Author Archives: CreativeOne

The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® and the Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS® Have Officially Merged.

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October 1, 2021 – The Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS® (SGBAR) and The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® (The Lakelands) have now successfully merged. This is following a membership vote at each association’s respective membership meeting in May 2021. Since then, staff alongside member volunteers from both associations quickly got to work to prepare for the merger.

The name of the new association is The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® (or The Lakelands) and has a membership of over 1,550 REALTORS®.

“Our REALTOR® members are our priority, and so with this merger, we’ve combined our assets to provide valuable resources, benefits, professional development opportunities, and tools required to promote excellence, knowledge, and a high standard of ethics and business practices,” says Matthew Lidbetter, now former President of SGBAR.

Chuck Murney, President of The Lakelands adds, “By merging, our association holds a strong position to increase our political influence to provide housing opportunities to all Ontarians and ensure our local communities thrive in this ever-changing market.”

The Boards of Directors of both associations would like to thank their members for supporting the merger and look forward to reaping the benefits of their new association.

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For more information, please contact:
Chuck Murney, President
The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®
info@chuckmurney.com

Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS® MLS® home sales back down to normal levels

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Residential sales recorded through the MLS® System for the Southern Georgian Bay region totaled 397 units in August 2021. This was a substantial decline of 34.6% from August 2020.

Home sales were 4.1% below the five-year average and 0.9% above the 10-year average for the month of August.

On a year-to-date basis, home sales totaled 3,294 units over the first eight months of the year. This was a sizable gain of 15.6% from the same period in 2020.

The Southern Georgian Bay region comprises two distinctive markets.

Home sales in the Western Region, which includes Wasaga Beach, Clearview Township, Collingwood, The Blue Mountains, the Municipality of Meaford, and Grey Highlands, numbered 228 units in August 2021. This was a substantial decline of 43.4% from August 2020.

Home sales in the Western Region were 7.7% below the five-year average and 0.7% below the 10-year average for the month of August.

On a year-to-date basis, home sales in the Western Region numbered a record 1,952 units over the first eight months of the year. This was a sizable gain of 13% from the same period in 2020.

Meanwhile, home sales in the Eastern Region, encompassing the Towns of Midland and Penetanguishene, the Townships of Tay and Tiny, Severn, and Georgian Bay Townships, numbered 169 units in August 2021. This was a substantial decrease of 17.2% from August 2020.

Home sales in the Eastern Region were 1.3% above the five-year average and 3.2% above the 10-year average for the month of August.

On a year-to-date basis, home sales in the Eastern Region numbered 1,342 units over the first eight months of the year. This was a sizable gain of 19.5% from the same period in 2020.

“While sales activity was certainly down a fair amount from last year, we’re comparing against astronomically high record levels during the rebound of 2020. Compared to the rest of history this August was actually quite average for home sales,” said Matthew Lidbetter, President of the Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS®. “New listings haven’t returned to the market in strong enough numbers to keep up with demand, a story that has been playing out for some time now. Overall inventories continue trending at record lows and the market is still firmly on the side of sellers.”

The number of new listings saw a substantial decrease of 16.5% from August 2020. There were 491 new residential listings in August 2021. This was the lowest number of new listings added in the month of August in five years.

New listings were 12.5% below the five-year average and 13.1% below the 10-year average for the month of August.

Active residential listings numbered 559 units on the market at the end of August, a large decline of 28.5% from the end of August 2020. Active listings haven’t been this low in the month of August in more than three decades.

Active listings were 47.7% below the five-year average and 69.2% below the 10-year average for the month of August.

Months of inventory numbered 1.4 at the end of August 2021, up from the 1.3 months recorded at the end of August 2020 and below the long-run average of 5 months for this time of year. The number of months of inventory is the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity.

The dollar value of all home sales in August 2021 was $339 million, down sharply by 14.6% from the same month in 2020.

Consult your Local REALTOR® for market conditions and home value information specific to your
neighbourhood. Our REALTORS® live, work and play in Southern Georgian Bay and have the local knowledge
you simply need to know! Encompassing several communities along the shores of southern Georgian Bay,
approximately 1½ to 2 hours from Greater Toronto, the area is one of Canada’s premier four-season
recreational playgrounds.

The Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS® represents more than 600 REALTORS® registered with
its member offices. The geographical area served by the Association includes the Towns of Midland and
Penetanguishene, the Townships of Tay, and Tiny and parts of Severn and Georgian Bay Townships; Wasaga
Beach, Clearview Township, Collingwood, The Blue Mountains, and portions of the Municipality of Meaford
and Grey Highlands.

Provided by:
Matthew Lidbetter, 2021 President
Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS®
matthew@bluemountainproperty.ca

REALTOR® is a trademark that identifies real estate professionals who are members of The Canadian Real Estate
Association (CREA) and, as such, subscribe to a high standard of professional service and to a strict Code of Ethics.

Liberal Housing Plan To End Blind Bidding

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REALTORS® continue to advocate for increased housing supply and breaking the barriers of homeownership for all Canadians, especially the younger demographic. So when Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau announced his party’s housing plan, we were pleased to see homeownership as a key focus of their campaign; with a plan that will: Unlock Home Ownership, Build More Homes, and Protect Your Rights.

Their housing plan includes the creation of a Home Buyers Bill of Rights with the intention to ensure the process of buying a home is fair, open, and transparent. This however includes a ban on blind bidding, which prevents bidders from knowing the bids of other prospective buyers, and ultimately drives up home prices – this does not address a lack of housing supply and should be concerning for new homebuyers and homeowners alike.

CREA weighed in on the matter with a statement saying, ”Canadians have the right to choose how they want to transact what is likely the largest purchase of their lives. The proposed banning of blind bidding removes the ability for Canadian homeowners to sell their home the way they want.”

OREA also released a statement saying, “You cannot fix Canada’s housing crisis by denying millions of hardworking families the choice of how to sell their home and by pitting homeowners against buyers. In fact, this plan would have the opposite effect – negatively impacting Canada’s housing market and making homeownership even more unaffordable.”

Increased housing prices and limited new listings and new homes in Ontario is concerning, we agree – however, transactions done entirely through their proposed approach of auctions drive prices higher and dangerously push buyers to make rushed decisions.

For more information, visit https://realideas.ca/ for CREA’s ideas to make homeownership a top priority for all political parties.

 

Sources:
CREA Statement: https://www.crea.ca/news/banning-blind-bidding-does-not-address-a-lack-of-housing-supply/
OREA Statement: https://www.orea.com/News-and-Events/News-and-Press-Releases/Press-Releases/August-24-2021

 

REALTORS® in Motion: October 4th – 10th, 2021

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It’s no doubt that Local REALTORS® are passionate about real estate and finding your dream home, however, their passion goes beyond buying and selling property. 

Just like us, they care about the well-being of their communities and making a difference in the lives of people where they live and conduct business. For this reason, every month our local REALTORS® contribute to the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation which works to support shelter-related charities in our community.  Right now, these charities need our help more than ever.

For over forty years, the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation has supported shelters and shelter-based charities across Ontario. To continue to provide opportunities to help support this great cause, OREA launched its first-ever Virtual Fundraiser, REALTORS® in Motion, with a fundraising goal of $50,000. REALTORS® choose a ‘motion’ (running, swimming, rollerblading, dancing, etc.), to carry out during October 4th to 10th – all while raising funds for a good cause.  

We encourage you to support this important cause by donating at https://realtorscareontario.ca/rim, or if you know an Ontario REALTOR®, encourage them to sign up and join their team!

Source: https://realtorscareontario.ca/rim

 

Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS® MLS® home sales cool off from last year’s record levels

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Residential sales recorded through the MLS® System for the Southern Georgian Bay region totaled 456 units in July 2021. This was down sharply by 39.9% from July 2020.

Home sales were 7.3% below the five-year average and 5.1% below the 10-year average for the month of July.

On a year-to-date basis, home sales totaled a record 3,456 units over the first seven months of the year. This was an increase of 25.8% from the same period in 2020.

The Southern Georgian Bay region comprises two distinctive markets.

Home sales in the Western Region, which includes Wasaga Beach, Clearview Township, Collingwood, The Blue Mountains, the Municipality of Meaford, and Grey Highlands, numbered 220 units in July 2021. This was down sharply by 46.5% from July 2020.

Home sales in the Western Region were 9.9% below the five-year average and 8.8% below the 10-year average for the month of July.

On a year-to-date basis, home sales in the Western Region numbered a record 1,761 units over the first seven months of the year. This was an increase of 29.6% from the same period in 2020.

Meanwhile, home sales in the Eastern Region, encompassing the Towns of Midland and Penetanguishene, the Townships of Tay and Tiny, Severn, and Georgian Bay Townships, numbered 236 units in July 2021. This was down sharply by 32.2% from July 2020.

Home sales in the Eastern Region were 4.7% below the five-year average and 1.3% below the 10-year average for the month of July.

On a year-to-date basis, home sales in the Eastern Region numbered a record 1,695 units over the first seven months of the year. This was an increase of 22% from the same period in 2020.

“Home sales and new listings have both cooled off in tandem from the pace of activity earlier this year,” said Matthew Lidbetter, President of the Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS®. “Overall supply levels are still low but have stopped falling for the time being. On a positive note, the market balance, although still in seller’s territory, has moved towards a more balanced position and price levels seem to have topped out.”

The number of new listings was down sharply by 23% from July 2020. There were 638 new residential listings in July 2021.

New listings were 11% below the five-year average and 14.9% below the 10-year average for the month of July.

Active residential listings numbered 692 units on the market at the end of July, a substantial decline of 40.7% from the end of July 2020. Active listings haven’t been this low in the month of July in more than three decades.

Active listings were 49.4% below the five-year average and 68.6% below the 10-year average for the month of July.

Months of inventory numbered 1.5 at the end of July 2021, unchanged from the 1.5 months recorded at the end of July 2020 and below the long-run average of 5 months for this time of year. The number of months of inventory is the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity.

The dollar value of all home sales in July 2021 was $373.5 million, a sharp decrease of 25.9% from the same month in 2020.

Consult your Local REALTOR® for market conditions and home value information specific to your neighbourhood. Our REALTORS® live, work and play in Southern Georgian Bay and have the local knowledge you simply need to know!  Encompassing several communities along the shores of southern Georgian Bay, approximately 1½ to 2 hours from Greater Toronto, the area is one of Canada’s premier four-season recreational playgrounds.

The Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS® represents more than 600 REALTORS® registered with its member offices.  The geographical area served by the Association includes the Towns of Midland and Penetanguishene, the Townships of Tay, and Tiny and parts of Severn and Georgian Bay Townships; Wasaga Beach, Clearview Township, Collingwood, The Blue Mountains, and portions of the Municipality of Meaford and Grey Highlands.

Provided by:

Matthew Lidbetter, 2021 President
Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS®
matthew@bluemountainproperty.ca

REALTOR® is a trademark that identifies real estate professionals who are members of The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and, as such, subscribe to a high standard of professional service and to a strict Code of Ethics.

 

Benefits of REALTOR.ca

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The Southern Georgian Bay local listings on REALTOR.ca are updated roughly every 15 minutes, giving you real-time access to new listings in our area. Our REALTOR® members maintain full local Multiple Listings Service (MLS) data through the Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS – see our active listings here.

REALTOR.ca is the most popular and trusted real estate website in Canada, owned and operated by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). With over 240 million visits each year, REALTOR.ca is your resource for up-to-date and reliable information for residential, commercial, and rental properties across Canada.

Benefits for Consumers:

  • Connect with REALTORS® and learn how they can help you through your real estate journey
  • Get detailed neighbourhood and demographic information on listings
  • Find out what you can afford using the popular mortgage calculator and other financial tools
  • Access resources and guides such as the Homebuyers’ Road Map


For REALTORS®:
REALTOR.ca provides the necessary tools to efficiently engage with their listings and leads. They’re able to Live Stream open houses to showcase listings, tour homes, and engage with buyers in real-time. As well as track listing performance, send reports to clients, and respond to leads directly all with the REALTOR.ca Listing Stats App. And those are just to name a few.

Whether you’re buying, selling, or renting, REALTOR.ca provides various tools to guide you through your real estate journey. Start searching today!

Source: www.REALTOR.ca and https://www.crea.ca/realtor-members/realtor-ca-tools/

The trademarks REALTOR®, REALTORS®, and the REALTOR® logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service®, and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA.

What is a REALTOR®?

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REALTORS® have the training, knowledge and experience to help you every step of the way – from the moment you think about buying or selling to the time when the business transaction is finalized. 

Not every licensed or registered broker or salesperson is a REALTOR®. To be a REALTOR®, the agent must be a member of The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). And to be a member of CREA, an agent is expected to be:

  • Committed to the REALTOR® Code: The code is the accepted standard of conduct for all real estate practitioners who are REALTORS®. It’s your guarantee of professional conduct and the quality service. Read more about the REALTOR® Code.
  • Knowledgeable about developments in real estate: A REALTOR® can get you the information needed to make an informed decision: comparable prices, neighborhood trends, housing market conditions, and more.
  • Actively updating education: Through courses, workshops, and other professional development, a REALTOR® maintains a high level of current knowledge about real estate.
  • Access: REALTORS® have access to Board MLS® Systems, which facilitate the cooperate sale of properties to benefit consumers.

Furthermore, Local REALTORS®:

  • are professionally trained and know our local real estate market.
  • are knowledgeable about our local politics, environmental issues, new and potential residential and commercial developments.
  • are knowledgeable about our local neighbourhoods, schools, and community amenities.
  • live, work and play in our area.

Whether buying or selling a home, a REALTOR® is there every step of the way to provide professional advice based on their knowledge about the local market and is committed to serve with integrity and competence.

Source: https://www.crea.ca/buyers-or-sellers/why-a-realtor/ 

Key Findings: Housing Affordability in Ontario: Perceptions, Impacts, And Solutions

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New OREA poll shows Ontarians feel housing affordability in the province is getting worse and the future is not looking better for homeownership without greater government action.

The survey was conducted with 2,000 Ontarian adults between the dates of June 1 and 7, 2021.

Key Findings: Non-Homeowners

  • Majority (65%) of non-homeowners want to own residential property. Among young people (18-29 years) 80% want to own a home. 
  • For many non-homeowners, homeownership is aspirational and important: 56% say they are someone who really wants to own a home. Young people are even more likely to say that it is important. 
  • More than half (56%) of non-homeowners have either given up or are very pessimistic about the possibility of buying a home in the community they want to live in. 
  • Among those who want to buy a home, 48% are pessimistic and 22% are at least somewhat optimistic. 
  • 42% of non-homeowners who want to buy expect to do so in the next 5 years. 
  • A single-detached house (56%) is the housing preference for those who do not own. While this is lower than the current housing type of existing owners, it indicates a strong demand for detached housing. 
  • All housing types are viewed by non-homeowners as unaffordable, with townhouses and condos only slightly more affordable than detached or semi-detached homes. 
  • Affordability and space are the two more important considerations when making a decision about which property to buy.

Key Findings: Current State of Residential Market

  • Ontarians clearly understand that it is more difficult (77%) over the past year to buy a residential property where they live. 
  • Young and old both share a similar view of the market. Those living in the Northern part of the province are less pessimistic about the housing market. 
  • The expectation is that housing prices will increase (55%) over the next year. Only a small segment (14%) think they will decrease. 
  • The one-year expectation that prices will rise is linked to general negativity about the future affordability of housing: more than half of Ontarians say that housing prices will be less affordable over the next five years.

“The affordability crisis continues to crush the dream of homeownership for many Ontarians and this has been intensified by the economic impact of the pandemic,” said OREA CEO Tim Hudak. “Governments need to act if we want to create future generations of homeowners and that starts with pro-growth policies that could bring affordability closer to first-time home buyers and address the supply shortage.”

Source: Report: Housing Affordability in Ontario and OREA Press Release

Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS® MLS® home sales down from record June last year but remain well above average

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Residential sales recorded through the MLS® System for the Southern Georgian Bay region totaled 564 units in June 2021. This was a decrease of 12.7% from June 2020.

Home sales were 11.7% above the five-year average and 15.8% above the 10-year average for the month of June.

On a year-to-date basis, home sales totaled a record 3,001 units over the first six months of the year. This was up sharply by 50.9% from the same period in 2020.

The Southern Georgian Bay region comprises two distinctive markets.

Home sales in the Western Region, which includes Wasaga Beach, Clearview Township, Collingwood, The Blue Mountains, the Municipality of Meaford, and Grey Highlands, numbered 287 units in June 2021. This was a decline of 8.9% from June 2020.

Home sales in the Western Region were 15.9% above the five-year average and 19% above the 10-year average for the month of June.

On a year-to-date basis, home sales in the Western Region numbered a record 1,544 units over the first six months of the year. This was up sharply by 62.9% from the same period in 2020.

Meanwhile, home sales in the Eastern Region, encompassing the Towns of Midland and Penetanguishene, the Townships of Tay and Tiny, Severn, and Georgian Bay Townships, numbered 277 units in June 2021. This was a sharp decrease of 16.3% from June 2020.

Home sales in the Eastern Region were 7.6% above the five-year average and 12.6% above the 10-year average for the month of June.

On a year-to-date basis, home sales in the Eastern Region numbered a record 1,457 units over the first six months of the year. This was up sharply by 40% from the same period in 2020.

“Home sales in both the Eastern and Western Districts were down from year-ago levels but still recorded the third-best June in history. On the sales side, the market can best be described as “cooling off” from red-hot to hot,” said Matthew Lidbetter, President of the Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS®. “On the supply side, the story remains much the same – not enough new supply coming onto the market to meet the strong pace of demand. Overall supply levels are trending at rock bottom and as a result, competition among buyers for this lack of available inventory continues to maintain a tight market.”

The number of new listings saw a sharp decrease of 10.9% from June 2020. There were 803 new residential listings in June 2021. This was the lowest number of new listings added in the month of June in more than a decade.

New listings were 9.5% below the five-year average and 9.5% below the 10-year average for the month of June.

Active residential listings numbered 688 units on the market at the end of June, down sharply by 48% from the end of June 2020. Active listings haven’t been this low in the month of June in more than three decades.

Active listings were 50.8% below the five-year average and 69.2% below the 10-year average for the month of June.

Months of inventory numbered 1.2 at the end of June 2021, down from the 2 months recorded at the end of June 2020 and below the long-run average of 5 months for this time of year. The number of months of inventory is the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity.

The dollar value of all home sales in June 2021 was $485.1 million, increasing by 19.3% from the same month in 2020. This was also a new record for the month of June.

Consult your Local REALTOR® for market conditions and home value information specific to your neighbourhood. Our REALTORS® live, work and play in Southern Georgian Bay and have the local knowledge you simply need to know!  Encompassing several communities along the shores of southern Georgian Bay, approximately 1½ to 2 hours from Greater Toronto, the area is one of Canada’s premier four-season recreational playgrounds.

The Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS® represents more than 600 REALTORS® registered with its member offices.  The geographical area served by the Association includes the Towns of Midland and Penetanguishene, the Townships of Tay, and Tiny and parts of Severn and Georgian Bay Townships; Wasaga Beach, Clearview Township, Collingwood, The Blue Mountains, and portions of the Municipality of Meaford and Grey Highlands.

Provided by:
Matthew Lidbetter, 2021 President
Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS®
matthew@bluemountainproperty.ca

Ontario REALTORS® have Real Heart

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REALTORS® go beyond buying and selling property; they are committed to contribute and support our growing communities. After all, this is their home too, and the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) wants to celebrate those that make a difference.

OREA launched their Real Heart initiative which works to celebrate the many ways in which Ontario REALTORS® go above and beyond to give back to our communities. As part of the launch, OREA conducted a survey that showed:

  • A majority of Ontarians said volunteering makes them feel they are contributing to something important (70%), provides a feeling of purpose (55%), and a sense of community (54%). 
  • Volunteers also reported feeling happier (34%), forming new relationships (28%), and learning new skills (25%) as benefits of volunteering.

Real Heart will use its platform to recognize REALTORS® that volunteer their time by sharing their stories. No matter the size, every single contribution makes a difference and Real Heart hopes to inspire other REALTORS® to tell their stories. Read stories of the Real Heart ambassadors here: https://realheart.ca/category/community/, which includes:

  • Bruce Johnson, RE/MAX of Wasaga Beach: Founder of Motorcycles for Miracles and the Alyssa Rae Johnson Foundation, which has raised over $700,000 in support of the Children’s Miracle Network and SickKids Hospital.
  • Lindsey Edwards, Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty, Cobourg: Creator of the “Flocked 4 Shelter” fundraiser, past participant in the Sahara Desert Trek and current participant in the upcoming Purcell Mountain Challenge for Shelter. Lindsey has raised almost $60,000 in support of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, which directly benefits the Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre.
  • Vince Mirabelli, RE/MAX First Choice Realty, Thunder Bay: Founding Chair of the “Save A Heart Ball” which has raised over $1 million towards cardiac care at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC). Since starting a Pediatric Fund in 2009, Vince has raised nearly $150,000 for pediatric services at TBRHSC.

If you are a REALTOR®, get involved by sharing your story, or nominate an Ontario REALTOR®: https://realheart.ca/submit-a-story/

Source: https://realheart.ca/