Southern Georgian Bay home sales miss January record by a single sale

Posted on January 15, 2020 by Comms_Lakelands

Residential sales recorded through the MLS® system for the Southern Georgian Bay region totaled 182 units in January 2020. This was a large 35.8% increase from January 2019.

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 101 units in January 2020, up 17.4% (15 sales) from January 2019.

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 81 units in January 2020, surging 68.8% from January 2019.

“2020 got off to a great start in both the Western and Eastern Regions of the Association’s geographic coverage area, with overall sales coming in just one sale shy of the all-time January record set back in 2016,” said Mike Scholte, President of the Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS®. “Strengthening sales in an environment of still low supply suggests 2020 could be another year of strong price growth.”

There were 335 new residential listings in January 2020. This was an increase of 14.7% on a year-over-year basis.

Active residential listings numbered 780 units at the end of January, up 3.7% from the end of January 2019. Despite the small increase, overall supply is still historical low.

Months of inventory numbered just 4.3 at the end of January 2020, down from the 5.6 months recorded at the end of January 2019 and not far off all-time lows 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 residential transactions in January 2020 was $102.1 million, a 44.8% surge from this time in 2019. This was a new record for the month of January by a margin of more than $30 million.

Sales of all property types numbered 202 units in January 2020, an increase of 20.2% from January 2019. The total value of all properties sold was $110.2 million, rising 22.9% from January 2019.

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:
Mike Scholte, President
Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS®
mike.scholte@century21.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.

Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation Charity Cheque Presentation: Camp Oochigeas

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Comms_Lakelands

TORONTO, ON – On March 9th at the Toronto head offices of Camp Oochigeas, local REALTORS® donated $3240.00 to the organisation to support their efforts in bringing the summer camp experience to children experiencing cancer. Realtors will gather at the office to present the cheque to members of the fundraising committee.

Local Realtors are committed to improving Quality of Life by supporting community initiatives ensuring economic vitality, housing opportunities and safe neighbourhoods. Each month, in support of the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation, Lakelands member Realtors donate $2 to the Every REALTOR® Campaign.

Camp Oochigeas has been selected as one of five community charity organisations that have benefitted from the grants. Annually, the collective funds are distributed to shelter-based charities within the boundaries of The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® to support their efforts of improving the quality of life for those most in need.

Camp Oochigeas provides children with and affected by childhood cancer the opportunity to be defined by who they are rather than what they have. Since its beginnings in 1983, the Camp has grown to serve over 1200 children and their families at Ooch Muskoka, Ooch Downtown, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and various other healthcare centres across Ontario. The culture promotes a feeling of “Where cancer doesn’t define me”, was voted one of Canada’s top most admired cultures by Waterstone in 2012.

The contributions by Lakelands local Realtors to the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation is important to the communities we live in. Local Realtors working to improve quality of life, and to build strong, sustainable communities through a variety if initiatives including the Every REALTOR® Campaign.

Local REALTORS® support community charity groups

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Comms_Lakelands

December 2015
Muskoka – Through the month of December, REALTOR® members of Muskoka Haliburton Orillia – The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® visited local community shelter-based charities to distribute funds collected from the Every REALTOR® Campaign. The donations, totaling $17 590, were presented to organisations selected by the membership to assist with their efforts in promoting strong sustainable communities.
Local Realtors are committed to improving Quality of Life by supporting community initiatives ensuring economic vitality, housing opportunities and safe neighbourhoods. Each month, in support of the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation, Lakelands members donate $2 to the Every REALTOR® Campaign. Annually, the collective funds are distributed to shelter-based charities within our boundaries to support their efforts of improving the quality of life for those most in need.
In 2015, groups that benefited from the grants included:
Hillcrest Lodge (Orillia): provides housing and meals for vulnerable seniors
Salvation Army Family Centre & Food Bank (Gravenhurst): provides support to families in need
Camp Oochigeas (Rosseau): provides summer camp environment for children with cancer
Burk’s Fall Food Bank: provides food and resources for those in need. Covers 7 municipalities.
Heat Bank Haliburton County: provides material & financial support for heating of homes
Cottage Dreams (Haliburton): provides rental cottages for families to gather after cancer treatment
The contributions by Lakelands members through the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation are important to the communities we live in as they boost the ability for these organisations to support residents. Lakelands President Tom Wilkinson: “Local Realtors have a deep pride for their community. The donation initiative through the Every REALTOR® Campaign gets us directly involved with organisations that make our communities stronger. Many of our local brokerages give to and support causes in their own specific communities on top of these monthly contributions. Realtors across The Lakelands Board are committed to our mission of being an integral part of the communities we live in. We’re all honoured to help.”

Lakelands REALTORS® keep the heat on in
Haliburton County

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Comms_Lakelands

Local REALTOR® members of Muskoka Haliburton Orillia – The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® gathered in support of Heat Bank Haliburton today. Under the Quality of Life mandate supported by the association, and with the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation, Realtor members spent the morning splitting wood to help build the pile higher for those in need.
“It seems timely as the nights get colder to make sure we have time to be thankful for our own warm homes”, says Tom Wilkinson, Association President “It seems hard to imagine that there are families in our neighbourhoods who have to make the decision between warmth, food or paying rent. It’s important to lend a hand and help others. As local Realtors, keeping the communities we live in strong through volunteerism and activism is essential to this cause”.
Heat Bank Haliburton gathers firewood to distribute to households struggling to keep the heat on. As a member of The Lakelands, local Realtors contribute $2 per month to the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation. Heat Bank Haliburton is one of 5 local charitable organisations chosen to benefit from these funds for this year. The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® selects organisations that focus on shelter-based support to those requiring assistance within the communities in their jurisdiction of Orillia, Muskoka, Haliburton and Almaguin.
“For a few hours today, we were able to help the Heat Bank get ahead, and make sure that the wood these families need is ready to go when they need it”, said Wilkinson. “The initiative of Quality of Life that Realtors subscribe to, along with the great work we can accomplish through our contributions to Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation, fits perfectly with our desire to see Haliburton, and other communities we represent, be vibrant and sustainable.”
Through late fall to early winter 2014, Heat Bank Haliburton assisted 57 households. 28% of which were seniors in need of support, with 34% being families with children. Says Wilkinson: “Local Realtors have pride in their communities. This is a fantastic initiative, and we’re honoured to be able to help.”

Lakelands Members donate over $17,800 to local charities

Posted on December 19, 2014 by Comms_Lakelands

Quality of Life, including strong, safe communities with available housing is a foundational principle to which the over 680 REALTOR® members of The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® commit. As real estate professionals, Lakelands members are keenly aware of the importance of and the challenges experienced by shelter-based charities and food banks across our regions.

Each month, Lakelands members donate to the REALTORS Care® Ontario Foundation as part of their membership in the Association. At the end of the year, charities within each of the regions which Lakelands members serve – Haliburton, Orillia, and Muskoka – are selected to receive a share of these donations.

This year, $17,870 was distributed amongst the following organizations: