The third quarter of 2021 shows a dramatically higher percent of sales than single family homes but the demand on inventory continues to rise prices in Halifax, Nova Scotia. These statistics are for Condominiums only so be sure the check out a separate post for Single Family homes. 10/11/2021

The third quarter of 2021 shows the demand on housing inventory continues to rise in Halifax, Nova Scotia thus putting an upward pressure on prices on all homes. With values increasing rapidly in the Halifax Regional Municipality, sales climbed 21.3% outside the limits versus Halifax's 9.5% sales increase.These statistics are for Single Family Homes only so be sure the check out a separate post for Condominiums. 10/11/2021

The pressure on accommodations in Halifax, Nova Scotia still prove to be driving prices on all homes including rental units higher. These statistics are for Single Family Homes only so be sure the check out a separate post for Condominiums. 08/28/2021

The pressure on accommodations in Halifax, Nova Scotia still prove to be driving prices on all homes including rental units higher. These statistics are for Condominium only so be sure the check out a separate post for Single Family homes. 08/28/2021

Your roof is one of the most important parts of your house, as problems with your roof can end up causing damage to a variety of other parts of your home. While most people are familiar with shingle roofs when it comes to home roofing options, there are actually a few different roof types available. One that is gaining a significant amount of popularity in recent years is metal roofing, due in part to its extreme durability and resistance to environmental factors that can damage traditional shingles. Once upon a time, metal roofing was largely made up of flat panels which seemed more at home on businesses or other non-residential structures. The material has come a long way since then, however. Modern metal roofing often mimics the look of shingles or tile roofs, adding a unique beauty ... 07/29/2021

Organization is an important part of keeping your home clean and tidy. Unfortunately, organization doesn’t always come easy to homeowners. It may be that your home just lacks the storage solutions that you need to effectively organize, or your house simply isn’t large enough to effectively contain all your family’s stuff. Maybe there is enough room, but the way your rooms are laid out makes things a bit difficult. Whatever the reason, you might feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle with organization and that it never lasts as long as you’d like.There is no one-size-fits-all solution to getting your house organized, but there are some things that might help. Not all of these suggestions are likely to fit your specific situation, but a few might point you in the right direction to st... 07/22/2021

When you think of a garage area, most likely the first thing that comes to mind is a place to store your car or other vehicles. You might also picture some shelving or storage on some of the walls, but for most people, the garage is largely a single-purpose structure. It doesn’t have to be this way, however; for an increasing number of homeowners, the garage is becoming a multipurpose room with easy access to fresh air, light, and the outside in general via the garage doors.There are a lot of options available when it comes to converting a garage into some other space. To really get the most out of these conversions, you might consider upgrading or changing your garage door as well. The type of door that you have can make a big difference in the overall effectiveness of your converted s... 07/19/2021

So-called “smart” devices are increasingly popular, adding new features and functionality to just about every room in your home. One room that you might not consider for a smart upgrade is the kitchen, but you should. There are several sensors and connected devices that can transform your kitchen into something special. One great option that is often overlooked is the addition of a smart faucet to your sink.While smart faucets are not as well known (yet) as other smart home add-ons such as smart lighting and smart thermostats, they can have a significant impact on how you use your kitchen. Not only can you turn the faucets on and off in different ways, but you can also have your smart faucets automatically save you money on your water bill. If you’re wondering whether a smart faucet mig... 07/16/2021

For some homeowners, trees are a major component of their landscaping. Trees can bring a lot of beauty to your yard while also providing shade and habitats for birds and other animals. Unfortunately, unkempt trees can be kind of ugly and in some cases may even be dangerous. If you’ve got trees on your property that are looking a bit shaggy or that have simply seen better days, here are a few things to consider when trying to decide if they need a trim. Cosmetic IssuesWhen you’re trying to decide whether to trim your trees, the first thing that you should do is look at the general appearance of the tree. You can obviously trim off lone branches that stick out at odd angles, but there’s more to cosmetic considerations than just that. You should also look at whether there are many crisscro... 07/12/2021

Whether it’s with knobs, pulls, handles, or some other hardware, you need to have some way to access your cabinets. If your cabinets are relatively new, that hardware is probably fairly modern. But for older cabinets, you may need to replace the hardware, and it might be kind of tricky to figure how to get it. This can make replacing old cabinet hardware stressful, especially if you’re not sure where to start. While your success will depend on the specific pieces that you’re looking for and how recently they were manufactured, here’s some info that will hopefully point you in the right direction if you find yourself on a hardware hunt.The Need to Match HardwareWhy do you need to match old cabinet hardware, anyway? There are a few reasons. The most common is that handles and knobs someti... 07/05/2021

Tile is a very versatile material, offering strength and beauty while also providing color and decorative flair wherever it’s installed. Useful on both floors and walls, tile can really define the look of a room and can even be paired with other flooring and wall décor types to create complex looks from relatively simple materials. Tile provides something of a timeless look, though that doesn’t mean that it isn’t subject to decorating trends like any other material. If you’re curious as to what’s hot in tile at the moment, here are some of the biggest current trends out there.Neutral ColorsThroughout the years, tile trends have covered just about every color imaginable. Deep browns and light tans used to be hot, and it seems like every few years monochromes and grayscales come back into... 07/02/2021

Skylights can be a great way to add natural light to your home. This can be especially useful for rooms that lack windows or that are otherwise blocked from getting much natural light. Unfortunately, skylights sometimes fall victim to the ravages of time and climate. This may leave you wondering whether you should upgrade or replace those skylights that have been in place for years. In some cases, this can be a pretty big undertaking, so here are a few things to consider before jumping into a skylight upgrade.Reasons to Upgrade a SkylightThere are a number of issues that can arise with skylights that might prompt an upgrade or replacement. The most obvious is some damage occurring to the skylight from severe weather or other natural events. Even without external damage, though, skylight... 06/28/2021

There are a lot of areas around the home that may seem kind of useless or wasted. Partial dividing walls, areas below (or even above) a staircase, or little nooks or alcoves that were created by the house’s unique design are all common examples. You might not think much about these areas, but if you consider them for a moment, you might see how they could be some serious missed opportunities. With a little bit of creativity, though, you can change all of that for the better.That blank wall around a doorway doesn’t have to stay empty, and the space under the stairs isn’t just for boy wizards anymore. There are several ways that you can revamp these empty and otherwise useless spaces and make your home more functional and fun in the process. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.Su... 06/21/2021

Your windows are one of the most important features of your home. They provide you with natural light and visibility while also giving you the option to let fresh air in when your home gets stuffy. As with everything else in your home, your windows will start to accumulate some wear and tear over time. Eventually they might even have to be replaced. How do you know when it’s really time to replace your windows, or when a little maintenance will keep them in operation for a while longer? While this varies a lot depending on the specific windows that are installed, how well they’re maintained, and what the average temperature and other environmental factors are like, here are a few things you can look out for to see if you need new windows. Leaks and Drafts Two big signs that your windows... 06/14/2021

To get this out there, there’s very little chance that you don’t know what a bug zapper is. There’s also at least a chance that you’ve never actually used one in real life and have just seen them used in a cartoon, movie, or TV show. Bug zappers have all but become a part of pop culture, usually indicating that a character lives in a very rural setting and more often than not comes from the poorer side of the tracks. So let’s get rid of that mental image right off the bat, because bug zappers are actually very useful tools that can make your home and yard a bit more comfortable as bugs that bite are out looking for a nibble in the heat of summer. How Bug Zappers WorkWhile the “zap” in the name gives away a large part of how bug zappers work, the system is a bit more complex than just to... 06/10/2021

Many people like homes with high ceilings because of the spaciousness they convey and the vertical space they provide for hangings, artwork, and a variety of other items. There are a few drawbacks to high ceilings, though, and one significant one is how difficult they can make heating and cooling your home. If you aren’t careful, those high ceilings that look so nice can result in a significant increase in your heating and cooling costs when compared to similar homes with lower ceilings. This doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to spend a lot on heating and cooling, however; there are a few things that you can do to make your HVAC system more efficient in your home even if you do have high ceilings. Improve Air Circulation One big thing that you can do is to get the air in your home moving ... 06/07/2021

Paint, paint, glorious paint! It’s one of the least expensive materials you can buy for your house that delivers one of the biggest visual punches. It also fixes a myriad of problems. Got a tired exterior? Paint. The interior of your home feels like it’s closing in on you? Paint. Bought a couch that you love, but clashes with everything else? PAINT.In all seriousness, paint is a great way to brighten, enliven, and give your home a serious face lift – inside and out. But once you’ve picked a color, what comes next? How do you choose the right paint and actually buy the right amount for your project? Choosing Your Perfect Paint Choosing paint can be overwhelming. There are always a variety of grades and characteristics to choose among, leaving a lot of people very confused and frustrated.... 06/03/2021

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