I have been a real estate agent since July 2010, working in a buyers market for 8 years, minus the big hype of “HalifaxStartsHere”, I have never seen anything like this.

The cycle in my opinion started at the end of 2017. Stale inventory that was on the market finally started to SELL. The oddity of this…. no new homes were being listed. Then along came Jan 2018. I started listing homes out in Lawrencetown and Porter’s Lake. I kept thinking I was not going to move these homes till June, (that was if I was lucky) WELL GUESS WHAT? These homes sold in 30 days. I was shocked. Never ever have I listed homes in these areas with such a quick turn around. The whole year of 2018, was incredible. We finally had a balanced market!

Fast forward now to present day, 2019. WOW.. WOW… WOW! Homes are selling faster than ever! Yes, there are catches… let me explain.

1. Buyers will not overpay for homes. Our Halifax consumers are more educated than EVER, thanks to the great website Viewpoint. Having said that, if a home comes up in the North End, that puppy is sold well over asking within a day.
2. Price your home at market value or a little below. Drum up activity and the opportunity to have competing offers.

This truly has been the oddest market I have seen if I were to be honest with you. I have been racking my brains all year long trying to figure out why sellers are reluctant to list. From seller fatigue from previous selling years, to “I am staying put and will renovate” are the only things that come to mind.

Whatever it is, sellers in Halifax are WINNING!

What was it like to move to Halifax?

 I have heard this quite frequently over the years ‘being a real estate agent is not a real job’. (I shudder as I write the words) 

In 2010, the decision was made to become an agent. Goodness knows what I was thinking at the time. I was 40, not from #Halifax, therefore I really did not know anyone . My rolodex consisted of local real estate agents as in my previous career I sold them advertising. Really? What was I thinking?

Initially I started with a small brokerage. The broker at the time was an amazing agent, who was just not ready to direct a team and especially train a new agent. I lasted a few months until I decided I needed a mentor and training. There were at least 3 brokerages locally that I was attracted to. I decided upon one of them and never looked back.

As an agent, you wake up every morning unemployed. There is no mandatory sales training as you would have in corporate world. There is no salary, no medical plan…. no nothing. Just you, the wifi, a cell, trying to live the dream.

Sales in a corporate world will have mentorship, training and targets to reach. From the very beginning I attached myself to a top agent who I met with every 2 weeks. Whatever he said I followed religiously. If I was asked to jump, I wanted to know high I should, how long and what do I do when I am there. Every lead I was given, I latched onto like a hungry dog on a meat truck. I wanted success and didn’t want to stop at medorocity. There was a mortgage to pay and a retirement plan that I did not have in place.

Everyday when I woke up I had 3 things to accomplish without a budget.

1. Lead Generate
2. Market
3. Follow Up — Follow UP

How in the heck do you do this with out money? My first plan of attack was to use Social Media, after all it was free. In 2012 I started my first business page on Facebook. I posted religiously and grew my profile. Referrals started trickling in. Deals were happening that allowed me to invest in marketing. I worked more than I ever did when working “for the man” 40 hrs turned into 50 and 60. I answered calls after 9pm, worked at my desk some nights till midnight. There wasn’t enough time during the week to accomplish everything that I had set out to do. Was I stressed? Yes. But… I had freedom and it was my choice.

In 2013 my mentor had sold the brokerage and changed career paths. I panicked as I valued his mentorship. I quizzed him on what my next move should be, he said Sandra “get a coach” so naturally I did. My philosophy was, if Tiger Woods has a coach, I should too, otherwise how in the heck will I know what to do. The commitment was made to attend 2 seminars a year and speak with my coach for 30 minutes each week. 

Each year I have grown my business by 26% or more. Time management I was soon able to get under control by hiring the best assistant ever. I was able to time block when I saw clients, become pragmatic when homes were to be listed and I was able to schedule a development day each week. My entire business became systematic with a personal touch. I went from doing 15 transactions the first year to a total of 60 plus per year as time progressed. My best year was in 2017, I completed 81. For 2019, I suspect to do the same. To reference this, there are currently 1300 agents in the city of #Halifax. There has been YTD 5997 transactions, meaning the average agent is completing 4.6 deals per year. 

Do I have a real job? I would like to think that it is more real than most. A business was built without any foundation. I have been able to employee 2 full time staff for the past 3 years and develop a team of 6 agents. I have spoken internationally at conferences to audiences of 6000 agents.I became a video influencer. As well the first agent in the world to use Messenger on their Facebook for websites.

 For those of you who think we are just sales people, we are from it. Each day we have to be innovative and not afraid of hearing the word “no” Perseverance. Persistence. Consistency. Key ingredients of success, is what we are made of.

Remembering one of my childhood stories, I leave you with this.

Real Estate is my #velveteenrabbit 

IT’S REAL.

Contemplating buying your forever home in Halifax? The key to finding your neighbourhood in Halifax lies in knowing where to look. Every year, dozens of new residents flock into the city with no clue where to settle down. A large number of people inevitably take a long time before finding their ideal neighbourhood, but this should not have to be the case for you.

The good news for you is that there will be plenty of options for you to choose from whether you are looking for a forever home for your large family or your growing one. To steer you in the right direction and to make sure that you do not make a mistake, here are 5 neighbourhoods that you may want to consider when moving to Halifax:

1.  Bedford

Bedford is a growing neighborhood that is characterized by a balance of new and old developments so there is a style of home to suit everyone. Bedford is a great choice for complete newcomers in the Halifax area because it is closely situated to everything; great access to the highway, amazing schools, and numerous amenities, which makes exploration easy.

2.  Fall River

Fall River is only located fifteen minutes from the airport and only about 30 minutes from Downtown Halifax. Fall River offers many unique character homes and you will be particularly pleased by the array of lakefront living options that you will have to choose from. Fall River is also filled with amenities including a recreational center, as well as some of the most highly sought-after schools in the area.

3.  Downtown Dartmouth

If you are looking for something a little closer knit, you will definitely appreciate Downtown Dartmouth. Full of culture and small trendy shops, Downtown Dartmouth is popular for its accessibility with the Ferry. Downtown Dartmouth is central to amenities including the new renovated Dartmouth Sport Plex, highways and is idyllic for anyone looking for a home in close to Halifax on a tight budget.

4.  Hammonds Plains

The community of Hammonds Plains is perfect for families that are in need of space and privacy. This area is country living with a mix of old and new homes characterized by space and an open community. Closely situated to Bedford on one end and the South Shore on the other, the commute downtown is also easy.

5.  Clayton Park

Clayton Park is one of the most sought after communities in Halifax. Not only is Clayton Park popular for its schools, but it also has a host of impressive recreation and shopping facilities. You will be pleased to know that Clayton Park is situated close to the city, which reduces the commute greatly when working downtown Halifax.

By Michelle Roberston

Contemplating buying your forever home in Halifax? The key to finding your neighbourhood in Halifax lies in knowing where to look. Every year, dozens of new residents flock into the city with no clue where to settle down. A large number of people inevitably take a long time before finding their ideal neighbourhood, but this should not have to be the case for you.

The good news for you is that there will be plenty of options for you to choose from whether you are looking for a forever home for your large family or your growing one. To steer you in the right direction and to make sure that you do not make a mistake, here are 5 neighbourhoods that you may want to consider when moving to Halifax:

1.  Bedford

Bedford is a growing neighborhood that is characterized by a balance of new and old developments so there is a style of home to suit everyone. Bedford is a great choice for complete newcomers in the Halifax area because it is closely situated to everything; great access to the highway, amazing schools, and numerous amenities, which makes exploration easy.

2.  Fall River

Fall River is only located fifteen minutes from the airport and only about 30 minutes from Downtown Halifax. Fall River offers many unique character homes and you will be particularly pleased by the array of lakefront living options that you will have to choose from. Fall River is also filled with amenities including a recreational center, as well as some of the most highly sought-after schools in the area.

3.  Downtown Dartmouth

If you are looking for something a little closer knit, you will definitely appreciate Downtown Dartmouth. Full of culture and small trendy shops, Downtown Dartmouth is popular for its accessibility with the Ferry. Downtown Dartmouth is central to amenities including the new renovated Dartmouth Sport Plex, highways and is idyllic for anyone looking for a home in close to Halifax on a tight budget.

4.  Hammonds Plains

The community of Hammonds Plains is perfect for families that are in need of space and privacy. This area is country living with a mix of old and new homes characterized by space and an open community. Closely situated to Bedford on one end and the South Shore on the other, the commute downtown is also easy.

5.  Clayton Park

Clayton Park is one of the most sought after communities in Halifax. Not only is Clayton Park popular for its schools, but it also has a host of impressive recreation and shopping facilities. You will be pleased to know that Clayton Park is situated close to the city, which reduces the commute greatly when working downtown Halifax.

By Michelle Roberston

First stop, John David Shoes located in the Park Lane Mall. For those of you who know me as #dealsinheels, I was in absolute heaven. They had all the brand names, #JessicaSimpson #Guess #MichaelKors and my favorite #vincecamuto While brands have changed and come and gone, the one thing that has remained consistent is the friendly service you receive. It truly is a unique experience. You are just not a customer.

Next stop, clothing. There are a few places that I frequent, but my favorite of all time has to be Suit Yourself. Lori Pearce the owner of Suit Yourself located downtown Halifax offers a wide variety of Canadian Designers garbs. From skinny jeans by #dex to beautiful gowns and dress clothes by #franklyman Lori truly brings that personal touch as well to her clients. Heck you can even bring your man along and have him sit and sip on a glass of wine as you model your latest passion. What I really like though, is the attention I receive. I can call Lori at anytime to let her know that I am coming in for a visit and she will have an array of clothing set aside for me to try on. She has come to know my style over the years and knows exactly what looks good. To appease the honey in your life, she carries a small line of men’s suits and shirts. Ahh, those Italian Shirts, they will make the man in your life sexier than any Hollywood Star.

Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, is easily one of the best cities on the east coast. Often regarded as one of Canada’s friendliest city, Halifax residents are a welcoming bunch. When you move here into your forever home, it will not take very long for you to make friends. The Haligonian community is a tight-knit one so you will always be surrounded by good friends and a community that you can be proud to belong to.

If you are not convinced yet, here are some more reasons why you should move to Halifax:

Great if you are looking for a vibrant student community

If you have kids that are approaching college-going age, you will be pleased with the burgeoning student population in Halifax. Halifax has a total of 6 universities with the oldest and most prestigious of them being Dalhousie. There are also about 3 community colleges, which leaves you with a lot of great options. Halifax also has the broadest selection of education options in Canada with a total of 14 independent schools situated in the city.

It is the perfect size

If you have been living in a big city and are finally ready to find a region that is less overwhelming, then Halifax is the perfect city for you to move to. You will appreciate the balance that it has to offer-Halifax has the flare of a large city but the charm of a small town.

The downtown area is a hub of business, culture, and food. But when you head up to North end, you will feel as if you are in a completely different city. Furthermore, Halifax really does have some of the best neighborhoods that have a perfect mix of new and old property to cater to an array of tastes.

Affordable

Whether you are a looking for a starter home or a trying to find your perfect forever home in Halifax, owning a home is actually easier in Halifax than it is in other areas of Canada such as Vancouver and Toronto. Owing to the large student population, most of the property that you will find here is reasonably priced, which will help you if you have always wanted to fulfill the dream of owning property.

The Scenery

What’s not to love about Halifax? With the deep blue of the Atlantic observable from almost any location, you will love the city’s breathtaking views, the ocean breeze, and the sound of the waves putting you to bed each night.

by Michelle Robertson

Before you find your forever home in Halifax, there are some things that you will need to consider first, such as the neighbourhood in which you will want to settle down. After all, the worst thing that can happen is to fall in love with your forever Halifax home in a neighbourhood that is less than ideal for you.

Unless you carry out extensive research, you might make a move to your new home only to realize that you hate your neighbourhood when it is all too late. To prevent this from happening to you here is how to research a neighbourhood before moving in Halifax:

Find out what the price range is

Before you pick a neighbourhood, you will want to figure out what the housing prices are and how much it is going to cost you to settle down. When doing your research, try and go through home values in that neighbourhood over the last 5 to 10 years to give you an idea of how much everything is going to cost.

The taxes

Before moving, you will want to understand how much of your money will go into the sales and property taxes for your new home. It can be easy to get carried away with the rigorous home buying process but you should never forget to include the additional expenses that come with owning a home.

Research the amenities and activities available

Whether you are a family with several kids or a couple looking to start one, the local amenities available in your area will matter. Before settling down in a neighbourhood, you will want to make sure that the neighbourhood has everything to suit your lifestyle. If you have kids, they may be interested in activities such as swimming or hockey. As a parent, you will want a neighbourhood that has a number of parks, libraries as well as highly sought-after schools.

Convenience

How convenient your neighbourhood is will impact your happiness, as well as your expenses. You want a neighbourhood that has a shopping centre that has an array of services and is well equipped with everything that you need from pharmacies and hospitals to grocery stores and restaurants.

Convenience to the shopping centre, amenities and highways will also prevent you from having to spend too much on gas or transport. If you plan on commuting daily to work, you should look for a neighbourhood that can allow you to move to and from work without worrying about manic rush hour traffic.

By Michelle Robertson

Being in the industry since 2010, I had already purchased and sold a few homes before I became an agent.  Truth be told, I was young, didn’t really know much about mortgages or selling.  I played the part.  I had 2 sales of my own homes under my belt.  Could it really be different as an agent?  Both past properties sold within days of listing.  I never staged my home in Quebec and my house here in Halifax was vacant. The pain of prepping for showings for foreign to me, until it came time to sell mine.  UGG!

It my short career thus far, I have probably sold over 400 houses. 99% of my sellers, staged, painted, prepped and fluffed.  Heck some of them renovated kitchens.  Our Halifax market was in some what of a recession.  We had buyers with great mortgage rates, down payments were ready to go, but the Halifax buyer had no desire to buy.  I was determined to have my listings place their best foot forward to attract a buyer immediately and want them to put pen to paper.

Over the years I would hear from my sellers asking about feedback from the latest showing. They were looking for updates from the agent who said there was interest.  They seemed to be frustrated. So much work was placed into the showing and not to hear from the agent…  well it was atrocious.  Sadly, I agree.

In 2019, my partner and I decided to sell my home.  I had purchased a condo and we were prepared to move into it, until our new home was built in 2021. I called my stager Lisa to give me the list of what I needed to do.

Paint the whole house was first on the list.  Move the upstairs office to the basement she said. Get a new bedspread and pillows. We did what we were told. I had purchased this home in 2007 and had rented out the basement for 10 years.  It had a drop ceiling.  Oak kitchen. Dated flooring and it kinda smelled. To list my house where I wanted it to be, I convinced my partner to gut the entire thing.  12k later it sparkled. New flooring, paint, lights and an Ikea bar kitchenette.  All brand new for the perfect buyer. My deck outside was a little sketchy so I paid for a structural engineer to suggest what needed to be done to stabilize it. 3 large steel tie bars later and you can drive a transport truck on it. 

Let me tell you how much my house loved me and did not want to be sold.  The dishwasher did not clean the dishes properly anymore.  The stove refused to lock for self cleaning and would turn off in the middle of cooking.  The washer, the motor blew.  The microwave refused to heat. 4 appliances from Nov 2018 thru till July 2019 had to be replaced. Oh yes, the roof and the BPO shingles the death of me.  Murphy’s Law would have it, the shingles I had were part of a lawsuit as they were deteriorating. My house was only built in 2006, the roof now needed to be replaced. Everything that could have gone wrong did.  Apart from the 12k reno in the basement, the appliances and the roof.... I am into this now for over 30k  just to sell!  I hope no ones asks about my pricing.

In April the sign went on the lawn FOR SALE.  I had a teammate list it as I can negotiate with the devil himself for my clients, but for me, it was best to sit quietly. I was a complete mess. A roller coaster of emotions.  I was excited.  I was stressed.  I felt violated.  I felt I was being judged by other agents. What in the heck did I get myself into?

Introduce the first showing. Feedback:  “we like it, but need to sell our home first” I thought why in gods name are you looking at homes?  You have no idea if your house will sell.  Waste of time.

2^nd Showing feedback “we need a bigger yard” Well I told the agent that the yard was small, kids in our area play on the cul du sac. Waste of time.

3^rd Showing Feedback, “we don’t like the area, but can we buy your furniture?” Sweet baby Jesus.  You know I live in Spryfield, did you not pay attention to the address? My furniture, go to Wayfair and no I am not selling you my bedroom set for $500 when I purchased it for $7k in Nov.  Was I swearing a little…… a little is an understatement.

4^th showing…..  Crickets.  No feedback. No follow up.  Nothing.

5^th showing.  We did not go in the house, we do not like the street.

6th showing, the price is too high.  Well my thought was the house on the corner behind me sold for $419 and no updates and much older.  BUT...  here is what set me ablaze, different zone.  I am going to rip my hair out!

Ok, now I am done with this! Don’t these people know that it takes 3 hrs to clean this monstrosity.  The house looked like a page in a magazine.  I even went as far to set the table on the deck and have soft spa music play in the background.  I HATE THIS. 

Then a light switch turned on in my head.  OMG, my POOR CLIENTS.  They have to go thru this crap.  Omg OMG OMG!!!!!

Going thru this exercise of trying to sell my home was the best thing that could have ever happened to me as a real estate agent.  I appreciate my sellers now more than EVER!  So what is the point?

BUYERS: don’t waste a seller’s time.  Look at the pictures, pay attention to the area, examine the lay of the land.  It takes real effort for a seller to prep their home for you.

AGENTS: take the time to give good feedback.  Don’t tell the seller there is interest when you still have 10 other homes to view, you have no idea of what is next. Give feedback that can help the seller.  Stating the infamous line of “Nice home but not for them”, grates on a seller’s last nerve.

Needless to say, Ben, Daisy, Buttons and I remain put.  We will try our luck again in 2021 to sell.

#lovemyhalifaxsellers

Look, I get it.  HGTV teaches all of us to low ball offers.  Seminars come to town educating people to flip homes and make a profit.  Our market for almost 9 years has been in a slump.   It makes sense that buyers would write low offers on properties.

When you write your next offer, think of these things.

1. If you find yourself competing offers, best to put your max offer in.  Halifax now is in a seller’s market.  You are best to come in at ask or over.  Don’t waste your time and your agents time with offers below ask.  You will most likely be disappointed.
2. When a seller is new to the market, consumer confidence is high. The home will either sell around 97% of asking or higher. Anything lower than 97%, will be rejected. (unless of course you can prove your offer position)
3. If you are going to place a lowball offer, add to contract a significant deposit, a quick close and if you can delete your financing clause.
4. If you plan to make a lowball offer that is accepted, don’t expect the sellers to make any contingencies after a home inspection.
5. Be reasonable and fair to the seller when offering and during negotiating. Sellers want a “fair price”. Buyers want a “steal of a deal” Don’t kill the deal before it begins.

Wishing you a “Happy House Hunt”

Sandra Pike

It is so easy for buyers to get caught up in what I call the ‘lipstick’ of a home.  Pretty lighting and paint are so easy for you to change once you move in.  Anytime I am in the role of a buyer agent, I like for my clients to pay attention to the following that I talk about below.  One thing to always keep in mind, is the resale of the property.  Anything you buy, you are going to sell.

Let’s talk Driveways.

Long driveways that are on ‘flag lots’ while they do add privacy can be painful to maintain.  Not everyone wants to have a quad or truck with a blade to plow.

If your driveway is steep, rethink this purchase.  Too many sellers I have met over the years have longer sales times because of the fear of NS winters and the lane being full of ice.

The Lot

If the lot is sloped, it is very hard to fix.  If the yard is small, common complaints when you sell will be exactly that.  Corner yards may appear very advantageous, but most consumers avoid.

The Layout

I am a mixed bag on this.  My thoughts will be scattered here, but I think you will understand.

• 2 bed up. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a home that has 2 bedrooms on the 2^nd  It just depends on the area the house is located.  For example, in the downtown core of Halifax as well as the North End, these types of homes are rampant.  Most people living here are young professionals with no kids.  The 3^rd bedroom is not really important.  HOWEVER, that same home for example in Sackville will have a smaller audience of buyers as most in that neighbourhood are families.
• The Master bedroom I recommend being on the same level as the rest of the rooms. While you may love to have the degree of separation, most moms want to be near their children during the early years. Check as well for the sizing of this room.  If you have a king bed, you need at least 14ft.

If you are thinking of purchasing your home, have a look at our website  www.thepikegroup.ca for a list of active properties.

Sandra Pike

There are several things that you can have your agent write into your offer.  Having said that, please it is not a shopping spree of someone’s belongings.

Let’s start with the appliances.  Yes, ask for the fridge, stove, washer, dryer, dishwasher and microwave rangehood.  If there is a central vac, you must place in the offer that you want this and the accessories to go with it.

When it comes to curtains….this one really gets to me, to be honest,  most purchase curtains to match their furniture and bedspreads.  As for the blinds and hardware yes place them in the offer but forget the curtains.

Yup, ask for the bathroom mirrors and the 2 environmental green bins. If there are wall mounted TV stands, never assume they are staying.

The above is the accepted norm when it comes to offers.  It has been in my experience that when a buyer asks for more, like the snow blower, the lawn mower etc, that the hairs on a seller’s neck slowly start to stand up. I have been in several deals where a buyer agent asks for everything except the first born and it does not go down well.  Trying to negotiate a price for the home at that point is near impossible. Take heed to this: anything you try to get done up front, that when the time comes for home inspection amendments, you may not get a thing as the seller feels that they have given everything up already.

 Wait till the deal has firmed. Draft a letter that you can have your agent send to the seller.  People are happy.  The deal is done.  My thoughts are they may be more opened to selling or even leaving you at no charge the items in question.

Remember, “anything that the listing cut states, is truly an advertisement.  If it is not written in the deal, you are not going to get it.”

If you are thinking of purchasing your home, have a look at our website  www.thepikegroup.ca for a list of active properties.

Sandra Pike

#halifaxrealtor

How exciting and annoying all at the same time.  You have a showing on your home. Excited that you may get an offer.  Annoyed that you have to prep.  Maybe your thoughts are “what odds” Why should I prep the house for the buyers?

Can I let you in on a secret?  BUYERS NOTICE EVERYTHING!  Your home is essentially an advertisement.  You need to be “show ready”

13 Ways to Prep Your Home when You Have a Showing:

1. Open the curtains. Make the room as bright as possible.
2. Leave the lights on if possible. Ensure that all bulbs are working and are bright.
3. Clean. CLEAN.  Buyer will look in your fridge, stove, closets and cupboards.  They are totally turned off when things are unkept.
4. Don’t have over-powering smells as some are allergic or they think you are trying to cover something up.
5. Have animals? Clean the kitty litter.  Pick up the dog poop in the yard.
6. Put valuable personal belongings away.
7. Mow the lawn. Or if winter, shovel the driveway and entrance.
8. Don’t have your house freezing cold.
9. Remove any garbage.
10. The day of the showing try not to cook anything that is overpowering. IE Bacon or Fish. The smell will linger.
11. Keep your toilet seat closed.
12. Allow easy access to your windows.
13. Make your beds.

Sandra Pike

Real Estate Agent in Halifax

“Shudder…  SHUDDER” The mere thought of trying to sell a home during the holiday season.  I think I rather stick a needle in my eye.  The pain.  The agony.  BUT is it worth it?

YOU BETCHA!

The great news about listing your home in the Halifax market now, will only bring you showings of people that are serious about purchasing.  Think about it.  Who really wants to take time away from the festivities just to meander at house? Serious Buyers.  That is who.

When you are prepping for showings during the holiday season, the visual and the emotional connections it can give to buyers is phenomenal.  Create an atmosphere that the buyer can see themselves in your home.  I know we talk about decluttering, if you can avoid over decorating.  Keep the smells to a minimum.  If you are looking for that holiday smell, I get these pine sticks from a local craft store and the house smells like Christmas.  I just LOVE that smell of the outdoors.

My only caution, I guess a real big one is about keeping valuables safely locked up.  Never take things to chance.

Sandra Pike

Halifax Real Estate Agent

#dealsinheels

Making the decision to sell your home can be difficult.  There are varying factors.  Are you downsizing?  Wanting bigger space? Will  there be enough equity for your next move?  What do I have to do to sell? Selling can be just a stressful as your initial purchase was.  The key ingredient to help ease the transition is to hire the right agent.

You ask yourself “what and who is the right agent’?

1. The right agent will know the market.

• An agent should be able to give you an in dept view of the area and your street sales.
• They will have studied your competitors both currently on the market and just recently sold. They should be able to tell you why the homes sold at the price they did.
• They will know the average price and days on market of homes that are comparable to yours.

2. The right agent will have a marketing plan. Long gone are the days where you just place a sign on the lawn.

       Ask your agent:

• If they use a stager and what is included.
• Who does their photography.
• Where they advertise your home.
• What their game plan is if the home does not sell in the average time.

3. Typically, there are 2 types of agents; buyers and sellers. The obvious choice is a selling agent.  The right agent will;

• Be able to provide stats of how many homes they have listed and sold. Be very specific when you ask this question, as most agents will say they did “x” amount of sales. Was it as a buyer or seller agent? 
• Be able to offer testimonials or social proof of their success.

I could go on and on, BUT the right selling agent for you, depends on you.  You need to able to communicate freely and openly with them.  The agent with the highest listing price isn’t always the best choice.  Dig a little deeper and you will find the perfect match.

What exactly is a seller’s market?  I know when I kept hearing this, all I knew is that it was good for a seller but quite did not understand the jargon.

A seller’s market essentially is when we have more buyers than there are homes to purchase. Currently in Halifax, the inventory has been its lowest in over a decade.  With supply in demand we are seeing more and more competing offers.

There are several reasons for our growth as a seller’s market in the Halifax.

• Many are keeping their homes and refinancing for renovations
• Some have kept their homes and are turning them into Air BnBs
• Seller’s fatigue from years ago when trying to sell, may be still a concern, causing them not wanting to list as their home was on the market for more than 6 months in the past.
• With low inventory sellers do not want to take the risk of having no where to live.
• The city has been slow issuing permits for new construction.
• The bank has made it more difficult for builders to get financed.

The above are the ingredients for the perfect storm that has led to many successful sales.

So, as a buyer what can you do to get a home in this market?

1. Have your agent scout online with others in the industry to see if the have “pocket listings” of homes waiting to come on the market.
2. If you find yourself in competing offers, you will need to place a bid above asking.
3. Have your mortgage preapproved with your broker before submitting an offer.
4. Have your current home under contract with an offer.

At the end of the day, a good strategy is to have a plan B.  No ones wants to purchase a home just for the sake of purchasing a home.   You may find yourself having to rent. 

One other strategy I have used was to have my sellers purchase new construction.  Most times the build is 7 months out.  2 months before completion, I plan to list their homes, so it is a seamless transaction, with just the one move.

If you are thinking of selling or buying, I would love to help.

Sandra Pike

Halifax Real Estate

#dealsinheels

Owning a home can be one of the most important parts of a satisfying lifestyle. The joy of coming home to someplace you can call your very own offers security and comfort. Yet owning a home comes with responsibilities as well; maintaining the home in proper condition is critical to avoid larger problems later. While some people are handier than others, here are 5 maintenance skills anyone can master.

•  How to Turn off Your Gas and Water –If you smell gas or have a water leak, taking quick action to shut off the source to the home while you wait for a professional can save thousands of dollars, and even lives.
•  Understanding How Electricity Is Fed to Your Home –Learn how to reset GFI outlets and popped breakers at the panel to avoid expensive house calls.
•  How to Find a Wall Stud – Avoid drywall repair when hanging pictures or shelves.
•  How to Change Your Air Filters – Keep your air fresh and your HVAC systems running efficiently.
•  How to Address Simple Plumbing – From fixing a running toilet to recaulking the shower, simple plumbing related issues can save money in service calls and damage.

A quick visit to the local big box home supply store or afternoon online watching repair videos can help any homeowner tackle a few simple do-it-yourself tasks around the house. Learning a few basic maintenance skills will ensure you and your loved ones are safe and you’ll help your home stay in top condition.

Sandra Pike

Halifax Real Estate

Many homeowners are surprised when they suddenly realize that “perfect” home of just a few years ago no longer suits their needs. From an expanding family to the empty nest, it’s common for a home to no longer be the right fit. If you’re unsure if you’ve reached the point where a move is warranted, here are a few signs you’ve outgrown your home.

• More Kids than Rooms or More Rooms than Kids – Life changes and our homes must change also.

• Clutter or Lack of Storage – Do you need more closet or storage space? A home with more space could be the answer.

• Home Office – More and more companies are opting for telecommuting or home office workers, if your kitchen is your office, it might be time to look for a new home with extra room for a home office.

• Outdoor Entertaining – Home design trends over the last couple decades has seen a rise in outdoor living and entertaining areas. You might have simply outgrown your yard if you crave space for an outdoor living or dining area.

• Lifestyle – The square footage might be fine, but you would prefer a different floorplan; more open, single story, more windows, etc.

Your reasons for moving will be as unique as you are, but these are just a few considerations which indicate you might have outgrown your current home. Make sure your home still meets your needs and wants, then you’ll be able to decide if it’s time to move.

Sandra Pike

 How Do You Know If You Can Afford To Buy a House? Do you feel that you’re ready to buy your first home? Tired of paying your landlord’s mortgage? Do you want to put down roots and start building equity for yourself?

There are many reasons why people decide it could be time to buy a home. The costs associated with buying and owning a home can feel overwhelming but fortunately there are simple steps you can take to see if you can afford to buy a home.

Talk With a Lender

The best step you can take to start your home buying planning is to find a good lender and meet to talk about your financial situation. Your lender will look at your income, savings and credit and then talk about your needs. They will help you explore the loan options available to you and the down payment, saving reserves and closing costs requirements.

Can You Afford the Mortgage?

Typically rent payments are less than a mortgage payment; this can feel unsettling until you understand the qualifying formula. Because mortgage interest is deductible (speak with your tax professional for exact details), most lenders look for the buyers to spend approximately 30% of their GROSS income on the loan payment and no more than 36% on all other debt.

If you think you’re ready to buy a home, find a good lender and start talking about your unique situation. Learn the costs and benefits to help you determine if you can afford to buy a new home.

You’ve done everything right so far; you’ve found a great lender, received a preapproval and submitted your loan package for final approval. Now you’re done, right? Wrong. Until you close on your new loan, it’s more important than ever to keep your credit steady; most lenders perform one last credit check right before they fund and a decline in your score can mean the difference between getting the home and losing the loan.

Things You Should Never do After Applying for a Loan

• Don’t Change Jobs – While sometimes it’s unavoidable, especially if a new job is the reason for the move, but any change in income or job status creates risk and should be avoided if possible.

• Don’t Make any Large Purchases – As tempting as it may be to go shopping for new furniture, wait until after you close to make any large purchases. This applies to furniture, appliances and even new cars. New loans could change your debt to income ratio and cause you to no longer qualify for the loan.

• Don’t Apply for New Credit – Every time someone runs your credit report, your score is affected. This is not the time to search for a new credit card.

• Don’t Close Any Credit Accounts – It might seem counterintuitive, but closing or paying off loans or credit cards might actually bring your FICO score down.

The length of time you’ve had your credit open is a positive effect on credit scores. The bottom line is to avoid doing anything to your credit. If you’re unsure of what you can or cannot do, ask you lender; they can guide you in the right direction and make sure you close on your new loan.

Moving is always daunting regardless of what age you are.  However, as we continue to live in our family homes that we raised our children in, ow we made the decision to downsize there are things to consider that can reduce your stress levels.

1.  When is the right time to “downsize”?

 As we age, life just seems to happen so quickly.  In a blink of an eye, you have toddlers who turn to teenagers, who turn into adults, who leave home. You and you partner are left with a large family home full of memories and maintenance that you need to do.  In addition to the maintenance we all need to do on our homes have you considered:

•  If you really need 4 bedrooms?
•  The huge backyard, is your time better spent enjoying the sun?
•  There are no more kids to shovel the driveway.
• The long staircase that you once admired, will it become a burden to climb?

If you're noticing any of these are true about you, then downsizing is going to be the right choice.

2. Sorting Belongings

Once you've made the decision to downsize, then it's time to sort through your things.  Trust me I get it, it will be difficult to do this, but so worthwhile in the end. 

The best way to go about things is to sort your items into a few categories:

•  Keep it for the new home
•  Sell it and make money
•  Give it away
•  Trash it, because it is old.

Start with one room at a time.  Decluttering you will find so freeing.

3. Packing to Move

Now comes the job of packing. It is best to start with the non essential items first.  This is going to help you in the long run as your prep the sale of your home.

It's important to remember that packing is a physically demanding job. You are not as young as you once were, so give yourself enough time to handle the task without physical stress or injury. Here are some tips that will help make the job a little safer:

Tackle Small Jobs – There is no need to rush.  Room by room is best.

Don ‘t Over Pack - Even if you have help on moving day, you might need to move boxes around your new home as you unpack, so keep the weight of the boxes in mind as you pack.

Use Plastic Tubs - For items you will be storing for the long-term.

Label Your Boxes - Unpacking is just as stressful as packing, so make your job a little easier by keeping one or two "open first" boxes with the essentials you will need for your first days in your new space.

4. Prepare for the Emotional Side of Moving

For some, moving involves a new adventure, and as such is an exciting time, but this is not the case for everyone. Some people find the transition to be a challenge, especially if they are giving up living in a place that they made family memories. The home where children were raised and grandchildren were welcomed can be hard to leave.  Give yourself permission to grieve, permission to miss, it’s ok.

Have any other questions about selling and moving?  Be sure to reach out to me.

Sandra Pike Senior Moving Specialist in Halifax.

It is pretty scary don’t you think?  The panic?  The mayhem?  The cancelled vacations?  The stock piling of toilet paper, which I will never understand.  Will our seller’s market still continue here in Halifax?  I would like to say that my teams certainly will and it is all because of our DIGITAL MARKETING strategy.

Over the years as an agent trying to break ground in a unknown city, my only tool was social media.  Back in 2012, I probably was the thorn in most agents sides.  If there was a social platform that I could be on, I was there.  Celebrating every step I had in real estate.  Fast forward to 2015, we started the first walk thru videos of homes that were for sale.  Our thought was that you don’t need to be here to purchase.  Now not only do we use these “older” methods, but we have incorporated Artificial Intelligence that places you in the home and you can literally purchase site unseen.

So, what does a digital strategy have to do with “ the Corna Virus”?  ABSOUTELY EVERYTHING. Most companies across Canada are mandating that their employees work from home. The sheer purpose is to “flatten the curve” of the outbreak.  While the virus really hasn’t impacted us here in Halifax, my thoughts are that we could be next on the list.  How will we sell your home without showings?  Without open houses?  Heck, how are we going to sell to DND members who may not be able to travel?  The solution….  VIRTUALLY.  Most buyers have been struggling in our market as of recent due to the lack of inventory.  With the threat of a pandemic lingering over our heads and still needing to move, the most viable option at this point would be a virtual purchase.

The one thing we as Haligions should be proud of is our commitment to “flatten the curve” I pray that our efforts are not in vain and they actually do impact our seaside city.

Sandra Pike

Halifax Real Estate

#dealsinheels

What a hot topic for our industry.

Personally, I have been struggling with this debate for quite sometime. I don’t want to be seen as the agent who does not care to #stopthespread by unnecessarily showing homes.  I certainly do not want to come across as “essential”.  I am not delivering babies or saving lives; I just sell homes. 

The word to be honest, scared the heck out of me.  I didn’t want the public thinking I was “that agent” who thought that their service was essential.

 I kept wondering, how do I protect my clients?  Me? How do I qualify showings on my listings?  More importantly, how can I as an agent protect the spread?  Are my services really essential?

I would have to say that in some cases, real estate services are deemed necessary here in Halifax.

• Your house has sold and you need to find a new one.
• You are relocating for work or for some other reason from another area. Having said that, if you were not relocating prior to COVID-19, chances are, your move has been delayed.

These reasons, I feel personally are essential.  As agents we must take all necessary precautions and measures to get our buyers into their new home.

Yesterday was an interesting exercise for me.  I received notification that there was a showing on my listing. Apart from our company’s medical disclosure prior to showings, our team devised a questionnaire for our own listings. 

Our first question to the agent:

• HAS YOUR BUYER SEEN THE VIRTUAL TOUR? When I asked this question, the agent quickly stated, that her buyers need to get a better “handle on the layout”  I asked her to clarify this.  Given her answer, it was apparent, that they did not use our virtual tour, nor view the floor plans.

• My next question was “ HOW MANY HOMES ARE YOUR BUYERS SEEING?’ The perfect answer for me was just ours. Thankfully it was.  Everyone’s end goal is to “stop the spread”

• Our 3^rd question, I think rocks.  “ DO YOUR BUYERS HAVE A PLACE TO SELL?” Bingo…  they do.  Why in the world are you viewing homes, without even a conditional offer on yours?  It could take weeks or months to sell.  At this point in time, I definitely was not convinced to move ahead with the showing.

• My questions are getting a little intense, I can sense the agent’s frustration.  “CAN YOU PROVIDE PROOF OF FINANCING?” I was told NO.  Her mortgage broker did not want to write any type of letter because rates were changing.  The answer no here registered red flags with me.  Were they really approved?  Could they even afford this home?

• My last question to the agent was “ Is this purchase a need of necessity or a want?” The agent stammered a little as this purchase was merely a want.  Her buyers were looking to purchase a property in the Halifax Area as an investment. 

Upon review of her answers, I politely cancelled the showing.

For those of you know me…  I LOVE selling homes.  I love the hunt, the chase, the victory, overall: the competition.  As we face COVID 19, it is my job as an agent, not to think as a salesperson, but to have empathy and compassion combined with a willingness to do the right thing. 

As COVID-19 progresses here in Halifax, should you sell you house now?  Why or Why Not?  The bright side of selling your home during these difficult times is that you know the buyer’s visit is a must and a mission. (hopefully)   Should you wait to list your home? Only you the homeowner can answer that.

My intention of this article is not to “poke the bear” but for us as agents to take the time to qualify buyers.  The great thing for listing agents here in Halifax is the reinforcement of digital technology that most had to engage in.  I feel that past 9 years of my career I have been working towards this actual time in history. Video Emails.  Virtual Walkthroughs. Artificial Intelligence. Digital Signatures. All things that we have been working on and improving to better service our sellers.

Real Estate is one of the most important sectors of our Halifax Economy. It helps to balance our market and provide growth. When our city is ready to move forward after our precautions, it is hard to say the type of market we will be faced with; seller, buyer or balanced.  If we can flatten the curve within the next 30 days we may have a balanced market for awhile before heading back into our sellers’ market that we have seen during our first quarter. However, I am not an economist, I am merely speculating. 

At the end of the day as a buyer, if you can wait till our city of Halifax is safe again, I encourage you to do so.

Sandra Pike

Halifax Real Estate THE PIKE GROUP

Royal LePage Atlantic

I decided to renovate the house and, crazy as it sounds, I’m actually thinking about putting in some aging-in-place features. Just in case. I’m young and all, but I may want to stay there forever. I figure, why to go through a renovation twice.

Joe and I have talked about it for years, but we finally went to a financial planner. We’re good savers, but I was still nervous about whether we’d done enough. The planner suggested some changes and now I feel kind of relieved. Have you ever done it, or do you feel like your finances are on track?

Hunting for a new home online a is a great place to start your search but keep in mind that you don’t see everything. Real estate agents are great at highlighting the features of a house listing online but to make the most of your time, keep these three things in mind:

Identify your Housing Needs Preferences are important when house searching. A house may not have everything you want but it will have most of the things. Be realistic about pricing and keep in mind the must-have items that will definitely be needed because this will help narrow your search.

Stay up to Date When you start your search, make sure you go to sites with up-to-date listings directly from the multiple listing service. Realtors post their most current homes for sale through this. Many sites fail to remove listings that are already off the market, and this can lead to you trying to sort through them and find the recent ones. Pictures can be Deceiving Photographers capture listings at their best. They use different strategies and tools to boost the appeal of the home like creative editing and expensive camera equipment known for its effects. What they don’t show is unappealing parts, like an undone bathroom or small closet.

Go See The Listing  After you have chosen a house that’s appealing to you, schedule a showing with your real estate agent. This is the opportunity to see every part of the house in person and see if it’s a good fit.

Searching online is a great way to learn more about the house you’re looking for. Even if you’re still unsure about moving, house hunting online gives potential sellers the basic information.

So, you’ve decided to move into a new community. You’ve packed the essentials and said hello to your new sanctuary. Once all the hustle and bustle of moving is over, what’s next? An adventure is what’s next. Now is the time to explore your new habitat and find the cool opportunities that your living space has to offer. This is the next and best chapter of your life.

Types of Communities and Amenities

There are numerous communities that are geared towards people of the same age and interests. Active retirement communities offer various activities and amenities to its residents free of charge. Some of the amenities can include fitness programs, cultural workshops, continuing education programs, and beyond. Many of these associations offer great perks that come along with your residency. If you are part of an active adult community or not, there are still countless options for you to keep your body and mind healthy.

WAYS TO STAY ACTIVE

Go for a walk

A simple way to keep active and engaged is to stroll through your new neighborhood. Walking is the cheapest and easiest way to get some movement into your day. Start small and work your way up. It offers many health benefits and can add years to your life. According to the Canadian Seniors Community, walking can lower blood sugar, improve heart health, lower pain, and boost mental health. Not only is walking cheap and easy; it allows you to explore your new surroundings. Grab a coffee; explore the scenery and improve your health all at the same time.

Take a Class

There’s no better way to meet people and enjoy your time than taking a class. Many retirement communities and neighborhood organizations offer free/affordable classes to seniors.  Classes can range from exercise to cultural exploration. This is a great way to get the brain working and meet some new people. Programs help seniors move their way to better health and get together with like-minded people who share the same values. Who knows? You may find out you have a love for yoga or writing!

Find Your Passion

This is an exciting time in your life, and you should treat it like that. There are so many fun opportunities lurking and you need to take advantage of them. Now is the time to enroll in that history class you have always wanted to take. The meditation class that once seemed like a dream can now become reality. Now is your time to explore your hobbies and find your passion. The world is yours to explore!

When the Coronavirus news started spreading, normal people took steps to protect themselves and their families.Scammers spotted an opportunity. They’ve already capitalized on people’s fears with fake ads, phishing emails, and promises of miracle cures.  So in addition to guarding your health, you also have to protect your computer and your wallet.

Beware of links

Don’t click on links from information sources you don’t know. Even if someone says they’re sending important health updates, be suspicious. Someone may be trying to install malware on your computer to steal your personal information.

Miracle cures

Delete emails containing offers for cures. Right now, there are no vaccines, pills, ointments, and so forth, to treat Coronavirus.

Scam emails

Familiarize yourself with the scam Coronavirus emails that are going around. See https://nr.tn/38zNAq0.

Rely on legitimate news sources

Any breaking health information will be in the news. You also can visit one of the legitimate health organizations for updates.

Divorce or separation is always stressful. Selling a property after a divorce or separation can just add to the stress. However, in my experience, it is best if both parties worked together. An experienced agent can navigate you both through the process step by step.

Before contacting your attorney, I recommend:

Get your finances in order. Estimate the value of each of your assets and liabilities. Make copies of all relevant certificates, contracts, and agreements

If you've been in a long-term relationship, you've probably been sharing your finances. When the relationship ends, each party will want to be in control of their own finances. It can be confusing and stressful, but both parties need to get their own finances in order. Who is going to pay the mortgage after one party moves out? Are there children to consider? What about credit card payments?

At this stage, it can be difficult to agree on anything, but the Family Court of Australia will take everything into account when dividing your assets and liabilities. Keep records of your expenditures and if you have been treated unfairly, you may be able to recoup your losses later.

Homes, apartments, and other assets have fluctuating values. You may not be able to get an exact value for all of your assets and liabilities, but get as accurate an estimate as you can. A real estate agent can give you an estimate of the value of your property.

You will need valid copies of all relevant certificates, contracts, and agreements you have previously shared. In some cases, you may need to be stamped and approved copies. In other cases, a simple photocopy will do. Just be sure you have copies of everything. You will need them later.

1. Start with the easy stuff.

Eliminate anything that’s broken, damaged, or no longer wanted. Then, go to the out-of-the-way spaces like attics, crawlspaces, and garages. Progress in these "easier" parts of your home will help you build momentum and tackle the harder-to-decide areas.

2. Ask yourself,  "If this disappeared tomorrow, would I run out and replace it?"

If you wouldn't miss it or need to replace it, it's probably not worth keeping.

3. Don't be a storage unit for others.

If friends or relatives have left things for you to store, it's time to ask them to pick up their possessions—or arrange to have them shipped. You may need to be tough and set a firm deadline, after which you will donate the items.

4. Ask for help.

Although you can do much of this work on your own, a family member, a good friend, or even a professional organizer can help make the job more manageable.

5. Decide what's important.

Pretend you are moving overseas, but you can only take a severely limited number of items because it costs a small fortune to ship them. What items belong on your list? These are the things that matter most to you!

6. Is this something from a lifestyle I no longer have or want?

For example, if you have three cabinets full of plastic containers, but only cook for one or two people, it’s reasonable to eliminate a few plastic sets—and dishes, pots, and pans.

7. Schedule a regular time each week—or several days a week—to work on rightsizing.

Realize that rightsizing is a life-changing marathon, not a sprint. You didn't accumulate everything overnight, and you won't sort it all out overnight, either.

8. Value what you keep.

The fewer things you keep, the more you will treasure and enjoy what you have, instead of tucking items away in a closet or stacked among dozens of other things. These are the select, meaningful items worth having in your personal space.

9. Prevent new collections from forming.

Instead of material gifts, ask people to spoil you by sharing time, enjoying new experiences, and helping you indulge in luxuries (spa certificates, imported chocolate, a musical or other theatre production, gift certificates for dinner out, etc.). In other words, ask for special treats that you love and want, but don't always buy for yourself.

10. Use age to your advantage.

Now is a great time to give items to family members that you eventually want them to have. Take a photo (preferably a digital one) of your recipients holding their treasured gifts and create a scrapbook of "next generation" memories. These images can serve as powerful reminders of your most cherished items moving forward into posterity with the most special people in your life.

Sellers expanded their advantage in the housing market in July as market forces continued to work in their favor, according to the July Zillow® Real Estate Market Report. Buyers outnumber sellers and snapped up homes at a record pace last month. Meanwhile, the divide between the for-sale and rental markets widened as rent growth continued to slow.

The for-sale housing market has been red hot despite enormous job losses across the country, and home values have steadily climbed. The typical home value was $253,527 in July, up 4.5% year over year—the fastest pace since May 2019. Annual home value growth accelerated from June in 42 of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas, led by San Jose, Calif. (up 2.1 percentage points) and Hartford (up 0.8 percentage points). Homes sold in July typically went under contract after only 16 days, two days faster than the previous monthly low in Zillow data that dates back to January 2018.

Month-over-month home value growth jumped from 0.4% in June to 0.48% in July, the biggest one-month acceleration since May 2012, according to the report. Home values grew month over month in each of the top 50 metros after they fell in San Francisco and Detroit in June.

“This spring’s housing soft patch is receding in the rearview mirror as we get a clear picture of robust demand meeting remarkably low supply,” said Zillow economist Jeff Tucker. “Record-low mortgage rates and a record-high number of people in their early 30s are combining to fuel first-time buyer demand. Builders, acting on unprecedented confidence, are racing to meet demand, but supply remains well behind what’s needed. This lack of inventory, along with forbearance terms keeping unemployed homeowners in their homes, stands in stark contrast to the Great Recession, when excess supply and distressed sales brought down-home values.” Zillow forecasts home value appreciation will slow to 3.6% over the next 12 months from the 4.5% year-over-year growth seen in July. In the short term, the updated forecast is now more optimistic toward continued home value growth than previous releases. The likelihood of pessimistic scenarios—defined by persistent unemployment, mass evictions, and foreclosures, and an enduring spread of the virus—has increased in recent months, and that is reflected in the longer-term forecasted slowdown in home value appreciation in Zillow’s new, probability-weighted forecast model.

“While the housing market has so far sailed through the headwind of high unemployment, risks remain,” Tucker said. “A slow economic recovery that keeps millions of Americans looking for work could dampen home buying demand and may even lead to a wave of foreclosures when forbearance expires. This pessimistic possible outcome for 2021 has caused Zillow’s price forecast to shade down a bit.”

A major reason for the hot seller’s market in much of the country is the continued inventory shortage. Inventory is now down 28.4% year over year as of the week ending August 15, meaning there are 409,029 fewer homes listed on the market than there were a year ago. Inventory is down from last year in each of the 50 largest metros, and down the most in Riverside (-46.5%), Baltimore (-43.8%), and Hartford (-43.1%).

In contrast to the strong for-sale market, the rental side of the housing market continues to show softness. Year-over-year rent growth slowed again, with the typical rent up 1.2% to $1,749. In February, rents grew 3.9% year over year.

Rents fell from last year in nine of the top 50 markets. Rents were up from the previous year in each of the top 50 metros as recently as April. The biggest drops were in the three most-expensive markets in the country — the greater New York metro (-2.6% year over year), San Francisco (-2.5%), and San Jose (-2.2%).

Zillow’s weekly data showed pending sales up 15.1% year over year as of the week ending August 15. The median sale price as of the week ending July 4—the most recent data available—was $275,078, 3.7% higher than the same period last year.

Mortgage rates listed by third-party lenders on Zillow started the month at 3.26% and rose to a peak of 3.34% on July 3. Rates ended July at their monthly low of 3.03%. Zillow’s real-time mortgage rates are based on thousands of custom mortgage quotes submitted daily to anonymous borrowers on the Zillow Group Mortgages site by third-party lenders and reflect recent changes in the market.

If you have started a search for a real estate agent, you might have already realized that most agents tout themselves as experts on a type of property they typically work with—local experts, lakefront experts, luxury condo experts, etc. There are times when working with a specialized agent with advanced designations is important. The National Association of Realtors® offers advanced designations to help consumers choose the right agent for their needs. Here are just a few certifications that address unique circumstances:

Military Relocation Professional – (MRP): These specialists have been trained on benefits and programs available for military families, and have expertise in VA funding.

Green Designations – (GREEN): A GREEN agent can offer information about sustainable building, restoration, remodeling, and energy efficiency standards.

Accredited Buyer’s Representative – (ABR): Agents with this designation have learned how to offer homebuyers superior service.

Certified Residential Specialist – (CRS): This is the highest credential awarded to residential agents and guarantees a high level of experience.

Seniors Real Estate Specialist – (SRES): Agents with this specialized certification are specially equipped to help senior citizens with their real estate needs.

Real Estate Negotiation Expert – (RENE): This certification means the agent has taken negotiation classes with NAR and has passed advanced technique training.

Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist - (CLHMS): Agents with this certification have access to various international associations to be able to market your luxury home.

Not everyone needs a real estate specialist, but these National associations of Realtors® specialized certifications can help you find the right agent for your unique needs. Having said that, do these designations make for a better agent? My thoughts are absolutely not. Experience and Reputation would supersede most of these. When selecting your agent, ask about their marketing plan. How many houses have they actually listed and sold. Are they full time. As well ask for references.

Happy House Selling

Sandra Pike

Listing Specialist

While it might seem like a smart idea to simply offer a buyer credit and list, there are downsides to this plan, and taking the time to update a bit on your own first could mean thousands of dollars in your pocket.

Here are a few reasons why offering a credit might not be the best strategy:

1.  Buyer Impression – A dated home looks old and not all buyers can see the potential.
2.  Lower Offers – Offering a credit could be viewed as high seller motivation, resulting in lower offers.
3.  Value Differences – You and your buyer might disagree on the value of needed upgrades. For example, you might feel $7,500 is a fair cost for a new countertop whereas your buyers might expect considerably more; this can lead to more negotiations and lower sales price.
4.  Home Condition – A property that shows its age can prompt the buyer to worry about the overall condition.
5.  Loan Approval – Lenders are wary of buyer credits; in fact, upgrade credits are no longer possible. You might have a buyer unable to take advantage of the credit at all and you could lose the buyer.

Home design trends change quickly. If you’re ready to sell, it could be tempting just to list your home in its current condition. Before you just add a credit to the listing, consider some simple updating so your buyers can see the value of your home.

First-time homebuyers can be fun to work with because of their excitement and eagerness. At the same time, many first-time buyers have unrealistic expectations about the buying process that can make things more complicated than necessary. That's why it's important to take these steps to simplify the process to ensure that your buyers stick it out to the end.

Explain Connections

One thing that many first-time buyers have in common is that they struggle to grasp how interconnected the various purchase price figures are. For example, a buyer's credit score has a significant impact on the interest rate they'll be asked to pay. By taking the time to explain these connections to buyers, you'll be able to avoid a lot of confusion and questions down the road. Our favorite mortgage broker, Leanne Myles can certainly assist with any questions you may have.

Narrow Their Options

First-time buyers tend to think that they'll be able to check off every item on their wish list, even when their budget is limited. As an agent, though, our job to direct our buyers to homes that represent a good compromise, checking off as many boxes as possible while still providing a great value. By narrowing down their choices to just two or three standout homes, will help shorten their search time and potentially close your sale sooner. 

Know What They Can Afford

Another thing that some first-time buyers struggle with is understanding how their income relates to their buying power. Since you don't want to show your buyers homes they can't afford, it's important to walk with them through the pre-approval process before asking them about what they want in a home. This will reduce the number of homes that you need to look through and help prevent major disappointment down the road.  In our current market, I suggest to our buyers to look well below their price point, especially if it us under $400k.  Most properties are selling way over asking. 

Here are my tips to survive the disappointment.

1. Whatever your current budget is, my suggestion is to look at homes $50k - $100k below. If you need to compete, you are well within your budget.
2. Speak to your mortgage broker (we use LEANNE MYLES 902-798-9779) about a purchase plus mortgage.  If you are not able to purchase at the top end of your budget and find a home that is “lack lusture” you can complete renos and have the cost added to your mortgage. As her about this program, it may solve your dilemma.
3. Don’t panic if you can’t find a home right now. My thoughts are that the market will change spring of 2021.  While the prices will still be inflated, there may not be so many competing offers.

At the end of the day, if you do not win the competing bid, you are still saving money and will have more for a down payment. No win, is still a good win.

Happy Home Buying

You’ve heard the rumors; it’s a “Seller’s Market.” Well if you are actively searching for a new home, you know that it’s true. The low inventory of homes for sale has made things difficult for buyers. There just aren’t many homes for sale out there and when a nice listing does come to market, it’s met with multiple offers…..often with offer prices over asking.

If you’re a buyer in this market, you might feel overwhelmed but remember that with a solid strategy, you can still find your dream home, even when inventory is low.

The highest offer price in the world is worthless if the transaction doesn’t close.

Here are a few tips for buyers looking in a tight market:

• Talk to a lender before you shop so you’re prepared

• Be prepared to pull the trigger

• Write a competitive offer

• Keep contingencies to a minimum

• Write a clean offer; Make it easy for the sellers to just say yes

When inventory is low, it’s each to feel like the best homes are already gone, but by working with your agent, you can put yourself in the best position to have your offer accepted.

1. Outdoor Space – Over the past decade or so, outdoor spaces have become extensions of the home. From outdoor kitchens to outdoor living rooms, the line between interior and exterior has blurred. Homebuyers have embraced this way of living and are insisting on some kind of outdoor patio or space when looking for a new home.

2. Garages – Today’s homebuyer wants a garage. True, some of them plan to use it for non-traditional purposes, such as for storage or home gyms, but they still insist on a garage. Even with the rise of rideshare services and public transportation options, statistics show that the average household owns 1.95 cars and studies demonstrate they are looking for a home with at least a single-car garage.

Homebuyers realize they might have to make sacrifices when searching for a new home. Surprisingly, while these buyers might be willing to compromise on other aspects of the home, outdoor space and garages are among the “must-have” items in 2020.

 Choose the Right Development – It’s not enough to find a lovely development; understanding the neighborhood and schools play a big part of home values.

 Choose the Right Lot – You might love the corner lot, but your agent can help you consider resale before you buy.

 Consider the Cost of Upgrades – Not all upgrades should be handled through the sales office; your agent can help you understand customary costs for upgrades.

 Contact Negotiation – Did you know that the price and terms of new construction homes can be negotiated? Your agent can get you the best deal.

 Contact Review – Your agent will ensure everything is written correctly in the contract.

 Home Inspection – Your agent will arrange a professional home inspection.

 Your Agent is Free – All this representation and help, yet the home development pays their commission.

Here are 5 paint colors that reduce stress:

1. Blue – Blue is often used in bedrooms and is shown to reduce tension.

2. Violet – Not the vibrant purple, but subtle lavender hues can bring an inner balance and sense of peace.

3. Green – Reflecting the natural environment of the outdoors, green is visually soothing and refreshing.

4. Grey – One of the best new neutrals, a cooling grey shade is easy on the eye and creates the illusion of larger space.

5. Pink – Long hailed by Feng Shui experts as an energy color, pink provides a lovely backdrop for a bright space.

Our homes serve as the center of our personal lives. With our busy schedules, coming home should be relaxing and regenerating. Changing the feel of our homes is as simple as a weekend painting project.

Most people cringe at the thought of buying a home in December. Only the Grinch would want to pack up and moving during the holiday season! But hold on Cindy Lou Hoo, there are several reasons December can be a great time to buy.

1. Sellers are highly motivated. People who are listing their homes in December are usually on a timeline. They may be relocating for work, wanting to move over the school break, or need to sell their home before the end of the year.

2. You have less competition. Listings do go down in December, but many buyers also take a break during the holiday season. So while the overall number of homes available might be lower, you also have less competition looking.

3. You can get a better price. Motivated sellers and fewer lookers means you can make a better deal. If your seller needs to make a move before the end of the year, they will be willing to work with you on all other terms besides closing date.

4. Rates are staying low. Mortgage rates are forecast to remain low through the end of this year, and into 2021, so it’s a good time to buy.

5. Take advantage of tax benefits. If you close on your home purchase by December 31st, you can take tax deductions for mortgage interest, loan points, and property taxes.

6. Schedules are more flexible. You might think December is too busy a month for moving, but most people tend to have more flexible schedules in December. Children’s activities are suspended, work schedules are more lax, for both you, your sellers, as well as your lender, home inspector, and moving companies, so scheduling all the parts of your transaction and move may actually become easier.

I’d love to help you find your next home. Let’s make your holiday wishes come true!

Once a buyer and seller agree on a sales price, the contract is then sent to the lender for the loan approval process. One of the first things the lender will do is to order an independent appraisal. The appraiser will use local data to determine a value for the subject property. The main purpose is to protect the lender in the event of borrower default by ensuring that the property is actually worth what the buyer is willing to pay, but this also protects the buyer from over-paying as well.

Determining Value

The process appraiser use to determine value is relatively simple. They start by searching for local comparable properties which have closed recently. They choose the 2 or 3 which most closely match the subject property and use them for comparison. Since these comparable homes have closed recently, they are assumed to represent market value. Once the appraiser has the comparable properties identified, they will then compare the subject property to them. They will add or subtract value for size, location, amenities, features, upgrades and so on until they have a value for the subject property. This is then reported to the lender in the form of a final appraisal.

If you had to make a quick decision today about your New Year's Resolution commitment to fitness, what would you do?

• Personal Training?
• Group Fitness?
• Go it alone at a gym and use an App?
• Workout from home?
• Other?

Covid certainly changed the fitness scene for many of us.  I was crushed like many others when the gyms were closed.  What would I do to stay in shape?  What would I do to fight the COVID BULGE!!!!

Thankfully the day the world stopped, we had weights and bands along with a TRX Trainer. For the time being it would suffice.  I can't tell you how elated I was to get back into the swing of things once the gyms reopened.

Here are my thoughts on LOVE LOCAL BEDFORD GYMS

GOODLIFE: A great mix of just about anything you need.  Group Classes. One on One Training or just be your lone self.  I have personally frequented The Larry Uteck location several times. The place has always been spic and span clean each time I went.  Staff are friendly, and the monthly rates are reasonable.  I just wish it opened earlier than 7am on the weekends and that their personal training was more flexible. Sometimes just a little push or a change in routine is all a person needs.  

O2 Wellness

Santana is a high level bodybuilder, so you know the commitment is there.  This gym is located in Sunnyside Mall has just about everything.  Yoga.  Spin classes. Group fitness.  I really love their MEALS 2 GO.  If you live nearby, I highly recommend getting your sweat on there.

30 Minute Hit

A friend recently recommended 30 Minute Hit. If you prefer an all-female workout location check it out. Kick boxing is a great way to be in shape. Only downside is they are not open all the time. Located on the Bedford Highway, your first class is free! Haven’t tried it yet, but it looks very promising.

Now what about personal trainers?  Is there anyone you would recommend?  Is there another gym you would like to give a shout out to?  We would love to hear from you.  Feel free to comment below.

We are yet to find out what 2021 has in store for the real estate market. However, Real estate experts could give an overview of the real estate market in 2021. Notably, Sandra Pike, a multiple-time ThreeBestRated® Award-winning real estate agent from Halifax, Nova Scotia, sheds some insights on top real estate trends to look for in 2021.

Top 5 real estate trends to look for in 2021

• There will be a push from those living in the Urban Core to move to suburban areas, as it facilitates room for flex office spaces. As more people work from home and look for more affordable housing outside Halifax, there is a greater demand for areas that offer more space to live, work, and play.

• Waterfront and recreational properties will be in higher demand.

• There will be a surge in demand for Modular buildings. As most builders now are faced with a shortage of staffing, It delays construction. So, prefab homes may be the way the consumer will trend. They are more efficient, they cost less, and could be constructed quicker than a stick-built.

• Most of the agents who were not using digital tools would have to adapt to digitalization in 2021.

• Given the fact that Atlantic Canada did extremely well during the pandemic, we may see an increase in buyers from other parts of Canada wanting to move here. More homes may be sold sight unseen.
• 

About Sandra Pike - THE PIKE GROUP

As surreal as it may sound, Sandra Pike started her career as a realtor at the age of 40. Within a short span, she mastered the art of selling or buying a property and became a pioneer in her field. By 2014 she formed a group of determined and hardworking real estate professionals and launched the pike group. Through their sheer negotiation skills and innovative marketing initiatives, they grew into becoming one of the best real estate agents in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Sandra has an affinity for technology. She actively adapts to the latest technologies and digitalization of the business. Sandra is a recipient of the honorable ThreeBestRated® real estate agents award for more than three years in a row. After all these achievements, She says, "At the end of the day, it is all about the client, and making them smile, is what motivates me to provide exceptional services to our clients."

A good inspection should take several hours and your inspector will do a thorough investigation of the major systems. This will include health and safety issues as well as the major systems and appliances. Depending on the qualifications of the inspector, you might also get a mold inspection with the report.

A good basic list of items checked is:

• Electrical systems, breakers, GFIs, outlets, power

• Plumbing systems, draining, leaks, water pressure

• Appliances, dishwasher, oven, garbage disposal and any additional built-in units

• Furnace and Air Conditioning units

• Fire and Safety, fireplace gas, chimney flue and spark arrestor

• Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors

• Roof, broken tiles, evidence of leaks

• Water heater • Windows and doors

• Outside drainage and sprinklers

Basic structural damage or signs of additional problems A thorough and professional home inspection by a licensed home inspector is money well spent. It’s insurance against surprises down the road.

Our team highly recommends GLOBAL INSPECTIONS.  Mike Hogan or Lawrence Englehart.

1. Don’t skip the sitter. If you have kids, go ahead and hire a sitter, even if you’re aren’t actually leaving home. Set the kids and sitter up in one room with some planned activities and some fun food so that you and your spouse can enjoy alone time in another room. Of course, if your date night plans involve some intimacy, you may want to arrange for the kids to go to your sitter’s house instead!

2. Set the scene. It might just be your living room, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it special. Dim the lights and add a few candles or string lights for ambiance. Move the coffee table and set up a bistro table and chairs for an intimate dinner. After dinner, build a pillow palette in front of the fireplace. Don’t have a fireplace? Use some candles or put Netflix’s “A Home Fireplace” on the TV.

3. Make the kitchen off-limits. No cooking, no cleaning (unless that’s what lights your fire!) Order a three-course meal from your favorite restaurant and make sure you have a nice wine or a bottle of champagne on hand.

4. Unplug from your devices. Put your phones and other devices away in another room for the evening. Dedicate your date night to talking with your significant other. If your relationship seems all talked-out, try a conversation-prompting game like Date Deck.

5. How about a little role play? It worked wonders for Claire and Phil Dunphy! Role play can spark intimacy, but it can also be useful for sparking laughter. It is a good way to find new things to talk about, and perhaps learn something new about your partner.

6. Enjoy spa night. How about hiring a masseuse team to come to your house for a couple’s massage? If that isn’t feasible, take turns giving each other a massage, soak in a bubble bath together, or give each other a pedicure.

7. Start a family journal. Take the evening to write down the story of how you met and fell in love. Later, continue adding important family milestones to the journal. It may turn into a great family tradition as your children grow and add their own stories.

8. Plan a future trip. You can plan for a future family vacation, a couple’s getaway, or even an “in our wildest dreams” fantasy trip. Chart your route, research fun places to see and great places to stay.

9. Play games. Not head games– actual games. Relationship counselors often recommend playful activities as a way for couples to become closer, so, as long as one of you isn’t too competitive, enjoy playing a board game, cards, or a video game with your spouse.

10. Start a date night subscription. Keep the dates coming with a monthly date night subscription box. You can choose a subscription that appeals to you and your partner: a romantic date night from a site such as the DateBox Club, something crafty like the Adults & Crafts Crate, make something delicious with EatTiamo, or create an at-home escape club with Finders Seekers. Check out Cratejoy to find the right subscription box for you and your valentine.

"Sandra Pike, Real Estate Agent with The Pike Group has a goal to not just provide great service but to help make your home marketable

We all know that buying in a seller's market is extremely stressful. As a listing agent, I thought to share with you what seller's are looking for when you are writing your offers.

Buying in Halifax? Be sure to contact my team www.THEPIKEGROUP.ca or call me directly at 902-478-8711

Every year is unique, but 2020 was truly unlike anything we’ve ever experienced in the Canadian real estate market. No one could have predicted that a pandemic would sweep across Canada, slowing the market initially and then driving prices upward in many regions across the country. Many markets across Canada even saw historically strong levels of activity as things picked up very quickly after a short period of inactivity.

Trying to foresee where things are headed this year is a difficult task, but we think these trends are certainly worth paying attention to over the next 12 months. If all five of these trends continue, it should be a very busy year for Canadian real estate.

Here are five Canadian real estate market trends to watch in 2021:

1. A steady increase in home prices

2. Detached homes will be in high demand

3. Monthly home sales numbers will fluctuate less

4. Mortgage rates will remain depressed

5. Potential rental resurgence could change trends

1.  A steady increase in home prices

The Canadian Real Estate Association predicts that the national average home price will rise 9.1% in 2021, and if you’ve been following the market, that’s really not hard to imagine. Noting improving economic conditions, the association says that markets across Canada should either hold in terms of pricing or climb higher.

It’s important to point out that this is one of the most bullish forecasts, but nevertheless, most models from industry professionals and economists are predicting increases. Royal LePage, for example, is predicting a 5.5% increase in home prices across the country, citing limited inventory and unmet demand as the major market drivers. The company is predicting a 9% rise in Vancouver, a 5.75% increase in the Greater Toronto Area, a 0.75% and 1.5% increase respectively in Calgary and Edmonton, and a whopping 11.5% increase in Ottawa. Their full forecast for major Canadian cities is projecting no aggregate losses at all.

2. Detached homes will be in high demand

Many factors should contribute to the expected increase in home prices across Canada this year, but it’s hard to overlook the impact of detached home sales on the market. Detached homes are already typically more expensive than condos, so seeing their demand rise should bring up overall sales volume. While condos are expected to see modest gains over the next year, detached homes are expected to become even higher in demand in every major Canadian city. Young families looking for more space, more home offices, and places to entertain once the pandemic passes are expected to drive the demand for detached homes to new highs, so keep an eye on this trend in 2021. Should the pandemic continue into the summer and fall, this demand could easily continue well into 2022.

For sellers, this is big news. It will be a seller’s market in most Canadian cities this year, and homeowners looking to downsize can expect to see a lot of interest in their detached homes. In a recent survey, 84% of RE/MAX agents and brokers agreed that 2021 would be a seller’s market, largely due to the high demand for more space and low-interest rates.

3. Monthly home sales numbers will fluctuate less

One of the most notable things about the real estate market in 2020 was the wild monthly sale number swings, largely an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CREA expects sales volumes to surge 7.2% to around 584,000 in 2021, but that total number will very likely be more evenly spread out over the year than in 2020. After things began to slowly open up last year after the initial lockdown period, interest in real estate peaked, and buyers flooded the market with offers. This year should have fewer fluctuations.

4. Mortgage rates will remain depressed

To further support borrowing, we’d expect mortgage rates to remain low throughout 2021. The extremely low rates that were introduced last March to calm the markets have enticed first time home buyers who didn’t have their incomes affected by the pandemic. If mortgage rates do stay low throughout the year, which we’d fully anticipate, expect to see the real estate market remain very busy. For many, it’s being viewed as a welcomed opportunity to enter the market.

Interest rates remain low when The Bank of Canada wants to encourage spending and stimulate the economy, and given the challenges Canadians have faced resulting from the pandemic, that’s exactly what they intend to do. The Bank of Canada has stood by its comments last year where they claimed that rates would remain low until 2023, which is how long they expect it to take for the economy to make a full recovery.

"Canada's economic recovery will continue to require extraordinary monetary policy support," the bank said in October 2020. "We remain committed to providing the monetary policy stimulus needed to support the recovery."

Statements like this should give market watchers confidence that mortgage rates will remain low throughout 2021 and beyond.

5. A potential rental resurgence could change trends

Renters could seriously change how the market looks in 2021. We’d expect renters to return to cities in larger numbers once vaccination levels reach the point where a herd immunity to COVID-19 can be established, which would be a trend worth watching. Many people moved back home with family when the pandemic began, but don’t expect that trend to stay around forever. When renters return to major city centres, investors should reenter the condo market, or at the very least be less inclined to sell. It may take until the end of 2021, but keeping an eye on where renters are choosing to live is a great way to tell where condo prices are headed in 2021 and beyond.

We’ll be watching these five real estate trends very closely in 2021, especially given how fast we’ve seen things change in the last year. While markets across the country will experience different trends, 2021 could be a year where Canada’s major real estate markets have more in common with each other than they have differences. Low-interest rates in many ways are the glue that holds many of these trends together, so buyers, sellers, and agents should be closely watching what The Bank of Canada is doing and planning accordingly.

Reminiscing of the day I joined real estate in July 2010, I knew this was going to be the career for me. Work hard. Hustle. Grind. Verbs and Adjectives, that were very familiar to me over the years in anything I set out to do. Real Estate was going to be no different.

Over the span of my career, I was able to set and meet several milestones that would place me apart from most agents.

1. Waiting till the kids finished school

2. Their new purchase that is being built was delayed

3. It is pending their posting message

The above 4 scenarios are just a fraction of the reasons why it would be advantageous to allow the seller to pick the closing date.

I am pretty sure that this has been said by most: "the market is just crazy"  Truth be told this is the first time our province has experienced such an upheaval. Having said that 2012, showed us a glimpse of how crazy times can get.

Today I interviewed 3 industry members to get their take on our current market. Bill McMullin the owner of Viewpoint Realty Richard Payne of EXP Ian Angus of Royal LePage Atlantic. and of course me, Sandra Pike of Royal LePage Atlantic.

If you are wondering what is happening, sit back, relax and listen to as we discuss.
Click Here: https://youtu.be/vTkEIPSiZe8

Choosing the Right Offer

Congratulations, you have multiple offers on your home listing. It’s exciting to hear that you
have a choice in buyers.

Yet how can you make sure that you choose the right offer? With
varying sales prices and terms, comparing offers might be harder than you expected. Still – it’s
a great problem to have.

If you find yourself in a multiple offer situation, the first step is to meet with your agent to
discuss each offer in detail. What are the actual differences? It’s easy to see what price they
offer, but what about the other items – the terms, the financing, the contingencies.

* Sales Price – This is the easiest to compare. Start with the sales price and then check to
see if they are asking for extra concessions; these could include seller credits or paying
for closing costs.

* Terms – Determine when the buyer intends to close and when they want occupancy.

* Financing – Financing can vary dramatically and affect your decision in choosing a buyer.
For instance, a buyer who offers a slightly lower price but is going to put 50% down 
might be a better offer than someone using a FHA, 3.5% down loan which could be
harder to close.

* Contingencies – Most offers come with contingencies for items such as inspections,
appraisal, loan approval and more. An offer with less contingencies, or shorter time
frames to remove them, could be a better offer than others.

Working with your agent, consider all the elements which go into an offer; then you’ll be in the
best position to determine the best option for your financial goals, timeframes and needs.

Choosing the Right Offer

Congratulations, you have multiple offers on your home listing. It’s exciting to hear that you
have a choice in buyers.

Yet how can you make sure that you choose the right offer? With
varying sales prices and terms, comparing offers might be harder than you expected. Still – it’s
a great problem to have.

If you find yourself in a multiple offer situation, the first step is to meet with your agent to
discuss each offer in detail. What are the actual differences? It’s easy to see what price they
offer, but what about the other items – the terms, the financing, the contingencies.

* Sales Price – This is the easiest to compare. Start with the sales price and then check to
see if they are asking for extra concessions; these could include seller credits or paying
for closing costs.

* Terms – Determine when the buyer intends to close and when they want occupancy.

* Financing – Financing can vary dramatically and affect your decision in choosing a buyer.
For instance, a buyer who offers a slightly lower price but is going to put 50% down 
might be a better offer than someone using a FHA, 3.5% down loan which could be
harder to close.

* Contingencies – Most offers come with contingencies for items such as inspections,
appraisal, loan approval and more. An offer with less contingencies, or shorter time
frames to remove them, could be a better offer than others.

Working with your agent, consider all the elements which go into an offer; then you’ll be in the
best position to determine the best option for your financial goals, timeframes and needs.

 "PACK YOUR BAGS BABY WE ARE MOVING TO NOVA SCOTIA!"

Since the pandemic, Nova Scotia has been on the top of mind for many.  Our government along with Dr Strang have done a remarkable job trying to stop the spread.  Yes we have had speed bumps along the way, however you can't deny, NS is the place to be.

Several consumers are contemplating buying a home or piece of land here without any conditions or due diligence. I caution you.

Consider  20k for a piece of land, that's cheap right!  What if there was no access to that land?  What if that land were wetlands?  What if the land could not have a septic or it was unable to produce drinking water?  So now what....  Yes you guessed it.... you are stuck with a piece of land that is perfect to pitch a tent when you move here.

How about that home you viewed virtually, you never looked at the backyard that was non existent, or maybe the driveway that is 300 ft long. Nova Scotia is a great place to move to. 

Heck I even transplanted here from Ottawa 13 years ago. These statements above may elicit  caution...  I hope it does. 

Educate.  Educate.  Don't just pay attention to the pretty home.  Don't just consider a piece of land because of the price.  Do your homework.

Today's panel consists of Ian Angus of Royal LePage Atlantic, Danielle McLean of DCL Law and of course me, Sandra Pike of Royal LePage.   Looking forward to your commentary.

75 Old Ferry Wharf, Port La Tour, NS B0W 2T0

Do any of these adjectives  ring a bell? Have you been longing for a home where you sit on the porch, breathe in smell of the salty air while contemplating the meaning of life over your morning coffee? Sounds like pure bliss right?  We are so excited to bring to market this Pre Confederation home.  Built by Ebenzer Snow in 1860, it has become fondly remembered as Fran's Hill where most adults hold onto childhood memories of  sledding during the winter

Click here for more info:   https://www.75oldferrywharf.ca/

 Today's panel discusses the latest trends of our market.  In some areas it has slowed down tremendously. Showings are less frequent.  Multiple offers have gone from 20 to maybe 2, or nonexistent. Houses are taking a little longer to sell.

What is the cause of the trend?

• Time of year
• Covid Restrictions
• Buyer Fatigue

Will the trend continue, or will Halifax see another spike?

Meet Thomas Bagogloo of Remax.  Richard Payne of EXP.  Adam Hennigar of Sutton and of course your host me, Sandra Pike of Royal LePage.

Todays panel discusses the latest trends of our market.  In some areas it has slowed down tremendously. Showings are less frequent.  Multiple offers have gone from 20 to maybe 2, or nonexistent. Houses are taking a little longer to sell.

What is the cause of the trend?

• Time of year
• Covid Restrictions
• Buyer Fatigue

Will the trend continue, or will Halifax see another spike?

Meet Thomas Bagogloo of Remax.  Richard Payne of EXP.  Adam Hennigar of Sutton and of course your host me, Sandra Pike of Royal LePage.

The most important thing on every seller’s mind is the listing price. No one wants to leave money on the table by pricing a home too low. At the same time, pricing the home too high will also likely result in lost dollars either from wasting valuable time on the market or once stale, selling for below market value in desperation. Getting a professional appraisal ahead of time might seem like the solution, but is it?

An appraisal can be defined as an opinion of value at a given moment in time. If you are in an ascending market where listings are selling quickly, the appraiser can only use closed sales as a reference in the appraisal, so you might be tempted to list too low for the market, but not accounting for the increase in sales activity and prices. Contrarily if the market is slow and prices are declining, an appraisal received in May could be too high for the erosion of prices seen over the summer, and your listing will be overpriced for the reality of the neighborhood.

More than just these scenarios, a pre-listing appraisal means nothing to the buyer or their lender. They will still use market data to write their offer and their lender will order a new appraisal regardless. While you can reference your appraisal in negotiations, the buyers will still only offer what the property is worth to them and you might miss out on a great deal by trying to stick to your price.

In the end, a pre-listing appraisal is probably a waste of time and money. Your agent has access to the latest market data and can show you the same comparable properties the appraiser would use. Find a good local agent you trust and work with them to price your home correctly.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

What if the government was able to help local developers and landlords with the building and carrying costs of a home or rental unit? Would this make places more affordable? Love to hear your thoughts on how we can improve this situation. #halifaxhousing #halifaxhomes

What if my crazy ideas worked? Is it worth it? Would it make a difference? We are faced with  over worked and underpaid healthcare professionals. What can we do to ease the burden of our local practioners?

Personally, I have noticed that since July, showings are down as well as offers that I am receiving are not as aggressive as they were during the spring market. While YTD we have 1000 more units sold than this time last year, however the last 2 months, sales are down by 100 units. What are your thoughts of 2022? Will you sell or buy?

The holiday season is upon us—and for many homeowners, that means cooking up holiday meals and treats for their friends, families, and loved ones. And while holiday cooking and baking can certainly feel festive and fun, too much indoor cooking can actually cause air pollution in your home.

Luckily, there’s a way to keep the air in your home clean without sacrificing your holiday cookie baking tradition—and that’s plants.

A recent article from realtor.com outlined the best air-purifying plants to add to your home this holiday season, including:

• Snake plants. Unlike most air-purifying plants, which go through the air purification process during the day, snake plants remove toxins from the air at night (and after dinner!)—making them a great air-purifying plant addition to your home.
• English ivy. English ivy removes formaldehyde from the air—which is not only present in many common household materials, but is also released during the cooking process. Plus, they’re incredibly easy to grow—so even if you have a less-than-green thumb, you can enjoy this plant’s air purifying benefits.
• Spider plants. Spider plants are great at removing toxins from the air (specifically benzene and formaldehyde), making them a great addition to your kitchen. These plants also grow starter plants known as “spiderettes”—which you can snip off, put in a vase to root, and use to grow additional plants to purify the air in other rooms in your home.

Once the New Year arrives, thought turns to ways to improve our health, our finances, schedules and even our home. Getting organized in one of the most common New Year’s Resolutions, along with losing weight and finding love; if it’s one of yours as well, here are 5 great ways to get organized.

Create a Cleaning Schedule: Everyone likes a clean home but very few people like a huge cleaning project. Build a schedule which allows you to clean as you go – daily tasks which are quick and easy to accomplish as part of the routine.  Our routine is Monday is laundry day.  Friday is cleaning day. Grocery Shopping is Sunday.

Pull out the Crock Pot: Planning meals are easy with a crock pot or pressure cooker. Start your evening meal before you leave for work.  HOWEVER, if that is not your thing, I like to have a weekly meal plan.  It is how we grocery shop.  We pick out 5 meals and organize our list.  When we get home from work there are 5 meals to choose from.  It makes not only our life less complicated, but it helps keep our waist and cheque book in balance.

Enlist Help: Everyone in the household can help with daily tasks. Hold a meeting and assign each person with tasks and chores that best suit their interests.   I like doing the laundry.  Ben likes to iron.  He cooks.  I clean.

Set Goals: Create manageable and quantifiable goals and measure the achievement weekly.

Prioritize: The most important way to organize your life is to set priorities. Not everything has to be accomplished all at once. Be realistic and start small. Set goals based on what’s most important.

How will you get organized?

• Lower Purchase Prices – Many people do not want to deal with the boots, and the snow by putting their homes on the market in the winter, so you must think that winter sellers have a strong reason to be selling. That generally means they are very motivated to sell. Often, they have had an unexpected change in their lives like a job transfer, new baby coming etc. so they need to sell quickly. That means a reasonable price for you.

• More Room for Negotiation – Who wants to leave their toasty home and head out into the cold for a few hours while a showing is taking place? Sellers always want their homes to sell quickly, but this is even more so in winter. That gives you the edge when it comes to negotiating a fair price.

• Less Competition – Homeowners are not the only ones who are not thrilled about going out into the cold. Buyers are scarcer during the winter months as well. Agents often hear their buyers want to “take a break” over the winter. This could be an opportunity for the savvy home buyer who realizes there is less competition, which can work nicely in your favour.

• Catch Expensive Problems Early – Several larger home issues are more apparent in the winter. You can readily see if that melting snow is sloping towards the property which can results in leaks. Melting snow is also a great indicator of roof issues and eavestrough damage. Snowstorms or cold days can alert you to drafts, poor windows, warping doors, insulation deficits, and HVAC challenges, to name a few.

• Higher Availability of Services - Realtors, contractors, banks, etc. are all very busy in spring and summer when most people are making home purchases. Statistics show that if you buy your home in the winter you get better service and more attention from every professional you need to work with to close your deal. Also, since contractors have less work in the winter months, you likely can get any internal renovations done faster, and cheaper, than waiting until the spring. You might even consider connecting with landscapers during the winter to set your plans for first thing in the spring.

As you can see, there is no bad time to consider purchasing a home in the Halifax Real Estate market. To get an idea of what is on the market, consider asking your Agent about Halifax MLS listings, Realtor.ca, and also about exclusive listings. Never underestimate putting your home buying thoughts into your conversations as you may hear about homes for sale by owners. Even if the owner is not being represented by an Agent, you can still be protected in the process by connecting with an Agent.

When you have to sell your home in order to purchase, it can be very tricky. More often than not, your offer may not be accepted. Is it possible not to have to sell to purchase? YES, it can be done.

We have been working with Leanne for several years, have a listen to find out how she can assist you. Thank you so much for stopping by our site.

Are we in a bubble?

Are we the cause of the prices?

What will happen in 2022?

Today I am interviewing a great panel of local agents. Chris Peters of Royal LePage Atlantic Roy Thomas of Sutton Professional & Denise MacDonnell of Red Door Realty Looking forward to your comments on this interview.

If you have any topics or would like to appear on a panel, be sure to reach out to me at sandra@sandrapike.ca

At face value, an outsider may think they mean exactly what the words are saying, but after you’ve been around the real estate block a time or two, you get to know what certain phrases really mean.

Let’s take a look at 7 common phrases a listing agent hears from a buyer’s agent, and how it translates to an agent once they know how to read between the lines:

1) “My clients are well qualified.”

This is usually just a quick little phrase a buyer’s agent drops in conversation with a listing agent to dance around the one thing everyone wants to know—how much their buyer is offering. It’s presumed that the buyer is well qualified for the house; otherwise, why would you even be coming in with an offer…

Translation: So you’re saying their offer’s probably gonna suck, right?

2) “My clients could buy this cash if they wanted to.”

There are a number of reasons why this would come out of an agent’s mouth. But it’s usually in response to the listing agent questioning or pushing back on a low down payment, a low offer, or their pre-approval letter.

Translation: But they’re not…and probably actually couldn’t…so why are you bringing it up?

3) “My client’s initial offer is…”

This comes out a millisecond before the buyer’s agent tells you the actual amount the buyer is offering. And in that millisecond, an agent who knows a thing or two knows way more than they should…

Translation: First of all, your client’s offer is probably coming in way low, you don’t agree with how much your client is initially offering, and they’re willing to offer more.

4) “My buyer will accept the house as-is.”

Sounds like the buyer’s gonna be totally cool, and this will be a smooth transaction! No need to worry about any home inspection issues!

Translation: Your buyer is 100% going to ask for every single thing to be repaired that the inspector finds, including the squeaky hinge on the bedroom closet door.

5) “In my experience…”

This could also come out more specifically as, “In my 13 years as an agent…”, but this is a nicer, gentler way of saying it. It can come out at any given moment in a transaction, from the initial offer, all the way to the closing table, and applied to any number of issues.

Translation: You don’t agree with what I’m saying, and you want to establish dominance and get your way by playing the years-in-business card. (FWIW, the picture on that card probably hasn’t been updated any more recently than your actual business card headshot.)

6) “I look forward to working with you on this transaction.”

This one’s tricky in that there are two distinct times you’re most likely to hear this. It could be as you’re submitting an offer, or right after they find out their buyer’s offer was accepted. Who’d question such a basic, genuine-sounding sentence? An experienced agent, that’s who!

Translation(s): If it’s said as the offer is being submitted, there’s a good chance the agent is puffing up the offer a bit with a little “presumption”, as if they’re so confident in their client’s offer, even though it’s not all that great. If it’s said after all negotiations are done, and the offer is accepted, there’s a good chance it literally means the opposite and that they are in no way looking forward to working with you, but let’s just do this and get it over with.

7) “Are you happy with your current broker?”

You’d probably think they’re asking because they’re wondering if your company is great and if they should consider working there as well.

Translation: I’m about to recruit the ever-living hell out of you!

Enjoy your giggles

Remember when we first got together? People didn’t think we’d last. Maybe they didn’t always say it, but they thought it.

“You could do so much better. Why would you be a real estate agent?”

“What’s your back-up plan?”

“You should get a real job…”

I’m sure they were well-intentioned. But I ignored them.

There were times, though, when even I wondered if you were worth the chase. You do tend to play hard to get. Not even sure you know you’re that way. But maybe you do. Maybe you just wanted to see how much I really cared.

I’ve come to love and appreciate that about you. If you were too easy, our relationship wouldn’t be so rewarding…and my love and respect wouldn’t be so deep.

Who knows, maybe I’d have scrammed when times got tough.

We jumped right into marriage

I’m glad we jumped right into marriage. If we’d just dated—if I’d kept my options open—we probably wouldn’t be where we are today. Commitment was a good thing.

For better or for worse…

We’ve certainly had our share of worse, right Real Estate? You remember 2005-2010, don’t you? Those were some tough years. You were sluggish. Money was tight. Things just didn’t seem right.

But we stuck it out. And we’re better and stronger because of those years. And I’m sure we’ll go through times like that again. We’ll be OK.

To me, you were never a one night stand

Not just anybody can see the depth of your beauty. Takes a special type. It’s weird how some people look at you like the “love ‘em and leave ‘em” type. You’re not… necessarily. But if that’s how someone treats you, you’re cool with it. The truth is, you’ll love anyone.

And you do. You have millions of lovers. Some new, some old. Some will come and go, some will be with you forever.

Used to bug me. Thought we had something special. But I’ve come to terms with it. I know many will be nothing but a quick fling. They won’t truly love you and will be out the door quickly. Nothing wrong with that. Things happen. Sometimes relationships don’t work.

I’m totally fine sharing you with others. I just hope they love and respect you as much as I do.

They say you’re moody

I get a little defensive when people say you’re in one of your moods. Sure, you have your ups and downs. Who doesn’t?

But it’s not you… it’s them. You’re never going to be perfect to everyone at every moment. Someone’s always gonna have something to say about you. But I dig that you ignore what everyone’s saying and how you just keep on being you.

Don’t get me wrong, I know we’ve had a few spats over the years. But now that I get that you’re not the boss of me, any more than I can tell you what to do or when, we almost never disagree.

But sometimes I wish you wouldn’t go around looking so sexy. Every time I hear people saying how hot Real Estate is right now, I can’t help but to question their motives in my own protective little way.

It’s not about the number of transactions

When I was younger, I never really got what people meant when they’d say that love grows deeper over time. But now I realize it does. It evolves.

I’m not sure about you, but for me, early on it was all about having as many transactions a month as possible. Heck, I was always hoping for multiple transactions in a day!

But the honeymoon is over. It’s not about the quantity for me anymore. It’s about the quality of the transactions. And don’t take that as me saying I’m “settling” for quality… I just yearn for quality more than quantity is all.

(But hey, don’t get me wrong… I’ll take as many quality transactions as I can get! Just sayin’…)

It’s not you, it’s…

There’s a lot of reasons people get angry at each other and break up. With you, I think it’s typically over money issues. Or, about not having enough transactions. They kinda go hand in hand.

You do stress people out.

Dragging you to counselling isn’t gonna work, though. It’s on them to make the relationship work. You couldn’t be more flexible, understanding, or accepting.

Maybe it’d be best if they just spent some quiet alone-time with you.

Real Estate, it’s not you when things are aggravating. It’s not you that causes the stress, the worry, the wasted time, and ups and downs. It’s people that cause these things…

It’s other agents. It’s buyers and sellers. It’s appraisers, attorneys, inspectors, and lenders.

It’s the economy.

It’s how they all interact and affect each other.

But deep down it’s not you, Real Estate.

Over the years, I’ve learned to help people understand you better. Calm them and help them see you for what you are. Help them love you as much as I do and deal with you as you are, not as they want you to be. And ideally, I help them all deal with each other with love and respect and an understanding that we all have a relationship with you, and we all need to get along.

To marry you is to marry your family

To marry you is to marry your whole family… and each and every one of their quirky ways.

Speaking of which, if another one of your relatives says, “You still doin’ Real Estate?” one more time… Don’t they know it’s more than that with us!?

But I’ve learned that it’s important to love them all, even if they are difficult to like at times. But I certainly have my favorites to sit next to at the holidays.

But at times, it seems we’re always around other people…

Alone time, just me and you

Whether it’s clients, inspectors, appraisers, attorneys, or other agents–the family of people it takes for us to get anything done–the busy-ness can get in the way of remembering what it is I love about you.

It’s funny though, isn’t it? When we’re alone, I just can’t wait to be around everyone, anyone…to be busy again. And then the noise, the motion and commotion of it all, gets in the way of seeing you for everything you are and could be.

So, sometimes it’s just plain good to sit down and be alone with you, and let you know I am constantly thinking about you and working on “us”. It’s good for you to know, but more importantly it’s good for me to remember.

And as we ride off into the sunset, I recognize your free spirit, and that’s a good thing.

Because ultimately, your love is meant to be shared with the world. We’re nothing without others.

Do you know the three limitations that come with doing your most active looking during periods of the year where real estate is traditionally quiet? Do you know what the off-seasons are? Let’s discuss.

We get it; as soon as the market starts to go crazy, we see record-breaking home prices plus lower than low-interest rates, and some of us start to wonder, “Is the market going to crash? Maybe I should just wait for the market to slow down so I don’t waste my money!”  While it is natural to think (or hope) this way, history proves those theories wrong (at least in Nova Scotia, Canada)

Here are four reasons why you shouldn't wait to buy: 

1. Getting Priced Out: Let’s say you were pre-approved last year for $300,000. The market just started going crazy and houses that were listed at $260,000 were selling for close to $300,000. You may have thought that you would be overpaying if you went that high over the list, so you decided to wait. Now, since your job hasn’t changed and your pre-approval is still $300,000, the market appreciation has essentially priced you out of this market. Fewer homes are being listed in your price range and the house that sold for $300,000 last year might sell for $315,000 this year.

2. The Market Catches Up: If you buy a house for $30,000 over the list price and go to sell it tomorrow, you might not make any money on it. You might even lose money after closing costs, legal fees, etc., but that doesn’t mean you overpaid. If you are buying a house to live in for at least 3-5+ years which is most typical, the market will catch up and you will make money once you go to sell again.

3. Losing Out on Equity: While you are waiting on the market to crash, your home could have already increased its value by thousands of dollars.

4. Pay A Premium for The Right Home: If you find the right house and must spend over asking, consider it paying a premium now that will pay off in dividends later. If there are still improvements you can make to increase the value even further; you are in a great position.

Ready to start or continue your search? Get the newest hottest listings sent directly to your email

Every serious buyer wants to find the next best deal—that new property on the market that no one else knows about. After all, the quicker you know about a listing, the quicker you can view, decide, and potentially put in an offer. 

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When it comes to buying a home, many potential buyers set their sights on a brand-new build. But there are also buyers that prefer to buy a home with a little more history or character—and if you’re thinking about buying an older home, there are a ton of benefits you’ll get from your home purchase!

3 Benefits of buying an older home:

1. Older homes are more affordable than newer homes. If you’re looking for a great home at an affordable price, you’re more likely to find a deal on an older home. According to the article, new construction homes can cost, on average, anywhere between 10% to 20% more than older homes that have been updated.

2. Older homes have more character. In recent years, many new construction projects have taken a “cookie-cutter” approach to building homes—and the result has been a lot of homes that look and feel the same. Older homes often have more unique features and layouts, giving them more character. Making your home feel like one of a kind.

3. Older homes often have larger lot sizes. Most homes used to be built on larger lots—which means if you buy an older home, you’re likely to get more land than if you went with new construction. This gives you more freedom to build your dream backyard or at least make your pet one happy dog!

When it comes to buying a home, there’s no “perfect” scenario; every type of home has pros and cons—but if you’re thinking about buying an older home, there are plenty of pros to consider.

Ready to start your search for your next home? Or even a first-time homeowner? Check out listings now! 

For most of the real estate’s long history, real estate photography was virtually nonexistent. Nowadays, with the Internet, e-mail, the MLS, and social media, you could say that professional real estate photography is the most powerful marketing tool at a Realtor’s disposal. 

The reason for this is obvious, photography is usually the very first thing buyers see when viewing homes online. Homes that use high-quality professional photography tend to sell for more than homes that don’t.

That being said if your realtor uses listing photos that look like garbage you might want to consider finding a way out of the contract with them.

So, what’s the effect of good and bad photography in real estate?

First, does it look like their photos were taken by a professional or on a cellphone? Your realtor should be hiring someone to make sure that the photography looks immaculate.

Next, let’s think about how well the rooms that have been photographed look. Without light, you can’t see anything in the house.

In order to for buyers to visualize themselves living in the home, they’ll need to see it close to how it actually looks. Using a combination of natural and artificial lighting and flash leads to a vibrant and sharp photo.

And photographers should know not to use built-in flashes since proximity to your camera's lens can create unattractive dust that reflects and shows up as white flecks in the photography.

If your Realtor’s choice of photography consistently leaves you scratching your head about their choice of angles or photo framing you’ll want to consider finding someone who can do it right.

Photographers need to be able to identify what’s important in each area and room and know how to make it attractive.

See if your realtor’s photography looks like it’s been tidied up. Realtors should give sellers lots of time to prepare their home while giving ideas for making it look as attractive as possible.

The Pike group uses professional in-house photography to make your home look its best. And we promise you the quality of our photography will help get you results when selling your home.

GET IN TOUCH WITH SANDRA PIKE, SELLING SPECIALIST TO LEARN MORE

Do-it-yourself projects are in vogue these days. From HGTV and Pinterest to Instagram, you can find advice online for everything from investing in crypto-currency to renovating the kitchen.

And while there are many pros like saving money and many projects that are perfect to ‘do-it-yourself’ and don’t really require a professional, selling your home isn’t one of them.

We know that when considering your costs to move, everything comes into play, including commissions for real estate agents. While a good agent will make it look like selling your home can be effortlessly completed, selling it yourself may not be the same.

Learn 6 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Sell Your Home Without a Real Estate Agent

1. The Safety of Your Home and Family is a Priority: We control access to your home. Our lockboxes here in Halifax are all blue tooth accessible; That way we know when the box is opened and who is entering at all times.
2. Buyers Start their Search Online: An experienced listing agent will market your home aggressively online, which is where the buyers are searching. They have access to target demographics and advanced marketing tools to set your home apart from the competition.
3. The Buyer Might Not be Qualified: Given our competitive market, a buyer agent will have their clients preapproved with a mortgage broker and will not waste time with those who are not prepared.
4. Negotiation: For most, selling your home is very personal. As a listing agent, we are unbiased and can complete a sale that is in your best interest without an emotional attachment interfering.
5. You Could Expose Yourself to Liability: Required disclosures and paperwork for a home sale are extensive; unless you plan to use an attorney, you could miss critical disclosures and expose yourself to financial harm.
6. Get a Better Return on Your Investment: Sellers typically net more money when they use an agent versus when they try to do it themselves.

Thinking of selling your home? Work with a professional real estate agent to sell your home faster and get the best return on your investment.  

Meet our team. We’re ready to help enjoy selling your home.

Owning a home isn’t the right decision for everyone. There are plenty of circumstances and reasons for someone to rent a place to live rather than buy. The problem is, sometimes people get stuck in the mentality that they should rent, based upon things they’ve heard, but never really questioned or thought through.

Nobody can (or should) force you to buy a home, but it can’t hurt to at least take a look at the flip side of the coin when it comes to the most common reason you may have for not buying one.

So take a look at the top 6 reasons renters give for not buying a house and consider if it’s something you truly believe, or if buying might just make sense for you when you really think about it:

1) “I don’t want to pay for or do repairs…”

Let’s be clear, most people don’t want to pay for or do repairs! And yes, if you own your own home, you’re definitely responsible for anything that needs to get fixed. But you’re not entirely off the hook as a renter a lot of times either! Depending upon your landlord and the terms in your lease, you may be responsible for the cost of some repairs up to a certain dollar amount or type of repair. You may even be responsible for some maintenance and upkeep.

So if this is your reason, make sure you only agree to sign a lease that puts all of the responsibility and cost of repairs and maintenance on the landlord. That said, getting your landlord to take care of a problem can be tough. Some landlords hate paying for repairs and avoid it as much as possible. At least when you buy your own place you have control over what gets done, when it gets done, and can even choose to do things that make the place better and more enjoyable for you.

2) “It’s cheaper to rent…”

You’d think renting has to be cheaper than buying a home, but it’s not necessarily the case. It can be, but buying a home can also be cheaper than renting. It depends on rents in your area and what you could buy in your area. Don’t just assume that you couldn’t possibly buy a place of your own for less than what it would cost you to rent. Look into whether or not it’s true, especially with rents increasing so much and so quickly in the recent past.

3) “House prices are too high right now…”

Real estate prices almost always feel high and as if they couldn’t possibly go any higher. People in the 1970s could never have dreamed their house would be worth what it is today, and likely felt prices were too high back then. Same with people in the 1980s, the 1990s, early 2000s, etc. Eventually, the value of whatever you buy will be higher than it was when you bought it, even if you bought it at a peak. Sure, you could wait for a dip in the market and try to buy then, but that usually means other economic issues at stake may make it impossible for you to buy, or the cost will be higher in other ways, like interest rates.

4) “House values could go down and I’d lose money…”

If only you could look into a crystal ball and see the future, it’d be a lot easier to feel OK about buying a house. Well, that depends upon when in the future you looked of course! Because if you looked into the future you’d most likely see that it’s true that the home you bought is worth more money unless you happened to look at a brief period of time that values happened to go down. It’s true; they do. But the secret is to just not sell when they’re down if you don’t have to. Just hold on for a while and the values will not only bounce back, but they’ll exceed where they were before they took a dip.

On another note, think about how often do rents go down?! If the housing market takes a dip, do you think your rent will go down in the future?

5) “I need a bigger down payment…”

You do need some money for a down payment and to cover closing costs, but it may not be as much as you think. It certainly doesn’t have to be 20% of the value of the home you want to buy. It could be as low as 3% to 5% depending on the type of loan you apply for. A more significant down payment may be helpful in getting you a better rate or lowering your payments. But that takes time, and home prices or mortgage rates could go up while you’re saving, putting you as far out of reach as you started.

6) “I want the freedom to move…”

If you know you’re going to move in the near future or like to move frequently, then buying probably isn’t the best idea for you. But if you just don’t like the feeling of being tied down, you may want to think about buying rather than renting. After all, renting a place ties you down as well. You still have to sign a lease, and you may not even be allowed to break it or may have to pay a penalty or the remainder of the lease amount if you do move. If you own your own home, you can decide to sell it (or become a landlord and rent it out) whenever you want.

Hopefully, this gives you some food for thought. Whether you decide to rent or own a place of your own, you’re doing it having considered both sides of the coin! 

You can also try our calculator to compare your rent with owning a home for FREE.

If you’re in the market to buy your first home in this market, it’s probably felt like an uphill battle. There aren’t a lot of houses to choose from, and the minute a house gets listed there are a ton of offers to compete against.

Adding to the stress, now you’re probably worrying about the news that interest rates are going up and you’re hoping to scoop up a house before rates go up too high and make buying a house even less affordable.

But then there’s the news about pending home sales dropping over the past couple of months, which may sound hopeful to buyers.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Are buyers putting on the brakes and waiting to see if house prices come down due to rates rising? Should you wait and try to time the market?

All understandable questions buyers may be thinking about but speculating and trying to time the market is a gamble that may not pay off as one would hope.

3 reasons why you might not want to try to time the market:

1. Even if interest rates go up, prices may not come down enough to make buying a house cost less.
2. Inventory won’t likely increase enough to outpace demand. That can only be solved by either more houses being built, or more Baby Boomers listing their houses, which hasn’t happened as anticipated.
3. Trying to time the real estate market is almost impossible for even a seasoned real estate investor, let alone an average homebuyer or first-time homebuyer.

So, timing may not be the best bet, but time itself can be on your side as a first-time buyer in any market, but especially in this one.

Part of the reason why there are so few homes for sale, and pending sales have dropped over the past few months, is due to the fact that many homeowners worry about where they’ll move to if they sell their house. Think about your concerns as a first-time buyer having to find a house to begin with, and then hope you can beat out a bunch of other buyers. That concern is even greater for someone who already owns a house. Even if they truly want to move, it can be scary to pull the trigger and list their house because they have legitimate concerns that they won’t be able to find and buy another house.

This is where you, as a first-time buyer, have an advantage. Most sellers would love to have time on their side to look for a home once they get their house under contract. Sure, they want as much money as they can get for their house, but time to look for a house can be more valuable than a higher offer another buyer makes.

The Takeaway

Rather than put your house hunting on hold and speculating that prices will come down, or that more inventory will magically appear, focus on what you have to offer that other buyers can’t offer to a seller—as much time as they need to find a house to buy.

This doesn’t mean you can get away with a lowball offer against other buyers, but it can give you the upper hand. So, consider writing terms into your offers that give the seller as much time as they need to find a house.

And perhaps your real estate agent can even use your ability to wait as a reason to reach out to their network of past clients and other agents. There’s no guarantee, but he or she might be able to find a seller who hasn’t listed their house because they’re concerned about timing. It could be just the right thing that gets a hesitant homeowner to sell and gets you your new home!

Take a look at some listings on the market.

Spring has officially sprung—which means we’re about to enter the busiest home-buying season of the year.

So, the question is—what, exactly, are homebuyers looking for this spring?

A recent data analysis from realtor.com identified some of the most sought-after home features buyers are searching for in 2022. Which features make the top of buyers’ wish lists you ask?

Some of 2022’s most popular home features include:

• Water features. With spring and summer on the way, people are getting excited to spend more time outdoors—and many of those people want to enjoy the outdoors with their very own water feature. Swimming pools topped the list of most searched terms on realtor.com in the early months of 2022—while hot tubs came in at #10.
• Waterfront views. Not only do people want water features, but they also want water views, as evidenced by some of the year’s most popular search terms, including river view (#2), waterfront (#3), beach (#6), and lake view (#14).
• Plenty of space. The COVID pandemic saw people spending more time at home than ever before. All that time at home created serious demand for more spacious homes—a trend that’s set to continue in 2022, with popular search terms like cathedral ceiling (#5), big lot (7), outbuilding (8), and library (12).

The Takeaway:

If you’re planning on selling your home, understanding what buyers are looking for is crucial. That way, you can frame your home in a way that highlights what buyers want—and (hopefully!) fetch top dollar in the process.

When you sell your home, you want to sell it as quickly (and profitably!) as possible. And, depending on the state of your property, that may mean making a few upgrades before you put it on the market.

But what upgrades can actually help you sell your home more quickly?

*Study from homeownership resource Knock

Upgrades that can help homes sell more quickly than others include:

1. Repainting kitchen cabinets. Adding a fresh coat of paint to kitchen cabinets costs, on average, $1,319—but according to Knock’s analysis, it can help a home sell a whopping 10 days faster than homeowners who choose not to repaint shabby cabinetry.

1. Remodeling the bathroom shower. Remodeling a bathroom shower will cost, on average, $1,043—but it can also help you sell your home 9 days faster, which makes it worth the investment.
2. Refreshing the backsplash. If you’re looking for an upgrade that’s going to deliver serious results for a relatively minor investment, consider refreshing your kitchen backsplash. The improvement costs, on average, $641—but can help you sell your home 9 days faster than homeowners who choose not to upgrade their backsplash.

The Takeaway:

Taking the time to upgrade your home before you list can help you save time on the market, saving you money on mortgage payments, taxes, and utility bills. Also, the longer your house is on the market, the less likely you’ll get your asking price (or above)! So, make sure to make any necessary upgrades before putting your home on the market.

What bugs people about their neighbors the most? Take your pick:

• They give off a “weird vibe” (28%)
• They’re too loud (27%)
• They’re rude (27%)
• Disruptive pets (17%)
• They’re nosy (16%)
• They don’t maintain their home (16%)
• Unruly kids (13%)
• Guests park in front of their home or in their spot (13%)
• They’re smokers and the smell is bothersome (11%)
• Disagree with political views (4%)
• They rent their house out short-term (3%)

So if you have a neighbor that annoys you for any of those reasons, just know that you’re not alone. But simply knowing that doesn’t make it any better, so here are a few tips on how to avoid or deal with neighbors you don’t get along with.

1. Try before you buy

   Before you buy or rent a place, take a walk around the neighborhood during the time people will likely be outside. Get a feel for how they greet you…or don’t greet you. Chat with the neighbors you’ll potentially live directly next to if possible, and see what they’re like. Walk around and just watch and listen to what goes on in the area. If possible, do this on different days and times to get a more thorough feel.

2. Be pleasant and friendly

   Most people aren’t going to intentionally annoy someone who’s pleasant and friendly with them. Whether you like them or not, just being nice can go a long way in getting them to treat you nicely. And if they do something that bothers you, it’ll be easier to have a conversation and resolve the issue.

3. Avoid them

   People complain about how everybody is so busy nowadays, and even when they’re home, they spend all their time inside. So, you can probably live on the same street or in the same neighborhood as someone and not interact all that much. So if you don’t see eye to eye with someone, just do your best to avoid having to even lay eyes on them as much as possible.

4. Have a chat

   If you have a problem with a neighbor and can’t avoid them or the issue, don’t come at them aggressively. Bring up what bothers you in a diplomatic way. See how they react before you presume they’ll be defensive or argumentative. They may have no clue that they do something that bugs you, and they might be willing to do whatever it takes to keep the peace.

5. Put it in writing

   If you have a chat and it doesn’t go over well, or the problem persists, see if what they’re doing violates any local laws or ordinances. If it does, let them know that you’d prefer to avoid reporting the behavior to authorities, but will if it continues. Putting it in writing puts them on notice that you’re serious. But, it is a serious step, so only do this if it’s intolerable, because it’ll be hard to be on friendly terms at all afterwards. The best outcome you can hope for going this route is that they cease the behavior, but you still won’t be on good terms.

6. Call the authorities

   If it persists or escalates, you may just have to call the police or local authorities to step in.

7. Maybe move

   The last resort is to just move. If you don’t feel safe or comfortable, definitely consider moving. But if it’s just not ideal, and you wish you had better neighbors, think twice about moving. As you can see by the results of the survey, the chances are, even if you move somewhere else there’s a good chance you’ll have a neighbor you won’t like.

The Takeaway:

As statistics show, there’s a good chance you won’t like a neighbor wherever you move, which also means there’s a good chance one of your neighbors won’t like you. Even if you live on a one-way street, being a good neighbor is a two-way street. As much as a neighbor might annoy you, you could be doing something to annoy them. So think about how you’d want to be treated if that were the case, and treat your neighbors similarly. Try to handle your grievances with diplomacy, respect, and understanding.

Divorce is never easy for anyone. Emotions are running high. Finances are in question. If you have a home, who gets it?

I’ve had many of my Halifax clients in this exact situation. And with the pandemic stretching well past a year, it was not surprising the rise in marital conflict.

March 2021 found that 15% of Canadians – both married and unmarried –had experience a break-up since the start of the pandemic. (Source)

Be smart about your divorce and avoid these four common mistakes couples make when selling their home in the heat of the moment (or I suppose the fire has completely died out at this point eh?).

SCENARIO #1: Disagreeing with the choice of agent simply because your ex recommended them

Let’s assume that your partner suggested an agent that they know personally. You are opposed as you feel that they will NOT have “your back” and will only work for your ex. As a Halifax agent it is our duty to remain neutral. We are representing you the homeowner, not one or the other.  You may see yourselves as separate entities, but we view you together as the homeowners. We are not there to pick sides or make side deals with you or your partner. Our job is to help facilitate the process by making the transaction as stress free and seamless as possible. And our goal is to sell the home quickly and for top dollar.

SCENARIO #2: I don’t trust that my ex won’t do something I disagree with

What if you don’t trust what your ex is telling the agent? You’re concerned that they are planning to do something without your knowledge? In a nutshell, THEY CAN’T.  When selling the matrimonial home, all documents require a signature from each partner. No side deals. No secret documents. 

To put your mind at ease, documents should include the following:

• Listing Paperwork
• Price changes of any kind; Any change for that matter
• Offers received on the property

You both MUST sign all appropriate forms and documents.  For there to be an agreement or for anything to be legally binding The Halifax, Nova Scotia Trading Real Estate Act requires this.

SCENARIO #3: I do not agree with the listing price

Worried that your partner’s friend will do something about the pricing? Consider hiring an appraiser. In Halifax this will run you upwards of $500, but the peace of mind will be worth every penny. They are a neutral third party who will truly be unbiased.

SCENARIO #4: I don’t want my ex to get all the funds. How can I be sure that this does not happen? 

For any real estate transaction, the money from the sale is directly paid first to your real estate lawyer. The money is held in a trust account and can be divided between both parties once it closes. The only time this would not be the case would be if:

• There is a Court Order instructing the lawyer as to who gets what, or
• A finalized separation agreement exists, which is agreed to, and signed by, both parties and both family lawyers. In this case all parties must have agreed on exactly who gets what funds.

Those documents would be accompanied with a Letter of Direction to the Real Estate Lawyer from your Divorce Lawyer.

Regardless of how persuasive you might be or how persuasive you fear your spouse can be, the Real Estate Lawyer will hold all funds in Trust until the above criteria are met.

Real Estate Agents to the rescue

As an agent who has been divorced, I understand that my job isn’t just to sell the house. Even if one spouse is more stressful to deal with, my job is to communicate fairly, professionally, and equally with both spouses. You are both my clients.

I will facilitate communication between you both and to de-escalate the tension, if necessary. Ultimately, I need to keep you focused on the goal of selling your home and keeping tensions down, so you are both able to make important decisions regarding the sale of the property.

*Source

So, if you’re moving to a more permanent remote work situation, you need to start investing in your home office to avoid burnout and boost your productivity.

Here are 5 tips to help you get the home office of your dreams:

1. Pick The Perfect Spot 

If you're short on space, you’ve probably dedicated the kitchen table as your work area. This may have been alright for a few months, but forever? Maybe placing a table in front of a window in your bedroom might work better? Likely you want a dedicated spot just for work. For those with more space (and maybe kids), you might have to choose between complete silence and isolation or hectic surroundings. Test both spots before you decide on what area to make into an office. 

2. Give Yourself A View 

If possible, opt for a spot with a view.  Even if you are just looking at your front yard, the natural sunlight will benefit you and your space. If the secluded place you’ve picked for yourself doesn’t have a window, freshen up the walls with a bright new colour, add a piece of artwork or bring in a few plants to liven up the space. Consider checking out peel and stick wallpaper. It is not very expensive and super easy to apply to walls. AND, you have the added bonus of being able to create a “feature” wall without damaging the walls themselves. Peel and stick is just as easy to remove as it is to install.  Get tired of the look? Change it up with a different peel and stick wallpaper.

3. Get A Great Chair 

Every great office needs a great chair. One that is comfortable, ergonomically correct, and the right size for your desk. Spend the few extra bucks and shop online for a suitable office chair. Remember, the mind can only absorb what the rear end can endure! Ask your workplace if they’re willing to invest in proper equipment too and you just might be able to expense or have it provided at no cost to you!

4. Light Up Your Space 

Make sure your office has suitable light. Natural light is best but if that isn’t possible, have overhead lighting or a small desk lamp to do the trick. Some people prefer lamp light to overhead light. Take some moments to determine your preferences. Your eyes will thank you later. This is also important for all those Zoom or Teams conference calls you’re sure to be joining.

5. Add Personal Touches 

Whatever inspires you, put it into your office. It could be quotes, pictures or small trinkets. Anything to add a little personality to your space is perfect. A perfect excuse to hop on Pinterest and get some DIY inspiration.

6. Keep Your Background In Mind

Having said the above, do keep in mind that when you are on those video calls, your background is very visible. Some programs allow you to blur the background, but some items are still visible. Use a mirror to get a good handle on what your background looks like. If you have the room, you may want to put up a nice bookshelf where you can curate items that reflect your work image. Check the lighting for those video shots too. What you enjoy while working at your desk may cast shadows on the camera. If there is a window behind you, consider drawing a blind or adding sheers so that your key statements are not lost while your audience watch your neighbours through the window. Windows can also create back lighting which bleach out your features.

Taking time to ensure you have a proper workspace that will foster inspiration, calmness, and productivity. It can be the big things like the space and comfy chair to a fresh plant, scented candle or like me an unlimited supply of pens (who else agrees pens are like socks – ALWAYS going missing in my OWN home!). Don’t be afraid to experiment.

What is in the cards for us in 2022? Depending on who you speak with, some say that the market is slowing down, and we will actually be in more of a balanced market. Others believe that we will continue to grow.

I took the time to interview a group of brokers who are engaging with their office agents each day to get their opinions. Introducing Pam Cherington of Red Door Realty. Marc Doucette of Royal LePage Atlantic. Adam Hennigar of Sutton Professionals. Linda Smardon of Exit Metro.

Are you being posted in 2022?  Where are you being posted? If you are being posted to Ontario, will it be in the cites of Trenton, Kingston or maybe Borden? 

3 amazing cities that are always host to many DND families.  Today we interview local agents to get the scoop on what to expect.

Meet Lorraine O’Quinn from Trenton.  Jane Furter of Kingston and Linda Knight of Borden.

First of all, it’s difficult to quantify how much, if anything, solar panels add to the bottom line when you sell your house. But more importantly, they could limit your pool of buyers considerably for a few reasons:

• Some buyers just aren’t into how they look on a house… You could argue that it’s awful for a buyer to judge them based upon aesthetics, but buyers turn their noses up at houses for even a paint color they don’t like which they could easily change.
• It might cost them… If you leased the system, they could be on the hook for the remaining term of the lease, or have to sign a new lease with the company that installed and owns the system.
• Maintaining them… It’s hard for buyers to fully know how much solar panels will cost to upkeep. Plus, they often wonder if it will have an impact on the roof and potential leaks. Even if it doesn’t, when they do have to replace a roof, they have to consider the added cost of dealing with removal and replacement of the panels.

But the reality is, there’s a good chance you’ll hear a solar salesperson tell you that it will add value to the home. Ask them for the data that backs up the claim, and make sure the data is specific to your area. In all likelihood, anything they can point to will be general and broad strokes. It would be highly unlikely that a solar salesperson would be able to accurately assess exactly how much value it would add to your home.

The Takeaway:

Perhaps someday every home will have solar power, but at this point that isn’t the case.

The demand and appeal for solar panels will vary depending upon where you live, the local market conditions overall, and the mindset of the buyers in your area.

So if you’re concerned about how much solar panels will add or detract from the value or saleability of your home, speak to your local real estate agent (ahem!) before committing to putting them on your house. A local agent can advise you on how well-received solar panels are by buyers in your area, and price range, and help you assess how much it will add to the value of your home, if anything.

I was a classic 80s teen and LOVED almost every genre of music.  Almost every situation had its own song.  From broken hearts to fun times, you knew what song fit the occasion. Music was the perfect way to say how you feel without saying it to someone’s face.  

Imagine the scenario if you will, you just found out your BFF (allegedly) used another agent to sell their home.  You are devasted.  Your heart has been ripped from your chest?  What songs come to mind?

Dig out your old Walkman, slip those foam-covered earphones on, and feel all the feels by reading through the universal thoughts an agent has when someone close to them works with another agent…

1. Culture Club – Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?
   Is that what you wanted? To hurt me?! To make me cry?! Well, whether you meant to or not…you did.
2. Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart
   Just so you know, I’m totally fallin’ apart over here. Sure, I might put on a good face and look like it doesn’t bother me, but my heart is just broken.
3. Biz Markie – Just A Friend
   Oh sure, I get it, your friend just got their real estate license and you feel like you needed to give him some business. I mean, OK, I get it. But I thought we had something together. What about me needing the business? Would it help if I said I just got my license?
4. Mr. Mister – Broken Wings
   Just so you know, this doesn’t have to break our relationship for good. We can mend it. It might take time, but we can get there. (Although if you sent me a referral, it’d speed the process up a bit I think!)
5. Simply Red – If You Don’t Know Me By Now
   I’m sorry, I know I just said we could mend things, but it still hurts. I gotta say that I thought, after all these years, you understood how much it means to me to work with my closest friends and family. I feel like if you don’t know that by now, you might never truly understand…
6. Twisted Sister – We’re Not Gonna Take It
   I’m really struggling with how I feel over here. Now I feel like I need to just scream at you! Well, I’d never do that, so I’ll let Dee Snider do it for me instead!
7. Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
   I always thought I knew your true colors and that you were a true friend to me, but now I’m feeling like you just come and go when it’s convenient for you. Well, as they say “Karma’s a…”
8. The Clash – Should I Stay or Should I Go
   Look, if you just want me off your back, fine, just let me know. I’ll stick around if you want, but I’m not going to chase you either.
9. Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up
   You deserve to be Rickrolled for using another agent! I might sound like I’m talking all tough, but if I’m being honest, I can’t…and I’m never gonna…give you up.
10. Blondie – Call Me
    I know you say you know how busy I am and didn’t want to bother me. But seriously, next time call me! Any time, day or night! I thought you knew that…but I guess not. Or was just that a convenient excuse?!