Happiness Ahoy

Round about a year and a half ago now, I put up a post numbering thirty things that were bringing me joy in that moment. Every so often since then I've revisited the list and have found it quite enduring. I still love Georgette Heyer's novels and near everything else listed (especially the Roses Lime, because I've been in a gimlet place lately. Scurvy, do you think?). I'd be hard pressed to keep it to 30 items these days and, having read Suburban Matron's Little Pleasures post, I'm thinking I can make it straight up to 50, with the addition of more than a few non-thingish items. Sure, she's got some mighty excellent literature and even physical fitness on her list, but I've got romance novels and pie. I'd say it's a draw.

So. Let's do it. Twenty more things that make me happy, and then I want to hear a couple from ya'all. Deal?

31. My new role at work. Yummy.
32. Adele's Rolling in the Deep
33. Today's Philadelphia Inquirer review of the Kyber Pass Pub - I was brought to the Khyber once or twice by a pre-Brainiac beau and have ne'er thought of it since. I wonder what ever happened to that boy?
34. The peanut butter cupcakes my girl and I baked today (maple frosting, salted peanut garnish).
35. That Downton Abbey is now available on Netflix
36. That the young mother in My Village who nearly died having her babies is stronger every day
37. That I can draw my son out of himself every time with the suggestion that we bake a pumpkin pie
38. The dining table I intend to order soonest
39. That three people I like and respect have found jobs
40. My latest amazon order, full of the Duchess of Devonshire and gluten-free recipes (not in the same book)
41. My new grey boiled wool jacket
42. Top Gear (don't tell my husband - I'm getting much mileage (ha!) out of rolling my eyes when he tunes in)
43. The napkins on which I'm embroidering a pinecone motif. They're a surprise for a friend and I think she'll really like them.
44. The two cases of wine we bought yesterday, mostly malbec and rioja
45. My mother's high school graduation picture
46. Key Lime pie. Frozen. On a stick. Covered in chocolate.
47. Our new dog. Her name is Summer and she's fantastic.
48. The local theatre company that offers excellent productions AND affordable tickets.
49. I'm keeping my promise to myself to take lunch to work when I'm in the office
50. That I could go on for 50 more

That was fun. Now it's your turn. I know, I haven't been around in a spell, but throw a girl a bone, won't you? What are you enjoying these days?

A Cultural Wasteland We Are Not

  Many of the buyers that we deal with on a daily basis in real estate, have been coming to or are drawn to the Georgian Triangle due to the many recreational sports the area offers. Long known as the ski capital of Ontario, the area now is home to many other outdoor activities that is making it a popular choice for both part-time recreational users as well as for retirees. Golf, hiking, biking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing are but some of the many activities available to those seeking an active outdoor lifestyle.

  The area however also offers much more than just outdoor sports to keep one busy and physically healthy. There is also a plethora of other interests in this area which are not typically found in smaller communities. I grew up and lived in Toronto for 30+ years before moving to Collingwood in 1985. Following seven years of living here, I spent four years in Chicago before returning in 1998. When I am not working, I spend what leisure time I can afford during the summer at my cottage on Manitoulin Island. Make no mistake about it, I like small towns and will never move back to the city but let's face it, most small places are what can only be described as a cultural wasteland. Not so here. We have a myriad of social activities to satisfy most tastes, enough so as to prolong the need to head south to Toronto or elsewhere for a cultural "fix" now and then. This includes an active arts community, live theatre, a film club, live concerts and more. Last weekend I attended a concert at the Gayety Theatre in Collingwood which was essentially a tribute concert of the 70's rock group "The Band." The band that played is known as King Harvest, named after one the original group's many songs. Members of King Harvest are all local musicians, further testimony to the multitude of talented individuals that call this area home. The show drew a standing ovation, the quality of the performance was excellent and the Gayety was literally rockin.
  As I have stated many times, one of my favourite quotes comes from the author David Foot that wrote the book Boom, Bust, Echo. In that book Mr. Foot states that: "...real estate is affected far more by demographics than it is by economics..." Nowhere is this more evident than in the Georgian Triangle. The demographics driving our real estate market are those individuals with a variety of interests and a multitude of talent that once thrived only in the large urban areas to the south of us. Whether you are in to music, theatre, painting, film or a host of other non-active recreational activities, we truly do offer something for everyone.



 

Busy Not Rushing Into Anything

Refreshed, renewed and relaxed, that's my motto. As well it might be with months and months off.

A girl can't have a blog-cation forever, though, so I'm percolating some new projects. There's tons I want to do and there's no point waiting for a perfect moment.

I'll be back. Just as soon as I finish this last bonbon.

Canadian Real Estate Association Increases 2011/2012 Sales Forecast

Based on higher than expected market activity in the latter half of 2010, the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has revised its 2011 sales forecast for residential sales through the Association's MLS® system. 
The revised forecast stems from several factors.  For one, buyers realize that the current mortgage rates still remain at historically low levels and have no place to go but up.  The overall economic outlook for Canada remains positive and is continuing to improve and with it, consumer confidence is also on the move upward.  National home sale in 2010 topped 447,010 units.  CREA have forecasted a slight decrease (-1.6%) in unit sales for 2011 with sales expected to reach 439,900 homes.  Conversely, CREA has improved their forecast for 2012 and are now anticipating sales nationwide to reach 453,000 homes, an increase of 3.0%.   
  How does Ontario fair in all of this?  In 2010 home sales in Ontario reached 195,591 units, a decrease of 0.1% from 2009.  Sales in the province for 2011 are forecasted to decline a further 5.2% with a total of 185,500 homes being sold.  Slight improvement in Ontario sales activity is expected for 2012 with unit sales increasing to 187,900 an increase of 1.3%  over forecasted sales for this year.  All of this spells good news for consumers in that we are decidedly moving in the direction of more balanced market conditions which favours neither buyers nor sellers.
  For further information relative to the local market please see my Georgian Triangle Real Estate News and my Condo Communique´ newsletters both of which can be subscribed to at www.propertycollingwood.com.

Upper End Home Sales Continue to Drive Area Real Estate Sales Upward

Although we continue to have a cold snowy winter, certain aspects of the real estate market have really started to heat up early in 2011 most notably the upper end of the market.
  To date we have had 3 sales (that I am aware of) ranging in price from $1.8 to $3.25 million.  One of those was a property not listed on the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS® which I sold myself for over $2.7 million.  Further, two adjoining waterfront properties one of which was a vacant lot sold to the same buyer for $900,000 each so that too was essentially a $1.8 million dollar sale.  Three of these upper end sales were waterfront properties in the Blue Mountains.  In 2009 and 2010, higher end waterfront properties languished on the market.  Now barely six weeks into the new year with the beach areas buried under ice and snow not visible for the buyers to inspect and they are selling quite briskly.
  January sales reported through the MLS® system of the Georgian Triangle Real Estate Board (GTREB) were $22.7 million up 11% from $20.5 million in January 2010.  Not included in the January 2011 results was the aforementioned sale of over $2.7 million which did not go through GTREB's MLS®.  Unit sales in Janaury 2011 actually dropped from the prior year 77 versus 81 sold in January 2010 so the revenue increase was driven purely by the sale of more expensive properties.  The Municipality of Meaford and the Blue Mountains are the only two municipalities showing an increase in unit sales for January.
  People keep talking about it being a buyer's market but I for one am not buying into the notion.  Sure, the number of new MLS® listings this year through the end of January are up 5% but in any given price range, property type or area the selection is quite slim.  I have buyers ready and willing to make a purchase right now, we just can't find the right property. All of the aforementioned million dollar sales were at prices that exceeded 90% of their respective asking prices so there were hardly "given away."
  One month certainly does not make a year but improving economic conditions, renewed consumer confidence and the threat of higher interest rates down the road are bringing people back into the real estate buying mode, some in a very big way.  As the saying goes "an ill wind always blows someone some good."  The abundance of snow this winter resulting in fabulous ski, snowboard and snowmobiling conditions is bringing people to the area in droves. This in turn stimulates the local economy including real estate activity so in addition improved economic conditions, Mother Nature deserves some credit as well.