Monday 19 September 2011

Rambling Ranch Hits The Market

251 Ferguson has a long list of amenities
Often families believe they need to reside in a 2-storey home, but smaller families should consider a large ranch.
Now hitting the MLS market in the south neighbourhood of Woodstock and close to the city's brand new hospital, is 251 Ferguson Drive.
With about 1400 sq ft on both levels and a full 2-car garage, this is not a small bungalow.
The list of ingredients automatically creates a large home -- 3 bedrooms, including ensuite (5pc) and walk-in closet to master bedroom, living-dining room combination, an eat-in kitchen with dinette area providing view of valley and golf course, and a main-floor family room. The family room has hardwood flooring and a gas fireplace with stunning stone mantel.
Even at the front door, you are greeted with brightness as a skylight assists the bright decor. This house was also built with wider hallways and other assistive features for someone with specific mobility concerns.
The living-dining room is 24' feet long -- lots of area for that formal setting and entertaining.
The kitchen includes oak cabinetry aplenty and a peninsula work space terrific for someone whom likes to bake or simply a convenient place to place food for that special family buffet dinner.
The raised deck here also provides for a panoramic view of southeast Woodstock. Ferguson Drive is set above the city with Hodgins Crescent below it in topography, then Lindsay Road, and finally the Cedar Creek golf course.
The lower level includes a large L-shaped recroom with another gas fireplace. There is also a walkout to the backyard. The 4th bedroom is found in the basement and provides ample space for an at-home office if that is what it is utilized as.
Basement also includes a workshop, which could be renovated for at-home work as there is a door to the outside, which could be client/customer access.
The asking price is $279,000 and the closing day can be flexible. Be sure to visit this ranch soon, if you're shopping list suggests a one-floor plan main living space.
The location of 251 Ferguson is particularly important as south Woodstock has many new and newer homes, but rarely a ranch of this size. This area includes the new state-of-the-art hospital, but also is highlighted by Southside Park and pool, community complex with 2 arenas and a gymnastics centre, box mall shopping (Wal-Mart, Staples, Canadian Tire, Reitmans, Winners, Home Depot, etc) and countless restaurants (McDonald's, Boston Pizza, Montana's, Kelsey's, Burger King, A&W, Wendy's, Swiss Chalet, etc), 2 high schools, 2 elementary schools, 3 hotels, the Cedar Creek 9-home -- but challenging -- golf course, and maybe most importantly is the quick 401/403 access for commuters.

Monday 12 September 2011

Open House On Executive 2-Storey

Saturday and Sunday @ Ferguson
This can be a space to promote a house or mention an upcoming open house, but this time it's prose to promote an open house on back-to-back days at a terrific family home in south Woodstock near the 401.
Only about 5 blocks away from Woodstock's brand new hospital, is the 12-year-old 2-storey at 250 Ferguson Drive.
Ideal for your upscale lifestyle, 250 Ferguson (MLS 67-860; Asking: 369,500) is also conveniently near Southside Park and pool, community complex's 2 arenas and gymnastics centre, Cedar Creek golf, 2 elementary schools, 2 high schools, box mall shopping (Wal-Mart, Staples, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, etc, and 9 restaurants), and 401/403.
This truly is a family location for custom-built executive-size 2-storey with 4 (3+1) bedrooms. Unique 2nd floor layout with a den/loft area which could be closed in for 5th bedroom. Master bedroom with large ensuite featuring corner jetted tub and adjoining walk-in closet.
Deroo Bros construction with spacious main-floor family room with gas fireplace (oak mantel by professional carpenter) open to the large eat-in kitchen with an abundance of oak cabinetry. Functional layout for a professional as office/den is also near front door and leads to eat-in kitchen. Main-floor laundry is more than just a tiny mudroom -- it's an actual laundry room.
More than 3400 sq ft living space thanks to fully finished lower level with recroom which is 37' long creating and therefore ideal for entertaining -- pool table or media room. Gas fireplace in family room as well.
Wonderful curb appeal with wrap-around front porch and interlocking brick greeting you to this lovingly maintained home. Welcoming foyer with hardwood flooring. More than 2300 sq ft on main 2 floors. Extremely clean and modern. . . . you would never guess it's 12 years old.
Fully fenced yard includes wood deck and natural gas bbq, plus landscaping. Lot backs on to green space. There is no one living behind you and better yet on the flip side you can enjoy the convenience of backing on to both St. Mary's High School and the city's community complex.
If you can't wait until Saturday or Sunday to discover this home, call Mark Schadenberg, sales rep, today at (519) 537-1553. Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Sunday 11 September 2011

Canada's Outdoor Farm Show

Gigantic annual farm show is in Woodstock, Sept 13-15The signs of autumn are everywhere.
It can be considered a change of seasons -- baseball to hockey.
The discovery of September on the calendar can be depicted in junior hockey training camps . . . children returning to chalk . . . and tall corn awaiting its harvest.
In Oxford County, the many signs of fall are directional signs, leading everyone and anyone with a connection to the agricultural economy to Woodstock for the annual Canada's Outdoor Farm Show.
Marking its 18th year, the farm show continues to burst at its seams with exhibitors and rural innovations. The 3-day trade show is this week -- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. each day). Farmers don't need directions as they have been attending for many years, but the show is located in Woodstock's northwest corner at County Road 17 (Tollgate Road) and Oxford's 11th Line. Arriving from the north, it's just west of Highway 59. From the west on Highway 2, it's north on County Rd 11, which is the last road before entering Woodstock.
The evolution of the show has seen it live up to it's slogan: 'Where Farmers Meet' as there are now more than 700 exhibitors. It simply is Canada's largest outdoor agricultural trade show, and it's in my backyard of Woodstock and Oxford County.
Look for more details at www.outdoorfarmshow.com, but this 3-day gathering has certainly put Woodstock and Oxford on the rural map. My hometown area has always been known as the Dairy Capital of Canada, but the farm show is about more than the latest in dairy parlours, robotic milking, and efficiences. Milk production is just the tip of the iceburg lettuce. The latest and best in seeds, machinery, productivity, solar, fertilizers, livestock, automation and conservation.
"We believe that R & D should be R, D & D -- research, development and demonstrations. That's how you can implement R & D at the grass roots level," said show president Lorie Jocius in the website.
Admission is $17 per day, but organizers realize many attendees will return for a second visit so the next visit is $10. There are discounts for students and youth, and parking is free on site with various lots.
The promotional website continues by saying: "As our nation's premier outdoor agricultural showcase, Canada's Outdoor Farm Show offers "one stop shopping" for farmers and highlights the most innovative and technologically advanced agricultural products and services available."
This year, the show expects to receive additional exposure -- not due to reaching any particular milestones, but to the fact that as many as 150 journalists from more than 30 countries will attend as part of their participation in the International Federation of Agriculture Journalists conference.
Woodstock is an interesting community as anyone living inside the city thinks with an urban frame of mind and relates to other larger communities along the 401 like London and Kitchener-Waterloo. However, immediately north of the traffic circle at Tollgate Road and Hwy 59, you leave a subdivision and a large soccer complex, and enter rolling fields and farms.
Some of the info I've included in this submission, was lifted from a letter distributed to people who reside in the immediate area. These neighbours of the show are invited to attend the opening ceremonies. The organizers have certainly covered the bases in planning.
If you attend, be sure to stop by the Lions Club food tent as 10 area clubs, including the Woodstock club I'm a member of, serve breakfast, lunch and dinner to exhibitors and everyone attending. I'll be there all day Thursday and will likely have on a purple golf shirt.