Barrie, named after Sir Robert Barrie in 1933, and within the northern part of the Greater Golden Horseshoe, wraps around the western tip of Kempenfelt Bay off Lake Simcoe. The main travel route through Barrie is Highway 400 which starts in Toronto and leads north through Barrie to cottage country. Until recent memory it was considered to be just a little too far north to commute from or to Toronto and York Region for work. Now Barrie is feeling the northward push by a great many people.

As the home prices escalated to the south, real estate buyers sought out the local neighbourhoods. As of 2017, “bidding wars” erupted as buyers outnumbered sellers and property prices started to skyrocket in every community. Now, Barrie is considered to be a prime destination for property owners looking to start or increase their real estate holdings.

The lakefront neighbourhoods of North Shore, Lakeshore and the exclusive South Shore are always attractive as is City Centre with Sanford and Allandale close behind. New high-rise condominiums overlooking the lake and the revitalized waterfront continue to attract residents and tourists seeking local summertime activities and events.

Many of the newer homes in southern communities like Ardagh with townhouses and detached bungalows, Holly with semis, towns, links and detached homes in many price ranges, Painswick North and Painswick South with bungalows, towns and semis, Bayshore and Innis-Shore with lovely detached homes, have all greatly added to the attractiveness of Barrie.

Older neighbourhoods to the north have solid, well-built homes that are still in great condition, but are seeing renovating and updating emerging as first-time buyers get into the real estate market. Letitia Heights, Edgehill Drive, West Bayfield, Cundles East, Codrington and Grove East with their townhomes, semis, and detached two-storey homes and bungalows have a property for everyone.

Throughout the time of growth, Barrie has expanded its’ many recreational and cultural activities necessary for an increase in population. The Georgian Theatre, the Mady Centre for the Performing Arts, MacLaren Art Centre, Caribbean Cultural Centre, Barrie Community Sports Complex, community centres in East Bayfield, Southshore, and Holly, Georgian College, the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and the many parks and trails throughout the city and its’ neighbourhoods are all very important for home buyers and sellers looking to be a part of the wonderful City of Barrie.