Barrie Condos For Sale | Blog | Barrie Condo Team

Stunning “Grand Cayman” condo unit located in Barrie’s newest waterfront condos development “Nautica”.  Enjoy panoramic views of marina and Kempenfelt bay from this fully upgraded luxury condo. Click here for pricing and more information on the Nautica condo unit for sale.

Open concept floor plan presents floor to ceiling oversized windows, hardwood flooring, granite counter tops, glass backsplash, stainless steel appliances, oversized glass shower, jacuzzi, heated towel racks and radiant floor heating.

View more information on Nautica Condos in Barrie and Nautica floor plans.

Looking for condominiums in Barrie, but not ready to buy? No problem

Barrie has a number of rental and lease options in its condo market. They’re perfect for people that want the condo convenience, but can’t make the financial or lifestyle commitment just yet.

Let’s start with your lease or rental agreement. You will most likely be asked to sign a 1-year lease. However, if you’re willing to sign a longer one, the renter will probably negotiate a few dollars off each month’s payment. Condo owners like the security and guaranteed income of a long term lease. So if you’re open to one, it will pay off.

Your rent will include condo fees, but it rarely includes bills like cable, internet or home phone, so remember to factor them into your budget while shopping around. In most cases, it will include your parking space though.

Select a Barrie condo real estate agent that can work side-by-side with you to make sure you find the right condo unit and building. Sit down with them, and discuss your wants and your absolutely-must-haves. It’s their job to take your needs and factor them into the rental market to come up with the right fit.  You know what you want, they know how to get it—and more importantly, they know what you should pay for it.

Your condo real estate agent is your best friend on move-in day. They can handle details like making sure all documents are in order, setting up key-drop off, booking elevators, and making arrangements for deposit cheques (if necessary).

After that, start enjoying condo-living. Enjoy having all the perks of a fulltime condominium. You get access to all their amenities, like pools, gyms, or conference rooms. But with that comes the same responsibility of a fulltime condo owner. You have to abide by all the building’s rules and regulations. You will, however, notice a greater sense of community than in most rental situations. Few apartment buildings or complexes have the same level of social interaction as a condo.

So if you would rather rent / lease your first condo than own one, contact The Barrie Condo Team to go over your options.

YouTube video update on the Ellen Street - Marina Bay condominiums in Barrie.   They are performing a number of upgrades to the outside of the building that will increase the value of the condos.  It looks great!

For more information on Barrie condominiums - contact the Barrie Condo Team.

The condo market is hot and getting hotter. And many of the buyers seem to be getting younger states Sheila Brady, Ottawa Citizen Daily Newspaper.

The average price for a condo in Canada is $320,000. In Ottawa, it's $304,801.  With the average price in Toronto at $396,154 and a hefty $592,441 in Greater Vancouver."

Stephanie Adams with the Barrie Condo Team states that "we are seeing the same pattern of buyers in the Barrie Condominium real estate marketplace".  View more information on Barrie condos for sale.

Read the full article about the Canadian condo market.(Published by the Ottawa Citizen) 

Many people have the misconception that staging is simply adding decorative elements to make the home “pretty”.  Some even call it “house fluffing”. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Home and condominium staging is the process used to prepare property for sale, regardless of price, or location. Stephanie Adams from the Barrie Condo Team states “staging uses buyers eyes to identify the problem areas as well as the best features of the home.”

Decorating is about appealing to ones individual taste & style. Decorating is for living. Staging is about appealing to the broadest range of potential buyers. Staging is for selling. Think of staging as a tool used to sell your property quickly and secure the equity you have worked so hard for.

A good stager will have an excellent understanding of the common psychological desires in human beings. We are all naturally drawn to light & bright as opposed to dark & dingy, airy, open & uncluttered as opposed to stuffy, cramped, & cluttered spaces. A good stager will also understand the market and stage every home based on the unique selling features. For example, staging a large detached house is very different than staging a small condo.

When staging a house, we think of square footage, when staging a condo, we must think of every square inch and make each one count!

• Paint wall neutral, white/ivory/tan

• Create the illusion of lots of space by using the

appropriate scale of furniture.

• Limit furniture to only necessary items. (Less is

more)

• Strategically placed furniture, sometimes using

angles can visually open up a space. (As in bottom

picture)

• Be mindful of the flow, you want buyers to move

freely throughout the spaces.

• Keep countertops clear; create the illusion of more

counter space.

• Above all else…clean the house before an open house!

Simone Frank CSP is a staging professional with New Leaf Décor - Property Staging. For more information visit: www.newleafdecor.com

Many people are drawn to townhomes in Barrie because they want the best of both worlds. They want to have a yard to BBQ in, but they don’t want the hassle of maintaining it. 

Professional management of condo townhomes, means enjoying the perks of a yard and garage, without mowing lawns or shoveling snow.  

Barrie is a great place to find the perfect townhome, and working with Realtor focusing on Barrie townhomes can help you find the perfect fit.  

“There’s a lot of factors that go into finding the right townhome,” said Stephanie Adams of Barrie’s Condo Team. 

“There’s a lot of choice locations available around the city, some centrally located and some on the waterfront. It’s all about trying to find the right combination of size, floor plan, parking, and available upgrades to suit the buyer.” 

She also advises that senior-aged buyers need to consider looking at the number of stories and stairs a unit has. A lot of elevation can make for nice views, but may cause problems elsewhere.  

It’s also important to know that you’re not just buying into a building, you’re buying into a community as well. Smaller townhome developments are a familiar and tight-knit community, which can create a great chance for building new relationships and keeping a busy social schedule.

 To view photos of some of townhomes in Barrie, click here to view our Barrie townhomes guide. Or to view The Barrie Condo Team’s latest Barrie townhomes for sale listings.

When you’re searching for that perfect condo in Barrie, it’s smart to work directly with a Realtor that focuses on Condos. It's their job to make sure you’re getting the right condo for your lifestyle, and getting it at the right price.  

If you’re in the market, you’ve probably already looked at a few condos, either online or in person. However, working with a Realtor can help you take a closer look.

Once you're starting to lean towards a particular condo unit, it’s time to examine the price, pricing history, and benefits of that type of unit.  

Your Realtor can break down the condo unit’s price and give you details that nobody else can. 

They can research and examine the price history to see if there’s been any price increases, or if there's been any upgrades to the unit. 

They also look at other factors such as where the unit is located and whether or not the condo’s view of Barrie's waterfront is affecting the price. If you feel the view of the lake or city is worth a bit more money, great! But if you don’t really see the value, your agent will help you decide if your money can be better spent on other upgrades. 

You also need to take a close look at parking. Some units only have one deeded parking spot, instead of two. It’s not something you may think of, but it can be a big deal for couples and families.

Finally, your Realtor can help you determine whether or not condo fees will play a role in your decision. They will look at questions like, “has the building been well maintained?” Or “does the building have a history of stable condo fee increases, based on inflation or tax changes?”

Browsing units on your own helps target condos in your price range, but only working with a Condo Realtor in Barrie lets you see exactly what you’re getting for that price.

You want to own a condominium in Barrie—you’ve decided that much. But you’ve still have a lot of decisions and factors to consider before you’re done shopping. Handing your wish-list over to a Barrie Condo Realtor is the fastest way to get exactly what you’re looking for.  

Your first, and maybe, biggest consideration is location. Locking down exactly where you want to be is a quick way to shortlist your options. 

"Maybe you just like the look and feel of some neighborhoods," said Stephanie Adams of the Barrie Condo Team. 

“Or maybe you want to be on, or close to, the waterfront. Or maybe you’re a commuter who needs to be close to Highway 400.  These are all big factors.” 

Now let’s take a look at floor plans. Everyone has different architectural and functional needs, which is why most waterfront condos in Barrie have on average 6-8 different unit types, and the previous owners may have chosen different upgrade options.  This provides a lot of choice.

If you’ve found the building and the suite you like, don’t forget to ask your Realtor if the unit’s view of the lake and/or city is a factor in the price. Panoramic views are big selling features for most condos, but if it’s not a deal-breaker for you, perhaps you can get a better price on a more modest view. 

Don’t forget to factor in parking. If you have more than one vehicle, make sure your building can accommodate your needs.  But bare in mind, a lot of people choose a condo in a central location so they can walk to more amenities and cut down to one car. 

Also take a close look at the community that each condo offers. You may prefer a building with regular social events or parties.

This Barrie condo is perfect for the first time home buyer or commuter. Situated on a quiet corner with walkout to private deck. This is a 2 bedroom condo with 1.5 baths, boasts a bright breakfast nook and cozy gas fireplace.  The condo is conveniently located in Barrie’s south end. Enjoy maintenance free living on the perfect setting!

For more information on this condo you can view the listing on the Royal Lepage Barrie web site or with maps and additional pictures on the Barrie Condo Team web site - under our current Barrie Condos For Sale section

In Barrie, Selling your home and moving into a new one can be stressful enough, let alone worrying about your current mortgage and whether you’re able to carry it over to your new home. 

Mortgage porting enables you to move to another property without having to lose your existing interest rate, mortgage balance and term. And, better yet, the ability to port also saves you money by avoiding early mortgage discharge penalties.  “This is very important when you are considering downsizing and moving into a condominium in Barrie”, states Stephanie Adams, of the Barrie Condo Team.

It’s important to note, however, that not all mortgages are portable. When it comes to fixed-rate mortgage products, you usually have a portability option. Lenders often use a “blended” system where your current mortgage rate stays the same on the mortgage amount ported over to the new property and the new balance is calculated using the current interest rate.  

With variable-rate mortgages, on the other hand, porting is usually not available. As such, upon breaking your existing mortgage, a three-month interest penalty will be charged. This charge – which can be a surprising $1,500-$4,000 penalty at closing – may or may not be reimbursed with your new mortgage. 

Mortgage Porting Conditions

While porting typically ensures no penalty will be charged when you sell your existing property and buy a new one, some conditions that may apply include:

·      Some lenders allow you to port your mortgage, but your sale and purchase have to happen on the same day. Other lenders offer a week to do this, some a month, and others up to three months.

·      Some lenders don’t allow a changed term or force you into a longer term as part of agreeing to port you mortgage.

·      Some lenders will, in fact, reimburse your entire penalty whether you are a fixed or variable borrower if you simply get a new mortgage with the same lender – replacing the one being discharged. Additionally, some lenders will even allow you to move into a brand new term of your choice and start fresh.

There are instances where it’s better to pay a penalty at the time of selling and get into a new term at a brand new rate that could save back your penalty over the course of the new term.

While this may sound like a complicated subject, your Barrie mortgage professional will be able to explain all of your options and help you select the right mortgage based on your own specific needs.

Lisa Cuff is an accredited Mortgage Agent with Dominion Lending Centres in Barrie. Her office is located at 2 Victoria Street at the base of the Nautica Condos on Barrie’s waterfront.   Drop in and learn more about how portable mortgages can work to your benefit along with 45 minute mortgage pre-qualifications.

Posted with permission. Contributions by Stephanie Adams. Will be published in SNAP Barrie Magazine in June 2010.