Arts in our County

The Highlands has long been known for it's artistic culture. The lure of the Highlands is strong to artisans of all forms of media. The fact that we are home to the Haliburton School of Fine Arts, Sir Sandford Fleming College, and a fabulous sculpture forest certainly aide the cause. I have always been incredibly proud of living in The Highlands and have met some amazing artists and seen some incredible works of art - most recently, the bronze statue erected in the sculpture forest this August of Gelert the wolfhound in which a local community was named after. The artist, Mary Anne Barkhouse, lives locally but is world renowned for her work. What sparked this blog today is my recent visit to a new website that provides an avenue for local artists to sell their wares - http://www.madeinhaliburton.ca/ .What a beautiful website displaying works of art in a very professional, clean fashion - you see the artwork first and foremost.

I know there was dissention amongst art council members surrounding the value of this website and not all artisans are participating. There was a report released recently, covered by the news media, that noted that Canada was far behind other countries when it came to internet sales of products - mostly because of customs delays and fees. Here is an opportunity, on a much smaller scale, mind you, to take full advantage of the internet and the chance to reach a wide audience. I am so excited for this initiative - what a wonderful job! Now everyone - check it out!!

Luxury Properties

Haliburton County has seen a rise in luxury properties in the past few years. People have been moving away from other traditional high-end vacation areas and noticing what they can get for their money in the Highlands. Taxes are considerably lower than neighbouring tourist areas. The trade off is the size of lakes. We do not have a Lake Joseph in our County. What we do have is 600 lakes of varying sizes. Our lakes have a wonderful mix of the beginner cottager, the old traditional family cottage, and the beautiful new cottages with spectacular views and amazing water frontages. There are large, grand boating lakes, chains, and quiet, exclusive lakes. In 2011 there were 31 waterfront listings at a price range from between $800,000 and $2,800,000. Through all that choice, there were only 6 sales in that price range. The reason? Buyers do not yet think of Haliburton County as a choice for their luxury vacation property. Some of the properties in our area are outstanding, but we do not yet have a lot of buyers. Time will fix this, but it does show opportunity for Buyers to look at our County now. As more and more luxury properties are being built, there will eventually be more and more on the market. Because we are a "new" area to this specialty market, values will only grow, so a purchase now could provide good gains in the future. Worth considering!

Social Media in Real Estate

It's a cunundrum (spelling anyone??).....we tweet, facebook, blog, email, text, advertise in newspapers, magazines, on multiple websites. To be a real estate agent today you have to know all the latest trends! I attended an interesting seminar with a social media (he says there is no such thing as social media) expert named Gary Vanderchuk. The seminar was amazing, but his comments really make you think. Do true buyers and sellers come from tweets and facebook pages? I thought not, but Gary says yes. I have attended many seminars as I believe it is key to keep my education and skills at the highest level possible in order to do an outstanding job. Every one of these seminars said you had to be on Twitter and Facebook, but I never truly "got it" until I heard Gary speak. I am of the "middle age" group of people that are embracing this change with gusto - I love my phone, I love my toys - but I wasn't "raised" with them. I now see that the future buyers and sellers of real estate are being raised on them. Twitter is the new newspaper. I hear the comment regularly that "no one wants to know what I ate for breakfast", and it is true there are those out there that send that type of info into the world. But after using Twitter the last couple of months, what I really see is that it is a newsfeed. You can connect with every business, every company, every group, every individual that has a connection to you, your family or your personal interests. You know when there are changes in companies, when new products are launched, when a new amazing YouTube video is sent out, and now....when new real estate listings are available. It does become an addiction - constantly wondering what's new? Something else I have realized - although millions of people have twitter accounts, they don't actually tweet. They only use them to follow people/companies and news. How soon before we won't know what a newspaper is?

Winter Blah's

Winter seems to be shorter this year (oops, am I speaking too soon?). As Marilyn and I gear up for The Toronto Cottage Life Show in March, we are pouring over our notes, reconnecting with clients, planning our Spring, and getting the word out to get cottages priced now so they can be advertised at the Show. Time has flown by but we are excited for the new season. Winter is a quiet time for making sales, but a wonderful and busy time to organize, reconnect, strengthen our education and improve on systems. You have to be constantly improving and learning in real estate. I will be sad to see Winter go though, it is great to see the snowmobilers whizzing by and enjoying the outdoors, the visitors walking the streets with their Sir Sam's Ski Hill passes and their cross country ski trail passes hanging from their coats, and to smell the fresh crispness of Winter air - there is nothing like it! I don't mind all the dull, grey-brown trees without their leaves because they provide a wonderful contrast to the sparkling white snow. Today the sky seems more blue than usual, and it is definitely a day to enjoy some of that fresh air! But alas, I have to work. Perhaps after work I will get to go for a leisurely walk - Winter will soon be over! I hope that the people reading this are taking the time to enjoy what nature is offering before it is gone. Life is short - don't let the seasons pass you by! There are 4 of them!

Purchasing a Business

I was reading a newsletter this morning about purchasing a business, which got me thinking. We currently have one business for sale, and just completed the very successful sale of another - so what advice can a realtor offer their clients?

Many people dream of owning their own business one day. Investigating the financial aspect is one of the scariest parts of the process. I usually recommend potential buyers look for a line of credit from their bank - low interest, low risk, and usually the simplest form for a small business. Our local Haliburton County Development Corporation (HCDC) offers assistance to high-risk purchasers and are an excellent resource for many types of info for buyers. It is a good idea to make an appointment and have a chat with your local development corporation just to see what options are available to you.

I have listed below some points from remonline.com - a weekly newsletter I receive about real estate. They offer some very timely and informative articles aimed at realtors, but much of their advice can also be directly translated for Buyers and Sellers. The points below were written by the Institutue of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, and please note that I have shortened them a bit to make them appropriate for a blog. A piece of my own advice, suitable to our region: Haliburton County is, for many businesses, a seasonal area. You will need to ensure your Summer income will help cover costs in the Winter, and you will need the personal skills to avoid spending all that money in the Summer. Budgetting will be your best friend! Here are the 7 points from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (shortened):

1. Do your homework. Make sure there's a market for your product or service.

2. Shore up your savings. Changes in ownership can mean changes in revenue. Will you have enough to live on while you get the business on track?

3. Do what you know. If you have a shortage in staff - can you chip in and get the job done yourself?

4. Include a price adjustment clause and a full disclosure agreement in the deal (your realtor can explain further why this is so important).

5. Make sure your family supports the plan. Talk things through with your spouse and children. Everyone needs to understand that income and family time may change, at least for a while.

6. Consult the professionals. Lawyers, chartered accountants and business valuators - who will give you the straight goods on the business you are considering, and your suitability for it.

7. Get lots of advice, then make the final decision yourself.

If you wish a copy of the full article, please email me at terry@remaxhaliburton.com and I can scan and email it to you - then - check out the Bulk Food Store we have listed!

Reflection

As the season draws to an end and we are about to begin a new year - fresh and eager to take on the world, I can't help but think of the changes that have occurred in the way we do business. For a good agent - nothing stays the same. We are constantly changing and adapting to new technology, new sources of information, and new expectations by clients - both Buyers and Sellers. Our clients are savvy and information-hungry, take more time to make a decision, and are more cautious - all good things.

As a RE/MAX agent, I feel very lucky to have a vast amount of technology and information at my fingertips. I recently attended a conference in Mississauga and was once again reminded of everything that RE/MAX has to offer us. Texting and QR codes for our signs, websites and advertising, social network linkages, media releases, thorough statistics, extensive websites that are growing by the day, massive marketing campaigns - all this provides "brand recognition" for our Sellers. Brand recognition equates to more exposure for listings, more ways for potential Buyers to find our Sellers' listings. In this technological world - exposure is everything!

The challenge becomes, for the individual agent, in keeping up. Quick responses to enquiries, activating all the possible linkages and taking full advantage of what is out there for our use. Real estate has always been a 7-day a week career, and it is even more so now.

These new technologies and exposure systems are working. In our local market, our RE/MAX North Country offices held 47.5% of the marketshare in Haliburton County at the end of October, 2011, with all other companies combined holding the difference. Every year agents switch companies seeking the best deal for their money, trying to figure out how best to up their game. Reflection is an important part of starting any new year. It helps you to set goals, ensure you are where you want to be. As I look deep into my chosen career - where it has been, where it is now, and where it is going, I am very thankful for where I am, and choose not to be anywhere else!

Wishing everyone out there a wonderful Holiday Season and an absolutely fantastic 2012!!

Condo News

I had a great visit with Gerry Kowalski last week, the developer of Silver Beach Developments on Kashagawigamog Lake (check out the link to the development off my website - http://www.terrylcarr.com/ ) Things have been moving along quickly since the services were installed last year. Several homes/cottages are now built and people have moved in. The beautiful model home - The Northland, has been sold, so Gerry needed to build a new one! The first model home was the largest of the options - over 2,400 sq. ft. plus a finished basement! The new model home is a Southwind model - a very desirable size at 2200 sq. feet, including the basement, with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Even though the model home is not quite ready, I got a sneak peak and it is gorgeous! My favourites - the rustic wood mantle in the main living room and the lovely dark cabinetry in the kitchen - with loads of cupboards, of course!

Every one of these homes and townhomes are built with high standards and it is evident as you meander through the model homes or drive around the community. The first and only of it's kind in Haliburton County, this development offers the unique opportunity of mixing cottage country living with city amenities and quality. Some of the people who have already purchased here are using their property as a vacation property - either travelling to other parts of the world in off-season, or simply cottaging on weekends. Other people have sold their long-time cottages on lakes farther from Haliburton and Minden to move to the area permanently. Since Silver Beach is only a 7 minute drive from Haliburton, and about a 10 minute drive from Minden - it's location is excellent for those who want the lake and the town!

Once again I was completely impressed by Gerry's dedication to quality, community and the need to have happy, content people in the development. His success is reflected in the little things - while I was there he received a phone call and was involved in spreading the word of the 2nd annual Christmas party for Silver Beach. I have been there when owners have talked about their shopping trips and card games. The sense of community started long before there was a community and it is a very special thing to sit and watch developments unfold - from dirt and rocks, to a successful, caring and involved neighbourhood! Maybe that is why I am in real estate! I am in it for the happy endings! If you haven't seen it - check out their website or come for a visit. If you have already seen it - take a second look! And come see the NEW model home - it should be ready later this week!