When you’re starting the process of selling your home, be prepared to see your home in a whole new light.

A really, really bright light. That’s because buyers will notice all the great things about your home...and also all the not-so-great features that you’ve learned to live with over the years. Small issues, like a creaky stair and outdated fixtures, are easily identified and fixed. However, there are potential issues that can’t easily be so easily resolved. In fact, they might be a “deal-breaker” that can turn off a potential buyer immediately.

Don’t panic just yet. A good real estate agent doesn’t just sell a house, they sell a house to the right buyer. In the case of “deal breakers,” what can seem like a negative to an average person might be

You’ve definitely heard how important this is in real estate — and that's because it's true! Location is a crucial factor when it comes to the value of your home. Not only does what part of town you are in matter, but what is physically near you can actually help or hinder your property value. We put together a list of the most important proximity factors that will increase as well as decrease your home value.

Factors that increase home value

Schools

Homebuyers who have children are willing to pay more to live in a home that is closer to schools, especially ones that have a good reputation and high academic scores. This article takes a deeper dive into why this may be.

Entertainment

In most cases, homes that tend to be in walking

Whether you just moved in or have lived in your home for 50 years, it's common to wonder how long you should stay in your home before you sell it. According to the National Association of Realtors® in the United States, ten years is the average amount of time that a homeowner will stay in their home before deciding to sell it. 

If you're under ten years and itching to sell, many experts say you should follow the “five-year rule” and stay in the same home for at least five years before selling. 

This may sound like a long time and you may think you are ready to sell now, but before you make any rash decisions, we put together a few of the most important factors that you should be aware of.

 1. Your Mortgage

One of the first and foremost factors

Have you ever watched HGTV and wondered how every home always looks perfectly put together? The answer to this is staging. 

Home staging goes beyond just cleaning and decorating your home. Staging is adding decor, arranging furniture, and prepping your home to look perfect for listing photos, listing appointments, and open houses. When a home is staged, potential buyers see exactly where furniture should go and how each room is laid out. When a home is not staged, potential buyers are only focusing on the visible issues the home may have.

Not only does staging make your home look like an HGTV dream or like it belongs on Pottery Barn's homepage, but it can actually speed up the sale of your property.

83%

of buyers’ agents said a staged home

The Holidays are right around the corner and we want to see your cutest, funniest, most adorable pets all dressed up in Holiday Cheer!

To Enter, Simply:

1. Follow AND tag @seriouslymuskoka & @cottagechristina

2. Use the hashtag #muskokaholidaypets

The Details:

The Deadline for photo entries is Sunday, December 8 @ 11:59 pm E.S.T

1st, 2nd, & 3rd place winners will be selected based on the number of likes

Prizes donated by Gus & Gigi’s Pet Shoppe 

Winners will be announced Monday, December 9 on Instagram & featured in our Holiday Newspaper which is distributed all over Muskoka

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Show Us Your Pets!

4 Quick Tips to Find an

Incredible Real Estate Deal

1. Be the first to place a strong offer (if the price is right)

2.Creatively frame your offer to make it competitive with cash/investor offers

3. Shop with optimist vision goggles and consider buying a fixer-upper

4. Align with a real estate expert that knows the current market

1037 SECTION HOUSE ROAD, Torrance, Ontario

You just pulled into your driveway and your kids rush out of the car to get the canoe in t...

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7454 ASH CRESCENT, Washago, Ontario

Welcome to Riverbend, enjoy all that waterfront living has to offer just 10 mins to Orilli...

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1345 ECHO LAKE ROAD, Baysville, Ontario

Handsome quality built Log home or Cottage

Did you know that 52% of homeowners said that finding the right property was the hardest part of the entire homebuying process?

When you’re looking for a cottage in Muskoka  (or just dreaming about one), finding the right one within your price range is often difficult.

To save you time, I hand-selected the best homes for sale right now that have sandy shorelines. The best part? They're all under $1M.

Another year has come and gone, and with a new year comes new goals. Whether you've decided this is the year you're going to sell your home or if you're just considering it, you need to know which buyer trends to expect in 2020. We've laid out the most important trends for this year and how it could affect your decision as a seller.

Trend #1: Millennials are still on the move

Millennials are anyone born between the years 1981 and 1997 and the largest majority of them will be turning 30 in 2020. This year, older millennials will be starting to think about settling down, having kids and buying their first home. 

With millennials looking to buy this year, most older generations such as the baby boomers and Generation X aren’t going to be making

If selling your home is on the list of your new year resolutions, it's important to have a good understanding of what happened in Muskoka in 2019 so you know what to expect in 2020.

Knowing the most important data such as the average sales price, the number of homes sold, and days on market will better prepare you to sell your home.

Our 2019 Muskoka market round-up is an easy way to understand and showcase everything you need to know about local real estate trends.

2019 Market Round-Up

Residential, Single Family Homes, District of Muskoka

1,374

Homes Sold

58

Average Days on Market

2,260

New Listings

Homes Sold

97.4%

Sale-to-List Price

$694,742

Average Sales Price

6

Average Months of

As concerts get postponed, sporting events get canceled, schools close and tourist hot spots shut down, you may be feeling a tad bit stir crazy at home. What's there to do while stuck indoors? We've compiled 10 suggestions to help make your time “social distancing” as interesting – and perhaps even as productive – as possible.

1. Virtually connect with an old friend or relative

 Remember your bestie from college that you hardly see anymore due to the craziness of life? Or maybe you’re missing your sweet grandma who lives several hours away. Right now is the perfect time to pick up the phone and virtually connect. Apple users can use FaceTime or if you’ve got a computer and wifi connection, you may opt for a Zoom chat. 

2. Embrace your inner