Russel Lake Neighbourhood Easily accessed by a dedicated exit off the Circumferential Highway, Russell Lake West is a convenient location for commuting to Dartmouth, Halifax and beyond. Burnside, Dartmouth Crossing, Mic Mac Mall and the newly renovated Dartmouth General Hospital are all less than 15 minutes away, and the airport is just a 20-minute drive. You’ve likely heard about the revival of downtown Dartmouth with its cafes, craft breweries and boutique stores, and from Russell Lake West, you can experience this hip neighbourhood as well. The Woodside Ferry Terminal is just minutes away ..read more

So it’s been a couple of months since I bought and started renovating my first rental property. When I wrote the first installment detailing this journey, I was pretty nervous. Excited, yes, but definitely nervous about how construction would go, whether I was prepared to make the right decisions, and what unexpected things would pop up. So 15 weeks into one of the biggest projects I’ve taken on on my own, I am happy to report that at this point (knock on wood), things have gone surprisingly smoothly. To work around the weather, we’ve been concentrating on indoor work on my daughter, Jocelyn’s ..read more

I recently lost a childhood friend to leukemia and by sharing her journey on social media, she gave me a glimpse into her battle. I'll be the first one to admit - I am blessed. I have my health, my family and my career. Not everyone is so fortunate. I believe it is my responsibility, and that of anyone else in a similar situation, to find ways to give back. In that spirit, I'm excited to be participating in a cross-Canada philanthropic competition in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This amazing charitable organization funds blood cancer research and patient support services that ..read more

My personal experience investing in real estate and rental properties Be prepared when looking for rental properties for sale So, I did a thing. Something I’ve been wanting to do for about five years but didn’t because of nerves and personal circumstances. But this fall, I finally bit the bullet and did it: I bought an income property. This is going to be a big project. Buying rental property is on a lot of peoples’ minds: so many of my own clients are looking to purchase rental property in Nova Scotia. I’ve decided to share this journey with you in hopes that you can get some insight before y ..read more

I want to talk today about exclusive listings. This is a concept that isn’t that common in real estate so you may have questions about what it means and when to go exclusive. Most often, sellers want to get the most views on their property listings so their agents publish them on a multiple listing service (MLS) like Realtor.ca, the website of the Canadian Real Estate Association where all licenced realtors can post listings. It is widely used by buyers, sellers and agents and is a great resource to attracting buyers and closing sales. Listing a property publicly on Realtor.ca offers the best ..read more

We’re all glad to see 2020 in the rear view mirror. It’s been a year unlike any other for everyone, me included. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have escaped many of the negative impacts, and oddly enough, real estate was almost easier in 2020. Without the ability for open houses, I ended up having Sundays to myself for the first time in decades. Listings sold quickly and easily because of market conditions. And as always, I loved seeing so many first-time buyers fulfil their dream of owning their own home. Regardless of the selling price, I was able to give all my clients the same level of ..read more

Buying a home is a complicated process for anyone so this month, we’re going to review some of the basics that first-time home buyers will need to know. First up, here are some of the concepts you’re going to want to know: Mortgage lenders: You can either get your mortgage directly from a bank or through a Mortgage Broker. The basic difference is the bank is providing their own mortgage directly where Brokers work with multiple lenders to provide different mortgage options and rates for your particular needs. It’s always best to investigate your options and find the best solution for your nee ..read more

Life is pretty serious right now and we’re all facing lots of uncertainty and fear. In the spirit of finding something to smile about, let’s take a glimpse into the lighter side of real estate. I give you… the not-so-glamourous moments of my career. Most awkward client conversation Having to suggest to my buyers to remove the stripper pole from their master bedroom before starting showings. I couldn’t work up the nerve to bring it up until our second visit. Most awkward showing One afternoon, I was showing an investment property to a couple. As usual, we had arranged for the tenants to be out ..read more

In another blog, I told you a little about me – my background, who I am and what’s important to me – so you could get a sense of what I’m like as an agent. This blog is important to me too, because it’s a topic I feel strongly about, both for myself and others. I’ve always said I never wanted to be in FRANK Magazine, but unfortunately, I’ve been in a few issues. The reason is something becoming all too common and harmful in today’s world of digital interactions. This time, I want to talk about cyberbullying. In 2018, I received an email from a stranger suggesting I take a closer look at some ..read more

It’s a new year and a new decade. Personally and professionally, 2019 brought highs and lows, but overall, it was a good year for me. My sales were great and I was thrilled to end the year on a personal high note, winning an ongoing and emotional legal case. As we say goodbye to 2019 and hello to the new roaring ‘20s, I thought we should take a look back and ahead at real estate trends. 2019 market in HRM By all accounts, 2019 was definitely a seller’s market. The inventory of houses for sale couldn’t keep up with the number of buyers, forcing them to compete for properties. The high demand d ..read more