Single Family Residential
New Listings: 51 (61, 35, 40)
Average List Price: $ 451,849
Range of List Prices: $133,900 – $1,595,176
Number of Sales: 19 (20, 14, 18 )
Range of Sale Prices: $120,000 – $2,385,000

Condominiums
New Listings: 19 (22, 13, 11)
Average List Price: $253,605
Range of List Prices: $135,000 – $839,900
Number of Sales: 1 (6, 6, 3)
Range of Sale Prices: $135,000

Vacant Land
New Listings: 8 ( 8, 10, 9)
Number of Sales: 1 (3, 0, 2)
Range of sale prices $99,000

Items to Note: There was a vacant land sale at it’s list price.

It is an interview with a consumer and real estate investor whose comments mirror my own feelings.  He also raises a number of very good points to ponder and clarifies many misconceptions that exist.

I spent some time this morning reading various reports and studies to find out the trends home builders and renovators might want to pay particular attention to.  What I found was not surprising at all.  Buyers are placing increased importance on:

•  Open concept floor plans
•  One level living
•  Main floor master bedrooms
•  Universal design
•  Energy Efficiency

Recently, the Ontario Association of Home Builders held their meetings in Collingwood and some of the newer trends they identified were:
 
 - McMansions are being traded for better quality homes
 - People want to age-in-place and are looking for homes that are easily adapted for accessibility
 - People are expanding their living into the outdoors with a greater demand for 3-season living spaces such as covered patios and  porches, sunrooms

They also specifically noted that buyers are demanding greater energy efficiency in their homes and are willing to pay for it to a certain point.  Some of the features they are looking at include:

*  Homes that are pre-wired to be solar ready
*  New products and building techniques that will address the fact that homes built under the new building code in 2012 will be more air tight
*  Kill switches to easily turn off appliances using phantom energy
*  Home automation systems for multi-media
*  A movement away from stucco to things like stone and hardiboard
*  Kitchens with walk-in pantries, solid surface countertops, specific task lighting and energy efficient appliances.

If you are buying a new home, it’s a good idea to incorporate as many of these elements as possible because they are likely to become the norm when you one day face resale of your property.  For people renovating their homes, it’s also a good idea to consider these trends both for resale and for efficient and healthy home operation.  Remember, the cost of operating your home (heat, hydro, water) are the second  price tag of ownership.

Single Family Residential
New Listings:  61 (35, 40, 40)
Average List Price: $ 391,936
Range of List Prices: $119,900 – $1,595,176
Number of Sales:   20 (14, 18, 19)
Range of Sale Prices: $170,000 – $834,900

Condominiums
New Listings:  22 (13, 11, 16)
Average List Price:  $282,673
Range of List Prices: $124,900 – 599,900
Number of Sales:   6 (6, 3, 5)
Range of Sale Prices: $124,900 – $569,000

Vacant Land
New Listings:     8 (10, 9, 10)
Number of Sales: 3 (0, 2, 0)

Items to Note:  There was a real uptick in new listings this week and also in single family residential sales.  Has the sunshine brought an early spring market start?

Real estate activity in February in Collingwood, Blue Mountain

Sales in the Georgian Triangle in February, 2010 were up 39% compared to the same month last year when we were in the depth of the recession.  There were 107 sales of all types reported in our area in February but this was still well below the 139 sales reported in the same month in 2008.  The number of new listings for the month declined by 13% over a year ago with 347 new listings in February.

The 12 month average, residential sale price is returning to 2008 levels in most areas and is now higher in Wasaga Beach and Collingwood than it was in 2008.  Condominium sales continue to show a sharp rise compared to the previous two years. There have been 43 condos sold in the first two months of 2010 with an average sale price of $228,869 compared to just 22 sales in the same period last year with an average sale price just under $195,000. These sales occurred across our area in all price ranges and follow the pattern of buyers moving to condominium living being reported in larger urban centres.

Despite what we hear in media reports about an over-heated market, you can see by the data below that we have not rebounded fully from the depths of last years recession.  We are certainly in a much improved position but, with the exception of condominiums, we have not recovered to 2008 pre-recessionary levels.
 
The following information was obtained from the MLS® statistics provided by the Georgian Triangle Real Estate Board.  The first number is for February 2010 with February 2009 and 2008 results in brackets:

Total Number of Sales in all areas reported:  107 (77, 139)
Total # of new listings in all areas reported: 347 (398, 402)
# Active Listings as of February 28: 1770

The following data is limited to  Collingwood, Clearview, Grey Highlands, Meaford, Blue Mountains and Wasaga Beach areas only:
 
February Single Family Residential Sales:  71 (52, 82)
YTD Single Family Residential Sales 115 (77, 154)
12 mos. Average Sale Price:  $297,657 ($285,069, $315,598 )
YTD Sales-to-Listings Ratio: 28% (18%, 37%)
YTD Condo Sales:  43 (22, 35)
YTD Farms Sold:  2 (1, 4)
YTD Vacant Land Sold:  10 (5, 24)
YTD Commercial Sold: 5 (6, 6)

A number of factors are at play in the market.  The number of new listings has stayed low and if this continues, we will see upward pressure on prices.  We are hearing more talk of new listings coming online as sellers try to beat the introduction of the HST on July 1st.  New mortgage rules that come into effect on April 17th may also cause a minor uptick in buying activity as does the ongoing fear of rising interest rates.  Signs would currently point to an expected strong spring market.

On February 8th, council passed its first Heritage Tax Relief By-law.  Under this program, owners of significant heritage buildings can apply for a 10% refund on the municipal and education levy portions of their tax bill.  The Town has already identified qualifying properties and owners of these will be sent a notice advising them of this opportunity.

Collingwood also has another program that makes heritage grants available for the repair and restoration of heritage features of a building with funding of 50% up to a maximum of $3,000.00.

Both of these programs encourage heritage property owners to restore and maintain the heritage values of their buildings now and into the future.  As heritage is now very much recognized as having economic and environmental benefits, these programs make good sense to me.

Increasingly, we’ve seen a trend toward heritage preservation and restoration in Collingwood and I suspect much of this is due to the excellent work of both the Heritage Advisory Committee and the local branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario.  The controversial demolition of a landmark building a few years ago, brought the issue to the public forefront and heritage became a substantial issue during the last election campaign.  In recent years, we’ve seen more buildings designated as heritage buildings such as the old Connaught School/wellness centre on Napier Street.

There are a number of examples through-out the town of major heritage projects such as the one now taking place at the old “Ditson” house beside the Royal Bank on Hurontario Street.  The Joseph Lawrence house renovation was truly a labour of love and learning for the owners as was a smaller restoration project at 282 Ontario Street.  Perhaps the most prominent example though would be the outstanding restoration taking place of the Tremont Building beside the new library at Simcoe and St., Paul Streets.  The added layers of siding and paint have been removed to reveal the original brick work and architectural features.  Windows were replaced and resized to the original ones and, the roof top parapets and 8 chimneys have been rebuilt.  I think this project, more than any other, has taught us a big lesson about what IS possible and why it matters.  Even those who called for the building to be demolished are now it’s greatest enthusiasts.

Single Family Residential
New Listings: 35 (40, 40, 37)
Average List Price: $463,754.29
Range of List Prices: $175,000 – $3,200,000
Number of Sales: 14 (18, 19, 15)
Range of Sale Prices: $105,250 – $650,000

Condominiums
New Listings: 13 (11, 16, 14)
Average List Price: $274,907.69
Range of List Prices: $142,500 – $539,000
Number of Sales:  6 (3, 5, 7)
Range of Sale Prices: $152,500 – $440,000

Vacant Land
New Listings:  10 (9, 10, 17)
Number of Sales: 0 (2, 0, 1)

Number of Prices Changes All Types (down or up): 24

Words have always held a certain fascination to me.  They are such powerful little things.  They can inspire awe or anger.  They record our history.  They can bring about conflict or they can bring understanding.  Dialects and accents tell us secrets.  Songs can move us to tears.

In celebration of WORDS, Collingwood will play host to WORDSTOCK; A Collingwood Literary Festival to be held on September 10-11, 2010.  The event will also celebrate and showcase the beautiful new Collingwood Public Library which is set to open in the next couple of months.  As the first LEED Gold standard library in Ontario (and second in Canada), the new facility is one that inspires pride and excitement.  At the same time, Collingwood is undertaking a $10 million revitalization project in our beautiful downtown; the first to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  There is much to celebrate.

WORDSTOCK is being organized by a steering committee made up of local people co-chaired by yours truly and, in partnership with Downtown Collingwood, The Town of Collingwood and the Collingwood Public Library.  The event will kick off on the Friday evening with a stunning show featuring a blend of story-telling, art, song, poetry and theatre.  On Saturday, there will be about 30 events including workshops, poetry, readings by national and local authors plus fun and creative events for children and teens.

What started out as a tiny idea has grown into a true celebration of Collingwood’s amenities and it’s cultural heritage.  In true Collingwood style, I’m sure this is destined to become a signature event in the years to come.

Single Family Residential
New Listings: 40 (40, 37, 40)
Average List Price: $484,065
Range of List Prices: $157,500 – 1,950,000
Number of Sales: 18 (19, 15, 14)
Range of Sale Prices: $145,000 – $625,000

Condominiums
New Listings: 11 (16, 14, 13)
Average List Price: $226,474
Range of List Prices: $87,900 – $459,900
Number of Sales: 3 (5, 7, 6)
Range of Sale Prices: $280,000 – $538,000

Vacant Land
New Listings: 9 (10, 17, 13)
Number of Sales: 2 (0, 1, 1)
Range of Sale Prices: $90,100 – $326,250

Number of Prices Changes All Types (down or up): 15

Items of Note:
One Vacant Land listing sold ABOVE it’s list price, and one Single Family Residence sold AT it’s list price.