We get several enquiries a week about a particular condominium development near the slopes.  Understandably, it’s the pricing of the units that attract people as they generally run between $100-$150,000.  That particular development however has unique issues that, when discovered, often send people in search of other options.  (Yes, I’m being careful here on purpose as I don’t want to offend or mislead anyone.)

It’s good to know that there are other options for people who want to enjoy the resort lifestyle without the cost associated with many properties in Blue Mountain where average prices are well over $400,000 for residential properties.  One such option is in a unique development known as Craigleith Shores.

The property was originally built and run as a successful hotel and popular restaurant/night club.  At some point in the 1980’s, it was converted into a residential condominium complex and I must say, it’s one of the areas best kept secrets.

Craigleith Shores is located in the heart of Blue Mountain directly opposite Georgian Bay just east of the Provincial Campground on Highway 26.  The building sits on estate-like grounds used exclusively at the pleasure of the residents which are a mix of full-time and part-time owners and tenants in all age groups.  The Georgian Trail is right behind the property and it’s a quick walk or cycle to grab the morning paper at the Craigleith Mac’s store not far away.  People can hop across the road to boat, fish, sailboard or swim in Georgian Bay or, they can enjoy the private outdoor pool right on the grounds.  There are sitting areas amid the trees, a basketball net, a secure bike storage shed, on-site laundry facilities and a sauna for winter use.  The property is also just minutes away from the slopes at Blue Mountain, from area ski clubs, golf clubs or from the towns of Collingwood and Thornbury.

Uniquely, the building has a security-controlled entrance and on-site superintendants who maintain the development to near perfection.  Owners can rent their units out in compliance with the Town of Blue Mountains by-laws (no rentals less than 30 days) or can enjoy worry-free living either full-time or part-time as they wish.

I’ve just listed what is perhaps the finest unit in the building as it has been completely renovated and is simply gorgeous.  It’s very affordably priced at $129,900 with taxes of only $883.00 this year and condo fees of $182.00 per month.  I can’t think of anything else in the area with comparable operating costs.  This really is a great alternative and one you shouldn’t miss.

I’ve always had a fascination with history and thankfully, my real estate career often leads me to discovering interesting things about South Georgian Bays past.

Not long ago, I listed a house for sale in Thornbury that quite fascinated me.  It has been in the same family since the 1930’s and according to stories handed down over the generations, may be one of the oldest structures in the blue Mountains.

That got me to wondering how old is old?  I trodded off to the library between appointments one day and found a few books discussing the history of the area.  In general, the land we know as Grey County was first occupied by the Native peoples of the Huron, Petun, and other nations.  As the years go by, we are learning more and more about these times as artifacts and ruins are uncovered and preserved.  But I digress.

As we know, these lands were eventually acquired by the British and it turns out that the first two townships surveyed in the area were Collingwood and St. Vincent. This led to colonization, mail  roads, and natural harbours that gave access for early settlers.  Early trade and commerce grew from the area’s natural resources such as fish, fur, forests and minerals. Rivers powered sawmills and gristmills as would have been the case in Thornbruy; then known as Collingwood Township. Furniture factories used local hardwoods and weavers made cloth from the wool of local sheep. Fruit-growing began early, and by 1930,more than 16,000 acres of “Georgian Bay Apples” were planted.

Some of the earliest references I could find to possible settlers dated back to 1832 or 1833.  There were photographs of workers in lumber and grist mills in Thornbury by the mid 1850’s.

Based on the unique construction of the original portion of the home, the siting of the dwelling on a ridge looking out to Georgian Bay and, based on the stories handed down through the generations, it is quite possible that part of this home in fact dates back over 170 years!  Some time later, the brick structure was added in a Georgian centre hall style suggesting affluence and success of the family of the day.  We can trace back the family name of the owners in the early 20th century as being Dinsmore;  a still prominent name in the local community.
 
Have a look at Hilltop today.  It’s for sale and waiting for the next chapter to be written:

I think I may have told you before how I fall in love with the properties I list for sale.  And their owners.  And buyers.  A whole lotta love in my job!

Well, it happened again.  If you don’t live in this area, may I ask if you’ve ever been to Blue Mountain? If so, then hopefully you’ve visited the enchanting little town of Thornbury along the way. Another place to fall in love with.

It’s a scenic and delightful town that sits on the shores of Georgian Bay with the Beaver River running through town.  In the summer, flower displays line the streets and in winter you might find horse drawn carriages or ice sculptures.  The downtown is an eclectic mix of quaint shops, cafes, a bakery and galleries that offer one of a kind or indulgent treats it a most wonderful atmosphere.
Thornbury has become increasingly popular with young families who know about the terrific reputation of the local elementary school and who enjoy being able to stroll safely to the library, shops, harbour and community centre.  Retirees are loving the town for the same reason and now, seasonal residents are discovering the new Raven golf course at Lora Bay and the excellent harbour all just minutes away from the slopes at Blue.

I’ve just listed a delightful, 12 year old home in an area of predominantly newer and higher-end home making this a very desirable neighbourhood in which to live. I made a custom website to feature this home and I’d be thrilled if you have a little peak and maybe pass it on to someone you think might be interested in calling Thornbury home.

Now that we’ve covered the basics in the first two posts on marketing luxury homes, let’s look at specifics.

We know that the single most important tool today is the internet. When a property is listed in the Multiple Listing Service, it automatically appears on http://www.realtor.ca which is one of the most heavily visited websites in Canada. Listings will also usually appear on the Brokerage website and agents personal website  if they have one. In most cases, all of these three places will have the same information but, it’s just not enough for a luxury home.

One of the very best tools I have used this year is to build a website specifically for the home. It allows me to really tell the story and all of the wonderful things a potential buyer should know. In this example,  I’ve been able to add hundreds of pictures, music, floor plans, a survey, neighbourhood information, the history of the development, details about the builder, a virtual tour and of course, property details such as room sizes, taxes, land size and more. The sky is the limit on what can be included.

Does it work? Well, in the first 60 days, we’ve had over 17,000 hits on the site and 3,500 views. Hundreds of people have forwarded the information, have printed off details and have watched the entire slide show. That data is available through back-end statistics that are useful for both the sellers and myself to know. We can also tell how people came to the site.

Having a single property website allows me to advertise the property in unique ways. For example, I syndicate all of my online listings to popular sites such as Craigslist, Livedeal, Kiijiji and so on. They all link back to the website as do any ads I run in newsprint. The unique website links to the listing data on my own site.

For this same property, I had a professional sign designed and built that sets the home apart with a distinguished visual and on the sign, there is a large rider with the website address. Over 500 of our views have been direct requests to the website suggesting that most came from the For Sale Sign.

I also had a brilliant graphic artist and advertising person design and print a glossy full colour brochure which has great visuals, a bit of information and, you guessed it, the website address for the property. It helps to LOVE the house because this is the time to be poetic, heartfelt and sincere about how a home lives and how it feels. People reading the copy tend to “get it.”

So, will I advertise your home in the Globe and Mail? No. But I’ll spend a great deal more directing the marketing to agents and to the public with marketing that actually draws attention to your home. In such a narrow market, this is what counts.

Related Posts:

Selling a Luxury Home In Collingwood ~ Blue Mountain
Marketing A Luxury Home In Collingwood ~ Blue Mountain; Part 1
Marketing A Luxury Home In Collingwood ~“ Blue Mountain; Part 2

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When it’s time to buy or sell real estate in the Collingwood, Blue Mountain or Georgian Triangle area, contact Marg, an experienced and competent Broker who is ready whenever you are!

Sometimes I think I’m so darn lucky with the places my real estate career takes me into.

I happen to LOVE heritage buildings and for some reason, I can feel the lives and living that have occurred in the years gone by. (Warning:  I also imagine that I know what dogs are saying). It’s as though the walls come alive.

Recently, I listed the only remaining house smack in the middle of Collingwood’s downtown.  Amidst plazas and banks, there is this two storey old home that was used residentially until a few years ago.  The occupant was born in the house and lived there for over 90 years under unusual circumstances but that’s another story.  Today, descendants of the original owners from 1897 still own the house giving a continuity of stories rarely found. 

Stunningly, an old wooden addition across the back is believed to have been built in 1830, pre-dating the town itself.  That is likely the oldest structure in Collingwood.  There is an old barn on the property, century old trees and a full-width verandah across the front with unusual, profiled pickets.  Approaching the property, I could immediately imagine a pioneer family toiling the land which was then known to be swampy to the waters edge.  Later, I could imagine the family sitting on the front porches watching the bustling commerce of an emerging town with carriages trotting by and ships sounding their bells as they approached the harbour.

Today, the house is vacant, vandalized and boarded up.  It was tremendously exciting for me to wander inside with a flashlight and even in the semi-darkness, I could feel so much life gone by.  The old wooden portion is sadly rotting away but one can still see the tiny partitioned rooms and the ladder leading straight up to what was likely a sleeping platform.  Inside the main house, the paper thin wallpaper, the porcelain chandeliers, the filigreed designs on the wooden staircase the light dappling through transom windows helped me to imagine cooking in a wood oven, cold nights without central heat, a hand-cranked Victrola and lace tatted cushions. 

Thankfully, this precious testament to days gone by is located within the Heritage District and cannot be demolished easily.  As it sits on a full quarter acre of land zoned for downtown commercial uses, I hope a creative developer will come and breathe new life into it so it will stand for the next century.

Related Posts:

It Pays To Look Good When You Are Almost 150 Years Old!
What Has More Style, Better Coffee and costs less than Starbucks?

Do you like what you’re reading?  Click here to subscribe and we’ll send new blog posts directly to your email inbox.  P.S.  Bloggers like comments!

When it’s time to buy or sell real estate in the Collingwood, Blue Mountain or Georgian Triangle area, contact Marg, an experienced and competent Broker who’s ready whenever you are!

Even though I’ve been selling homes in South Georgian Bay for almost 20 years, every now and then, a house grabs me by the heart and just won’t let go.

This month, I’ve had the pleasure of listing two such homes for sale and my guess is that very soon, some lucky people are going to be falling in love with their new home.  Check these out and see what I mean.

You can also view a complete flyer with details, mapping and extra pictures right here for 17 Fair Street (aka Meadow Mouse Cottage) and right here for 254 Fourth Street West.

Do you like what you’re reading?  Click here to subscribe and we’ll send new blog posts directly to your email inbox.  P.S.  Bloggers like comments!

When it’s time to buy or sell real estate in the Collingwood, Blue Mountain or Georgian Triangle area, contact Marg, an experienced and competent Broker who’s ready whenever you are!

South Georgian Bay is home to many condominium communities and some of the more established ones are located on the western edge of Collingwood.  While there are literally thousands of new ones planned or already underway, some of the old projects are still tried and true offering buyers great value for their dollar.

One such development is Rupert’s Landing which was built by Rupert Bronsdon between 1986 and 1989. It’s situated on 18 acres of waterfront with a total of 207 units: 156 town home styled units and 51 apartment units in “the tower.”  The town homes are one and two level summer and ski condo designs although in recent years, more and more people have been moving into these units as full-time, permanent residents.

One of the things I find interesting about Rupert’s is that a number of the owners have more than one unit and, owners are very loyal to the development. I’ve known several people over the years who have sold a unit only to buy a larger one in the same development. That’s a very strong testimonial, isn’t it? You’ll also notice if you drive through that the buildings are very well maintained and look like new yet they are in a mature setting with lots of tall evergreens and lush shrubbery.

In addition to nice jogging or walking trails and a private marina, Rupert’s Landing has over a ½ mile of Georgian Bay shoreline, tennis courts, a playground and, a 6000 square foot rec centre complete with indoor pool, squash courts, work-out room and a social room.  Rupert’s also has a special gem in the form of “Penny “ the long time recreation director who plans a myriad of social activities and events from coffee to tournaments.

This development was the subject of some prolonged internal difficulties regarding the shared facilities that resulted in legal action.  Thankfully, that is now behind everyone and for buyers, the units are one of the better values out there today as they recover from that turbulent period.

Now for a shameless plug of one of my own listings in Rupert’s Landing ¦.. click here to see the pretty awesome flyer with a real estate show and more.

When it’s time to buy or sell real estate in the Collingwood, Blue Mountain or Georgian Triangle area, contact Marg, an experienced and competent Broker who’s ready whenever you are!

What is the profile of someone who wants to buy or establish a business in Collingwood?  I’ve been pondering that question for a few days since I listed a local business for sale.  And yes.  This is a shameless plug of one of my listings for sale.

The entrepreneurs that I know in the community tend to be independent people who have confidence in themselves and want to call the shots.  They believe in their own abilities and work ethic.  Some have been down-sized out of other jobs.  Some are people who wanted to create their own job so they could move to the area or simply stay here.  Some are people who had a dream and decided Collingwood was the best place to see their business become a reality.  Still others are people who were bored at home and wanted a new challenge.  Most recognized an opportunity.

I just listed a framing gallery for sale last week for $39,000 which includes all the equipment, fixtures and displays.  This little gem has been established on Collingwood’s main street for 15 years and offers a new owner a turn-key operation with a loyal and established clientele base.  It offers consumers a full range of options from U-DO-IT to custom framing and, it is a rare opportunity in that it only requires about a 35 hour work week.  The owners will assist in training and everything needed for a smooth transition.  They will even consider helping a purchaser with some financing. 

This really is an opportunity for an entrepreneur looking for a ready income and a work week that leaves time for play.  If you or someone you know might be interested, let’s chat!

This fabulous executive home is located in an area known as the “McKean Subdivision” in Nottawa just 5 minutes south of Collingwood. This very popular neighbourhood is home to a perfect blend of families, retirees and professionals who prefer larger lots, substantial homes and good neighbours.

It’s hard to find a home with 4 bedrooms together on one floor but this one has that plus, a spacious in-law suite in the lower level which could be ideal for teens, in-laws, guests or a nanny. The house is beautifully appointed with designer decor and quality updates through-out and, it includes a huge master suite with a sitting or dressing room and a 5 piece ensuite. There is a main floor family room off the kitchen, a formal dining room and a welcoming foyer. In total, this exceptional home offers almost 5,000 square feet of living space!

In many new home subdivisions today, property sizes are smaller but here, no neighbours crowd in and there is room to romp for the little ones. Entertaining is a breeze on the large deck with a roll-out awning included. Dollar for dollar and foot for foot, I’m not sure there is a better value in our marketplace today.

If you are looking for a well-maintained family home with room for everyone in a fine neighbourhood, then this is one you must see. Best of all, it’s exceptionally well priced at only $419,900.

I often hear people say that they’d like to have a second home in the Collingwood area as they enjoy escaping from everyday life to play here in the Georgian Triangle. A barrier can be the carrying costs of a second home with things like taxes, utilities and condo fees adding up quickly. There is an alternative and that is to find a home that generates rental income when you are not using it.

I love this spacious three bedroom condo I just listed for sale right across the road from the Village at Blue and nestled on the first fairway of the Monterra Golf Course. The revenue can cover most, if not all, of the carrying costs and, it’s located right where the action is. At $284,900, it’s the best value in the Wintergreen development and comes completely furnished down to the last knife and fork.