Draft Master Recreation Plan Update & Stakeholder Meeting Invite 

On Tuesday, March 11, Drew Hemsley, Cornerstone’s Chair-Elect, presented to Norfolk County’s Council-in-Committee regarding the funding mechanisms outlined in the County’s Draft Master Recreation Plan. The report lists various means to fund the bold initiatives, including taxes, development charges, and potential new taxes, including a 2% tax on all new homes and a recreation tax on top of the standard land transfer tax. Drew urged Council to consider alternative options such as grants, partnerships and fundraising and to phase in the plan in alignment with current budgetary resources to not place additional burdens on residents or further make homeownership less attainable. Watch Drew’s deputation HERE. 

Following Drew’s presentation, Ike Keesmaat, President of the Haldimand-Norfolk Home Builders’ Association, also delivered remarks to Council to support our efforts.   

While the Committee did not vote on the Draft Master Recreation Plan at the meeting as expected, a new timeline has now been posted to Norfolk County’s Engage site, which notes that Council will vote on the plan in May.  

With the extended timeline, Cornerstone has arranged an exclusive meeting with Norfolk County staff to meet with our REALTOR® members and Home Builders in Norfolk County to hear feedback directly from its stakeholders.  

Please RSVP to the meeting on Thursday, April 10, at 10 a.m. at the Gilbertson Administration Building (12 Gilbertson Drive, Simcoe).  

Innovation Frontier Forum Returns on April 24!  

Back by popular demand, the Innovation Frontier Forum hosted by the Simcoe & District Chamber of Commerce returns on Thursday, April 24, at the Greens at Renton from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. With legacy support of the event from the former Simcoe & District Real Estate Board, Cornerstone is proud to sponsor the lunch at this year’s forum.  

‘Navigate Economic Uncertainty with Expert Insights’ is the theme this year, with the highly requested return of keynote speaker Brock Dickinson, Adjunct Professor at the University of Waterloo. The additional lineup of experts includes: 

• Shelli Varela – Story Alchemist presenting “The Audacity of Becoming Irreplaceable” 

• John Regan – Director, Norfolk County Economic Development 

• Caroline Jager – Homegrown Hideaway, discussing “The Power of Experience in Tourism” 

• Dominick Hardy – Economist, RBC Wealth Management 

Last year’s event was SOLD OUT, so purchase your tickets early. Members can purchase tickets at the Chamber member rate of $95+HST HERE.  

Open Letter to Hamilton Mayor & Council: Action on Housing Needed Now 

On Wednesday, April 9, the West End Home Builders’ Association (WE HBA), the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce (HCC), the Cornerstone Association of REALTORS®, and the Hamilton Halton Construction Association (HHCA) submitted an open letter to Mayor Andrea Horwath and Council to express the urgent need for action on Hamilton’s worsening housing crisis. The letter included key recommendations, including deferring the payment of development charges, canceling community benefit charges, reducing municipal submission requirements for new development applications, and striking a housing and development task force with stakeholders to drive solutions to boost housing supply. The letter can be viewed HERE.

Commercial to Residential Grant Pilot Program 

A new grant program is targeting landlords to convert their office buildings to homes due to the current 18 per cent vacancy rate.  

The pilot program, which is structured to encourage larger units for families, would include grants for landlords up to $10,000 per studio unit or hotel room to $20,000 per three-bedroom unit.  

London, Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton offer office conversion programs to tackle vacant buildings.  

Vacant Unit Tax Declaration: Deadline Approaching 

Every property owner in the City of Hamilton must complete a declaration by April 30, regardless of whether your property is occupied or vacant.   

Failure to declare will result in the Vacant Unit Tax being added to your final property tax bill in June 2025.  

Please take this opportunity to remind your family, friends, colleagues and clients who own property in Hamilton to complete their declaration by April 30, 2025.  

We are surveying members to gauge public awareness of the VUT. Please complete this one-minute survey to assist us. 

Did you know that alongside provincial and federal incentives, many municipalities offer local programs to assist first-time home buyers? Here are a few:  

Haldimand-Norfolk Homeownership Program: 
Down payment assistance for qualified low-to-moderate income households (combined household income of $115,800 or less). 
A 20-year, interest-free loan registered on title, providing up to 10% of the purchase price (homes must not exceed $618,000). 
For full eligibility details, click HERE.  
 
Region of Waterloo Affordable Home Ownership Program: 
A five per cent loan towards a down payment, helping renters become homeowners. 
Applicants must purchase a home in Waterloo Region for $600,000 or less, and with a household income of up to $109,000. 
For more details, click HERE.  
 
Welcome Home Niagara Homeownership Program: 
Down payment assistance through a 10% interest-free loan, up to $66,774.80. 
Applicants must buy a home in Niagara Region for $667,748 or less, with household incomes below $95,000 for one person or $113,000 for more than one person. 
For the full criteria, click HERE.