Ruben Style

Article by Erica Smith and Joy Paterson

According to the Oxford Dictionary a penthouse is defined as “an apartment on the top floor of a tall building, typically luxuriously fitted and offering fine views.” This definition does not do justice to these glamorous residences that have developers competing for building the best of penthouse living. Attracting the wealthiest of the wealthy, builders scramble to create the ultimate luxury living to accommodate the high standards expected from a penthouse unit purchaser. This however has not always been the case. In the past the “penthouse” of a building was considered only to be the dwelling located on the top floor of the building. These units were not necessarily considered to be high end living and were not significantly different from the other residential units in the building. The only exception was that they were the highest unit in the building.

Over the years, the term “penthouse” has definitely evolved. Penthouse units are now considered to be high end luxury living units on a high level- but not necessarily the very top floor of the building. Some condo buildings have two or three floors of penthouse units with the top floor units now being referred to as “The Penthouse.” Take for example Aura at College Park located in Toronto, Canada. Once built, this building will be the tallest residential building in North America. The “penthouse” units for this building start on the 72nd floor and end on the 74th floor and are made up of multiple units on one floor. In the past, these would have been considered “sub-penthouse” units. “The Penthouse” for this particular building is the entire 75th floor. The crown of this building is an extraordinary 11,000 square feet and priced at .5 million Canadian dollars. For those looking to own the tallest penthouse in North America, this would be the ultimate of luxury living. Think caviar and champagne.Overall the term penthouse has evolved over the years. High rise enthusiasts now have more inventory to choose from and are aware that the term “penthouse” now refers to high end living and not just the top floor of a building. Not only are penthouse seekers living in luxury, but they’re also above everyone else and essentially in a world of their own. Simple put, to live in penthouses or “The Penthouse” in today’s world is simply a new way of living to demonstrate one’s ultimate success.

Article by Erica Smith and Joy Paterson

One of the most common questions posed by Toronto condo purchasers is whether views are important. With the City of Toronto developing at such a rapid rate, it makes purchasing condos with unobstructed views a challenge. With builders understanding how views can be important to prospective purchasers, Toronto condos with unobstructed views definitely have purchasers paying a premium.

The first question you must ask yourself is if having a view from your balcony or windows is important to you. When you begin looking at Toronto condos, it is important for you to know that unobstructed views are very difficult to come by, especially on the lower floors. Even if you find a condo that has a great view from a higher level, always make sure to see if there is a parking lot below. If there is, keep in mind that the chance of a builder developing a condo on that lot is highly probable.

Once you have decided that an unobstructed view is important to you in your Toronto condo purchase, you must figure out what type of view is important to you. In the City of Toronto, the south view is considered the premium view. Depending which Toronto condo you are looking in, the south view can have both city and water views, which makes for an incredible sight. Builders have started to capitalize on this exposure by charging purchasers more per square foot when purchasing a south facing condo unit. If you move more south of the city down to the lake, south views are directly facing the lake. The views from these condominiums will never change and will always maintain their waterfront views. If you don’t want to purchase on a high floor, but do want an unobstructed view, there are many condos on Toronto’s waterfront that offer purchasers this option.

Buildings located in the centre of downtown Toronto can have stunning unobstructed views. The key is to be on a high floor. Developers have started constructing condos higher than ever in order to achieve these views from all directions. With south views being the most sought after, east and west views also have their advantages. For people who enjoy waking up early to sunlight, east exposure is ideal for them. On the other hand for those who enjoy to watch the sun set and to have longer afternoon light, it is the west exposure that is best suited for you. Ideally Toronto condos that are corner units, can provide double exposure of views. Corner units usually mean having windows in all bedrooms which can be a huge advantage when it comes time to sell your Toronto condo.

It is not only penthouse units in Toronto nowadays that have incredible views. In fact many high rise condominiums are offering unobstructed views from their normal suites- not only their penthouse units. A good view is important to many people, therefore purchasing a Toronto condo with a view can help increase the value of your unit when you go to sell.

Article by Home and Legacy

Home insurance comes labelled and packaged in various ways, designed to cater for people from all walks of life. Whether the home is a modest two bedroom semi detached or an eight bedroom country mansion, there is a policy available that will provide cover relevant to the risk. Choosing the correct policy, however, is where the difficulties arise for the homeowner. Whilst it is not a legal requirement to have home insurance, to leave your most valuable assets and treasured possessions unprotected could be considered foolish. To help you through the quagmire of home insurance policies that are available, and guide you in making the correct choice in policy cover, a simple guideline to consider would be to look at the values you potentially have at risk.If the rebuild cost of your home is in excess of £350,000 and you have contents and fine art/antiques to the value of £150,000 plus, a high net worth policy should be the policy you choose.High net worth insurance is considered to be a “speciality policy” on the vast menu of home insurance policies available today, and is available from a select number of providers. Suitable for wealthy homeowners, bringing an extensive range of cover unrivalled by “standard” homeowner policies. Created for those who require the absolute best to protect their most valuable and treasured possessions. In addition to providing Accidental Damage and All Risks Worldwide cover for your contents, fine art, antiques and personal possessions, a high net worth policy can be tailored to meet your individual insurance requirements, in keeping with your lifestyle. The policy will offer generous single article limits and many add-ons such as identity fraud, legal expenses and worldwide travel insurance.When buying a high net worth policy, not only are you purchasing premium buildings and contents insurance but also a personalised service which is a necessity with this kind of home insurance cover From the moment you want to discuss and arrange it right through to the assistance you will need if you ever have to make a claim. Indeed it is the claims service of high net worth home insurance policies that sets them apart from standard home insurance products. A team dedicated to resolving your claim quickly and professionally without any fuss.As with any insurance before “signing on the dotted line”, it is useful to obtain several quotes from different insurers so that you can make a comparison in cover, and choose the right policy for you. With the right policy, wealthy individuals can feel safe in the knowledge that they have chosen one of the best home insurance policies available.Home & Legacy provides household insurance, landlord content insurance and motor insurance policies at competitive rates to exclusive high net worth individuals.

For futher informations, please visit http://www.homeandlegacy.co.uk

Home & Legacy Insurance Services Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allianz Holdings plc, registered in England number 3007252. Registered office: 57 Ladymead, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 IDB.Home & Legacy Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

For all additional press queries please get in touch with: Dan Tunna using dan.tunna@allianz.co.uk or otherwise call 01483 552 969