Rock n' Roll, Racing, Real Estate and Toronto Homes by Jim Bowie

Client Testimonial

Jim Bowie — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:06:18 -0400

There was a lot of confusion being a first time homebuyer, so many rules, so much research, so much paperwork, so many things to consider and so many questions. Jim helped to alleviate all of that insanity. He went above and beyond the call of duty always keeping in touch and updating me on potential listings. He was there with his expert advice on everything throughout the process and also provided lawyer recommendations and help finding the right mortgage while helping me find not just a home, but the right home for me. He even offered to help with my furnishings! .

With real knowledge and real professionalism, Jim was a real friend, not just real estate agent. I guess you could say he puts the “real” in realtor.

Alex B.

Happy New Home Owner

12 Years of Toronto Real Estate

Jim Bowie — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:19:22 -0500

Here's a snapshot of the past 12 years of residential resale activity in the Greater Toronto Area as reported by TREB Market Watch. My crystal ball is in for repair.... but this look back at the past 12 years of activity might give a glimpse of what the future holds. 2007 still holds the record for the highest number of residential resale transactions, and 2011 came on strong to now sit in 2nd. Average sale price has gone from $228K in 1999 to $465K in 2011. Average home prices have gained every single year over the past 12, from "just barely" in 2008, to near double digits in 2002 + 2010. What does your crystal ball say for 2012, 2013.... and so on?

Canadian Superbike - my take...

Jim Bowie — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:02:47 -0500

The opinions expressed herein are mine.... as if anyone else would lay claim to them...

When Parts Canada announced that they were pulling the plug on Canadian Superbike, I have to say, I got pretty excited. I felt that this was finally going to be the impetus needed to change the sport. To me, Parts’ decision was much more impactful than that of an OE, or other sponsor. Think of it as ‘creative destruction’… a process where a shock to the status quo leads to positive change for the future. Clearly, the sport was broken, and I thought… “Finally!!... this is great – here we go.” I immediately reached out to some influentials that I knew and expressed my desire to talk to someone…. anyone. And I got some names, and I tried… but no one seemed to have the energy or enthusiasm that I had, and as time passed, so did my energy and enthusiasm. The attitude was either indifference, or that “nothing is gonna change”. If someone would have listened to me…. here is some of the propaganda that I would have spewed…

1) What is the responsibility of the Canadian Superbike Series?

The responsibility of the CSBK series is to generate CONTENT. This content is to be used as an AUDIENCE AGGRAGATOR for its STAKEHOLDERS.

Let’s identify the stakeholders….

- B2B companies that are endemic to the motorcycle industry
- B2C companies that sell motorcycle-centric product to consumers
- Media that is endemic to the motorcycle industry

And…. let’s identify the audience:

- B2B - Decision-makers who manufacture, distribute, sell or buy endemic products
- B2C - Fans/spectators of motorcycle racing (consumers of CSBK-generated content)
- B2C - Consumers of motorcycles and associated products
- B2C - Consumers of non-endemic products and services

And finally… the content providers:

- Team owners
- Professional racers + support staff
- Promoters
- Race tracks

So, to summarize; it is the responsibility of the CSBK series to deliver great content that builds and sustains ‘audience’ which can be monetized and measured. Period. Think about properties that are successful, and you’ll quickly identify they are very good at delivering on the responsibility of being an audience aggregator.

Let me use this in a sentence… “Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment used great content to grow a large, measurable and sustainable audience. This large, measurable and sustainable audience was desirable to all of MLSE’s stakeholders. ALL OF THEM. The content was so effective as an audience aggregator that the two largest distributors of content in Canada, namely Bell and Rogers…. bought it all…. for $1.32 billion."

Now… let’s talk content.

First, when you think about the NHL, NFL, MLB. MLS.. etc., the game has fundamentally stayed the same since their inception. The size of the playing fields are the same, and for the most part, the rule books have not changed. There have been tweaks to the rules to make the content better for the audience… such as the NHL’s regular-season overtime and shoot-out rules. But in general terms, the content generated by these sports is the same. They have not changed the content – they changed the experience with the content.

The exact same thing is true with professional motorcycle road racing. The content is the same as it has always been. In fact, it’s fantastic!

So…. as other pro sports have used their (same) content to create multi-billion dollar enterprises, CSBK, using its (same) content, cannot generate enough audience to justify participation from Kawasaki Canada? (as an example)

The point that I am trying to make here is that you do not have to change the content. Professional motorcycle road racing in Canada has all of the elements in place that are necessary for success. It is already FANTASTIC CONTENT.

So, what has changed with the stick + ball sports? The quick answer is; "everything else". They have completely changed the stakeholder, audience, customer and fan experiences with their content.

While the CSBK ‘executives’, the tracks, the promoters, the teams and the riders were all out “looking for sponsors”… MLSE was out “looking for value”. Think about that for a moment….

One of the people that I did speak with suggested that what CSBK needed right now was a big non-endemic title sponsor. I don’t disagree that this would be great, but think about it this way; If you run a professional motorcycle racing property, and the motorcycle industry cannot find enough value to participate, how is $$$ from a non-endemic sponsor going to fix anything? You might argue… “Well, Winston did it for Stock Car Racing…” This is an undisputable fact for sure, but this is not 1980…. there is absolutely no way that you can have that conversation because everything has changed. Everything. You continue to argue… “But if Red Bull came in and ‘promoted’ the series, more people would see how fantastic it is, and more people would buy tickets to the races, watch on TV and buy stuff…” Balderdash!!…. Millions and millions and millions of Canadians have been exposed to Superbike Racing in Canada in one form or another and didn’t come back. Exposing the same product, in the same way, to a new group of people will not have the desired effect – that being to attract and retain sustainable audience.

When Mopar was announced as the new title sponsor for CSBK at the Toronto Motorcycle Show, a series official actually said something like: “When companies see that Mopar has come on board, perhaps now they’ll take a look as well.” Take a look at what??? This is like inventing a widget and taking it to market year-after-year with no one buying it. And, instead of modifying the widget, the answer is to show the defunct widget to ‘different’ people. Really?

So, I do not think this is a content issue. Sure, we need more teams and riders, and better teams and riders… but we do not need to change the rule book as it pertains to sporting regulations. Technical regs absolutely need to be modified from time to time to match consumer-driven decisions with OEs, but if the goal is “world-class motorcycle road racing”… everything is in place for that.

So… if I was large and in charge… here is where I would start…

1) Admit there is problem. This is the biggest problem…. getting the prideful people in charge to admit that there is, in fact, a problem.

2) Stakeholder input. Talk to everyone identified as stakeholders above and ask them what they want from the series. They’ll use different words, and descriptions, but their answer will be “audience”. It’s just that the audience to Parts Canada is different than the audience to Honda Canada, which is different to the audience of TSN SportsCentre. Not much… but it is different. Talk to them. Get it defined. Make a plan WITH EACH ONE to capture, sustain and monetize THEIR audience using CSBK content.

3) Capture, package and deliver the content - differently. This is critical. The content is good – we’ve established that. It stays the same. How it is captured and distributed determines size and scope of measurable and sustainable audience.

4) Sponsors: STOP looking for sponsors and start looking for value. You need to do an asset audit. When you discover value – sponsors will come. It’s magical.

5) Audit your human resources: Step #1: Re-read the definition of insanity. Do you really expect the same people who got you into this mess to get you out…. by doing the same ^&$%ing thing??

6) SWOT analysis. Do you know why major, successful corporations still do SWOT analysis?? Because it works. Capitalize on your strengths. Eliminate your weaknesses. Act on your opportunities. Neutralize your threats.

7) Write a 10-year Strategic Plan. Realistic. Sustainable. Year-on-year growth in everything measurable. Innovate. Include flexibility to change with your audience.

In conclusion…

1) To those people that are charged with organizing professional motorcycle road racing in Canada, you need to take your responsibility seriously.

2) You need to understand, appreciate and respect your impact on motorcycling in Canada – positive and/or negative and/or indifferent.

3) You need to understand, appreciate and respect your impact on Canadian motorcycle racers – positive and/or negative and/or indifferent - especially those that have the ability go on to World Championships at the highest levels of the sport. (Maybe one day, you’ll be the highest level of the sport)

4) Treat people… and make decisions… and take actions,… that will result in your induction into the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame as well as put you on the front of the sports, business, lifestyle, automotive, motorcycle and technology sections of all of the national media outlets.

5) You need to OVER-DELIVER in everything tangible and non-tangible, in everything measurable and non-measurable… to EVERYONE defined as audience, stakeholder and/or content provider above – with NO exceptions.

6) You must become the envy of sports marketers and content producers world-wide.

All it takes is the right people doing the right things. Simple.

Good luck!

Jim Bowie

jim@jimbowie.ca

Toronto Residential Real Estate Market Stats - Sept 2011

Jim Bowie — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:37:57 -0400

TREB's Jason Mercer discusses the Toronto residential resale real estate market statistics for September 2011. Click here for the YouTube video.

Toronto Historic Photos

Jim Bowie — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:19:53 -0400

Thanks to blogTO and photographer William James for this fantastic collection of historic photographs of Toronto. Click here to view.

Toronto Real Estate Market - July 2011

Jim Bowie — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:03:25 -0400

First-time Home Buyer Testimonial

Jim Bowie — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 11:05:47 -0400

“For a first time home-buyer, the confusion and concern that surrounds purchasing a home can often off-set the thrill of ownership. Thanks to Jim, this did not apply to me. Jim had a game plan and stuck to it, with each step of the home-buying process having a definitive purpose. In just one day, he managed to take me to eight houses that met my ‘must-have’ list, and from there we found the house that I now call home. He steered me away from properties with short-comings that I would have never comprehended due to my inexperience in Real Estate. I could cite countless examples, such as: locating local EMF's (Electro-Magnetic Fields) which bring down resale value, researching airport noise complaints and finding any signs of previous leaks.

Fortunately, Jim's service had only just begun through this point of the process. Before closing, I had countless photos and a surplus of content on my pending purchase, which provided me with a high level of comfort. Furthermore, Jim made a point of catering to my schedule at every crossroad, never inconveniencing me and always being available in the midst of the biggest decision I have ever made. I can't stress enough how valuable that was.

When I signed off at the Lawyer's, Jim was there. When I moved in, Jim asked if I needed a hand. When all was said and done, I hadn't a worry in the world, and I don't think you can get any better than that.”

Andrew

Toronto in Time Lapse

Jim Bowie — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:43:26 -0400

Time Travel from Ben Lean on Vimeo.

May 2011 Toronto Resale Market Update

Jim Bowie — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 09:57:18 -0400

SOLD in 1.5 Days for $25K+ OVER ASKING!!

Jim Bowie — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:06:52 -0400

On Thursday May 12, at 12 noon, we 'flipped the switch' on a marketing strategy which included a dedicated property website (www.71Vandervoort.com), plus postings on Craigslist, Kijiji and this website.

In addition to being uploaded to the Multiple Listing System (MLS.ca), the listing was also featured on www.mytorontohome.com.

Photos and web links were also blasted out through my Twitter and Facebook accounts. By midnight on Friday the 13th, we were "SOLD Conditional" and on May 17 after an exhaustive inspection, we went "SOLD Firm".

The property was listed at $599,500.00 and SOLD at $625,000.00 in about 35 hours.

To make this work, we had to get the photography done in advance, then select the right images for our custom feature sheets and multiple virtual tours. We drafted the marketing communications that supported the materials ensuring that we were accurate with our facts, while creating energy for the property through words and pictures.

We then re-purposed these words and images to create the dedicated website. This website (www.71Vandervoort.com) also included extensive information on this area such as population demographics and proximity to schools, parks, churches, shopping and public transit.

Special thanks to my seller clients, plus the buyer's agent and his clients for the speedy, hassle-free transaction.

Thinking about selling??? All I'd ask is for the opportunity to present my services... contact me at jim@jimbowie.ca. Thanks!

Asif Kapadia discusses "Senna"

Jim Bowie — Mon, 16 May 2011 20:29:21 -0400

Open House!

Jim Bowie — Fri, 13 May 2011 10:38:54 -0400

We are proud to announce that this May 15th, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM we will be hosting an Open House at 71 Vandervoort Drive , Richmond Hill. This is an opportunity to visit this excellent House for sale in beautiful .

Please come with any questions you may have. In the meantime you can take a virtual tour of this House for sale.

As always please do not hesitate to give me a call at 416-443-0300 if I can answer any questions before the open house, or if you would like to book a private showing.

Jim Bowie
Royal LePage Signature Realty

Open House!

Jim Bowie — Fri, 13 May 2011 10:38:34 -0400

We are proud to announce that this May 14th, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM we will be hosting an Open House at 71 Vandervoort Drive , Richmond Hill. This is an opportunity to visit this excellent House for sale in beautiful .

Please come with any questions you may have. In the meantime you can take a virtual tour of this House for sale.

As always please do not hesitate to give me a call at 416-443-0300 if I can answer any questions before the open house, or if you would like to book a private showing.

Jim Bowie
Royal LePage Signature Realty

71 Vandervoort Drive, Richmond Hill, ON

Jim Bowie — Fri, 13 May 2011 10:15:07 -0400

I just finished uploading this House for sale, 71 Vandervoort Drive, Richmond Hill, ON

Over $55,000 spent on upgrades to this spectacular 3.5 years new Kaitlin Group built home in Richmond Hill. Over 2,300 square feet with 9 foot ceilings and wide-slat hardwoods throughout the main level. Great room with 12+ foot ceilings features a walk-out to spacious covered balcony. Modern kitchen with updated cabinets, stainless steel appliances with garden doors off eat-in breakfast area to cedar deck and landscaped, fenced, back yard. Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, alarm system, attached 2-car garage and the full basement with roughed-in plumbing is ready for that designer's touch. Visit www.71Vandervoort.com for more than 45 pictures! For more information or to arrange a private viewing, please call: Jim Bowie, Sales Representative Royal LePage Signature Realty 416-443-0300 This is not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.

TREB Market Watch April 2010 VIDEO

Jim Bowie — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:56:19 -0400

My Weekend with Hendrick Motorsports

Jim Bowie — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:48:42 -0400

My Weekend with Hendrick Motorsports

Being involved in auto racing for over 20 years gave me opportunities and experiences that I could have never imagined possible.

One of the most incredible experiences happened in the fall of 2004 – courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports.

In early 2004, I had joined Formula BMW USA and had taken on overall series responsibility. Soon after the series was announced, Tom Purves, who at the time was Chairman & CEO of BMW North America, called his friend - one of the most successful BMW dealers in the USA - Rick Hendrick and asked him to participate in this new series. I am not privy to the conversation(s), but when the series debuted at Lime Rock Park in the spring of ’04, there was one open-wheel Formula BMW race car on the grid owned by NASCAR icon – Rick Hendrick. Mr. Hendrick didn’t own the team that operated the car, he just owned the car and was listed as the car owner. The driver of the car was Brian Frisselle (who now competes in Grand-Am in a Daytona Prototype), the sponsor on the side of the car was Lowe’s, and the car number was 48.

My contact at the Hendrick Motorsports was Christian Smith who is Mr. Hendrick’s right hand man.

As the season went on, I would send results, pictures, media coverage and other info to Christian and we would talk from time to time about how the series was doing. Through Christian, we arranged to have representatives from Lowe’s at the Elkhart Lake event, where we showed them the marketing assets available through our series, and the series that we supported.

Sometime in the summer of 2004, Christian contacted me and invited me to be the team’s guest at any NASCAR Sprint Cup race on the schedule that I wanted to attend, as a ‘thank you’ of sorts for their experience with our series. I selected the October Charlotte race.

I flew into Charlotte on Thursday night of the race week. The Busch race was Friday night, and the Cup race was Saturday night. Christian was to pick me up at my hotel on Friday morning, which he did, and we headed for the race shop.

Christian took me on an extensive tour of the Hendrick Motorsports compound which included the engine and fab shops, the shops for the Cup teams and the Hendrick Museum. At the time, the 24 & 48 teams were in the same shop and we did get the chance to chat with Jeff Gordon as we went through. Chad Knaus also took time to say hello and express his delight with his brand new BMW.

As we went through the Museum, there was an area that was completely blocked off. Brian Vickers was doing a television commercial and promos for GMAC – one his sponsors at the time.

This tour took the better part of the day and we ended up back at the administration offices. Our schedule now was that we were going to meet with Mr. Hendrick and then go with him over to the track to watch the Busch race.

After a nice conversation with Mr. Hendrick in his office, he said “Alright… let’s go”, and those three words set off a choreographed series of events worthy of induction into the “Time Management & Schedulers Hall of Fame.”

First, we left the office through a rear door and entered a garage with a black BMW X5. With Mr. Hendrick at the wheel, we left the garage and I assumed we were driving to the track – which is maybe one mile away. I was mis-guided. We actually drove about 100 yards and stopped in front of a helicopter that has obviously just landed. Whenever the conversation of helicopters had come up, anytime in my life, I was adamant that I would never, ever get on a helicopter. Before I knew what had happened, I was strapping into a helicopter! There was the pilot - an ex-military pilot (of course) - and there was one other gentleman – the Chairman of Lowe’s. The flight lasted 45 seconds. I was petrified. That was my first, and last, ride in a helicopter… or was it?

When we landed, there were two black Chevy SUV’s at the ready. Mr. Hendrick, Christian and I got into one, and the Chairman of Lowe’s – the other. The paddock gates opened, the seas parted and we were wisked to Mr. Hendrick’s motorcoach.

When we went into the coach, we immediately sat at the kitchen table and a perfectly prepared dinner was placed in front of us. Steak and roasted potatoes. Spectacular. As soon as we were done, the coach door opened and two gentlemen entered. They were well-dressed, in their early 40s, and clearly friends of Mr. Hendrick. I figured out that one of the men was Mr. Hendrick’s doctor who had recently performed surgery on one of his knees. The other – who was quite chatty – I couldn’t figure out. I wish I could have recorded the conversation though. They talked about a recent charity event that they had attended and how they had tricked Jeff Gordon into all kinds of things that he had not agreed to for the auction. If I recall, the auction item was dinner with Jeff. Mr. Hendrick, in an effort to drive up the bids, told the audience that in addition to dinner, Jeff would pick the winning bidder up in his car and drive them to dinner. When that bump in bidding was over with, Mr. Hendrick then announced that Jeff would also pick them up “anywhere in the USA” in his private jet as well. These guys thought that was real funny. Not sure how Jeff felt about it. After they were gone, I leaned over to Christian and asked who that was. He casually answered… “That was the Mayor of Charlotte”.

We then dispersed to the track for the Busch race. We spent some time on pit lane, and then visited Mr. Hendrick’s suite, and then back to the pits… and then checkered flag…. and then back to the helicopter… what???

I grudgingly got on the helicopter for the return trip and we were joined by Mr. Hendrick’s son Ricky, his girlfriend and their pet monkey. The monkey did not appear to mind the helicopter ride and I am positive it sensed my overwhelming fear.

For Saturday, we drove to the track and Christian had lots to take care of. I told him that I knew my way around and we agreed to meet at the 48 team’s pit box one hour before the green flag – which we did. Christian then gave me some instructions. He told me to try to be in the 48 pit box area for the first pit stop – and then he said to make sure I was back in the pit box with 10 laps to go.

For the first pit stop, he escorted me so close to the action that I could have reached out and tapped the gas man on the back.

Great stuff… and then the rear tire changer scooped up some wheels nuts and set them on the wall in front of me. He told me “these are for you – but they’re hot – don’t touch them yet”. This was all part of the choreography I mentioned early and these guys had done this many times before. Christian told me I could stay there or go wherever I wanted to, but reminded me to be back – at the latest – with 10 laps to go…. which I was.

When I got back, I let Christian know I was there. Jimmie Johnson was leading the race by the way. Christian then said “No matter what – make sure you stay with me after the checker flag…. “.

Jimmie won the race…. Christian and I jumped over pit wall and we sprinted down pit lane towards Victory Circle. He ushered me in and told me to "stay put" and that he would be coming back to get me. I was there for the champagne and confetti, the interviews and the hat dance.

After about 30 minutes, Jimmie went to the media center, the crew pushed the car out… and everyone, including Christian left. This was midnight… by the way.

So… there I was… staying put. There were a few people lingering about, but it looked to me like it was all over. What should I do? Well... I waited, and sure enough, shortly thereafter… here comes Christian, Mr. Hendrick, Jimmie and Chad. Christian grabs me and tells me to come up for a picture with the guys and the trophy… which I did.

What a weekend. First class at every step of the way.

Sincere thanks to Christian, Mr. Hendrick and the rest of the choreographers for the great memories!

And of course now... if anyone ever asks if I have been on a helicopter, my answer is... "Yes.... twice.... it was Rick Hendrick's helicopter and my second ride was with a pet monkey."

Hidden Mortgage Costs and How to Avoid Them

Jim Bowie — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:58:46 -0400

This is terrific 'small print' intelligence for anyone with a mortgage, anyone thinking about getting a mortgage, or anyone thinking about changing their existing mortgage. Check it out by clicking here.

Phil Soper of Royal LePage on Q1 2011 House Prices

Jim Bowie — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:50:45 -0400

Phil Soper of Royal LePage discusses the Canadian housing market for the first quarter of 2011. Click here for the video interview.

Toronto Real Estate Board - March 2011 Results

Jim Bowie — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:54:56 -0400

Open House 101 Wayne Ave

Jim Bowie — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:11:40 -0400