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.

Click here for further details.

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.

There are just 105 chalets on the property offering a unique oportunity for members to establish a second home in what must surely be one of the most beautiful areas of the Province.  I recently have had the pleasure of listing a lovely and spacious townhome for sale in Devil’s Glen.  This chalet is owned by the original builder who continues to enjoy membership today with his children and grandchildren as well. 

20 ski trails, racing and snow programs, terrain parks and an active social life are all available to members of the Club which has recently undergone many improvements with further expansions planned.  Owning at the club is so much more than hitting the slopes – it’s about lifestyle and about creating family memories.  These are well detailed in an online brochure for those interested.

Lots within the town are very far and few between as Collingwood is an established community and most new land released for sale in recent years has been picked up by developers building subdivisions.  Some people have been buying up older homes just to acquire the land and the houses on them are demolished.  In some areas, the fees for water service have been substantial and generally speaking, it’s quite difficult to find anything under $100,000 when all is said and done.

Every community has development charges.  These are the fees that are paid when a building permit is applied for and they are used by the Town toward infrastructure for community growth.  As areas grow, so do the costs for new roads, sewers, water, policing, fire service and so on.  In Collingwood, development charges will be climbing dramatically as new fees are phased in over the coming years with the next hike due this September.

Recently, I listed the BEST-PRICED lots for sale in Collingwood today.  Each measures 60 feet wide by 200 feet deep and they are nicely treed on a street serviced with municipal water.  They are located in the eastern part of the town toward Wasaga Beach where the lots are large, there are more trees and quieter streets compared to living in the core.  According to the existing by-law, lots are supposed to have 90 feet of frontage so a minor variance has been granted to other home-builders however, the new zoning by-law due this spring, changes the zoning to permit permits as they are.

These lots are listed for sale for only $39,900 and even after paying for development charges and the costs to connect to Town water, the tab would come in at about $60,000 – a fantastic price for a lot that is over a ¼ acre in size!

If you’ve been looking at lots for sale in Collingwood, you won’t want to miss these.  They are located on Braeside Street and just look for my sign.

This very popular development sits on about 100 acres with a mile of Georgian Bay shoreline on the west edge of Collingwood.  Construction began in 1989 with the last of the roughly 500 units completed last year.  In 2002, developer, Rupert Bronsdon was named builder of the year by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation – an award well deserved for this quality project that elevated the standard for all such projects to follow.

Lighthouse Point is beautifully landscaped right from the appealing entry complete with waterfall through to the 10 acre nature preserve with boardwalk and the variation of trees and vegetation through-out the area.  Over the years, it has been so well-maintained.

Aside from it’s location and quality, Lighthouse Point offers residents the widest range of amenities available in such a project with access included in the condominium fees through shared-facility agreements.  In addition to the trails, there are two beaches, a children’s playground, 9 tennis courts, 3 heated, outdoor pools, a putting green and the best of all – a 16,000 square foot recreation centre with an indoor pool, social rooms, games room for the kids and exercise centre.  There is also a 275 berth, private marina that accommodates boats up to 45 feet.

There are a variety of prices and floor plans available in the project ranging from small, stacked ski condo’s to garden homes complete with garages.  There is a 3 storey, low-rise apartment with elevator and underground parking as well as spectacular waterfront units with prices that have topped the $1 million mark.  Older, one bedroom condo’s on the resale market have been around the $140,000 mark.

This week, I listed a terrific two bedroom garden home.  Coincidentally, this is the second time as I sold this same unit years ago – I AM getting old!  It is an upper level unit that has a party sized deck spanning over two garages below.  The current owner installed gorgeous hardwood floors, upgraded fixtures in the two full baths and installed great appliances such as a Bosch dishwasher and stainless steel fridge.  One of the things I found rather interesting is that she had an ecoEnergy audit performed and the rating was excellent for a condominium and especially one built prior to the current building code.  The unit includes a garage, air conditioning, a wood-burning fireplace and it overlooks trees and beautifully landscaped areas; a good value at $254,900.  It’s perfect for a week-end getaway or, as a full-time home for one or two.

Generally, there are 25-40 re-sales each year.  Units that are properly priced and well presented almost always sell in this development and on average, have sold at about 97% of their asking price.

I have to tell you, the Lighthouse Point development in Collingwood is one of my favourites.  I know it very well because over the years, I’ve had three family members live there and, have had many clients purchase, sell, trade and upgrade there.  I’d love to show you why.

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.

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:

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.