Ben Robitaille Real Estate

11/03/2026

Spring gets the attention, but every season sells something in Simcoe County.

Spring brings the deepest pool of buyers for in-town and family homes, and the most sellers to compete with. Summer is prime time for waterfront and cottages. Fall has fewer buyers, but the ones still looking want to close before winter. Winter is the quietest, with the least competition.

The right time depends on your home and your timeline.

Full article: https://bensells.ca/best-time-to-sell-home-simcoe-county/

Real Broker Ontario Ltd., Brokerage

11/02/2026

Six picks for the first week of November, from Gravenhurst to Innisfil.

At the Gravenhurst Opera House Gravenhurst Opera House an $11 film on Tuesday, live music on Wednesday and a Paul Simon tribute on Saturday night. Bracebridge Library Bracebridge Library has a stuffy story time and a Muskoka paddling talk on Saturday morning, and the Innisfil Autumn Art Show & Sale at the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library Innisfil Idealab & Library runs Saturday and Sunday with free admission.

Times and prices are from each organizer's page this week. Details can change, so check with the organizer before you go.

Photos: Gravenhurst Opera House and Bracebridge Library.

Have a good week.

10/31/2026

Selling one home and buying the next at the same time takes a plan.

These clients were selling their home and moving into their long-term family home in North Simcoe. In their words: “Ben came to our house, completed a thorough evaluation, and provided detailed comparables.” And once they found the right place: “Ben handled the negotiations expertly and always looked out for our best interests.”

Google review, December 2025.

Selling and buying at the same time? Let's map out the order together. 705.535.0913

Ben Robitaille, Sales Representative
Real Broker Ontario Ltd., Brokerage

10/30/2026

Simcoe County sold 611 homes in September, 15.8% fewer than a year ago.

The average price was $768,850, down 2.9%, with a median of $690,000. There were 6.3 months of inventory and 4,305 active listings, and homes sold for 96% of list price on average. In Barrie, 130 homes sold at an average of $686,941. Orillia sat at 4.6 months of inventory, Ramara at 11.3.

County averages hide a lot. Want the numbers for your street? Send me a message.

Source: TRREB Simcoe County Market Watch, September 2026. All home types.

10/29/2026

The Canadian Real Estate Association just cut its 2026 sales forecast for the third time this year.

CREA now expects 444,530 sales across Canada, 5.2% fewer than 2025, with the average price up just 0.2%. In Simcoe County, September sales were down 15.8% from a year ago, about double the national drop of 7.7%.

More choice for buyers. A sharper pricing job for sellers. Want to know what's selling near you? Send me a message.

Sources: The Canadian Press (Sammy Hudes) via BNN Bloomberg, Oct 16, 2026. CREA national statistics, September 2026. TRREB Simcoe County Market Watch, September 2026.

Ben Robitaille, Sales Representative
Real Broker Ontario Ltd., Brokerage

10/29/2026

Six things to do in Simcoe County this Halloween weekend, picked for families.

On Friday: Pumpkinferno Discovery Harbour in Penetanguishene, Night at the BOO-seum at the Simcoe County Museum in Minesing, and a free storytime in Alliston with the New Tecumseth Public Library . On Saturday, costumes get you into Wye Marsh Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre in Midland for free, and two Barrie farms close for the season: Chappell Farms Chappell Farms and Barrie Hill Farms Barrie Hill Farms , with pick-your-own pumpkins and live music in the morning.

Times and prices are from each organizer's page this week. Details can change, so check with the organizer before you go.

Photos: Discovery Harbour, Simcoe County Museum, Wye Marsh and Chappell Farms.

Have a good weekend.

10/28/2026

The Bank of Canada raised its key rate today, from 2.25% to 2.5%.

What it means here: Simcoe County had 4,305 homes for sale in September, and sales were down 15.8% from a year ago. Buyers have choice. Sellers need sharp pricing.

For your own rate or renewal, talk to your mortgage broker. For what it means on your street, send me a message.

Sources: Bank of Canada, Oct 28, 2026. Headline: Toronto Star, Oct 28, 2026. TRREB Simcoe County Market Watch, September 2026.

10/28/2026

If your mortgage renews in the next year, start about four months before the term ends.

Five-year fixed rates are priced off the five-year Government of Canada bond yield, so they can move even when the Bank of Canada doesn't. In one TD Economics example, a $500,000 mortgage renewing from 2.5% to about 4.0% costs roughly $320 more a month. Before you sign, ask how long the rate hold lasts, what could void it, what it costs to leave early and how much amortization is left, and get at least one competing quote.

I'm a Realtor, not a mortgage broker, so for your own rate, talk to yours or Richard Thompson Mortgages . If renewal has you rethinking where you live, that part I can help with.

Full article: https://bensells.ca/mortgage-renewal-simcoe-county/

Real Broker Ontario Ltd., Brokerage

10/22/2026

As Canadian culture reaches past the border more and more, here are some homegrown movies you should make sure you've seen.

As the colder weather starts to take over, you’ll be spending more time indoors with your TV. ...

10/15/2026

Small changes can help you feel better and look younger.

Getting older doesn’t have to mean that you lose your zest for life. Canadians have an edge wh...