Rob Brown Nova Scotia

2011-09-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

The Fall in Nova Scotia is soon upon us. How to prepare your home and property for the fall and winter is hardly on anyone's minds as we get in our few last rounds of golf or whatever else is of interest. For me it's all about the lawn. Being a golfer I check with friends who are in the golf industry and who are also greenskeepers. One friend, Ryan Sherry, Head Greenskeeper at Brightwood Golf Course here in Dartmouth suggests a few things for prepping the lawn. First, seed your lawn in the fall. Overseeding a lawn with similar grass will help the grass remain healthy but overseeding also helps choke out weeds. Who knew? I do now and so do you. Second, fertilize with a winter fertilizer product you can pick up at most home care or garden centers. Never apply this at the same time as your lawn seeding so make sure you schedule this about 7-10 days apart from a seeding. Apply in the morning when there's dew on the grass so that the fertilizer sticks to the grass and weeds and doesn't simply fall to the ground. Also, bear in mind that you want to make sure that there's no rain in the forecast for a few days. WIth seeding you kinda do but not with fertilizing! Thirdly, the house. Check the window frames on the outside and scrape and paint where necessary. Check seals on doors to make sure no sunlight creeps through.....seeing light will likely be a heat loss point. Get your furnace serviced. It's coming into it's starring season where it works the most. It's like training camp for your furnace so make sure it's fine tuned! Get your chimney sweeped, the fireplace bricks replaced, and treat your fireplace/woodstove with respect! Make sure your wood is not stored in the house as it's still drying out and you don't want that extra moisture going into the house. Your air exchanger needs to be cleaned as well. Unplug it, take the filters out and replace/clean as necessary. Fourth, make sure you have emergency supplies on hand from matches, candles, gas for the generator if you have one, tinned food, and batteries for any radios. Finally, break out the flannels. Winter nights are cold and so are yours or your partners feet! Stay tuned!

Spring time

2011-04-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

Wishing you all a wonderful and happy Easter. My family here has enjoyed a restful and relaxing weekend filled with friends and spending time with our friends at our church. It’s been wonderful.

It’s also been a brisk spring filled with change and one of those changes has been me leaving Exit Realty Metro and moving back to RE/MAX nova. I had a great year and a half at EXiT Realty Metro and will always speak highly of that organization and the people there. In my short period of time there I was able to grow my business tremendously. But opportunities brought me back to RE/MAX nova so I leave with no regrets and welcome opportunity at my new home.

Spring time means getting your home ready for enjoyment or even the possibility of a sale. Paint, scrape, plant, update, upgrade, re-pot…..do all that’s necessary as your home represents a huge part of your personal financial portfolio so protect it each and every year!

Happy Easter and I hope to see you all sometime this coming summer. Let’s hope its one filled with sunny days and some rainy nights to keep our grass and plants green!

A Real Estate Expert in Nova Scotia

2011-04-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

Funny, I just received a call from an old friend on Chandler in Lower Sackville and he was asking for the worst Realtor in Nova Scotia. I immediately replied that he got him!! He was a friend sending me a referral......

All jokes aside, being in this business now for 6 years I'm finding that people are calling me with leads from their neighbors, family and colleagues about selling Real Estate in Nova Scotia. It's interesting that people are so keen on helping out a friend and love to refer.

The nature of our business is working through referrals. It's as simple as someone wanting a sandwich, we all say, "Go to Tims" or "Try Pete's Frootique" or something as we all want to be helpful. It's the same as we move up the ladder to bigger ticket items. Who hasn't referred someone to see a movie, to eat a dinner, to try a shopping mall, to buy a car, and to buy a house. You've had a pleasant experience and want to share your personal experience with someone else.

And now people are referring to me. Naturally not all real estate in Nova Scotia comes through me but I am proud of my own referral network of friends, present and past clients, present and past colleagues, family, friends of friends and the list continues.

I'm proud of what I do and that I think I do my job very well. Repeat clients and referrals reassure me that I must be doing a decent job.

So, the moral to my story is, "Refer anyone to someone you've had a pleasant experience with".

Is it only Real Estate?

No, but a great cup of coffee can be found at Mariposa Natural Market Cafe in Tantallon!

Get it?

2010-12-17T07:52:00.000-08:00

So,

How have sales been in Halifax for the past year versus the past few years? Not too bad considering we're in post recession recovery times. People are still investing in properties and why not? The average house price that sold for $203,178 in 2006 is now selling for $253,919. That's a 25% return on your money in that same period of time.

Comparing that to investments in stocks or the market with RRSPs and the like, the evidence is clear that a Real Estate investment is a very wise choice.

Below are the Year To Date MLS sales statistics just recently released.

Year
2006 Average Price was $203,178

2007 Average Price was $216,339

2008 Average Price was $232,106

2009 Average Price was $239,158

Year to Date Average Price is $253,919

Flat Fee Real Estate with the new CREA Rules

2010-12-08T08:16:00.000-08:00

What is a Flat Fee/Mere Posting?

Tuesday, 07 December 2010 17:50 Written by Dan Scarrow, Macdonald Realty Group,

With the recent CREA agreement with the competition bureau, there have been a number of questions about what Flat Fee models are and how they work.

Flat fee, or For Sale by Owner (FSBO), companies typically provide a kit to a seller that may include a sign and the ability to place a property on the MLS system, now known as a “MERE POSTING”, for an up-front and non-refundable fee.

These companies allow a seller to “contract out” of other services provided by full-service agents. Of course, along with allowing sellers to contract out of these services, they also allow agents to contract out of their fiduciary responsibilities of disclosure, confidentiality, and agency. In addition, agents who merely post may not be able or willing to: qualify buyers, provide advice on the market, contracts, legal issues, questions about the house, or even how to deal with an offer. In these cases, sellers would be responsible for showing their own property, being knowledgeable about the market, understanding their legal responsibilities, and hiring a lawyer to draw up contracts, which can run thousands of dollars and are paid regardless of whether a transaction is completed. In addition, a seller, under this model, may not be covered by errors and omissions insurance, meaning that they would be fully liable for a litany of offences, many of which could potentially run hundreds of thousands of dollars.

This Flat Fee model and others such as discounted brokers, contrary to popular belief and media’s reports, have always been allowed to exist in the BC real estate industry. However, the rest of the country has historically placed barriers or restrictions on alternative business models trying to use the MLS (multiple listing service) system as a selling tool. With the recent CREA agreement, the rest of Canada has adopted BC’s progressive stance, which may have the effect of lowering the rest of Canada’s commission rates (typically 5-6 % of the total selling price) to where they are now in BC. This is a good thing, and, as we can see from the BC example, will improve the industry’s competitiveness. That said, despite having alternative models available to consumers for decades in BC, they still only represent less than 10% of the market, in part because sellers typically understand the important role a competent agent plays in effecting the successful sale of the most important asset in most people’s lives.

This piece was kindly contributed by Dan Scarrow, Macdonald Realty Group.

You can follow his blog here: http://blog.macrealty.com/MacdonaldRealtyBlog/ or visit the Macdonald Realty website here: http://www.macrealty.com/

Halifax for the Fall Market

2010-10-18T04:57:00.001-07:00

I know, a little late but it seems as though the fall market has snuck up on us here in the HRM. Considering the long summer and the mild fall, until the last week it's been difficult getting our heads wrapped around the fact that it is the fall.

So, what gives? Fall? Is it a seller's market or a buyer's market? There are equally good arguments on both sides. Let's consider a few valid points.

For sellers, there aren't too many competitors out there vying for the buyers. The summer inventory is either sold or taken off the market as some people believe that the fall and winter markets are slower. Most people want to be in their new homes by the time school starts for their children so anything left on the market after September 1 won't sell until the spring.

There's certainly some truth to that. But consider that there still are buyers out there! In 2009 from January 1 - August 31 there were 2670 single family homes sold in HRM with the average list price being $274k and the average selling price being $266k. From September 1 - December 31 there were 1026 homes sold and the average listing price was $270k and the average selling price being $262k.

From January to August there was an average of 333 homes sold per month. From September to December there were 256 sold per month.

So, the moral of the story is that there is still a very healthy fall market. Considering the statistics I've compiled from MLS data, there are only 23% fewer homes sold per month in the fall. The inventory is lower but there are still buyers!

So, it's becoming a sellers market in the fall as inventory is lower and there are still buyers!

And think about listing in the fall. How good does your home look with the leaves turning, the fall crispness in the air, the halloween decorations up now? What about Christmas? Take it off the market? Not a chance! Your home looks the best it will ever look at Christmas! Your lights, your decorations, the snow accenting those lights! Wow....who wouldn't want to buy!

Halifax Housing Market

2010-03-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

Halifax housing market has perked up in the last few weeks. The Bamnk of Canada has changed their lending rules to take effect April 19, 2010 so people are out buying up homes and income properties. Why Income properties? their rules are changing from a 5% down to a 10% downpayment.

Other than that, the unusually mild winter has brought out the gardeners, the handyman do it yourselfers, the window washers, bikers, runners, wedding planners, roller bladers, and even the flowers are coming up!!

A few of our local golf courses have even opened up last weekend.

If you're thinking about buying, lock in the still historic rates with today's rules so that by April 19th you're not having to re-apply because of all the rule changes for mortgage qualification!

Another Recipe?

2010-01-18T06:34:00.001-08:00

Is that all I do? The new year has come and gone and here we are bracing ourselves for another Nova Scotia winter. Years ago when I was in the pharmaceutical business with Roche Oncology we used to get together before meetings in small groups, cook good meals, drink great wines, and share brilliant stories. It morphed into larger groups to the point where the whole sales group would come in 2-3 days before a meeting.

Often we'd rent out places where there were kitchens so we could all participate and cook. Those are the memories I cherished the most out of that because we all developed such strong relationships. All these corporate team building exercises designed to help us grow together never ever surpassed our small groups of fun.

So as you can guess, our early arrival group then became an official part of any meeting within Roche Oncology and we then all started arriving early in order to form into teams and have cook-offs. One year we were in Banff for a meeting and naturally formed into teams of 5-6 (we were now a group of 40 people, a huge growth from 4 reps, Bob, Marty, and 1-2 others when we started this) and had about 6 teams. We had a budget to prepare our part of the meal. The company hired actual chefs to judge the meals prepared with the wines we bought that we thought complemented our part of the meal....it became a contest with prizes!

My team, can't remember who, can't remember what we even cooked, were the favorites since it was Marty and me who pretty much started this whole thing years before! Well, we were quite pleasantly surprised and impressed with another team lead by an incredible guy by the name of Dom Di Curzio. Dom joined Roche Oncology early in 2001-2002 and lead a team for that contest. He was going to cook chili. Whatever we all thought....chili....how good can you make a chili? Dom's chili kicked some serious ass! Wow....his team won the event and to this day I cook Dom's chili in honor of him...one of my favorite people from the drug business. Here's Dom's recipe as I wrote it down that night....there might have been some wine involved but Dom concurs that this is accurate:

Dom's Chili

1 Can Red Large Kidney Beans
2 Cans pureed tomatoes
1 can chili paste
2 cups fresh mushrooms, chopped and satueed with garlic to brown
1-2 cups white onion also sauteed
1 glass of wine, preferably a bold red to drink while browning above
3-4 cloves of garlic chopped and sauteed with above, no not the wine but the veg
2-3 bay leaves
Chili paste to taste
Cumin to taste
Salt and Pepper to taste (S&P)
2-4 striploins or equally good steak beef, flash bbq'd about 1 minute on high flame on the que just long enough to get those searing lines in the beef, then cut into cubes after cooled down.

Transfer the sauteed onions, mushrooms and garlic to a larger cooking pot. Throw in the tomatoes and allow to cook together. Add more garlic if necessary, the bay leaves, the S&P, cumin, chili powder and let cook on low-medium heat for 30+ minutes.
Enjoy another glass of the red and perhaps a snack or two.
Add meat, the beans and let stew for another hour or more covered over low heat.
May as well finish the bottle, heck you're already half done, have a nap and when you wake up, the house will smell of Chili that will impress most!

Enjoy with your 2nd bottle and some bread and remember that this recipe comes from a good friend and colleague, Dom Di Curzio.

New Recipe

2009-12-29T08:41:00.001-08:00

Hey gang, here's a great new recipe I've had for years with Chicken.....

Hot Marinated Chicken Breasts
on seasonal greens with fruits and cranberries

6 – 5oz chicken breasts boneless and skinless
1 garlic clove finely chopped
6 tsp fresh ginger peeled, shinned, and chopped
4 tsp soya sauce
4 tsp sherry
3 tsp brown sugar
S&P to taste
2 tsp light oil
3 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Lay chicken on a flat dish. In a bowl mix the garlic, ginger, soya sauce, sherry, brown sugar and salt and pepper. Brush chicken with mixture and refrigerate for 1-2 hours…

Heat skillet, add oil and fry chicken breast on both sides to a light brown. Place in oven for 15-20 minutes at 325f. While chicken is baking, prepare plates with your favorite fresh greens and fruits (red and green lettuces, cantelope, kiwi, pineapple, . Top with cranberry dressing. Take chicken out, let rest for 5-8 minutes. Slice breast and place on salad just before serving. Sprinkle with sesame seeds……enjoy!

2009-12-16T05:50:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is nearly Christmas and I've not done too much shopping. There are still people buying and selling properties so I must keep my nose to the grindstone to make sure not to miss out on any business.
Anyone buying a property in the next 2 weeks are serious buyers! Also, how good does a home look over Christmas? The best it will look all year!
Not much else to report......shopping tomorrow with my girlfriend....

New Product

2009-12-05T10:37:00.000-08:00

Just signed up to become the Atlantic Canadian agent for FastFlicks.....have a look at the product:
http://www.robsnovascotia.ca/Atlantic-Canada-Agent-for-FASTFLIKS.php
Opportunity awaits you!

2009-11-27T09:31:00.000-08:00

I just updated my website today to include information about buying or selling a business. Also, I've included a new tab about either joining Exit from another Real Estate company or starting your Real Estate career with Exit.

Yoga this morning, hockey tonight....where do I have the time to sell or help someone buy a business? You make time for yourself.

2009-11-21T12:33:00.000-08:00

Just came back from Kings Wharf in downtown Dartmouth. What a project! Go have a look yourself or view it at www.kingswharf.ca.

Downtown Dartmouth

2009-11-21T12:25:00.000-08:00

Wow, just came back from viewing Kings Wharf in downtown Dartmouth. Incredible project by the Fares group. Have a look yourself at www.kingswharf.ca and have a look.

My first blog

2009-11-16T06:22:00.000-08:00

Well, this is my first blog I've ever written. How do you do this? What do you do? What do you not do? Help!

To start, I am a Realtor in Nova Scotia, Canada. I am also a golfer, a runner, a friend, and a proud Newfoundlander.

Whatever your needs are real estate wise I'm your guy. Everyone needs a guy. Let me be your guy to help with buying or selling your real estate, your business, your whatever!

Stay posted.