Recent Blog Posts by Carol Ireland

Wasaga Beach - Garage/Yard Sale season is HERE!

  Once again Garage/Yard Sale season is HERE! Please remember a Garage Sale permit is required and can be purchased at Town Hall by visiting the Municipal Law Enforcement Department office; 30 Lewis Street between the hours of 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday If you purchase your permit before 12:00 Noon on the Friday of the weekend you are holding your sale, we will post your address ...

Second best April on record for Georgian Triangle home sales

Residential sales activity recorded through the MLS® System of the Georgian Triangle Association of REALTORS® remained very strong in April 2012, marking the seventh consecutive month of double digit year-over-year growth. According to statistics provided by the Association, home sales numbered 186 units in April. This was the second best April sales figure ever reported. The record was set ...

Adventure around every corner at Blue Mountain

                         NC)—Are you searching for that perfect summer retreat, but not sure where to go? Blue Mountain is widely known as the ski and snowboard capital of Ontario, and over the years has evolved into a true four-season destination with a wide selection of possibilities ...

Take adventure to new heights at this Ontario resort

NC)—Are you looking to push your limits for heights, speed, or adrenaline this summer? Some people like to unwind during vacation, while others like to take it to the max. Blue Mountain Resort certainly has the first group covered; however, the Resort has recently tapped into its natural setting to introduce new attractions suited for adventure seekers looking for their next thrill. Take a ...

Town of Wasaga Beach Street Index

Are you looking to buy a home in Wasaga Beach!   Click here to see active properties on the market.     Street Name Town 10th Street South Wasaga Beach 12th Street North Wasaga Beach 12th Street South Wasaga Beach 13th Street North Wasaga Beach 13th Street South Wasaga Beach 14th Street North Wasaga Beach 14th Street South Wasaga ...

Concrete walls are a Canadian success story

Eco-Construction News:   In the construction sector, one of the shining stars for responsible practices is a company that champions concrete to replace wood walls. Industry specialists tell us that this all-Canadian Nudura system of pre-assembled, insulated concrete forms (ICFs) is a true win-win-win: homeowners get comfort and cost-reduction; builders get speed and efficiency on the job; ...

Area Real Estate Activity Up in First Quarter

MLS® sales activity reported through the Georgian Triangle Association of REALTORS® (which includes the municipalities of Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Clearview, Blue Mountains, Grey Highlands and Meaford) posted a healthy gain of 16% for the 1st quarter of 2012 with 403 properties changing hands in the first three months of the year versus 347 in the 1st quarter of 2011. Overall, 1st quarter ...

Vertical blinds make a full fashion come back

(NC)—Vertical blinds were originally welcomed into the home, not for their good looks but for the good job they could do. Nothing covers big windows and doors so well; nothing gets out of the way more completely when patio season comes around; and nothing is so practical for cleaning. But sometimes, the way they looked took second place to functionality. Now that has changed. Fashion, always ...

Property Moguls Wanted in Realopolis

CENTURY 21 Canada has launched a fun, free online game designed to help you learn more about real estate investing. The unique game was developed to mirror many of the situations of the real world. From deciding which mortgage to go with, or which contractors to use, to figuring out whether or not to report a suspicious neighbor - the events reflect possible situations that players may experience ...

Energy efficiency—what's in a label?

Due to an increased interest in green building and energy efficiency, a number of “green” labels have been developed. But how do you know if the green label can also determine the energy efficiency of your home? Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE), offers three energy efficiency labels that help you, the homeowner, go green and cut down on energy costs. ...

Students compete for scholarship through Facebook

A unique Facebook contest in which students compete to win prizes including a scholarship is creating a lot of buzz at colleges and universities across Ontario. The contest, organized by Certified General Accountants of Ontario, features an interactive app that tests the students' abilities to problem solve and think strategically. The grand prizewinner receives a $2,500 scholarship to the CGA ...

Out-of-the-ordinary tax tips

Take a look at the top five most unusual ways to keep more money in your pocket from Certified General Accountants of Ontario: 1. Expenses for dogs and cats located on the farm are deductible if those expenses relate to their use for rodent or other wild-animal control, or for security. 2. A computer used by a professor to teach and create music was ruled, by the tax courts, to be a musical ...

Free tax tips

It's tax time again so you must file your 2011 return before midnight on April 30, 2012. “Nobody wants to pay more than they have to in taxes,” says Gary Dent, national tax leader for the accounting firm Grant Thornton. “Take some time to learn about the tax savings opportunities available to you before you file your taxes this year.” A free downloadable Tax Planning Guide ...

New online tool helps renters see if buying is affordable

Many renters dream of taking the money they spend on rent and using it for mortgage payments. But there's a lot more to buying and owning a home than just paying the mortgage. There are real estate and legal fees, home inspection and moving costs, property taxes, utilities and interest rates. One of the best ways to determine if you can realistically afford to buy a home is to sit down and crunch ...

Cutting back on the little things can save you a lot

In the current economy, many Canadians are looking for ways to save money. These savings can often be found in the little purchases so many of us make each day. Need proof? A new online calculator developed by Industry Canada, called My Expenses, lets you take the amount of money you spend every day, week or month on those little extras and instantly forecast what you could be saving. Since ...

Recycle Your Electronics!

I have noticed alot of "Electronic Recycling Bins" located through the county and thought that I would share what items are acceptable.   Althought my list does not include everything it will give you a general idea.   Lets all do our part and help keep electronic out of our landfil sites. All-in-one computers Answering machines Audio cassette players/recorders Camera dock ...

Snowman Mania Wasaga Beach - February 16 - 20, 2012

It's that time of year again "Snowman Mania" on Family Day Weekend at the Stonebridge Town Centre. Don't forget to stop by the Century 21 Millennium booth to enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. We are also having a draw for Air Miles. I'm looking forward to seeing all of my neighbours, friends, clients and meeting the public.   When your ready to buy or sell please call me Carol Ireland ...

French school to open in Wasaga Beach

A French-language elementary school will open in Wasaga Beach next school year. The Conseil Scolaire de District Catholique Centre-Sud (CSDCCS) announced Friday it will be opening the school in September to serve the francophone communities of Collingwood and Wasaga Beach. The Catholic school board will lease the former Silvercrest Christian School located at 3267 Mosley St. "Collingwood and ...

Simcoe County School Bus Zones

I found this great website and thought I would share it with everyone. Whether you are new to the area or just curious what the zones are. This site makes it easy to find out which buses are running cancelled or experiencing some interuptions in extreme weather conditions. The West Zones includes: Collingwood, Stayner and Wasaga Beach West Weather Zone Elementary Schools – Simcoe County ...

AIR MILES Cash - FAQ

What is new? What is AIR MILES Cash? AIR MILES Cash is a new program feature that enables Collectors to instantly redeem their reward miles in-store on their everyday purchases at participating Sponsors. Collectors can start redeeming quickly - 95 reward miles from your AIR MILES Cash balance will get you $10 off at checkout. We encourage Collectors to visit airmiles.ca/cash to activate their ...

Area Real Estate Activity Up in Fourth Quarter

MLS® sales activity reported through the Georgian Triangle Association of REALTORS® (which includes the municipalities of Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Clearview, Blue Mountains, Grey Highlands and Meaford) posted a healthy gain of 16% for the 4th quarter of 2011 with 457 properties changing hands in the final three months of the year versus 393 in the 4th quarter of 2010. Overall, 4th quarter ...

Market Summary Results 2010 vs 2011

GEORGIAN TRIANGLE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Total Area Summary Dec. 2011 YTD Dec. 2010 YTD %+/- Listings (Units) 6,477 6,314 2.6% Expired Listings (Units) 3,218 3,207 0.3% Sales (Units) 1869 1906 -1.9% Sales ($) $548,223,037 $544,793,365 0.6% Sales $1 to $199,999 (Units) 584 681 -14.2% Sales $200K to $349,999 (Units) 856 816 4.9% Sales $350K to $499,999(Units) 252 228 10.5% Sales ...

AIR MILES Cash

    With this new program feature, AIR MILES will be the only loyalty program in Canada to provide Collectors the option of instant savings on everyday and high value purchases from a variety of participating retailers across multiple categories. This new feature is in addition to the more than 1,200 reward options AIR MILES offers online including merchandise, travel and more. Collectors ...

Why every Canadian woman should have a will of her own

(NC)—Making a will is a sensible and worthwhile task that everybody, whatever their age or financial status, should do. However, there are some special reasons why Canadian women should be sure to make a will of their own. 1. Women usually live longer than their husbands. It's a good idea for each of you to have your own will when you're both alive. After the death of one spouse, changing circumstances ...

Protect yourself from fraud while online shopping

Avoiding crowded malls and icy temperatures, Canadians are increasingly turning to the web to do their holiday shopping from the comfort and convenience of their own homes. Canadians can shop and browse online with confidence if they take simple precautions to protect themselves and their money. Justin Hwang, Associate Vice President, Fraud Management, TD Canada Trust, provides his top tips for protecting ...