VanDinther Team Blog

Cottage and Cabin Trends in Canada

Cottages and Cabins

Cottage and cabin trends in Canada vary from province to province. Many of us have enjoyed escaping up north or to one of the Great Lakes for a weekend or a few weeks away in the summer.

There’s just something special about getting out of the city for a while and reconnecting with nature. We get to sometimes even leave technology behind if we choose to and explore the beautiful nature around us.

The cottage and cabin trends in Canada change with each generation. Today we’ll see what the differences are between Millennials and Baby Boomers. How each generation is using their vacation property, their interest in purchasing one and what that means to the real estate industry.

A Recent Study about Cottages and Cabin Trends in Canada

There was a recent study that showed 56% Canadian Millennials are interested in recreation properties. And that these numbers are higher than ever. That the percentage is up 14% from last year where is was 42%. In 2018 91% of these recreation properties were due to Baby Boomers. And they continue to be the driving force in 2019.

“We are finally witnessing the beginning of a long anticipated generational shift of buying power from Baby Boomers to Millennials. With the high cost of urban living taking many young homebuyers out of those markets, more Millennials are contemplating recreational properties as a viable option for home ownership.” Says Christopher Alexander, Executive Vice President, RE/MAX of Ontario-Atlantic Canada.

Livability Plays a Crucial Role

It’s also important to note that in a survey there was a reported 61% that named affordability as the most important factor. While livability also plays a crucial role in their selection process. And there was another 61% of Canadians that indicated that these recreation properties are places they enjoy. And that it’s a place where they can go and relax and spend time with family and friends.

In the same survey they found that 58% see these recreation properties as a getaway home. While 43% said they take part in activities that they normally wouldn’t at there terminate residence. And 58% of Millennials and 38% of Baby Boomers said that these properties are for those activities. For example some of those activities could be hiking, fishing, boating, etc.

Atlantic, Ontario and Western Canadians

We can now take a look at cottage and cabin trends in each region. The study found that 39% of Atlantic Canadians are looking for a property that’s secluded. While 25% of Ontarians and 28% of Western Canadians are looking for properties that are in good proximity to waterfront, towns and medical facilities.

Travel Time to Recreational Properties

The survey also discovered that 54% of Canadians travel 2 hours or less to their recreation properties. And that only 22% travel 3 hours or more. It seems that most Canadians want to have that escape from the city, but not have to deal with too much travel time.

“With recreational properties more in reach today compared to the past, Travelling to your cottage or cabin is often accompanied by the Friday and Sunday rush, meaning increased traffic and longer travel times. Therefor it’s reasonable for buyers to take shorter travel times into consideration when choosing a recreational property.” Says Christopher Alexander, Executive Vice President, RE/MAX Atlantic-Ontario.

Should You Consider a Recreational Property?

This is a great question and with the help of a REALTOR you can figure out if it’s something you’re ready for. There are lots of options depending on location and what your budget it. That’s why it’s so important to work with a REALTOR.

Contact Lori VanDinther Today

If you’re ready to start looking for a new home or a recreational property now is the time to contact Lori VanDinther. You can discuss next steps and if you’re curious to see what you home is worth, check out Lori’s What’s My Home Worth Calculator.

Burlington Real Estate Market Statistics for June 2019

Real Estate Market, Real Estate Trends / By Erin / July 18, 2019 July 18, 2019

June 2019 Statistics Provided by RAHB

The June 2019 statistics have arrived and were provided by the REALTORs Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB). The stats indicate a 4.2% increase from June last year in the sale of residential properties.

It’s important to note that there was also an increase in the sale of single family homes by 11.6% over the same time last year. As well as an increase in the average sale price by 4.9% to $786,667.

This blog will review and summarize the statistics for June. We can see how much a property was in your neighbourhood and what the sales were like. Below is the first chart, Residential Market Activity, reviewing the sales and average cost of a residential property in Burlington and the surrounding areas.

Residential Market Activity for RAHB Areas

When we review the above chart, Residential Market Activity, it becomes clear that Burlington saw an increase in the average sale price of a residential property to $786,667. While there was a slight decrease in the total number of sales for the month of June when compared to the same time last year.

We can now turn our attention to the map below, Average Residential Price by District. And get a better idea of what the month looked like in terms of sales and average price of a residential property in each area.

The Average Residential Price by District

Average Residential Price by District June 2019

The Average Residential Price by District map provided by the REALTORs Association of Hamilton-Burlington illustrates each individual area. We’re able to better understand how each area in Burlington did during the month of June. And we can see each average cost of a residential property and how many sales there were.

It becomes clear that the area with the highest number of sales was Burlington’s most sought after neighbourhood, Millcroft. With 38 sales at an average sales price of $686,452. Lets now draw our attention to area 38 which had the most expensive properties in Burlington at $1,505,571.

From highway #5 to the Burlington Bay it’s very clear that for the month of June Burlington remains strong and steady. The next chart we need to review is the Burlington Residential Table for a more in-depth look at the numbers.

Burlington Residential Table

By reviewing the Burlington Residential Table we can get an more in-depth look at the overall numbers for June. We can see that there were a total of 414 new listings and 514 active listings. And once again we can see that the average cost of a property was $786,667. This is an increase of 11% compared to the same time last year.

And finally there has been a decrease in the number of days that a property remains on the market. There are a lot of positive numbers in the above chart. Lets turn our attention to some more RAHB statistics about the entire RAHB market area.

RAHB Statistics for June 2019

There were a reported 1,203 sales of residential properties located in the RAHB market area for June. This was a 4.2% increase compared to June 2018. The average price of a residential property also saw an increase of 5.2% from June 2018 to $593,549.

“The number of sales and average price is up over 2018, showing that the market is edging higher since it balanced out last year. Sales have dropped compared to May and April of this year, but paired with a decrease of about 4% in the number of new listings this could indicate the market is tightening.” – RAHB President Bob Van de Vrande.

For More Information

If you would like to learn more about these statistics and for a more in-depth report, please refer to the press release provided by RAHB.

Contact Lori

Have you been thinking about selling your home? Now is the time to contact Lori and she can not only provide you with more information about market, she can also help you find your dream home. Have you ever wondered what your home is worth? Try Lori’s What’s My Home Worth calculator today.

Independent Senior Living In Burlington

Burlington Living / By Erin / June 12, 2019 November 5, 2019

Senior Living In Burlington

independent senior living in Burlington is gaining popularity. This no surprise since independence is something we all want for long as possible. It’s very important for REALTORS® to comprehend the importance independent senior living.

Many seniors are encouraged to sell everything they own and move into a care facility even if they aren’t ready. It’s important to remember that a lot of people have lived in their homes for many years. And This can be a difficult process for them. Burlington has quite a few great senior living residence that offer independence. And they might help to make this next stage in life a bit easier.

Encouraging Alternatives

It’s wonderful when REALTORS® encourage alternatives to care facilities. Often these care facilities remove a lot of independence and it can be discouraging to someone who isn’t ready for that lifestyle.

Adult lifestyle communities are on the rise in recent years and are growing in popularity among many seniors. These communities usually require someone to be age 55 plus.

Two Senior Women Playing Dominoes At Day Care Centre

Burlington’s Independent Senior Living

While there are quite a few places in the area here some of Burlington’s senior living communities that are worth checking out. Some of them are listed below.

The Heritage Place Burlington

The Williamsburg

Pine and Pearl Retirement Residence

Burlington Gardens

Life Lease, What Does It Mean?

Life lease is when you pay a lump sum out as a deposit and there’s very little change in the rates. Meaning the purchaser will now own the house for the rest of their life.

Recently these communities have become very popular. And they have started to meet the housing and support service challenges. Which are issues that are often faced by the aging Canadian population.

These life lease communities are allowing residents to be more active when it comes to managing their properties. And they are also playing an important role in the lives of seniors, with organized activities and events.

Seniors can often feel lonely when they are living in their family home. And these senior communities offer them a way to experience life again and the joy that comes with making new friends and being social.

Some of these life lease communities that are offering independent senior living are The Gardens in Burlington and The Village at St. Elizabeth Mills in Hamilton. Wellness support is very important in a seniors life. Maintaining your health is important at any stage but can present more challenges as we age.

Wellness Support and Independent Senior Living

Personal car workers can be a vital part of our healthcare and especially so when we age. When seniors decide to stay at home and not move, it’s often personal care workers that come in and help with a mix of things.

They offer companionship, house keeping, medical services (such as nursing), wound care and therapy. Bayshore Healthcare is a service that offers many of these services. These services can come in handy if a senior is living at home or living in garden suite and secondary suites as well.

Garden and Secondary Suites

What are garden and secondary suites? They’re a pre-made structure that is installed in the backyard of a home. Much like an in law suite but it’s not attached to the home. The Ontario government is attempting to make it easier to create a secondary suite in their Housing Supply Action Plan. It’s a great alternative for a senior that wants to be close to family.

Independent Senior Living

There are so many options for seniors that offer a variety of living independently. Quality of life is so important for our mental health. And when we approach our senior years it’s important to remember that the loss of independence can be difficult. And That’s why it’s so encouraging to see so many wonderful and beautiful senior communities around Burlington.

Contact Lori

If you or a family member are curious about senior communities please contact me. I can help you find the community that’s the right fit or we can talk about other alternatives. I can be reached directly at 905.330.2002 or by email info@loriv.com.