Blog > June 2024 Newsletter - Bringing inspiration from Toronto (and outer space) back to Vancouver Island
June 2024 Newsletter - Bringing inspiration from Toronto (and outer space) back to Vancouver Island
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Summer is here and I hope you’re enjoying lots of delicious eats, good company, and fun times exploring Vancouver Island!
I recently returned from a trip to Toronto where I attended eXpcon Canada, a gathering for real estate professionals to learn the latest industry trends, tools, and techniques. I was so inspired by the experience and I can’t wait to apply what I learned to help you with your real estate transactions!
The highlight of the conference was the keynote speech by Colonel Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian Commander of the International Space Station. He talked about advances in technology and the exciting future for space exploration. It made me think about the innovations shaping the real estate industry, and what a thrilling time it is to serve as your local mid-island realtor.
With that, I’m delighted to share that at this conference, I received the eXp Luxury certification! This means I’m now a member of an elite group with access to global marketing through over 80 world-class international media outlets. When you list a luxury property with me, on top of standard marketing, your listing is advertised on the exclusive eXp Luxury website and in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, UPMKT, Barrons, and more!
From making new connections to tasting the most authentic shawarma, Greek, and Japanese meals, it was a wonderfully inspiring trip.
And if you’re looking to travel soon, I can’t recommend Porter Airlines enough. The experience reminded me of a time when flying was fun! The crew was friendly and helpful. Plus, there were so many perks at no extra cost even on a basic fare:
- Actual snacks, not just pretzels
- Beer and wine
- Great selection of movies
- One checked bag
There was also plenty of room to stretch out with only two seats on each side of the plane. There was no chance of being crammed into a middle seat. I actually look forward to flying again!
Say Goodbye to Invasive Species and Hello to Native Plants
At last month’s Island Living Today talk, Hunter Jarratt (Restoration Consultant at KiKi Nursery, aka the “Invasive Species Guy”) shared the benefits and beauty of planting native species. But before getting to that step, we may first need to remove invasive plants from our property, and different plants may require different strategies. Thankfully, we walked away with lots tips and resources to get started!
- KiKi Nursery (Ladysmith, BC) offering native plants and restoration consultations - Contact jarratt@kikinursery.ca
- Plant ID apps: iNaturalist, Seek
- Invasive Species Council of BC
- Tools to help remove invasive plants: solid metal shovels, Pullerbear, Extractigator
- City of Nanaimo Invasive Plant Management - learn about common invasives, work parties, and drop zones
- Regional District of Nanaimo - FireSmart & WaterSmart Landscaping Guide
- Land stewardship and volunteer opportunities:
- Nanaimo & Area Land Trust - explore seeds from the native plant nursery
- Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team
- Friends of Uplands Park
- Friends of Shelly Creek Park
Hunter also shared a gorgeous slideshow of native plants local to Vancouver Island. Catch the reply to get inspired!
Use this link to view the Island Living Today video
Join the next Home Inspection Series on July 3
There’s a science to the movement of water, and next month, Mike Crawford (Owner of Wrightway Onsite Wastewater) will share how smart design impacts your drainage and septic systems. This will be an excellent talk for anyone currently living on a rural property or thinking about building a dream home on bare land.
Home Inspection Series: Drainage & Septic Systems
Time: Wednesday, July 3, 2024 (6-7 PM Pacific Time)
Use this link to Save your seat
Inventory Outpaced Sales in May
Active listings of single-family homes (1,433), condos (398), and row/townhouses (375) were all up in May 2024 compared to one year ago. In total, there were 842 sales documented by the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board. When separated by property types, there was a 14% drop in single-family home sales compared to May 2023, but sales of condos and row/townhouses increased by 11% and 17% respectively. Currently, the benchmark price of a single-family home on Vancouver Island is $781,100. Spring’s real estate activity hasn’t matched expectations, but with Bank of Canada’s recent interest rate cut, it’ll be interesting to see how activity responds in the summer.
Canada Day Events on July 1
Parksville Community Park (193 Island Highway East)
Family-friendly fun in the sun kicks off with the Parksville Canada Day parade followed by afternoon activities in the Parksville Community Park.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 211 (7035 Island Hwy West)
Celebrate with a beer garden, classic car show, market, live music, and a Canada Day birthday cake.
Maffeo Sutton Park (100 Comox Rd)
Check out live music (Moonshine Mollys, The Kiltlifters, The Pickups), a photo booth, face painting, bouncy castles, interactive booths, food vendors, a multicultural community stage, and more family fun!
Testimonial
“Denise has made the process of buying our first home in Canada seamless. She was honest, friendly and diligent throughout the process. I highly recommend her!”
- Steven
Get in touch!
If you’re thinking of buying or selling your home, please reach out so I can lend my experience to help you make the best real estate decisions!