Halloween Recap

This year was another Halloween for the books.  Staff were greeted in the morning with this:

















Yes, you saw that right.  Mike built his very own Options home and placed it smack dab in the middle of the hall way.  He also waited in his house for unsuspecting staff members and slowly rolled towards them as they arrived in the morning.

















It takes a village to get Mike in and out of the house.

Check out some more photos of Options staff dressed up!

Happy Halloween from Options! Be safe tonight!

"I Wish I had Heard About Options Sooner!"

Antonio was told over and over again that he couldn't qualify for a mortgage…then he heard about Options.

Antonio felt discouraged for years but he never gave up his dream of owning his own home. No matter how many people say “no” stay positive until someone says “yes”. Check out Antonio’s story in the video above.

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to see more videos like this and register for a free information session to find out how you can make your goal of owning a home a reality now!

#TBT Demolition Party

With Halloween happening tomorrow we thought it would be fun to take a stroll down memory lane.  Seven years ago, almost to the day, Options threw a Halloween Party to celebrate the demolition of the Old Canadian Tire building and begin construction on the Village by High Park.

Check out these throwback photos of Options Village by High Park Demolition Party and see if you can recognize Options staff who are still with us years later. 

It's hard to believe it's been seven years since construction began on the Village by High Park.  So much has happened since then.

Check out this video of the Village by High Park 20th Anniversary Party featuring lots of satisfied residents (and lots of laughs) and while you're there don't forget to Subscribe to our channel to get many more videos like this.
  

Register for a free Information Session to find out how you can become and Options homeowner now!

Welcome to the New Options for Homes Blog!

Hi everyone,

Thank you to everyone who keeps in touch with us between newsletters through the Options Blog!  We are pleased to announce that Options has moved our blog posts from Tumblr to Blogger.  This makes it even easier to stay up to date with everything Options.

If you would like to receive updates from our blog right to your email, follow these steps

1. On the right hand side of this page you will see this:
 
Enter your email and click submit!

2. You will then be redirected to a screen that looks something like this:

Type the text you see, click “Complete Subscription Request” and you’re done.
You will receive an email to your inbox to verify that you want to subscribe to the blog.

All of our previous blogs have been uploaded to our Blogger platform so you can still easily access our previous content.  We look forward to hearing feedback about our blogs and keeping you up to date on all things Options!

Praise for Deltera

We love to get feedback from satisfied Options homeowners.  We pride ourselves on producing quality homes at cost-effective prices.  We know this would not be possible without Deltera, the construction arm of Tridel. 

Check out this complementary letter from Options homeowner Elliott who discusses his experience with Deltera:

Dear Annie,

I would like to complement and send my great appreciation to the team of workers - Ben, Paul, and another man (who actually did the work) - who came to make the repairs in my unit last Tuesday. I’m not actually sure who to send this email to so I thought I would send it to you.

These men were very professional and worked very efficiently on each item one after another until they were all completed. I was very impressed to say the least (and I suppose you know how I like efficiency).

The day it was scheduled on happened to be a very convenient day for me as well. I very much appreciated their work and professionalism.

 I had meant to send this email earlier but kept putting it off. In any case, here it is. Thank you Options and Deltera! 

Regards,

Elliott

Disclaimer: The views & opinions expressed in any guest blog featured on our site are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions & views of the Options Group of Companies community as a whole.

A Broken Leg Leads to a Home in the Distillery District

Rose has lived at 39 Parliament for almost 15 years and is still just as in love with her condo as she was when she first moved in! It just goes to show that everything happens for a reason. If Rose didn’t break her leg she would never have found Options!

Check out her story above and visit our website to find out about how you can make an Options development your home!

13 Things That Make a House a Home

Moving into your new Options home?  Check out these tips from Good Housekeeping on how to make your new space feel like home!

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/parenting-tips/house-a-home

Check out our Pinterest Boards for more inspired decorating and budgeting tips and testimonials from current Options homeowners!

Options and Diversity

As Options’ International work becomes more important and a larger focus, we have started to look within the Options family, more specifically the staff.  One thing that has become very clear is that our staff are a very diverse group of individuals. 

                          *Options consists of 25 staff born in 14 different countries

There are more countries in the world that desperately need housing than just in Canada.

"Housing is the single most effective economic development oppourtunity that any developing country has. But it’s not the housing that matters, it’s the jobs that that housing can create." - Mike Labbé

By having such a diverse group in the office with different backgrounds and personalities, we remain driven and focused on our goal of providing cost-effective housing to everyone in the world who needs it. 

We know this is not going to happen overnight.  Anyone who knows Mike Labbé has probably heard him say something like, "we’ll have a sense of how well we’ve done in about 150 years." so Options will keep working towards that goal for at least the next century or so!

                         *Options staff’s parents were born in 18 different countries

                                                             *Red - Options staff country of birth
                                                *Blue - Options staff parents country of birth

For more information about Options International Work check out our Facebook Page and check out Options for Homes Cameroon, our first international affiliate to begin development.

Options for YouTube

If you’ve been following our Options Blog, Facebook or Twitter, you know that Options has a YouTube channel.  On the channel you can find updates from Options CEO Mike Labbé and other Options staff, homeowner testimonials and footage from many Options events.  You will also find information about Options for Cars, Green Energy and International explained by us!

Check out our Options YouTube Channel here and get familiar with who we are and what we do!

We post new videos all the time so subscribe to stay up to date on everything Options!

Recap: World Habitat Day 20th Anniversary Celebration

We know World Habitat Day was two weeks ago but our 20th Anniversary event was such an amazing evening we just want to keep reliving it. 

Check out some photos from both our morning flag raising at City Hall and our evening event at the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse on our Facebook Page.

And check out some important statements from our incredible panel of speakers in this recap video above!

Recognition for 20 Years

Options CEO Mike Labbé received The University of Waterloo Faculty of Environment Alumni Achievement Award for 2014! The award is in recognition of outstanding professional achievement and community leadership.

The award is given to one individual every year, Mike is honoured to have been chosen for 2014! See his profile on the University of Waterloo website here. 

Click here to see recognition and awards Mike Labbé and Options have received over the last 20 years!

Scarborough is HOT - Part Three: For the Sports Buff

Options for Homes Danforth Village Estates development located at Danforth Rd. and Eglinton in Scarborough is over 50% sold out.  We have already taken you on a culinary journey through the neighbourhood and told you how you can enjoy the great outdoors (Part One) and keep everyone in the family entertained (Part Two).  In this post we will explore what Scarborour has to offer to the sports buff in the family!

Get Active!

Whether you’re and athlete or just a fan, there is no shortage of gyms, studios and arenas in Scarborough. 

Scarborough’s Pan Am Sports Centre – located at Morningside Avenue and Military Train is open for operation. The facility, built for the 2015 Toronto Pan Am and Parapan Am Games is open for use to University of Toronto Scarborough students and members of the community.

Canlan Ice Sports Scarborough - for the winter sports enthusiast, this arena has both indoor and outdoor surfaces and offers drop in programs for leisure skates and shinny games as well as hockey leagues for youth and adults.

There is plenty to do for the athletes and sports buffs in the family in the Danforth Village Estates neighbourhood!

For more information on how you can become a home owner with Options sign up for an information session or visit our website!

Danforth Village Estates 20th Anniversary Party/ Purchasers Meeting

Danforth Village Estates, an Options community currently under development, celebrated Options 20th Anniversary at the Agincourt Library.

Residents got together to mix and mingle with their new neighbours and hear about the progress being made on their future home! 

We asked residents at the party how their Options experience has been so far. Check out some of the answers we got:

Favourite Options Moment: “Having the rep at Options tell me that “everything looks in order.  Welcome!” - Diahann M.

"After attending the information session I was excited about having the ‘option’ to own. The partnership with Tridel, an established builder with a great reputation, at an affordable price sold me!" - Shonniella Y.

Thanks to everyone who came and made the Danforth Village Estates 20th Anniversary Event such a success! Check out some photos below!

                                                        *The traditional 20th anniversary cake!

                                                                       *Mike talking to homeowners

             *future residents hearing about the progress on their development

                                                                                    *homeowner artwork

Homeowners at Danforth Village Estates, like all Options developments, come from diverse backgrounds, from single mothers to empty nesters downsizing from larger homes.

Options for Homes believes that home ownership should be available to everyone.  Home ownership makes households financially stronger which in turn builds stronger cities.  

Danforth Village Estates is 60% sold.  Don’t miss your chance to make this amazing community your home.  Visit our website and register for a free information session now!

anonymous said:

How does the "13% contribution to your down payment" work? For example, if the "cost price" is $100,000, does this mean that the "purchase price" is $113,000?

Hi!  You’re correct.  The bank then recognizes the 13% as a contribution to your down payment.  So, you bring 5% and you automatically have  18% towards becoming a homeowner.  When you rent or sell, you pay the 13% back with appreciation that matches the percentage increase in your property value.  For more details or to speak to someone directly about how the Options Contribution (down payment boost) works, join us for a free info session: http://optionsforhomes.ca/register/

We were very lucky to hear from a number of public figures who have always supported Options for Homes and Home Ownership Alternatives at our 20th Anniversary World Habitat Day event on Monday, October 6.  Above are just a few of the amazing comments that were made and calls to action that were issued by our incredible allies. 

Stay tuned for a full video recap of all of our speakers. In the meantime, check out some great photos from the event here! 

Thanksgiving Weekend Potluck!

We hope that your weekend will be filled with family, friends and lots of food. 

At Options we can never resist a good potluck! 

Check out these 8 simple recipes to make a delicious, traditional Thanksgiving dinner for your family and friends. 

What do you have planned this Thanksgiving long weekend?