There is something to be said for country living, isn’t there?  The idea of being able to raise chickens for fresh eggs or to have room for a big garden or simply to have a campfire under the stars is rather appealing. We humans want to claim our piece of the world and sometimes it is very possible and affordable if you are lucky enough.

The current owner of this charming country property has lived here for over 20 years, raised a family and has journeyed through a life well lived.  You can feel the happiness in this sunny yellow house from the warm country kitchen through to the open concept living room with hardwood floors, a gas fireplace and a pretty view out back. Upstairs, there are three bedrooms including a master with ensuite and a skylight.  The bedroom ceilings are the old fashioned lower ones that give you a sense of quaintness and coziness the way it was in days gone by.

There have been many updates in recent years including new heated floors in the kitchen and newer bathrooms one with a Jacuzzi and one with a shower).  There is a main floor laundry and a great little side porch used as a workshop.

The property has beautiful, tall trees that shade and cool the house and, they burst into colour each autumn.  The land goes back more than a 1,000 feet deep and is naturalized attracting those singing frogs and birds.

This happy homestead, right at the edge of town, is listed for sale for $289,700 and, there is an assumable mortgage in place with a now-impossible-to-get, 40 year amortization that carries for under $1,000 a month!  This one is a winner.  Come see for yourself.

I think he would have met his match with the owners of this house on Gold Finch Drive.  First of all, let me tell you that they are the nicest people you could imagine.  Kind, funny, easy to get along with, realistic and a pleasure to work with.  When they were looking to buy a home in this area a few years ago, they really knew what they wanted and location topped the list.  They lead an active lifestyle and wanted to be able to ride their bikes or snow shoe to most places.  They appreciate nature and simplicity.  We started out looking at one type of house and they ended up with quite another and now, they are moving on and their home is for sale.

Fast forward a few years and wow, it is amazing what they have done with their beautiful home.  First, it backs onto a wooded trail that winds its way around town and gives them the easy access they wanted for walking and snow shoeing.  They ride their bikes from their home in the centre of town to the Beach, the parks and shops all around the area.  They quickly learned that grass doesn’t grow well in a town built on sand so they re-sculpted their property with native plantings, stones, pergolas and created a low maintenance yard where they could spend their time enjoying it instead of mowing it.

Even though the house was only a few years old, they added insulation, put on a new roof, re-did the basement, installed all new hardwood floors and attended to every possible little detail that needed to be tweaked to achieve perfection.  The result is that they have a beautiful home that almost seems as though it were a model home.  There isn’t a square inch that I think my Dad wouldn’t approve of.

If you are looking for a beautiful home, backing onto green space in a perfect location and without a worry to be had, then you need to see this.  Really you do.  Check out this new video we just completed and see for yourself or, visit the website by clicking here.

In 1986, on the very day my husband and I moved to the area, the iconic shipyards blew the whistle for the last time.  The buildings were shuttered and the site went silent.  Over the years that followed, the buildings were torn down as various project ideas for redevelopment came and went.  Then almost a decade ago, a joint venture between two developers – FRAM and Slokker emerged with a proposal to develop the site as Collingwood’s first and ONLY, downtown waterfront community.

They spent years moving things forward.  The got to know the history of the site, they held focus groups and other forms of public consultation and, they began the tedious process of cleaning up the contaminated brownfield.  They knew the citizens consider this land to be the very soul of the town and they wanted to finally have public access to the water.  These missions were all accomplished.  Naturally, there was only one choice for a name for the new project – The Shipyards.

The Shipyards were reborn with a vision for a master-planned community  of mixed use development that would extend the downtown to the waterfront with ample green space, waterfront trails, a public amphitheatre, public boat docking facilities, a mix of condominium housing styles and eventually, both live-work units and both recreational and commercial components.  This massive undertaking commenced with the construction of detached homes on the far, east side of the site near Sobeys and quickly sold out.  You might enjoy watching this owner testimonial video from the developer’s website.

Since that time, The Shipyards continued to build town home and apartment style condominium units on the site which occurred slowly as the economy chugged slowly forward in Ontario.  In 2012, the forces of global economic turmoil caused the project financiers, a bank in the Netherlands, to pull the plug on their real estate projects, including the Collingwood Shipyards.  You can find more details in this article.

All of the built units in The Shipyards are fully sold out and early re-sales have occurred.  One of the more interesting buildings constructed to date is the Sidelaunch building which was constructed to reflect the original, marine- factory style building that once sat on the site. Today, it has perhaps the most prestigious address in the development:  One Shipyard Lane and features three storeys with 36 modern condominium homes that offer all of the luxury and features one would expect in today’s marketplace.

I’ve recently listed a fabulous unit in this building right on the prime, north-west corner of the second floor and offering views of both the Bay and the mountain.  The owners have spent six figures on custom upgrades and renovations making this 1788 square foot home truly one-of-a-kind and, an exceptional value at just $469,900.  Here is a video highlighting just a few of the great features of this home and community.

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It’s always a pleasure to meet new people and to assist them in meeting their real estate goals.  If you would like to schedule a buyer or seller consultation with me, please feel free to email me or call at 705-446-1762.

I always remind our sellers that houses need to be in excellent repair, properly presented, clean, uncluttered and very competitively priced in order to sell.  We also know that this advice is more apt to lead to offers in the first couple of weeks and those offers are always the sellers best offers.  After a home has been on the market for a long period of time, it is much more difficult to get close to the original asking price.

So back to the house.  These owners have cared for their home to perfection in the four years they have lived there.  All upgrades were contemporary and tasteful.  The house is immaculate and there is zero clutter.  When I first saw the house, I gave them some minor staging and alteration advice which they heeded.  I also gave them a detailed analysis of the market and so when we set the asking price, they were fully realistic and priced correctly to the market.  So what happened?

We got an offer and sold the house conditionally within 24 hours of putting the sign on the lawn and the sale firmed up a few days later.  Have a look at this video to see how beautifully their home was prepared for sale.

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While about 30% of homes listed for sale in the Georgian Triangle sells, I’m proud to say that 85% to 100% of my listings sell each and every year.  If you would like to schedule a seller consultation with me, please feel free to email me or call at 705-446-1762.

At its completion, Georgian Meadows will be a community of about 425 homes.  They are now in the final phases of the over-all plan.  How are they different?  Well, the streets are wider, there is an established playground and trail system, homeowners are positive and happy, and, the builder has delivered every single home on time and as promised.  Best of all, the homes are ENERGY STAR® certified.  As someone who cares about this kind of stuff, you can imagine that I truly appreciate the value of that particular distinction.  The builder has a history that dates back to 1947 and has been the recipient of over 100 awards of recognition for their work in that time.

So, I am especially excited to have been chosen to represent Sherwood Homes in the sale of the builders inventory homes in Georgian Meadows.  For those folks who don’t want to wait for several months for a new home to be built, these are brand new and upgraded homes ready for occupancy this month!

I’ve been working away on a website with more details, floor plans and features that you can check out by clicking here.

There are all kinds of great reasons, including financial ones, for owning an energy efficient home.  I will get a post up soon about the benefits offered for those buyers needing mortgage insurance but in the meantime, get in touch with me for details if you need them sooner.

To view these inventory homes or to learn more about the things that make Georgian Meadows a great option for you, send me an email or give me a call.  It would be my pleasure to chat with you.

I’ll admit that selling vacant land is not usually as exciting as selling a home or condo but every now and then, I see a property that gets my heart beating a little faster and my imagination running in high gear.  Personally, it’s wooded properties that do it for me.  I imagine a driveway winding through the trees to a clearing on a hill with my future palace tucked privately among the quiet and the beauty.

Recently, I listed a 5 acre parcel for sale that is going to be someone’s dream home site for sure.  Of course it is rare to find a small acreage to begin with let alone one with real trees rather than scrub and one that is not stuck in a swamp.  No, this beauty is the real thing.  I walked in as deep as I could and felt like I was far away yet really, it’s just 6 minutes to my house in Collingwood and 7 to the base of Blue.

The property is also unusual in that it stretches between two roads giving the new owner a choice of how they want to access their home.  One side faces a well traveled and paved road whereas the other is on a dirt , no exit side road.  Both are surrounded by fine homes making this a really great location for a special build.

Properties like this are getting harder and harder to find; especially at a reasonable price.  This one at $189,900 is a real gem.  If you are thinking of building a home in the area sometime in the future, don’t miss this.  It’s already well decorated.

It’s always a pleasure to meet new people and to assist them in meeting their real estate goals.  If you would like to schedule a buyer or seller consultation with me, please feel free to contact me anytime at 705-446-1762 or send me an email.

Once a rare cooperative complex, Bayview Terrace on Ontario Street became a condominium several years ago and since then, unit values have appreciated well as owners have upgraded their units and the market climbed. Ideal for singles, couples, seniors, people with physical challenges as well as investors, this building is worth a look.

I recently listed a two bedroom unit for sale on the 2nd floor which features  a large west-facing balcony, defined eating area and good sized living space for just $119,000.  For investors, it is worth noting that units like these generally rent out for $925.00 to $965.00 per month offering a potential for good return.  It’s also a great option for seniors looking for a safe and secure environment without maintenance to attend to and all at an affordable price.

Update:  This is now sold

After a good day on the slopes, there is something very comforting about walking home to your own condo rather than a hotel room.  You can light the fireplace, pour a glass of wine, pop dinner in the oven and enjoy privacy and views of a forest from the windows and patio.  You can easily entertain family and friends.  Plan a girl’s week-end?  How about getting together a golfing gang next summer? 

As every REALTOR® in the Blue Mountain area knows, the dream of owning a condo at Blue Mountain is alive and well.  We all get regular enquiries from people looking for information and options.  Here is one that people shouldn’t miss.

Recently, I listed a terrific condo for sale in the Mountain Walk enclave right across the street from the Village.  This is the best priced, 3 bedroom unit available at Blue as of this writing.

While it is currently in the Blue Mountain rental program, new owners have the option of taking it out or renting it on their own or through any other source.  There is flexibility that one doesn’t get in the Intrawest units and, owners avoid the high fees found with units located in the Village.  It also offers a great deal more space than anything comparably priced in the Village or even nearby.

If you are dreaming of a condo at Blue, you really should talk to me about this one.  With 3 bedrooms and almost 1500 square feet of space, it’s a great value at just $254,900.

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Thankfully, Nikki Hall, a rather brilliant woman and her family purchased the house and since then, did a full and complete heritage restoration essentially building a new home that maintained the heritage aspects of the building.  While they love and enjoy the home, circumstances have led them to now putting it up for sale.

After I completed a photo montage of the house, I decided to send it to one of the original family members together with an invitation to view their old family home.  A few weeks ago we did just that.  I wasn’t sure what to expect but as it turns out, they were overjoyed to see that dreams they had for the house themselves had come to fruition and, the house still felt very much like home to each of them.  They told me how their father had strung Christmas lights into the blue spruce tree planted decades ago and which now towers tall.  We pushed our way into the branches and sure enough, there were the old bulbs still wrapped onto branches deep inside.

To learn more about this fascinating and special thorn bury home, visit www.18wellington.com.

• It has a nicely designed site plan with lots of green space
• Its location on the waterfront with lovely views, water access and a marina
• Close to town and on the bus route
• The Recreation Centre!  This fabulous facility offers a large indoor pool with a water slide, well equipped exercise room, great play room with ping pong, air hockey and such and, a gorgeous, huge common room.  Perfect place to spend bad weather days or to get in some fun.
• The trails and boardwalk
• Its better built than many others in its class
• Desirable in all four seasons with great views, quiet, safe and a great range of amenities outside too
• Real estate values have done comparatively well
• Some units have central gas heating and central air
• You can buy a newspaper from a box right on-site!

I just listed a lovely 2 bedroom, 2 full bath, upper level unit  at a superb price of $194,900.  I really mean that since nothing like this has sold below $195,000 in a very long time!
 
These original owners have maintained it to a tee and no detail has been spared.  It has an efficient, hydronic heating system, central air, added attic insulation, updated broadloom, a gas fireplace, 5 appliances and includes 2 large, outside storage cupboards.  If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a condo in the Collingwood area, then you really must see this.