Rimming Sarnia Bay is a beautiful area that appeals to virtual home office workers longing for room to breathe, families in search of affordable, spacious houses and retirees eager for their next chapter. They are equally astonished when Realtor Carla MacGregor takes them on a guided tour of her home turf. Somewhere along the paved waterfront trail that meanders through Point Edward parks, past boats docked at Sarnia Yacht Club and over to benches set beneath the Blue Water Bridges connecting Canada to Port Huron, Michigan, home seekers from the Greater Toronto Area quickly fall in love with the region.
"People wanting to leave behind congested cities and embrace more laidback lives will find Sarnia-Lambton has it all: big, private backyards, expansive green spaces, sandy Lake Huron beaches, pathways for walking, hiking and biking, scenic drives, boating and sailing, world class golf, one-of-a-kind shopping, dining, wineries, microbreweries, live theatre and art galleries – just minutes by vehicle. this region also provides excellent healthcare, schools and recreation facilities.” - Carla MacGregor
When residents want to head south for the winter or travel abroad, the U.S. border crossing is moments away and the Detroit Metropolitan Airport is only an hour’s drive.
“Right now, the perfect place you’ve been looking for can be found in one of many pretty communities located along the shores of Lake Huron and the St. Clair River in Sarnia-Lambton,” assures MacGregor, a residential resale, new construction specialist and Realtor with Team RE/MAX sarnia realty inc., Brokerage.
Current options include a luxury new home built on lakefront property; a character family house with deeded beach rights in a mature neighbourhood; a resale home mere steps to public beaches; condominiums with views of the river, lake or marina; one-acre-plus retreats; and four-season escapes in Southwestern Ontario’s Cottage Country.
Housing is so reasonably priced that after GTA residents crunch numbers, they realize they can finally achieve their long-held dreams – or afford even more exciting ones.
“From February 2023 SLREB stats, the average sale price YTD in Sarnia-Lambton was $486,357.00.”
“A re-sale raised ranch across the street from public beach access in the peaceful community of Camlachie is listed right now at $699,900,” MacGregor notes. “Also available is a Riverfront home with 3 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms on a 60’X300′ lot with a private dock right on the St. Clair River in the lovely community of Sombra.”
Gems presently on the market include homes newly constructed in modern subdivisions less than two kilometres to the beach. “Homebuyers can get a detached 1617 square foot bungalow with 3+1 bedrooms, finished basement and double car garage this moment for $720,000,” says MacGregor.
Those reasonable prices represent increases in a year of drastic changes in Ontario’s housing market. However, “buyers have greater choice and negotiating power now. I’m here to help my clients make informed decisions and build wealth through real estate,” MacGregor says. “I want to make the buying process hassle-free and financially rewarding.”
With fresh properties being continuously listed, MacGregor says, “I can help you gain access to hundreds of pre-sale, new build and cottage properties on the market. I also know of homes that aren’t listed yet and can connect the right buyer with the right seller. It’s very satisfying to help facilitate the ideal fit.”
It makes sense for out-of-town home seekers to engage a local Realtor as their own dedicated house hunter. “As your personal real estate agent, I am looking after your best interests as the buyer. My experience and connections enable me to negotiate the fairest price and terms on the different properties that appeal to you,” says MacGregor.
To help home seekers determine what matters most, the Realtor encourages them to complete her personal criteria form. “Using your wish list, I am then able to filter through available properties and find several that could be your next wonderful address.”
In addition to a home, GTA transplants are also shopping for a new community to support their preferred lifestyle. MacGregor says, “while I’m happy to take time-crunched home seekers on virtual tours of properties and this region, my favourite part of this job is to accompany buyers in person on my complimentary tour of Sarnia-Lambton.”
MacGregor knows firsthand what it is like to live all over the area. Sarnia born and raised, she grew up in Corunna, spending summers diving from the shore and drifting downriver in the current. “My first home was in a family-friendly Sarnia neighbourhood close to many lakeshore beaches. Then I lived in Bright’s Grove in a cottage-style bungalow one block from Lake Huron. Now we are in Point Edward, just a short walk to the Blue Water Bridge where Lake Huron meets the St. Clair River.”
“I’m always glad to meet new neighbours, my community and I would love to have you here!”