Please join me in raising awareness for World Autism Awareness Day this Saturday April 2nd. Each year this day is used to raise awareness around the globe about Autism and the growing number of children being diagnosed each year. Early diagnosis and early intervention are crucial when it comes to Autism, visit AO's Simcoe Chapter website for information about the warning signs, treatments and how you can help. Check out some local events to help support the cause: The Simcoe Chapter of Autism Ontario will have a booth set up at the Georgian Mall this Saturday. They will be handing out information, answering questions and selling awareness items. Drop by to see how you can help!   Date: Saturday April 2 Time: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Location: Georgian Mall Barrie The lights on Toronto's CN To... 03/31/2011

    The past couple years have delivered more political debates in Canada than NHL playoff  games so it would seem, and once more we are heading into not one, but two elections here in Ontario before the snow returns in November. If I had the foresight I would have bought a commercial Building in Barrie a couple years ago - opened a Tim Hortons franchise in front that would have survived well just on political campaign volunteers heading out knocking on doors, and a print shop in back making election signs for all the municipal, provincial and federal candidates in the area. Just as much fun as scrutinizing the political hopefuls themselves. is watching the self imposed political demographics that form amongst Canadians in the weeks and months leading up to election. You can't differen... 03/30/2011

We've all experienced the hectic pace of business today, and there are many reasons or "excuses" you can use to justify the fact that you're too busy, but in today's connected society I believe it's more important than ever to make continuous learning one of your top priorities. Successful professionals block time for learning and incorporate the value of learning into their culture and the way that they do business. There are many ways that you can fit reading into your schedule, forego that extra 20 minutes on Facebook and set aside that time for reading.  Tim Sanders, a former Yahoo! Leadership Coach, suggests that you truly can improve yourself, and offer your clients and business partner's better information by reading only 6 business books per year. So take a good book to bed with... 03/28/2011

Interested in Real estate Investing....start with the CMHC Housing reports The first quarter ( Q1) for 2011 Housing Report from CMHC is out. If you want to learn everything there is to know on real estate and home buying and selling, start with the free CMHC publications. It goes without saying then that those of us billing our selves as "real estate experts" and real estate investors should make these reports a regular staple on our reading lists.  My view on the CMHC Housing Now Reports is that they should be considered as the BIBLE for those of us involved in Real Estate Investing. ( or anyone interested in real estate for that matter). Here is why......it discusses the facts...not some ones opinion ( like mine !). Things like rental rates, vacancies in Barrie, Orillia, Innisfil and ... 03/26/2011

Spring is finally upon us, which means things will be heating up in no time...including your electric bill. In today's economy and in the Barrie real estate market, it's important to reduce expenses wherever possible, especially those costs related to your home. As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have seen how seemingly small steps in home maintenance can yield big results in terms of savings. Whenever working with clients, therefore, I make sure to point out the various ways they can save energy. Not only is it good for the environment, it's good for your household budget as well. Here are some great energy-saving ideas to look at this spring: Start at the top. Now is the perfect time to make sure your roof has adequate ventilation. As the weather gets increasingly war... 03/24/2011

  Monday morning was bright and sunny. A welcome change from the majority of Monday mornings of the past few months. That trivial fact being clear in my mind because Monday mornings of late I have spent shooting the next weeks episode of Eye on Real Estate, the local real estate show I host on the Rogers Cable Channel. Much of the worst of our winter weather which has brought us sleet, rain, total blizzards and record breaking cold temperatures the past few months seems to have fallen on Mondays. On my very first episode for the new show, fueled by equal parts nerves and bravado I interviewed Barrie's just elected Mayor Jeff Lehman. He and I have both had equal time now to hone our skills and on the Monday morning past I stood warming my hands on my Tim Hortons cup outside of the Allan... 03/20/2011

In February many of Canada's banks raised their mortgage rates as investors grew more confident in equity markets and the global economy appeared to be growing stronger. However it's no secret that the tragic events in Japan and the resulting potential for a nuclear disaster have shaken investors confidence all over the globe. These recent events could create serious problems for the global economy As a result some of Canada's largest banks are making mortgage change announcements. TD Bank, CIBC, Desjardins and National Bank are dropping their fixed 5 year closed rates to 5.34%, Scotia has announced a drop to 5.29% while RBC decreased their rates to 4.19% and BMO to 4.09%. Feel free to pass this information along to friends and family who may find it useful, and as always please feel fr... 03/20/2011

Moving into your brand new home is one of the happiest, most exciting moments of your life. Unfortunately, it can also be one of the most stressful. The perils and pitfalls of packing up your possessions and safely moving them to another location -- whether around the corner or across state lines -- can turn this momentous occasion into a nightmare. As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have helped many clients over the years not just find the home of their dreams, but smoothly move into it as well. There are several important steps to take to ensure a successful move, such as these suggestions from Mayflower Transit: Have the right supplies - Gather up cartons, bubble wrap, packing tape and newspapers before you pack your first box. That includes marking pens, so you can ... 03/18/2011

My question was asked during a cross country online forum hosted by the Globe and Mail and REIN President, Don R Campbell on March 17th 2011:   12:30 Katherine Scarrow:  Let's head back east for a moment with these next questions: 12:30 [Comment From mikespot]  Do the Cities in Ontario you have previously pointed out as having good real estate investment potential still make the short list today? Any changes current or pending worth noting? 12:30   Don R Campbell:   I want my money to work harder than I do, and I work hard. And by following that formula Imentioned earlier I know it will be. I 12:31   Don R Campbell:   We just started our annual review of Ontario Market. And here is what we are finding. For long term investors (not quick flip speculators) your best bets will be buying c... 03/17/2011

Five tips to consider when purchasing a condo in Barrie, Ontario. When doing your initial searching for Barrie condos using the Barrie MLS, you will be narrowing your search down to the right unit for your budget and using other personal preferences, but you should also think about the future resale strategy for the condo unit.  This is where a condo real estate professional will work with you. Functional Layouts – ask your condo professional what floor plan layouts have sold well over time in the particular condominium building you are looking at.  Certain models are more popular than others.  Sometimes this is due to the functional layout in terms of fitting your furniture into the space.  People sometimes have a hard time with non-rectangular space where they can’t fit furniture. The... 03/16/2011

My personal reason why I think you should hire a Realtor rather than try to sell your house on your own is simple and abundantly obvious, that's not what this post is about.   There are things you should know before making the decision to hire a licenced realtor or take the task of selling your home on yourself. Much of what I am sharing here is stuff the Sell it Yourself hucksters rely on you not knowing. To them ignorance is more than bliss, it's $1000 a pop for many of them without any liability for the outcome of your transaction.   The reasons why a large majority of sellers hire a Realtor are slightly more involved and once you break down the components of the marketing, negotiating and contract agreement  process  that constitute a real estate transaction in Canada it is clear to... 03/13/2011

The City of Barrie has been labeled as one of Canada's fastest growing cities.  When you are planning on moving to Barrie, consider living in the waterfront or downtown districts in one of the numerous condominiums that line our waterfront. Benefits include; easy access to HWY 400, close commuting access to the Toronto airport, 45 minute drive to Blue Mountain, 45 minutes north to cottage country and easy access for weekend activities in Toronto.   Don't forget the views of Lake Simcoe, direct access to our City Marina, 6 KM lakefront bike and walking paths, restaurants, pharmacy and shopping within walking distance of every downtown or waterfront condominium. If you are starting to consider moving to Barrie, then contact the Barrie Condo Team and book a condo tour today.  Or go online ... 03/11/2011

March Break gives kids and parents alike a chance to explore the activities and events in their local community. If you're looking for ways to entertain your kids this March break there's plenty going on in Barrie and the surrounding area. From free events to March break camps there's something for every budget and every interest! Check out my list of fun and exciting activities in Barrie this March break: March Break Camps MacLaren Art Centre The MacLaren Art Centre is offering morning and afternoon half-day March Break Camp programs; Kinder Artist Camp (3-5 yrs), Create your own Comics (9-14 yrs) or March Break Camp (6-10 yrs). These camps offer instruction in a variety of activities including painting, drawing, print making and sculpture. Visit MacLaren's website for more information... 03/10/2011

__________________________________________________________________________________ The ultimate real estate cash flow property. Walk to Georgian College or RVH hospital in Barrie. Tim Hortons at Grove and Duckworth is right around the corner....perfect! This property is a single home,semi-detach with a natural layout for a 2nd unit rental. 3 beds up and 3 beds down. 2 bathrooms, driveway parking for 3. Laundry room, backyard deck and shed included. New roof and furnace to boot. If you are looking for an investment property in Barrie or Orillia please visit our site. Or contact Mark Vosylius to learn all about selling investment real estate property in Barrie, Orillia and Innisfil. 02/28/2011

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02/27/2011

The recent news that Alberta is now the most "affordable" place to own a home only emphasizes the strength of a fundamental investment principle. And that is, The Housing Affordability Index is one of the strongest indicators for which way real estate prices will swing. The index is available from most major banks, or you can get a recent copy from our web site here. For those of you new to the real estate investing business here is how it works. Its a ratio ( %) that takes the average income and divides by the average home price. The outcome is the percentage of money used to pay for a home. So taking that information and applying to a property investment strategy, we can see that areas where real estate affordability is low ( 25% for example) will see a growth in demand. That is, peop... 02/25/2011

We know, you don't want a mortgage... you want a home! Were you a First Time Homebuyer in 2010? Do you know that you are entitled to an Income Tax Credit of up to $5,000.00?? Call me for more details! Shelley (705) 727-9992 Click HERE to get approved. TERM POSTED OUR RATES* 6 Month 4.45% 3.75% 1 Year 3.50% 2.70% 2 Year 3.75% 3.25% 3 Year 4.35% 3.30% 4 Year 5.14% 3.79% 5 Year 5.44% 3.84% 7 Year 6.34% 4.75% 10 Year 6.65% 5.15% Variable Rate 2.20% Prime Rate 3.00% * Rates may vary provincially and are subject to change without notice OAC. Rates Last Updated: Thursday, February 24, 2011 Rates courtesy of: Shelley Black Phone: (705)727-9992 Fax: (705)727-0945 Email: sblack@mortgagealliance.com Web: www.mortgagealliance.com/ShelleyBlack An independently owned and operated franchise of the Mo... 02/24/2011

Having the Bank of Montreal locate their data center in Barrie has been a plus for real estate investors. But now some more good news.....And Barrie can add another bank data center. Toronto Dominion bank has announced that they too see a future here in Barrie. The TD has announced that they will build a data center in Barrie next year....employing approx 84 people. However the building can handle up to 263, most of the 180k sqft building will house office and computer equipment. This type of news reflects well for people looking to invest in real estate investment properties. Being recognized by banking institutions as a "hub" for data is a feather in Barrie's cap. Along with the downtown revitalization, this current trend of positive news will bode well for those thinking investing in... 02/19/2011

    In January the federal government announced that the 35 year CMHC insured mortgage would no longer be an option for Canadian home buyers. The difference in dollars between a 30 year and a 35 year amortization is effectively about $1500 to $2500 per year in additional payments on a mid range priced home in the Barrie area. ($250,000 to $350,000) That difference is significant enough for most and for those planning on purchasing a home this year I suggest getting your mortgage pre approved before the March 18th deadline. Approved deals that close after March 18 can still have 35 year amortizations as long as the deal is approved by CMHC/Genworth prior to the date. New housing inventory is coming onto the market at an increasing rate over the past few weeks.  Contact your lender to ma... 02/16/2011