Purchasing a home is likely one of the biggest decisions you'll make in your life.

Before jumping in, The Barrie Home Team sales representative Lynn Guergis recommends compiling a list of everything you need and want in your new home to ensure you end up with exactly what you want.

Watch for more tips and tricks from Todd now.

Do you have a question about buying or selling?  Be sure to give us a call at 705.728.4067 or send us an email at guergis@royallepage.ca

Say ​goodbye to high electric bills. These tips will help you increase your home efficiency, from using insulating paint to getting an energy audit.

Many utility companies offer a free home energy audit to customers, and it's well worth taking advantage of. If there's no such program in your area, conduct your own energy audit instead. It'll clue you into areas where you could trim your energy use.

To read more, click here.

Fantastic healthy food with a vibe that keeps me coming back. Michelle and the staff are friendly, attentive and genuinely care for their patrons. Love!

~ Mike, Barrie ON

The Lazy Tulip is a sweet little cafe that is independently owned in downtown Barrie.  Their focus is on health through real food and conscious eating, and absoutely everything is made in-house.

Having recently expanded, they offer both breakfast and lunch menus that emphasize locally raised meats, as well as both vegetarian and gluten-free options.  

The Lazy Tulip Cafe is the perfect spot for client-lunches and quaint get-togethers.   For menu's and more information, please visit http://lazytulipcafe.com/

“Decided to try this lovely restaurant and we were very happy we did. The food and service exceeded our expectations. Would definitely recommend it".

​

 Lynda - Playa Del Carmen MX

Painters Hall is a tiny little gem on Clapperton Street in Barrie. In their own words, "A long hallway showcasing many of Barrie's best artists, affords two options. Candlelight mellows the refined rustic front dining room while the back lounge buzzes, offering a fantastic small plate menu and terrific wines by the glass or bottle from an unpretentious, approachable wine list."

Painters Hall is the perfect spot for celebrations, romantic dinners, or Happy Hour after work.   For menu's, reservations, and more information, please visit https://www.paintershall.ca/

Downtown Barrie is an anchor district that has historic roots and heritage dating back well over 200 years as a strategic war route, a central transportation hub, a leading agriculture and natural resource economy.

Barrie's famous 5 Points roadway intersection is the hub of our main street and is the locale for many historic buildings with many historic ‘stories’. 

Read more about the history of Barrie by clicking here.

For eight years IL BUCO Ristorante has captured the essence of Old World authenticity with a Nostalgica Italian cuisine in Downtown Barrie, Ontario.  The authentically Italian dishes are made only with the freshest of ingredients and are created by a master chef whose influence is ever present, whatever the inspired selection on the menu.

Having been named one of the most romantic restaurants to eat in Canada, Il Buco is definately a place you will not want to miss! For menu's, reservations, and more information, please visit http://ilbucoristorante.com/

A home inspection is an all-encompassing examination of the condition of a home.  

Your home is one of the most important purchases you'll ever make, and an inspection is an inexpensive way to discover the universal condition of the home. 

It's  important to conduct a home inspection to avoid a costly mistake by purchasing a property in need of major repairs.  While you may think you've found your dream home, it's a home inspector’s responsibility to let you know that your “dream home” may not be just right.

In January 2012, Lynn had a chance to sit down with DailyWebTV to discuss why home inspections are so important.

Do you have a question about buying or selling?  Be sure to give us a call at 705.728.4067 or send us an email at guergis@royallepage.ca

December is here and, as always, we want to help you make the absolute best of your living space!

Courtesy of HGTV.com, here are some suggestions to get you ready for the winter.

From holiday decorating to custom gift toppers, we have everything that you need to make this season merry-and-bright here.

Anyone who lives in or near Barrie knows the answer to "Why Barrie?"

Yet sometimes we're still able to rediscover the hidden gems that are scattered throughout it:  new places to dine, new places to shop, and little bits of local history that we had no idea about.

We love to call Barrie our home, and there's little secret as to why. 

As we shortly roll in to 2018, we're going to share with you the local history of our community, our neighbourhoods, as well as the treasures that Barrie has lost.

In the meantime, we've pulled a video from our own archives from 2011 where Todd had the opportunity to sit with DailyWebTV and discuss why Barrie is so important.

 We'd love to hear why you love Barrie!  Let us know in the comments section below.

HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IN BARRIE IS NUTS??  Of course you have!  The lack of inventory and the high demand for housing in our city has pushed sale prices to unprecedented levels, never seen before.

Obviously, this is wonderful news for Sellers, or is it??  It's also fabulous for real estate agents too, or is it??

We are seeing bidding wars, which in the past have happened on the odd occasion with a property selling slightly above listing price, but never $100,000 over list!  Sounds wonderful doesn't it?  Well, if you're the Sellers, you've just made a ton of money, but now where to you go?  If you're downsizing, expect fierce bidding wars with sometimes 19 or 20 offers in competition with yours.  If you're "up" sizing, be prepared to pay more for your dream home than you would have 6 months ago! It's all relative. Hopeful Buyers are submitting offers well over list price and scratching inspection and financing clauses - WE DO NOT recommend this, but in this market we do understand it.  For first time home buyers, the dream of home ownership in the city of Barrie is almost out of sight.

We don't like this market.  It's frustrating for us and for our clients.  When we price a home for prospective Sellers, we use comparable past sales, along with other data, to arrive at a listing price.  With these "new" sales coming in to play, and who knows for how long this will last, the listing price we suggest has almost just become a starting point!

We're not sure what started this trend, but it is a trend.  Eventually the market will level off but at this point in time, we have no idea when.  We definitely have seen a HUGE increase in Buyers and Investors from the GTA as the prices there have become totally out of reach for most.

In short, if you are thinking of selling and moving farther north, perhaps to a recreational property, there's never been a better time to sell.  If you're a first time buyer, there are options.  Give us a call and let us help!