Yep, we added to our model massively, loft basement, pretty much doubled the sq footage and also purchased one of their premium lots. As a result we got air con, wooden flooring, bigger basement windows, upgraded kitchen cabinets, and a load of finishes we wanted specifically chucked in.

Rememer all Canadian homebuilders are looking at what is happening across the border and don't want to be holding too much inventory incase Canada follows suit.

Chris

Is Midhurst in Springwater Township?

On the MLS map i am pretty sure it is. Danny have you been to Barrie yet? If so you come off the 400 at Bayfield heading West, drive past all the shops and the Georgian Mall, once you start going down the steep hill you see two sets of lights the second set is Snow Valley left and Midhurst and Horseshoe Valley right.

Let me know when you get over Danny all this time we been speaking it would be good to put a face to a name and grab a beer.

All the best


Chris

If you want to give me a Job we could have plenty beer We haven't actually been to Barrie yet although we have been to a lot of other places in Ontario.

Will difinately give you a bell next time we are over and get a few beers

Danny, the turmoil in the markets the last month i am just about clinging to my job let alone employing anyone else.

Chris

[QUOTE=cneldred;5890285]Danny, the turmoil in the markets the last month i am just about clinging to my job let alone employing anyone else.

Chris[/QUOTE

Not the best time to be in investments I would agree I started off as a butcher maybe I will open a shop instead There is some good profit in selling slice (square sausage for you who don't know what it is)and haggis, and I used to make a mean steak pie.

Hi Chris,

We used Judith Turner from Stewart Esten in downtown Barrie for our 'conveyancing', she came reccommended from the HSBC in Barrie and was very efficient, a problem did arise whilst we were going through the closing which was no fault of ours (down to our builder) and this added a further 18 months of work for her, but she and her very efficient secretary Pat remained in contact with us along the way. So whilst we have no knowledge of other lawyers in Barrie, I would be quite happy to use her company again, in particular with us going ahead with a second purchase.

Incidentally we found the HSBC excellent when we first arrived in Barrie and they have gone way beyond the call of duty in assisting us not only in banking but in other matters when we first arrived and did not know which road to go down! To this day they have helped us no end.

Good luck,
Helen

Helen, what you mean is they showed you where LCBO was??

We are going out so you can't phone up and abuse me for that.

Chris

Thanks Helen,

Somone else off this board gave me a good shout on Stewart, Esten so I think I'll give them a go. I suppose I'll need a Canadian bank account too so I'll call in to HSBC and see what they can do.

What happened to give you an 18 month delay? Who was your builder if you don't mind me asking.

Does anyone know anything about Baywood, Pratt or Zancor Homes?

Chris

Chris also try RBC at the corner of Dunlop and Bayfield in Barrie ask to see Margaret Low, tell her Chris Eldred recommended her. She did everything for us, our english cheques get cleared through our Canadian account instantly with no holds, which i believe is rare. In fact you may want to contact her before you leave, [email protected], she told us what to bring to with us and we set up the account instantly.

All the best for your journey

Chris

Chris,

I don't know too much about the bigger builders in and around Barrie, however I have come across a couple of families who have bought new from Baywood here in Wasaga and they are very pleased with the product, admittedly you may always get teething problems with a new home but that is regardless at what price level.

Don't get too concerned with our situation and our issue which took 18 mths to resolve. We were caught up in a technical land issue although we were not aware when we did the deal and at that point neither was our builder, Democrat aware. About 3 days before we were closing Democrat advised us that some of our land within our property boundaries had been incorrectly signed back to 'the township'. We therefore had to go thru the process of getting the land resurveyed, recognised as belonging to us, re-registered and finally getting our deeds corrected. Apparently this error had been made ahead of Democrat coming along as the site had had a previous developer ahead of them. So in light of the above and our situation that we had just arrived from overseas, Democrat kindly let us move in under an 'occupancy agreement' until things had started to move along, hence Judith Turner handling what should have been a straight forward house purchase and this becoming very drawn out. In fact she made 2 trips to England whilst she was handling our case!!! So as I say, please be assured this was quite a unique situation and not the run of the mill horror stories we come across from time to time and we were well taken care by everybody.

With regard to the HSBC Barrie, if it is of interest our contacts are Danielle Flowers or Alita Horzempa and it was them who put us on to Stewart Esten.
On our last visit a couple of weeks back they were telling us how the branch has seen a 100% increase of newly arrived Brits in the last 12 months so they are very conversed in getting the wheels in motion from day 1. Obviously everybodies needs are different but I can only tell you of our experiences and whilst we have been very lucky in most cases I would also tell you where we have not been treated so well.

Again hope your trip is productive and let us know how you get on!
Helen

Hey Chris I managed to sniff out where the LCBO was, did not require any assistance on that one and I would not phone up and give you abuse, all I will say though is how coincidental they are opening a brand new LCBO at our end of town within a few months of you arriving! Will you have your own allocated parking spot???!!!!!!!!!

Hey thats all Nina!! Not me.

Didn't know that about your house, makes my problems with them look like nothing.


Chris

Hi

I moved to Barrie from S.Wales 12 months ago. It's a cracking place. Bought a Pratt home too. If you need any more info then give me a shout.

Cheers

Beanie