Real Estate Blog | Page #6

 

Located just 7 minutes from Port Carling and 20 minutes from Bracebridge, Brandy Lake has the perfect combination of tranquility and convenience. The lake gets its name from the colour of the water which is naturally dark because of the organic material in the lake.

Since the lake is smaller there is less boat traffic which makes it perfect for water sports such as canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. There are other great benefits to the small size of Brandy Lake like a scenic shoreline and a quieter more relaxing environment.

If you are looking to have some fun on your boat there is a boat launch on Pickerel Lane which is on the northern part of the lake. Once you are on the water, you can pull out your fishing rod and enjoy…

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Located 25 minutes Southwest of Huntsville, Skeleton Lake is a truly unique area and a great place to have your summer home. One of the best things about Skeleton Lake is the water quality. It has some of the clearest water in the region, making it possible to see 9.1 meters deep. There is a healthy fish population of smallmouth bass, lake trout, walleye, lake whitefish, and burbot.

Once you have arrived, there are plenty of activities to choose from. The lake allows motorized vehicles for boat lovers out there, and the Skeleton Lake Marina is nearby for all of your boating needs. If you are big into cycling, why not try out the Skeleton Lake bike loop? It’s a 90km round trip ride from the Huntsville Centennial Centre. You won’t be able to beat the…

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"I am Looking at Purchasing a Waterfront Property..a Waterfront......Yes.. a Waterfront"

When I was selling real estate in Toronto, a major part of my business was condominium sales. Buyers would approach me, "Steve, I am looking to purchase a condo." My first couple of questions to the buyer were generally easy to answer, typically where do you want to live and what is your budget? After that, my questions became a little more challenging to the buyer. What style of building are you looking for (high rise/low rise/boutique/hard loft/townhouse/stacked townhouse...and more). I would also ask them to consider building amenities, proximity to the subway, parking as well as a variety of other features. Of course all these factors have an impact on…

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 It may not feel like it, but spring is here and our thoughts turn to the great outdoors. For many of us that means camping and black flies. For the inexperienced camper (and some experienced ones), the challenge is not over once you have decided on the type of camping and location. So what else do you need to think about?

You have booked yourself into a campsite for three days. Now what? 

  • Have you considered what type of food to bring?
  • What are you cooking your food on?
  • What type of clothes should you be wearing?
  • What protection do you have for the sun and bugs?
  • How much storage space is required?
  • What type of activities are available?
  • What are the camp rules and how should we conduct ourselves?

Having a safe and…

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When you finally make “the decision” to purchase your cottage property, typically the traditional images and thoughts begin to stir your imagination. Thoughts of warm days, hanging out at the dock sipping your favourite beverage.

As you build your buyer list of important features, the typical priorities begin to emerge:

  • Winterized or three season cottage
  • Number of bedrooms
  • Fireplace
  • Road access
  • Shoreline-deep water or shallow entry
  • Docks for boats
  • Decks
  • Septic system
  • Water-lake or well (drilled/dug)

And the list G R O W S

But there are some questions that are not always asked by buyers...and should be.

Let’s explore some of these

1. LARGE LAKE VS SMALLER LAKE

Many buyers automatically default that they…

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Hundreds of Muskoka homes are sold each year, and while every transaction is unique, every owner wants to achieve the same end point— the highest sale price possible with NO hassles!

Over the last 20 years, real estate has become a more complex process with many more duties and rules to be followed. Disclosure statements, more complex listing and sales agreements, and a range of environmental and social concerns have all emerged in the past two decades. Even the actual home-selling process has changed with the emergence of Buyer representation — where REALTORS® represent home buyers —which is now the standard. A Buyer’s Representative is obligated to get the best for their clients – not only the best value but the most information too.

The result of…

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With the final remnants of winter finally leaving our Muskoka Properties, it is time to get busy doing our outside spring maintenance. This is a fabulous way to renew the feeling of pride of ownership you can feel for your home or cottage. With the crisp and sunny days of early (but very late) spring as our motivation, it is time to investigate the condition of your property’s exterior – everything from the roof, gutters, siding, and foundation to the lawn, shrubs, trees and garden. Don’t despair, it’s not such a bad task if you get prepared and have the right tools on hand and ready to go.

Here is our list of recommended tasks:

A Good Inspection Now is the time to see what damage our winter storms, snow and ice may have done to the exterior of your…

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Real estate transactions are never done until the title is transferred. Until that time, a real estate transaction can be a puzzle with a piece still to put in place, there are often bumps in the road and unexpected issues that need to be addressed, both on the side of the buyer and the seller.

The best way to prevent deals from going sideways is to prepare as best you can. In our region many of our clients live out of town and often rely on us as their representatives to undertake much of the due diligence required to make their purchase or sale go smoothly. This may sometimes include having tough conversations, doing some work upfront and being open to collaborating when things get a little challenging.

Here are some of the most typical…

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Not only is Royal LePage dedicated to our agents and clients, we also care deeply about the communities in which our agents live and work. We are the only real estate company with its own branded charity, The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, dedicated to funding women’s shelters and violence prevention & education programs across Canada.

Royal LePage Lakes of Muskoka recently hosted two events in support of our local women’s shelters. Our Bracebridge branch held a Booster Night, which included dinner and a silent auction, at Boston Pizza in Bracebridge, raising $5,000 for Interval House and Chrysalis House. As well, our Burk’s Falls branch hosted lunch & dinner fashion shows at The Swiss Country House in Magnetawan, raising $3,362.74 for Esprit…

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The four events hosted by the Bracebridge and Burk’s Falls offices of Royal LePage Lakes of Muskoka raised a total of $10,716.09 in support of The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. The money raised will benefit Interval House, Chrysalis House and Esprit Place Family Resource Centre. A huge THANK YOU to all who supported our Booster Night at Boston Pizza, the lunch & dinner Fashion Shows at Swiss Country House, the Booster Night & Live Band at the Burk’s Falls Legion and the Garage Sale for Shelter held at our Burk’s Falls office. We sincerely appreciate your support.

For more information regarding the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, please click here.

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