It certainly is beginning to look alot like Christmas!  We've had some snow, it went away, but mother nature has been toying with us ever since with record breaking highs earlier this week, and now back to freezing temperatures. 

None of this has detered people from shopping for houses though!  I am enjoying one of my busiest November's and December's since I began my career in real estate 10 years ago. 

With a couple of great new listings coming up next week and a couple of sales under my belt this week, I am happy to be busy working with loyal clients who come back to me over and over to help them with their real estate needs. 

A renewed faith in my belief that a Boutique Realtor, such as myself is THE BEST way to go, is showing in my sales and activity over the last few months.

Proudly NOT a Big Box Store Realtor, I offer one on one service, customized marketing plans using all of the latest marketing methods and direct contact to me at any time.  You will never feel like a number, like you are on an assembly line or like I am only interested in being #1, when you work with me. 

When you work with me, you are #1!

 

Check out www.movingtobarrie.com to get a little insight at what Barrie and area has to offer. It's a beautiful place to live, and if that's your dream, I would love to help make it come true!

Welcome to fall everyone!  This is my favourite time of year - the weather is comfortable, the colours are vibrant, and home is cozy!

If you're dreaming about owning your own home, but you don't know how to come up with a down payment, please call me.  There are still 0% down programs out there and government plans that are easier than ever now to qualify for, that gift you the down payment.  Don't hesitate though, because these government plans are offered for limited times. 

There is nothing like owning your own home - the power to do what you want to it - paint, remodel, decorate as you please...  The pride in knowing you are a homeowner and knowing your monthly payment is not creating wealth for someone else's retirement plan!

Even if you can't afford your dream home yet - get into the market.  Starter homes are plentiful and put you in the game.  Once you own a piece of real estate, what prices do after that is all relative because you are in it! 

My last comment for this post is about those misleading companies that lead you to believe you can sell your home for free!

There is no such thing as selling your home for free. Unless you are a lawyer, there will be professional fees.  I have sold properties for lawyers - even they know the value of a Realtor, including our connections, marketing and networking capabilities.

Real Estate Professionals provide a valuable service.  A good Realtor helps you every step of the way, is qualified to negotiate and prepare a legal contract of purchase and sale for you and will liaise with all of the other professionals involved in a real estate sales transaction on your behalf.  As a Realtor, we have a LEGAL obligation to protect your best interests.  We MUST abide by a strict CODE OF ETHICS and we all carry LIABILITY insurance in case mistakes are made.  This is only the tip of the iceberg of what we do for you. 

Buyers - please beware of buying without an experienced, knowledgeable, local Realtor on your side. And sellers, beware of unqualified buyers who proclaim to have their financing in place and then don't complete the sale on the closing date.  I have seen this happen several times and the end result, is a panicked seller calling me or a colleague of mine to help them get out of a huge financial crisis.

As always, visit www.movingtobarrie.com for information about Barrie and area and contact me if you would like professional, qualified assistance.

Below is my reply to a clients concern over investing in Barrie.  I feel the information is solid and useful, so I thought I would post it on here and hopefully others will find it helpful as well....

This morning I have been reviewing the Barrie Real Estate Board site and the City of Barrie's economic plan. I would like to share with you the 2 below links.

I am very confident in the city's plan for continued growth and job creation. The stats information on the Boards site is interesting. Typically, history repeats itself over and over again. What we have seen is a downturn once every 10 or 12 years. I remember once seeing a graph that took us back to the 40's and the same ups and downs appeared every 10 or so years, over and over until present day... We saw that downturn a couple of years go in the 'overall' picture of real estate. Though with that downturn, prices did not actually decrease here in Barrie, but rather sales numbers slowed and our median increases of 10+% slowed to 2 or 3%. This year they are at 4%, though if you compare only July/11 to July/12 sales, we are at 10%. However if you look at the average price of a home, we are well into the $290's, the highest average price we have ever seen.

The main concern we see here today is fewer homes on the market. Inventory continues to be a struggle for buyers and their realtors and that is something I expect to continue for another year or two. Consumer confidence is still a little weak and that tends to make everyone put plans on hold. Please review the sites at your leisure. There are other useful pages (tabs) on the real estate site you should click on too. They will hopefully give you some hard facts and insight as well as boost your confidence.
http://www.barrie.ca/City%20Hall/MayorCouncil/StrategicPlan/Pages/goal1.aspx
http://creastats.crea.ca/barr/mls_stats.htm

If you are considering Barrie as a place to call home or invest in, visit my site at www.movingtobarrie.com and contact me.

Enjoying a HOT summer in Central Ontario!  Prices continue to rise in our local market and inventory remains weak.  Currently I have 2 clients looking for townhomes in the mid $220's, and 2 more looking for country properties.  Last week I listed an historic log home on over 105' feet of prime waterfront only minutes from Barrie.  Pictures and details of this property and my other listings can be found at www.movingtobarrie.com  Later this week I am listing a 4 level backsplit in southeast Barrie, to be priced in the $260's. 

We say goodbye to the 30 year amortization mortgages today.  Unless you are firming up today on a purchase, 30 years is no longer available.  As with any change, the initial announcement made a lot of people nervous and doom and gloom talks circled in the industry.  And as with any change, people adapt and work with what's available.  It may only mean that first time home buyers will have to take a smaller bight into the real estate market on their first purchase. 

On Friday I meet with new first time buyer clients.  I will be setting them up with a good mortgage broker and once their numbers are in place, we will start hunting for their very first home!  I love this part of my job.  It's very rewarding helping young peoples dreams come true and getting them into home ownership. 

More information on buying and selling as well as pictures of Barrie and area can be found at www.movingtobarrie.com.

I started this blog with the intention of writing several times per week and I intend to follow through on that.  I have however, been away from it for a few weeks due to my own move last Monday. What an ordeal!  I feel for my clients - moving is not fun!  More updates to come soon, those of real estate interest and relevance and more pictures to post as well as I snap shots of beautiful Simcoe County through-out the summer.  Check out my website for moving to Barrie information.  www.movingtobarrie.com

I appreciate that sometimes a home owner wants to sell their home privately, I really do.  At the same time, I hope home owners know that not all Realtors are the same.  Some of us work really, really hard for our clients.  Sometimes, the process can take months and we often go through multiple offers on various homes to get our clients the terms they desire.  From a listing perspective, we can spend thousands on marketing, and I bet sellers have no idea that expenses can easily be 40% or more of gross earnings.  We have strict rules and regulations to follow, ongoing training in order to keep our licences which we must re-new every 2 years, and we must have insurance.  As a consumer using a professional Realtor, you are well protected.

Today I was searching for homes for a couple of clients on our local real estate board.  If you are not familiar with our local real estate market, you probably aren't aware that we have had inventory shortages this year.  This led me to a web site where property owners can sell their own homes for a fee rather than a commission.  It's alarming to say the least that after previewing some homes on this site, many are under-priced, significantly.  On the other hand, there are many that are over-priced, significantly.  There was also a sold note posted on one of the homes and the number of days it said it took to sell was '72', as if that was a good thing. 

In a field where I am often explaining my worth, I want to tell you why I chose to work where I do and why I believe a GOOD Realtor is valuable.

I chose to work for a Re/Max Brokerage because I believe in the brand, the training, Re/Max marketing tools and international exposure, and I appreciate the professionalism and track record of the Managers of the Brokerage I work for, Re/Max Chay Realty Inc., Brokerage.  I am enjoying my 10th year with this Brokerage and could not be happier with my decision to work under their umbrella.

There will always be some out there who will simply not like Realtors.  They have unfortunately had a negative experience with one in the past and understandably, have a bad taste in their mouth over it. 

Interview your Realtor.  Ask for references and testimonials.  Don't choose a Realtor who is more interested in their sales numbers than they are you. If it seems like they have a big ego, they likely do and then it's not about you, it's about them. Put them to work.  Don't apoligize for disturbing them when you call at 8:00 p.m. or text at dinner time.  Commit to one good Realtor.  Show them your loyality as long they are working hard for you. 

This is an important relationship for your biggest lifetime investment. 

www.movingtobarrie.com

Things are hot in Barrie and area, and I don't just mean the temperatures!  This city has a lot to offer including beautiful parks, a gorgeous waterfront, great schools, shopping until your hearts content, 2 GO train stations and affordable housing!!  Venture even 5 - 10 minutes outside the city and you will find numerous ski hills, golf courses galore, biking, hiking, marinas...the list goes on!  I urge families looking for a better quality of living to take a drive and explore the city and surrounding area. Get off the highways and venture down some sideroads.  Chances are you'll stumble across an antique store or two, farmers roadside markets selling fresh, locally grown produce, garden stores and artisans shops. 

The north end of Toronto is only 45 minutes away and in return for a managable commute, you can own a home, probably much larger than you ever dreamed of and in a safe comfortable area. Don't be shy - contact me if you'd like more information about Barrie and area!  www.movingtobarrie.com

This week I helped a family of 5 moving from Milton buy a home in Barrie.  Their dollar went so much farther than they expected.  In fact, they estimate a similar house in Milton would cost between $150 and $200k more!  Their dream is for the wife to be a full-time mother, while the husband works at his North Toronto job.  This is now a reality and they couldn't be happier.  They are excited, thrilled and look forward to starting their new life in Beautiful Barrie!  I am so happy I was able to help!! www.movingtobarrie.com