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toronto urban infill: Toronto Modular Home Financing - 12/07/11 09:54 AM
Here are some typical questions/scenarios and repsonse by Toronto Mortgage Professionals Valerie and Robert Bizzoni on Modular Home financing. If you would like to chat about your next home building project, feel free to get in touch.
1. Buyer purchases infill lot [with house sitting on it, but will be demolished to set new foundation and new home.] ie. modular unit will be on owned land - no leased lots.
·         If the unit is placed on a full foundation, does standard underwriting apply and the mortgage would be eligible for discounted rates?
Yes, standard underwriting would apply and the client would be eligible for discounted rates, subject … (0 comments)

toronto urban infill: How About A Smaller Home - Much Smaller? - 05/14/11 10:59 PM
 
Some North American cities are starting to see urban starter homes being offered at 400sf. We are definitely seeing this in the Toronto Condominium market where units come as small as $450sf for compact living.
Take a look at this blog on microhomes posted by Steve Hoffacker.
Also check out related post on Space saving furniture.
 
Via Steve Hoffacker - Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consulting and Strategies (Hoffacker Associates LLC):
D.R. Horton has come up with an innovative solution for a Portland neighborhood - urban infill homes starting at under 400 square feet total. There's no garage, but the … (4 comments)

toronto urban infill: Toronto setback guidelines for urban infill - 05/13/11 09:42 AM
There are a lot of overlooked urban lots in old Toronto that pose great potential for urban infill project. An architectural designed modern home can do a lot in a little space. While a buyer sources an infill property, it is important to assess the new structure based on setback requirements as part of the feasibility before finalizing the purchase.
Recently there has been announcements from several sources that the newly enacted municipal zoning by-laws ( as of August 2010) may in fact be repealed shortly.  IF that is the case,  guidelines would have to adhere to the old zoning in the short term.  With respect … (0 comments)

toronto urban infill: Take this survey - Would you build a modern prefab home? - 05/11/11 08:18 PM
 
Architect-designed high quality prefab has gained popularity over the years. They are also considered to be more sustainable than traditional construction process producing less waste, using renewable materials and designed through state of art engineering suited to our time.
I am in the process of researching the prefab market, and would be interested to hear your opinion and feedback on modern prefabs. 
 
Take Our Survey!
 

Hive Modular B-Line
 
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toronto urban infill: Would you ever swipe your credit card to purchase a home? Trend in Urban Modern Prefab homes - 04/25/11 10:10 AM
The concept of prefabricated homes have been around for decades. However, most consumers are unfamiliar with the concept, process of obtaining financing, zoning approval, process of the construction and assembly process, as well as the prefab design industry being plagued by the social stigma that this type of housing is fast, cheap, mass produced and low quality.
Prefab can be a panelized, or modular building system manufactured off-site. However, it has become more common to use the term "prefab architecture" for high design modern dwellings which uses this construction method.
There is currently a prefab movement by modern architects experimenting with these built forms in an urban setting in North America and Europe. The … (1 comments)

toronto urban infill: How to fit your dreams into an urban lot - 07/27/10 10:43 AM
How to fit your dreams into an urban lot.Things to consider when building on an infill lot.
Prior to finalizing a purchase for an infill property, whether it is a tear down or vacant land, it is important to do a feasibility study of the project and get an idea of cost implications from professionals.
A common question from clients who want to build a custom home... "is there exists an extensive list to work from in costing out a development project?" Construction budget can vary based on the individual's wants, needs and types of building system, especially if one will be getting into custom architectural details. Contractors can itemize each category to price out … (2 comments)

toronto urban infill: Buying Infill properties and Contruction of Laneway Dwellings in Toronto - 07/25/10 04:02 PM


"House behind a house."
I have had many clients who are particular drawn to constructing laneway dwellings. However very few understands the complexity of the process and the hurdles they have to face. From the sellers of point of view, sometimes these unserviced infill lots or structures become unsellable due to Planning restrictions by the City. Before the purchaser can commit to buy the property, it's recommended that the buyer make the offer conditional on consulting various City Departments before proceeding with the purchase. 
 
Toronto Public Works has often opposed the idea of constructing housing on existing, future or proposed laneway, with the exception that there is … (0 comments)

toronto urban infill: Toronto Environmentally Friendly Residential Laneway House Blogspot - 02/27/09 10:22 AM
The concept of laneway infill properties in Toronto in the last 10 years has been a fairly recent phenomena. Laneway properties mean that property owners are permitted to build in a back lot that borders a public or unserviced lane. These laneways are often derelict passages for vehicular access to garages and private parking.

 
It has often been a difficult hurdle to get laneway properties approved by the City of Toronto, due to lack of municipal services in these laneways and unsupportive front property owners.

Some interesting facts about the process:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/laneway_house.php
http://www.canadianarchitect.com/issues/ISarticle.asp?id=77537&story_id=141660145537&issue=01012003&PC=&RType=
http://lanewayhouse.blogspot.com
 
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toronto urban infill: Interested in building on vacant land or urban infill development, but don’t know where to start? - 02/09/09 10:29 AM
 City is an organism that is constantly growing and changing by neighborhoods. For different reasons, old homes are replaced with new or larger redevelopments. Infill projects directly impacts an existing established neighborhood. Issues from disgruntled adjacent neighbors objecting to new redvelopments from removal or pruning of trees, dust and contruction noise, often arise. Therefore it is important to keep local residents informed once the project is in the planning stage.
Some basic guidelines are as follows:
Make sure all required approvals and permits are in place Keep the communication chain open to the neighbours. Update them on progress as things move along Protect the neighbourhood including other adjacent … (0 comments)

toronto urban infill: Toronto Urban Infill: Existing Laneway Dwellings - 06/05/08 06:23 PM
Laneway housing is very much an existing part of the urban Toronto fabric. Densification of neighbourhoods is achieved through redevelopment of infill lots and laneway dwellings, which are often architectural icons that are unique, exciting and multi-layered on the existing historical context. Old Central Toronto laneway system offers multitude of possibilities of densifying neighbourhoods  at a humane scale.
 
 
 
Here are a sampling of urban infill residences in the inner city core of Toronto to share :
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
328 Euclid Ave by Levitt Goodman Architects 
 
 
   238 Euclid - Before
 

 
Adam Fleming House by … (12 comments)

 

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