Tag Archive for muskoka home sales

New Listing! 25 Mins from Huntsville

Sasha Dear / August 16, 2011 / No comments

   

 Country living ideally located on approx 2 acres of cleared and treed land, 2
mins from Kearney and 25 mins to Huntsville. Open concept living, cathedral
ceilings and large picture windows to bring in the light and enjoy the
surrounding views. Fully finished lower level with walk-out to rear patio area.
Features include: Ensuite bathroom with jet tub, hardwood floors, upgraded light
fixtures, new drilled well, newer roof shingles, WETT certified woodstove in Rec
room, pot lights, circular drive. This is a pleasure to view, and ideal for
anyone wanting to live in a private country setting but close to town. $194,500

Click HERE for more pictures and full details

Category: Listings, Muskoka / Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Bracebridge Cottage Sales Down

Sasha Dear / July 5, 2011 / No comments

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.

Category: Buyer & Seller Info, Market Updates, Muskoka / Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Power of Sale listing search

Sasha Dear / June 27, 2011 / No comments

Interested in purchasing a Power of Sale home? I work with investors who want to buy a ‘deal’ and Clients who want to fix – flip homes. Looking for a bargain home purchase that you can live in? Many first time home buyers have gone this route of purchasing a Power of Sale home at sometimes lower prices than normal.

Have all Power of Sale listings emailed to you before the general public see them on the MLS websites.

Email Sasha Dear direct info@sashadear.ca or use the contact forms on this website. Be sure to mention Power of Sales in your email.

Category: Buyer & Seller Info, Listings, Muskoka, Power of sales / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Buyers Most Wanted!

Sasha Dear / June 25, 2011 / No comments

Here is a list of properties that my current Buyers are waiting for. If you are thinking of selling, and have one of the properties listed below, then please contact Sasha Dear asap on 705-716-5431 or info@sashadear.ca thank you.

  • Townhouse or detached with 3 beds in Bracebridge up to $195,000
  • Detached bungalow that is newer or recently upgraded on edge of town close to Bracebridge with 3 beds, and a garage. Up to $260,000
  • 3 bed 2 bath bungalow with finished basement and double garage. Newer home or recently upgraded. Up to $280,000
  • Level waterfront lot, with or without building on it, with privacy. Up to $300,000
  • Fixer-Uppers! Any homes in need of fixing up. Up to $180,000
Category: Buyer & Seller Info, Listings, Muskoka, Off Topic / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Buyers Market Continues

Sasha Dear / June 25, 2011 / No comments

We are still in what we call a ‘Buyers Market’. This means that there are more homes on the market than there are buyers to buy them. In-fact, there are currently only 2 buyers for every 10 homes listed for sale.

How does this affect you as a seller? You will need to keep yourself (via an Agent) updated on what homes are selling, and what your ‘competition’ is offering in terms of features and price. It is important to make any necessary adjustments to the home or price in order to make it one that a potential buyer wants. Tip – Buyers nowadays look for homes that are ‘move-in-ready’ with limited or no upgrading required. If your home cannot offer that, then pricing correctly is an important factor in order to sell.

Category: Buyer & Seller Info, Market Updates, Muskoka / Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Open Houses. Do they work?

Sasha Dear / June 25, 2011 / No comments

If you are asking if an open house will help sell your home, then my answer is “unlikely”.

Before the Internet boom (before the majority of people turned to the Internet to find their next home), people relied on printed MLS books, newspaper listings, Real Estate magazines, and driving around their desired neighbourhoods to find open houses. Back in those days (before 1995), open houses were an effective way to help sell a home. The people who entered the open house were actually ‘likely buyers’ who were in the market to actively search for a home to purchase.

What we see nowadays though, is a trail of nosey neighbours and week-end tire-kickers who want to get decorating ideas or just want to compare your home with theirs so that they can imagine up a value for their own.

So why are open houses still held?

  1. There is still a VERY slim chance that the person who enters the open house will in-fact buy it (based on the opinion of at least 50 Real Estate Agents questioned, the response is about a 2% chance)
  2. The Seller may not believe, or has not been educated about the way in which buyers now purchase a home, and the Agent holds it to satisfy the Sellers demands.
  3. The Agent wants to draw in potential Buyer and Seller Clients, and this is a great way to meet new Clients.

The majority of Buyers, about 96%, now look at the Internet when searching for a home. Real Estate Agents look on the Internet within their own system, and email or call their Clients when suitable homes become available. The Real Estate Agents own system is the one that feeds the public realtor.ca website. Most real estate boards have now stopped issuing the printed MLS books.

In short, if your home or cottage looks like it may be suitable for someone, then they will make AN APPOINTMENT to come view your listing. Those are the type of people who you really want looking around your home!

Category: Buyer & Seller Info, Muskoka / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Choosing a Real Estate Agent

Sasha Dear / June 25, 2011 / No comments

So you want to sell your home or cottage, and need to select an Agent. Here are some tips to make the selection process easier:

  1. Write a list containing what services you expect, and the services you do not want (ie Open Houses)
  2. Personally meet the Agents at your home. During the meeting, you will determine if this is the person who you want to communicate with on a daily basis.
  3. DO NOT select an Agent solely based on the highest suggested listing price of your home! Listen to the Agent who brings a detailed report of comparable home or cottage sales.
  4. Ask for referrals. A great way of finding out if the Agent is ‘who’ you will be happy working with is to get opinions from their existing and past Clients.

Sasha Dear will provide you with as many references as you wish! From Toronto to Barrie to Muskoka…Sasha Dear has helped many families re-locate.

Category: Buyer & Seller Info, Muskoka / Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Parry Sound Century Home on River

Sasha Dear / June 20, 2011 / No comments

This Century home offers plenty of space for family and entertaining! Full of unique re-finished original features, you will enjoy a beautiful character home with modern living in mind. Ideally located close to downtown boutique shopping and amenities, this home sits on a deep lot with the peaceful Seguin River at back. New roof shingles 2010 plus new flooring in bedrooms, newer furnace and windows. Original hardwood floors refinished beautifully. Bonus Loft Room large enough for rec/play/study/living room. Large rear covered deck/porch overlooking fenced level yard and gentle slope to river. Move-in condition. $259,900

Click Here for Pictures

Category: Listings / Tags: , , , , , , ,

Muskoka River Cottage – New Listing!

Sasha Dear / May 26, 2011 / No comments

Beautifully renovated cottage on extensively landscaped grounds with access to Lake Muskoka. Open concept kitchen/dining/living and 3 bedrooms. Refinished hardwood floors, new broadloom in bedrooms, roof shingles 2009, renovated kitchen and bathroom. Cottage built well, with good insulation and extra steel support beams. Spring fed well allows option to use year round. Freshly painted inside and out, and some newer windows.

Includes a well pump house, large utility shed, dock shed. Can be sold ‘turn-key’ if desired! Just move right in! If you are looking for privacy then this one is for you.

Located on quiet inlet off the Muskoka River, just 5 minutes from Bracebridge. Access for medium motorized boat at own dock. Boat to Lake Muskoka or just sit and enjoy the tranquil scenery. $229,900

Click here for pictures!

Category: Listings, Muskoka / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Find better ways to heat and cool your house

Sasha Dear / June 30, 2010 / No comments

Energy loss in home     As much as half of the energy used in homes goes toward heating and cooling. The following are a few ways that energy bills can be reduced through adjustments to the heating and cooling systems:

  • Install a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans can be used in place of air conditioners, which require a large amount of energy. This depends on where you live, as some areas are extremely hot in summer months. Simply reducing the degree of coldness will help.

 

  • Periodically replace air filters in air conditioners and heaters. It can be hard to remember when this should be done. Set an alarm on your calander to remind you.

 

  • Set thermostats to an appropriate temperature. Specifically, they should be turned down at night and when no one is home. In most homes, about 2% of the heating bill will be saved for each degree that the thermostat is lowered for at least eight hours each day. Turning down the thermostat from 75° F to 70°F(24c to 21c), for example, saves about 10% on heating costs.

Use thermostat wisely to reduce heating bill

  • Install a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat saves money by allowing heating and cooling appliances to be automatically turned down during times that no one is home and at night. Programmable thermostats contain no mercury and, in some climate zones, can save up to $150 per year in energy costs.

 

  • Install a wood stove or a pellet stove. These are more efficient sources of heat than furnaces. Wood or pellet stoves can actually heat the house without the need for using the furnace in most cases.

instal wood stove to help with heating

  • At night, curtains drawn over windows will better insulate the room, especially if you have single pane windows.

Home inspector  Thankyou to Greg Thomson with Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections in Muskoka for contributing towards this article on how to make our homes more energy efficient.

Have a question about this article, or anything about Muskoka Real Estate?

email me and I will get back to you the same day. info@sashadear.ca

 
Category: Buyer & Seller Info, Muskoka, recommended contractors/services / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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