CENTURY 21 Trident Realty Ltd. - Blog

Family Literacy Day

Margaret Bowlen — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Family Literacy Day, held on January 27 each year, was developed by ABC Canada Literacy Foundation and Honda Canada in 1999 to encourage families to read and learn together on a daily basis. In our information driven world, the ability to read and write effectively has never been more important and the social handicap that illiteracy represents has never been more apparent.

Literacy proficiency improves chances of employment, builds self confidence and enables discussions and actions that affect the welfare of individuals and their community.

Family Literacy Day can be celebrated by simply setting aside 15 minutes of family time to read and learn together - playing board games like Scrabble, writing a letter or simply by following a recipe together.

July Stats for HRM

Margaret Bowlen — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Have just finished a review of the market stats for Halifax Regional Municipality and the numbers show that the market is rebounding. When looking at July of 2009 compared to July of 2008 the number of new listings is up about 2.5% and the year to date shows a slight decline of 1.5%. The sales for the same time period show the monthly comparison to be down about 4.5%, with the year to date figure being down 14.63%. The percentage for the month and the year to date is less than it has been in previous months. The other good news is that the average sale prices in most MLS areas of HRM show an increase over the same time period as last year.

It is worthy to note that the outlying areas of HRM are showing less activity than a year ago and that in some areas the prices are slightly down from a year ago.

Consumers still need to be aware that the market has shifted to a more balanced market, and sellers need to be reminded that it is taking longer for properties to sell.

The Changing Market

Margaret Bowlen — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:36:37 GMT

We hear it daily on the TV and Radio News, we read it daily in the Papers - the slowdown and the prices falling - I am happy to report that the market in HRM remains stable and the prices are still up over the same time period when compared to 2008. Yes, it may take a little longer to sell a house, and yes buyers are taking a little more time to make decisions, but that all makes for a more balanced market.

Now that our provincial election is over, hopefully the consumers will feel a little more confident and get out there and make those purchases.

ecoENERGY

Margaret Bowlen — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:12:24 GMT

Retrofit your Home and Qualify for a Grant!

Thinking of ways to make your home more energy efficient? There are things you can do to reduce your energy consumption AND receive grants through ecoENERGY Retrofit.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is offering a new residential energy efficiency assessment service to home owners who can then qualify for federal grants by improving the evergy efficiency of their homes and reducing their home's impact on the environment.

NRCan-certified advisores conduct a detailed on-site assessment of your home's energy use from the attic down to the basement. They then provide you with a personalized report, including a checklist of recommended retrofits to improve the energy efficiency of your home, and in some cases, to reduce water consumption. The report also shows the grant amounts for each eligible upgrade that you can receive by carrying out these energy-saving improvements.

Some of the Eligible Improvements/Retrofits include, but are not limited to: Heating System, Ventilation System, Cooling System, Domestic Hot Water System, Attic Insulation, Exterior Wall Insulation, Exposed Floor Insulation, Basement Insulation, Doors, Windows and Skylights and Water Conservation.

There are many factors that will be taken into consideration when determining what a home owner may qualify for. As an example: All upgrades or renovations must meet local codes and by-laws, any of the equipment being replaced must have a higher efficiency than that of the original equipment, incentives for attic insulation will vary according to the existing level of insulation.

Natural Resources Canada reserves the right to update the information including the grant amounts.

To book an appointment with an NRCan-certified energy advisor, visit the website at ecoaction.gc.ca and follow the links to ecoENERGY Retrofit or call 1 800 622-6232 or TTY: 1 800 926-9105. Another local alternative is eCOENERGY at 1 866 284-6010