For Sale - Home & 100 Forested Acres

04/06/2026

03/06/2026

We walk every morning. On hot days we try to get out around 6 .... peace and quiet. By 7 the commuters are heading to work.

30/05/2026

Good Saturday morning. It is the Lilac Festival weekend in Warkworth.

Yesterday was a blustery day but a great day, as any day without rain is, for doing yoga on the deck and enjoying the natural beauty and serenity that this property offers.

28/05/2026

The Warkworth Lilac Festival is this weekend and this is where I bought this white lilac. I owuld love to take it with me but I can't. So I hope you will enjoy it if you end up buying this house.

24/05/2026

The rain keeps falling - good for the forest.

As many of you know, Liisa is a real estate agent that showed us a home and who sends out e-mails with her thoughts from time to time.
******************
FROM LIISA

Which actually brings me to Part 3 of this series, because my own purchase is a good example of what I want to talk about.

I needed to know where I was going before I could think clearly about letting go of where I was. The right place came up and I moved on it. Not because the timing was perfect. Because waiting for perfect timing can cost you the thing you actually wanted.

For some people, the anxiety of not knowing what's next is bigger than any financial calculation. Selling without a clear next step keeps them up at night. If that sounds familiar, buying first might be worth considering. When the right property comes up and waiting means losing it, when you can carry both properties for a short period, when knowing what's next lets you sell with a clear head instead of under pressure, those are the moments it makes sense.

The key is going in with eyes open. What does carrying 2 properties for 60 to 90 days actually cost you? Is that number manageable? For the person who needs certainty before they can let go, it often is.

*****************
The house we put an offer on is having an Open House today. Here's hoping the bad weather keeps people home. Terrible to say for the agent and vendor but it's my house🙂

20/05/2026

Over the weekend, I was out walking and noticed that my neighbours have a small pond.

This house and property are on the highest point on the road so the neighbours were able to build a little waterfall pond where this property drops off to theirs.

We have the best location for a little pond just off the deck but too much planning and other distractions means it never got made. Probably just as well .... ponds aren't for everyone.

The top picture is probably what we would have built, the second one is WOW ... and would have been nice.

Having land allows for many creative endeavours.

19/05/2026

Good hot, humid and windy day. I am a little late in posting today because I decided to rearrange my office. I think the new layout works better.

But I also want to share this listing with you because. 1. of the price and 2. the crushingly poor pictures of this "serenely beautiful property".

I appreciate that in today's soft real estate market that agents don't want to spend money but I don't understand how the photos and format are supposed to attract anyone .... especially at the price it is listed for. The commission on this house has to be a minimum of 4% .... even if it sells for $1m that's $42,000 or $21,000 for this "effort".

This is newly listed today but it isn't on my list.🙂

18/05/2026

Good holiday Monday. I hope you have a day of rest planned.

Last night's rain means no grass cutting but it will be a great day for weeding the garden.

As a follow on to house prices ... I came across this one yesterday. We are back to square one - looking for our next home.

This is a picture of a house that is being build but what is worth noting is that the price has gone UP - $20,000.

NOTE - the price does not include appliances. They will offer a package but our friends who bought a new "retirement" home (2 bedroom bungalow) last year, paid a heck of a lot of money because they couldn't be bothered shopping around and worrying about deliveries since they were working.

The price doesn't include a finished basement ... According to my research you are looking at $90,000 for a basic finish - no bathroom or separate bedroom.

The builder doesn't have to sod your property but they have to grade it to ensure that water slopes away. Our friends have rented out their "retirement home" for a couple years. Their tenant didn't water the lawn last summer so it died. They just put down a new lawn for $6,000. (Our home has more lawn than they do and we don't have a great deal!!)

Back decks are rarely included as a standard feature. A builder is only required to install a deck if it was an upgrade or standard inclusion specifically listed in your sales contract.

There is no deck included in this package.

This house will qualify under all the new credits that the federal and provincial governments are giving to new home buyers of new houses. Once the "upgrades" are included this house will be ovee $1m or they will restrict what they include in their package.

First time home buyers of new homes get some tax breaks ... but our home is not for a first time home buyer. We accept that this house may not be perfect fpr others but even a new home will, over time, need upgrades.

17/05/2026

A foggy start to the morning. Until this house is sold and I am in our new home, I continue to monitor homes.

We were recently told our home is too expensive. As I have said, a house is only worth what someone is willing to pay ... and the seller is willing to accept.

The house I am showing you is a newly listed home in a community I am watching. The house appears to be the same age as ours but is structural very different.

The agent writes "This magnificent property offers a rare blend of luxury, privacy, and endless recreation" ... "Outdoor enthusiasts and hobbyists will be thoroughly impressed by the exceptional outbuildings, which include a full two-car garage and a substantial thirty-foot shed, providing abundant space for vehicles, water toys, and seasonal equipment."

As a comparison - we have a three car garage attached to the house, a 20 x 12 gazebo and a 20 x 30 workshop.

When we were kids, we had a cottage and it was noisy during the summer - boats, parties, kids having fun. But if you have kids - why not??

This waterfront property is listed for $50,000 less than ours. They have a beautiful view of the water ... and the neighbours. We have a fabulous view of the forest, no neighbours in sight and peace and quiet all year round. We had a small pool for a while, but didn't use it enough.

Given what homes have sold for around us and based on the advice of professionals we believe our home is priced well enough to encourage people to look and make us an offer.

16/05/2026

Downtown Campbellford was hopping this morning.

Sharpe's - our go to grocery store was busy ... parking lot was full. Then to Canadian Tire and as expected, the garden centre was doing "brisk" business.

Back to the library but on the way we had to pass the "World's Sweetest Bakery" - Dooher's. The lineup was around the corner. Not sure when they will be opening at their new location on Doxsee.

So, if you are from around here you know that cottage and tourist season has started. I didn't see many boats, but I may just have been busy watching the car in front of me.

Hope you and your family have a great long weekend. We are staying home for the next couple of days!!