This is an essential thank you. Thank you to the lovely cashiers at Zehrs in Orillia – you always have a smile and a kind word. Thank you to the baristas at Starbucks Orillia – always pleasant and chatty, you give me a social outlet that isn't a Zoom meeting. Thank you to the folks at the Beer Store (my niece), the LCBO, Tim's, the restaurants we've been getting take-out from...Y'all definitely didn't sign-up for this, nor had any prep on how to respond – thanks for being awesome.

First responders – paramedics, police officers, nurses, doctors, firefighters – thanks for bringing it.

Buying a house? You know you want to. Maybe it's your first time or maybe it's not. Either way, this still applies. Before you start looking at new digs, or if you already have, contact a mortgage specialist (or me because I can give you a stack of names) now. I tell any home buyer who will listen – find a specialist and have the conversation. Thinking you know what you can spend on a new home is not the same as knowing how much a lender will actually lend you.

It's so important to be prepared, because knowing your max spend informs your firm price, it narrows your search, and it makes you ready to put in an offer once you find the home of your dreams. It'll help your Realtor® work smart for you. Who doesn't want to work smarter?

Inventory for homes between $350-$500k is low in the Barrie area, so being prepared will help you get your offer in before it's too late. So, let's recap: call a local mortgage specialist today, or call me.

My new site starts today. Let's see where it goes – together. It'll be fun.