When you buy a home, you’re not just buying four walls and a roof. You’re buying school pickups and drop-offs, that cozy kitchen nook where you help the kids finish homework, your family’s go-to takeout pizza joint, a driveway where you celebrate that first bike ride without training wheels. The list goes on.
What I’m getting at is that a house and a home are very different. And for most buyers in Toronto, they are looking for the latter. It’s one thing to fall in love with wide-plank hardwood flooring and a chef’s kitchen; it’s another thing to truly picture your family living in a space for years to come.
As a top Toronto real estate agent for over 17 years, I’ve helped countless families find their happy places. And 9 times out of 10, the reasons a family chooses a home are based, at least in some part, on factors outside of the floor plan. It’s why my business model is more like a lifestyle real estate service.
With over 70,000 real estate agents in the GTA (yes, you read that right), you have a lot of choice when it comes to hiring an agent to help you buy a home. But in this post, I’m going to share exactly why I’m the right person for the job.
My Credentials
When I started selling properties in 2009, I never thought I’d be able to help so many people find places they loved and identified with. Rising quickly in the real estate ranks, I began helping 20+ buyers a year within a few years of getting my licence. I’ve been blessed to have a trusted network that feels confident in referring me to those they love. My team and I help over 50 buyers a year, and we aren’t stopping anytime soon. In 2019 and 2020, I felt honoured to be awarded Royal LePage’s Top 35 Under 35 designation for my efforts in this industry.
All of this matters when it comes to finding a home in an uber-competitive real estate market like Toronto. Working with an agent who isn’t experienced, isn’t active in the market, or doesn’t have the right connections could leave you alone on the house hunt for much longer than you want.
The truth is that top agents are simply built differently. To see what I mean, check out my blog What Makes the Top Real Estate Agents in Toronto So Successful
A Collaborative Approach
No one knows your family as well as you do. But as your real estate agent, my job is to know you almost as well. Many of my clients are top-performing professionals in their field. They have little time to sift through generic listing email roundups or to drive around town trolling for Open Houses. That’s where I come in.
By getting to know you and your family on a deeper level, I curate your experience to maximize your time. If you’re looking for a beautiful detached home in a prestigious, quiet neighbourhood close to the best schools, I won’t show you luxurious downtown penthouses unless you’re into it, of course!
Often, when a client comes to me with their specific needs, my first instinct is to call the agents I know in the areas of interest. I’ll call and ask for off-market listings (because there are tons of properties changing hands without going to the open market). Knowing the downtown agents is imperative in building relationships that will ensure you are the first they notify if something of interest comes their way.
Not only am I working every angle to find the home of your dreams, but I’m also finding homes you might not think you like… but then discover it’s perfect for you with the right renovation. I specialize in renovations and costing out what you need to make it “perfect for you.” I will create mock-ups and design charts for those serious about a certain property.
My extensive list of suppliers, tradesmen, etc. helps you love the look of your new home for a price you couldn’t achieve alone. My services for renovation advice and guidance are always complimentary and encouraged – I’m invested in your happiness.
You Benefit Directly From My Market Obsession
Have you ever met someone who is so obsessed with something that they will find any excuse to talk about it? Like a friend who just returned from a trip to Japan, all they seem to want to talk about is their experience and how, “Things are just different over there,” despite how many times you roll your eyes.
Well, I have a confession. That person is me. Only instead of comparing authentic wasabi to the fake stuff we have in North America, my obsession is real estate. However, in this case, it’s something that can be used in your favour.
Do you wake up every morning at 2:30 am to check the new listings that came out? No? Well, I do! My brain naturally wakes me at this time to do a little check before the rest of the world opens their eyes and starts making appointments. Reading the national and local newspapers, being tightly connected to Royal LePage’s management, including Phil Sopher, gives me a leg up when being able to properly predicting and communicating our constantly changing market.
My network of business professionals, people in policy, economics and law, is a valuable resource in understanding macro-trends to help us make smart choices. My relationships with Mortgage/Insurance and legal professionals help us with executing seamlessly when transactions present themselves.
Read my annual real estate market prediction post for an insider look at how I think this year will play out.
I Have an Eye For Construction and Design
As I mentioned before, I have a background in construction and design. Growing up, my father built custom homes, and my mom did the colour charts for buyers. I grew up in a house where the hardwood was changed 3 times in 18 years, and the wallpaper changed yearly.
I learnt very early the value of a quality build and how to identify a cheap one. Being Italian, the level of standard for finishes and design was high, and I built a life with that as the standard. I help my clients see the potential of what “could be” and align them with the right professionals to make it happen.
Over the past 6 years, my husband and I have been working together to build homes for ourselves and clients who need help – we have prided ourselves on being current in design and conscientious about costs.
Whether you’re looking for an authentic Victorian Home or you’re wondering if the property you’re considering is a good candidate for a garden suite, I can absolutely advise. I can even help when purchasing a property you intend to renovate. Having undertaken numerous renovations both for myself and my clients, I’ve been there, done that and can help you avoid the pitfalls that can occur when buying a home you intend to renovate. (In fact, I’ve covered it pretty extensively in my 6-part Home Renovation Guide.)
For more on home maintenance, construction, and renovations, check out these posts next:
- Block Foundation Vs. Poured Concrete: What is the Best Type of Home Foundation?
- Home Maintenance Tips: Common Plumbing Mistakes
- Toronto’s Renovation Rebate Programs
I Keep it Local
Toronto is the fourth largest city in North America. Anyone who tells you they are local experts of every nook and cranny in the GTA is probably sorely mistaken and forgetting a few (dozen). The real skill when navigating Toronto’s best neighbourhoods is not being able to rattle off 100 names and streets (even if those names and streets do come with a super fascinating history).
It’s more about understanding how you fit into these neighbourhoods. It all comes back to my deep understanding of you and your family.
My mom’s side of the family all lived in North York along Avenue Road when I was growing up. On Saturdays, my cousins and I would walk to the candy shop at the corner of Avenue and Dunblaine to get candy; on Sundays we were at Grief’s Bags to get a couple dozen. Taking the streetcar with my babcia to play bingo or heading to a Jays game was a regular activity. Although I lived in Pickering, my heart was always in the city.
Seeing how enriched my cousins’ lives were because of the access to programming and opportunities excited me about raising my own children in the city. Using public transportation made them confident and independent – my two greatest hopes for my own babes.
When I help a family find the best neighbourhood for their situation, I ask questions about values
- What’s more important: having a big house or being close to amenities?
- Private or public schools?
- How much culture do you want in your daily lives?
- Will you rely on public transportation?
- How important is access to the airport or major highways?
- How connected to nature do you want to be?
Everyone’s got a different recipe for the right environment – it’s up to me to make the dish.
Explore more neighbourhoods in Toronto with these posts next:
- Best Neighbourhoods in Toronto For Families
- Toronto’s Most Prestigious Neighbourhoods
- Best Toronto Neighbourhoods for Young Professionals
- The Urban Advantage: Why City Living Builds Resilient and Adaptable Kids in Toronto
I Can Help You See the Big Picture
A beautiful life for your family starts with a great home. There’s no doubt that your house is the foundation. It’s your respite from the world, your chance to express yourself, your abode to share with friends and family, making memories that will last a lifetime.
But beyond the aspirational homeownership ideals, your property serves as the home base for all of your other activities. Which is where my experience comes in handy again. Whether you’re looking for Toronto’s best private schools, most exclusive clubs, or even a solid reco for a housekeeper or a nanny in the city, I have you covered.
Now finding housing is one thing – designing your new life is another.
Take Reid and Marko; they came in from Vancouver for work and wanted a neighbourhood where they would thrive with their brand-new baby Caia. The neighbourhood needed to be affluent and gay-friendly, but they also wanted connections to a night nanny for Caia and proximity to a good Montessori school for when she turned 2. They needed a neighbourhood that was still fun and cool, but it also had to be child-friendly without being suburban. They ultimately ended up in High Park, and Maria Nanny was at their place for a night shift on day two.
Take Trish and Dave, old clients of mine. We sold their Kingsway home in 2018 to move to NOTL and now wanted to purchase a city place for when Dave had to do business in the city, and Trish wanted to go to a play. I found them an amazing place on the waterfront (with a view) and a trusted dog-sitter for nights when they would be out late. I arranged for
Growing Your Generational Wealth is My Ultimate End Goal
There are two sides to real estate. The emotional side with the warm fuzzy feelings and the analytical side where the bottom line matters most. The trick is finding a home that satisfies both your head and your heart in equal measure. Not only am I passionate about this facet of real estate, I actually specialize in it.
Real estate is a long game, and the end goal for my clients is usually leveraging their portfolios to fund retirement or to pass down to their children.
If you’ve been lucky enough to keep your first condo or home and purchase a second to live in, you’re already on top. For many people, buying a family home is the only purchase they’re focused on, and that’s perfectly fine. They’ll pay off the mortgage as quickly as they can and live debt-free and mentally free for the rest of their days.
The other group wants to build a bigger life with more opportunities later on. They want to pass on properties or investments to build a legacy. I put these families on a trajectory early on. After they have their family home, we work on acquiring cash-neutral condos or multiplexes for a long hold. Putting properties in older children’s names and watching the equity grow and cash flow gives their offspring an opportunity to live life without the looming “how will I ever afford a home” sentiment. The truth is real. It’s hard to buy your first place. Most of my younger clients are getting sizable monetary gifts from family members – that’s the norm.
Younger clients with one place with gifted money often go on to acquire a second with their own after years of equity creation and higher income.
Real estate investing comes in many forms and at many different stages in life – it’s my job to know when the time is right.
If you’re planning to use today’s real estate investments to help your children in the future, here are a few more posts you might find interesting:
- First-Time Homeowners and the Bank of Mom and Dad
- What is Gifted Equity: Everything You Need to Know
When You Buy a Home with Danielle in the City, You Get Much More than a House
As your real estate agent, my job is to connect you with a home that will serve as your family’s home base for years to come. At the same time, I’ll help you curate a meaningful life in Toronto and future-proof your strategy to grow your generational wealth. If you’re ready to find a home you love in a neighbourhood that checks all the boxes for your family, get in touch with me today.
Learn more about our bespoke buying services and book a buyer’s consultation, or give me a call or shoot me a text to get in touch!
