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Fall real estate market: One piece of advice from the industry’s finest

March 1, 2021 by Hayley Greenberg

STOREYS Real Estate News

With some experts saying the fall housing market will heat up, we’ve asked some of real estate’s biggest names what they believe is the most important thing to keep in mind for the upcoming season.

Even in the summer heat, the real estate market was surely cooler than it had been in months. While the Toronto Real Estate Board reported in August that average prices in the Greater Toronto Area had seen a nearly 25 per cent decline since April, experts suggest the upcoming season will see prices heating up once again. So what’s a hopeful homebuyer or seller to do?

Before fall officially begins, and those in real estate head into a busy season, we asked a few of the industry’s biggest names in Toronto to offer up their one piece of advice for buyers and sellers in today’s market. Here’s what they had to say …

Darren Slavens, Vice President and Broker of Slavens & Associates

“It is so important to take the emotion out of the purchase. Create a budget and stick to it. Far too often I see buyers lose patience and throw everything they have at a home. It is so imperative to avoid a situation where you will become house poor. It’s also imperative that you plan for a downturn in the economy and raises in interest rates. Your house should be a source of joy and happy memories, not stress and worry. Stay within your means. … Ensure you have an agent looking out for your best interests. Ensure your agent discusses the realities of financing today. Your agent is there to protect you.”

Barbara Lawlor, President/ Broker at Baker Real Estate Inc.

“The biggest advantage to buying early in the new construction condominium process is the equity you earn over the time span of construction.  My advice is buy early, it’s worth the wait!”

 

 

Michael Kalles, President of Harvey Kalles Real Estate

“This is a great opportunity for buyers as there is more inventory to choose from.”

 

 

Elliott Taube, President of International Home Marketing Group

“When I talk with buyers and the agents that represent them, increases in the price now being asked always come up especially in the pre-construction high-rise sector. They question how something that was $750 square feet not long ago is now approaching the $1,000-square-foot mark. My answer is simple and right to the point: Based on the current price being paid for land in this city, the long approvals process, removal of the OMB, increasing costs of construction and the additional fees the municipalities pile on, developers cannot sell for less and still make an acceptable profit based on the risk. Prices in high-rise are not going down and Toronto as a world-class city is still undervalued. The time to buy is now in my opinion.”

 

Hunter Milborne, President and CEO of Milborne Group

“Buy on the transit line or on the waterfront. Do not wait to purchase. Demand is very strong and prices could escalate more in the pre-construction sector of the market. Buy as much as you can afford but not more than you can afford, so you do not have to sell at the wrong time.”

 

Catherine Himelfarb Borden, Branch Manager at Forest Hill Real Estate, Yorkville

“The advice that I most often like to share with our clients and the agents in our office is to buy and sell in the same market.  The Fair Housing Plan, introduced in April of this year, was only an issue for those sellers who missed the signals that a change was in the works and that it would impact the market in our city, in spite of the frenzy we were all experiencing. The fall market is no exception to that rule. Whether the prices are up or down, buying and selling in the same market ensures a market where all things are equal and the margin of error is greatly reduced.”

Debbie Cosic, CEO and Founder of In2ition Realty and Brokerage

“The investment hot spots are the suburban markets. Price growth will be unprecedented in these markets wherever major public transport hubs are in place, or coming soon. Look for developments on the Metrolinx, subway or Go Transit line extensions!”

 

Filed Under: Press

Top 20 Up & Coming Real Estate Professionals in Canada – Next Wave Marketing

March 1, 2021 by Hayley Greenberg

#9 Darren Slavens

Darren Slavens manages the Darren Slavens Real Estate Group, and is a founder, partner and VP of Slavens & Associates Real Estate, a boutique brokerage based in Toronto. He’s an innovative and dynamic leader who’s recognized for his commitment to the community as well as his clients. Whether he’s organizing major fundraising events or running a neighbourhood Food Bank Drive, people are drawn to Darren’s enthusiasm and passion. This same energy is what makes his team so successful. Darren Slavens acknowledges that in real estate you only have one chance to make a first impression and his team works hard to ensure the first impression is spectacular. From luxury listings to starter condos they approach every property with a business plan and strategic marketing initiatives. Darren also realizes that the purchase or sale of a home is often an emotional decision. He takes his role as advocate for his clients seriously, working diligently to protect them and their assets. To ensure a smooth customer experience, Darren’s team offers full real estate services by handling every step of the process. One of the biggest obstacles most agents face in the current Toronto market is a lack of inventory. Darren’s team rises to the challenge through creative thinking, tenacity, and proactively locating off market opportunities. As for the future, Darren plans to expand his team, maintain their standard of excellence, and continue their support for the community.

Filed Under: Press

Darren Slavens Shows How You Can Do Well In Business By Doing Good

March 1, 2021 by Hayley Greenberg

by Evan Roberts

Some professionals choose to run their business conservatively, favouring the status quo over the risk of change.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Real estate executive Darren Slavens has never operated that way.

Though easy-going in conversation, Slavens has the restlessness and the drive of an innovator. And whether running the brokerage, Slavens and Associates with his partners, or serving as president of the Jewish National Fund of Toronto, his successes have always been the result of a call to do better.

And a call to do good.

Slavens and his partner Richard Sherman started Slavens & Associates 14 years ago, taking over the assets of his father’s company, Paul Slavens Real Estate. No one would have faulted them for maintaining business as usual. Paul Slavens Real Estate was an institution in the city, and Slavens had always been inspired by his father’s work ethic and success.

The 40 agents who represented that company were seasoned and celebrated.

But Slavens saw a change coming in the industry. He knew that clients were starting to look for more from their agents, and that cultivating longer term, client-first relationships was the way of the future for the company. So he committed himself to undoing old, hardened habits in the industry, and bringing in new blood to support their team of established agents.

“Sometimes you need to upset the apple cart a little bit,” says Slavens.

“But if you have a clear vision in mind, and are willing to patiently usher your team through the process, an overhaul can prove to be to everyone’s benefit.”

It was an overhaul indeed.

Slavens and his partners (now including Daniel Pustil), quickly grew the company from 40 agents to 85. They’ve also opened two additional offices in the GTA.

But it wasn’t just about bringing in more people — it was about bringing in the right people, and making sure that everyone felt like a member of the family.

“We are committed to hiring the very finest people — and for me, that means the agents who look forward to working together and feeding off one another’s respective qualities.

“There is great synergy amongst the partners and the team at Slavens and Associates, and we do our best to foster and honour that.”

To that end, Slavens insists that agents are paired off together on the weekend, so there are always two agents at an open house. And the team makes sure to gather every Monday at the office for a sales meeting.

“We call it a sales meeting …” he laughs.

“But it’s more of an AA meeting. We share stories and triumphs from the week and draw on one another for support and encouragement.”

And because Slavens continues to act as an agent, he is able to relate to new and old agents alike. And he is sure to sit down with them to review tasks and establish goals. Slavens’ partner, Daniel Pustil, considers this to be one of the reasons that Slavens is so unique in the industry.

“I don’t know anyone who makes themselves more available than Darren,” says Pustil.

“And not just to his clients. Darren is there 24/7 for our team of agents, and would literally drop anything for them. That’s just who he is. And it happens to make everyone around him more successful as a result.”

The experience at Slavens and Associates has helped Slavens to hone his leadership and managerial skills. And this, in turn, has served him well in his charitable pursuits.

In June of 2016, Slavens was named president of the Jewish National Fund of Toronto. He had long been passionate about the organization, having served on its board of directors and as vice-president.

“My experience at JNF has helped me to grow as a leader. It’s my number one passion, aside from my family,” says the husband and father of two girls.

“JNF challenges me to develop and implement ideas and then measure the results of that hard work on the ground. Those are certainly responsibilities that I learned at Slavens and Associates.”

For the innumerable agents and clients that find homes through his brokerage, and the greater community that benefits from his charitable efforts, Darren Slavens’ leadership is a beacon of determination and vision.

Filed Under: Press

416-944-1818
192 Davenport Rd.
Toronto, ON M5R 1J2

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