Toronto is one of the most popular cities in Canada, known for its bustling streets, diverse culture, and thriving real estate market. The city's housing market is highly competitive, with condos being one of the most popular types of properties available. While there are plenty of great condos in Toronto, those with pools are especially sought-after.

Toronto condos with pools offer a luxurious lifestyle that is highly desired by many homebuyers. Pools are not only a great way to stay cool during the hot summer months, but they also provide a great way to stay in shape and improve your health. Let's take a look at some of the best condos in Toronto with pools.

1. Harbour Plaza Residences: Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, Harbour Plaza Residences is a luxurious condo building that boasts a 70,000 square foot indoor and outdoor amenity space. The indoor pool is a great way to stay in shape, while the outdoor pool offers stunning views of the city skyline.

   
   

2. The St. Regis Residences: The St. Regis Residences are some of the most luxurious condos in Toronto, with a range of amenities that include a heated indoor pool, sauna, and fitness center. This building is located in the heart of the Financial District, making it a great choice for professionals who want to be close to work.

   
   

3. Ten York: Ten York is a stunning condo building located in the Waterfront neighborhood of Toronto. The building boasts a 6th-floor outdoor pool, as well as a sauna and steam room. The outdoor pool area is a great place to relax and enjoy the views of the lake and the city.

   
   

4. 88 Scott: 88 Scott is a modern condo building located in the heart of the Financial District. The building features a rooftop pool, as well as a fitness center and yoga studio. The rooftop pool area is a great place to relax and enjoy the stunning views of the city.

   
   

5. The Residences of 488 University Avenue: The Residences of 488 University Avenue is a luxury condo building located in the heart of Toronto. The building features a stunning indoor pool, as well as a fitness center and yoga studio. The indoor pool is a great way to stay in shape, regardless of the weather outside.

   
   

6. The One: The One is a new condo development in downtown Toronto that is set to be one of the tallest buildings in Canada. The building will feature a stunning rooftop pool, as well as a fitness center and sauna. The rooftop pool area is sure to be one of the most sought-after amenities in the city.

   
   

7. The Icon: The Icon is a modern condo building located in the Entertainment District of Toronto. The building features a stunning outdoor pool, as well as a fitness center and sauna. The outdoor pool area is a great place to relax and enjoy the views of the city.

In conclusion, Toronto condos with pools offer a luxurious lifestyle that is highly sought-after by many homebuyers. Whether you are looking for a stunning outdoor pool with views of the city skyline or a relaxing indoor pool, there are plenty of great condo buildings in Toronto to choose from. While condos with pools may come at a higher price point, the added amenities and luxurious lifestyle they offer are often well worth the investment.

Downtown Toronto's thriving condo market is another reason why parks are so important in the city. As more people choose to live in condos in the downtown core, the need for green space becomes even more critical. Condos often lack private outdoor space, and parks provide a much-needed respite from the busy urban environment. Condo dwellers can use parks like David Crombie Park and Clarence Square to relax, exercise, and connect with nature. 

I recently wrote a blog about what makes an ideal tenant so it only seems fitting to write a blog about what it takes to be a successful and ideal landlord. Investing in real estate has many benefits but the thought of having to deal with tenants can be overwhelming for some. After being in the real estate business and specializing in the sale of downtown Toronto condos, I have helped many investors set up a real estate portfolio of Toronto condos. As a broker myself, I do provide property management services for my clients but I am providing you some of my best tips!

1. Get organized - Keep a binder or folder with all documents and information about your condo unit in one place.  This is also a great place to keep the phone number for the Conceirge and Condo management  and the contact information of your tenant. 

2. Hire an agent  - When you are ready to list your unit for lease, I always recommend to hire a real estate agent. This piece of advice may sound conducive coming from an agent like myself however listing with an agent allows your property to be listed on MLS. It is a known fact that tenants with higher ratings and higher credit scores use MLS to find their rental units. It can be challenging to advertise your rental condo elsewhere on sites such as kijiji or rent now. There is also another huge benefit of having an agent is that they take care of setting up the showings for viewings by potential tenants. Typically, the cost to use an agent for the lease process is one months rent. In the big picture, this fee is minimal for the services you acquire. 

3. Do your homework - Before accepting any offer to lease, dig a little deeper into who your potential tenant is. Verify the employment of your tenant, check their references and even google them to make sure you know who will be staying in your unit. You want to make sure what is put in the application is actually the truth. If you have hired an agent, your agent usually does this leg work for you.  

4. Prepare an information package to give to a new tenant that would include how to arrange a move-in elevator, condo by-laws, how to set up their own utility accounts like Hydro or which internet providers are common in the building. Also include your contact information should the tenant need to contact you in case of an emergency. 

5. Set up online banking to deposit your monthly rental cheques or to receive monthly interact transfers directly from the tenant. I always recommend having a separate bank account for your rental investments so that you can easily keep track of money coming in and money going out to pay for property taxes and maintenance fees. This also allows you to quickly reference if the rent has been paid and when it was paid. 

6. Make sure your condo unit is clean and in great shape. You want your tenant to be happy when they are moving in and this also sets an example for the shape and condition the unit should be returned upon vacancy.   

7. Another great tip is to keep a record of the exact paint used in your rental unit. I also like to keep a small paint can in the closet or laundry cabinet for the tenant to use to match up and picture hanging holes or scuff marks on the wall. 

8. Be the perfect landlord by adding that extra touch by to including a small welcome basket. One of my favourites is to give an assortment of environmentally friendly cleaning products that look great and gives your tenant the tools to keep the unit clean! If the stove top or stainless steel appliances require a special cleaner, this is also a great place to add them. 

9. Set yourself reminders in your calendar of important dates. Know when you are coming up to the 60 day notice of the end of your tenancy agreement.  Reach out ahead of time to ask if your tenant will be extending their lease past the initial agreed time frame. Determine what the allowable government rent increase is for the following year and determine if you will be implementing the increase. As a landlord, you must provide 60 day notice in writing of a rent increase past the initial agreed time frame.  

10. If you and your tenant agree to extend the lease past a one year lease for example, note that the last month rent that is usually given as a deposit gets carried over to the last month of their stay. Therefore this would mean that the tenant would be required to now make a payment for the 12th month and the last month would stay as a deposit. 

Investing in real estate can be a great way to create wealth especially for retirement and managing your rental property can be easier if you have the right tools. Now that you know some of my best tips, finding the right downtown Toronto Condo to invest in to be successful is equally important. For the best kind of properties to invest in, please visit the blog Why first time investors should chose a downtown Toronto condo .  I am always available and can be reached anytime to discuss your goals and available Investment Condos for sale in Toronto that meet your goals.

What Makes You an Ideal Tenant

The rental market in Toronto saw record lows during the pandemic as work from home allowed people to live remotely. People fled the downtown core for more space and more affordable places to live. Now that the world is getting back on track and fewer businesses are allowing a work from home model, Toronto’s rental market is now high in demand. The downtown core of Toronto is once again a bustling place to live with activity and a great place to call home. 

As I have been selling Toronto Condos for more than 21 years, I have a large group of investors that I continue to manage their rental units. Not only do I sell condos, but I rent condos too. The rise in demand from the backlog of new immigrants coming to Toronto and the returning workforce, many units are now seeing multiple rental offers. This can be very frustrating for a tenant to find a place to live. To better help you secure a rental unit in downtown Toronto, I have compiled a list of helpful hints in making your offer stand out above others.

The first suggestion I would make to a person looking for a place to rent or buy would be to hire a real estate agent that specializes in Toronto real estate. As a tenant or a buyer, there is absolutely no cost to you for the use of their services. The benefits of having someone to arrange the showings, show you available listings for rent and present your offer at zero cost to you is an absolute no brainer!

The second thing is to be prepared with all supporting documentation. As competition is high, offers tend to come in within days and sometimes even hours of being listed for rent on the market. If you find an amazing unit that you want to jump on, you will not have the time to get an employment letter, credit score, proof of employment with pay stubs, reference letters etc. Having it all ready to go will give you an advantage. Speak with your real estate agent for a complete list of paperwork you should have on hand.

The third piece of advice is having your deposit organized. Now in a slower to normal rental market, having a deposit for the first and last months rent is standard. However if you are new to the country and have little to no credit history, this can be a challenge for a landlord to establish risk for you as a tenant. Often to limit the risk, tenants are putting up front higher deposits that cover the first and then more months at the end of the lease. For example they might include paying up front the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th and 12th month or even offering to pay the full year lease in advance. This eliminates any risk for the landlord of having to chase down payments and also gives a new tenant the ability to build up their credit score and establish credibility as an ideal tenant.

Landlords are always looking for an ideal tenant. In most cases, that is a person who has employment that would secure the monthly payments. However there are other things that are considered. Now I hate to say this as I am an animal person myself, but if you don’t have a pet, don’t go and get one before trying to lease a unit. It is a known fact that animals cause extra wear and tear on a unit. Being a non smoker is also a must. Many buildings in Toronto also have a smoking by-law that prohibits smoking of cigarettes or marijuana in condo units as smoke does travel and effects all residents. See my blog on Smoking bans in Toronto Condos for more info.

Lastly, including a brief letter about yourself is always an added bonus for a landlord. A landlord wants to know what type of person will be occupying the unit and how they will care for their unit. Showing them that you are responsible, organized and respectful helps you stand out above others.

If you are looking for an apartment or condo to rent in downtown Toronto, myself or a member of my team who specializes in rental units will be happy to assist with no cost to you. Finding your first place to live and navigating the process of making on offer to lease can be a challenge. We would be happy to help you find that downtown Toronto condo to call home. Contact the team.