Rock And Roll Revival If you Love the Music of the fifties The Barge at Gull Lake Rotary Park, Gravenhurst is the Place to be this evening. Freddy Vette and the Flames are there with their Jukebox Hits Live. Be prepared to hear some of the greatest as they perform songs by Brenda Lee, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Elvis, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis,The Shrillest, and others. Take hyw 11 north to interchange 169 Bethune Drive, Gravenhurst. Follow Bethune Drve to the Park Admission is Free with a collection being taken up during the performance. Rain Venue is the Gravenhurst Opera House at 295 Muskoka Rd. South in Gravenhurst. 07/25/2010

Muskoka, Ontario - If you missed the Uxbridge Rib Fest all is not lost it's a short drive to Bracebridge for their 3rd Annual Muskoka In-Water Boat & Cottage Show AND Rib Fest taking place this weekend. With free admission these two events have joined together at the Muskoka Wharf in Bracebridge to bring some  entertainment and excitement to the summer season. There will be in land and water displays of local marina's vendors, live entertainment, great variet of ribs, corn on the cob and the perverbial beer garden to wash it all down. One location, Two great events, Three fun-filled days! The in water boat showruns  Friday 12pm - 8pm, Saturday 10am-8pm, and Sunday 10am-8pm The RibFest runs Friday 12pm -11pm, Saturday 11am - 11pm, and Sunday 11am - 7pm While you are up in Muskoka you may... 07/22/2010

Let Spring Cleaning Come Naturally Did you know that your home can sparkle this spring without using any chemicals?  Choose from a wide array of eco friendly cleaners on the market or simply make your own with household ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.  Here are a few tips to help you become a natural when it comes to spring cleaning:  The Bathroom Want to bring out a natural shine to your sinks, toilets, and tubs?  Create a gentle scouring paste by mixing 4 tbsp baking soda with 1 tbsp water. Generously sprinkle either table salt or baking soda into the sink or tub and use the cut end of half a fresh lemon as a scrubby-pad. Rinse with hot water and your ceramics will be gleaming! Undiluted lemon juice can also be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water depos... 05/10/2010

Here is a chart showing Bracebridge Muskoka Real Estate sales for the month of February compared to 2008, 2009 and 2010. You will notice that the Bracebridge Muskoka Real Estate Residential sales have remained consistant throughout the past 3 years, as with vacant lot sales for this month. Where condo sales have increased, recreational sales have dropped. Overall, a steady real estate market shows in Bracebridge, with no drastic variances for the month of February over the past 3 years.   03/01/2010

The chart below shows the number of Real Estate sales in Bracebridge, Muskoka for January 2010, compared to January 2009. You can see there has been an increase in Bracebridge sales, Muskoka sales.   The chart below shows the average selling price of Real Estate in Bracebridge, Muskoka for January 2010 compared to January 2009. You see that there is a considerable increase for January 2010. This may be caused by the fact that the sale of land lots made the majority of sales in January 2009. Overall, Bracebridge, Muskoka Real Estate has shown a positive bounce-back from what it was same time last year. 02/02/2010

When the GST clause will bite you! There was question about whether or not the sale of a shoreline residential property, with a small cottage/Bunkie, was going to be subject to GST once sold. After the Seller made his own enquiries, he was told two different answers by 3 different people representing Inland Revenue. Unless we are 100% certain of the GST status on a transaction, we must ask our Clients to gain their own independent advice. As it appears that there is very much a grey area, depending on certain criteria, then independent research must be done in order to obtain the correct answers.   01/14/2010

The Country vs. City Debate    My top 10 reasons why country living is better than City life. Some of the points I make here are a complete generalization, and all are from personal experiences, and not intended to offend. •1)      If you have pets then they have more room to roam, and you can take your dog for a walk ‘off leash' if your property is large enough. •2)      Country folk are more courteous than City folk. They will chat to you if you make the effort, and will not let a door slam in your face as they enter through it. •3)      The local Butcher/Baker/Candlestick maker will ask you your name and get to know what your preferences are. •4)      There is a substantial decrease in the amount of dust in the home when living in the country. •5)      Your neighbours are generally f... 01/08/2010

Spotting a For Sale By Owner sign instantly evokes a challenging thought-stream! Having sold a home privately, before making Real Estate a career, I understand the for sale by owner mentality. It is a frustrating process to sell a home privately, and yet so many Joe Public attempt it based on a misconception that there is a high success rate in doing so. This misconception is formed by the Private Seller companies themselves. Have you actually researched the status of homes advertised as 'sold' on the FSBO websites? I have. You see, regardless of 'how' the home is sold, these companies will advertise as 'sold', thus giving the impression to other potential FSBO customers that this system is a no-brainer. Fact of the matter is, more than 80% of the homes you see listed as 'sold', were in... 01/04/2010

Shaun O'FlynnDominion Lending Centres BankfighterPhone:                               Email: soflynn@dominionlending.cahttp://www.shaunoflynn.ca This edition of the Weekly Rate Minder has the latest, best rates for Canadian mortgages. At Dominion Lending Centres, we work on your behalf to find the mortgage that suits your needs. Best of all - our service is "free".* It's the selected lender that pays us and YOU get the best rate. *(O.A.C., E.&O.E.)   · Our Best Rates • Explore Mortgage Scenarios with Helpful Calculators on http://www.shaunoflynn.ca   Terms Bank Rates Our Rates 6 Month 4.60% 3.85% 1 YEAR 3.65% 2.35% 2 YEARS 3.95% 2.95% 3 YEARS 4.50% 3.25% 4 YEARS 5.19% 3.85% 5 YEARS 5.59% 3.79% 7 YEARS 6.60% 5.25% 10 YEARS 6.70% 5.35% Rates are subject to change without notice. *OAC E&O... 12/29/2009

 I am a seasoned ‘spa goer'. I have indulged in spa treatments at various exotic locations around the world. Recently, my partner and I indulged in a couples Aroma massage treatment at The Touchtone Resorts Touch Spa, located in Bracebridge Muskoka. Being so overly impressed with every aspect of our experience, I had to share the good news with you. Touch Spa will provide you with what will probably be one of the best spa experiences you will have. The decor is modern yet fitting to the true Muskoka environment, and the staff excels at achieving their goal of making you feel comfortable and welcome.  The music is apt, and loud enough to let your mind absorb the atmosphere of total relaxation. As far as the treatment itself is concerned, both my partner and I agreed that it was probably ... 12/28/2009

 Whether you are thinking of selling your home or not, it is always a good idea to keep it smelling pleasant. Here is my list of top 10 ways to achieve this: •1.       Put a few drops on the air filter in your furnace. The air will now have your scent of choice, and is an instant solution for the whole home.   •2.       Put on a pot of filtered coffee. This is great when there are those who may be allergic to perfumes. As there are many great flavours available, like hazelnut or vanilla, then you can enjoy a great tasting coffee as well as a great smelling home.   •3.       Invest in an air exchanger. Have your air circulated and exchanged with filtered air throughout the whole home. Great for those with allergies.   •4.       Use scented oil plug-ins, candles, or an oil burner. There a... 12/28/2009

The Real Estate Market slows down considerably during our winter months, as very few of us want to look at homes when the property is snow covered. We seem to want to see what the property looks like in the Spring and Summer months, and avoid the cold harshness that Winter home buying may offer. It is true that if a home is snow covered then you may not be able to visualize certain aspects like the condition of roof shingles, degree of landscaping, the grade of the lot etc. There is a positive side to buying a home in winter though. You will be able to identify just how well the home is insulated. This applies to both new and older homes. Here are two examples of being able to discover just energy efficient a home is. Note that the first photograph shows a completely snow covered roof. ... 12/28/2009

Looking for that change in pace from the hectic city lifestyle to a more relaxed environment? Want to actually enjoy the drive home, and escape the hustle and bustle of city traffic? So many of us have made that change, and unless you have had previous country-living experience, there are issues that you should address in preparation. 1. If your new home location is serviced by well and septic then you need to educate yourself on how theese systems work, and how to maintain them. The great news is that your taxes are lower because you are not hooked up to town/city water and sewer. 2. If you have a long driveway, and live in an area where there is allot of snow in winter then you need to make arrangements for a contractor to plow or snow-blow for you. Talk to your new neighbors and find... 12/20/2009

This past weekend showed more than 108cm of snow falling from our skies! That's 3 ft 6 inches of the fluffy white stuff we love to ski and sled on! The 'state of emergancy' is now over in Bracebridge and Huntsville, although some are still without power, or able to get out of their driveways! The roads are now open, and the city is doing what they can to get the state of the roads back to normal driving conditions. We look forward to a great holiday season, and tourists, over this great winter we are already having! 12/16/2009

  In our industry we have the opportunity to meet so many other industry related professionals, and sometimes, you realize that there are those who simply stand out from the rest of them. Those who consistently deliver great results, and exceed your expectations. In a world where competition runs high, it is only right to help promote those who deserve high recognition for their service.  Here are my shameless plugs. I would recommend the following individuals and their businesses to my closest friends, family, and Clients alike. After-all, there are so many times when we all need to locate the services of someone, and word of mouth referral is something that most of us come to depend on. You can depend on the following referrals: Barrie Move N Save. The owner the company, Robert Winder... 12/13/2009

Looking for a home can be an exciting and exhilarating experience. But before you start your search, you first need to figure out where you want to live and what your housing needs will be both now and in the future. To help you find the home that's right for you, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) suggests you ask yourself the following questions: How large a home do you need? Do you need several bedrooms, more than one bathroom, a home office or a two-car garage? Are you planning on making any lifestyle changes in the near future, for example, are you planning on having children? Do you have teenagers who will be moving away soon? Or are you close to retirement, and looking to downsize to a smaller home? By clearly setting out your priorities in advance, you can help save ... 11/04/2009