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Midland Castle, An Enchanted History

This week For Sale On Georgian Bay has been at the centre of the noteworthy sale of the Midland Castle Village and Enchanted Kingdom. Our very own Shelby Greenlaw listed the property for sale whilst Eric Beutler was able to bring a buyer to the table and complete the sale.

Now we join the community in waiting to see what becomes of the local landmark property! In the meantime, join us as we look back at the history of an iconic location where local residents and tourists alike have made lasting memories.

Mr. Paul Des Roches built a single castle in 1972 with the intention of selling his handmade crafts and woodworking. He was highly successful in this endeavor, producing items such as birdhouses, candlesticks, and souvenir spoons, and the castle became a gift shop offering nearly 10,000 items. The castle was designed with thirty towers, a water spewing dragon, and a moat guarded by creatures of the underworld. 

In the castle’s basement, a showroom was added to house early Canadian and American furniture, which was later converted into the Museum of Medieval Arms, Armour and Heraldry, where visitors could learn about medieval weaponry and see life-sized suits of armor. A separate museum, the Museum of Horror, Dracula’s Dungeons, was added in 1982, featuring early era prisons with well-known horror characters in the cells.

The 7 acre property was expanded to 45 acres with new additions designed by Paul and his daughter, including an Enchanted Kingdom Park with fantasy cottages based on fairytales, a Grist Mill, Merlin the Magician’s Tower, and an 80-foot suspension bridge across a pond with a giant fountain. 

The castle operated as a bilingual attraction and won the Provincial Tourism Award from RDEE in 2005. However, the family eventually put the property up for sale in 2008.

Sadly, Paul Des Roches, the visionary behind the castle, passed away in December of 2022. In April 2023, the property was purchased again and the community awaits to see what will happen next to a beloved landmark.

What memories do you have of the castle? We would love to see any photos or hear your stories!

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March 2023 Market Report For Our Communities

The spring market has arrived and with it we’ve seen 120% increase in Active Listings compared to 2022. Over 200 properties were sold in our community during March proving that there are plenty of opportunities for both Buyers and Sellers alike. The average sale price is down 15% compared to 2022 however, worth noting that compared to pre pandemic numbers, we’re still seeing a 61% increase.

In our local communities, we saw prices not to much lower than last year with just a 4% drop in Midland. However, in Penetanguishene, we saw a healthy 22% sale price increase with the average home selling for more than $828,000. In Tiny despite seeing a decrease, the average home is still lingering around the $1 Million mark. Also in Tiny we saw a huge 236% in active listings. There’s lots of opportunities for everyone so give us a call today!

Trust your local experts to guide you through the process and take advantage of the current market. Ask us about our FREE Home Market Analysis to determine exactly how much your Home is worth in today’s Market.

All data correct as of April 10th, 2023, data gathered by the Ontario Collective based on March 2022 vs March 2023.

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February 2023 Market Report For Our Communities

The spring market is just around the corner and we’re already seeing signs that it’s going to be a great market for Buyers and Sellers with lots of activity. However, looking back on February, we saw a 28% decrease in sales activity compared to 2022 with just over 100 properties sold across our region. Staying in line with the last 6 months of 2022, active listings continued to surge, across our communities we saw 212% rise in active listings. There’s lots of opportunities for Buyers right now as we’re seeing so many new listings and at the same time, property sales slowed down last month.

In our local communities, we saw sale price decreases in Midland, Penetang and Tay but a large increase in Tiny as the $1 Million mark was broken again, much like it was during most of 2022. However, it’s important to note that there were limited sales to base this information off – Sales Activity was down almost 54% across the region with only 30 sales in our communities. As we compare this to the start of March and look to the spring market, we expect a re-balancing of the market to continue with more opportunities for buyers but also attractive sales prices for sellers.

Trust your local experts to guide you through the process and take advantage of the current market. Ask us about our FREE Home Market Analysis to determine exactly how much your Home is worth in today’s Market.

All data correct as of March 3rd, 2023, data gathered by the Ontario Collective based on February 2022 vs February 2023.

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Happy New Homes

Four Reasons Why You May Want To Move Into A Newly Constructed Home

Is moving into a new home on your 2023 to-do list? Not just a “I have never lived here before” new, but a “no one has ever lived here before” new? Whether you’re a current homeowner or a first-time home searcher, a newly constructed home could be just what you need to make your property dreams a reality this year. Here are four reasons why new builds could be worth your down payment and/or putting your current living space on the market.

Unleash Your Creativity

If you’ve ever played the popular computer game The Sims, you know how much fun it is to design your own dwelling space. Depending on when you enter the building process, new home construction can be just like that, but in real life!

Whether you’re working with a contractor to fill an empty plot or you’re able to get in on the ground floor of a new housing community, you may get to leave your mark on everything from how many floors your house contains to the style of the light fixtures that illuminate every room.

Even if the property is already complete, the modular nature of many modern homes allows for a level of customization you can’t find in most older properties. At least not without enlisting a contractor and construction crew. When the dust has settled, the paint is dry, and those keys land in the palm of your hand, you can take pride in knowing you’re moving into a home that is truly yours.


Protect Your Physical And Financial Health

According to a recent research report, nearly 75% of homes are 30 or more years old, and 43% of homes were built before 1978. Since then, regulations on harmful chemicals like asbestos, formaldehyde, and phthalates have resulted in safer building materials ranging from paints and varnishes to pipes and insulation.

Purchasing a new home on a fresh plot of land could also make your property eligible for a new home warranty, which could cover everything from materials to workmanship. You’ll be able to rest assured your residence meets the most recent codes and regulations. It also removes the need for renovations to replace outdated materials, which lowers maintenance fees and other unwanted surprises sometimes found in older homes.


Reach Peak Efficiency

Of all the many benefits technology offers, efficiency is probably the most significant. From water fixtures to HVAC systems, new homes often include countless efficiency upgrades you won’t find in older models. One excellent example of this is the seamless integration of smart devices. For instance, many modern homes either come with or can easily be equipped with smart security systems like motion-activated cameras or video doorbells. Speaking of, bluetooth locks are becoming increasingly common in new residences.

In terms of lowering your monthly bills, newly constructed homes are often better suited for solar panels, smart thermostats, or even refrigerators that connect to your Wi-Fi router. Modern homes are also more likely to have external power outlets for amenities like electric-vehicle charging stations or battery-powered backup generators. In addition to reducing your carbon footprint, these innovations have the potential to lower your monthly costs.


Think About Longevity

As our society becomes more technologically advanced, future home buyers will continue to demand modern amenities like the ones previously mentioned. For that reason, purchasing a new home can be a potentially profitable financial investment. Whether you’re interested in a permanent residence or an investment property, a new home may be just what you’re looking for.


Interested in learning more about the new home opportunities in our area? We would love to sit down and discuss them with you! Give us a call at 705 209 3095 to hear about up-and-coming housing developments, the latest listings, or trusted contractors who could help you turn an empty plot of land into a sparkling new piece of property.

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January 2023 Market Report For Our Communities

New Year, new stats! January saw a big dip in sales activity which skewed a lot of statistics this month. We saw a 23% decrease in sales activity compared to 2022 with just over 100 properties sold across our region. Staying in line with the last 6 months of 2022, active listings continued to surge, across our communities we saw 305% rise in active listings. There’s lots of opportunities for Buyers right now as we’re seeing so many new listings and at the same time, property sales slowed down last month.

In our local communities, we saw sale price decreases in Midland, Penetang and Tay but a large increase in Tiny. However, it’s important to note that there were limited sales to base this information off – Sales Activity was down almost 23% across the region with only 29 sales in our communities. As we head deeper into the new year and look to the spring market, we expect a re-balancing of the market to continue with more opportunities for buyers but also attractive sales prices for sellers.

Trust your local experts to guide you through the process and take advantage of the current market. Ask us about our FREE Home Market Analysis to determine exactly how much your Home is worth in today’s Market.

All data correct as of February 2nd, 2023, data gathered by the Ontario Collective based on January 2022 vs January 2023.

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Buying In The Winter?

Debating on Buying in the Winter? Pros to buying now.. 

Although the spring and fall are the most common times to buy and sell your home, there are some advantages to looking for a home during the cold winter months. While there aren’t as many homes to choose from, there are significantly fewer buyers actively shopping and therefore less competition.  Everything slows down in the winter when it comes to real estate, but for some buyers this opens up a great opportunity. 

Less Competition

It is common for buyers to put their home search to a halt during the holiday season. This is typically due to certain buyers finding it less appealing to go out in the snowy cold weather or because people would like to take a break for holiday festivities. However, you can use this to your advantage by braving the elements. With less active buyers, you are less likely to get into a bidding war and there are less showings which motivates sellers. With the contrast between less competition and motivated sellers, you are more likely to get away with offering less and saving on the overall purchase price.

Moving and Renovation Expenses

Another benefit to buying in the winter is that when it’s closing day, you have a much broader selection of moving companies and contractors. For movers, they are often busy the first of the month helping people who are renting and their busy season is the spring and fall. With less people moving in the winter months, moving companies sometimes decrease their rates to remain competitive. It is the same with contractors, once the weather gets better in the spring they get booked up quickly.

Motivated Sellers

Some people may have had their home on the market for quite a few days at this point in the year or have just recently listed. We often find sellers with their homes on the market during the winter are very eager to sell. This means the possibility of the seller accepting an offer below what they’d typically accept is much more likely. 

We are always here to help when you need us, every step of the way. Any questions you have, always feel free to reach out to us here at For Sale On Georgian Bay!

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December 2022 Market Report For Our Communities

One last look back at 2022 as we take in the December Market Stats. We saw a large decrease in sales activity where December sales were down 48% compared to 2021. For a few months in a row now, active listings continued to surge, across our communities we saw 349% rise in active listings. There’s lots of opportunities for Buyers right now but don’t forget that seller’s are still getting top dollar for their properties. Although prices are down (1.7%), it’s important to remember that, year to date, the average sale price is up 7.7% compared to this point last year.

In our local communities, we saw the active listing trends continue, a lot more inventory in Penetanguishene with a staggering 2600% increase and in Tiny with a 507% increase. We also saw large inventory increases in Midland and Tay throughout December. Prices stayed fairly consistent compared to last year with very minimal decreases In Midland, Tiny & Tay. Across our other communities, we saw larger decreases. However, it’s important to note that there were limited sales to base this information off – Sales Activity was down almost 48% across the region. As we head into the new year, we expect a re-balancing of the market to continue with more opportunities for buyers but also attractive sales prices for sellers.

Trust your local experts to guide you through the process and take advantage of the current market. Ask us about our FREE Home Market Analysis to determine exactly how much your Home is worth in today’s Market.

All data correct as of January 6th, 2023, data gathered by the Ontario Collective based on December 2021 vs December 2022.

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November 2022 Market Report For Our Communities

As we get deeper into the holiday season let’s take a look at how the Market is looking. We saw a large decrease in sales activity where November sales were down 29% compared to 2021. For a few months in a row now, active listings continued to surge, across our communities we saw 211% rise in active listings. There’s lots of opportunities for Buyers right now but don’t forget that seller’s are still getting top dollar for their properties. Although prices are down (7.3%), it’s important to remember that, year to date, the average sale price is up 8.1% compared to this point last year.

In our local communities, we saw the active listing trends continue, a lot more inventory in Penetanguishene with a huge 433% increase and in Tiny with a 304% increase. We also saw large inventory increases in Penetang and Tay throughout November. Prices stayed fairly consistent compared to last year with very minimal decreases In Midland. Across our other communities, we saw larger decreases. However, it’s important to note that there were limited sales to base this information off – Sales Activity was down almost 30% across the region. As we head into the new year, we expect a re-balancing of the market to continue with more opportunities for buyers but also attractive sales prices for sellers.

Trust your local experts to guide you through the process and take advantage of the current market. Ask us about our FREE Home Market Analysis to determine exactly how much your Home is worth in today’s Market.

All data correct as of December 8th, 2022, data gathered by the Ontario Collective based on November 2021 vs November 2022.

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3 Ways To Donate Locally This Holiday Season

If you feel that your cup is full and are looking to give back this holiday season, there are many opportunities throughout Simcoe County and the surrounding Georgian Bay area that allow you to donate to local families who are in need. A child may be able to open a gift that they otherwise wouldn’t have received on Christmas morning, or a family may be able to have the Christmas dinner they dream of providing for their household. Whether you are able to make a monetary donation, a food/toy donation or an act of kindness for a family or an individual your good deed will touch the hearts of many during the holidays. 


The Rock 95 & Kool FM Toy Drive

This toy drive donates toys to children of all ages ranging from infant to 16 years old via cash or toy donations. All drop-off locations are listed here. To make a donation, the local Midland drop off is located at The Beer Store at 9350 Highway 93, Midland Ontario and the local Penetanguishene drop off is located at The Beer Store at 15 Main St, Penetanguishene Ontario. Or alternatively, you can make a monetary donation online here. Donations are being accepted until December 19th, 2022.


Hospice Huronia Wish List

During the holiday season, you may have not thought about donating to hospice. However, the holidays can be very tough for patients and their families. Hospice Huronia is willing to accommodate any ideas you have with donations large and small, including acts of kindness and Giving Packages, you can view their wish list here. Donations can be made at 948 Fuller Ave, Penetanguishene, Ontario between 9:00am and 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Monetary donations are also accepted online.  


The Barrie & District Christmas Cheer Campaign

This campaign collects donations of food and toys for families in need. Anyone willing to donate can text the word CHEER to the number 30333 from their wireless device and can make a donation of $5, $10, $20 or $25. Funds will be sent directly to the campaign and the donation will be charged to your next wireless bill. You can learn more here. You are also able to donate online here.

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October 2022 Market Report For Our Communities

As the leaves fall from the trees, so do home prices across our region, down 11% from this time last year. We saw a large decrease in sales activity where October sales were down 28% compared to 2021. For a few months in a row now, active listings continued to surge, across our communities we saw 145% rise in active listings. There’s lots of opportunities for Buyers right now but don’t forget that seller’s are still getting top dollar for their properties. Although prices are down, it’s important to remember that, year to date, the average sale price is up 9.4% compared to this point last year.

In our local communities, we saw the active listing trends continue, a lot more inventory in Midland with a huge 195% increase and in Tiny with a 150% increase. We also saw large inventory increases in Penetang and Tay throughout October. Prices stayed very consistant compared to last year with very minimal increases and decreases. Whilst house prices still look very attractive to sellers, there are many opportunities for buyers too giving us an interesting market heading into the winter months.

Trust your local experts to guide you through the process and take advantage of the current market. Ask us about our FREE Home Market Analysis to determine exactly how much your Home is worth in today’s Market.

All data correct as of November 4th, 2022, data gathered by the Ontario Collective based on October 2021 vs October 2022.