Listen as Shelley and Mike share a few of the best investment tips you are likely to hear this year. You don't have to be Donald Trump to begin changing your current and future financial status. The home you live in now can provide you shelter in more ways than many ever stop to consider.

If you have children that will be leaving to attend college or University you will want to know about a strategy that could bring you peace of mind and offset the costs by half or even more.

Ranking more than 4,700 towns and cities across Canada, the Composite Learning Index (CLI) measures 17 indicators of lifelong learning and draws a link between learning conditions and social and economic well being. This year's national average fell by two points compared to 2008, from 77 to 75, but Barrie still faired well ranking 5th overall with a score of 84.  Created in 2006, the CLI uses an array of statistical indicators that reflect the many ways Canadians learn, formally and informally-whether in school, at home, in the workplace or in the community.

My guess is if we study hard and get to bed early next time, we can move up to number one, no problem.

We found Stan, Janet and Blair's dream home on a thursday last month and negotiated a great purchase price and closing terms. We listed their current Barrie home the following tuesday and received an acceptable offer two days later on the following thursday.

Stan Janet and Blair can't wait for their lives to change July 31st. when they move into their new digs on 4.3 partly wooded acres in Oro with a pool, spring fed pond and a 450 sq ft out building to be aptly dubbed "the hangar".

Congratulations guys.

The Ontario Real Estate Association has been pushing for increases to the amounts the Province will provide home owners in the Energy Savings Program. The new program, initiated  to encourage us to make our homes more energy efficient through financial rebates and incentives is being reworked to reflect some of the recommendations of OREA.

Visit the site (click below) for a breakdown of rebates that you may qualify for.

Ontario Energy Savings Program

Niagara West Conservative MPP Tim Hudac raises a challenge to the provincial Finance minister to consider a reprieve from the charging of Land Transfer Taxes for just one year in order to stimulate the real estate and housing industries that are at the core of our economy.

This makes far too much sense I am afraid for it to ever be put into practise. I personally know a few young couples struggling to save their down payments and closing costs to buy their first homes that would be ready to act today if the government were to implement this.

In June 2007 a new City Council had a host of plans and concepts for Barrie's future developement. Some were inherited from past council and many are well underway. Some have evolved, been retired or are still to begin. Have a look at this presentation from June 2007 which shows Barrie through the crystal ball of planners.

Barrie City Centre Report

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing:

June 2009

If passed, the Barrie-Innisfil Boundary Adjustment Act, 2009 would extend the southern boundary of the separated City of Barrie to include approximately 2,293 hectares of lands currently in the Town of Innisfil, which is in Simcoe County. These lands are contiguous to Barrie’s current urban structure. This would enable Barrie to plan to extend its existing urban services to these lands. This is critical for the successful implementation of the provincial policy framework in the Simcoe area.

If passed, all real property of the Town of Innisfil and the County of Simcoe in the lands affected by the boundary change would transfer to the City of Barrie on January 1, 2010.

Bylaws

If the proposed act is passed, the City of Barrie’s bylaws would be extended to the lands affected on January 1, 2010. Some of the Town of Innisfil’s and the County of Simcoe’s bylaws would continue to apply to these lands. These would be bylaws passed under the Planning Act, e.g., zoning and site plan controls; the Highway Traffic Act; and the Municipal Act, 2001 and would continue until they expire, are amended or repealed.

Official Plans

The Bill proposes that the official plans of the Town of Innisfil and the County of Simcoe would continue to apply to the affected lands until they are changed. In addition, the Bill proposes that any procedures started by the Town of Innisfil or the County of Simcoe to adopt or amend their official plans as they apply to the affected lands may be continued by the City of Barrie.

Tax Matters

The Bill proposes that all taxes due on properties on the affected lands on December 31, 2009 would become due and payable to the City of Barrie on January 1, 2010, and may be collected by the City. The Bill also proposes that, the City of Barrie would be required to pay the Town of Innisfil any tax arrears owing up to December 31, 2009.

Regulation Making Authority

The Bill proposes to give the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing the authority to make regulations for any matter with respect to the boundary adjustment under this proposed Act. This includes transitional matters necessary to facilitate the implementation of this proposed Act.

• Bill 196, Barrie-Innisfil Boundary Adjustment Act, 2009
• Ontario Unveils Growth Vision For Simcoe Area

Our provincial government is making changes to the tax laws that will effectivly put home ownership completely out of reach for many Ontario residents and hardest hit will be young families.

Why is our government, especially in difficult economic times deliberatly sabotaging a vital and currently unstable area of our economy?

Send a letter or email to your local MPP if you are concerned about this proposed tax grab.

HST Projected Costs for Ontario Home Buyers

An audio introduction for new subscribers and links to some valuable websites. Bookmark this page to your favourites for future reference over the course of your home buying journey and start exploring the hundreds of informative posts available at this site .

Mike and Shelley discuss the steps and the details of preparing yourself financially to buy a home.