july 4, 2012 issue 51

P R E S E N T E D B Y T H E G O L F I T E A M

July 4, 2012 - Vol 41

Rob GolfiSales Representative


HOME EVALUATION NO COST • NO OBLIGATION

905-575-7700 • 905-945-0188

FREE ADMISSION -- Donate a FREE ADMISSION -- Donate a

non-perishable food item at the non-perishable food item at the

Golfi Team’s OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT Golfi Team’s OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT

at Centennial Park Grimsby, July 21st!at Centennial Park Grimsby, July 21st!Details on 2Details on Page 12

MarketWatch July 1 2012 30/06/12 2:41 PM Page 1

The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch July 4, 2012

www.GolfiTeam.com

Since the inception ofhis career in 1997,Rob Golfi has

recognized that understandinghis clients’ needs is essential toproviding excellent service.

As business grew, Robassembled the Golfi Team in aneffort to maintain the samelevel of professionalism clientshave come to expect. Shortlythereafter in 2003, the teamreceived the prestigious honourof being among the top 100Real Estate Teams forRE/MAX Canada, and thisstatus continues to date.

Rob’s experience andaggressive negotiating skillshave earned him every majorhonour awarded by RE/MAX,including President’s Club,100% Club, Platinum Club,Chairman’s Club, Hall of Famein 2003, the Lifetime Achieve -ment Award in 2006, hisSRES® designation in 2009 andthe Diamond Club Award in2010. Having worked with

many of the industry’sprofessionals over the years, hehas the necessary edge to bestnegotiate the sale of your home.

Any agent can list yourhouse, but Rob’s knowledge,extensive marketingbackground and dedicationgives clients peace of mindwhen dealing with the singlemost important investment intheir lives. With years ofcombined experience, the GolfiTeam can provide your homewith a level of exposure thatmost agents cannot. Utilizing ateam approach also means thatthey will likely find a purchaserto buy your home sooner, ratherthan waiting for other agents toapproach you with potentialbuyers.

Ranked in the top 5 of nearly2,000 sales agents in theHamilton-Burlington and Niagaraareas, listing with Rob and theGolfi Team is the right choicewhen choosing someone torepresent your best interest. -Å

About Rob Golfi

The Solution

Fill in the grid above, so that each row of

9 squares, each column of nine and each

section of nine (three squares by three)

contains the numbers 1 through 9 in any

order. There is only one solution for the

puzzle and the numbers shown can

NOT be changed.

6 5 41

7 4 2

9 4 2

1 93

7 6

8 9 5

24 9

4 68

1 9 3 8

SUDOKUSUDOKU

683754 921

715423 698

942817 365

456189 732

271395 486

839261 574

368572 149

527946 81

194638 257

3

Which is better: Term lifeor mortgage insurance?

Term Life vs

Mortgage Insurance

You've just made the biggest

purchase of your life: A new

home for you and your

family.

What's the best way to protect your

investment if you die?

Insurance is the answer. But what

kind: mortgage insurance or term life

insurance?

There are important differences

between the two that aren't well under-

stood, mortgage experts say.

Mortgage insurance pays the balance

of your mortgage to the bank if a person

listed on the mortgage passes away.

“It pays the institution that lent you

the money. It pays off that loan so the

people who inherit your home are not

going to be saddled with that debt,”

explains George Small, founder of

Kanetix, a Canadian financial services

website. “The last thing you want to do is

leave that liability for someone else to

worry about.”

Sometimes referred to as creditor

insurance, this policy can be purchased

when you sign your mortgage papers. It's

offered by the bank and typically

involves answering a few basic health

questions. The premiums can be added to

your monthly mortgage payments.

But that convenience comes at a

cost.

The most important thing to remem-

ber about mortgage insurance is that even

though you are paying the premiums,

you're not necessarily covered. These

policies use post-claim underwriting,

meaning that the insurance company will

delve into your medical history after a

claim is made.

If you have a health condition when

you sign the papers — whether you and

your doctor are aware of it or not — and

it is not disclosed, your claim may later

be denied.

That means, even though you have

been paying the premiums, no benefits

will be paid.

Assuming that's not an issue, there

are other key differences between mort-

gage and term life insurance.

Since mortgage insurance benefits

pay out only the amount left owing on

your mortgage if you die, the amount of

coverage declines as you pay down that

balance every month.

You will also need to renew the pol-

icy every time you renew your mortgage.

That could be every five years, if you

choose a five-year term, as many

Canadians do.

“What I tell people is that it's not

guaranteed and your premium is proba-

bly going to go up because you're five

years older, and you could have heart

problems or diabetes,” says Andre

L'Ecuyer, a mortgage broker with

Mortgage Agent in Petawawa.

“Then, on the opposite side, what

happens with your mortgage is that it

decreases as the years go by. What's

wrong with this picture? You're paying

more for something that's not guaranteed,

paying a higher premium and you're get-

ting less.”

Term life insurance is just that — an

insurance policy that covers you for a set

number of years, typically 10 to 30 years.

The premiums, and the amount that

your beneficiaries receive if you die, will

stay the same through the life of the pol-

icy.

That's another key difference: Your

family receives the payout and decides

what to do with it. “Some people view

that as a benefit because the family may

be looking at alternatives, rather than

paying off the mortgage. They may have

other high-cost debts they want to put the

money to,” Small says.

When purchasing term insurance,

you may need a blood sample or urine

sample upfront, and the insurance com-

pany may need to contact your doctor.

Depending on your age and health,

the premiums on mortgage life insurance

can be much higher than for a term life

insurance policy, according to a compari-

son on the Kanetix website.

For example, a couple where both

partners are 30 would pay $36 per month

on mortgage insurance premiums, but

they would pay $24.53 a month on a 10-

year term life policy.

The difference becomes more pro-

nounced with age. Two 40-year-olds

would pay $80 per month for mortgage

insurance but just $36 for a term policy.

Two 50-year-olds would pay $160 for

mortgage insurance, but only $73.35 for

term life.

Keep in mind that mortgage insur-

ance is not portable. If you switch

lenders, you'll need to take out a new pol-

icy.

“Term life insurance is more

portable, because it's attached to you

rather than your debt,” Small says.

If you already have term insurance,

you can consider boosting the amount of

coverage to include your mortgage.

Madhavi Acharya-Tom Yew

Business Reporter


July 4, 2012 The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch

Call Today 905-575-7700

Mike McNeilSales Representative

Kristina KingSales Representative

Rosemarie FournierListing Co-ordinator

Vince LazarukSales Representative

Together Delivering More...

Sharon StaffordSales Representative


Heather ReidSales Representative

Hans MarcellissenSales Representative

Wendy Murray-NicholsonSales Representative

*#1 Brokerage in the Realtors Association of Hamilton Burlington MLS from 1994 to 2010 consecutively. **Year End Standings for 2010, based on residential commissions paid. Rankings are compiled from figures submitted by regional offices.

3 Over $60 Million in Sales Annually**

3 #1 Real Estate Office in Hamilton-Burlington*

3 Amongst the Top Sales Reps in Ontario**

3 Ranked Top 50 Teams in Canada for **

3 Ranked Top 100 Teams world wide**

Facts About the GOLFI TEAM…

2003 2006 201020031998Rob GolfiSales Representative

OVER $460 MILLION IN REAL ESTATE SALES

HOME EVALUATION NO COST • NO OBLIGATION

905-575-7700 • 905-945-0188


www.GolfiTeam.com


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Specializing in Content appraisals for Estates, Divorce & Legal IssuesAppraisals for Vehicles, Insurance Claims, Bankruptcy, Tax Relief, OSAP & MTO.

905-512-1846

www.PPAG.ca

estate ClearingTransition management

P045151CN 4/04

State Farm® Providing Insurance and Financial Services

Canadian Head Offices: Aurora, Ontario

Craig Budd Ins Agcy LtdCraig Budd, Agent4289 Hixon StreetBeamsville, ON L0R 1B7Bus: 905-563-3453 Toll Free: 866-252-0035

Crossword Puzzle(Solution on Page 6)

Across1 Get very angry (5,3,4)

9 Message received andunderstood! (5)

10 Rich (7)

11 No oil painting (4)

12 Canvas shoes with rubbersoles (8)

14 Identification for eg cattle (3,3)

15 Leave without warning (3,3)

18 Fabric pattern (for a yellowbikini?) (5,3)

20 Football boot attachment (4)

22 Etch (7)

23 Crawler whose home has ahelix pattern (5)

24 Try something out to see howit goes (4,2,3,3)

Across2 Bony — lean — gaunt (7)

3 A Channel Island (4)

4 Spiny — difficult andcontroversial (6)

5 Teacher (8)

6 Fat (5)

7 Healthy (like a violin?) (3,2,1,6)

8 Flattener for the bottom half ofa suit (7,5)

13 Japanese city, target for thesecond atomic bomb attack (8)

16 Deplorable insult (7)

17 Small Spanish grocery andwine store (6)

19 Reason (5)

21 Employed (4)

Home evaluationNo Cost or Obligation

Call Rob Golfi today!

905-575-7700 / 905-945-0188

The Best Do-It-Yourself Cottage Improvements

Bryan Baeumler, host ofDisaster DIY and profes-sional contractor, explains

what you can do to improve the qual-ity and investment value of your cot-tage.

The ViewStart with the view from the lake!

Installing a new or refaced dock,cleaning up the beach or landscapingaround the cottage, repairing downedeaves troughs and adding a new coatof paint or stain are simple ways toensure a second appreciative lookfrom passersby.

Clean UpDo a dump run – most people

have piles of unnecessary lumber and

various items under, around and inthe cottage. A good spring cleaning will createmore space, reveal hidden problemsthat need to be addressed and ener-gize you to continue improving yourfavourite place on Earth.

Around the HouseIf your kitchen or bathroom reeks

of 1970s linoleum and dark woodpaneling, throw some tile on thefloor, put in a new backsplash, repaintor replace cabinet doors and hard-ware, and put on a fresh coat of paint.If you have an old outhouse, spruce itup with some aromatic cedar andpaint – and give it a good debugging.

By: Bryan Baeumler


Call Today 905-575-7700


Rob Golfi*

Hamilton, Stoney Creek,Ancaster, Dundas & Glanbrook

Hamilton Ctr $224,900

68 Holton Avenue SouthAttention Investors! Big home used as two family! Mainlevel one BR, kitchen, living room, dining room, 4pc bathrented $875/mo w/utilities included. 2nd & 3rd floor has 4BRs rented $400/mo ea. & share living room, bthrm &kitchen. Laundry room in the basement.

$879.40 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.

Hamilton mtn $345,900

23 Vineberg DriveOver 2000 sq ft., 4 level backsplit! Family room w/fireplace,big kitchen w/oak cabinets & island, vaulted ceilings inLR/DR, open from kitchen to family rm, big rooms &walkout to covered patio w/3 year old hot tub. Turner park,shopping, & YMCA all within walking distance.

1352.53 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.


11 Greenaway AveBeautiful all brick 2.5 storey single family home.Features 5 bedrooms & lots of possibilities! Newerhardwd flrs, updated kitch & baths, clean & fresh décor,nothing to do but move in! Includes single garagew/lots of parking & close to public transit.

$742.54 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.

stonEy CrEEk $349,999

161 Halifax StreetADORABLE AFFORDABLE! Immaculate 3 bedrm homein super clean condition on premium lot, features maplekitchen cabinets w/endless storage for cook-ware anddishes, spacious family room w/showcase fireplace withhook up for Plasma TV, fenced yard & quick access to QEW.

$1368.17 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.


134 Cove Crescent2 Stry, 3 BR home linked underground & features masterw/ensuite & walk-in closet, LR/DR, eat-in kit w/walkout toa lrg concrete patio & fenced in yard. Basement recentlyrefreshed w/new carpet & 3pc bath. Updates incl. windows,roof, furnace & A/C.

$1289.97 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.


82 Whitefish CrescentTRENDY AND STYLISH 2 STOREY! This move in ready3 BR freehold townhome is in super clean condition &features incredible space plus fin. basement, bright masterbedrm w/ensuite & walk in closet, wonderful size kitchen,oak stair case & is located across from Seabreeze Park.

1074.91 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.


830 Upper Wellington StreetLarge principle rooms, big garage with hydro, longdriveway. Loads of updates! Updates include: bathroom,kitchen, and some flooring. Huge family room with bigwindows overlooking yard. Lots of storage in crawl space.Walkup from bsmt to nice yard.

$918.50 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.


38 Stirton StreetWonderful big family home! 2.5 storey, move in condition.Huge family sized Oak kitchen with walkout to party deck,front drive or rear parking if needed, beautiful hardwoodfloors, 4 or 5 bedrooms, new boiler in 2011 and very clean.

$605.69 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.


60 East 24th Street Big 4 BR home located on the mountain. This home featuresa main flr BR, family rm, LR/DR & a lrg eat in kitch.Updates incl: roof ‘11, most windows ‘10, C/A ‘08, furnace‘07, 1.5 baths, & has been freshly painted. Lrg 34.29 x 133lot. Parking in front & rear drive for 5 vehicles.

$781.64 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.

Hamilton East $499,900

711 Beach Blvd.Live on the beach! Solid home on the Hamilton beach witha 2 bedroom self-contained unit. Separate entrance andfurnace. Gorgeous sunroom with amazing view of the lake.Huge fenced yard, big drive way & large principle rooms.Minuts from Spencer Smith Park and Joseph Brant Hospital.

$1954.70 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.


46 Lake Avenue DriveCLASSIC HOME! Double brick home sitting on 107.5 x390.25 ft lot and features original hardwd floors & trim, newbathroom on 2nd level, finished loft w/plumbing, completehouse re- wired w/200 amp service, copper plumbing, 63new windows, 35x19 ft 3 car garage, Zoning MR1.

2345.72 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.

Hamilton WEst $399,900

220 Queen Street SouthCharm & Character best describes this 3 bedrm beauty withfully finished basement ideal for in-law set up, featuresgorgeous hardwood, new kitchen & baths, vinyl windows,close to trendy lock st. Bay front & downtown shopping.

$1563.68 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.

Hamilton WEst $319,900

230 Bowman StreetFantastic Location! 3+1 BRs, 1 1/2 baths, new roof May2012, new front porch, updated water line, bath tubreglazed, new toilet, orig. hardwd flrs, single car detachedgarage w/parking for 2 cars. Tenanted until August 31, 2012.

$1250.87 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.


5 Sandy DrivePrestigious 4 bdrm 2700 sqft 2 storey. Grand foyer with oakstaircase, kitch w/large island & built in appliances, hardwdin formal dining rm, updated carpet & under pad in allbedrooms, family room with showcase fireplace, masterbedroom w/ensuite & large walk in closet

1641.88 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.


2-15 Derby Street1284 sq.ft. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath townhouse w/a fully fencedyard. Updated roof (‘08), windows (‘06), fence & garagedoor (‘11). No carpet, all parquet flooring. All appliancesincluded, electrical on breakers, huge master with walk-incloset and ensuite.

solD

SOLD IN 30 DAYS TO GTA BUYER

WATERFRONT


22 East 39thGARAGE DREAM & LOCATION! Walk to Mountain BrowPark, Juravinski Hospital, shopping on Concession St., & mtnaccess. Loads of updates include windows, shingles, garagedoor, & C/A. Big dbl garage with concrete floor and hydro.One bedroom used as dining rm (wall still there).

$938.05 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.


127 Hope AvenueOPPORTUNITY AWAITS! Nicely finished one floor planwith no carpet. Shows 10+. Updated windows, wiring,plumbing, furnace, tank less water heater & waterproofedbasement with 4 big windows. A walk to center mall, & easyhighway access.

$519.66 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.


6 Jerome CrescentGreat Location! Freshly painted, rec room in bsmt with loadsof storage. Laminate flooring and ceramics. Great for kids, awalk to school, shopping, and major bus line. Shows nice!Well kept and clean.

$502.46 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.


4 Ben Lomond PlaceShows 10++. Renovated in 2004. 3 bedroom plus denw/walkout to rear yard. Master on main floor w/4pc bath &laundry. Updated, windows, shingles, flooring, kitchen,bathrooms, & new drywall. A walk to parks, shopping &Juravinski hospital.

$801.20 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.


446 Upper Sherman AvenueParking for 6 through the double width mutual drive. 3 BRhome w/main flr bedrm & ldry. Over 1000 sq.ft. of newflooring. Move in ready. Backs onto park, close to hospital &on bus route. Cozy gas FP, C/A, vinyl windows, furnace/roof(approx. 5), workshop with hydro.

$742.54 per/mth P&i / o.a.C.



Call Today 905-575-7700

Canadians are Richer than They ThinkIt seems every day Canadians

awake to another sober message froma bank economist or cabinet minister– one part scolding, one part warning,all very serious. We are spending toomuch relative to our earnings. We areoverextending ourselves when webuy houses, and we are even takingon more debt than our supposedlymore spendthrift American cousins.The priests of commerce are tellingus we are sinners.

But lurking behind the dire head-lines about consumer debt and ourcreeping profligacy is a strange newreality: The average Canadian hasquietly become richer than the aver-age American. Over the past fiveyears, net worth per Canadian house-hold has exceeded net worth perAmerican household (total combinedvalue of liquid and real estate assetsminus debt) for the first time.

Currently, the average Canadianhousehold is more than $40,000 rich-er than the average American house-hold. (According to the latestEnvironics Analytics WealthScapesdata, the average household net worthin Canada was $363,202 in 2011; inthe U.S. it was $319,970.) And theseare not 60-cent dollars, but Canadiandollars more or less at par with theU.S. greenback. Furthermore, thesefigures ignore public-sector (govern-ment) debt that presumably people onboth sides of the border or their chil-dren will some day have to pay. Suchdebt is higher in the U.S. as a percent-age of GDP than it is in Canada.

Has Canada experienced a sud-den surge of productivity or entrepre-neurial genius? Not exactly. Ourresource sector is certainly firing on

all cylinders, but the biggest reasonsfor Canadians’ deep pockets relativeto Americans’ in recent years are therelated phenomena of the 2008 eco-nomic crisis and the collapse of theU.S. housing market. Because houseprices in the U.S. have plunged, thereal estate held by Canadians is nowmuch more valuable than that held byAmericans (worth over $140,000more on average). In fact, Canadianshold more than twice as much realestate as Americans and, once mort-gages are factored in, have almostfour times as much remaining equityin their real estate. Americans’ liquid(non-real estate) assets are stillgreater than Canadians’.

But if we cannot take full creditfor our greater wealth on paper, norshould we be too badly excoriated forour greater levels of household debt.Consumer confidence north of theborder has been justifiably stronger.(Hard-hit Americans are, reasonably,

more fearful.) More Canadians alsosimply have increased room to bor-row; Americans are more maxed out– not least on those cumbersomemortgages.

Canadians have traditionallybeen the cautious, fiscally conserva-tive society, watching American eco-nomic dynamism from a safe remove(and subsisting on a small cut of thebranch-plant spoils). For us, payingoff the mortgage was once the equiv-alent of forgiveness for our acquisi-tive sins. Our public policies weremore prudent than the U.S. policy ofallowing home owners to deduct theinterest on mortgage debt. Canadianleaders rejected mortgage interestdeductibility and fortunatelyCanadians only briefly embraced thesubprime mortgages that are still ahuge factor in Americans’ fiscalwoes.

A decade and a half ago, our lead-

ers fretted about “brain drain” assome of our best young grads migrat-ed south toward the land of opportu-nity instead of settling for our safereconomic landscape – with moreunions, more government securityblankets (like medicare and publicpensions) and, of course, higher taxesand more regulation. But after the2008 crisis, when U.S. financial insti-tutions went from dynamic to danger-ous, the drab safety of Canadian fiscalconservatism began to cut a morepleasing figure.

For the moment, it seems that therisk-averse Canadian tortoise has thelead in the race against the risk-takingAmerican hare, who has singed hisfeet on his rocket pack. HowCanadians will respond to this at thehousehold level remains to be seen.Are we naively careering towardAmerican-style (pre-crash) financialbehaviour with loaded credit cards,second and third mortgages, and a laxapproach to savings in a headlongpursuit of materialism, hedonisticpleasures, and instant gratification?Or does it say something about ourabiding national character that wehave so many sober souls in positionsof power who will mete out regularscoldings like the clergy in pulpits ofold and do things like change ourmortgage rules to protect us from our-selves?

Michael AdamsThe Globe and Mail

Michael Adams is president of theEnvironics Institute and the author ofFire and Ice: The United States,Canada, and the Myth of ConvergingValues.

Insuring the ownership ofyour property (referred to as"title") is just as important as

insuring your property and its con-tents from physical loss or damage.Traditionally, title insurance was onlyavailable on "purchase" transactionsand ordered by lawyers/ notaries tosave their clients money and protecttheir ownership or title against lossesincurred as a result of undetected orunknown title defects.

Existing Homeowner TitleInsurance Policy is for those whoalready own their home, but did notobtain the protection of title insurancewhen they first purchased their home.

Why do I need this Policy?Even if you are the rightful owner

of a home, there are instances such asreal estate title or mortgage fraud,when your title can come into ques-tion. Generally, the losses from realestate title or mortgage fraud are cat-astrophic with homeowners payingthousands of dollars in legal fees todefend their title, and lenders possiblylosing the full amount of their mort-gage.

By obtaining an ExistingHomeowner Title Insurance Policy,you are purchasing the peace of mind

associated with knowing that yourpolicy contains comprehensive cover-age for losses due to many forms oftitle and mortgage fraud and itincludes a duty to defend your title,including paying legal fees.*

How does real estate fraud occur?Real estate frauds take several

forms, but a common denominator isthat the fraudsters are sophisticatedand thanks to modern technology, arearmed with the appropriate documen-tation and necessary knowledge ofthe real estate process to enable themto perpetrate these major crimes.

The Basics...Legal ownership in property is

evidenced by the title to the propertybeing placed into your name. Youobtain title when the vendor of theproperty signs transfer documents (adeed) transferring the ownership ofthe property to you. Once this occurs,the government land registrationrecords will reflect you as the ownerand anyone searching those recordswill also recognize you as the owner.

A Typical Example...A fraud artist obtains title to a

property via a fraudulent transfer doc-

ument (a deed).The fraud artist goes to a bank

and obtains the mortgage funds.The mortgage is then registered

against the property.When the fraud artist does not

make any mortgage payments, thelender will serve notice that it intendsto sell the property, and the scheme isrevealed to the legitimate ownerwhen they receive the notice that thelender is trying to sell their property.

When is the policy effective?Generally, the policy date is the

date the homeowner first purchasedthe property. Coverage is also extend-ed to heirs who receive your home inthe event of your death.

What is the premium?Title insurance is available for a

low premium that is paid only once,and coverage is valid for the entiretime you own your home. Yourlawyer/ notary and his or her staffwould be pleased to go over the pre-miums with you, and order the policyon your behalf.

What if I need to make a claim?If you do need to make a claim

inquiry, there is no deductible. Tomake a claim inquiry, you need to

provide evidence in writing that youhave suffered losses as a result of adefect covered by the policy. One ofour claims associates will then deter-mine if your claim is covered by thepolicy and will communicate to youthe proposed method to resolve yourclaim.

Protect your investment.Contact your lawyer / notary to

obtain title insurance on your behalf.

What is the Existing Homeowner Title Insurance Policy?

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MarketWatch July 1 2012 30/06/12 2:44 PM


www.golfiteam.com

RE/MAX RECREATIONAL PROPERTY REPORT 2012 -- STARTING PRICES FOR RECREATIONAL PROPERTIES 1

Market 2009 2010 2011 2012

ONTARIO

Eastern Ontario: n.a. n.a. n.a. $250,000

Barry's Bay/Combermere n.a. $200,000 $300,000 $289,000

Bancroft/Coe Hill $260,000 $235,000 $265,000 $275,000

Apsley $375,000 $400,000 $389,000 $399,000

Kingston $250,000-$270,000 $290,000 $300,000 $250,000

Prince Edward County $200,000-$250,000 $200,000 -$250,000 $300,000 $265,000 -$300,000

West Kawarthas $400,000 $400,000 $450,000 $400,000 -$500,000

East Kawarthas $195,000 $225,000 $300,000 $300,000

Lake Simcoe/Lake Couchiching:

Beaverton $300,000 $375,000 $300,000 $329,000

Lagoon City $300,000 $300,000 $300,000 $300,000

Innisfil to Oro $500,000 $520,000 -$530,000 $520,000 -$530,000 $520,000 -$530,000

Orillia $425,000 $430,000 $440,000 $450,000

Flesherton $400,000 $389,000 $400,000 $400,000

Georgian Bay:

Wasaga Beach 2 $525,000 $570,000 $640,000 $640,000

Midland/Penetang/Tiny/Tay $500,000 $550,000 $500,000 -$600,000 $450,000 -$500,000

Collingwood $390,000 -$550,000 $600,000 $600,000 $600,000

Honey Harbour/Port Severn $400,000 -$425,000 $450,000 $450,000 $375,000

Muskoka/Haliburton:

Haliburton $240,000 -$350,000 $350,000 $325,000 $240,000 -$250,000

Huntsville, Lake of Bays $300,000 $300,000 $300,000 $300,000

Bracebridge, Gravenhurst $350,000 -$400,000 $325,000 $325,000 -$350,000 $325,000 -$350,000

Bala/Port Carling $450,000 $450,000 $500,000 -$550,000 $650,000

Parry Sound $185,000 $219,900 $225,000 $225,000

Elliot Lake $225,000 $215,000 $215,000 $194,0006

Lake Huron:

Sauble Beach/Bruce Peninsula $350,000 $350,000 $350,000 $330,000

Port Elgin/Southampton $450,000 $450,000 $450,000 $475,000

Grand Bend $400,000 $425,000 $475,000 $425,000

Source: RE/MAX1 Starting price for a three-bedroom, winterized recreational property on a standard-sized waterfront lot. 2 Beachfront property.

Sales of recreational product upin 70 per cent of Canadianmarkets examined.

Canadian recreational property mar-kets have been reinvigorated, with softervalues, increased selection, and arebound in consumer confidence con-tributing to an upswing in sales in 2012,according to a report released today byRE/MAX.

The RE/MAX Recreational PropertyReport, highlighting trends and develop-ments in 33 markets nationally, foundthat sales were ahead of last year’s levelsin 70 per cent of communities examined,while six per cent were on par with 2011figures. Greater affordability has been amajor impetus, in large part due to risinginventory levels and low interest rates.Downward trending in starting prices wasreported in 49 per cent of markets, while33 per cent experienced no change.Nineteen per cent posted an uptick instarting values year-over-year.*

“Recovery is still in its early stages,but there are subtle differences on therecreational property front this year,”says Michael Polzler, Executive VicePresident, RE/MAX Ontario-AtlanticCanada. “The gains are more widespread,affecting more markets and regions.Affordability has provided some seriousstimulus, but renewed consumer confi-dence is the true driver. Buyers will sim-ply not move forward if any doubtsexist—economic or otherwise. So thedemonstration of confidence we seetoday bodes well for the future.”

Inventory levels have climbed in vir-tually all centres, with some shortagesnoted at entry-level price points. Activityis exceptionally healthy for recreationalproperties under the $400,000 threshold,while demand for luxury product over $1million has also seen renewed interest inseveral markets, particularly as valueshave moved more in line with currentconditions. The mild winter weather alsobrought purchasers out earlier in the yearin many parts of the country.

“While buyers are still cautious,they’re motivated,” says Elton Ash,Regional Executive Vice President,RE/MAX of Western Canada. “Currentmarket conditions have placed them firm-ly in the driver’s seat. While the morefavourable climate has factored in, activ-ity has also been fuelled by pent-updemand that’s been building since 2008,when many began waiting it out on thesidelines. Opportunity does exist.Canadians love a good deal, and there’sno question that there are still some to behad in recreational property marketsacross the country.”

The report found that the changingmix of purchasers has also had an undeni-able impact on the current momentum,particularly in Western Canada. Activityamong the baby boomer demographicover 60 has softened, compared withyears past. Enticing prices in the southernU.S. have played a considerable role inrerouting purchases, but some retirees arereturning to their own backyard, as pricesnorth of the border have edged down-

ward. Younger families and first-timebuyers have stepped in to fill the void inmost markets.

Starter waterfront product (three-bedroom, winterized), priced under$350,000, is now offered in 53.5 per centof all recreational markets, while 58 percent of recreational centres offer entry-level properties under $400,000—animprovement over 2011. Value marketswere identified as Atlantic Canada, theLaurentians and Eastern Townships inQuebec, more than half of Ontario—inclusive of the coveted Muskokas—aswell as Lake Winnipeg, Canmore,Harrison Lake and Comox Valley/Mt.Washington in Western Canada.

The mindset of this year’s buyer poolfalls firmly into two camps—those will-ing to compromise, buying back-rowproperties off the water (happening inlarger numbers—reflective of moreyoung families active at the entry-level),and those who are steadfast in theirsearch for the ideal location. Whileturnkey product is always the preference,it’s rarely a deal breaker, as renovationactivity abounds. Teardowns and custom-builds are occurring where possible, butolder, rustic cottages and/or vacant water-front lots, are becoming increasinglyscarce.

“The good news is that there issomething for everyone, regardless ofbudget, in Canadian recreational propertymarkets,” says Sylvain Dansereau,Executive Vice President, RE/MAXQuébec. “The challenge in the current cli-

mate isbalancinge x p e c t a -tions withm a r k e trealities—both onthe part ofthe vendorand thepurchaser.Yet, dealsare com-ing togeth-er, and the start to the season has beenencouraging. We’ve had false starts in thepast, but this has the hallmarks of a mar-ket with promising momentum.”

RE/MAX is Canada’s leading realestate organization with nearly 18,900sales associates situated throughout itsmore than 720 independently-owned andoperated offices in Canada. TheRE/MAX network, now in its 38th year,is a global real estate system operating in87 countries, with close to 6,300 inde-pendently-owned offices and over 87,700member sales associates. RE/MAX real-tors lead the industry in professional des-ignations, experience and productionwhile providing real estate services inresidential, commercial, referral, andasset management. For more information,visit: www.remax.ca.For more information:Christine MartysiewiczRE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada905.542.2400

Affordability Factors into Greater Demand for RecreationalProperty in Markets across the Country this Year


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3669 Carver StreetBeautifully maintained 7 yr old, 2 BR bungalow. Largeopen concept living room/dining room w/cathedral ceilingscomplete with a home office/den. Completely finishedbasement w/corner gas fireplace, wet bar and a 2 piecebathroom. Loads of upgrades.

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4503 Dufferin AvenueRaised Ranch with 4+1 bedrms ideal for in-law setup,double garage, walk out from finished basement, renovatedkitchen with oak cabinets, island with granite counter, newC/air 2011, shingles 2005. All vinyl windows, greatneighborhood.

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MarketWatch July 1 2012 30/06/12 2:48 PM

july 4, 2012 issue 51

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