Embracing Fall in the Georgian Triangle

Hi friends,      I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! I know I did. I spent it with my family eating copious amounts of turkey  and desserts; I still feel full. If you spent the weekend in the Georgian Bay area you are surely feeling as fortunate as I am and know we could not have asked for a better weekend weather-wise. Despite my love for golf and the long days of summer, this is truly my favourite time of year. If you know me at all you know that I can devour an entire apple pie in one sitting and with the fresh fall harvest it’s prime pie time.  It is really the spectacular bouquet of fall colours  and their Niagara Escarpment showcase - equal to none - that makes me fall in love with this region all over again  every time autumn comes around.        While autumn is beautiful,  its tail end marks a relatively slow time of year for real estate. That said, with development on the upswing and a strong regional-specific market, this season is showing little sign of slowing for both Buyers and Sellers.     Before we say goodbye to bearable weather I wanted to thank you for your continued support of my business.      Please check out the rest of my seasonal newsletter for a market Update, fun tips and more. I look forward to seeing you all soon!           Sincerely,  Mike  

October, 2013 Mike’s Fall Newsletter

Mike Kearns REAL  ESTATE  REDEFINED     save the date

local events and dates to remember

Oct 19 – Trek or Treat 5k Night Trail Run and Creepy Mile Get dressed up and experience Collingwood’s darkened paths lit by glowing pumpkins. An event the whole family can enjoy! 6pm, Collingwood Contact: info@trekortreat.ca Oct 30 – 5th Annual Dragon’s Den, Meaford Watch local entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to the infamous panel of “Dragons” to win cash and prizes. 7:30 pm @ Chamber of Commerce, Meaford Contact #:226.662.2662 Nov 2 – Shri Fest A celebration of yoga with special teachers, musicians and artists. Whether you are an avid yogi or have an interest in learning or getting started there is something for you. @The Blue Mountains Contact: info@bluemountainvillage.ca Nov 15 – Opening Night Northern Lights Festival Usher in the Christmas season and enjoy this beloved family tradition. 5-11pm, Owen Sound Contact: 855.868789 Dec 14 – Olde Fashioned Christmas Join Santa and his elves, Christmas crafts, horse drawn wagon rides, live music and much more. Kick off the Christmas season with great shopping and socializing in downtown Thornbury.  

Ma

rke

t W

atc

h

Month to month  This summer boasted healthy results for the Georgian Triangle real estate market. From May through July, we experienced an impressive 19% gain in MLS sales compared to the same three month period last year.  Similar to that of our major national markets (Toronto, Vancouver), we have seen these trends continue into the fall season with regional unit sales up significantly year to date.  Impressive exceptions While our market has shown growth overall this year there have been some regional standouts, most notably Meaford.  After a difficult couple of years, Meaford has rebounded nicely in '13 with a 24% increase in unit sales YTD while prices have increased 4%.  Clearview Townships' 16.5% growth is also worth noting. Year-to-date Over all we have seen an increase in unit sales this year, up 8.4% from 2012.  Dollar volume has increased by 9.8% with a year-to-date of $486 million.   Increase in Higher Price Tags Upper end sales from 500k and up have shown significant growth this year with volume in this category up over 14% YTD.  The category of 800k-1m is worth noting as sales volumes in this category  have increased an impressive 36%.  As the high end market in this area is generally driven by discretionary Buyers (ie. vacationers/part timers), the significant growth in this category is strong evidence of increased confidence in the real estate market and the Canadian economy as a whole. Positive outlook We are on track for a record year! With a steady, balanced market, fewer expired listings, and overall increased sales, neither Buyers or Sellers are heavily favoured in this market.  High demand bodes well for Sellers while historically low interest rates continue to make this a great time to get into the market.  While the late fall is typically a slower time in my own experience, I expect to see strong sales activity through this month and continued into late November.  

WWW.MIKEKEARNS.CA  

healthy local market

Popular Muirfield Model in the Woods at Applejack. This desirable end unit features an open concept living space,

main-floor master with ensuite & walk-in closet, main-floor laundry, cathedral ceiling. The finished lower level boasts a

large rec room, 2 bedrooms, a 3 pc bathroom and a walkout to green space and the Little Beaver River. Additional features include a single car garage, 2 gas fireplaces, plenty of additional storage, a/c, central vac and much more. This unit would be perfect for the retiree or weekender. Enjoy the convenience of being walking distance from downtown Thornbury and enjoy all the amenities this condo has to offer including 2 outdoor pools, 4 tennis courts, & and a rec centre. For a virtual tour visit my website www.mikekearns.ca

featured listing

evolution for men is Thornbury's premier men's wear store. We offer a wide variety of excellent quality clothing, accessories and giftware all in one beautiful location. With premium branding like Ben Sherman, Nautica, Penguin, Desigual, Schott, Haight & Ashbury, Blundstone and Kuhl just to name a few, we know you'll find something to suit your needs.  This fall, keep your eye out for the classic blazer or sports jacket that will work perfectly with those funky button downs, classic sweaters, fashion denims and casual shoes like a new Blundstone brogue or Olukai short boot. We're proud to be part of Thornbury's downtown as a destination for the many supportive people who call Thornbury home - full or part time. Being part of a 4 season recreational area allows us and other businesses to love being in business here, to work to play and play to work. What an incredible area to live in! - Scott and Leslie, Owners

visit www.evolutionformen.ca

talk about town

Autumn Inspirations Fall Curb Appeal

Prepare your home’s exterior for a fall sale!

TRANSFORM YOUR PLANTERS No reason to leave your planters bare as summer’s fauna wilts. Spruce up your exterior by stocking your window or patio planters with vibrant oranges, reds and yellows. Martha Stewart uses leaves, corn husks and multi-coloured Gourdes to transform her own former-flowerbeds. Give it a try!

GROUP YOUR GOURDS When staging your porch, patio or entry use groupings of three to five gourds or pumpkins alone or at the base of a planting pot to create depth and interest. For a modern look try all white, or for a more casual feel use a variety of colours and sizes. If you are feeling crafty, take the extra step and decorate them!

KEEP IT CLEAN Fall means falling leaves, keep gutters free of fallen foliage and your front yard raked and kept tidy. A simple way to maintain your home’s curb appeal this fall.

GET RUSTIC Ever think of stopping by that roadside flea market or the antique shops spilling out onto the streets? Fall is the time to do it. Using rustic props like pitch forks or even a piece of antique old farming equipment can add charm and warmth to your home.

 

Nestled in The Beaver Valley beneath stony face of the breathtaking Niagara Escarpment, John Mott and Judy Cornwell have opened the door to the Beaver Valley Orchard and Cidery. The duo produce hand-crafted ciders from select varieties of heritage apples grown on the property. The cidery and tasting rooms are housed in stunning, converted historic post and beam century barn.

Beaver Valley Orchard & Cidery

Stop by for a tasting weekends Noon-6pm 235853 Beaver Valley Road

Meredith’s Ginger Syrup

Add 1 Tablespoon of Meredith’s Ginger Syrup

to your favorite milk. Heat. Stir. Enjoy!

“Immunity for the Community,” is the company slogan. Local, Meredith Cowan, uses the finest ingredients including fresh ginger root and honey raised on her organic farm in Meaford to produce her special Ginger Syrup recipe. The rejuvenating, nutritious and delicious syrups are sold and served in several local and regional locations. Find it at The General Store in Kimberly and Ravenna.

The Thornbury Bakery This cozy café has been a landmark in Thornbury for over 80 years. Every day the bakers produce freshly baked bread from scratch. Absolutely no pre-packaged or frozen ingredients! Known for the fresh breads, Chelsea buns, cinnamon rolls and butter tarts the bakery now offers a large assortment of fresh, in-house baked goods. From carrot cakes to locally grown apple pies, to ginger molasses cookies, owners, Dave and Trish Smith along with their friendly staff are devoted to producing the absolute best quality for their clients. Stop in for a pumpkin spiced late or a slice of seasonal apple pie for a delicious fall treat.

Home Grown Fall Specialties

To watch: A few local stories that may influence development and growth in the region. Public Transit Trial TBM Council agreed to support a six-month trial public transit link from Collingwood to Blue Mountain Village starting in November. The project is a private/public partnership with funds coming from The Blue Mountains, Collingwood, Blue Mountain Resort and gas tax grants. Wasaga Beach may also contribute. Bid for Talisman The Municipality of Grey Highlands in the process of formally taking ownership of the Talisman Mountain Resort property. At the most recent council meeting it was revealed that the Municipality had received a formal offer for purchase. The details of the offer have not been released but the Grey Highlands CAO has commented that it is more than someone just "kicking tires."  There are a number of issues surrounding a possible sale including possible crown liens and 2.5 million in back taxes owing Second Gas Bar Proposed for Thornbury The Municipality of The Blue Mountains is currently reviewing a second application for a gas bar in Thornbury. The location of the proposed eight pump gas bar and 181 square meter commercial retail store is the vacant lot east of Tim Horton’s at 40 Arthur Street. This news comes as Thornbury’s current UPI gas bar has put on the market. “Stop the Drop” campaign amps up for 2014 A recent town council meeting presented two new objectives regarding Georgian Bay’s dropping water levels. The first is to engage the public all around the Great Lakes in key lake-oriented issues, the second; make public opinion more visible and more accessible to elected representatives. Those involved in the campaign plan to drastically increase presence and education in the surrounding communities in the new year.

local business spotlight

in full fall fashion