The great thing about the downtown lifestyle is you can have a spectacularly fun (or productive!) day without venturing more than a couple blocks from your abode.

When it comes to downtown living, location is truly the name of the game and the folks at Chaz. Yorkville. are well aware. The development formerly known as Chaz on Charles is only steps away from Yorkville and Bloor and Yonge. You can spend the morning, afternoon and night in the Chaz neighbourhood and still feel like you haven’t taken advantage of all the shops, dining options and activities that it has to offer.

The 413 unit new development by 45 Charles Ltd. and Edenshaw Homes is situated just east of Yonge Street near Church. With the world class shopping on the Bloor Street strip practically at your doorstep, you’ll be feeling more stylish than ever. Gucci, Holt Renfrew, Prada, Louis Vuitton — the list goes on and on.

Venturing into Yorkville, you’ll find more fine dining options than you’ll know what to do with (we’ll give you a hint: sit down and order some food!). If you’re feeling like you need a more laid back atmosphere, Yonge Street is populated with a diverse array of restaurants and plenty of pub grub.

But there’s more to the area than just eating and shopping. Nurture your intellectual side by taking a stroll through the U of T campus, also only a few minutes away from Chaz. Read a book in the Victoria College quad, play some frisbee and bask in the Canadian Ivy prestige.

If there’s not enough going on at U of T, why not head over to the Royal Ontario Museum and check out some dino bones and ancient art?

And did we mention Chaz is near one of Toronto’s major transportation hubs? With the Yonge-Bloor subway station close at hand you can travel east, north, south and west and reach any area in the city quickly. What a location!

Gosh, we’ve spent so much timing talking about the amazing location that we haven’t even touched on the Cecconi Simone-appointed amenities, the luxurious suite features and finishes or the spectacular views. We guess we’ll have to just wait until next time!

Click here to read our post about CHAZ’s Easy Pay Program. For more info on the project, call the sales centre at 416 922 0045 or pay them a visit at 45 Charles St. East. Sales centre hours are Monday to Thursday between 12pm and 6pm and weekends between 12pm and 5pm.

Ashley Bauman: I’m actually from Toronto. I graduated from business school out in Western at Richard Ivey, but I’ve always loved Vancouver. My family used to come out here for holidays and my mother was originally from here. I followed my love for skiing and did my job search very geographically. I started as an eCommerce Manager with Intrawest and my career developed from there. I’ve been in the development industry for 12 years now.

BBH: Tell us a bit about what you do at Beyond the Buildings.

AB: It’s pretty much my own consulting company and I work full time with developers to help them look at pieces of land they have and see what we can do with those projects — who are the target markets for them, what is the market telling us, how can we optimize them? Then I help them develop results oriented sales and marketing strategies and lead the execution of them.

BBH: Two weeks back you gave a keynote address at the FortisBC conference. Why is that an important conference? What did you use your time at the podium to speak about?

AB: Basically they asked me to speak on how to create better customer driven product and market it effectively. The general premise of my speech was we spend a lot of time creating projects, but we don’t spend a lot of time looking at how we communicate the different elements of those projects — in this case, naturally we focused on alternative energy. It’s obviously a big topic of conversation.

I feel the development community can improve how they position alternative energy to prospective purchasers. Like everything we include in our projects, it is a selling feature and we need to ensure it helps us achieve the vision that we have for the development and provides value to our end consumer.

I talked about my experience doing that and how it’s been successful for us in driving sales.

BBH: Tsawwassen Springs is one project you’re involved with at the moment. What’s unique about this development?

AB: What isn’t unique about it? It’s a very different project for the Lower Mainland. Our tagline is “A Whole New Kind of Community” and we’re delivering on that. It’s a fully ammenitized, 136 acre brilliantly master planned community. Our architecture is something very special and different and our floor plans are extremely optimized and liveable. There is going to be an outdoor ice rink on-site, despite Tsawwassen having the best weather in the Lower Mainland. Definitely very unique!

BBH: There are a few celebs associated with Tsawwassen Springs. Why is it such a hit with Canadian celebrities?

AB: It’s a very special project with an incredible vision and a creditable team behind it.  People believe in the project and want to be part of it.  It’s very proud project for Tsawwassen, the Lower Mainland, BC, and Canada.

BBH: We have to ask! What’s your opinion on the Vancouver housing market? Will prices drop significantly or are they right on the money?

AB: It’s definitely a hard question. Vancouver’s landlocked. We have the ocean, mountains, rivers, ARL land, density restrictions, plus it’s an extremely desirable place to live. It’s going to require premium price points and we have a lot of international investment that’s keeping it up there.

There’s been evidence that international investment is slightly slowing down, but I think, if anything, we’re still seeing great sales with those premium price clients and the average Vancouver buyer is a very educated real estate buyer.

I don’t think we’ll see a significant drop in prices, but I do think developers are going to have to focus on ensuring they’re offering great value for the price and are really focused on what customers want, whether they be end users or investor buyers.

I also think that in Burnaby and Richmond — two of the closest suburbs to Vancouver — the price/absorption has been really high. But we do see more normalized markets the farther we go out, like in Surrey or Langley.

BBH: What’s your favourite thing about living in Vancouver?

AB: Mountains and the ocean! I really do miss my family and friends in Toronto, but I love the beauty and lifestyle here. Also, you don’t have to shovel the rain! Snow belongs on a mountain, not on a road.

BBH: Last month Vancouver was bumped from number 1 to number 3 on the Economist’s world’s most liveable cities ranking. Was that a big news story in Vancouver or did people just shrug it off?

AB: That’s a great question. I think it was mainly shrugged off because the rationale for us dropping so much was an infrastructure issue in the Malahat Highway which is on the Island and not even connected to the mainland. I think people shrugged it off for that reason. They didn’t see why that would effect our city’s livability when it’s actually closer to Victoria.

If our livability is going to drop then there’s other reasons we need to be looking at, but in general it was mostly shrugged off here.

BBH: What was the best moment of summer 2011 for you?

AB: Being with my family at our cottage in Ontario, hands down.

Thanks Ashley for taking the time to buzz with us!

Who says urban chic and village friendliness have to be mutually exclusive? It won’t seem like such an unlikely synthesis once you pay a visit to the Shops at Don Mills.

For shopping and dining it’s as stylish as it is welcoming and to top it all off it’s in the heart of the groundbreaking open air village community at Don Mills and Lawrence Avenue East. An ideal place to eat, shop, and play, Cadillac Fairview is leading the charge to make this community a truly unique place.

Eat, shop, play. Wasn’t that a movie or book or something? It doesn’t matter, we’re just loving the combination of all three at the Shops at Don Mills. But it doesn’t end there. Not only is this shopping and dining mecca getting better everyday, there’s now new opportunities to become a part of this community.

Flaire Condos, a project in the community by Cadillac Fairview and Fram Building Group, will comprise of two 11 storey towers connected by a four storey podium. Exciting news indeed!

Details are scarce on Flaire at the moment, but we’re sure to be getting more info on the development soon. In the meantime, let’s have a look at some photos from the Shops at Don Mills to whet our appetites for this new community.

A real focal point for foodies is McEwan, a gourmet market by Mark McEwan, Toronto’s numero uno celeb chef.

Check out the Supernova clocktower by celebrated Canadian author Douglas Coupland. It’s a visual treat!

Women’s clothing, accessories and home decor? What more could you ask for…

Now that’s a place we’d like to hang out!

Check back soon for more info on Flaire and how it will fit perfectly into the Shops at Don Mills community! In the meantime, email info@flairecondos.com or visit the website for more details.

Anyone who lives there or has visited will tell you there are few places as idyllic as downtown Victoria.

It’s no wonder that Concert Properties loves introducing new developments in Victoria. Having built four high quality projects there in the past, Concert are committed to the city and that’s why they’ve chosen it for another new development.

Era will be a 16 storey, concrete highrise at Yates and Blanshard. Promising sophisticated modern interiors and panoramic harbour and city views on the upper floors, the highrise sounds like a perfect addition to the downtown Victoria landscape. And just like the city itself, Era will blend old and new by integrating a portion of the existing heritage facade with contemporary architecture by Rafii Architects and Richard Henry Architect Inc.

From studio to two bedroom plus den urban flats, most suites are priced from $198,900 to $398,900 and range in size from 471 to 1062 square feet. An exceptional investment? Sounds like it!

Purchasers at Era can also take advantage of Concert Properties’ unique 5, 5 and 5 Deposit Program that allows you to make an initial deposit of just 5 per cent and a further two 5 per cent payments over the next two years. Let’s say you want to purchase a one bedroom at Era for $209,900, your 5 per cent down payment would be $10,495 with an affordable $947 monthly payment. A deal like this makes Era an ideal opportunity for first time buyers.

There will be fresh news on this development soon, but while you wait check out this awesome video tour of a 1 bedroom suite.

For more information email era@concertproperties.com or visit the website here!

Photo by Alan Cleaver

The following is a guest post by Darlene Freeman, President of DF Consultants. Darlene has over 14 years expertise as a Customer Care Manager in the new home construction industry and experience with both single family homes and high rise condominiums. She has worked closely with Tarion Warranty Corporation and has attended construction and customer care seminars hosted by BILD and Tarion. She decided to start her own company, DF Consultants, when she realized that through knowledge and education on the After Sales Service procedures, she could help purchasers alleviate the stress and anxiety that goes along with buying a new home.

Buying a house or condo from a builder is more than just signing the Agreement of Purchase and Sale. There is so much more to know besides choosing interior finishes and waiting for the closing date. There are rules and regulations that every purchaser should be aware of. Much of what you need to know is for your own protection and more importantly, for your peace of mind.

Frustration and anxiety seem to go hand in hand after you have purchased your new home. This is particularly true when unforeseen things happen like finding out there will be an extension of your closing date. This can be very unnerving. Builders are allowed to take the extra time if they need it, but they must provide you in writing proper notice if an extension is required. If they do not, they will be paying you compensation, as per the Tarion Warranty Corporation rules. The only good news is the builder can no longer invoke that horrible 5 day grace period extension which was devastating to purchasers, especially when they had no place to go.

Although builders do try to give their purchasers enough information to get them through the buying process, purchasers don’t always understand the After Sales Service procedure and this is where most of the anxiety begins. Pre Delivery Inspection: some people aren’t even aware of what that means. This is really the very first official viewing of your home, and the opportunity to do an inspection.

It is very important to do a thorough PDI. Make sure, however, to keep things in perspective. This is not the time to nitpick small items like a paint drip on the wall. This is the time to look at the main items inside your new home like counters, cabinets, flooring, plumbing, heating and windows, and on the exterior — if you have purchased a house — the quality of the brickwork, driveway, garage, gas proofing and landscaping. These are the items that will end up costing you big money if you miss any deficiencies during the PDI.

Maintaining your home is very important. Now that might sound like a redundant statement because who wouldn’t maintain their own home? However, many people believe that the builder is responsible for any maintenance issues during the first year of occupancy. This is a very big misconception. Builders are only responsible for issues having to do with structural defects, defects in material, or deficiencies that are found and noted on the PDI. It is up to the
homeowner to take care of any deficiencies caused by normal wear and tear during the day-to-day living in their home.

One of the most important things that I stress over and over again to my clients is to develop a good relationship with their builders. Working cooperatively with your builder will be to your benefit. It just makes sense that if the builder had a choice, who do you think they prefer to work with, the homeowner who continually threatens them and is disrespectful, or the home owner who is pleasant and accommodating? As the old saying goes, you catch more flies with honey, and it’s very true. Even if you are at your wits end, your builder needs to be your ally not your enemy.

Buying a new home should be a happy and exciting time. It’s up to you to do your homework. Get educated on everything you need to know about the After Sales Service procedures so that you will not experience any surprises along the way. Believe me when I say that a savvy purchaser becomes a happy homeowner.

An article in the Calgary Herald today speculated that there may be another residential condo boom on the horizon for the city.

Two high-profile projects — Keynote Urban Village and University City — are about to launch sales initiatives on the next phases of their developments over the weekend.

University City is holding a VIP launch on Saturday and Sunday for its Building 3 project at the Brentwood LRT Station while Saturday will also see Keynote Urban Village open its doors to a new show suite for its Residential Tower Two project in the east Beltline area.

Speaking to the Herald, Richard Cho, a senior market analyst in Calgary for the CMHC, cited gains in employment, favourable mortgage rates, and price reductions, as reasons why buyers are attracted to the city’s condo market.

“A majority of the condo sales in the city of Calgary were for units less than $300,000,” he said, noting that first time buyers made up a large portion of the activity in the condo market.

There has also been an increase in the number of apartment permits being issued and more new projects are expected to break ground in the next few months. CMHC stats for August indicated that it had the highest number of monthly apartment starts since May 2008, as 451 units broke ground in the Calgary CMA.

Will the Calgary condo market supplant Toronto’s as the country’s hottest? We’re not placing bets just yet, but one never knows!

Being 70 per cent sold out isn’t stopping the folks at The Station Condos from offering a sweet, one-day only incentive on selected suites.

On Saturday, September 24, The Station will be offering up to $30,000 off selected suites. The presentation centre’s doors open at noon sharp, so don’t let that lazy weekend attitude get the better of you. It’s first come, first choice, so be there on time!

Our loyal readers are sure to recognize The Station, the North York project by Brandy Lane Homes, as we’ve been zealously following this project throughout the summer and into the fall. But for those who are hearing about the development in detail for the first time, here are a few attributes that makes this Station one you’ll want to stop at:

To get caught up, we highly recommend you check out our photo-heavy post about the model suite at the presentation centre. Combining youthful sophistication with accessible decor, Terrance Lukas has designed interiors to marvel at.

On the amenities side of things, The Station is introducing “Urbanas” to the Toronto condo scene. These exotic sounding amenities are indoor/outdoor party rooms each equipped with a seating area, microwave and television. There’s also an infinity-edge pool that’s framed by a waterfall making it look like something you’d find in a high-end hotel. Highly appealing!

And finally, the location! The subway station at Wilson will only be steps away allowing for easy access to downtown Toronto. After all, it’s not called The Station for nothing. You won’t need to travel far to get your shop on though… Yorkdale Shopping Centre is also only minutes away (now with a J. Crew store woohooo!).

So let’s do a quick recap here: great interiors, amazing amenities, and a location that’s tough to beat. Sounds good to us, but let’s not forget the one-day sales event coming up this Saturday. This is an opportunity that you won’t want to miss.

To learn more about this development visit their website or call 1 877 903 1818. The sales centre is located at 545 Wilson Ave. They can also be reached by email at info@thestationcondos.com

Stephen Dupuis is the President and CEO of BILD GTA, an organization that represents more than 1,350 companies that work in the land development, home building and professional renovation industry in the GTA.

Whether encouraging government at all levels to create fair and effective policies that impact the building and land development industry and its customers or supporting home ownership through their three annual home shows, BILD is an organization to admire.

Stephen has been with BILD since 1988, so it’s safe to say that the experience he’s built up over the years has given him some unique insight into the GTA’s real estate market and development industry.

Here’s a quick rundown of what Stephen covers in our interview:

1) What are your thoughts on Ford’s waterfront plan?
2) Why are condo sales so strong in the 905 right now?
3) Are investors replacing apartment owners?
4) How many new home sales do you predict for 2011?

5) Tell us about your hair care routine.
6) What three issues are BILD following closely?

Check out the video below!

[Edited September 23, 2011: Stephen has passed away unexpectedly. Stephen was a great friend, an industry innovator, always of a cheery disposition and always treated everyone with respect. The land development industry has lost a great advocate and leader. We are saddened and shocked by this loss, and our thoughts go out to his family and friends.] 

We know what you’re thinking… How can cottage season be every season? Clearly, you can’t canoe or take a morning dip in the lake when it’s 10 below zero outside, but you can go cross country skiing!

That’s what the cottage lifestyle is all about at Skyline’s Deerhurst Golf Cottages in Muskoka. While some are mourning the end of summer, others are dusting off their skis and looking forward to a mug of hot chocolate after a long, but cold day of enjoying the great outdoors.

Priced from $399,900, the Golf Cottages will be on sale soon. These cottages will have the space you need to have family and friends over for a feast and furniture that will make you feel at home. Interior finishes and furnishing packages are by the Design Agency and owners can personalize their cottages to meet their own unique tastes.

All of the finishes, feasts, friends, family and furniture will be set in idyllic Muskoka, known around the world as an incredible spot to spend your downtime.

Can you really enjoy your downtime when you’d got maintenance and repairs to worry about? Not a problem at the Golf Cottages. Owners can enjoy myriad amenities — tennis courts, docks, pools — without having to bother themselves with the inconveniences of repairs and maintenance.

The Golf Cottages will be going on sale soon, so make sure you’re keeping up with the development on our project page and register at the Deerhurst website to ensure you’re fully in the loop. Skyline’s Deerhurst Summit Lodges were incredibly successful and sold out in only two days, so you NEED to be in the loop to capitalize on this wonderful cottage ownership opportunity.

Don’t forget, register here or email jen@owndeerhurst.com for more info.