Author: Collingwood Info

Paul Casey (a Sales Representative) and Christine Smith (a Broker) with Royal LePage Locations North Brokerage based out of Collingwood. We both service areas such as the Blue Mountains, Collingwood, Thornbury, Meaford and Wasaga Beach as well as every wonderful community across the Southern Georgian Bay. If you are looking to buy or sell and not working with an agent -- let us be your guide to real estate across this wonderful area. As professional REALTORS® we both like making the complete process of buying and selling real estate simple as possible.

Preparing a Budget For a New Home in Collingwood

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood Real Estate

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Before looking at prospective homes, one must have a clear idea of their financial limitations. This facilitates looking at houses relevant to the potential buyer and avoids wasting the time of both the shopper and their realtor. A seasoned realtor with insider knowledge can then use these factors to inform any guidance and suggestions they give their client, directing them towards homes and investments that make sense for their situation. The following are the crucial elements to consider when preparing a home budget to begin a home search.

Determine the Price Limit

First of all, one must begin their budget creation with a calculation of how much they can spend on a home. The recommended starting point is to multiply one’s income before taxes by 2.5. There are other factors to consider, too, though. One’s personal credit score can seriously impact receiving a home loan, with higher scores usually allowing for lower interest rates and better agreement terms. In fact, mortgage rates play a huge role in determining financial limits.

Prepare for the Down Payment

Someone in the market to buy must also look at saving for the initial down payment. Again, depending heavily on credit score and the type of mortgage chosen, this amount could be anywhere from 3% to 20% of the overall price. Those who have conventional loans and have paid less than 20% must consider that they will also have to pay private mortgage insurance until they have paid off 20% of the value. With this in mind, saving for a larger down payment can be highly beneficial and save a bit of money in the long run.

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Consider Closing Costs

Besides the down payment, buying a home also incurs upfront closing costs. This includes expenditures like the appraisal fee, tax service fee, credit reporting fee, and the mortgage lender’s origination fee. This usually adds up to 2% to 5% of the home price, which can add up quickly when combined with all the other costs of purchasing a property.

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Consider All Potential Expenses

When moving to a new property in Collingwood, there are also extra expenses that can be forgotten. Moving can be costly, as well as buying appropriate furniture and appliances one lacks. A home may also call for personalized renovation factors, like painting. The mortgage is an ongoing payment, including property taxes, interest,  homeowner’s insurance, and possibly other recurring expenditures. Maintenance is another crucial factor, which is essential in protecting and enjoying one’s property investment. This includes ensuring appliances are in the best shape possible, cleaning and checking gutters, and taking care of the exterior landscape. Additional funds and savings may also be needed for initial or future processes like roof upkeep or replacement or HVAC system replacement.

 

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Five Considerations When Shopping for One’s Ideal Collingwood Home

by Collingwood InfoUncategorized

 

From the aesthetic to the practical, home shopping is a large process but can be an enjoyable one when carried out with patience and preparation. As long as one has a good idea of their preferences and needs, the following essential aspects can be incorporated and planned effectively.

Desired Features

Aside from functional needs, one’s dream home likely will have some specific features and amenities. This could be having a clawfoot bathtub separate from the shower, a specific number of bedrooms, or modern innovations like under-floor heating, to name a couple of possibilities. Being somewhat picky in this instance is not such a sin, as having one’s ideal living space is an important investment to be enjoyed. 

Desired Style

The larger style and construction of a home is another essential factor. There are those who prefer living in condos or townhouses. However, separate and individual homes allow for much more customization, especially on the outside. From elaborate historic properties to strictly modern abodes to the many that fall somewhere in between, there is a huge array of aesthetics out there. It’s up to each home shopper to decide where they would feel most comfortable and proud to reside.

Location and Size

Apart from the actual property and house, home shoppers must also take into consideration the surrounding community and background. It is absolutely crucial to investigate the offerings of each area where home candidates are located, lest one move and realize the location is less than ideal. Some are not too picky about the community into which they move, while others put a lot of importance into having local nightlife or cafes within walking distance. 

Similar to neighborhood and community considerations, the land on which a home lies is permanent. Some features, like plants and landscaping, can be altered significantly, but other factors, like backyard size, are inalterable. The size of the home itself and the space layout is also important to consider for one’s needs. 

Age and History

This one ties into style, although there are also many practical aspects of a home’s age. Older homes often have an alluring charm and a deeply rooted ambiance, though they can be more costly with upkeep. Newer homes, on the other hand, typically incur minimal costs as far as repairs, etc., are concerned and can feature newer innovations from the simple to the luxurious. These homes don’t have the same “lived-in” feel as older homes, so one’s preferences are the deciding factor.

Costs

Finally, the practical matter of costs is crucial, as one’s means decides the range of homes available. Financial planning for a house includes the cost of the house itself, of course, how much one can put forth as a down payment, and one’s options as far as a mortgage loan. Costs also include utilities, taxes, commission for any real estate professionals, and any potential association fees. Once one has submitted an offer on a home, the realtor can further assist with this planning process, requesting that the current owners disclose an estimated picture of the actual costs of living on the property.

Countering a Disappointing Offer

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood Real Estate

 

In the process of selling one’s Collingwood home, there is always the possibility of receiving offers from potential buyers that do not live up to initial expectations. When this occurs, it is essential to consult with one’s real estate agent and put a lot of thought into how to approach countering the offer. In an effort to move closer to one’s desired closing price with a level of professionalism, it is important, as the seller, to remain calm while also acting with a sense of determination. There are a few critical methods of countering an offer that can be highly effective. Choosing which one is right for a given situation can make a difference in securing a beneficial deal for both buyer and seller.

 

Countering at Original Asking Price

 

While some sellers, for fear of losing a sale, may feel compelled to settle for a drastically lower price than originally desired, there is a way to maintain reasonable expectations and still procure a smooth sale. Insisting on the original listing price, or something only slightly lower, is not a turnoff to serious buyers and can prevent a homeowner from settling too early on an unfair price. Unless a homeowner has unique circumstances and must sell as fast as possible, even if it means a severe loss of compensation for the value, waiting out for a buyer willing to pay, at least somewhere near the asking price, is usually the best plan.

 

Offer Rejection

 

A more daring strategy, homeowners selling their properties can choose to simply reject an offer without offering an alternative price at all. This puts the next move in the hands of the offerer, requesting another, better offer. As mentioned above, serious buyers are highly motivated and may be prompted to turn in a more beneficial proposition. 

 

Creation of a Bidding War

 

Another way of responding to a home offer is a psychological tactic to increase pressure to agree to a higher closing price. When multiple offers are submitted, the seller can initiate a bidding competition between the interested parties. The seller uses other received offers as their countering response to those who bid lower to get genuinely interested individuals to reach a higher price.

 

Adding in an Expiration Date

 

In addition to the chosen method of countering, it can be helpful for sellers to express a clear expiration date for their counter price or terms. This is a preventative measure to move the process along and keep the negotiations from taking up too much time. The potential buyer can either accept or decline, allowing the seller to move on either way. It is useful for sellers to keep in mind that the state of being in negotiations essentially puts a hold on receiving outside offers, reinforcing that time is of the essence.

 

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How to Offer Competitively on a Collingwood Home

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood Real Estate

Collaborating with a trusted realtor is essential for potential buyers in the Collingwood area ready to draft an offer on a home. This ensures the following key factors are considered, making the complete proposal comprehensive, informed, and as competitive as possible. 

Calculating a Reasonable Price

To get a good grasp of what constitutes a fair price for a property, interested buyers must consider factors like how much similar properties in the area have sold for and how the state of the local market sways room for negotiation. Giving serious thought to one’s budget and financial planning is also crucial, as the loan amount one is approved for is not necessarily cohesive with actual affordability. Furthermore, it is helpful to remember that homes on the market for longer typically have owners more open to accepting negotiated deals, which newer listings often mean sellers are stricter with their offer expectations.

Determining the Earnest Money Deposit

Potential buyers must pay an up-front cash amount, ensuring that, if they back out of a deal for reasons unrelated to their written contingencies, sellers get to keep the sum for the inconvenience. Shrewd individuals interested in landing the property need to consider the importance of this initial financial aspect, as generous deposits of 1-2% or more can help an offer attract more attention.

Contingency Consideration

Contingencies are essentially stipulations officially set forth by potential buyers. One type of stipulation allows interested individuals to withdraw their offer if the home is appraised at a lower value than originally thought. Another common contingency is used to ensure the potential buyers’ rights to back out if their applied mortgage loans are denied. Still, others give buyers the right to lay claim to property but only buy once their former owned home has sold. Whatever a prospective buyer finds appropriate to include in their formal offer, contingencies protect them from legal issues or losing their deposit if they back out of a deal because of listed reasons.

Composing the Offer

With the support of their realtor, interested parties must include comprehensive and accurate details in their written offer in order for it to be effective and truly competitive. Apart from complying with any pertinent local regulations, offers must include essential elements like the names of every individual on the future title, the offered price and downpayment (including the earnest deposit), and any concessioned closing costs requested of the seller. Of course, negotiations usually follow the turning in of an offer, something further facilitated by the expert advice of a seasoned realtor.

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Collingwood Cares for its Community

by Collingwood InfoUncategorized

Collingwood, ON invests in its residents and offers many recreational opportunities. This includes activitihttps://www.pexels.com/photo/faceless-multiracial-sport-team-stacking-hands-on-court-5384623/es explicitly geared toward public health and wellness. As Collingwood wants to see its residents thrive and maintain a healthy and connected lifestyle, programs like communal, environmental events, and activities to engage kids are critical features of the city all year long.

Communal Activities and Physical Education

The city of Collingwood lays claim to an outdoor train trail, which is made further engaging to both residents and visitors with the StoryWalk. Originally developed as a concept by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, this helps to engage children, especially in the US. Along the trail, metal and plexiglass protected stands feature pages from a children’s storybook, making fresh air and exercise with the family that is much more inviting. Another great outdoor activity for children is the “Imagination Playground,” which allows kids of all ages to play classic games, like Jenga and Connect Four, but in giant sizes to harness whimsy. There are also opportunities to create new games among the children themselves, encouraging creativity for free and outdoors.

Furthermore, Collingwood’s activity kits geared toward the community’s children promote fun, exercise, and development. Each activity kit, which comes to 20 in total, comes in a bag filled with activity cards and equipment meant to encourage the use of specific skills at home or outdoors. The main goal is to promote “physical literacy,” or the development of essential physical movement skills to have a fulfilling and healthy childhood experience.

Geared toward both adults and kids is Geocaching, a great way to interact with the community out of doors. Essentially, a GPS facilitates a treasure hunt, which features caches or containers along with the city trail system. Each contains small tradable items and a logbook to sign, promoting community connectedness. Also, during the winter, the Central Park Arena is used to host Sunday skates for all ages and levels of ability. Furthermore, adults looking for more gentle exercise, especially the elderly, can benefit from virtual Chair Yoga, offered every Monday and Thursday morning for free. 

Preserving Community Health and Environment

Collingwood knows that disposable water bottles are a severe issue to the modern environment worldwide. The city does its part by encouraging the refilling of reusable water bottles all around its community. Water fountains providing fresh and clean drinking water for free are located all around the city and in schools. These refill stations encourage further engagement by displaying a digital counter at each fountain, showing how many bottles have been refilled since their installation in 2017. Collingwood also participates in the BlueW program, which guides residents and visitors to places that provide clean and free municipal drinking water rather than expensive and wasteful bottled water.

The community also promotes healthier eating habits by installing health-conscious vending machines around town. These feature alternatives to greasy and sugary foods, offering cheese, crackers, apple sauce, and fresh fruit cups instead.

Collingwood as a community also knows the value of spending time outdoors. Through their ” Walk or Wheel ” slogan, the city encourages more travel by foot or using physical modes like bikes and skates through their “Walk or Wheel” slogan. The city also provides planning materials through “Walk a Block” and “Map My Route” to encourage exercise while traveling safely to and from schools. Gardening is similarly important to residents, particularly as it relates to healthy eating.

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5 best places to visit in Collingwood

by Collingwood InfoUncategorized

Located on the southern shores of the beautiful Georgian Bay, Collingwood is one of the most popular vacation destinations in entire Canada. Just a two hours long drive away from Toronto, Collingwood is the best place for an outdoor adventure.

1.     Visit the scenic caves

 

The beautiful Scenic Caves in Collingwood are one of the most popular places in the city. Located near the Niagara Escarpment and just a few minutes away from the popular Blue Mountain Resort, the Scenic Caves are perfect for all those who are looking for an adventure in the city.

The highlight of this place is the caves and the caverns, together with rock formations within the caves. Ontario’s longest footbridge is also located in the area. You can also enjoy various fun activities in the area with zip line adventures and activities for kids, such as wagon rides and playgrounds.

2.     Walk along with the Collingwood Arboretum

Besides the various hiking trails available along the Georgian Bay, Collingwood also has beautiful places near its shores, such as the Collingwood Arboretum. This beautiful place is perfect for a stroll along the shore.

With various sculptures along the way, together with trees and plant species, tourists can find it to be an incredibly relaxing place. There is also a park near the area, called Harbourview Park, which offers opportunities to view the birdlife.

3.     Hike at the Blue Mountain Resort

Located west of downtown Collingwood just at a 10-minute drive, the Blue Mountains offer various slopes for the tourists to ski, bike, and hike at. First established back in the 1940s, the area covers 800 acres of land.

The blue Mountain Resort attracts over a million visitors every year. With 36 ski and snowboard trails, two bases, and 15 chairlifts, it is the third busiest ski resort in Canada. There is no wonder why this area is also a very popular location for residential homes, as the Blue Mountain Village lies just nearby the resort.

The resort is operational all year around. When the snow melts, it becomes one of the best places for mountain biking in the country. The resort is also a base for various hiking trails, with the village organizing many festivals, concerts, outdoor movies, and others get together all year-round.

4.  Craigleith Provincial Park

 

The Craigleith Provincial Park is one of the best places to experience the beautiful geology of the area. Located just halfway between Thornbury and Collingwood, the park is perfect for an outdoor adventure. It continues to attract geologists and scientists from all across the country. More than 450 fossils have been found in this area, probably millions of years old.

The park was first established in 1967, and since then, it has become a very popular place among the tourists and residents of the area. It is also very easy to launch kayaks and canoes in the area. It is also a very popular place for fishing, together with on-site camping on weekends.

What’s So Special About Collingwood, Ontario

by Collingwood InfoUncategorized

Collingwood has its roots in historic shipbuilding and has gradually developed from these origins. The city and neighbouring communities benefit from the gorgeousness that is the shoreline of Lake Huron. Alongside these invaluable offerings, Collingwood also has intricate architectural features, ample culture and things to do, and year-round events for residents and visitors. The city capitalizes on the proximity of its offerings by showcasing the town through various engaging walking tours. Collingwood is also the source of the most industrial employment in the South Georgian Bay, offering job opportunities and more affordable housing than in other areas in and around Toronto.

The Shoreline

The Port of Collingwood and the harbour area on Lake Huron are home bases for all kinds of exciting activities and opportunities to socialize. This includes exploring beautiful forested coastlines, swimming, windsurfing, fishing, boating, charter tours, and quintessential sunset walks. There is also a community amphitheatre located by the harbour, as well as the Living Water Resort and Spa, the 400 Gallery intended to showcase local art, the Collingwood Labyrinth at Harbourview Park inspired by the centuries-old labyrinth of Chartres Cathedral in France, and the Collingwood Museum. The quaint downtown is only about half a mile away from the harbourfront docks.


The Look Up Tour

This special tour is perfect for those passionate about history and architecture. Collingwood lays claim to varied, intriguing architectural forms, including those based on styles popular pre-20th century in the United States, Britain, and France. These feats of construction are further made special through the use of local craftsmanship and materials. Among the possible styles of buildings and homes across town are Italianate, Gothic Revival, Queen Anne, Regency, and Beaux-Arts.

Food Galore

Collingwood is home to an impressive variety of restaurants, cafes, bars, specialty foods stores, and breweries. Among the culinary possibilities for residents and visitors are the Ashanti Cafe and Roastery, featuring coffee sourced from East Africa, and Tesoro Italian Restaurant. There is also a community Farmers’ Market every Saturday morning downtown. The city is passionate about supporting local enterprises and businesses, including local food sources and places to eat.

 

The Importance of a Home Inspection

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood Real Estate / Uncategorized

For anyone looking to buy a new property, investing in a home inspection is one of the most important things. We know what you’re thinking: the money aspect of things. Buying a property is overwhelmingly expensive on its own, but when you add a home inspection on top of it, you pay even more. But, when you look at things in the long run, a home inspection can end up saving you thousands of dollars. Want to find out how? Read on! 

As a buyer, you need to figure out if there are any significant issues with the property you intend on buying. And, this needs to happen before you close on it! How does a home inspection help you, though? What you can do is use it as a contingency in your purchasing agreement so that if and when the home inspection is conducted and reveals that there are significant defects involved, you can back out on your offer. That being said, all of this needs to happen within a set timeframe. A reliable realtor will go out of their way to put this clause in your contract. 

Coverage of a Home Inspection

It is important to note that you should visit the property in person to check out the defects yourself even after the inspection has taken place rather than rely on photos. Think you have a good home inspector? Here are a few things they should be doing for you:

They will figure out if a particular problem is a safety issue, is a significant defect, or a minor one. 

  • They will find which items must be replaced, repaired, or serviced. 
  • They will analyze factors that seem okay for now but may need monitoring down the line. 

What a Home Inspection Doesn’t Cover

Effective as they are, home inspections cannot figure out everything wrong with a particular property. An inspector searches for visual clues that might indicate a much bigger problem. It is also important to note the things that a home inspection does not cover. Here are some of them:

  • The space behind electrical panels
  • The insides of pipes or sewer lines
  • Inside chimneys
  • Inside walls

Are Home Inspections Worth It?

How much you’ll spend on a home inspection will vary depending on who you hire, the size of the property you are choosing, and the region it is in. While home inspections are not the only solution to steering clear of red flag homes, it pretty much gives the potential buyer an idea of what they will have to spend on when they buy the property, should that be their decision. That being said, they are worth the money that you spend on them. Without them, you would never know what structural damages are in a property. When you are in the league of a reliable realtor with an excellent track record to prove themselves, all of this will become much easier for you.

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Ask The Right Questions Before Refinancing Your Mortage

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood Real Estate / Uncategorized

Refinancing your property may sound like an excellent idea, but the deeper you look into it, you will find that it isn’t the most reliable option for every homeowner out there. You may fall into the category that is better suited for refinancing, but you can’t know that for sure until you ask yourself these key questions to figure out of you are making the soundest financial decision of your life. 

Have I Accumulated Enough Home Equity For This?

To figure out what your home equity is, you must determine the current market value of your home and what you owe on your mortgage. The difference between the two is your home equity. Most homeowners out there need at least 20 percent home equity in order to qualify for refinancing without having to go through private mortgage insurance. When you add PMI to your new loan, you essentially lose the benefits of refinancing altogether. 

Is My Credit Score Good For It?

Mortgage lenders will lend to individuals with credit scores as low as 500, but it is getting tougher and tougher out there, especially in the economic conditions we live in today. The fallout from the pandemic on the credit market was hard, and as such, lenders now have stringent requirements that borrowers must adhere to diligently obtain any kind of financing. As such, you must find out what your credit score is with the help of several paid online services.

What Are My Financial Goals Long-Term?

Figure out why you want to refinance in the first place. Each homeowner requires refinancing for different reasons. Many of these wish to obtain refinancing to reduce their monthly payments and increase their cash flow. If this is what you want long-term, you must use a mortgage calculator to figure out what your monthly payments will look like once you successfully obtain refinancing from a lender.

How Long Will I Stay In This Property?

If you are going to refinance, you should know that it generally costs around 3 to 4 percent of the overall loan amount. Before you make plans with the money you obtain from refinancing; you should ask yourself just how long you are willing to live in this property. To do this, count just how many months it will take you to come up with the closing costs.

Do I Know the Terms of My Current Mortgage?

If you are a borrower with an adjustable-rate mortgage, you should switch to a fixed-rate mortgage loan as part of the refinancing agreement. With this, you will have some peace of mind knowing that the interest you pay along with your monthly payments will not change until your mortgage lasts. Get in touch with a realtor immediately so that they can advise you of your options when you are either looking to refinance or purchase a new property altogether.

 

Staging vs. Not Staging: Before Your Condo is Listed

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood Real Estate / Collingwood things to do / Uncategorized

When you are gearing up to sell your home, you go through a range of emotions such as stress and excitement. It is a huge decision to make, after all! You have to stage your home before you list your condo up for sale, and it should be one of your priorities. You won’t only get a fast sale by stating your condo properly but will receive a good value for it on the market. Home staging statistics prove that potential buyers are willing to pay top dollar for it when your condo is properly staged.

There are several staging techniques that you can incorporate in your staging strategy in order to enhance the appearance of your condo and transform it into a more welcoming environment for any potential buyer out there. In order to stage your condo, you can add proper lighting, have plants in every room, incorporate beautiful artwork on the walls, invest in some mirrors, and add just enough accessories to the condo to make it look high-end and polished. The gist of it all is that potential buyers need to envision themselves living in the condo you were trying to sell.

Staging Allows Buyers to Envision Your Condo as Their Condo

When you’re trying to sell your condo, it should be your goal to make sure that anybody who enters there can see themselves living in the property. To do this properly, you must de-personalize your property. Remove any picture frames containing family photos, your children’s toys, or your pets’ toys from the condo. For individuals or families trying to sell properties rather than condos, it also helps to increase your curb appeal by removing anything outside in the garden that might make the property a little personal.

You might think that it adds an emotional value to your property, and while for some, it may work, for most buyers out there, it will not be effective.