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The real estate industry is the healthiest it’s been in over 20 years— with less drama due to a more stable economy. So what’s in store as we look ahead in the year to come? We might see Millennials delaying their home purchase as a result of feeling financial pressure from student loan debt; coupled with relatively low wages, this makes it difficult to put a downpayment on a home. In higher-priced areas, many feel squeezed out of the market, unable to purchase even a so-called starter home. The 2016 market changes caught us by surprise and then the 2017 market started to balance out. There are still affordable options in Nanaimo with our average home price around $550,000, and we will see a more stabilized market in 2018.

Deciding on what kind of home is the right fit for you while you ease (or jump!) into retirement is one of the most important steps when choosing what to/where to buy next. Location, transportation, and details such as stairs, no stairs; do we want the grand-kids sleeping in the room next to us or on the other side of the house (or tenting it in the backyard…)? When it comes time to re-locate, down-size or simply to just retire happy, here are a few key factors to consider when looking for a great place to create new memories in.

Indoor Plants are back! You heard that right; indoor greenery and houseplants are back, and not only because lush foliage is considered on trend in the fashion and interior design world.

We hear a lot about housing affordability in and around the Vancouver market, and questions about the spillover into smaller communities such as Nanaimo can become a concern about our affordability. Nanaimo remains close to the National average price of $487,000, and remains an attractive alternative to those that have remote work capabilities, and with the increase in building our construction-related jobs have increased, as well as those entering their retirement years. Yet, our housing price is fundamentally linked to the relationship between housing inventory and market demand.

Before you ‘Deck the Halls’, you should consider what holiday decor will help sell your home! It’s that time of year again and our social calendars can get busy with parties and events. Though it is not typically a busy time for real-estate, you can take comfort in the fact that those few brave house-hunters that do venture out over the holidays are serious about buying a house. So how do you put your home on the top of their Christmas list? Here is some great advice to put buyers in the right buying spirit…

Though Vancouver Island home sales dipped slightly in August, the demand from buyers is still making for a positive market.

The new school year is upon us, and getting organized can feel like an overwhelming task. We put together a list of helpful ways to start getting organized, and hopefully stay that way!

The market remains strong with only a modest inventory increase, and a slight raise in interest rates. In June, 621 single-family properties sold on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) system compared to 712 last June, a decrease of 13 per cent…

Savoring produce at the peak of freshness, meeting the people who raise and grow your food, and admiring the wares of talented artisans and craftspeople; there are countless reasons for supporting our Island’s Farmer’s Markets. Listen to live music while you shop for locally made coffee, baking, jams & jellies, honey, jewellery, pottery, textiles, plants, flowers, wine, meat, and exceptional produce! At the Farmer’s Market, you’ll find an amazing array of fruits and vegetables that you don’t see in your average supermarket: red carrots, rainbows of heirloom tomatoes, purple cauliflower, green garlic, watermelon radishes, and more. Food as real as it gets—fresh from the farm, and an added bonus, these farmers, ranchers, butchers, fisherman and artisans are also passionate cooks; who better to give plenty of free advice about how to cook the foods they are selling.

Summer is here, things are heating up, and you may be thinking of heating up the barbecue too. After all, what’s more fun than gathering friends and family for a Backyard gathering? When it comes to throwing an effortless BBQ, a little bit of planning can take a perfectly nice meal outside to the next level and make it a truly memorable event.

The kids have moved out and retirement may be on the horizon, so the idea of simplifying your life and minimizing your living space is only natural. Things like lower maintenance costs, less space to keep clean and financial freedom may have their advantages, but be sure to thoroughly examine what downsizing might look like before deciding if it’s the right decision for you.