. . . and Real Estate

When Dan Mckay decided to retire from the printing business, he looked around for something that he would enjoy - but it had to be something in which he really believed. His family thought he would enjoy Real Estate, and it was something that he had always believed in, even though he had been slow to buy his own house.

The greatest lessons Dan learned about Real Estate were more from what he did not do. Dan came to Toronto from Montreal in 1960 and met and married his wife, Maureen newly arrived from Ireland, the following year.

They rented a two-bedroom apartment for $87.00 per month. At that time, with $2,000.00 down, they could have bought a three-bedroom home for about $17,500.00, that would have carried for about $104.00 per month, principal, interest and taxes - but that was $17.00 more than they thought they could afford! That house sold last year for $327,00.00.

The next house that he DIDN'T buy was in North Toronto. They rented that house for $200.00 per month a four bedroom, fully detached two storey brick around Lawrence and Yonge Streets. That house could have been bought in 1967 for $28,000.00 but Dan decided to wait until the prices came down a bit! That house sold in 2002 for $425,000.00.

Finally in 1971, the McKays decided to bite the bullet and buy a house for $36,000.00 and in 1978 they bought their present house, in Willowdale, for $69,900.000. Today it is worth approximately $300,000.00.

YOU DO THE MATH! If Dan had bought the first house, how far ahead would he be today?

 

. . . the man

Long before he became involved professionally in Real Estate, he was involved in Real Estate. With knowledge and experience gained over the years, he helped many people, including his own children, to purchase their homes. So, with the urging of his family and his friend, Wayne, who told him how great a company Sutton Group Heritage was, he took the Real Estate course, joined Sutton Group, and he has never looked back.

Dan is a family man first with five children and ten grandchildren and he believes in putting family first. Putting family first means, among other things, providing for them to the best of one's ability and part of that is providing a home. You have to live somewhere - so why not own your own home?

When one owns a home in Toronto, one's money comes back with interest. That means, in fact, that after a number of years, one has lived rent-free, as you can see from the Market Watch.

Dan is also very much a people person he takes the time to get to know people and to take their personal likes and dislikes into consideration. Buying a house is probably the biggest investment most people make in their lifetime and Dan wants his clients to be happy with their decision. He treats all people with the respect and consideration he himself expects. And he does go the extra mile for them.

 

WHAT DAN BELIEVES IN

. . . First Things First

- Take care of yourself first in order to be able to take care of others;

- Take care of your family and try not to let your job, or anything else, come before them. If you do , you run the risk of losing the closeness and the love of your family.

. . . Service to Others

- Treat others as you wish to be treated. Satisfied buyers and sellers are the best source of business!

- Stay informed and up-to-date. The Real Estate market is constantly changing. Dan believes it is imperative to keep abreast of what is going on. He takes regular courses and seminars, reads voraciously and he listens to people.

Dan is very active in his community and he tries to give back some of the benefits that he has received. He is involved, among other things, in Federal and Provincial politics.
	Dan McKay, Hon. David Collenette, Lillian McKay (93), Sen. Laurier Lapierre, Dr. Walter James, President of Don Valley Liberals Association at Don Valley Liberals' Christmas party.