All About Nova Scotia Real Estate

Bedford, Nova Scotia real estate market report for February 2021. The following graphs are for single family homes, year to date median statistics comparing all of Nova Scotia, The Halifax Regional Municipality and Bedford. As you can see over the past couple of years, the market has turned into an inferno and is not just hot!Prices increased 37.4%, Days on market decreased 86.3% to only 7 days (that long because offers are being held) and months of inventory is down 87.5% to just .3 months. Meaning, if we didn't get any new single family homes on the market, it would take only 10 days for active listings to be sold out. The secret of beautiful Nova Scotia lifestyle has gotten out! 03/02/2021

The real estate market in Halifax, Nova Scotia has never been like this. We've seen it in places like Toronto and Vancouver but never in Halifax. It's always been a steady and slow upward trend in values. It has been a buyer's market for at least a decade then January 2019 it turned into a balanced market then boom! by July it was a sellers.Now, February 2021, the inventory has never been lower and demand so high. Take a look at the snippet of what sold in just the Dartmouth area. Every listing sold for much higher than list price and there's no sign of it slowing down.Feel free to reach out and ask about your particular area of the Halifax Region; or your own property; I'm here to help.   02/24/2021

There’s a lot to learn when you’re starting out on your home buying journey. From concepts like earnest money (deposit) to closing costs, it’s a lot to take in during a very short period. But of all the things to know, understanding the difference between being pre-qualified and pre-approved for your mortgage is one of the most important.Why Your Mortgage Application Status MattersIt’s always been a good idea to bring a strong offer to the negotiating table when it comes to real estate, but it’s even more vital when the market is short on inventory and long on buyers. If you’re in a multiple offer situation (and sometimes, even if you’re not), the sellers are going to weigh the various offers they receive to decide if they think your offer is enough to bring in what they need to sell th... 02/17/2021

Real Estate Stories  They contacted me from Toronto doing a survey on business brokers. I sent them the information they requested and we were ranked in the top 25 business brokers in Canada. I remember 45 years ago when Bill Lawrence called me to sell his garage in Rawdon. We were discussing the terms of the deal on the phone when Bill said “Don’t say another word” Surprised I asked why? Bill said “so and so listens in on this line all the time!” Before I could respond we heard “ I Do Not !” Followed by a loud click as the receiver was slammed down  Bill just said “Told you!”My next business deal Reg Hingley called me asking are you the guy putting up all those real estate signs I see ? When I replied I was he said “Well I have a dance hall in Birch Hill I want you to sell Long story s... 01/12/2021

Nova Scotia Real Estate 2020 12/02/2020

 100 Deals in 2020                     At the start of every year I set my goals and normally I don't reach them because I set them pretty high. That's just something a complusive idiotic workaholic tends to do. I haven't posted on Active Rain for a while as I've been so busy but I'm back on track and hopefully will be posting more. 2020 has been a roller coaster year to say the least. We operate several different businesses and the corona virus has basically shut some down but our real estate business has prospered. Go figure ?? In the real estate brokerage business the agents are paid for two functions selling and listing. In the industry we call them "ends" When we sell our own listing we call it a "double ender" because we get paid for both functions.          At Hants Realty Limite... 11/17/2020

Happy Easter. Stay Safe and Stay Home. We pray for all those families who have lost loved ones remember God’s promise that those loved ones although not physically present are still only a prayer away🙏 Remember also Easter is the celebration of Christ’s resurrection the ultimate proof of God’s power over life and death and the fulfillment of Christ’s Divine purpose here on Earth. Christ said you get to Heaven by being born again. He also said the Kingdom of Heaven is within you. Perhaps God decided to push the pause button to give us all time to think about life. About our loved ones.About living and dying. About caring and helping each other. About faith and belief in God. About what our lives are all About. I am so blessed by having the gift of Christ in my life 😇🙏 That gift is availa... 04/12/2020

I've been photographing homes in Nova Scotia for the real estate market since 2007!  I'm taking a bit of a flyer now with my blog.Nova Scotia has become the place to move to as of late.The Mandarin are now quite established in Halifax and surrounding communitiesThey even have their own China Town in the South End.People from Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver are becoming commonneighbours it seems everywhere! They are fed up with the price of housing in their towns!Halifax it seems has finally become THE real estate destination.I have been busy photographing Homes and property in Nova Scotiaand have been doing more private sales than normal! I have dedicated a page on my blog for them. I have chosen a few that I would consider a buy based on my past 18yrs in real estate.Here is a link to my... 04/08/2020

Affordable Home Ownership                                                We hear a lot today about housing affordability. It's not as much of a problem in our area as it is in other parts of the country like Toronto and Vancouver where housing costs can exceed $1,000,000. Over the past 10 years with the tight credit and the short supply of qualified buyers home sellers have seen little appreciation in value as in many cases homes were selling for less than replacement cost. Supply exceededdemand as baby boomers were down sizing and potential buyers became trapped in ever increasing rent costs and servicing student loans. We moved through a 10 year adjustment until this year when the market appears to have turned a corner. We saw a movement from a buyers market to more of a sellers marke... 11/29/2019

Believe You Can Succeed and You WillHow many of us have heard that ageless cliche ? It has been the main message behind most success gurus for the last almost 100 years starting with Napoleon Hill’s Andrew Carnegie inspired book “Think and Grow Rich.”It has actually been put forward as the main message through out history. The prophet David said “ As one thinketh in his heart, so is he. “ Emerson said “Great men are those who see that thoughts rule the world.” Milton in Paradise Lost wrote “The mind is it’s own place and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell or a Hell of Heaven .” Shakespeare said “ There is nothing good or bad except that thinking makes it so.”After watching our recent election coverage on TV I felt we all might need to be reminded “There’s always hope.” Your life is you... 11/29/2019

2796 Caribou Road, Upper Musquodoboit$139,900 MLSCome see this beautiful 3 bedroom bungalow which has an amazing view and a garage. Plenty of upgrades including a metal roof, 2 heat pumps and air exchanger and hardwood floors just to mention a few. The garage is wired and can easily be converted to a "man cave" There is plenty of room to have a garden for flowers or vegetables...do you like to kayak...well the Musquodoboit River is only minutes away...The community is great very welcoming to all. Not that far from Truro, the gold mines , the airport or even Halifax.You need to see this to appreciate it....especially the amazing view.Call Patti Adams to view 902-999-3067 or padams@ns.sympatico.ca 63 Maple Drive, Middle Musquodoboit$149,900 MLSThis beautiful well maintained home is locate... 11/11/2019

114 Kitchener Street, Stewiacke$159,900 ExclusiveThis cozy, well kept 1.5 sty comes with 3 PIDs totaling over 25,000 sqft of serviced land. Walking distance from the elementary school and most amenities. Affordable small town living just 30 minutes from the Halifax Airport. Well maintained and affordable. Propane generator so no worries if the powers out. Call to book your viewing today!Call Larry Matthews to view 902-483-0754 or larry@easthants.com 203 Coldstream Road, Gays River $329,900 MLSThis exceptional ICF constructed bungalow has just been listed! Features open concept design, 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths and finished basement. Wood stove and pellet stove to keep you cozy in the winter. Detached 24x24 garage with certified wood stove, 100 amp service and wired for welding. New steel... 11/11/2019

9132 Highway 215 Maitland1885 St. Mary's Road, College Lake 8361 Highway 215 Selma15 Highland Drive, Stewiacke 93 Country Lane, Enfield1510 Stewiacke Road, West St. Andrews 711 Horne Settlement Road, Enfield115 North Salem Road, Shubenacadie 111 Wilson Road, Cooks Brook84 Smith Road, Selma 5845 Highway 236 Upper KennetcookBuying or Selling real estate give us a call let our 40+ yearsExperience work for You !Note not meant to solicit individuals under contract with another company.Call Toll Free 1-866-584-1444email realestate@easthants.comhttp://www.hantsrealty.com/  05/07/2019

              The world is a busy place and absorbing all the information is hard let alone determining what is true and false. I can't help but think about how much the world has changed and is continuing to change at such a rapid rate. Today it seems to be all about changing the world. With my generation it was more about surviving the world along with life and all of it's challenges. We didn't have a lot of time to change anything. For most of us it was about overcoming poverty and helping our family. In most cases in rural Nova Scotia on the farms and the fishing villages the focus was on getting the work done. We elected people with character and integrity(Or so we hoped or thought) and trusted them with the administration of our tax dollars which was no where near the percentage o... 05/07/2019

It's a seller's market here in the Halifax Region but that doesn't mean you shouldn't prepare. Two very important reasons why: 1) to meet buyers' high expectations 2) maximize earnings on the sale.The homeowner of this updated, move-in ready home has done everything to welcome new homeowners. The unique layout will allow loved ones to stay sleeping while entertaining and allow you to hear yourself think in the kitchen while others are enjoying the basement. Check out details at www.277KingswoodDr.ca and you'll see all the work that was done.You’ll find all you need in the region’ most desirable neighbourhood, Kingswood, where commuting from country living in the city to downtown Halifax is only 20 minutes and 5 minutes to all amenities! Enjoy one level living and be impressed by all the... 04/06/2019

  Are their advantages to listing your home in the winter?  Absolutely there is is!  Most sellers I meet with in the winter months believe they should wait until spring and I am quick to point out the the advantages of listing in the winter. Inventory is Lower - Because a lot of home sellers are believing this the inventory on the market is lower in the winter.  In the winter months in a averge suburban neighbourhood your two story home may be the only one on the market.  Jump ahead to the spring and you may find yourself competing with several other two story homes.  If the motivation of one of those seller's is urgent to get their home sold it may set the mark for the value of all the other two story homes close by.  If you want to be the big fish in the small pond listing in the wint... 02/12/2019

If you’re a current homeowner, or in the market to buy, you’re probably curious about the latest trends in home design.Sellers who make strategic updates before listing a property can generate increased interest from buyers and, in some cases, a premium selling price. And buyers should consider which features of a home will need updating immediately (or in the near future) so they can factor renovation costs into their overall budget.Even if you have no immediate plans to buy or sell, we advise our clients to be thoughtful about the colors, materials, and finishes they select when planning a remodel. Making over-personalized or unpopular design choices could hurt a home’s value when it does come time to sell. And selecting out-of-style or overly-trendy elements could cause your renovati... 02/05/2019

 Support Local BusinessI drew the sign above sitting at my kitchen table over 40 years ago. I said I'm going to start a real estate company ! Everyone said I was crazy ! I was a carpenter and worked in the woods cutting pulp. Two years before I had bought a 2 room house that had a path instead of a bath and we had a new baby. I bought the house for $2500 and my brother in law  Cy Harvey cosigned at the bank for the loan. I quite literaly didn't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out ! One Saturday while I was building a deck my wife read an add in the paper looking for real estate agents. She said "You've got a big mouth you might be good at that." She was working in Halifax traveling 60 miles night and morning for $80 per week. I applied for the job. I was hired and studied ... 01/19/2019

Six Key Questions to Ask a Home Renovator  As location is most often the most important factor when deciding on a home more people are choosing to renovate their existing home then move the family to a new area. Once you’ve made the decision to renovate it’s important to find a home renovation company that meets 6 key criteria  (1) experience: not just how long they have been in business but the experience they have themselves in the actual work. There are many home renovation company owners that have never actually held a hammer in their hand. They don’t have the sharp eye of an experienced carpenter. One wall or counter out of plumb can throw off the finishes of everything else in the room  (2) sharing and contributing to your vision: do they just listen to what you’re asking for and ... 01/13/2019

The economic outlook for Nova Scotia, in particular, Halifax is bright. Viewed by Chief Economist for Laurentian Bank, Sebastien Lavoie, as one of the most optomistic economies in Canada right now.Factors such as business confidence, lower unemployment, population increase and stronger real estate sales all point to an strengthened economy for Halifax. Which in turn, makes for a safer environment for investing in real estate.Currently, the rental vacancy rate is at an all time low of 1.5%¹ and the Nova Scotia population increase of 1% in 2018 is the best since mid-80s². The span between real estate sales and population inclined dramatically, demonstrating a strong demand for rental properties. An ideal environment for real estate investing and there's no better time than right now to bu... 12/12/2018