Being A Vacation Destination Is Helping To Increase Wasaga Beach Real Estate Values

Although the Town of Wasaga Beach did not get to be recognized until January of 1974, its stature as the longest fresh water beach in the world has continually brought in both permanent and seasonal residents, particularly from neighboring Toronto. But, the number of permanent residents has increased steadily — from 12,419 in 2001 to over 15,029 in 2006, when the last census was taken.

As the numbers continue to rise, Wasaga Beach has earned a standing as one of the quickest growing communities in Canada. The number of transactions and the extent of Wasaga Beach real estate sold is climbing substantially — particularly since 2009 — and new residents are building homes as the desire for more seasonal structures is increasing, and cottages and weekend homes are springing up along the sought after beach front.

Wasaga Beach’s fourteen kilometers of safe, sandy community beaches, as well as the Wasaga Beach Provincial Park–which was awarded the highly regarded Blue Flag designation for its work to manage Wasaga’s shoreline in compliance with international environmental standards—lures both full time residents and visitors alike. The area offers activities throughout the year along the sandy beaches — numbered 1-6 (with 1 and 2 being the most popular) — and during the spring and summer there are sports like various water sports or a game of frisbee to be enjoyed by everyone. During the winter, the same stretch of beach is a mecca for winter sports enthusiasts who come to snow shoe and hike along the well maintained trails.

Although a major fire destroyed seventy percent of the main drag, businesses and apartments — along with the pedestrian mall — on November 30, 2007, Wasaga Beach development has not stopped. Instead, the area is experiencing a massive building boom with fabrication currently taking place on a contemporary style beach front area with a plaza, eateries, and an indoor/outdoor theme park serviced by a monorail. At present, the Georgian Coach Lines — that provides area transit services –has had to expand their routes twice since 2008 to meet the demand of the growing area and offers an east-west loop through the town from 7AM to 7PM daily.

The increasing availability of amenities and goods in Wasaga Beach has helped push real estate sales up 65 percent in the first quarter of 2010 when compared to the same time last year. The month of March 2010 experienced a whopping 50 percent increase which also had a positive affect on the neighboring Collingwood real estate sector. Even more encouraging were the price range increases, up to 172 percent in a few regions of the Greater Toronto Area, with houses that were asking 300K moving into the 350K to 500K range. Although almost certainly seasonal purchasers make up a large portion of the growth, it also appears to be due to the upscale estates in Wasaga Beach are increasingly a popular retirement choice for well-to-do residents. But undoubtedly the general appeal of the Georgian Triangle lifestyle will continue to attract the interest in a broad range of potential purchasers who are drawn by the natural beauty of Wasaga Beach, but enjoy the convenience of having the amenities of Toronto that is just a two hour driving distance.