell: 416.200.2020 Toronto: 416.391.3232 Durham: 905.665.2500

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