Sharon Posius, Sales Representative
300 Lakeshore Drive, Unit 100 L4N 0B4 Barrie, ON, Canada

Home for sale in: Innisfil, ON 3 beds 3.0 baths Available at: $1,688,888 For more info click here: https://www.c21.ca//1976-Forest-Valley-Drive-L9S/150467753

Home for sale in: Innisfil, ON 3 beds 3.0 baths Available at: $1,688,888 For more info click here: https://www.c21.ca//1976-Forest-Valley-Drive-L9S/150467753

Home for sale in: Barrie, ON 4 beds 2.1 baths Available at: $949,900 For more info click here: https://www.c21.ca//Barr/20-Felt-Crescent-L4N8V2/148545391

Home for sale in: Barrie, ON 3 beds 2.1 baths Available at: $599,000 For more info click here: https://www.c21.ca/lis//Barrie/22-Fox-Run-L4N5L5/133332374

A very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! This is our lobby at the Lakeshore C21 office where Isabelle did an amazing job decorating the tree! Lockdown or no lockdown we are all resilient and will persevere. It's one of our great superpowers as humans. My heart is with everyone who can't be with the friends and family that they love this season. Thank goodness we can still be in touch with that great invention they call technology. We must just count all the blessings that we do have in our lives and soldier on with that. And be hopeful that in the very near future will will have a return to some degree of normalcy, whatever that new normal will look like.

A look at how the last six months, March 2020 to August 2020, have done in the Simcoe County and Barrie area.

Good news to start 2020!

National sales hold steady in October following a string of gains since March. Currently 19% above the six-year low reached in February 2019 but still 7% below the highs reached in 2016 and 2017. https://creastats.crea.ca/en-CA/ #CREAstats

THE TRICKLE "UP" EFFECT By Sharon Posius In a few weeks, we are expecting something of a shakeup in the real estate market. On September 2nd, 2019, an Incentive is coming into play, courtesy of the federal government.... It is introducing a plan to help first-time home buyers get into the market and own their own home. It is a big part of the Canadian dream, homeownership. Surveys say that homeowners are generally happier overall, feel like a valued part of society, and are a major contributor to the economy. And it has been more difficult to break into the home ownership market since last year, when the federal government introduced its mortgage stress test. Potential buyers are winding up renting instead of buying, and that is having another effect altogether by pushing up rent rates. Landlords are being overwhelmed by demand, and perhaps feel they are entitled to raise their rents higher. It will be interesting to see what the trickle up effect will be with the new Incentive plan. Perhaps the federal government is feeling a little guilty about the stress test, adding another two percent onto a mortgage for qualification purposes. It has certainly hit the financial institutions, some even lowering their benchmark rate in recent weeks in the hopes of gaining some lending business. The Bank of Canada has kept its interest rate steady for the last couple of announcements, an indicator that buyers need a break. If indeed first-time home buyers take advantage of the Incentive to purchase their first home, that will enable those sellers to move upwards, enabling those next sellers to move up, or down, or sideways. It will stir up a little bit of activity in a market which, although steady, has essentially stagnated since the stress test, which stopped some buyers in their tracks. It is not so bad, the Incentive. It is essentially an interest free loan of 5% on a resale home, and up to 10% for a new home, repayable upon the sale of the property or 25 years, whichever comes first. On paper, it looks like a great opportunity. If the property is worth less when it is sold, the government will take the hit. No questions asked. What bank would do that? I think none. Some might feel that perhaps the government might not be the best partner when it comes to purchasing a home, but given the options, it could be a lifesaver. A great way to give first time buyers a chance at actually owning their own home, instead of paying the mortgage for a landlord. And landlords may be faced with making their rents more reasonable, if supply exceeds demand. It's a trickle up effect that could be a win-win, for buyers, sellers, and everyone in between. See more

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER INCENTIVE by Sharon Posius In the wake of ever increasing challenges for first-time home buyers to get into the real estate market, the feds have come up with a plan that they are hoping will help first-time buyers get their feet wet. The mortgage stress test introduced last year is making it harder for all buyers across the board who must avail themselves of federally regulated banks to help with the financing of their purchas...Continue reading

PAST THE HALFWAY MARK As we take a look back at the month of June 2019, the real estate market seems to show that buyers are looking before they take the big leap into home ownership. Homes are sitting on the market slightly longer, as buyers do their research and take a good look at all the inventory out there. Days on the market increased ever so slightly year-over-year by nearly 3% to 35 days.... Buyers are an educated bunch, and know when a seller is asking just a bit too much for their property compared to what else is available on the market. And it seems buyers are not so eager to pay over asking anymore. Perhaps because there is more inventory out there to choose from. Perhaps because they are just saying No to the stress of multiple offers and bidding wars, preferring to wait instead for another property, another opportunity. Paying more than market value is a big concern for buyers, who not only may feel they were had or taken advantage of, but may not be able to come up with the financing for an overvalued property. Sure, some did sell for at or slightly over the asking price in June, but the majority of single family homes sold for about 97.4% of the asking price. However, that said, sales of single family homes in Barrie and area took a big leap year over year-to-date by more than 16%. Average sale prices were on the rise slightly too, by 1.8% to $564,123. It is interesting to note that the price range with the strongest leap in sales was the $450,000+ range, with an increase of 18%. And that is encouraging, given that buyers have more challenges than ever when qualifying for financing. Another interesting fact in June found more buyers were choosing two bedroom homes, with an increase of 15% doing so. And the majority of buyers, more than 11%, chose single family homes, compared to townhomes or condos. The communities which saw the biggest leap in price month over month were Collingwood, Bradford West-Gwillimbury, and Wasaga Beach. Areas which saw some of the biggest decreases in price in June compared to May were Springwater, Innisfil, and Oro-Medonte. With affordability still very much on the minds of buyers, bankers and the government, a sobering study by Generation Squeeze Lab has found that average home prices in Ontario would need to decrease by $307,000 in order to reach a level of affordability by the year 2030, or full-time earnings would need to double current levels. Also, it takes approximately 15 years for working adults to save for a 20% downpayment on an average priced home. Thankfully there are options out there to help buyers who have less than the ideal 20%, including mortgage insurance, and the new First-Time Home Buyer Incentive announced by the federal government, and set to begin this fall. More on that coming soon! So, as we settle in for what we are hoping to be a sunny and warm summer, it will be interesting to watch and see how the month of July fares for buyers and sellers. See more

PREPARING YOUR HOUSE FOR A HOME INSPECTION Some helpful tips on what to expect when the inspector arrives. Homeowners may feel anxious when their home is inspected. Rest assured, every single home has issues that need to be addressed. Home inspectors need access to all areas of the home in order to inspect components that may be hidden behind storage. Here are some tips to ensure a home inspector is able to complete a full report.... 1. Make sure all utilities are hooked up and working properly. Homes without electricity or water or gas supply can be inspected but it results in a less effective home inspection. 2. Remove items from outside the home that may block access to vent openings, utility meters, air conditioning units, electrical outlets, hose bibs, etc. Exterior walls and foundation should be visible around the entire home, so please trim back bushes or trees as necessary. 3. Try to keep storage away from walls and doors in the garage. 4. Keep electrical outlets accessible for testing. Replace burned out light bulbs. Doors and windows will also be tested and operated. 5. Clean and tidy up underneath the sinks in kitchens and bathrooms. The home inspector will test water supply and waste plumbing for all fixtures in the house. 6. Ensure electrical panels, furnace, water heater, gas and water shut off valves are accessible and free from storage. The inspector will be looking at all the mechanical aspects of the house. 7. If the attic hatch is located in a closet, please make sure it is accessible. Remove items that may be in the way of the home inspector, as he will be taking a look up into the attic. 8. Please make arrangements to be away from the house during the inspection, which usually lasts about three hours. And please ensure pets are removed or safely secured during the home inspection.

Have you heard the news? The Globe and Mail is now part of the REALTOR.ca DDF network. This means your listings could appear alongside real estate and personal finance articles. Get all the details on #CREACafé: https://www.creacafe.ca/extra-extra-realtor-ca-partners-wi/

My ever-so-creative colleague Dianne Spencer is at it again! Creating more unique, one-of-a-kind cards for any occasion. They are 3D, and no two are alike. S...he is working on these for my real estate colleagues, but can create anything at all. She is currently working on some fun Valentine's Day designs! Her Creative Cards can be reached through [email protected]. See more

As we wrap up the November 2018 market, the tide is definitely ebbing! Month over month, the number of properties sold in the City of Barrie dipped by 13.5% in November, compared to October. And the average price declined slightly also, by 5.6% to $453,421. In surrounding Simcoe County, the numbers also decreased. The average price dipped by 1.2% to $502,155. We normally see a slowdown in the real estate market as we wind up the year. And buyers had a tough time this ye...ar as well! A mortgage stress test and a couple of interest rate hikes didn't help first time buyers, or anyone who wanted to upsize. But we must remember that 2018 is/was a recovery year from 2017, when prices skyrocketed by double digit percentages, creating a very abnormal market situation. We are now in a more balanced market for both buyers and sellers. And as we all focus on the upcoming holidays, the New Year is sure to bring a better Spring market with it! Happy Holidays everyone! See more

The stats for October just came out for Barrie and Simcoe County, and it looks like there was a slight increase in both sales and prices over October last year! Barrie saw the average price for detached homes increase by 2.8% to $533,084. Simcoe County saw an increase of 2.5% over last year, with the average price reaching $494,555.

A fascinating read - all about the difference in land transfer tax across the country!

A great article about mortgage rates as we head into the Spring market - if Spring ever gets here! It states that Credit Unions are exempt from the Federal Stress Test as they are provincially regulated. Well worth checking out for anyone needing a mortgage!

Just wrapped up our Century 21 Best Practises Boot Camp! (I know I should get a "selfie light", lol!) Another reason why I love this brokerage! They offer so much and are on the leading/cutting edge of technology! Here's to a GREAT 2018!

A fun real estate article - and some good reasons why it pays to be nice to your neighbours!

I will be hosting an Open House this Sunday November 5th, 1 - 3, at this great property at 21 Crompton Drive in Barrie! Please check out the listing and come on by to see this fabulous house!

Came across these little souvenirs the other day! Hard to believe we used to use these books to share listings information with our clients! Was that before realtor.ca? We have come a long way, baby, as they say!

Some good news for first time home buyers!

Drove by this new home site in Vaughan yesterday - and had to pull over to take a pic - because I had sticker shock! Makes our new home prices look like peanuts!

https://youtu.be/jFTGxkkfpX0