Mid-Month Resale Housing Market Figure
Greater Toronto REALTORS reported 4,557 transactions through the Toronto MLS system during the first two weeks of April 2012. This result represented an increase of almost seven per cent in comparison to the same period in April 2011. The number of new listings grew over the same period, but by a lesser annual rate than sales, which means market conditions tightened compared to last year.
“Competition between buyers remained strong in many parts of the Greater Toronto Area during the first half of April, with many listings attracting a lot of attention. Strong competition meant that, on average, sellers priced within market value range received offers that matched their asking prices within three weeks,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver.
The average selling price during the first two weeks of April was $506,954 – up by five per cent compared to the first half of April 2011. The annual rate of price growth was stronger in the GTA regions surrounding the City of Toronto.
“Growth in listings has not kept up with growth in sales. In the City of Toronto, new listings for low-rise home types during the first half of April were actually down compared to last year. This helps explain why some of the tightest market conditions in the GTA can be found within the ‘416’ area code,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. – - April 18, 2012
DIY Wine Bottle Decor
SUPPLIES:
- (1) Empty wine bottle of your choice
- (1) Top plate connector/ceiling flanges (3/8? size)
- (1) 1? split ring hanger
- (2) screws to fit and hold the top plate connector (you may also want drywall anchors if you are not mounting directly into studs or another material)
- (1) piece of 3/8? threaded rod, cut into 2 1/2? pieces.
- 1/2? double sided foam mounting tape (optional – if your bottle’s neck is smaller than 1?
- Silk flowers of your choice.
How To Control Weeds
In most community gardens, weeds are a problem. Gardeners need to weed their plots and pathways to prevent weeds from takin
g over. Your plants and fellow gardeners will be happy as well. In some cases, gardeners cannot tell the difference between a weed and plant. They are afraid to pull up the wrong plant. But if gardeners do not weed, the weeds will take over – space, sun, water and nutrients from your plants.
• Identify your weeds: Check out this site to identify weeds found in Ontario: www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/ontweeds/weedgal.htm.
• Get rid of grass and weeds before you plant – do not roto-till them under. Use newspaper, cardboard or a black tarp to kill these plants first. Another method is to turn the soil with a digging fork – break-up the dirt and remove any roots found.
• Mow away from the garden to keep from blowing seeds into the garden.
• Remove weeds as soon as you see them. Watering the garden a few hours before you pull weeds will make it easier.
• Add cedar or straw mulch between the rows of plants or use green mulch by growing clover between your rows.
• Cut off all seeds from the weeds and do not add them to the compost.
• Mulching: Mulching helps cut down the weeds in your garden and helps reduce the amount of watering required. You can use a variety of Mulching materials. Or consider using edible ground covers to cover open dirt space or to keep down weeds.
