First Day of Spring Is Only 3 Weeks Away

Hard to believe as our area gets hit with the first extended snow storm that the first day of spring is only three weeks away. The tundra swans are coming back through the area and that is usually a good sign Spring is just around the corner! This means the busy housing market for buyers and sellers will heat up quickly, once the snow leaves. If you are thinking about selling, the spring market always brings the excited buyers to town!

The PEDLAR Team had a very exciting end to February, heading to Las Vegas for the RE/MAX R4 Convention! It was an exciting trip with all three of us getting yearly awards and additionally Mark received the 'Hall of Fame' award from RE/MAX! We met RE/MAX agents from around the world and expanded our referral network to a global scale. Where ever in the world you are looking, close or far, there is a local RE/MAX agent that we can put you in touch with! Don't hesitate to call and we will get you in touch with the local RE/MAX professional!

Ontario Policy Makers Remove
The Stress Test

The great news came recently that the Ontario government is doing away with the mandatory stress test for those applying for a mortgage with less than 20 percent down. Helping mostly first time home buyers with being able to retain a larger mortgage value. I have included two articles that are quite descriptive of the benefits of these changes. The first article from The Globe and Mail types out 9 benefits of the new changes. The second article from CBC goes in to the viewpoint that these changes take power from the six major banks to control our Ontario housing market. Both articles with links below are great reads regarding the new changes that will be implemented as of April 6, 2020.

Article 1: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/household-finances/article-nine-things-mortgage-shoppers-should-know-about-the-stress-test/?fbclid=IwAR1f521tzQ1m5L0SrkwX20CdC2HUGI2Mu8_EP2qPOo08PnkSf8fYPQxJ3uo

Article 2: https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/mortgage-stress-test-1.5467330

Five Things To Know About FSBO's

Some great points in this article from RE/MAX, regarding FSBO's (For Sale By Owner) and the tough spot owners put themselves in by going with this process of selling their home. The article isn't saying you can't sell your house yourself but that the potential cons of doing so heavily outweigh the pros. An interesting point the article makes, from taking sale figures of current homes, is that the average sale price for a FSBO was $200,000 versus $265,500 for agent-assisted transactions.

Click the link for the full article: https://blog.remax.ca/5-things-to-know-about-fsbos/?fbclid=IwAR0KoRyUDbJMfymsBWe-vHQ1Asn7SB4-I5SXuSNHxp6bMMrrHXyf8O3e94o

Retirement Home Proposed For Grand Bend

Our ever growing and expanding community may have a new retirement home coming to Grand Bend. A four-storey retirement home would see approximately 127 units built on an 8,900 square foot gross floor area. With the aging population this would be a great addition to keeping those residents that love this area! Giving those aging residents some more beautiful years in Grand Bend.

Click the link for the full article: https://blackburnnews.com/sarnia/sarnia-news/2020/02/10/retirement-home-proposed-grand-bend/?fbclid=IwAR17Yq3EZK10lQXs1pa2zoqjf_dO7qinSEhyeKCh1arr_-4Y6lE8bHf80_g

RE/MAX National Outlook For 2020

RE/MAX is calling for a leveling out of the highs and lows that characterized the Canadian housing market in 2019, particularly in Vancouver and Toronto, as we move into 2020. Healthy price increases are expected next year, with an estimated 3.7 per-cent increase in the average residential sale price.

Most individual markets surveyed across Canada experienced moderate price increases year-over-year from 2018 to 2019. However, some regions in Ontario continue to experience higher-than-normal gains, including London (+10.7 per cent), Windsor (+11 per cent), Ottawa (+11.7 per cent) and Niagara (+12.9 per cent).

As more Canadians have adjusted to the mortgage stress test and older Millennials move into their peak earning years, it is anticipated that they will drive the market in 2020, particularly single Millennials and young couples. A recent Leger survey conducted by RE/MAX found that more than half (51 per cent) of Canadians are considering buying a property in the next five years, especially those under the age of 45.

To get more information click the link: https://blog.remax.ca/canadian-housing-market-outlook/?fbclid=IwAR1nWdFocyIuwsdMB5T3ytkDNV3udOHeyOqeJ89RciuV54bXXAPbTrexK98

Townsend Meadows Development
In Forest - PHASE 2 Has Started &
7 Units Are Already SOLD With
4 Units Remaining For Sale

Welcome to Forest’s newest adult lifestyle development. Townsend Meadows is the ideal destination for seniors who are looking for an exclusive retirement development in a caring community of like-minded neighbours. Enjoy all the conveniences of your family home without any of the maintenance and security concerns.

Townsend Meadows has come about through the initiative of a number of community members who wanted to create an accessible seniors development and provide a housing alternative that would help keep retirees in Forest. Townsend Meadows offers an opportunity for private independent living in the social and supportive atmosphere of small town living. There is are three floor plan sizes to choose from. You can enjoy a lifestyle free from the day-to-day worries of maintenance and security. We cut the grass and shovel the snow and you have the freedom to lock the door and go and spend time on things that are important to you.

Click the link: https://www.townsendmeadows.com/

Or find us on facebook by clicking this link: https://www.facebook.com/Townsend-Meadows-Seniors-Housing-296597098583/

Townsend Meadows PHASE 2
Huron Model - 1,411 Sq Ft - $367,120
Bosanquet Model - 1,175 Sq Ft - $305,500
Thedford Model - 1,295 Sq Ft - $336,700

Call Doug PEDLAR today for more information at 1519-238-5700

New To Lambton Shores?

The municipality of Lambton Shores is starting a new initiative of making municipality information easier to find out. Check the link out and see what things you didn't know about this awesome municipality.

Click the link: https://www.lambtonshores.ca/en/living-here/new-to-lambton-shores.aspx?platform=hootsuite

Happening In The Community

It's always good to know what is going on in our exciting community.

My Favourite Moment in History & Climate Crisis Unpacked
March 9 - 12-1:30 & 2:30 - 4:30 - 25 Main Street, Grand Bend - Huron Shores United Church
Two great weekly events at the Huron Shores United Church in downtown Grand Bend. Click the link for community calendar down below to find the particular person to contact and register today.

Ausable-Port Franks Optimist Club Meat Draw
March 21 - 2-4pm - Grog's Pub & Grill
The Optimist Club of Ausable Port Franks holds a meat draw on the third Saturday of each month from September to May. This event is at Grog's Restaurant from 2:00-4:00 pm and helps us raise money for our Youth events and programs. The date in May is changed due to the long weekend. Come out and have some fun and win some prizes.

Soup-er Sundays
March 29 - Noon - 3pm - 9997 Port Franks Road - Port Franks Community Centre
Fun with Giant Games!! Come out to the West Wing of the Port Franks Community Centre with your family or on your own to spend time with others on a Sunday afternoon. There is a light soup lunch and dessert for $5 that is available if you wish.

These aren't all the events happening in Lambton Shores so check out the community calendar link on Lambton Shores website. Here is the link to community calendar page: https://calendar.lambtonshores.ca/default/Month?StartDate=03/01/2020

Social Media

Have a great day everyone and don't forget to check out our social media sites like youtube, facebook, twitter and our website to stay up to date on all the latest listings. You can find the links to these various social media outlets above our information below. See the benefits of using a high quality drone and camera for videos and pictures to add content to each listing.

Grand Bend Lakefront
Southcott Pines
70 Feet Frontage
Totally Updated
4 Beds 2 Baths
$2,000,000

Port Franks
Built in 2005
Custom Brick Bungalow
Full Finished Basement
Attached Double Garage
3 Beds 2 Bath
SOLD

Sunset Avenue
Bluewater Municipality
One Acre Building Lot
100 Ft Frontage
Listed at $129,900
SOLD For $141,500

If you or any of your friends and family are looking to buy or sell make sure to call us first!
Referrals are the greatest compliment

Check our website out by clicking the link below

http://www.grandbendrealestate.com