Blog
February 27, 2020
Usually, home sales in the dead of winter can be slow to say the least but this January the residential market has seen some good activity in Muskoka. Residential home sales jumped 43% over last year at the same time. The average price for a residential home rose from $410,890. to $445,230, up 8.36% over last year. Active home listings were down 10.5% over last year. These stats may indicate that the spring market will be early and inventory will be in tight supply due to the demand. Waterfront cottage sales remained the same as last year. Which is normal […]
February 25, 2020
White is still the best neutral paint colour to update your walls. White painted walls might seem last century with the strong trend of gray paints never-ending, but white walls are a classic and can never completely go out of style. They are very on-trend! Choose a shade of white paint that is soft rather than stark or brilliant. Make the most of white walls, colour can be added through furniture, textiles, paintings and decorative objects. You can change the entire look of your room simply by changing your accent colours, metal finishes and textures. White paint is practical on so […]
January 28, 2020
Why you should make the move to Muskoka and leave city life behind....
March 13, 2019
My BEST advice to give to a First Time Buyer? I wanted to share with everyone a list of 4 of the most important things any First time buyer (home, condo or cottage) should do to get on and stay on the right track to buying the right property. KNOW YOUR BUDGET: Get your financials in order. Get pre approved. Lastly to know what amount of mortgage you can qualify for. What price range you should look in. AND stick to your budget. PICK YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Before you start going to see your first home. Drive through the areas. Know […]
February 26, 2019
DO YOU KNOW! Know your local waterfront and area rules and regulations! Zoning by-laws have various rules and regulations that specify what a property can be used for and the types, dimensions, and locations of buildings that can be constructed on each waterfront property. For example, there are restrictions around how close a cottage can be to the lake, how large a cottage can be, whether or not a boathouse is permitted and how large it can be, and how many cottages or sleeping cabins are permitted on one lot. Zoning by-laws can be complex and certain properties have specific […]
February 25, 2019
Another question I get asked all the time as a Realtor: “Where is the best place to buy a cottage in Muskoka?” The many factors of Muskoka cottage buying include: Location – Lake? Large? Small? River? Budget? Cottage size – Family? Friends? Again budget!3) Lifestyle – Recreation? Relaxing & Solitude? Access?4) Future Use – Investment? Rental? Retirement? Re-Sale? Lets expand on these points and ask yourself the criteria that is important to you: 1. Are you interested in boating? If so, the size of the lake may be important to you. If you like boating and touring around a large […]
February 20, 2019
One of the many benefits of owning a home is having the ability to sell it one day – hopefully for a healthy profit, which can then be leveraged to purchase a larger home, an investment or recreational property, or help finance your retirement. Once you decide that you’re ready to take the leap and list your home for sale, the next question you need to ask is, “How much is my house worth?” This is a loaded question indeed. It opens the floodgates to a slew of other factors that will each impact your decision on asking price to varying degrees. The […]
February 12, 2019
A panel of RE/MAX sales associates from across the country put together a list of the most common home renovations they think will add value to homes in 2019. Here is the list, along with some advice from a couple of the most trusted designers: First impressions. Exteriors are quite literally the first thing people see when they arrive at your home, RE/MAX agents remind. Fresh landscaping, new exterior paint, cleaning and/or painting the siding, or upgrading the outside doors are all good places to start. Outdoor space renovations and covered porches are also high up on the list of […]
February 12, 2019
Located in the heart of Muskoka, Lake of Bays is one of the most popular places to cottage and vacation in Central Ontario, with cottages scattered amongst the shores of this beautiful lake, and nestled into forests full of birch, maple, and towering pines. Lake of Bays abounds with opportunities for outdoor adventure. It is Muskoka’s 2nd largest lake with 350 miles of shoreline to explore. The lake itself is crystal clear and preferred destination for anglers, boaters, paddlers, swimmers and sunbathers. On land, golfing, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding are popular activities in the summer, while cross-country skiing, […]
February 12, 2019
A method of refinancing your mortgage: HELOC = A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, is a revolving line of credit secured by your home at a much lower interest rate than a traditional line of credit. In Canada, your HELOC cannot exceed 65% of your home’s value. What You Need to Know About HELOCs in Canada You can access up to 65% of your home’s value – In Canada, you can access up to 65% of the value of your home through a home equity line of credit. However, it’s also important to remember that your outstanding mortgage […]