You Can Help Save The Nottawasaga Lighthouse

As many of you may be aware, there has been a movement afoot for a number of years now by a dedicated and passionate group of volunteers to acquire and restore the Nottawasaga Lighthouse. Originally initiated by the late Jim Kilgour, this project was stalled due to Jim's untimely passing and was subsequently resurrected by Krista King and a following of eager and passionate individuals that are strong advocates of seeing this iconic structure restored to its former glory.

 

  I am an avid boater and have spent my entire life travelling on Georgian Bay and northern Lake Huron based from cottage at South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island.  I have a great appreciation for and fascination with lighthouses, both as navigational aids while boating as well as the unique architectural and historical significance they represent  My great grandfather was the lightkeeper of two range lights at South Baymouth one of which is pictured here so there is also some family connection to these unique structures.

  The Nottawasaga Lighthouse was one of six "Imperial" towers built between 1855 and 1858.  Ironically, our own Nottawasaga Lighthouse went into service in 1858, the very same year that the Town of Collingwood was incorporated.   All six of the towers are still in existence today, unfortunately the Nottawasaga Lighthouse is in the worst shape stemming from years of neglect as the light was decommissioned in 2003 after which it was subsequently struck by lightning causing further damage.  For a complete history of the lighthouse and other information please visit the Nottawasaga Lighthouse Preservation Society (NLPS) website.

  This past June I was elected to the NLPS Board of Directors and humbly assumed the position of Chairman.  Collectively the Board has worked very hard through the summer months and this week we are in the process of taking the first step in what we hope will be a successful and historically correct restoration of the tower and eventually the rebuilding of the lightkeeper's house.  The accompanying picture is one of the six Imperial towers, this one on Cove Island off Tobermory.  One day the Nottawasga Lighthouse will stand as proudly as this one.  Over the next four to six weeks we will be shrink wrapping the tower to help prevent any further degradation of the structure while we raise the necessary funds for its restoration.  While this work is underway you too can help.

  Aviva Canada is one of the leading casualty and property insurers in Canada.  Each year the Aviva Community Fund provides $1 million in funding for special community projects across the country and this year the Nottawasaga Lighthouse has made their list of contenders for up to $100,000 in funding.  You can help by casting you vote to save our "Light."  To date we have over 9,300 votes but many more are needed.  Please visit Aviva's "Help Save The Nottawasaga Lighthouse" webpage or the NLPS website to cast your vote and encourage your friends to do likewise.  Each person can cast 18 votes, it's quick and easy yet will potentially mean a great deal in helping us to secure this funding opportunity.

  In the coming weeks I will endeavour to keep you apprised of the shrink wrapping process as we race against the weather to complete the work.  If you have any questions and or to offer your support in any way, we are always looking for volunteers in various capacities so feel free to contact me at 705-443-1037 or via email at rrcrouch@rogers.com

  

Area MLS® Real Estate Sales Could Hit $1 Billion in 2016

 MLS® sales in September as reported by the Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS (SGBAR) continued at a record pace bringing us one step closer to realizing $1 billion in MLS® sales volume for 2016.

  MLS® dollar sales in September totalled $94.3 million, an increase of 18% from one year ago when sales reached $80.0 million. A total of 243 properties sold in September through our local MLS® system which was actually a decrease in unit sales of 2% from September of last year when 249 properties sold.  As I have said in prior posts, the only real threat to sales is the lack of properties listed for sale.  New listings during September declined a staggering 27% with 292 new MLS® listing reported in September compared to 399 in September of last year.  Year-to-date, new MLS® listing activity is down 9% while sales are at record levels.  There remains an abundance of buyers with far too few properties listed for sale to satisfy the demand.

Year-to-date MLS® unit sales for the first nine months of 2016 now total 2,188 properties, an increase of 18% over last year.  MLS® dollar volume for the year now stands at $812.2 million, 30% higher than the same time last year.  Total MLS® dollar volume in 2008 totalled $489.2 million and here we are on the threshold of breaking the $1 billion barrier for 2016 a mere 8 years later.

  The growth in area condominium sales are outpacing the sales of single family homes.  Through the end of September condo sales are up 21% from last year with 440 MLS® sales year-to-date.  MLS® single family home sales totalling 1,442 properties reflects a 15% over the 1,255 home sold in the first nine months of 2015.  After two or three slow years, we have seen a very strong resurgence in vacant land sales. Year-to-date there have been 201 vacant lot sales compared to 150 last year, an increase of 34%.  Clearly the shortage of finished homes listed for sale has helped to drive the sale of vacant lots with buyers electing to build in a market where there clearly a shortage of homes to choose from.


 Not all areas of our market are performing equally as well in this robust market. Clearview Township continues to lead all area municipalities in terms of the largest increase in single family home sales year-over-year with 159 sales through the end of September marking a 28%% increase over 2015. Single family home sales in Wasaga Beach are up 23% this year with 546 MLS® sales reported compared to 443 one year ago.  Sales of single family homes in Collingwood are up a more modest 10% year-to-date while sales in the Municipality of Meaford and Grey Highlands are up 14% and 20% respectively.  Lastly single family home sales in the Blue Mountains are down this year with 159 sales reflecting a 2% decrease from one year ago.  New home building activity in the Blue Mountains is very strong which has no doubt played a role in the reduced sales activity of exiting homes in the municipality.  Vacant land sales in the Blue Mountains this year are up 36% with 72 lot sales so far this year.

  As we head into the final stretch of the year, it would appear that the insufficient supply of properties on the market is going to have an adverse impact on sales activity during the final quarter.  For those looking to sell, the timing right now could never be better to maximize the equity in your property.

  Selling or buying in this hyper active market has its challenges.  For a confidential no obligation  discussion about your real estate goals or needs please feel free to Contact Me.

Area MLS® Real Estate Sales Could Hit $1 Billion in 2016

 MLS® sales in September as reported by the Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS (SGBAR) continued at a record pace bringing us one step closer to realizing $1 billion in MLS® sales volume for 2016.

  MLS® dollar sales in September totalled $94.3 million, an increase of 18% from one year ago when sales reached $80.0 million. A total of 243 properties sold in September through our local MLS® system which was actually a decrease in unit sales of 2% from September of last year when 249 properties sold.  As I have said in prior posts, the only real threat to sales is the lack of properties listed for sale.  New listings during September declined a staggering 27% with 292 new MLS® listing reported in September compared to 399 in September of last year.  Year-to-date, new MLS® listing activity is down 9% while sales are at record levels.  There remains an abundance of buyers with far too few properties listed for sale to satisfy the demand.

Year-to-date MLS® unit sales for the first nine months of 2016 now total 2,188 properties, an increase of 18% over last year.  MLS® dollar volume for the year now stands at $812.2 million, 30% higher than the same time last year.  Total MLS® dollar volume in 2008 totalled $489.2 million and here we are on the threshold of breaking the $1 billion barrier for 2016 a mere 8 years later.

  The growth in area condominium sales are outpacing the sales of single family homes.  Through the end of September condo sales are up 21% from last year with 440 MLS® sales year-to-date.  MLS® single family home sales totalling 1,442 properties reflects a 15% over the 1,255 home sold in the first nine months of 2015.  After two or three slow years, we have seen a very strong resurgence in vacant land sales. Year-to-date there have been 201 vacant lot sales compared to 150 last year, an increase of 34%.  Clearly the shortage of finished homes listed for sale has helped to drive the sale of vacant lots with buyers electing to build in a market where there clearly a shortage of homes to choose from.


 Not all areas of our market are performing equally as well in this robust market. Clearview Township continues to lead all area municipalities in terms of the largest increase in single family home sales year-over-year with 159 sales through the end of September marking a 28%% increase over 2015. Single family home sales in Wasaga Beach are up 23% this year with 546 MLS® sales reported compared to 443 one year ago.  Sales of single family homes in Collingwood are up a more modest 10% year-to-date while sales in the Municipality of Meaford and Grey Highlands are up 14% and 20% respectively.  Lastly single family home sales in the Blue Mountains are down this year with 159 sales reflecting a 2% decrease from one year ago.  New home building activity in the Blue Mountains is very strong which has no doubt played a role in the reduced sales activity of exiting homes in the municipality.  Vacant land sales in the Blue Mountains this year are up 36% with 72 sales in the first

  As we head into the final stretch of the year, it would appear that the significant insufficient supply of properties on the market is going to have an adverse impact on sales activity.  For those looking to sell, the timing right now could never be better to maximize the equity in your property and this is especially true for those that do not need to immediately replace their current property with another one.

  Selling or buying in this hyper active market has its challenges.  For a confidential no obligation  discussion about your real estate goals or needs please feel free to Contact Me.

Area MLS® Real Estate Sales Could Hit $1 Billion in 2016

 MLS® sales in September as reported by the Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS (SGBAR) continued at a record pace bringing us one step closer to realizing $1 billion in MLS® sales volume for 2016.

  MLS® dollar sales in September totalled $94.3 million, an increase of 18% from one year ago when sales reached $80.0 million. A total of 243 properties sold in September through our local MLS® system which was actually a decrease in unit sales of 2% from September of last year when 249 properties sold.  As I have said in prior posts, the only real threat to sales is the lack of properties listed for sale.  New listings during September declined a staggering 27% with 292 new MLS® listing reported in September compared to 399 in September of last year.  Year-to-date, new MLS® listing activity is down 9% while sales are at record levels.  There remains an abundance of buyers with far too few properties listed for sale to satisfy the demand.

Year-to-date MLS® unit sales for the first nine months of 2016 now total 2,188 properties, an increase of 18% over last year.  MLS® dollar volume for the year now stands at $812.2 million, 30% higher than the same time last year.  Total MLS® dollar volume in 2008 totalled $489.2 million and here we are on the threshold of breaking the $1 billion barrier for 2016.

  The growth in area condominium sales are outpacing the sales of single family homes.  Through the end of September condo sales are up 21% from last year with 440 MLS® sales year-to-date.  MLS® single family home sales totalling 1,442 properties reflects a 15% over the 1,255 home sold in the first nine months of 2015.  After two or three slow years, we have seen a very strong resurgence in vacant land sales. Year-to-date there have been 201 vacant lot sales compared to 150 last year, an increase of 34%.  Clearly the shortage of finished homes listed for sale has helped to drive the sale of vacant lots with buyers electing to build in a market where there clearly a shortage of homes to choose from.


 Not all areas of our market are performing equally as well in this robust market. Clearview Township continues to lead all area municipalities in terms of the largest increase in single family home sales year-over-year with 159 sales through the end of September marking a 28%% increase over 2015. Single family home sales in Wasaga Beach are up 23% this year with 546 MLS® sales reported compared to 443 one year ago.  Sales of single family homes in Collingwood are up a more modest 10% year-to-date while sales in the Municipality of Meaford and Grey Highlands are up 14% and 20% respectively.  Lastly single family home sales in the Blue Mountains are down this year with 159 sales reflecting a 2% decrease from one year ago.  New home building activity in the Blue Mountains is very strong which has no doubt played a role in the reduced sales activity of exiting homes in the municipality.  Vacant land sales in the Blue Mountains this year are up 36% with 72 sales in the first

  As we head into the final stretch of the year, it would appear that the significant insufficient supply of properties on the market is going to have an adverse impact on sales activity.  For those looking to sell, the timing right now could never be better to maximize the equity in your property and this is especially true for those that do not need to immediately replace their current property with another one.

  Selling or buying in this hyper active market has its challenges.  For a confidential no obligation  discussion about your real estate goals or needs please feel free to Contact Me.

Generation X Driving Increased Demand for Recreational Properties

Once again this year I was asked to assist Royal LePage Canada as an advisor with the preparation of their annual Recreational Property Report.  The report is now complete and the following is a Press Release that is was issued which summarizes the findings of this year's report.

Generation X buyers of cottages, cabins and chalets across Canada outnumber Baby Boomers by almost two to one, according to the Royal LePage 2016 Canadian Recreational Housing Report released today. Still, planning for retirement living is among the most common reasons potential buyers give for the purchase of a recreational property.  The annual report compiles information from a cross-Canada survey of real estate advisors who specialize in recreational property sales.

The survey found that 65 per cent of advisers polled indicated that potential purchasers were considering their retirement needs in deciding to buy a recreational property, while a significant number of respondents (88 per cent) said that potential purchasers identified desired lifestyle and vacationing as their main purpose. Just under half of respondents (49 per cent) said that clients wanted a recreational property as an investment and a little over a third (37 per cent) indicated that low interest rates were a deciding factor.

The family status of the typical recreational property buyer is a couple with children, according to 76 per cent of survey respondents. When asked about the most prevalent age range of current buyers, 63 per cent of respondents identified Gen Xers (36 to 51 years old), almost double the 33 per cent who identified Baby Boomers (52 to 70 years old).

“We found it interesting that a majority of respondents identified retirement as a driving factor for a recreational property purchase consideration, but Gen Xers, still decades from retirement, were identified as the typical buyer in the current market,” said Phil Soper, president and chief executive officer, Royal LePage. “This cohort, having reached a place of stability, and often owners of primary residences in the country’s city centres, is making recreational property purchases for family enjoyment in the near-term and as a key strategy for retirement.”

“Canada’s extended low interest rate environment has clearly provided buyers with the confidence they need to invest in a cottage or cabin,” added Soper. “In contrast to urban home purchase decisions, buying a property on a lakefront or mountainside is much less about interest rates, and more about enhancing lifestyle. Cash savings trump mortgage financing when it comes to how people are acquiring recreational property.”

To view the entire Recreational Property Report report Click Here.  If I can be of any assistance in helping you with respect to your recreational property needs either buying or selling, please do not hesitate to Contact Me, my information and expertise is offered without obligation.