That's A Wrap on Options 20th Annivesary!

Options wouldn't be where it is today without you! Our supporters, staff and most importantly our homeowners are why we do what we do and why we have been successful

Watch Mike Labbé talk about where we started, where we've ended up and what we still have to do.

This past year has been an incredible oppourtunity to celebrate the journey we have been on for the past 20 years.  We have been able to talk to Options purchasers, some who have been in their condo for almost 15 years and some whose developments haven't even started construction yet.

It would be impossible to sum up or put into words how much being able to celebrate each month with our homeowners has meant to us.  Seeing Options homeowners who still love their condo as much as they did when they moved in, all of the communities that have been created in the last 20 years and the excitement in the room with people who are anticipating moving into their new homes are the reasons why we do what we do and why we will keep doing it.

THANK YOU for celebrating with us and please KEEP IN TOUCH!

Options Bloopers and Funny Moments

We probably should have called this video: "Options CEO spends 20th Anniversary Year entertaining staff and homeowners with his wacky antics" but we thought "20th Anniversary Bloopers" had a nicer ring to it.

Check out this compilation of funny moments that we managed to catch on video during the past year, most segments starring Mike Labbé!

John: Options Poster Boy!

It's not everyday that someone hears about the Options model and immediately gets behind it.  John, an Options purchaser turned full time employee, had faith in Options since he was first introduced to the concept over 10 years ago.

John had rented an apartment for only one year after finishing university before finding Options.  He first purchased at Shermount and later when he got married at Old Kennedy Village.

Watch John discussing his experience with Options:



John really is a Poster Boy for Options! Attend a FREE Info Session to find out how you can start your Options journey now!

#TBT The Year in 20th Anniversary Party Videos

2014 marked Options 20th Anniversary. To celebrate a party was held each month for one of our developments.  The parties were a chance for home owners to gather and reminisce about their Options experience and for our newer developments a chance to get to know future neighbours.  

Take a look at these throwback videos from a few of our 20th Anniversary celebrations!

It’s been a great year and we've loved celebrating with Options home owners both old and new! This is only the beginning and we look forward to hearing from Options homeowners for years to come!

Check our YouTube Channel for all the videos that have been posted this year from all of the developments and all of the parties!

Advocating for Options

In order to keep the cost of housing down, we don't pay for expensive marketing initiatives.  Because of this we rely heavily on word of mouth and especially on Options supporters.

We are lucky have the support of a number of individuals who advocate for Options wherever they go.  Louise is one of them!  See her message about her 9 years with Options below.

Options for YouTube

Did you know that Options for Homes isn't the only Options YouTube Channel?

In fact there are FIVE YouTube Channels associated with Options Group of Companies!

Options for Homes

Options for Cars

Options for Green Energy 

Options International

Opciones Vivienda

Subscribe to Options Group of Companies 5 YouTube Channels to stay up to date and informed on everything Options.

Rosie Loves Living at Liberty at Discovery Place

Rosie, like many other Options homeowners, can't stop gushing about all the things she loves about her home! She can't imagine living anywhere else.  See Rosie talking to Options COO Pat Munroe about how she spends her time at Liberty by Discovery Place in Pickering!



Pat Munroe was an Options purchaser in the Distillery District before she started working at Options over 15 years ago.

Options purchasers come in all shapes and sizes and all of our homeowners have their own unique "Options story".

If you're a homeowner interested in participating in a testimonial or writing a guest blog email events@optionsforhomes.ca today!

Daniel Couldn't Pass Up the Options Opportunity

Kimberly and Daniel live at Old Kennedy.  They were thrilled that they were able to find a home around the corner from where they were living before.  They love that they didn't have to move away from their community and their family in order to be able to afford a home unlike many of their friends. 

Watch their story above and check out these now selling Options developments to see if there are any in your area! 

#TBT Options for Homes - Part 2

Options for Homes Part 2.  This video is from 2005, it's amazing to see all that had been accomplished then and how much more has been accomplished since then. 

Take a look at Part 1 of the video here: http://optionsgroupofcompanies.blogspot.ca/2014/12/tbt-options-for-homes-part-1.html

Options for Single Moms

One of Michel Labbe's biggest motivations when starting Options for Homes was how the model could positively affect the lives of single mothers and their children.

Check out this video of Mike explaining Options history with single mothers:



Gloria Ramirez, an Options homeowner who spoke at our World Habitat Day event truly represents Options.  She is hard working, ambitious and goal oriented.  She saved every penny she made for years to buy a home her children could grow up in and call their own.  Hear her story here.

During his speech at out World Habitat Day celebration Mike Labbé suggested that everyone in attendance read this story to learn more about his motivation and memorable moments over the past 20 years.  Check it out for yourself!

Another Options purchaser, Jen, a single mom talked to us about how living at the Village by High Park has allowed her to afford to be a single mom and how the community has enriched her and her son's life.  Watch her testimonial:



These stories represent just a few Options purchasers but Options for Homes aims to provide cost-effective home ownership opportunities to EVERYONE in the world that needs or wants it.  Attend an info session to find out how you can improve your life and the lives of your children.

Mark K. (Birchmount Purchaser) Summarized his Feelings Towards Options

We love receiving feedback (especially feedback like this):

Hi Andres,

As per a summary of my experience with and support of the Options model:  Since the moment I saw the ads on the subway, to meeting the CEO Mike Labbé, and going to Options meetings where various real estate projects were presented, I was very impressed with how much everyone in the organization cared for the very important issue of home ownership, and affordable housing, in a city that has almost become out of reach for ordinary people to own their own home.  

I am very excited and looking forward to seeing the new development on Trent come into realization, and also impressed with how many units are owner occupied - something that strengthens the integrity, viability, sustainability and value of the condo project because owner occupied condos give that development a strong improvement and edge over non-owner occupied condo developments. 

Options helps create strong communities which is excellent for the economy and other aspects of the neighbourhood. Their Options car share and other programs are also highly rated and look very exciting. I would encourage all to take a good look at the Options model, and consider purchasing a condo for home ownership - they help make it possible even for people who may not usually qualify yet for home ownership. 

Also, the Options staff is highly diverse and have ties to the global community so they are a great representation of what makes Toronto the best city in the world.

With kind regards,

Mark

Don't take our word for it! Mark purchased at the Village by Main Station and encourages everyone to learn more about the Options model.  Attend a free information session to do just that!

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.

Options Purchase Consultants Form Lasting Relationships with Purchasers

When you begin the process of purchasing an Options home you are paired with a purchase consultant.  They will be there every step of the way to guide you and keep your best interest at heart.

Often purchase consultants form lasting relationships with purchasers, like Frieda and Theresa for example:



Attend an info session and meet your purchase consultant now!

From Purchaser to Advisor to Full Time Employee

John first heard about Options when he was studying at his local library.  He attended an information session and immediately believed in what Options was trying to do, no hesitation.  He moved in and became an Options Purchase Consultant before finally deciding to join the team full time in the office. 

Attend a free information session, you never know where your Options journey can take you!

#TBT Options for Homes - Part 1

Take a look back at the history of Options.  We love looking back at all these old videos and reminiscing on everything we've done over the past 20 years!

Stay tuned for Part 2 next week, or head over to our YouTube Channel and find it now!

I Know My Dad is in a Safe Place Even When I'm Far Away

Kim lives across the country in British Colombia.  It is difficult to be so far away from her father but she has piece of mind and can trust that her father is safe in his Options home.  He can walk everywhere and he has lots of neighbours to keep him company.



There is no better feeling than knowing your loved ones are safe and sound.  Do you know someone, a parent maybe, who could benefit from having the Options community around them.  You can attend an info session to learn more before you suggest it or you can come to an info session together.  Register here.

Options for Pinterest

The Holidays are usually the most expensive time of the year but you don't have to break the bank to give you and your family a memorable holiday season! Check out our Options for Homes Holiday Board on Pinterest to get tons of tips and tricks to budget for the holidays and lots of DIY projects for the whole family.




Check out our boards on Pinterest!

On the Options Pinterest page you will find amazing tips for budgeting, saving money, decorating and condo living tips as well as quotes from Options homeowners.  

Check out our boards here!

Options Neighbours Help One Another

The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word "condo" probably isn't "community", well at Options we think that it should be.  With many condo developments isolation is in large part due to the higher number of investors that rent out their suites.  This creates a steady turnover of tenants who rarely stay long enough to get to know their neighbours.  The Options model discourages investors from purchasing suites just to rent out.

Having condominiums with high owner occupancy can have a positive impact on neighbourhoods.  Owners are more likely to stay in their suites for numerous years and want to keep their building and the surrounding area beautiful and pleasurable to live in. This in turn raises the property values of their homes and of others in the area; this also leads to improved and flourishing businesses culminating in the homeowners being proud of where they live.

Options home owners make connections with their neighbours and help each other whenever they can.  Friendships like the one in the video are common among Options purchasers.  

When you buy an Options condo, you get more than a home, you get a community!

If you have an Options story you want to tell let us know! Email events@optionsforhomes.ca and you could be featured as a guest blogger on the Options blog!

Tweet using #HomeOwnerHolidays and tell us how the holiday season is/will be different in your Options home!