Houses for sale in Barrie
So you are starting to look at houses for sale in Barrie…and boy can it get overwhelming! Barrie has grown drastically in the last 5-10 years, changing from a small hub North of Toronto to a thriving, forward-thinking city reporting the third highest growth rate in all of Canada for 2016. With that comes the challenge of a large number of buyers and a noticeable lack of inventory. Add to that the rapid increase in pricing throughout 2016, searching for Houses For Sale in Barrie offers some unique challenges.
What to consider when buying a home in Barrie
If it’s been a while since you’ve moved within Barrie or you are looking to relocate from outside Simcoe County, there will be many things on your list to consider and evaluate. With all the changes in the city, including infrastructure, school boundaries and future development plans, buyers need to spend some time before they start their search becoming clear on what they really want.
Working closely with buyers from and new to the city has brought to light some common elements that most people thinking of a move in Barrie should consider.
What neighborhood do I want to live in? Barrie has expanded and the neighbourhoods have developed their own personalities as a result of that. Geographically, Barrie can be divided into East Barrie, Central Barrie, South West Barrie and South East Barrie. Barrie initially started as a lakeside community, so many of the character homes in Barrie can be found in Central Barrie near the lake. This area of town boasts unique, local shops and restaurants, with the added benefit of a short walk to the lake. In East Barrie, older homes with larger treed lots are still typical, but the area has expanded out to include plenty of new build homes as well. Georgian College, the Royal Victoria Hospital and many new shopping options service these areas as well. Both South West and South East Barrie have been established more recently (typically 20 years and under), and have the benefit of newer community centres and plenty of big box stores, such as those located in the Park Place Shopping Centre. Luckily in Barrie, there has been a mandate on keeping green space so all areas have beautiful parks, trails and conservation areas to enjoy.
What price point can I afford? Barrie’s pricing has increased substantially in the last year or two and that often is surprising to most buyers coming from outside of the city. While we still boast more square footage for the money than areas closer to Toronto, people often find that they qualify for less house than they thought. To avoid disappointment, we always suggest to clients that they first understand what they can afford by talking to a mortgage broker, or at the very least, by using a mortgage calculator.
Is there a certain school that I want my children to attend? The city boasts many educational choices for families, including public, private religious and language-based schools. We’ve developed some great resources to keep you up-to-date about the schooling options in Simcoe County on our website.
What amenities are important to me and my family? When searching for houses in Barrie, many buyers get caught up in the aesthetics of a house and forget to take into account how they live day-to-day and what amenities they want near their home to support that. Barrie has an extensive network of parks and community centres for family recreation, as well as designated green spaces all over the city that may be important to you if you have young children. If fourlegged friends are more your style, do you want access to the local off-leash dog park? Barrie has two Dog Off-Leash Recreation Areas, providing a safe place to explore the forest with your pup.
For those water lovers, settling near Barrie’s waterfront may be best suited for you. During the summer months, Barrie’s many beaches are a hub of activity, hosting vacationers and the city’s many festivals. Located next to Barrie’s waterfront is the downtown core which is bustling with restaurants and specialty shops to suit every need. For those commuters, proximity to Highway 400 is a must. Barrie currently has five interchanges for quick highway access as well as two GO Transit stations in Both central and South Barrie.
What type of property would I prefer to live in? While the majority of housing in Barrie is still single-family residential, semi-detached properties, townhouses and condos are becoming more the norm as home prices continue to rise. Out of town buyers looking for properties more reminiscent of the GTA will find what they are looking for in South East Barrie, which is characterized by trendy townhouses and modern 2 storey homes. Those searching for homes with mature trees on larger lots will have success in central or East Barrie where ranch bungalows, back/side splits and 2 storeys are more common.
How and where to start your search
Developing a game plan when actively searching for houses for sale in Barrie is always the first step. It’s often overwhelming with the myriad of options available online to know where to look or who to talk to. Finding a Realtor that you can trust should be your first step. Having someone who knows the local market and works full-time, immersed in real estate will save you time. Our team of agents spends time getting to know what our clients are looking for and actively searching out those opportunities, making sure that we are suggesting properties that are not only great homes, but smart investments long-term. By setting our clients up on customized searches, we save them time by sending them properties that meet their criteria instead of leaving them to filter through the many realtor.ca listings. As members of the Barrie, Toronto, Lake lands and Southern Georgian Bay Real Estate Boards, we help round up properties that are listed by out of town agents that may otherwise be missed.
We understand that searching for a home can be a stressful process. We work hard with our clients to reduce the stress by managing the details of their search, so that they can enjoy the fun stuff. We provide buyers with the tools and education to make smart buying choices through our website and in person.
Looking to start searching for Houses For Sale in Barrie? Start your search here or contact us for more personal service.
What website should I use to search for houses for sale in Barrie?
When searching for houses for sale in Barrie this website is the best site on the internet. All properties and content are updated daily and we can also send you new listings as soon as they hit the market to your email address. This is based on your personal criteria. For example if you are only interested in properties that are 2 storey with a finished basement and a walk out between $600K and $800k then that is all you will receive. This service will save you countless hours of research. Start your search now by clicking this link.