Toronto Real Estate Board President Garry Bhaura, in his first market release as TREB President, is pleased to announce some positive signs with respect to the housing market.

Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 8,082 home sales through TREB's MLS® System in June 2018 – up 2.4 per cent compared to the low June 2017 result. After preliminary seasonal adjustment, sales were also up 17.6 per cent on a monthly basis between May 2018 and June 2018, continuing the trend of somewhat volatile month-over-month changes over the past year as
home buyers reacted to various policy changes impacting the market.

Minimalism is design through simplicity—of form, colour, volume and detail—yet this aesthetic isn't simple to achieve. Go too far in one direction, and the result is cold, even sterile; cross the line the other way, and messiness begins. Hitting the sweet spot involves an architectural and decorative language of unity and repetition and the clever manipulation of space—not as an element to be filled, but as one to be celebrated—as well as light.

Toronto certainly has its share of posh, exclusive neighborhoods, but none compares to the Bridle Path. 

Homes in the neighborhood command top prices and attract a clientele from around the world.  Called “Millionaire’s Row” in the past, it might be more apt to call it “Billionaire’s Row” now because of the neighborhood’s homes’ constant expansion, according to Paul Maranger and Christian Vermast of Sotheby’s International Realty Canada.

We live globally—family spread across continents, children on the other side of the country, friends who forgo a home base to travel the world. It takes a consummate host to bring together a far-flung cohort, to create an inviting anchor point worthy of an extended visit. Put up your family and friends in these remarkable guest houses and take a break from coordinating elaborate meetups away from home.

Online shopping has revolutionized the way we buy everything from clothing to everyday basics. Now, we can add fine antiques, rare vintage pieces and designer furniture to the list. Whether you’re looking for a pristine Art Deco accent chair by Jacques Adnet or an 18th-century French farmhouse table, you can start your search at Viyet.com, the online vintage, antique and designer furniture marketplace that was acquired by Sotheby’s in February 2018.

When it comes to vacations dreams are made of, it’s hard to go wrong in the Caribbean. Famous for its turquoise waters and vibrant cities, the Caribbean offers diverse holiday experiences across more than 7,000 islands and countless pristine beaches. Whether this is your first time close to the equator or a return to a favored spot to set down roots, here are five Caribbean vacation properties you won’t want to overlook.

Sundays are sacred. Whether you spend the day exploring local art and architecture, browsing market stops, or indulging in culinary delights, there’s no denying the seventh and final day of the week is reserved for discovery as a ritual. This Sunday, we explore the best of Curaçao.

It is a testament to the prescience and inherent genius of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright that only about half of his designs were realized—the rest of us just couldn’t keep up. In a career spanning seven decades, Wright designed 1,114 works of which only 532 came to fruition, but that half-told history was more than enough to inspire the generations of architects and designers that followed. Like Wright, the designers of these modern marvels have embraced change, building new contemporary masterpieces that allow their inhabitants to live as Wright intended

Swaddled in a black fur coat against the chilly night air, an opera singer is standing on the sidewalk, belting out the Etta James classic “At Last.” Spotlights behind her illuminate the sky, while a crowd of expensively dressed people gathers around the velvet ropes, vying to get into one of the biggest parties of the season. This isn’t a gala or a movie premiere, however; it is the opening of Bisha, the newest addition to the growing roster of luxury hotels in downtown Toronto.

Over the years, Canadian architects and designers have crafted a wide range of attractive and architecturally significant residences across the country. Now, they are finally beginning to get the recognition they deserve. From Moshe Safdie’s treasured Habitat 67 to Morton Katz’s Le Corbusier–inspired designs, here are six homes by Canada’s top architects and designers.

Some design aficionados may claim that nothing beats the Art Deco buildings on Miami Beach, but push farther afield and you’re guaranteed to find architectural gems in new builds and traditional high rises alike. The Sunshine State is making waves with a crop of waterview condos featuring stunning penthouse suites. Dig into gleaming, streamlined kitchens, refreshing bathrooms with an oceanic feel, classic American comfort in plush living rooms, and long-table dining. Add in endless views of beach and ocean and bright splashes of color, and you may find that the state’s endless summer suits you just fine.

Western Europe is a brilliant kaleidoscope of intertwining yet distinct cultures, all imbued in history, culture, gastronomy, art, and architecture – always a pleasure to visit, even more satisfying to call home. Imagine waking up in Capri to the sound of crashing Mediterranean waves or taking in the incredible Catalonian designs of Gaudí over lunch, or poring over paintings by Vermeer and Rembrandt in Holland. With spectacular settings and contemporary designs that seamlessly integrate a touch of antiquity, there is a vibrant, timeless allure to European villas.

The best escapes aren’t always at a five-star hotel. A well-appointed home can be the place you let go, relax, and indulge in the good life in a style perfectly suited to your tastes. With these relaxing design concepts to spark your imagination, it’ll be easy to cultivate vacation tranquility, whether or not you ever leave the house.

When you graduate from a doored closet to a walk-in and yet again to a dressing room, your sartorial options jump from cramped collection to full-blown style gallery. Take the fashion site The Coveteuras an indicator of the popularity surrounding closets—since the site debuted, the founders have showcased over 800 closets (and counting). From floor-to-ceiling shelving to endless mirrors to boutique-influenced displays, the potential for showing off your watch collection or love of footwear is endless. And let’s not forget: if the closets are spectacular, the homes are too. Here are a selection of homes whose cladding suits the contents.

Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 7,834 sales through TREB's MLS® System in May 2018. This result was down by 22.2 per cent compared to May 2017. While the number of sales was down year-over-year, the annual rate of decline was less than reported in February, March and April, when sales were down by more than 30 per cent. On a month-over-month basis, seasonally adjusted May sales were basically flat compared to April.

Supply of homes available for sale continued to be an issue. New listings were down by 26.2 per cent. The fact that new listings were down by more than sales in comparison to last year means that competition increased between buyers. Recent polling conducted by Ipsos for TREB suggests that listing intentions are down markedly since the fall.

Color is powerful. It can be commanding, soothing, or energizing; therapeutic and mood-altering; and perhaps beyond all else, it can make (and leave) a solid impression. With such influence at your fingertips, deciding on a color palette for your home can feel daunting—deciphering the nuances, knowing when to go bold—but these tried-and-true shades never go out of style.

With fresh rains heralding the arrival of spring, renewed greenery and blooming trees remind us that our planet is filled with things worth protecting. 

Eco-conscious trends in home design and construction highlight how we can tread lightly on the planet and blend in seamlessly with elegant, low impact homes. From rainwater recovery to green roofs, here are some of this spring's top eco solutions. 

Clutter is far from conducive to calm, luxurious living. Instead, strike harmony with the proverbial “place for everything and everything in its place.” Storage has suffered a bad reputation in the past—plastic bins, haphazard shelves, and crowded wardrobes do little to inspire the sophisticated homeowner. Fortunately, modern design lends itself well to thinking outside the box. These six homes offer well-curated and practical solutions to any storage woe.

With a nickname like the “land down under” and an expansive Outback as one of its primary calling cards, it’s easy to picture Australia as another world. But the universal mantra “home is where the heart is” could not ring truer than when in Oz. With the giant sandstone rock formation Uluru at its spiritual heart, the natural wonder of the Great Barrier Reef in its care, and unmatched beaches like Bondi and Whitehaven in its pocket, Australia offers more than a few havens to fall for.

New York has surpassed London as the second-most luxurious major housing market in the world after Hong Kong as the effects of the UK’s vote to leave the EU chipped away at the price of top British real estate.

“In New York, luxury price increases and robust sales volumes, particularly at the low-end of the luxury market, bolstered the city’s index position” last year, Christie’s International Real Estate said in a report. “Uncertainty over the impact of the UK’s EU referendum and stamp duties increases have cooled London’s market, though the city still recorded strong top sales and average per square foot sales prices.