! December 2010! TheHomeHunt.com! Vol. XIV, Issue XII Bruce Johnson Photo

HomeHuntthewith Bruce Johnson

Ha!y Holida

ys!

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

December 2010 仝BRUCE JOHNSONSALES REPRESENTATIVERE/MAX of Wasaga Beach Inc., BrokeragePHONE(705) 429-4500

TOLL FREE(888) 741-8888

HomeHuntthewith Bruce Johnson

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

In the blink of an eye, another year tumbles behind us like a spent fuel tank from the space shuttle. Some good friends left us, some brought new life into the world and many new faces moved into our region to begin new chapters in their lives. This is the time of year for remembering what is important, counting our blessings and letting go of everything else. So this is a nod to 2010 which in the big picture was hampered by hand-wringing over the uncertain economic outlook, the HST wait-and-see and troubled times in the U.S. and overseas, not to mention the environmental concerns that face our planet. But when we check our full cupboards and direct our attention to the roof above our heads we remember that in Canada we are among the luckiest human beings on this still jaw-droppingly awesome planet. In our own little world here in Wasaga Beach we feel so very blessed. Yes, by this wonderful town and all it offers, by loyal clients who have trusted us to handle one of the most important investments of their lives and, of course, by the fantastic people we are lucky enough to call friends and family. But at the top of the gratitude list, right up there with being thankful for each other, Mary and I thank our lucky stars to have two of the most wonderful daughters any parent could ever ask for. Though we were adamant at their birth that they were joining our lives and our dreams would continue to evolve as individuals

Season’s Greetings!

* All Photos in this publication are copyrighted by Bruce Johnson 2010

and as a couple, as they get on into their elementary school years I’m starting to realize that every decision I make goes through a sort of kid-filter: will this make their lives better? It’s a new sort of living in the

moment, with their future our #1 priority. Certainly we weighed the costs and benefits of investing in a small casita in Costa Rica this year with Holly and Jossy in mind. We knew they wouldn’t suffer from missing a bit of school when they would instead be

experiencing another culture and learning the lessons that come with being guests in a foreign land. Travelling is our passion and so naturally we want to share that passion with our children. We hope they’ll gain a second language which will then enable them to learn other languages as they go through life: the language of music perhaps, or math, or of compassion. So with this holiday newsletter is our commitment to honouring our relationship with you right now, with hope that in the future it will only grow stronger. We wish you a very merry and bright holiday season and as 2010 comes to a close, we wish you abundance in all good things. Hope to hear from you soon. ~ Bruce & Mary

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

MLS # 20105267 $99,900

“It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Here's a superb location to build your Wasaga Beach dream home. This 1/2 acre lot is a short walk to the pristine sand beach yet close to modern conveniences. Click here for full details:

Lot 23 Deerbrook Drive

MLS # 20105504 $309,900

Build your dream home on this massive one acre golf course community lot backing onto forested land overlooking McIntyre Creek in Wasaga Sands Estates. Click here for full details:

16 Walnut Drive

MLS # 20100743 $138,500

You’ve found your riverfront dream home here with historic Nancy Island in view just downriver. Newly renovated with 3 bdrms on a large 50’ x 205’ landscaped lot. Prime boating from here to Georgian Bay! Click here for full details:

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Wasaga Sands!Riverfront!

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

FEATURED PROPERTIES! PAGE3

Peace!

BRUCE’S MARKET INFORMATION! PAGE4

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

0 18 35 53 70

22

47

374

46

29

44

356

63

Clearview

Collingwood

Blue MtnTiny BeachesWasaga Beach

2010 2009

0 10 20 30 40

13

19

13

1

20

12

11

16

5

33

Clearview

Collingwood

Blue Mtn

Tiny BeachesWasaga Beach

2010 2009

Bruce’s Market Notes:

The average sale price for residential listings in the Georgian Triangle for last month was $320,704, down from $326,805 for the same period 12 months ago. There were 83 residential sales compared to 94 sales 12 months ago. The majority of home sales continues to be below $300,000.

All data provided by the Georgian Triangle Real Estate Board. Graphs copyrighted by Bruce Johnson 2010.

This Month Same Month Last Year

Difference in # of units

% of Change Remarks

Total Sales 142 164 -22 -13.4% far fewer sales

New Listings 420 396 24 6.1% more new listings

Active Listings 2124 1732 392 22.6% many more listings than 12 months ago

Residential Sales for November

Residential Listings for November

Housing Market Indicators

BRUCE’S MARKET INFORMATION PAGE4

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

Under 100,000

100,000 - 149,999

150,000 - 199,999

200,000 - 249,999

250,000 - 299,999

300,000 - 349,999

350,000 - 399,999

400,000 - 499,999

500,000 - 599,999

600,000 - 699,999

700,000 - 799,999

800,000 - 899,999

900,000 - 999,999

1,000,000 - 1,499,999

1,500,000 +

0 8 16 24 32 40

0

2

1

2

3

4

3

14

7

15

26

32

33

14

9

0

0

2

1

3

0

7

13

8

15

15

26

24

14

14

November Sales By Price: 2010 & 2009

2010 Month 2009 Month

TheHomeHunt.com

This chart breaks down total property sales for the previous month into price ranges so that the most popular (highest selling) price ranges can quickly be determined. Properties in the $150,000 to $250,000 price ranges continue to produce the highest sales volume. The mix between sales of higher-priced versus lower-priced properties directly affects the average monthly selling price.

Total Sales:November 2010:

142November 2009:

164

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

BRUCE’S MARKET INFORMATION PAGE5

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

$0

$83,333

$166,667

$250,000

$333,333

$416,667

$500,000

$323,385

$295,574

$412,577

$363,000

$270,953

$322,833

$248,773

$463,313

$237,498

$293,477

ClearviewCollingwood

Blue MtnTiny Beaches

Wasaga Beach

34%

22%12%

6%

20%

6%

Single-Family Home Single Family Home - OtherResidential - Other FarmVacant Land Other (I.C. & I.)

46%24%

12%

4%11%2%

2010 month 2009 month

TheHomeHunt.com

Average Sale Price: November 2010/2009

Total Sales - monthlyActive Listings

BRUCE’S MARKET INFORMATION PAGE6

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

FINANCIAL NEWS! PAGE7

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

This Month’s Featured Guest:Michael McCarthy

Mortgage Advisor with Scotiabank

Q: I’m ready to buy my first home. What do I do now? First of all, determine how much of a down payment you can save, and evaluate how much you can afford in ongoing costs, maintenance, etc. Next, get a pre-approval on a mortgage from your bank so you know the maximum you can borrow, and the price range that you can afford. This will help Bruce determine which homes are best suited for you in your price range.

How Do I Save For My Downpayment?

Create a budget you can live on to help you decide how much you can save each month. You should factor in all of your monthly expenses, as well as some extra funds for those unexpected expenses. Make your plan realistic so you'll be able to stick with it. Remember that even $100 per month can quickly grow into a sizable amount over time. If you have RRSPs, explore the Home

Buyers' Plan to see if it could apply to you. And remember, the more of a downpayment you have, the less you'll have to borrow. And if you have at least a 20% downpayment, you won't have to pay mortgage default insurance premiums (note that some exceptions apply).

I’m Ready To Start House Hunting

Write up a wish list of things you'd like your home to have, and prioritize what's most important to you. Once you've made your wish list and determined where you'd like to live, you can begin your search for the right home. •What are the property taxes?•What are the condo fees?•What are the heating costs?•Is there easy access to public transit?•Are there schools nearby?•Are there stores nearby?•Is the location right for your whole family? If you're comfortable with the

answers, it’s probably time for the Offer to Purchase. Once Bruce has negotiated the price and conditions for your new home, the Offer is sent to your lawyer and the bank for approval. You’re closer to home ownership than you might think.

For more on this topic, click hereClick here to contact Michael McCarthy

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

Practice Safe StagingMARY’S STAGING REPORT! PAGE8

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

The month of December may be the most hectic and stressful time to have your house on the market, yet the added sparkle of the season can give a well-staged property a distinct advantage in a highly competitive market. For sellers who plan to have showings during the holiday season it is important to minimize distractions and maximize safety.

Staging the Exterior

Evoke the magic of the holiday season without distracting from the #1 attraction: your house! No blow-up cartoon characters, no sentinel of candy canes lining the driveway, just fresh, classic and

welcoming touches such as a fresh cedar wreath, white lights and a few tasteful and carefully chosen decorations.

Keep walkways, porches and driveways clear of snow, ice, leaves and salt—be sure the entry way is safe, clean and bright. Be sure to de-ice but sweep excess salt and keep the shovel hidden.

Hang a seasonal wreath—fresh greens will evoke a pleasant fragrance as people enter the property. When it comes to front door wreaths, definitely bigger is better than smaller.

Exterior lights look great at night but hanging white cord is very unattractive during the day; use white mini lights in selected areas and with a purpose, such as highlighting a special sitting area, porch or gazebo. Position floodlights to showcase features of the outside, for example the front door, a white birch (angled up into the tree), the house number

and the For Sale sign. Be sure all extension cords are safely tucked away to avoid tripping hazards and the eyesore factor.

If there is a deck or patio, set the scene for lifestyle even during the winter months. The goal is to charm the buyer with an active bird feeder, a white-light lit tree, a woodland wreath on an Adirondack chair. A dapper snowman in the rear corner of the yard can draw the eye down the property without losing interest due to a bleak expanse of white.

Staging the Interior

The holiday season is particularly challenging because homeowners who celebrate Christmas tend to go overboard with trees, décor and presents. That’s fine for living, but for selling, buyers need to be able to focus on the life they will live in that house.

If Christmas is your favorite time of year and you are a devout celebrant it may be more difficult to understand the logic of no religious statues or religious music but truly, showings are not the time to make a religious statement. Of course you love your 6-foot nativity scene and your oversized tree full of multicoloured blinking lights and hand-made holiday memorabilia but these items won’t be there when the buyers move in and may distract them from built-ins, windows, architectural features and the general spaciousness that are the real selling features of a room.

A smaller tree and discreetly selected decor in small amounts throughout the house add sparkle and festive joy without being denominational.

THINK “EASY” NOT “CHEESY” WHEN

FREE HOME

STAGING

List Your Home With Bruce And Receive...

MARY’S STAGING REPORT PAGE9

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

Cli

ck!

Here  are  seven  simple  ways  to  keep  poten2al  buyers  comfortable  and  interested:

1) Provide a rustic basket or absorbent mat for outer shoes and boots.

2) Keep the temperature at a comfortable 21°C so that the first impression is not distinctly Canadian. You are not selling winter coats; you are selling the concept of “a warm welcome home.”

3) It is the season for hospitality; leave a plate of cookies or holiday nibbles (no nuts) and add to the sensory appeal with a slow cooker filled with apple cider ringed by small ceramic mugs. You don’t want to be too giving though, so be sensible about security—either a few wrapped empty boxes under the tree or just a tree skirt.

4) Opening blinds and drapes is important if the views are appealing. Let the right amount of light in to showcase the space and make sure inside windows are clean.

5) Winter is definitely the season to highlight a fireplace. If it is electric or gas and screens are available so a stray child would not have an accident then for sure have them going. For wood burning stoves, most agents would prefer not to have the liability/responsibility of keeping the fire going and watching the hazard.

6) Do NOT light candles for showings—even the most "protected" hurricane lamp is subject to accidental spillage. I always recommend the new battery-operated candles. They have a “flicker” setting and look beautiful on a mantel or nestled in cedar boughs for a dining room table centerpiece.

7) When choosing music for showings, keep the spirit high and the volume low. Bright acoustic piano or light jazz work well, and can be winter or holiday-themed. George Winston’s Winter or any of the December Solitudes are winners. The soundtrack to The Grinch… not so much!

~ Mary

For The HolidaysDECKING THE HALLS

WASAGA BEACH HAPPENINGS PAGE10

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

1. Click here for Things

To Do in Wasaga Beach!

Map of Wasaga Beach

14-day Local

Weather TrendCurrent Weather

2. Click here for Things

To Do in Clearview!

3. Click here for Things To Do in Balm Beach!

Why

You Need

To Move to

Wasaga!

COLLINGWOOD / BLUE MOUNTAIN HAPPENINGS PAGE11

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

Map of Collingwood

Blue Mtn Ski Report

1. Click here for Things

To Do in Collingood!

2. Click here for Things To Do in Blue Mountain!

3. Click here for Things

To Do in Thornbury!

Look Out, Santa!

Why You Need To Move to

Collingwood!

Santa Claus

Parade Photos!

The Home Hunt Contest!

Test Your Skill! WhoLives

Here?

The First Person to email Bruce wins everlasting glory... and a sweet prize!Good Luck, HomeHunters!

JOKES & CONTEST PAGE12

THE TRAVELLERA tourist is traveling with a guide through one of the thickest jungles in South America when he comes across an ancient Incan temple.

The tourist is entranced by the temple and asks the guide for details. The guide states that archaeologists are carrying out excavations and still finding great treasures. The tourist then queries how old the temple is.

"This temple is 1,503 years old," replies the guide.

Impressed at this accurate dating, he inquires as to how he gave this precise figure.

"Easy," replies the guide, "the archaeologists said the temple was 1500 years old, and that was three years ago."

BUDDY THE HORSEAn out-of-towner drove his car into a snowy ditch en route to Wasaga Beach. Luckily, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse named Buddy.

He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn't move.

Then the farmer hollered, "Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy didn't respond. Once more the farmer commanded, "Pull, Coco, pull!" Nothing.

Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" And the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch. The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times.

"Well... Buddy is blind and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn't even try!"

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

Congratulations to last month’s speedy

winner:Paulette Light

Paulette won lattes with the Johnsons and free passes to

the movies!Big Hint!

Bruce Johnson Photo ©

Bruce’s Backyard

THE BIG PICTURE! PAGE13

The Home Hunt: 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226 | www.TheHomeHunt.com

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” ~ Helen Keller

ASSORTED INFO! PAGE14

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HomeHuntthewith Bruce Johnson

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Note: This Publication is copyrighted by Bruce Johnson and The Home Hunt ©2010. Not intended to solicit currently listed properties.

Mary Johnson

Bruce Johnson

Certified Staging Professional Sales Representative

RE/MAX OF WASAGA BEACH

INC. BROKERAGE

仝Click for contact info

705-429-4500 x226

RE/MAX of Wasaga Beach Inc., Brokerage 1263 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A5 | 705-429-4500 x226

Bruce JohnsonMary Johnson

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