Welcome
Welcome to Real Estate at Blue Mountain
For over 25 years, we’ve been helping people just like you find, buy, and sell Blue Mountain real estate.
Nearly all of our business comes by referral from a long line of happy clients. If you’d like to understand how we’re different, or how we can help with your Blue Mountain real estate needs, please feel free to get in touch anytime.
-Ian Hawkins & Cindy Ryerse
Royal LePage All Real Estate Services Ltd.
Telephone: 1-705-445-5520 | Toll Free: 1-877-445-5520
Top Ten Blue Mountain Real Estate Inspection Problems
Posted on Oct 27, 2011 in Blue Mountain Real Estate
Top Ten Blue Mountain Real Estate Inspection Problems
- Minor maintenance problems: Poor overall maintenance will eventually lead to problems down the road.
- Minor structural problems: Minor problems can include things like cracked foundation and are typical in older homes. Although they are minor they should be corrected in order to avoid any further problems in the future.
- Grading/drainage problems: They can cover anything from damp basements to needing new roof gutters. These are the most common problems found in home inspections.
- Older/insufficient electrical system: It is very common to find older homes with undersized services, aluminum wiring, knob-and-tub wiring or inadequate and poorly renovated distribution systems. It is important to have these problems looked into since they can be dangerous.
- Older/poorly installed plumbing: It is also very common to find plumbing problems in older homes. Repairs can range from a simple 10-minute fix to expensive replacement. It is a good idea to get an expert opinion.
- Older/leaking roof: It’s difficult to estimate roof age from the ground unless the roof is new, but on average an asphalt roof usually lasts about 15 to 20 years. A home inspector will be able to tell you how many layers are under the roof in order to determine if it needs to be completely stripped or not.
- Older heating/cooling system: Older and poorly maintained heating/cooling systems are inefficient and could pose a serious safety and health risk. New systems may be expensive but will help to recoup your investment.
- Poor ventilation: Excessive moisture from un-vented bathrooms and cooking areas can cause a wide range of problems. As a result, these need to be corrected before the damage becomes excessive.
- Excessive air leakage: Poor weather-stripping, badly fitted doors, deteriorated caulking and poor attic seals all contribute to a cold and drafty home. Repairs are usually simple and inexpensive.
- Mold: It can be a result of water damage, too much humidity, poor ventilation system, wet construction materials or even poor construction or design.
Your Blue Mountain real estate is an investment. It’s worth the time to make sure it’s a sound one.
10 Tips for Buying Blue Mountain Real Estate
Posted on Oct 27, 2011 in Blue Mountain Real Estate
Even though you know that you can afford to buy, talk to your account advisor. If you are financing your Collingwood Blue Mountain real estate, the bank will become a part of your decision making process. Unless you specifically request otherwise, most real estate offers should contain a financing condition even if it is for a short period of time. Pre-approval gives you the piece of mind in knowing what you can afford to purchase.
2. Try not to let first impressions affect your decision.
Remember you are only buying real estate and not the décor. Most people want to personalize a home when they move in so wall colours, carpet, etc, should not become a factor unless the décor is incredibly wrong.
3. Consider the location before deciding to buy.
We discussed this earlier but, location, location and location deserves to be repeated incessantly. The Collingwood, Blue Mountain and Georgian Triangle area’s have many hidden gems and we want you to be aware of them before you purchase. Do you want to be located close to local area amenities, or in the country where you can get away from it all? We’ve got it all!
4. Read all documents thoroughly before signing.
We constantly work with real estate related legal contracts and it is our responsibility to be certain that you are fully aware of your rights and obligations before signing any of them. When given any document to sign make sure to read and understand what it is you are signing. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
5. Always get agreements in writing.
Many people have done business on their word or on a handshake; however, a written obligation may be enforceable in a court of law, contract law states that verbal agreements are not enforceable when dealing with real property.
6. Base your offer on market value and not on the asking price.
Buyers and sellers always expect to be able to negotiate and a financial buffer is always built into an asking price. We research Collingwood Blue Mountain real estate sale prices as they relate to listing prices in all market segments and will advise accordingly when suggesting a listing price. Look into what similar Collingwood Blue Mountain real estate properties have sold for in the area. How does yours compare? Contact us for an up-to-date Blue Mountain, Collingwood market summary.
7. Consider getting a professional home inspector.
Another pair of experienced eyes is always a good idea when it comes to getting professional advice. We must stay current to changes that impact the sale of real estate and how these changes affect the sale of a property. Home inspectors must do the same and will give you an excellent overview of the condition of a property. A home inspector will protect you from any potential disasters and give you the comfort of knowing what you are buying.
8. Allow time to shop around for home insurance.
You must also be aware of changes in the way that insurance companies deal with the risk in certain real estate properties and how they will adjust a premium according to its location, type of heat, etc. Give yourself time to look around. You don’t want to be rushed into finding insurance otherwise you will likely miss out on better deals.
9. Remember that the Bank’s quoted mortgage rates aren’t carved in stone.
It is a very competitive world we live in. We can help you by suggesting some of the best people in the area to deal with. Banks are experiencing increased competition and in most cases are willing to negotiate mortgage rates.
10. Know your rights and obligations.
We cannot say enough about the importance of an experienced real estate team that stays current in legislation changes and market updates. We love what we do and want you to understand our role is to assist you in all facets of your Collingwood Blue Mountain Real Estate decision making processes.
4 Factors Affecting the Value of Your Blue Mountain Real Estate
Posted on Oct 27, 2011 in Blue Mountain Real Estate
1. Location, Location, Location
Never has it been so realistic as to experience what happened to prices at Blue Mountain when Intrawest purchased Blue Mountain Resorts. While some people want to be located at the resort, others prefer a quieter investment. Proximity to local amenities, schools, parks, stores, churches, beaches, golf courses as well as future devlopment plans and waterfront improvements, all affect market value. Property sizes relate to lot sizes, farm sizes and waterfront widths. These criteria will impact how much in town sells for on a wide or narrow lot, how much a farm sells for and how much a waterfront lot will sell for.
2. Condition of the Home
A buyers first impression (curb appeal), floor layout, general condition of main systems, condition of roof, condition of the electrical system, furnace, central air, all impact what a buyer will pay for a property.
3. Comparable Properties
The marketplace is not based on a list price but what are the selling prices of comparable neighboring homes. A knowledgeable home owner must have this information available through their realtors.
4. Market Conditions and the Economy
The number of homes currently on the market and the number of people looking to buy is judged by the amount of traffic and enquiries that busy realtors are experiencing. In a stable economy, buyers have greater confidence and are prepared to endure risk if the market signals are strong.
