The Internet has progressed from fad to fixture as far as Canadians are concerned. In turn, online communities and e-transactions have shifted from madness to mainstream.

In 2006, 70 percent of Canadian households subscribed to the Internet, up 6 per cent from 2005, according to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the federal authority that regulates broadcasting and telecommunications.

• High-speed Internet subscriptions increased to 60 per cent, up 9 per cent from 2005.

• Growing Internet use parallels a rise in the number of choices for access: 58 per cent of Canadians used a cellphone to connect to the Net, 14 per cent an MP3 player, 9 per cent a Webcam, 7 per cent an iPod, 5 per cent a personal digital assistant (PDA), and 4 per cent used a BlackBerry.

• Internet advertising topped C$1billion in 2006, almost double the previous year's total.

The generations who have grown up with the Internet accept the instant connections without marveling at the electronic magic. They're determined to be part of the magic this very real environment facilitates wherever they live.

For instance, no longer do you have to move to the 'big city' to be discovered. Aspiring musicians can simply sound off online. One example of the growing overlap between online and off-line is the first annual Canadian Rock And Video Entertainment Festival or CraveFest, a nonprofit international music video awards celebration, which combines Net-based competition and live performances, to provide a place to be heard for emerging bands from everywhere.

"There are not enough independent avenues to get exposure, so there's CraveFest -- our online platform in the natural community of the Internet," said K Cut, Creative Director of Cravefest and a music producer and writer for celebs like Madonna, Shaq and Seal.

"The music industry has really changed dramatically and we are trying to have a clean slate and be a fresh road for the artist. If a musician posts a video, he wants people to see it. This is a competition, so artists will call friends who go on line and vote. We are an outlet to prove the music, so bands can jump on board and take advantage of CraveFest."

Starting in May, video submissions from more than 700 signed and unsigned artists around the world were posted online and voted on by fans. A celebrity panel including Farley Flex of Canadian Idol decides the final cut during the culminating festival August 14 to 17.

Music is K Cut's business, but it is also a driving passion that dictates how and where he lives. Being part of a virtual organization adds location flexibility. He continues with his own band on weekends and sees no end to this personal expression, so as a real estate buyer he had special "wanna haves" to consider.

"I've had a couple of houses, but I sold my condo and now I've moved out of the city," said K Cut, who has relocated to the 905 area east of Toronto. "I've moved to the 'sticks,' out in the woods where I have trees and trails, and I can make a lot of noise. I love that. It brings out the creativity and what I want to bring out in ideas and music."

Hot Summer Sales

Performance of a different type is on the summer calendar for the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB), which, with 25,000 members, is Canada's largest real estate board. According to TREB President Donald Bentley, in comparison to last year, July 2007 set new heights for the resale market:

• Up 26 per cent since last July, a record-breaking 8,912 in July sales brings this year's sales total to almost 60,000 homes.

• June and July record sales make this "the strongest summer performance by our local resale market since records have been kept."

• In some neighbourhoods like Riverdale, the 73 per cent rise arose from increases in sales of almost every house type, while in areas like North York, condominium sales were responsible for the 40 per cent bounce in total sales. In still other areas, purchases of condominium and detached homes accounted for higher transaction numbers, like Etobicoke's increase of a 116 per cent.

Real estate sales and the Internet are firmly interconnected as this column and RealtyTimes.com itself have shown:

• Most real estate professionals find that buyers have completed their online research before they start viewing homes.

• Sellers shop the Internet and compare brokerages and salespeople on many levels before inviting a select few to deliver listing presentations.

• Online real estate purchases may not be commonplace, but they are not unusual either.

• The community of real estate professionals is internationally interconnected by the Internet even though real estate markets remain creatures of local off-line influences.

What choices or challenges does the Internet present when you face real estate decisions as a buyer or seller? How will the overlap between online and off-line communities influence where you decide to live or work?

Published: August 7, 2007

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Strategist and Futurist is The Catalyst -- intent on "Helping The Best Get Better." An internationally-recognized "new retirement" authority, PJ's research, writing and speaking programs focus on decisions Baby Boomers face to achieve a successful future. Author of 6 books, PJ knows that, since home is headquarters for the "new retirement," professionals and consumers need relevant knowledge and insights, along with solid decision-making skills, to protect and enhance this private oasis. As The Catalyst, PJ provides strategic communication, client appreciation and advanced education services to the financial, tourism, lifestyle and service sectors -- and the clients they serve. A frequently quoted financial and business commentator, PJ is a thought-provoking strategic speaker who offers practical, real-life suggestions on leaving "the box" behind and embracing Forward Thinking -- a talent she regularly demonstrates in this column. For more, visit TheCatalyst.com.