Investing in Barrie, ON is a popular “investment opportunity” city with buyers that are flocking to the city to invest in Real Estate.  Recently Barrie was ranked only behind Waterloo, Kitchener and Hamilton by the Real Estate investment Network.  The “REIN” cites the annexation of Innisfil as a future engine that will drive development in the area.

Barrie has rank #1 for being one of the safest cities to live in.  Coupled with a great water front, biking and walking trails, recreation facilities, makes the City a very desirable place for families to live.

Barrie has the following amenities to offer new families:

Waterfront Parks –  Barrie abounds with parks spread throughout the city.  Numerous parks have beaches and picnic areas for residents.
400 Hwy Access –  Most of Barrie’s traffic moves across the city via 400 hwy.  Commuters also benefit by having access to major cities south of Barrie
Hospital –  Royal Victoria Hospital is continually growing to meet the needs of the community
Recreation – Every section of the city has a Recreation complex with swimming, hockey, figure skating, gyms and sports fields
Schools – Barrie has a multitude of schools spread across the city.  New high school is currently being planned for near future
Expansion – Barrie has recently acquired land from Innisfil which will be developed in near future.

Buses – Although slow, Barrie’s buses have lots of room for riders who don’t want to drive their cars.
Libraries – Two large libraries provide book lending, research books and video loans to residents.

Many out of town property investors are buying townhouses and “rent to own properties” in Barrie, due to its close proximity to Toronto and the affordable prices that make properties attractive to purchasers.

Barrie currently has a population of over 143,000 and has grown 5.7% since 2006.  The City takes in over 100 sq km of land and has a large networks of parks, many of which are on the shores of Kempenfelt Bay.  Barrie is currently in the process of extending it park land along Lakeshore Drive which hopefully will improve the enjoyment of the water by its citizens. The Barrie waterfront is the City’s greatest asset and attraction, characterized by outstanding natural features, vibrant and diverse public spaces and high-quality recreational facilities. It is a prized and shared resource for recreation, economic development, events and programming on the shores of Kempenfelt Bay.

Currently Barrie’s inventory of homes available for sale is low compared to previous years creating a “sellers market” which has resulted in many properties being sold above their asking price.  Some Realtor’s estimate that the average home price in Barrie has already risen over 9% in 2015.  Many seniors in Toronto have chosen Barrie as their retirement location, cashing in on a hot real estate market in Toronto and purchasing property in the Barrie and surrounding areas.

Mortgage rates are also part of the reason that Real Estate is experiencing substantial growth.  Low rates are allowing people, such as first time home buyers, to invest in their first home at an affordable cost.  One thing that has been consistent over the years,  the increasing value of Real Estate,  even when there has been downward dips in housing prices, they have alway rebounded regaining and surpassing previous highs.  Many people are investing in property as a hedge against inflation.  They realize that just leaving money in a bank will eventually deteriorate the value of their investment’  as inflation steadily eats away at its value.

When purchasing an investment property you need the services of a Professional Home Inspector.  The Barrie Home Inspector, has been inspecting homes for over 10 years and is a Certified Building Code Official with the Ontario Building Officials Association.  Roger is also a Real Estate investor with both Commercial and Residential investments, which allows you to benefit from his experience and expertise.  Free Thermal Imaging scan of your home is also included with every property inspection.  The Barrie Home inspector can give you “Peace of Mind” when making your next purchase.

Barrie WETT Inspection by Certified WETT Inspector for all your insurance requirements.  Most insurance companies now require your Wood Burning Appliances be inspected by a Site Basic WETT Certified Inspector prior to issuing home policy.

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