In order to bring in the investors that Tableau have been targeting, The Mercer are offering new incentives and a VERY attractive deposit structure that make it a very interesting proposition for investors. 

They are offering cashback on all of their suites ($5,000 on studio's, $8,000 on 1 bedroom or 1+1, $12,000 on 2 bedrooms) and have also dropped their deposit structure from 20% in the first 12 months to 15% in the first 12 months which makes a huge difference on ROI for investors.  Below is an overview of the major projects at King West

The Mercer is developed by Graywood Developments (Developer of the Residences of Ritz Carlton) and Beaverhall Homes, offering top notch finishes and a great location just half a block south of the Bell Lightbox at King & John. Check below for some images of the development.

If you would like more information on this development including detailed pricing and floorplans, please contact us.  VIP SALES ARE ON NOW.

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MERCER IMAGES (Click image for larger view)

Cityzen’s incredible architecture at work.  Absolute Towers in Mississauga already have a lot of people talking… (click image for larger view)

Another example of Cityzen’s incredible work.  The L Tower will be one of Toronto’s most identifiable buildings when complete in 2012. (click image for larger view)

It is no coincidence then, that “BACKSTAGE” has become one of the most talked about projects launching this fall.  Backstage will be the second phase of the L Tower project at the Sony Centre.  Located across from the GO Station and minutes from Union and St. Lawrence Market, this is prime real estate in Toronto.

The Backstage development originally had gotten a lot of attention with the very successful “NAME OUR CONDO” campaign that had thousands of entries and gave the project a ton of additional exposure that no billboard or signage could buy – they engaged their customers and got us all involved.

BUILDING FEATURES:

-36 Storey Glass Point Tower with Sleep Lines
-Panoramic views of Downtown Toronto and Lake Ontario
-Future connection to the PATH system
-70 foot infinity pool with Lake View

SUITE FEATURES:

-9 & 10 foot smooth ceilings
-Contemporary kitchen with Granite counters/undermount sink
-Bosch appliances with Integrated Fridge

Early mock ups for the project look really cool… (click image for larger view)

We now have the floorplans and pricing information.  Clients of Amit & Roy get an immediate $20,000 discount.  Contact us using the contact form below ASAP for more details.

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Interested in other great developments in Toronto? Click Here for our list of major developments currently selling to VIP agents.  Other HOT Developments: Tableau | Studio | The Mercer | Chaz on Charles | Bisha

The building, located at 117 Peter Street will preserve and build around the existing warehouse will be 36 storeys and will be mixed use including 415 residential suites, 25,000 square feet of office space and retail space on the ground level.  A little bit of everything.

OTHER NEW DEVELOPMENTS

It is extremely important to compare any new development with other options.  Tableau is located in between the popular King West and Queen West areas, and as such we have a plethora of developments to compare it against.  In terms of price and deposit structure, Tableau compares very favourably to developments such as: The Mercer, Studio, Bisha (Note, Bisha is offering a very different product that is geared to the luxury market), Festival Tower and 12 Degrees.  Most of the developments are selling for at least $600 per square foot ($600 psf is the new $450 psf…).  As you can see from the table below, not only is Tableau one of the latest project to finish, but it is also one of the cheapest in the neighbourhood.   Can you imagine the neighbourhood price for Tableau in 2014?  (PS: Read our take on STUDIO vs. Tableau here)

COMPARISON TO RESALE MARKET

While it is important to compare to the other new developments, it is perhaps even more vital to compare to the resale market.  That gives you a much better indication of how well it is priced compared to todays market to ensure that you are paying TODAY'S Prices and not TOMORROW'S (we've been extremely critical of the Mississauga Condo market for selling at tomorrow's prices making it a bad option for savvy investors).  Looking at the current resale also gives us a great insight into the types of appreciation rates that the area gets.  For strong investor projects we try and hit the 10% appreciation rates (as seen in King West and Yorkville among a few other areas).  While there are a number of buildings we can compare Tableau to, we tried to choose some of the newer projects that can compare in terms of finishes.  We also included 36 Blue Jays

The numbers in the resale show that the project at Tableau is a) Priced very well compared to todays market, and b) in a high appreciation, high demand area.

RENTAL MARKET

The savvy investor will also look at the Rental market in order to keep all options open.  The rental numbers given below are an approximation based on the 4 condos above (Pheobe, SoHo, Boutique and Icon) and are just to give you an idea of where the rental market is.

Overall here is why we are very excited to offer Tableau as our top pick for investments:

a) PRICE - at $550 per square foot it makes it the best priced development in the area.  At this point in time, I have not seen the quality of the finishes – however, with Cecconi Simone working on the project, I have very high hopes.  At $550 per square foot you are very competitive against current market conditions AND pre-construction developments.

b) DEPOSIT STRUCTURE – 15% for the majority of the project is almost unheard of.  Most projects (with the exception of a few) are asking for 20% down in the first 6-12 months. This allows you to leverage less money and is very important for any investor.

c) VIP ACCESS – You will be among the first people exposed to this project meaning you get to purchase at entry level pricing.

d) 4 YEAR OCCUPANCY – The development will be closing in the fall of 2014, meaning you are purchasing a great condo at TODAY's PRICES for a development closing in FOUR YEARS FROM NOW in a very high appreciation area (10-12% in the last 5-10 years).

e) APPRECIATION RATES – Certain pockets in the city have seen appreciation of over 10%, and the King West leads the charge for those areas.  You are buying in an amazing location.

f) DEVELOPER & DESIGNERS – Urban Capital are not new to the Toronto scene.  They have had a number of very successful projects, including Boutique, Nicholas and River City (watch out for River City Phase 2).  Cecconi Simone are doing the interiors and have an excellent resume of projects that they have worked on recently and a few of my personal favourites (DNA3, Chaz on Charles). 

ATTN: VIP WORKSHEETS ARE DUE BY WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 20th BY 5pm.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE VIP WORKSHEET HERE AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.

If you are interested in investing in this hot project and would like more information including detailed price list and floorplans, contact us using the form below and a member of our team will contact you ASAP. 

ROY BHANDARI  |  Direct #: 416-835-9436

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Interested in other great developments in Toronto? Click Here for our list of major developments currently selling to VIP agents.  Other HOT Developments: Backstage | Studio | The Mercer | Chaz on Charles | Bisha

I was very excited about STUDIO, however, early indication tells us that they will be priced around the $600 per square foot mark (I was hoping for around $550) for an occupancy in 2013. Enter Tableau – early indication tells us we are looking around $550 per square foot making it the best priced new development in the area. In addition, the developer "URBAN CAPITAL" have an excellent track record in the city, having recently completed the popular "BOUTIQUE" condos on Nelson Street, and more recently "Nicholas" and "River City" have been very successful projects with great architecture. Occupancy is tentatively slated for 2014 giving investors an additional year over Studio for their deposits to keep working for them.

As of today I have not seem floorplans for Tableau (but have them for Studio), but based solely on the numbers and track record of the developers I give the edge to Tableau for investors.

Here is my HEAD TO HEAD of Tableau vs. STUDIO.

As of today, information is still scarce. Based on what we known I am giving the edge to Tableau as the better investment over Studio. Of course, this could change very very very quickly once more information becomes available.

Both STUDIO and Tableau are entering their VIP stage and there will be a lot of information coming through on these awesome developments in the next few days. If you want to be the FIRST to know and get details fill out the form below and a member of our team will contact you ASAP. Alternatively you can sign up to our Newsletter and get the info straight to your inbox for all new VIP events in the city.

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Interested in other great developments in Toronto? Click Here for our list of major developments currently selling to VIP agents.  Other HOT Developments: Tableau | Studio | The Mercer | Chaz on Charles |Bisha

TABLEAU IMAGES

STUDIO IMAGES

Of course, until we receive information on pricing, deposit structure, perks and occupancy dates it is impossible to rate the project, however, what we have heard (and seen) so far…we like a lot.

STUDIO is Located at Richmond and Duncan in the Entertainment District.  Recent projects in the area include the popular "Boutique" buildings on Nelson & Simcoe.  Those are currently selling between $500-$550 per square foot in an area that has seen approx. 10% appreciation year after year (keep an eye out for our in-depth analysis once the project launches…), so we're keeping a very keen eye on the pricing for STUDIO.

What makes Studio stand out from the crowd is the partnership they have created with OCAD (Ontario College of Art & Design) that will see an 8,000 square foot art gallery integrated into the two towers.  The Studio Facebook Page has been updating a lot recently with heavy emphasis on the "ART" aspect which will surely attract a more sophisticated and professional buyer.

The exterior renderings (see images below) have us particularly excited.  I love the exterior design of the building and think it will definitely be recognizable in a city with more and more condos being shot up.  There will be two towers, one standing at 31 storeys and the other at 41 storeys for a total of apporixmately 750 suites – an ambitious project for sure.

We are very very excited about Studio and have already been letting our investors know about this one.  If you would be interested in getting information on this project as SOON as it becomes available please don't hesitate to contact us using the form below.

Credit for images: The amazing BuzzBuzzHome

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Interested in other great developments in Toronto? Click Here for our list of major developments currently selling to VIP agents.  Other HOT Developments: Tableau | Studio | The Mercer | Chaz on Charles | Bisha

Exterior Rendering	External Rendering at Night	Suite Rendering
		Rooftop Rendering
Rooftop Rendering	Rooftop Rendering	Rooftop Rendering

Anybody who deals with us regularly knows that I have an extremely soft spot for the Condo developments in the Lake Shore & Park Lawn area, especially the ones right on the lake on Marine Parade. I've often told my clients that owning one of those condos with a south-lake view is something that I would love to have once I need to slow the pace down a little (still a long way away…. ) There is nowhere in the GTA where you can find this "resort" feel and that is why it is one of our favourite spots.

While the appreciation rate will not be quite as high as some of the key areas in Toronto (King West, Yorkville, Distillery are all smoking hot), the developments here are great for end-users who want to get away from the "hustle" of the city, yet live just a stones throw away. For anyone who is unfamiliar with "Marine Parade", you owe it yourself to go check it out.

This week, Marine Parade celebrated the launch of it's newest development – "Ocean Club" which will be located at 128 Marine Parade by Graywood Developments & Beaverhall (Also currently working on the Mercer at King & John). The project celebrates the lake lifestyle with oodles of cabanas, outdoor patios and lounges that focus on the "relaxed" feel of the development.

The suites themselves feature very high end finishes (check the pictures taken from my phone below) including 9ft. ceilings, granite/quartz kitchen, integrated dishwasher & fridge, beautiful engineered hardwood flooring and marble en-suites definitely put it in line with some of the major condo developments in the heart of Toronto.

COMPARISON TO OTHER NEW DEVELOPMENTS

It is extremely important to compare the development to other projects in the area to ensure that you are getting value for money. What makes my life easy is that the nearest new development to Ocean Club is right next door – the "NAUTILIS AT WATERVIEW" by Monarch is currently in the selling phase and the key numbers are posted below:

COMPARISON TO CURRENT RESALE MARKET

There are a number of condos that we can compare with on the current market. 5 & 58 Marine Parade, and 2111 & 2119 Lake Shore West all offer lake view condos in the area, while 2095 Lake Shore West is the most luxurious development in the area. The price per square foot offered all range from $400-$500. Most condos with straight south view (lake view) are offered around $500 per square foot. For lakefront property it is difficult to calculate the exact appreciation as the views on these condos can greatly affect the appreciation. It is even more extreme in this area as the north view condos face the QEW – a complete contract to the amazing lake-view that you would get on the south side. We have seen North Facing Condos appreciate as little as 3% per year, whereas we have seen South and South East facing condos appreciate as high as 10%. At the lakefront, the view you get can have a HUGE impact on the value and appreciation of the condo.

STREET VIEW

I don't normally put street views on my blog posts because I usually think there is no need… but in this case, if you have no visited the "MARINE PARADE" area then you should check it out and get a sense of how close the developments are to the lake. It's a fantastic area and one of my favourites in the GTA for end users.

[streetview width="100%" height="250px" lat="43.628955" lng="-79.475718" heading="-157.08225802839036" pitch="-4.472891462989783" zoom="1"][/streetview]

VIP PERKS & DEADLINES

One perk that the developers are offering at the VIP level is a FREE ASSIGNMENT CLAUSE (Regularly $3,500). The VIP sales opportunity expires on October 4th 2010. At this point prices may increase or perks may be removed.

If you are interested in getting further information Ocean Club, including floorplans and detailed pricing please contact us using the contact form below. With any lakefront property, it is important to get in early so you can ensure you get the best choice of suites as views play a paramount role.

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Interested in other great developments in Toronto? Click Here for our list of major developments currently selling to VIP agents.  Other HOT Developments: Backstage | Tableau | Studio | The Mercer | Chaz on Charles | Bisha

So what does "VIP PRICING" Mean? Generally a developer will release suites in 3 phases and at each phase there tends to be a bump in price (given sufficient demand).  In some cases they can be minor increases in price ($5,000-$10,000), however, in other cases they can be very drastic changes ($30,000-$50,000).  Again, it all depends on the demand for the product.

Stage 1 – VIP Agents.  At this stage, a handful of of the "top" agents in Toronto are invited to the VIP Event.  This is an exclusive list of Real Estate Professionals and typically only 100-150 agents get invited (out of 28,000 registered to the board).  This is the best time to purchase a New Condo as you will get the best price and often, a number of perks only available for VIP Agents.  These perks could include caps on levies and assignment clauses for example.  The VIP pricing is sometimes only available for a very short time (sometimes just a few days) so buyers need to act quick.  We try to educate buyers well before any events so that they are prepared to go if the pricing and development is attractive.

Stage 2 – General Agents.  At this stage, the sales center is open to all Real Estate Professionals.  Depending on demand, we will typically see an increase in price at this time and the removal of some perks.  The most drastic change in price I have personally seen were suites increased by approx $70,000 (almost a 20% increase in price) for a suite in an un-named development.  If you wish to find out which development and the before and after price, contact me below ).  It is not uncommon for prices to increase by 10% at this stage.

Stage 3 – General Public.  The builder then launches a "GENERAL PUBLIC LAUNCH".  At this stage, prices have increased twice already and you have lost out on potential profit (if you are an investor), and it's possible that you have paid 10%-20% more for your unit than your neighbour if you are purchasing as an end user.

We do our best to keep our clients up to date with the latest VIP Event, but if you would like to know about them BEFORE ANYONE ELSE, sign up to our newsletter here.

If you have any questions, please contact us using the contact form below.  Your comments are always welcome.

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Interested in other great developments in Toronto? Click Here for our list of major developments currently selling to VIP agents.  Other HOT Developments: Tableau | Studio | The Mercer | Chaz on Charles | Bisha

TABLEAU CONDOS *NEW* Richmond & Peter By Urban Developments Price: $550-$575 Occupancy: Fall 2014 VIP NOW ON!	STUDIO ON RICHMOND *NEW* Richmond & Duncan By Aspen Ridge Price: $575-$625 Occupancy: Fall 2013 VIP NOW ON!	OCEAN CLUB 128 Marine Parade Park Lawn & Lake Shore by Graywood Developments Price $500-$580/sq.ft Occupancy 2014
THE MERCER 8 Mercer King West by Graywood Developments Price $620-$650/sq.ft Occupancy 2014-15	BISHA HOTEL & RESIDENCES 56 Blue Jays Way by Lifetime & INK Approx $700-$750/sq.ft Occupancy 2013	CHAZ ON CHARLES 45 Charles St. E by Edenshaw Approx $650-700/sq.ft Occupancy 2013
ONE PARK WEST Regent Park by Daniels Homes Approx $440/sq.ft Occupancy 2011	POST HOUSE CONDOS Adelaide/Jarvis by Alterra Approx $500-$525/sq.ft Occupancy 2013	THE BERWICK Midtown by Andrin Homes Approx $560/sq.ft Occupancy 2013

GREAT DEVELOPMENTS OPEN TO GENERAL PUBLIC (What does this mean?)

12 DEGREES Queen West by BSaR Approx $600-$650/sq.ft Occupancy 2012

TRINITY LOFTS Distillery District by Streetcar Developments Approx $550-$575/sq.ft Occupancy 2012

DNA3 1030 King West by Canderel Stoneridge Approx $525-$550/sq.ft Occupancy 2013

UPCOMING VIP EVENTS In the coming months there is going to be almost 30 new condos launching.  With so many launches it is important to separate the good from the average, below are some of the launches we are most excited about and are our "HOT PROJECTS".  Our hot projects are based on information we already know, such as the reputation of the builder or a location that we really like (or a combination of both).  Once we get further information on Pricing, Occupancy and Deposit Structure we can better rate the project. Want to be informed AS SOON AS THESE become available? Sign up to our Newsletter and be the first to know.

HOT PROJECT BACKSTAGE CONDOS Front & Esplenate By Cityzen Group Price Unknown Occupancy Unknown LAUNCHING FALL 2010	HOT PROJECT (PAGE COMING SOON) IMPERIAL PLAZA St. Clair West By Camrost-Felcorp Price Unknown Occupancy Unknown LAUNCHING Unknown	HOT PROJECT (PAGE COMING SOON) CINEMA TOWERS King West By Daniels Homes Price Unknown Occupancy Unknown LAUNCHING SPRING 2011
	HOT PROJECT (PAGE COMING SOON) THE ST. THOMAS Yorkville By Minto Price Unknown Occupancy Unknown LAUNCHING Unknown

If you would like any information about any of these developments, or investing and purchasing condos in Toronto in general, please contact us using the form below.  We encourage you to check out our sister site TalkCondo (Currently under construction) for further details on new launches. [contact-form 1 "Contact form 1"]

Square One has become a hub for Mississauga, with shopping, transportation and the impending Sheridan College Campus coming in 2011 all giving people a reason to live in the City Centre.

With an increase in demand for the Square One, we have had an increase in high-rise development, and over the years Amit & Roy have visited them all.  With so much choice it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you, and so we have decided to rank the buildings based on a number of key features that home buyers look for when deciding to buy a Condominium: Amenities, Maintenance Fees, Price Per Square Foot, Location and Views.

Please remember that these are the opinion of Amit & Roy, and if you disagree with our opinions we would love to hear from you in the comments section:

Top 10 Amenities in Mississauga City Centre Condos

In 2009, the Absolute Condos completed their Amenities area they called "ABSOLUTE CLUB" and re-defined what a Condo Development should offer their home owners.  They introduced a 30,000 square feet Amenities Area that included a Indoor & Outdoor Swimming Pool, Gym, Basketball Court, Cardio Facilties, Library, Mini Theatre, Squash Courts among others in an ultra-modern setting.  One of the complaints for the Absolute Club is that there is only 1 amenity area shared between all buildings.  Today it is shared by the users of the 3 completed Absolute Towers, however, in the spring of 2011 the two new buildings will be completed, which will put added strain on the shared amenities.

Ovation I & II (3880 & 3888 Duke of York) is another building that is known for it's amenities and grand lobby.  Many of our clients love the relaxed "hotel feel" that they get from wandering around the lobby and amenity space of Ovation I & II.  One of the features that sets Ovation apart from the other buildings is the 4-lane bowling alley.

Some other unique amenities across the City Centre include the Rooftop Sky Club in 45 Kingsbridge Garden Circle, an amenity space on the top floor of the building with floor to ceiling windows with panoramic views of the city.  Similarly, 388 Prince of Wales has "Club 38", a lounge set in the cities tallest vantage point on the 38th floor.  

You may have heard the Mercer advertised on the radio with their "oooh, Mercer Mercer Me" jingle stuck in my head for the last couple of days.  The Mercer (8 Mercer) had originally launched last year but was shelved and now they are gearing up for their relaunch.  The building will be 33 floors, 415 units from 363 sq.ft. studios to 1136 sq.ft. with pricing starting in the mid $200,000s (assuming the smallest unit of 363sq.ft. is $250,000, this would be approx $688 per square foot – this may give us some clues as to their pricing).

In terms of what we know about the development: 9" and 10" ceiling and every suite will have a balcony.  Suites will include the finishings we expect from today's builders including high end flooring and upgraded kitchen.  

The Mercer is one of our top picks for investors given the great location and early information we know about the project.  Of course, price point, deposit structure and VIP perks will ultimately dictate just how much we like the project but early signs are positive.  In the coming months there will be upto 29 new condo launches across the city, it is important to determine which ones will be the winners and which ones to avoid.  Amit & Roy do extensive analysis before recommending any buildings to our investors and as we start to cut through the clutter, you will find the best developments on amitandroy.com.

If you would like information for the Mercer as soon as it becomes available to us over the next week or so, please fill out the forms below to be first on the list.  Check back for our full analysis as soon as the information becomes available.

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Interested in other great developments in Toronto? Click Here for our list of major developments currently selling to VIP agents.  Other HOT Developments: Tableau | Studio | The Mercer | Chaz on Charles | Bisha