Many of us thought about building our own dream house. And although it’s an exciting idea, it does present a few challenges, the biggest of which might be how much it actually ends up costing. Here a few important things to consider before putting a shovel in the ground...

When it comes to a new build, there are really two types of costs; Hard costs and soft ones. Contractors will talk about the hard costs; they include things like materials, equipment and trades.

There are also soft costs; Expenses that could include building application fees, architect fees, engineer fees, municipal permits, and inspections.

Also consider the land you are planning to build on; Has it been surveyed? Does it need servicing, like hydro, gas, or connecting it to a water source and sewer system?

The bottom line is, building your own home is rewarding, but it’s also requires a lot of work. Take your time, and do your research to avoid a financial and construction nightmare.

We’ve got a helpful checklist with even more information you can use to help plan your own Build, you can download it right now at the OneGroup.ca/NewBuild.

Technology continues to be a catalyst for change in all areas of life and business, and the real estate industry is no exception.

Here’s a few interesting ways that new tech is changing Real Estate....

Commercial Rent is Peaking - 20 years ago, even small companies needed a brick and mortar headquarters, but with the rise of telecommuting and e-commerce, many businesses are operating remotely which is lowering

demand for office space.

Private Hospitality Market is Booming - Services like Airbnb, and websites like Kijjij are prompting more and more owners to rent out their homes for vacation and short stays and

Houses are Closing Faster - The explosion of mobile Apps and instant information sharing mean that realty professionals can market homes on a huge scale, generate more interest and complete sales faster than before.

If you have a question about Barrie Real Estate or an idea for our next podcast, we want to hear it! Reach out anytime to [email protected]!

Whether you’re purchasing a starter

home or adding an investment property to your portfolio,

buying a home is a thrilling time in your life.

And it’s easy to get swept up in that excitement and forget

about the additional fees that need to be covered before

you get the keys.

Here’s 3 of the biggest costs you should plan for when

buying...

Land Transfer Tax - In Barrie, this is usually calculated on

a scale of up to 2% of the home’s value, and can add a

few thousand dollars to your purchase.

Mortgage Costs - Depending on your lender or bank, there

might be an additional set up fee to establish your new

mortgage, so it’s best to hold back some money in case

this applies to you.

Legal Costs - Probably the biggest of your closing costs,

your lawyer will conduct a series of searches and

registrations to ensure there are no legal impediments to

you taking ownership.

If you have a question about Barrie Real Estate, or an idea for our next podcast we want to hear it! Reach out anytime, to [email protected]

In Part 3 of our Real Estate Myth Busting Series, Erin Jones of the The One Group in Barrie tackles the biggest one out there...how Real Estat Commission actually works. Got an idea for our next podcast or a question about Barrie Real Estate? We want to hear it! Reach out anytime to [email protected]

The road to selling a home can be a long one, and even if you aren’t planning to move in the near future, continually adding value to your home is a great strategy to ensure that when you do need to sell, you’ve got a valuable asset.

And it’s easy to get started! Here’s 3 easy ways you can add equity to your home...

Plant a Tree - Plan for the future with a landscaping improvement that will mature over time. Properly placed shade trees will up the curb appeal, and can cut your a/c costs by as much as 40 percent.

- Install a water filtration system in your kitchen. Not only do these systems purify your water, they will also lower your grocery bills — no more bottled water.

- Light Up The House by Adding cost efficient lighting fixtures. They’ll brighten up your home’s best features, and help to decrease your monthly power costs.

If you have a question about Barrie Real Estate or an idea for our next podcast, we want to hear it! Reach out anytime, to [email protected]

Barrie is growing both as a city, and as a centre of commerce, and that’s reflected in the wide range of diverse businesses that have popped up here over the years. Here’s 3 amazing local businesses that you should get to know a little better…

BJ Records! Barrie’s premier destination for all things vinyl, you can also find old movie posters, T-shirts and other music memorabilia on their shelves, they’re located on Clapperton street.

ENTREE LAUNCH: This organization provides youth age 11 to 29 with entrepreneurial learning with the goal of empowering youth to establish entrepreneurship as a viable career option.

DIGITAL GIANTS: Helping businesses right across the globe transform the way they communicate, Digital Giants provides you with all things web marketing, from site designs to generating online sales.

If you have a question about Barrie Real Estate, or an idea for our next podcast, we want to hear it! Reach out anytime, to [email protected]

Last month we talked about one of the most common Myths about Real Estate agents...that all of us are rich.

Today we’ll examine another one...the myth that Realtors collude with each other to drive up prices.

Unfortunately it’s true that this has happened in a few rare, but well publicized cases. But for the vast majority of Realtors it never happens because it’s unethical, illegal and not worth the effort.

When you consider the amount of time and effort a Realtor puts into a sale and the costs they have to assume to complete it, such as marketing, staging and inspections, it’s far more advantageous to let the open market determine a house price.

The idea of colluding to arrive at given price is in fact more dangerous to an agent because they could lose their license and risk jail.

Fraud does occur in Real Estate, as it does in other industries...but it’s perpetuated by a dishonest few, and not by the majority.

If you have a question about Barrie Real Estate, or an idea for our next podcast, we want to hear it! Reach out anytime, to [email protected]

Has there been a For Sale Sign on your house for a while, but it’s not selling?

There are several reasons that might be holding it back.

But you might be surprised to learn the most likely reason it’s not selling...is because it’s overpriced!

Overpricing is the most common reason a home doesn’t sell, and it can become a big problem for your sale if it’s not corrected.

Here’s a few tell tale signs your house has the bar set too high...

FEW SHOWINGS

An inflated price can scare away buyers before they even have a tour of the home.

NO OFFERS

In a market as strong as Barrie’s, a properly priced home should receive at least 1-2 offers in the first few weeks on the market.

OPEN HOUSES FALL FLAT

Buyers are busy and only interested in looking at homes they might want to purchase.

NEIGHBOURS HOMES ARE SELLING & NOT YOURS

Most frustrating for you, if your home is overpriced, it will sit idly while other houses on your street sell quickly.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

If any of these things are happening with your sale, talk to your realtor...they will have research to draw on to help you understand how they came up with the price. After that, the two of you can determine if it’s time to adjust your price point.

If you have a question about Barrie Real Estate, or an idea for our next show we'd love to hear it! Reach out anytime, to [email protected]

Selling and buying are never easy, and it can get even more complicated (and expensive) when a house sale falls through in the final stages.

There are a number of reasons this might happen, but when it does the question we get asked immediately is what happens to the deposit?

That depends on what stage of the sale you were in when the sale went sour. If it’s during the ‘conditional’ part, then the buyers will get the deposit returned, as long as the reason the deal died was due to one of those conditions not being met.

If the deal collapses after the conditions have been met, we call that being‘firm, than it’s the seller who keeps the deposit, as a form of compensation.

In both cases, the brokerage of record will hold the deposit until both parties sign a mutual release to return the money to whoever is entitled to it.

If you have a question about Barrie Real Estate, or an idea for our next podcast, we want to hear it! Reach out anytime, to [email protected]

Our incredible country just turned 150 and we’d all agree that a big part of what makes us the best nation in the world is our giving natures.

With that in mind here’s 3 amazing Barrie charities that you can get involved with right now.

CANDLELIGHTERS SIMCOE - This organization helps families who are dealing with children battling cancer, they provide ongoing support groups, therapy sessions and education programs.

http://www.candlelighterssimcoe.ca/

YOUTHHAVEN BARRIE - This is the only shelter in the area specifically for homeless youth, working with displaced teenagers and providing housing and programs to help them get off the street.

http://youthhaven.ca/

NEW PATH BARRIE - They are the lead agency in Simcoe County in delivering accessible services for children and their families suffering from mental illness.

http://newpath.ca/

You can find out lots more about all of these charities and their contact information on our blog at the www.onegroup.ca

And if you have an idea for our next podcast, we'd love to hear it! Send us an email anytime to [email protected]