A Town called Ajax
On September 10, 1939, Canada declared war on Germany. On that day, the present site of the Town of Ajax was peaceful rolling farmland nestled on the edge of Lake Ontario in Pickering Township. The first white settlers had arrived to start their new life in a new land 150 years prior. In 1941, this farmland became the site of Defence Industries Limited (D.I.L.), Pickering Works, a vast shell filling plant that employed over 9,000 people at peak production and created 30 miles of railroad and 30 miles of roads. People came from all over Canada to work at D.I.L.
The community name came from the first significant British naval victory of World War 11. HMS Ajax and her sister ships engaged and routed the powerful German pocket battleship Graf Spee at the Battle of the River Plate, becoming worldwide symbols of courage and determination. Ajax was chosen as the name of this war-born community.
In 1945, World War II ended. As the young veterans returned home, accommodation was required for thousands of additional university students. Consequently, the University of Toronto leased much of the D.I.L. plant to house the new flood of engineering students. By 1949, the last year of the University of Toronto, Ajax Division, some 7,000 engineering students had received their basic training here.
Many people who worked or lived in Ajax wanted to remain here. Ajax became a planned modern community using the wartime base for its post-war foundation. Industry and people came from everywhere to take advantage of the many assets of Ajax - its schools, its churches, its hospital, its steam plant, its comprehensive planning, its geography - close to Toronto but setting a separate pace - and its friendly, industrious, involved citizens.
The history of Ajax is everywhere as most of the streets in Ajax are named after the crew and officers of the HMS Ajax. The main street, Harwood Ave., is named for Commodore Henry H. Harwood, commander of HMS Ajax, HMS Exeter and HMS Achilles. On some streets you can find a tree dedicated to the veteran after whom it is named.
Our unique history can be explored in walking tours of the town. Harwood Points Gardens show the early history of Ajax, including its pre-naming era when it was home to Defence Industries Limited. Pickering Village offers a different glimpse on the past. Among the early settlers to the area, once known simply as Duffins Creek, was Timothy Rogers, a prominent Quaker and colonizer who built a saw and grist-mill in 1809. A historical plaque commemorates the area`s founding. A walking tour of Pickering Village reveals many historically significant buildings and cemeteries.
Ajax has over 465 acres of parkland and natural areas throughout the town. The Lake Ontario waterfront, the longest undeveloped waterfront in the Toronto area, provides kilometers of walking and bike trails. Greenwood Conservation Area offers hiking, a clear-running creek perfect for rainbow trout fishing, picnic shelters and washrooms. Test your skill on a par 72 Championship course, or test your luck and cheer on your favourites at Picov Downs Horse Race Track.
September 13, 2007 in The Town of Ajax | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Wyndam Manor in Ajax
Wyndam Manor is in every sense a Master Planned Community. From quiet, tree-lined streets to meandering walking paths and neighbourhood parks, every aspect of the community has been carefully designed to create an exceptional residential masterpiece.
There are so many great reasons to call Wyndham Manor home. Along with a convenient location, just minutes from the town centre of Ajax, a great selection of traditional upper Canada inspired new home designs is offered within this charming collection of private neighbourhoods.
Set behind a natural stone and wrought iron gated entry, quiet tree-lined streets feature innovative traffic calming devices including roundabouts. Wyndham Manor will also offer a centrally located community park, a protected woodlot, proposed separate and public schools, as well as an extensive network of walking and biking trails.
And of course, with its convenient access to Hwy 401 and the GO Train, Wyndham Manor is simply perfect for commuters.
February 20, 2007 in Buying an Ajax Home | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
About Durham Region
The Region of Durham is situated in the highly developed and populated economic centre of Ontario, known as the Golden Horseshoe, that stretches from Oshawa to Niagara Falls. Durham Region lies immediately to the east of the City of Toronto within the Greater Toronto Area and encompasses an area of approximately 2,590 square kilometres (1,000 square miles). The area is characterized by a variety of landscapes and communities. A series of major lakeshore urban communities contrast with a variety of small towns, villages, hamlets and farms that lie immediately inland. The relatively flat lakeshore area marked by the bluffs, wooded creeks and ancient shoreline, features contrasts with the hummocky topography of the Oak Ridges Moraine running parallel to the shoreline only 15 miles to the north. This diverse landscape of woods, headwaters, ridges and hollows gives way to rolling farmlands and lakes to the north. Here the Municipality spreads into the prime recreational lakelands of Simcoe, Scugog and the Kawarthas.
The Region lies along a continuous urbanized lakeshore and shares prime access to the Great Lakes and northeastern markets of the continent, encompassing some 120 million persons. The area is well known for the strength of its manufacturing sector that is continually undergoing rapid diversification. Durham is endowed with a young, skilled labour force. It has all the utilities, transportation and social infrastructure associated with modern metropolitan communities. The single most significant economic factor for the Region has been the dramatic increase in residential development.
See the homes for sale in Durham Region »
February 11, 2007 in Region of Durham | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
MLS home sales set records
The resale housing industry in Durham Region finished the year with the second highest record of sales while posting all-time highs for average prices, dollar volume, and number of listings reported the Durham Region Real Estate Board.
"2006 was another sound year with a slight increase in sales volume and a marginal sales price up trend," stated President Lloyd Elliott.
Although the month of December's statistics were all down from November's numbers, the number of sales for the year of single family dwellings was up 1.3 per cent to 9,157 over 9,043 in 2005.
The average price of a home in Durham Region in 2006 crept up 2.3 per cent to $257,850 from $252,115 last year and posted an all-time high for average prices in the area.
The dollar volume followed suit with highest ever volumes for the year of $2,361,128,561 reflecting an increase of 3.6 per cent over $2,279,876,755 in 2005.
The number of listings on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in 2006 set a record at 18,099, a 9.5 per cent jump from 16,523 last year.
Homes sold in an average of 43 days during the year and for 98 per cent of the listed price.
"With a balanced market leading into 2007 Durham's housing market should continue to maintain it's present course," suggested Elliott. "However, the litmus test will be the continuation of acceptable mortgage rates, (1/2 point lower by mid-season) and strong migration from other provincial regions."
January 25, 2007 in Region of Durham | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Designation Hicksite Cemetery
The Town of Ajax intends to designate the property being the Quaker Cemetery, also known as the Hicksite Cemetery, on Kingston Road in Ajax, as a property of historical value or interest under The Ontario Heritage Act. A By-law to designate the property is scheduled to be before Ajax Town Council at its regular meeting to be held February 12, 2007.
Reasons for Designation:
The Hicksite Cemetery is of cultural heritage value as one of the oldest graveyards in the Town of Ajax, and as the only cemetery established by a breakaway faction of the Society of Friends (Quakers) known as the Hicksites. The Hicksites were founded by an American Quaker, Elias Hicks, who emigrated from Vermont. In 1834 a brick meeting house was built on the site, which served the Hicksite Friends until it was destroyed by fire in 1931.
The cemetery is typical of Quaker burial grounds with its plain white headstones standing in neat rows, in marked contrast to non-Quaker cemeteries where many of the stones are much larger and more elaborate. There are just over 100 graves in this cemetery.
Additional information on the proposed designation is available at the Clerks Department of the Town of Ajax.
January 17, 2007 in Ajax Administration | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
The Select Plan Story
Fraser Beach began his real estate career in 1977, working as a salesman in Pickering Village. After two years of successful selling, he obtained a broker's licence and moved on to become a branch manager. He subsequently established successful new branch offices for two major brokerage firms and later became the senior marketing executive of one of those firms. At the same time he continued his formal real estate education, completing the qualifications for the F.R.I. and C.R.B. professional designations. After all of this, Fraser had established himself well, in a position most people would be happy to occupy until they could collect their pension.
But Fraser believed that changes were needed in the real estate brokerage business. The established firms were not meeting emerging demands of vendors for higher standards of quality and value. The real estate business was over populated with sales- people, all providing virtually the same service, for the same fee, to a declining number of home buyers and sellers.
It was a vicious circle. The inefficiency of too many salespeople chasing too little business sustained high commission fees. At the same time, the prospect of earning the high fees attracted more and more salespeople into the business. Vendors felt they were paying too much, while brokers and agents were earning less and less. The process had to become more efficient because no one was prospering.
Fraser believed the answer lay in eliminating the duplication of effort resulting from too many salespeople competing for the same inventory. Efficiency could also be improved by reducing overheads like the head office expenses of big brokerage organizations and the substantial franchise fees paid on the business done by franchised operations.
So, after years of working with the big names in the business Fraser decided to establish an alternative brokerage service. He would provide a full range of professional services but reduce much of the overhead expenses which burden the established firms. He could then offer the same services at a very attractive price.
Fraser reasoned that if he didn't have to spend time chasing after listings and could focus on the productive activity of marketing listed properties, he could afford to offer effective service at a much lower fee. And there would be equal incentive for all of the other Realtors to sell the company's listings because they would get the customary "co-operating" selling fee for their effort.
So in the summer of 1991, Fraser and his wife Joanne established Select/Plan Real Estate Inc in Pickering Village.
In returning to his roots, Fraser gave homeowners in Ajax, Pickering and Whitby the very best in professional service. The firm acquired all the computer tools, including direct links to the listing databases of MLS® services and the Internet. Thus, all of the Realtor MLS listings immediately go "on-line" to Realtors throughout Greater Toronto Area.
Cost savings and efficiency are not the only solutions for better value that Select/Plan gives its clients. As an Internet guru, Fraser uses that powerful medium to best effect. For example, Select-Plan promotes each property on high volume Internet portals. The internet exposure provides pictures and descriptions of property to the people who are most likely to buy them.
In November of 1999 Select-Plan moved to a state-of-the-art electronic office at 2 Ritchie Avenue - at the corner of Highway #2.
Our purpose is to combine the latest Internet technology with professional real estate services to effectively meet our clients every need ... and all at lower cost.
That's our story ... and we're sticking to it.
January 14, 2007 in Agency Matters | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Durham Region stats for 2006
The resale housing industry in Durham Region finished the year with the second highest record of sales while posting all-time highs for average prices, dollar volume and number of listings reported the Durham Region Real Estate Board. "2006 was another sound year with a slight increase in sales volume and a marginal sales price uptrend," stated Board President Lloyd Elliott.
Although the month of December’s statistics were all down from November’s numbers, the number of sales for the year of single family dwellings was up 1.3% to 9157 over 9043 in 2005.
The average price of a home in Durham Region in 2006 crept up 2.3% to $257,850 from $252,115 last year and posted an all-time high for average prices in the area.
The dollar volume followed suit with highest ever volumes for the year of $2,361,128,561 reflecting an increase of 3.6% over $2,279,876,755 in 2005.
The number of listings on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in 2006 set a record at 18,099, a 9.5% jump from 16,523 last year.
Homes sold in an average of 43 days during the year and for 98% of the listed price.
"With a balanced market leading into 2007 Durham’s housing market should continue to maintain it’s present course," suggested Elliott, "however, the litmus test will be the continuation of acceptable mortgage rates, (1/2 point lower by mid season) and strong migration from other provincial regions."
January 11, 2007 in Region of Durham | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Working with a Realtor®
When working with a REALTOR®, it is important to understand who the REALTOR® works for and to whom is the Broker/Agent is legally obligated? In a real estate transaction, there are different possible forms of agency relationship or representation.
1. Seller representation
When a real estate brokerage represents a seller, it must do what is best for the seller of a property. A written contract, called a listing agreement, creates an agency relationship between the seller and the brokerage and establishes seller representation. It also explains services the brokerage will provide, establishes a fee arrangement for the REALTOR’s services and specifies what obligations a seller may have.
A seller’s agent must tell the seller anything known about a buyer. For instance, if a seller’s agent knows a buyer is willing to offer more for a property, that information must be shared with the seller. Confidences a seller shares with a seller’s agent must be kept confidential from potential buyers and others. Although confidential information about the seller cannot be discussed, a buyer working with a seller's agent can expect fair and honest service from the seller’s agent and disclosure of pertinent information about the property.
2. Buyer representation
A real estate brokerage representing a buyer must do what is best for the buyer. A written contract, called a buyer representation agreement, creates an agency relationship between the buyer and the brokerage, and establishes buyer representation. It also explains services the brokerage will provide, establishes a fee arrangement for the REALTOR’s services and specifies what obligations a buyer may have.
Typically, buyers will be obliged to work exclusively with that brokerage for a period of time. Confidences a buyer shares with the buyer’s agent must be kept confidential. Although confidential information about the buyer cannot be disclosed, a seller working with a buyer’s agent can expect to be treated fairly and honestly.
3. Multiple representation
Occasionally a real estate brokerage will represent both the buyer and the seller. The buyer and seller must consent to this arrangement in writing. Under this multiple representation arrangement, the brokerage must do what is best for both the buyer and the seller.
Since the brokerage’s loyalty is divided between the buyer and the seller who have conflicting interests, it is absolutely essential that a multiple representation relationship be properly documented. Representation agreements specifically describe the rights and duties of everyone involved and any limitations to those rights and duties.
4. Customer service
A real estate brokerage may provide services to buyers and sellers without creating buyer or seller representation. This is called "customer service." Under this arrangement, the brokerage can provide many valuable services in a fair and honest manner. This relationship can be set out in a buyer or seller customer service agreement.
Real estate negotiations are often complex and a brokerage may be providing representation and/or customer service to more than one seller or buyer. The brokerage will disclose these relationships to each buyer and seller.
Who's working for you?
It is important that you understand who the REALTOR® is working for. For example, both the seller and the buyer may have their own agent which means they each have a REALTOR® who is representing them. Or, some buyers choose to contact the seller's agent directly. Under this arrangement the REALTOR" is representing the seller, and must do what is best for the seller, but may provide many valuable customer services to the buyer.
A REALTOR® working with a buyer may even be a "sub-agent" of the seller. Under sub-agency, both the listing brokerage and the co-operating brokerage must do what is best for the seller even though the subagent may provide many valuable customer services to the buyer.
If the brokerage represents both the seller and the buyer, this is multiple representation
Source: This information is based on a brochure "Working with a Realtor®" published by the Ontario Real Estate Association.
January 2, 2007 in Agency Matters | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Bonanza year for Oshawa
New university, muscle cars fuel Oshawa's optimism
Gary Polonsky, a man of vision and enthusiasm, lost two presidential positions in 2006, but he has never been happier. Polonsky retired last spring as president of both Durham College and the new University of Ontario Institute of Technology but he continues to play an important role as an Oshawa and Durham Region booster.
"I think this has been a bonanza year for the city of Oshawa," Polonsky says.
Mayor John Gray compares Polonsky to Col. Sam McLaughlin in the evolution of Oshawa, which hit a high point in 2006.
"In my opinion, the opening of a university here was the next best thing to Sam McLaughlin's establishment of General Motors in the city more than 100 years ago," says Gray, the dour accountant, who without fanfare has led the rebirth of Durham Region's largest city.
Education and General Motors were a big part of the Oshawa success story in 2006. General Motors' decision to revive its Camaro muscle car for 2009 and build it in Oshawa erased a mood of doom and gloom that surrounded the possible layoff of as many as 2,000 GM workers as the production of other cars ceased in the city.
Gray said the fact that Oshawa has a university and a ready and capable workforce played a major role in General Motors' decision to build the Camaro locally, and to make a major investment in flex manufacturing, which means it can change product almost as demand warrants.
But outside the university and automotive industry, other major changes in the last year have lifted the city out of stagnation, caused in part by the earlier adjustments in the auto industry in Canada's automotive capital.
When GM and feeder industries moved out of Oshawa's downtown over the past two decades, business dollars moved with them. The downtown became a ghost town with a couple of good restaurants, swamped by social service agencies, soup kitchens and a drug replacement therapy clinic.
"It was pretty bad," said Doug Ross, one of the enterprising businesspeople who moved downtown, confident things would improve.
When he first opened his upscale coffee shop on Simcoe St. near the main intersection with King St., Ross was kept busy moving panhandlers and street people out of his doorway.
Today they are largely gone and Ross senses an air of optimism in the downtown area.
The catalyst for this feeling is the new General Motors Centre, a sports and entertainment complex in the heart of downtown. It provides a home for the fabled Oshawa Generals junior "A" hockey team and a venue for entertainers such as Welsh superstar Tom Jones, who played to a sold-out house in the centre's first week of operation.
Gray says the downtown's rebirth is well underway with a Durham Region courthouse planned, and several redevelopment projects on the horizon.
The city also plans to turn its waterfront into a true people venue with mixed residential, commercial and recreational development. "We have one of the finest waterfronts on the lake and there is no reason why it cannot be more accessible to the people," Gray said.
Both he and Polonsky agree 2006 was a bonanza year for the city as it adopted a new logo and slogan – "Prepare to be amazed" – to go along with its newfound optimism.
It's the city's first slogan ever that hasn't directly promoted its connection with the auto industry. Says Gray: "The new slogan shows that Oshawa is an amazing place to raise a family as well as being a good place to do business."
December 19, 2006 in Local Real Estate Update | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Oshawa: The Motor City
Oshawa still is thriving eastern hub of the GTA
Though it's less than an hour from Toronto off the 401, is served by regular rush-hour train service to Hogtown and carries a 905 area code, don't call Oshawa a suburb. It's been a thriving city - an industrial hub driven by the auto industry - since well before big, bad Toronto grew so wide it started swallowing up the towns around it. And that's a fact of which the residents of Oshawa are justly proud. It doesn't look suburban, either. Befitting its urban history, Oshawa has a developed downtown full of historic buildings and monuments, leafy trees and mature neighbourhoods, as well as modern touches such as the wall murals adorning the sides of buildings throughout downtown, the Robert McLaughlin art gallery, the rapidly growing Durham College and more.
You may be looking for an affordable place to live and stay near Toronto, but you may soon find yourself, as one local on King Street says, thinking of the CN Tower as one of the nicest attractions in the Greater Oshawa Area.
See MLS listings of homes for sale in Oshawa:December 6, 2006 in Local Real Estate Update | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
