Investment Ideal in Simcoe, Report Says

Investment Ideal in Simcoe, Report Says

Barrie and Orillia are once again near the top of the list of the best places in Ontario for real-estate investment.

Simcoe Shores follows Hamilton and the Kitchener/Cambridge areas as the third-best place for residential real estate investment, in an analysis of top Ontario investment towns.

And even though it's expected to outperform other markets over the next three to five years, a local realtor who specializes in real-estate investment said the third-place ranking for the second consecutive year shouldn't be taken for granted. Barrie has to ensure all aspects of the city remain desirable to investors.

Every year, the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) releases its top-10 list of Ontario cities and towns and Barrie, along with Orillia as Simcoe Shores, once again made the list.

"Real estate investing is driven by the economy, job growth, in-migration, infrastructure," said Melanie Reuter, a co-author of the report.

She points to the many projects currently on the go that make Barrie desirable for people looking to invest in residential real estate: the expansion and new cancer care centre at Royal Victoria Hospital, infrastructure upgrades, attention to downtown, the GO train and Barrie's second GO station in development, and Georgian College with its expansion and university partnerships.

"In times of recession people go to school and in good times people go to school," said Reuter. "And we love transportation. You can afford to live in Barrie and commute elsewhere."

The city's designation as a growth centre will also help attract jobs and its economy overall, according to the report. And it's considered to have one of the lowest business cost environments in the country.

Shannon Murree works exclusively with residential real estate investors in Barrie through Remax Chay Realty Inc., which offers property management and is also a member of REIN and an occasional speaker. REIN's ranking, she said, reflects the appeal of the city on many levels.

"Definitely, with whats going on in the development in Barrie... you can see the cranes, the construction," she said. "People want to come live and play here.

"If Barrie wants to stay on the radar of the top-10 places to invest in, they need to make sure they make it investment friendly."


Restrictions in residential areas could restrict investors, she warns, pointing to crackdowns in east-end neighbourhoods known to be occupied by college students.

REIN is a real estate research organization. Its report analyzes the current and future prospects for real estate investment opportunities in Ontario, picking the top regions.

The Top 10 List
1. Hamilton
2. Kitchener & Cambridge
3. Simcoe Shores — (Barrie & Orillia)
4. Waterloo
5. Brampton
6. Ottawa
7. Durham Region - (Whitby, Pickering, and Ajax)
8. Toronto
9. Brantford
10. Vaughan

(originally posted May 12, 2011 Marg Bruineman, The Barrie Examiner)

Barrie and Orillia - Simcoe Shores Worth Investing In - Report Says

Housing started picked up in September due to an increase in multiple starts in the Atlantic region, Quebec and in British Columbia,” said Mathieu Laberge, Deputy Chief Economist at CMHC's Market Analysis Centre. Multiple housing starts are expected to move back towards levels consistent with demographic fundamentals in the near term. 

The seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts increased by 8.0% to 185,900 units in September. Multiple urban starts were up by 14.2% to 118,000 units while urban single starts decreased by 1.5% in September to 67,900 units. 

September's seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts increased by 47.0% in the Atlantic region, 32.0% in Quebec and by 18.6% in British Columbia while urban starts decreased by 3.5% in Ontario and by 12.1% in the Prairie region. Rural starts were estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 20,000 units in September. 

Residential property sales recorded through the MLS® System of the Barrie & District Association of REALTORS® Inc. came in well above year-ago levels for the third consecutive month in September 2011, and stood on par with some of the strongest September sales figures on record. 

Home sales numbered 387 units in September, an increase of 17 per cent over the same month last year. Within the City of Barrie, gains were in line with the overall trend for the region and showed 243 residential sales, up 19 per cent. 

The year-to-date average price for all homes sold via the Association's MLS® System in the first nine months of 2011 is now $289,254, up two per cent from last year. 

For the City of Barrie alone, the figure is $269,258. 

The Barrie & District Association of REALTORS® cautions that over a period of time, the use of average price information can be useful in establishing trends, but it does not indicate actual prices in widely divergent areas or account for price differences between geographical areas. 

The dollar value of all home sales in September 2011 was $113 million, up eight per cent from last September. 

The Barrie & District Association of REALTORS® covers a geographical area that includes the City of Barrie as well as part or all of the surrounding townships, including Springwater, Oro-Medonte, Innisfil, Essa, Bradford-West Gwillimbury and Clearview. 

Mark Wanzel photo

There have been a few articles written in The Barrie Examiner  in which I have had the pleasure of providing my experience of working with Real Estate Investors. Appreciate the opportunity of giving our "expert" opinion given over 90% of our business is solely working with Investors. ran under the headline, "Investment ideal here, report says."  The Real Estate Investment Network (REIN)ranked the Barrie & Orillia area third-best in the province for residential real estate investment, behind only Hamilton and Kichener/Cambridge. 

The report took into account such factors as the local economy, job growth, in-migration, and infrastructure.  The report's co-author, Melanie Reuter, cited many reasons that make the "Simcoe Shores" area attractive to real estate investors, including expansion of the Royal Victoria Hospital and Georgian College, infrastructure improvements, and the second GO train station.

This confirms what we all knew or at least suspected already - that our area is a great place to live, work, and invest in real estate!

County of Simcoe - One Of Ontario and Canada's Fastest Growing Areas

The County of Simcoe is one of Ontario and Canada's fastest growing areas located just north of the Greater Toronto Region.

Located in Central Ontario fronting onto the shorelines of Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe, the County of Simcoe has long been seen as one of Ontario's premier outdoor playgrounds. The County of Simcoe is blessed with some of the province's most popular outdoor recreation attractions. Whether you are into skiing, fishing, boating, golfing, biking, hiking or just plain relaxing, the County of Simcoe can fulfil your every need.

The County of Simcoe has a very diverse economic base and benefits from its close proximity to Canada's major domestic and international markets. With a strong mix of industrial, commercial, tourism and agricultural sectors and strong post secondary institutions the County of Simcoe has everything you need to help your business grow and prosper. We look forward to speaking with you on how your business can prosper and grow in the County of Simcoe, "For the Greater Good".

Population by Age

2006 Age 14 and under:  47,490 Age 15 to 24:  33,095 Age 25 to 44:  67,020 Age 45 to 64:  75,215 Age 65 to 74:  22,425 Age 75 and over:  16,815 Total Population:  262,048   Source:  Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006 NOTE: The Census of Population is collected every five years and the data is released over the following year. The last census was held in the summer of 2006.

Population by Education

2006 Total Population 15 to 65 years and over by highest certificate, diploma or degree: 212,020    No certificate, diploma or degree: 53,685 Certificate, diploma or degree: 158,290    High school certificate or equivalent 60,430 Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma 23,745 College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma 43,900 University certificate, diploma or degree 30,170   Source:  Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006 NOTES: -   The Census of Population is collected every five years and the data is released over the following year. The last census was held in the summer of 2006.

Labour Force

2006 Total In Labour Force: 142,540 Total Out of Labour Force: 69,485 Total Population (15 years+): 212,030   Total Employed: 134,620 Total Unemployed: 7,915   Source:  Statistics Canada, Census of Labour Force 2006 NOTES: -   Total population; 15 years of age and over by labour force activity (20% sample data). -   The Census of Labour Force is collected every five years and data is released over the coming year. The last census was held in the summer of 2006.

Labour Force by Industry

2006 Mining: 335 Agriculture: 3,530 Manufacturing: 22,580 Construction: 13,095 Finance and Insurance: 3,200 Real Estate: 2,665 Wholesale Trade: 6,475 Retail Trade: 16,115 Transportation: 6,595 Professional & Scientific: 6,390 Health Care: 12,635   Source:  Statistics Canada, Census of Labour Force 2006 NOTE: The Census of Labour Force is collected every five years and data is released over the coming year. The last census was held in the summer of 2006. Source - Simcoe.com