Barrie Real Estate. Is the time right to invest??

With more than 140,000 current residents and a lifestyle that’s hard to beat, the City of Barrie continues to grow attracting more and more families to enjoy its waterfront, walking trails, major shopping, cultural and recreational facilities.

Statistics Canada’s Census named Barrie as having the fastest growing and youngest population of any city in Canada, along with Canada’s largest employment growth rate. Barrie has been identified by the Province as one of Central Ontario’s “urban growth nodes”, which is driving increased interest in Barrie real estate along with Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching real estate property

“Barrie is one of the top 3 cities in Ontario in which to invest, poised to outperform other cities in the next 3-5 years”. Source: Real Estate Investment Network, October 2009.

So far this year, there have been 2,142 residential Barrie real estate sales with an average sale price of $268,981. This is an increase from 2010 where there were 2,096 residential Barrie real estate sales with an average sale price of $264,726. With mortgage interest rates still at a very competitive level, there has never been a better time to buy or sell, whether you’re looking for that perfect family home, waterfront home or investment in Lake Couchiching real estate property.

“Canada’s housing market remains on solid footing. With the notable exception of a handful of small western cities, the country has returned to an environment characterized by moderate house price increases,” said Phil Soper, president and chief executive, Royal LePage Real Estate Services. “These conditions are far more agreeable to those searching for a home, and are more sustainable in the long term than the sharp price increases recently experienced.”

Added Soper: “We know now that the Canadian real estate market has followed a markedly different path from that of the United States. Our tiny subprime mortgage market has exposed us to very few of the pitfalls that have created the unfortunate chaos south of the border. While Canada will not escape the negative impact of a troubled American economy, Canadians’ home equity should remain safe, as the market moves into a period of slow growth, but growth nonetheless.”

Because the City of Barrie sells itself and with the arrival of the GO train in 2007, Barrie’s downtown revitalization project in the works, the new expansion of Georgian College and the new Cancer Care Centre at RVH, Barrie is more than just Simcoe County’s largest city, it’s a great place to call home or to invest in Barrie real estate.

Fir more information regarding Barrie real estate and Lake Couchiching real estate property please contact with Krista Alkerton, Barrie Real Estate Broker Royal LePage – First Contact Realty