Alexander
Hawke Maleiner
Welcome!
If you are looking for professional and thoughtful guidance to assist you with buying or selling Toronto real estate, you’re in the right place.
New to the city? Or a lifelong Torontonian? In either case, Toronto real estate is a topic you probably hear about often, and how couldn’t you? Given the cost of living, rapid development, ever-changing by-laws, the news media’s real estate fixation and most importantly, everyone’s need for a place to call home, real estate is a popular topic in Toronto!
All this talk poses a major challenge though. There are so many opinions, vague statistics and sensational stories about the real estate market, that it can get confusing. Ensuring that you are equipped with the most current and relevant information to enable you to make informed decisions is crucial to both your success in real estate and your general wellbeing; this is your home after all.
Hi, my name is Alex, I’m a lifelong Torontonian and a Real Estate Broker with Royal LePage® Your Community Realty™ and it would be my pleasure to assist you in navigating the current market to accomplish your real estate goals!
Neighbourhoods
My approach to real estate is very neighbourhood focused. This applies equally to both selling and buying clients.
“In all great cities, neighbourhoods matter. They’re part of our mental geography, where we live, shop and play – where, no matter how old we are, something formative happens to us.”
– Kenneth Kidd (March 8th, 2009 Toronto Star “The Star unveils unique map of
neighbourhoods”)
Toronto is not only the fourth largest city in North America, behind Mexico City, New York
and Los Angeles, but it is actually the fastest growing. It is a hub for everything that makes
metropolitan life so special: walkability, higher education, healthcare, high-paying employment opportunities, diversity in ethnicities/ cultures/ religions and food, sports both recreational and professional, art, music, film and so much more. These attributes are spread out over a complex combination of 158 offical neighbourhoods, each with their own unique feel, that together, make Toronto what it is.
As a buyer, finding the home that suits you best in Toronto’s web of distinct neighbourhoods can be a daunting task. The decision about where you want to call home should be tailored to your specific needs and wants, not simply handled with a one-size-fits-all approach.
As a seller, marketing your home to a potential buyer, it is more important than ever to not only promote its features, but also where it is situated, showcasing why your home’s location and neighbourhood are significant; both looking to the future and appreciating the past.
It’s not without reason that the most famous saying in real estate is “Location! Location!
Location!” So, please reach out with your specific questions to see how my lifetime of local knowledge can be beneficial to you.
Selling
A good listing is already a half-sold house. So... What makes a good listing?
Step one is an informed seller. It starts with having a meeting to get you, the homeowner(s), thoroughly informed about the current market environment. Houses aren’t sold in their own bubble; they are usually one of many that buyers will see. So, this is where I start every seller consultation, informing you about the latest sales or non-sales in your local market, figuring out a rough value estimate (comparative market analysis) and having you look at your home from a buyer’s perspective.
This exercise is essential for you going forward. If you decide it is the right time to sell you will know what to expect, also what might be required to get your home ready to be attractive in the market and deliver its highest value. Perhaps it needs some tidying up, or maybe a little paint? Perhaps a little more?
If more is needed, there are a number of factors that go into that process: for instance, a cost benefit analysis of small repairs vs. more extensive renovations, and, if needed, I can facilitate referrals to qualified craftspeople and tradespeople on short notice.
From there I can offer guidance on cleaning and staging your home correctly, get a
pre-listing inspection done and once photo ready, capture your property with professional high-quality photography. I will write a thoughtful and compelling description of your property that along with the photos will showcases the tangibles and intangibles of your home and neighbourhood to potential buyers in their best light.
This presentation of your property is crucially important to get potential buyers excited to see your home, but, to generate a good offer, one that makes financial sense to both parties, the pricing strategy needs to be done correctly too. I pride myself in scouring over data and producing an exceptional comparative market analysis that will help determine the right price and pricing strategy to ideally sell your house, not just list it.
From our initial conversation to understand your expectations, to planning a strategy that’s tailored to you and your goals, I will follow through on that plan keeping you informed at every step along the way. I will persevere to achieve your goals and gladly invest the time, money and resources required for our mutual success!
Buying
Beyond all the financial preparedness needed to purchase a home, the place to start is finding the right neighbourhood for your needs and wants. Whether you are buying your first home, or navigating an upgrade or making an investment, it is important to develop an understanding of a neighbourhood’s personality. The specific home's location within the neighbourhood, the housing type, design and construction as well as the quality of its finishes.
When buying I can help you understand all the possible housing options available and clarify the benefits, drawbacks and general differences between them.
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The place to start is analyzing your needs and wants. Some examples of this could be:
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Which aspects of your future home are the most important to you?
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What community aspects are you looking for?
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What are your kid’s needs?
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How can you meet your affordability requirements without major compromises?
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Will this house accommodate your ‘aging in place’?
I appreciate that one size does not fit all and that people have distinct and unique needs
that can only be achieved in specific ways.
You may find the right house that is not quite ready to be your home. Seeing beyond its
current state and envisioning what it could be can save you a lot of money, or be the solution to getting the home you want in a neighbourhood you would like to live in. My over a decade of experience working for my dad’s design and renovation business can be an asset to you in this process. I can highlight creative but practical solutions based on a foundational understanding of home design and general costs of renovation. I can assist with this process at a basic level and if a more knowledgeable opinion is required certainly refer you to quality designers, tradespeople and architects to achieve your desired results.
I approach real estate purchases with data driven valuation strategies and fine-tuned negotiation. From our initial conversation through to planning a strategy tailored to you and your goals, I will work diligently to achieve your successful purchase.
If you’re looking for someone that really cares about helping you to make decisions that are in your best interest, then please reach out, you will not be disappointed.
About Me
I’m a product of my parents, and it’ll be beneficial to you.
My dad is an interior designer and contractor who made discussions of design and how space and people interact commonplace for as long as I can remember. I’ve been participating hands-on with his projects for over the past decade and become
knowledgeable as to what it takes to make dreams on paper become dreams in reality.
My mom works in the legal field and instilled in me a precision in the written and spoken word. She taught me that strong negotiation is one of the best ways to truly care for and protect those that need your assistance. These skills are crucial in real estate contractual agreements and verbal negotiation.
About me personally:
I have an Honors ‘Bachelor of Arts Honors Specialization in Philosophy, Reasoning and Ethics’ degree from the University of Western Ontario.
I’m a born and raised Torontonian and this has helped form me into the person I am. I love playing hockey especially shinny in the winter, biking on the lakeshore, spending time with friends all around the city and walking my dog in High Park.
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I have personal experience buying, selling, renovating and investing in homes and I am
happy to assist anyone at any stage of their real estate journey. I know this city well and understand the nuances of different areas. I come with an abundance of supplementary information in home design and construction, as well as an understanding of the economic factors effecting the real estate market.
But enough about me. Let’s talk about you! Reach out - I’m here, along with the entire Royal LePage® Your Community Realty™ brokerage, to help you achieve your real estate goals.
About Royal LePage®
Your Community Realty™
Royal LePage® is Canada’s oldest and largest Canadian-owned real estate company and Royal LePage® Your Community Realty™ is Canada’s largest Independently-Owned Royal LePage® franchise.
Our President, and Broker of Record, Vivian Risi started Your Community Realty™ in 1993 with the motto “People come first & it shows!”. Over three decades later, the results speak for themselves. Happy clients are the foundation of growing any service-based business and Your Community Realty™ now has over 1300 REALTORS®, 10 office locations, 7 managers and over 60 support staff, including an in-house marketing team. So why should all of this matter to you?
This should matter to you because due to the size of the brokerage:
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We attract top professionals in their respective industries to keep us up to date with the latest in: economic trends, mortgage rules, and laws pertaining to the purchase and sale of property and the latest technology available to the industry.
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These professionals (Lawyers, Mortgage Brokers, etc.) and other companies that are part of the process like stagers and movers can be a valuable resource to over to our clients.
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The administrative support team is always available to offer assistance at every stage of the transaction and a manager can always offer a professional second opinion if needed.
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In-house marketing ensures that your property is showcased professionally, with consistency and a fast turnaround time.
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“Helping you is what we do®” and “People come first & it shows!” are not just some throwaway slogans, they are core values that we hold at Royal Lepage® Your Community Realty™ and that we bring to the work that we do. I am a Royal LePage® Shelter Foundation™ commission donor, and proud to work for a brokerage with these values.
Royal LePage® Shelter Foundation™
Excerpt from Royal LePage® Shelter Foundation™ Website:
25 Years of Making Home a Safe Place for Everyone
Royal LePage® professionals understand that a house is only a home if the people who live there feel safe. That’s why, more than 25 years ago, we unanimously agreed that helping women and children find safety from domestic abuse should be where we channeled our big hearts and charitable efforts. Since its founding in 1998, the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation has proudly grown to become the largest public foundation in Canada dedicated exclusively to funding women’s shelters and domestic violence prevention. Royal LePage is the only Canadian real estate company with its own charitable foundation.
The Shelter Foundation has raised more than $51 million to-date and currently supports 200 local women’s shelters and national partners. Our agents donate a portion of their commissions, and Royal LePage offices across Canada host local fundraising events. Our brokers, agents and staff also volunteer and provide in-kind goods to benefit the women and children residing in their local shelters. Every dollar raised goes directly to helping the more than 50,000 women and children who are served each year by the shelters and support programs we fund.