So, You Want to Live in Bridle Path

It’s one of Toronto’s most exclusive neighbourhoods with lavish mansions that either are, or have been, owned by the likes of Celine Dion, Prince, Drake and Gordon Lightfoot.

The homes there are the stuff out of dreams. For example, 16 High Point Rd., which was owned by Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec and rented by Mick Jagger when The Rolling Stones toured Canada, features 10 beds, 10 garages, an indoor swimming pool and 33,650 square-feet of living space.

Of course, I’m talking about Bridle Path, but if you want to live in any of the homes there, it’s going to cost you. The median home value is $2,981,596, according to Areavibes.com, and that’s 554% higher than the Canadian average. Herjavec’s former address at 16 High Point Rd. sold for $19,380,000 alone in 2019, according to The National Post, and has no doubt gone up in value since.

Named “Canada’s most affluent neighbourhood” by Canadian Business Magazine in 2014 and boasting an average household income of $936,137, an average household net-worth of $22.27 million and an average home price of $2.24 million. Bridle Path has an exclusive population of 1,895 residents, a median age among them of 52 and a 1.2:1 male-to-female ratio.

But, don’t expect a lot of racial or ethnic diversity in Bridle Path. Most people who can afford properties there (beyond celebrities who are enterprises unto themselves) are part of families of old money wealth going back generations and 85.1% of residents only speaking English. But, if you’re looking for a place to settle down with your family, you’ll find that 84% of Bridle Path residents are married, while 45% of residents have kids at home.

As for the neighbourhood itself, in addition to its one-percenter residents, this enclave in North York is surrounded by the Don River Valley and plentiful parkland. You’ll find shopping, recreation, and top-tier schools just along Bayview Avenue, including the ultra-exclusive York Mills Shopping Plaza, The Granite Club — which is a social and athletic club for the uber-elite that includes all kinds of team sports, fitness classes and social events – and the private Crestwood School, Crescent School for Boys and Park Lane Public School. The neighbourhood also features one post-secondary institution. Glendon College is a part of York University and operates as a bilingual liberal arts college. There’s also The Toronto French School to give your kids a little, “Je ne sais quoi.”

If you’re looking for a reason to get outdoors and stretch your legs, Bridle Path has you covered and then some. Residents are spoiled, having Edwards Gardens just feet from their backyard. Edwards Gardens is home to the Toronto Botanical Garden, which is one of Canada’s most prestigious public gardening resources. Edwards Gardens by itself contains intricate rock landscapes, perennial gardens, a pond, waterfalls, a rose garden, and the beginnings of a paved trail that stretches nine kilometres all the way to Warden Woods Park in Scarborough. On the way to Warden Woods, the trail also passes through Sunnybrook Park where Bridle Path residents can enjoy outdoor activities like soccer, rugby, cricket, and field hockey on its various sports fields. Sunnybrook park also has public horseback riding stables where lessons are offered, carrying on Bridle Path’s long equestrian tradition.

After all, the name Bridle Path comes from Hubert Daniel Bull Page’s early plans for the neighbourhood in 1929. The Toronto-based developer included a complex network of elaborate bridle paths to lead a horse down. Those bridle paths have long since been transformed into paved streets, but their legacy remains in that the streets in the neighbourhood are unusually wide and of course, the neighbourhood’s own moniker.

Page himself always had the vision to see the area as an exclusive enclave of estate homes, (basically as soon as the Bayview Bridge was built over the Don River Valley) that’s why he built a Cape Cod-style colonial house at the address 2 The Bridle Path to drum up interest in the neighbourhood he wanted to start.

Now, Bridle Path is truly one of Canada’s most exclusive neighbourhoods with a cost of living that’s 174% more expensive than the Canadian average. But, if you can hack the price, you’ll be rewarded by the privilege of one of Canada’s most livable neighbourhoods, with a crime rate that’s 69% lower than the Canadian average, (that’s a a 1 in 74 chance of being a victim) an unemployment rate of 2% and a high school graduation rate of 93%, which is itself 12% higher than the Canadian average.

So, if you can afford it (and let’s be honest, that’s a big “If” for most people) you will unlock a Shangri-la of excellent living at the highest level. Honestly, things that only people who live in Bridle Path will ever have access to along with what everyone else in Toronto does too.

After all, by living in Bridle Path, you’re only 20 minutes driving distance from downtown Toronto and if you’re headed to the cottage, you’re five minutes away from the Highway 401 on-ramp off Bayview Avenue. Plus, if you need to go on a last-minute business trip, you’re only 20 minutes away from Pearson International Airport, so the world is truly at your fingertips.

If what Bridle Path has to offer is the type of lifestyle you could see yourself having and you are one of Toronto’s movers and shakers wanting your own private oasis away from prying eyes, then I highly recommend making the move there.

How to Make Money in Pre-Construction Investing

As the fastest growing city in Canada and the US, pre-construction investing is a great way to make money! It allows investors to take advantage of low prices and high potential returns before condo construction starts as the demand for housing pushes up prices.

When you have a real estate wealth strategist at your side, you can enjoy access to the best pre-construction condo developments before they are ready for the general public.
If you want to learn more about how to invest in pre-construction condos, keep reading!

1. What is pre-construction investing?

It’s essential to understand what pre-construction investing is before you get started. This means that investors can make money by buying condos at lower prices before the project begins. Then, they can either enjoy healthy returns from the property as a rental or sell them for more than the purchase price when the developers complete the project. Most pre-construction projects offer a deferred deposit schedule which means that you can make smaller installments during the course of the construction instead of a lump-sum deposit.

2. Why invest in pre-construction properties?

If you want to start making money with real estate, then pre-construction is an excellent option to consider. In Toronto, investment in pre-construction condos is a popular choice because the market is going from strength to strength.

The most important benefits are the potential to profit from the property before developers finish building, as well as the appreciation in pre-construction over time. As the Toronto property market continues to boom, you can have more control over your investment by purchasing a new build than by buying an already constructed home. Also, the properties have a greater long-term return on investment, as they’re often in desirable neighbourhoods with good schools and amenities.

When you compare pre-construction properties with homes, there are two important considerations: affordability and qualification. The requirements are much higher when purchasing a home, with strict mortgage rules via employment and down payment percentages required. Thus, condo precon is a great way to start your investing journey and get your feet wet as it allows you to enter the housing market without having to incur a higher mortgage and tighter qualification process for the mortgage.

If done correctly, this type of investment gives the highest returns over time. This is because the rate of growth is typically higher on these types of assets due to a lower upfront price compared with residential homes (or commercial buildings)!

3. How to find a great property

One thing to keep in mind when your looking for a pre-construction property, though, is that there are many opportunities out there to choose from. You need to work with an experienced real estate wealth strategist who can do the right research, understand your needs, and select the ideal property based on their expertise and experience. The focus is always on education investors so that you are equipped to make an informed, strategic decision.

They are also privy to the most latest and up-to-date information about new projects before it becomes more widely available. They also have platinum access afforded to them via the relationship created by the broker of record that not just anyone has access to.

If you’re interested in investing in a pre-construction condo, then give Nikki a call. She would love to help answer any questions about how this investment opportunity could work for you and your family. There are many ways to invest in pre-construction properties, but working with Nikki means that you get access to the best properties for the highest potential return on your investment!

11 Tips for Listing Your Property the Right Way

If you’re trying to sell your home, there’s nothing worse than seeing it languish on the market for months and months with no idea why. Instead of sitting in Property Purgatory, just follow my 11 recommendations for making sure your property is listed properly and sells with a healthy level of demand.

  1. Have the Right Agent – This is an agent who knows the market, who is tech savvy and who is checking the market for all the comparables, like how much surrounding properties have sold for and how many days properties have been on the market.
  2. The Price is Right – You and your agent need to find the right price for the market because if you don’t, there will be consequences. You need to have the right strategy. For example, if the market for condos is low — but yours has a high asking price on your condo — don’t expect to sell quickly. This also is true in reverse. For example, if the market for homes is very hot, a lot of sellers will put their home at a lower price so they can try to instigate a bidding war. The overall listing strategy often depends on the personal situation of the seller. Perhaps they are in a rush to sell. Your agent should be educated enough to sell your home for the right price and list it at the right time.
  3. Stage Your Home – Ideally, if you’re able to vacate your home during showings, you should have it staged. Staging your home brings a lot of value to a property. According to a 2017 presentation by the National Association of Realtors, 58% realtors representing sellers believe that buyers offer more money for a staged home. As you would expect, Home Staging Resource, an organization that offers training and resources to stagers, is even more bullish on staging. Its website states, “In a survey of 3,500 staged homes, 46% sold for 10% more than they would have unstaged.”
  4. Have Great Photos – Photos are very likely the first thing buyers see on your listing and on social media. It’s also very likely that photos are the main thing that determines whether they will select your property for an in-person showing and your home needs to make a great first impression. Always take photos and always use a professional photographer because there’s nothing worse than looking at listings with your buyer clients and not being able to see a listed home because there are no photos attached. A listing without photos, or with photos of low quality, is a good way to get your home instantly ignored by potential buyers.
  5. Include a Virtual Tour – With potential buyers advised to stay home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, buyers are no longer coming out for as many in-person showings. Therefore, it’s more important than ever to offer a virtual tour with your listing. A virtual tour goes a long way in helping buyers determine what properties are worth an in-person look.
  6. Clean and Clutter-Free – If you can’t vacate your property while it’s on the market, you can at least make it look as vacant as possible by getting ride of your unwanted items and organizing the rest. Along with clearing the clutter, comes cleaning. Cleaning your home before a showing is very important. This is especially true of the kitchen and bathroom(s). You also want to showcase how much storage is available in your home. Items currently stored in your home should be stored off-site, or in your building locker, during showings. This way, people can see just how much storage your property comes with. Oh, and if you have pets, board them or send them to a friend or family member to take care of. You may be a dog or cat lover, but not everybody is, and seeing your pet may prevent some from making an offer on your home.
  7. Make Small Repairs – You never know what people are going to notice and count as a reason to not make an offer on your home. All those little repairs you never got around to – get around to them now. Fix that running toilet, get new mesh for that screen door, screw in that new lightbulb, fix that leaky faucet, and put on that fresh coat of paint. Any repair you can do to make your home look newer and less of a project, do it.
  8. De-personalize – You probably have things around your home that are very personal and significant to you, but they’re not personal or significant to a potential buyer, so hide them. People like to envision themselves living in your home and it’s hard for them to do that when there is a picture of your last family trip to Disneyland staring back at them. It may feel like prospective buyers are invading your space and encroaching on your territory, but you want to put that feeling aside and let them feel like they could see themselves living there because that’s what may compel them to make an offer.
  9. Let the Light Shine In – You want to make your home as bright and attractive looking as possible to a buyer. Just before a showing, turn on all the lights if it’s at night, open all the drapes if it’s during the day and let as much light shine in as possible.
  10. Pass the Smell Test – If you’ve seen a certain Febreeze commercial, you know that it’s possible to go noseblind to smells in your home. That’s why you need your real estate agent to tell you if there’s any weird or off-putting smells in your home. If there is, get rid of them and make sure you no longer have these smells once you’ve made the effort because smells can affect a lot of potential buyers. Grab a few nice and non-assaulting air-fresheners and make your home smell pleasant as people walk in.
  11. Take Care of Your Landscape – If you’re trying to sell your home, do what you need to do for excellent curb appeal and take care of your landscape. Your frontyard and backyard can attract potential buyers if you make them both look beautiful.

Toronto Property Market: What to Watch in 2021

As the temperatures start to warm up the hot Toronto property market looks set to sizzle, and there are no signs of it slowing down any time soon.

While many areas of the residential market, in general, are showing promising signs of growth, it’s condos and single-family homes in Toronto that you want to keep an eye on.

CONDOS IN TORONTO

The sought-after neighborhoods of the Entertainment District, Yorkville and others continue to experience high demand. This is especially true for pre-construction condos that bring the benefits of modern living to a well-established area. You get the best of both worlds here, a light and airy condo and immediate access to the best restaurants, bars, parks, and the arts right on your doorstep.

But with many neighborhoods to choose from and different value propositions, it can be overwhelming to try and narrow down the best choice. You may not even know exactly what you’re looking for or what your priorities should be. Working as a real estate wealth strategist with a background in architecture, Nikki Hessami has the unique ability to match her clients with their dream properties while also creating future wealth for their families.

SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES

Single-family homes are very limited within the Metropolis of Toronto, which makes them an ideal investment opportunity. They combine the benefits of urban living with the suburban feel of a free-standing home, perfect for raising children while working in the city.

The market for single-family homes is booming, making it a strategic choice for investors with a long-term growth outlook. But, conveniently located detached and semi-detached houses can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. This is why many people who are looking to invest in Toronto’s housing market turn to Nikki Hessami. Her deep understanding of the market and complete commitment to finding her clients the ideal home, or the right Investment property that will yield the greatest return is top priority.

Whether you’re on the hunt for a single-family home or have your eye on an urban city condo, Nikki Hessami can help. She collaborates closely with her clients to understand their specific needs and works tirelessly to close on the perfect property for them. Nikki is always available to help, so please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

Will Canadian Real Estate Prices Flourish this Winter?

The temperature outside might be dropping, but the housing market across Canada is still hot, hot, hot!

From coast to coast, the real estate industry continues to set new records with quick inventory turnover and rising prices due to high demand that is fuelled, at least in part, by low interest rates.

But will this upward trend continue through winter? The data looks promising as we near the end of 2020 and look forward to what 2021 has in store.

What can we expect from the market this winter?

The upward trend is set to continue (and Canada is leading the way)

A report published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas looked at the real estate markets across the G7 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and the results make for very interesting reading. They found that Canadian real estate prices had experienced the most significant jump, rising nearly 2.5% from the previous quarter.

Across the country, home valuations have increased, and sales have grown year-on-year. The most notable growth was in:

  • Greater Toronto Area: $890,400 (+11.1%)
  • Greater Vancouver Area: $1,038,700 (+5.3%)
  • Ottawa: $517,800 (+19.9%)
  • Greater Montreal Area: $408,200 (+16.4%)
  • Halifax: $372,982 (+18.1%)

Inventory levels will remain at an all-time low. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, inventory levels continue to remain at an all-time low. As of August, they estimated that it would take only 2.6 months to liquidate all the current listings as the current sales rate.

What factors make real estate investment in Ontario so attractive?

There are several growth factors that work in favour of the country’s real estate market, including:

  • Interest rates that are the lowest they have ever been and this is likely to stay the same for the next few years,
  • Low inventory and pent-up demand that continues to fuel growth,
  • Property tax will remain the same for 2021, and
  • Support from the Canadian government for the real estate industry.

Where should you buy property in Canada?

The Greater Toronto Area has the best long-term growth potential, and there are a number of exciting opportunities both for new homeowners and investors. Whether you are looking for a pre-construction condo in the Entertainment District, a spectacular penthouse with stunning views of Lake Ontario or a house to build a home for your family, it can help to speak to a wealth strategist. And for sellers, the next six months to a year are going to be big. If you’re looking at listing your home this is the most opportune time to plan to sell with 2021 shaping up to be a record year for sales and bidding wars. Nikki Hessami, with her years of experience in the Canadian real estate market and an uncompromising commitment to her clients, makes her the go-to person for real estate in Toronto.

Things to consider before buying/investing in property in Toronto

The past few months have been a time for people to pause and reflect on what is most important to them. The result of this has been an upsurge in demand for properties in Toronto. Many investors are looking for a stable investment with positive long-term growth potential that offers peace of mind and the opportunity to safeguard family wealth into the future.

Before you make a decision to buy, there are four questions to ask yourself:

Why are you buying the property?

Everyone has different goals when it comes to real estate investment. For some, it’s the chance to own the home you live in, for others, it’s an opportunity to live in a good neighborhood on your own terms. And for many, especially in Toronto’s booming market, it’s a way to grow your wealth by owning an investment property and secure long-term financial freedom for your family. Understanding why you want to buy a property will help you make the right decision about what type of property to purchase.

Does the real estate growth forecast look good?

Here’s where a real estate wealth specialist can really add value. They have access to the latest market data so you can get a good idea of the historical trends and what property analysts are predicting for the future (both in the short- and long-term). They can also offer strategic advice to help you minimize risk and maximize your returns.

What are your long-term growth goals?

Buying a property is a long-term investment. To give yourself the best chance of securing a good tenant at an above-average rental, as well as selling the property quicker when the times comes, you need to find a home with an edge.

This might mean narrowing your search criteria to focus on neighborhoods that have greater growth potential, or it could mean choosing a suburb that has a surplus of tenants looking for high-quality accommodation. It could even mean that you shift your focus from buying a condo to buying a house as demand continues to grow and inventory is limited.

What changes do you want to make today to secure your future?

While many people have been concerned about the short-term implications of the pandemic, the reality is that property is a long-term investment. If you are buying a pre-construction condo, for example, you will only take ownership three to five years down the line, so you need to have a good understanding of the real estate market projections.
There are new opportunities with incentives and deposit structures that support home buyers and further bolster the real estate industry. It’s a great time to dip your toe in the market as a first time home buyer or as an investor. There are so many projects with exciting deposit structure incentives to help you multiply your investment rental property portfolio.


Working with a respected real estate wealth strategist like Nikki is essential if you want to make a well-considered decision and find the ideal investment opportunity for your specific needs.
There are tremendous upsides to owning your own property, especially in some of Toronto’s sought-after neighborhoods. Nikki can walk you through the process and share valuable insights gained during her many years of experience in the industry.

3 Reasons to Get into the Toronto Real Estate Market Right Now

Great things come from owning your property, and we want to empower you to make strategic real estate investment decisions. It’s time to take action and join our growing network of clients who have found the process straightforward as they experience the thrill of owning their own property.

Don’t let anything hold you back from your dreams of becoming a property owner or investor. We have 3 reasons why there has never been a more opportunistic time to get started than now:

1. Take advantage of low-interest rates

If you’re considering taking the plunge and investing in Toronto’s real estate market, the time to act is now. Why? Because interest rates have been at or around record lows for close to ten years, making it more attractive to own rather than rent. Consider the risk of waiting longer – you could easily end up with a higher interest rate, which will make paying off your mortgage more expensive and put unnecessary pressure on your income.

2. Grow your wealth (and cover your mortgage)

Buying a condo in Toronto is an investment, not only will you benefit from the growth of the property, but the high rental prices mean that you can generally cover your mortgage repayments on a monthly basis. This is especially true in Toronto’s booming condo market where vacancy rates are low, and rents are high.

Another way to think of it is enforced saving. It can be difficult to put away money every month into a savings account, but with your mortgage being automatically deducted every month, this discipline is going to help you grow your long-term financial wealth and stability.

3. Make the most of a competitive real estate market

Toronto property markets have seen an uptick in the last few months or the demand has been hot for real estate in the Toronto market and we have seen an increase in sales due to the demand versus the low inventory. And, in some cases, this has even led to bidding wars.

While property markets elsewhere have completely stagnated, demand in the last few months is rapidly catching up to (and overtaking) supply. If you’re a first-time buyer, this is the time to act as conditions are the best that they have been since 2009. The strength of the growth in Toronto’s most prestigious neighbourhoods has given investors confidence that the current Toronto’s real estate market is not a bubble, and many are looking for new opportunities.

With a number of different factors affecting Toronto’s real estate market, there is a limited-time opportunity to get into the market. Mortgage rates are now being offered at under 2%, the lowest in history, making it advantageous for first-time property owners and investors. There has never been a better time to start building long-term wealth and financial security for your family.