The Muskoka Lakes area was subjected in 2011 to much slower market conditions. January and February 2012, compared to January and February 2011, has shown that the Muskoka Lakes waterfront homes and cottages has seen an increase in the number of sales. This is great news for all who want to sell their Muskoka waterfront property this year.
Archive for Buyer & Seller Info
Getting the right mortgage for you!
Mortgage rates change daily, but when you’re shopping for a loan, interest rates tell just part of the story. You’ll also need to study the various fees lenders charge. Don’t get caught up in the pitfalls of financing, give me a call today, and I can recommend several qualified mortgage professionals to answer all your questions.
Category: Buyer & Seller Info, Mortgage and Credit Info /
Foreclosure Homes
Homes that have been repossessed by the lender because the owners failed to pay the mortgage are foreclosures. Thousands of homes end up in foreclosure every year. Many people lose their homes due to job loss, credit problems or unexpected expenses.
It is wise to be cautious when considering a foreclosure. It is important to have the house thoroughly inspected and to be sure that any liens, undisclosed mortgages or court judgments are cleared or at least disclosed.
When you are ready to make an investment into a foreclosure property, I can put my expert knowledge to work for you. Give me a call today!
Category: Buyer & Seller Info, Power of sales /
Fed up with having neighbours?
So many home owners in the city or towns are now wanting to enjoy peace and quiet at home. To have some acerage around their property, to enjoy nature and relax when not working.
Consider Muskoka as a location. If you are able to work from home, or only need to get to Barrie or Toronto once in a while, then there is pleanty of real estate in Muskoka to select from. You do not have to go far to the nearest town – Bracebridge, Huntsville, Gravenhurst, Port Carling, Bala, Port Sydney – they all have large food stores and quaint boutiques for local shopping.
Muskoka offers you a perfect setting to live. You may be pleasently surprized by lower taxes and housing prices that come with large lots or acerage for privacey.
Consider re-locating to Muskoka – Muskoka Real Estate Listings
Muskoka Living at Home
It’s that time of year when Canadians retreat to the great outdoors to enjoy everyday activities like cooking, eating, and entertaining. Muskoka has allot to offer. Nowadays many homeowners are demanding more comfort and convenience when connecting with nature, and that’s why “outdoor rooms” are growing in popularity. Like having a Muskoka room – An outdoor room makes use of an exterior space such as a yard, deck, patio or balcony to extend the living area outside the home. Its purpose is to mix the luxury of indoor living with the fresh air, ambiance, and natural setting of the outdoors. Enjoy the relaxing Muskoka feel with the luxury of home.
Whether you’re creating a new outdoor room or simply updating an existing space, you may want to try and mirror your home’s interior design, extending its comfort and aesthetic appeal to the outside. Think of the project as being two sides of the same door. A consistent design theme allows for a harmonious transition between the interior and exterior of your home and can even make your living space appear bigger. Achieve this flow by using similar colour schemes, flooring types, area rugs, and mats.
Heat, cooking facilities, seating, and lighting are just some of the indoor comforts you might consider bringing to your outdoor room. Start with a hearth product such as a fireplace, firepit or chimney as your focal point, and position your seating and cooking areas accordingly. For those who love to cook there are a variety of options available ranging from all season stainless steel BBQs to complete outdoor kitchens with dual burner cook top grills, refrigerator, and expansive counter space for food preparation. Check with your local municipality to determine what products are safe and allowable for your specific set-up.
When it comes to furniture and accessories, think outside the box. Instead of the standard table, umbrella, and patio chairs, consider things like coffee tables, settees, and sofas with stylish, stain and mildew-resistant fabrics. Many manufacturers build furniture and recreational products specifically designed to be used both inside and out, such as outdoor speakers, game tables, and cocktail bars. For added privacy and sound absorption use large potted plants, such as pyramidal cedars, to act as natural walls.
At the end of the day, your outdoor room will be more than a deck or patio; it will be a cozy, comfortable place to retreat, relax, and have fun. You’ll never want to go inside again!
Muskoka Real Estate for sale offers you many homes and cottages that already have this outdoor living in mind.
Canadian Housing Market and the Media
Don’t always trust what you read or hear in the Media with regards to how the Canadian housing market is doing. We often get reports in the news about what the market is doing now, and what is projected to happen. It can be very frustrating for Real Estate Agents, as the Media allows the general public to arrive at (sometimes wrong) extreme conclusions about the effect on their own homes and cottages.
When reading the latest reports submitted by Media, please bear in mind that they are obtaining this information on a very broad scale of statistics. The ONLY way to truly find out what is happening to the real estate market, is to ask a Real Estate Agent.
Only a Real Estate Agent can correctly answer your questions about the real estate market in your area, because they have access to the correct information, and can provide you with an actual true statistical report.
Take the latest Media publication on Yahoo for instance. This report tells people that Canadians are to expect a 10% decrease in the average house price, and that there are less first-time buyers due to stricter lending rules. As a home-owner anywhere in Canada, I would now be assuming that this information applies to my own home.
For those of you who live in Bracebridge Muskoka, this information is somewhat skewed. I recently posted an article about the Bracebridge real estate market which gives you true statistical information about this area. Every area will be different based on a number of factors….employment changes, environmental changes, lending changes, demand and supply….
While the Media publications can give you a rough idea of what may (or may not) be happening to the real estate market overall, it is important not to get caught up in the Media frenzy, and best practice to contact your Real Estate Agent for precise factual information.
Bracebridge Cottage Sales Down
Last year January 1st 2010 to July 1st 2010 there were 20 waterfront cottage sales in Bracebridge. This year January 1st 2011 to July 1st 2011 there have been 13 waterfront cottage sales in Bracebridge.
Thats a 35% drop in waterfront cottage sales for the Bracebridge area.
As of July 5th 2011 there are currently 45 waterfront cottages for sale in the Bracebridge area. Based on the fact that there were a total of 43 waterfront cottage sales for 2010, and the 35% drop in sales so far for 2011, this indicates that out of the 45 waterfront cottages that are currently for sale…only 15 of them will be sold in the remainder of 2011.
This is what we call a Buyers Market, when there are far more properties available than there are Buyers. This also means that as a Seller, you must become competitive with the how you present your cottage and be careful to set a realistic asking price.