Blog

January 5, 2023

Seller’s Biggest Questions

How do I prepare my home before I sell it? When preparing to sell your home or cottage, the first thing to do is make it presentable. This means giving the entire house a thorough cleaning and making small repairs. Mop the floors, scrub the bathrooms, and get rid of all the grime in the kitchen. Little things like patching holes in the wall, changing burned-out lightbulbs, and repairing broken appliances can make your place stand out in a crowded market. And don’t forget about paint — returning the walls to a neutral colour can help your house sell quicker. […]
January 5, 2023

End of Year 2022 LAKE OF BAYS Waterfront Market Stats

2022 in Review. Waterfront on Lake of Bays market stats YTD. See link for the Re/Max 2023 Housing Outlook – https://blog.remax.ca/canadian-real-estate-outlook/ To search area properties for sale: https://movingnorth.ca/ For information on other area market stats contact Janine janinescottmuskoka@gmail.com
February 27, 2020

The January Real Estate Market Update for Muskoka

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

Why White is Decorator’s Favourite

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 […]
March 13, 2019

My BEST advice to give to a First Time Buyer?

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

What You Need to Know About Buying Waterfront Property, Muskoka

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

Buying a Cottage in Muskoka

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

How much is my house worth? 101

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

Top 6 renovations in 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 […]