As we launch into 2008 I wanted to take a moment to thank all of those who actually read this Newsletter.  Surprisingly your numbers continue to increase. This newsletter will be undergoing a format change this month, it will become a 'blog'.  Keeping up with the time is not a bad thing, and hopefully even more individuals will get a chance to read our little notes, and comment on them!

At the end of every year we review or efforts and make plans for the up coming year, like many companies I would imagine.  One question was asked during one of these general session that went like this 'Why do people come to PEI and buy property?' Now having a bunch of real estate junkies at the table you would think that this would be an easy cut and dry matter...but no!  Here I thought we would wrap up are little session quickly and head home for the festivities early.  Turns out the reasons people have are varied and sometimes complex. 

In the quest for the ultimate answer I prepared a little survey for a select group and fired the question at them.  The answers were not long in coming and rich in descriptions and reasoning.  Let me share a few of them with you:

1.  The Classic - "I wanted a piece of property on PEI because I was vacationing there regularly and decided it would be a better investment for me in the long run".  In summary, instead of incurring expenses throughout the years for there holiday, the crafty individuals buy a place, enjoy it and then sell for profit.

2.  The Visionary - "Look I plan on retiring soon and with the value of my property here I can get an equivalent place on the Island and put a tidy sum away to top off my retirement years". With the large increases in home values in Ontario, Alberta and basically most of Canada, this makes absolutely great economic sense.  For many who responded to this it was both lifestyle and economics that dictated the purchase. On that note, I jest about the unofficial exchange program between PEI and the rest of Canada.  We send our Youth out to your provinces for work and adventure and you send us your retirees for peace and contentment...we'll take the trade ;o)

3. The Lifestyle - "Life in the big city is not getting any easier or safer, we wanted a place to call home were we would feel we know our neighbours, and they know us.  A place in the world were technology and mass media are available but do not dominate lives, a place were strolling down a deserted beach was still possible or just hanging out with friends in the backyard was still considered to be a very acceptable way to pass away one's day".  Ah lifestyle, that's the one that broth me here...absolutely no regrets either. Slow it down and enjoy it, that's my new motto.

4. The Spiritualist - "We just felt a calling to the Island.  The energies there are phenomenal. We had to be part of it!". I'm amaze on how many of you fall into this category.  I've met more psychic sensitive people here then in the psychic fair in Ottawa & Toronto combine. Thank you for coming, you ad colour to our lives.

5. The Pragmatist - "I've been looking up and down the Eastern Seaboard for affordable oceanfront properties.  I thought I'd never find one until I stepped onto the Island.  I can't believe my good fortune! I got the properties of my dream for a fraction of the cost they were asking for anywhere else!" Glad we could help.  Look prices on PEI are going up, especially for waterfront properties in nicely developed S/D (we've got a few listed, see our best deals page). But what are friend is expressing here is a comparative value.  Another client, a real estate agent from Florida, was absolutely stunned by what $200,000 could buy her.  She had just finished the sale of an acre property in the lake district (not the ocean) for 10 times the price of what we were offering her.  Ah but Rick, its Florida -sunshine and warm weather.  Ok, fair enough but let me tell you what the new trend is becoming...

6.  The Snowbirds -  "We love to winter in Florida but we did not want to spend the summer's there.  First of all, to keep our citizenship and health care benefits we need to come home.  What we found in Florida is that the summers are hot/muggy affairs with mosquitoes and tornados, we can do without.  So we ventured to PEI and found 6 glorious months (May to Oct) that perfectly off set our southern treks. Could not be happier".  The new trend is winter down south and summer up here...great if you can make it yours.  We can help save you some money on your purchase at this end...in Florida well that maybe another matter.

I could go on, as my coworkers will attest to, seems the reasons are as varied as our clients but this summary touches on many of the popular reasons for buy a property on PEI is you are from off Island.  Don't be afraid to add your own...we love hearing from you.

Now since this is migrating into a blog I will be encouraging my fellow Century21 mates to submit pieces such that we can continue to deliver content to you.  Our focus will be Prince Edward Island Real Estate of course but do expect feeds about PEI in general during the course of the month.