Everyone seems to be talking about the seasons changing lately, while the days are still warm & muggy here in the Annapolis Valley, they nights are getting cooler and the leaves are starting to turn. Personally I am a summer person, it never gets too hot for me. Fall signals the 'impending sense of doom' of winter lurking behind those pretty maple leaves on the trees.
In real estate the fall season is always a very busy time, second only to the famous and much anticipated spring market. I often get sellers asking if it is a good idea to list this time of year, and my answer is always a resounding YES! While the spring market brings more traffic and a flurry of activity, the fall market brings more serious buyers and quality over quantity in terms of showings.
Once families get back into the school year routine and summer vacations are wrapped up, the buyers that intended on purchasing this year are reminded that winter is coming, and that purchase is going to take some time to process. Now is the ideal time to get that ball rolling with the plan of being settled in the new property before the snow flies.
The fall is an excellent time to put your property on the market as photos are inevitably going to be great, buyers are keen, and properties are still selling better than they have in a long time. Many people have commented this year that they have noticed many more SOLD signs around that years past. The market is hot right now, if you are thinking of buying or selling get in touch with me for a meeting to discuss your future plans!
902-680-2736
meganwhite.ca
Friday, September 15, 2017
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Private Sales & Saving Money
I have come across a notable trend recently that begs to be discussed. We all know that buyers & seller like the idea of saving money when dealing in real estate by not enlisting the services of a REALTOR®. While this can be the case, often times it is not and I am seeing a sad trend emerge as of late.
I have been asked to do a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) for several sellers recently where the home owners had purchased the property through a private sale and are now asking for my services to sell the property some years after the fact. Several times now sadly, those CMAs have come back lower than the price the owners bought the property for. In thinking that they were saving money by not paying a commission, they were unknowingly spending too much on the property only to find out a few years later that it's not worth what they had thought. This can be devastating.
This year has shown a significant rise in the number of properties sold and the trend is now pushing away from a flooded buyers market edging towards more balance. A trend towards more balance should edge the property values higher than a few years ago when the strong buyers market pushed prices down due to saturation of inventory.
The news that a property isn't worth what a seller thought it was is not fun to deliver. I don't enjoy it one bit. That's my two cents worth this morning. Want to discuss this or any other real estate issues more? Get in touch, I am always available!
I have been asked to do a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) for several sellers recently where the home owners had purchased the property through a private sale and are now asking for my services to sell the property some years after the fact. Several times now sadly, those CMAs have come back lower than the price the owners bought the property for. In thinking that they were saving money by not paying a commission, they were unknowingly spending too much on the property only to find out a few years later that it's not worth what they had thought. This can be devastating.
This year has shown a significant rise in the number of properties sold and the trend is now pushing away from a flooded buyers market edging towards more balance. A trend towards more balance should edge the property values higher than a few years ago when the strong buyers market pushed prices down due to saturation of inventory.
The news that a property isn't worth what a seller thought it was is not fun to deliver. I don't enjoy it one bit. That's my two cents worth this morning. Want to discuss this or any other real estate issues more? Get in touch, I am always available!
Monday, August 14, 2017
Time to Toooot the Horn!
It's been a while since my last blog, a very long while! I apologize to my followers (if I have any left!) 2017 has been a banner year and between taking care of my clients, keeping up with continuing education and courses, and trying to take a little time for myself here & there, I've been swamped!
This year has been nothing short of stellar for my business having achieved the Exit Realty International Bronze Designation once again for selling over 25 properties in a year. I also have been recognized as the #1 Agent in my office for 2017 and the #2 Exit agent in the Annapolis Valley! Lastly I have hit a sales volume achievement level for the 2017 calendar year only 6 months in that I hadn't ever reached in years past!
(toooot tooooot tooooooooooottt - insert sounds of me tooting my own horn here) I don't mean to brag, but I believe in celebrating achievements when they happen! I love celebrations!!
I could not have gotten to this place without my clients and customers trusting me with likely the biggest financial transactions of their lives, I have never taken this job lightly and I know that there are many many other agents in the industry to choose from. I thank all my clients from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to work together to achieve their goals and create a reality of their dreams!
I feel very fortunate to wake up every morning to go to work at a job that I truly love, I am extremely thankful for the support I get from my broker and team at Exit, and my wonderful husband Jesse who understands my passion for this work and encourages me tirelessly.
All in all I am feeling pretty pleased with life right now. I apologize for neglecting my blog for so long, I was too busy living it up and enjoying the good vibes!
This year has been nothing short of stellar for my business having achieved the Exit Realty International Bronze Designation once again for selling over 25 properties in a year. I also have been recognized as the #1 Agent in my office for 2017 and the #2 Exit agent in the Annapolis Valley! Lastly I have hit a sales volume achievement level for the 2017 calendar year only 6 months in that I hadn't ever reached in years past!
(toooot tooooot tooooooooooottt - insert sounds of me tooting my own horn here) I don't mean to brag, but I believe in celebrating achievements when they happen! I love celebrations!!
I could not have gotten to this place without my clients and customers trusting me with likely the biggest financial transactions of their lives, I have never taken this job lightly and I know that there are many many other agents in the industry to choose from. I thank all my clients from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to work together to achieve their goals and create a reality of their dreams!
I feel very fortunate to wake up every morning to go to work at a job that I truly love, I am extremely thankful for the support I get from my broker and team at Exit, and my wonderful husband Jesse who understands my passion for this work and encourages me tirelessly.
All in all I am feeling pretty pleased with life right now. I apologize for neglecting my blog for so long, I was too busy living it up and enjoying the good vibes!
Monday, March 27, 2017
Have you got what it takes?
Have you ever thought about getting into real estate as a career? Not sure exactly what that entails? Whether you are a licensed REALTOR right now or you are thinking of starting from scratch, I want to help you! You don't have to be in Nova Scotia or even Canada, I can help you anywhere in Canada or the US!
When I bought my first home, I was SO excited. It was such a phenomenal time in my life and I could barely even think about anything else that was happening. I would run the gamut of extreme anticipation through to extreme anxiety on the daily. I was in awe of this being a career that one could be a part of on a daily basis. But my REALTOR didn't really 'get' my wants and needs. I decided on this as a career because I thought I could do it better. I never intended on modelling my business after the 'old boys club' that had been on the scene for so long, I wanted to make it my own. So I found a brokerage model that fit with me and my plans for the future.
Fast forward to now, I have won several awards, both locally and internationally and I could not be happier with my choice. I love the people I work with, I love working with the public and sharing my knowledge, and I love being directly in the drivers seat for my personal and financial goals. I started out with Exit as a supreme rookie having never had any other real estate dealings other than the purchase of my own home several years prior to getting my license. But I made it this far because I reached out to someone I barely knew who was in the business.
When I was first toying with the idea of doing this I had no idea where to start, who to talk to or what I should be thinking about long term. I met more than one dead end and negative reaction to my inquiries. This didn't stop me though, I kept on looking and asking until I found someone that had the time and answers I was looking for. I want to be that person for you! If you would like to have a confidential chat with me about the pros and cons of this career, I am here for you. I can meet with you personally at my office so you can see how things happen first hand, or I can make sure you get a personal meeting with a broker in your area/province/state or region.
Please share this with someone you know that has mentioned this line of work as a personal choice, and reach out to me if you have any questions at all! I am always available, just ask! It's not as hard as you might think, with the right team on your side.
902-680-2736 call/text
exit@meganwhite.ca
When I bought my first home, I was SO excited. It was such a phenomenal time in my life and I could barely even think about anything else that was happening. I would run the gamut of extreme anticipation through to extreme anxiety on the daily. I was in awe of this being a career that one could be a part of on a daily basis. But my REALTOR didn't really 'get' my wants and needs. I decided on this as a career because I thought I could do it better. I never intended on modelling my business after the 'old boys club' that had been on the scene for so long, I wanted to make it my own. So I found a brokerage model that fit with me and my plans for the future.
Fast forward to now, I have won several awards, both locally and internationally and I could not be happier with my choice. I love the people I work with, I love working with the public and sharing my knowledge, and I love being directly in the drivers seat for my personal and financial goals. I started out with Exit as a supreme rookie having never had any other real estate dealings other than the purchase of my own home several years prior to getting my license. But I made it this far because I reached out to someone I barely knew who was in the business.
When I was first toying with the idea of doing this I had no idea where to start, who to talk to or what I should be thinking about long term. I met more than one dead end and negative reaction to my inquiries. This didn't stop me though, I kept on looking and asking until I found someone that had the time and answers I was looking for. I want to be that person for you! If you would like to have a confidential chat with me about the pros and cons of this career, I am here for you. I can meet with you personally at my office so you can see how things happen first hand, or I can make sure you get a personal meeting with a broker in your area/province/state or region.
Please share this with someone you know that has mentioned this line of work as a personal choice, and reach out to me if you have any questions at all! I am always available, just ask! It's not as hard as you might think, with the right team on your side.
902-680-2736 call/text
exit@meganwhite.ca
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Furrry Babies.
No I am not talking about human babies, I am talking about fur babies! Our pets are family in most cases and become a factor when buying and selling property believe it or not!
I am obviously very interested in selling equestrian properties, and these are the ultimate choice of buyers wanting the best for their animal friends. Then there are the rest of us, statistics show that MILLIONS of Canadian households have at least one pet. Personally I grew up with dogs, cats, horses and ponies that lived on the same property as my family. My brother and sister both had a pony at one point, but that was short lived as my brother tried to trade his pony for a motorbike by making a sign to place at the end of the driveway. My equine obsession brought me across 46 states, 7 provinces and even across the 'pond' to England.
You could say I am an animal lover.
I don't current own any horses, but I do stay active in the horse community and frequent the local barns to ride and teach. My constant furry companion is a miniature dachshund named Frankfurter, he is a fiercely loyal and obsessively loving little force to be reckoned with. I thoroughly enjoy his pointy little nose poking into whatever I am doing.
I go in a lot of houses and I talk to a lot of people about their ideal home and very often pets are a priority in choosing a property. Things like proximity to a busy road, fenced yards and pet friendly flooring are common topics of discussion. I have one property listed inhabited by a very self assured Jack Russell who believes that he is the king of the castle whenever I show the home! He comes to greet everyone and proceeds to 'show us around' when buyers arrive.
At one showing a while ago, we were told not to let the cat outside, a very cute mottled black, grey and orange - striking looking animal to say the least. We had a good look around the property with the buyers two young girls in tow, they were fascinated with the cat but obeyed when told not to touch. Towards the end of the viewing, we head outside for a final recap and out of the corner of my eye I see the odd coloured feline just beyond the fenced in pool area. Not sure how it got out, and not wanting to be caught, we teamed up to herd it back inside... Meanwhile I can't shake a nagging feeling that we had been so careful not to leave any doors open. I tuck the kitty under my arm to stow back in his/her designated bed on the windowsill (can you guess where this is going...?) I get to the cats perch only to find an identical animal already there! WHOOPS! Bring the outside cat back outside, leave the inside cat where it is and get out of there before a feline fight ensues!
Do you have a special needs pet that would require adjustments to your real estate needs? Tell me about your furry family members!
I am obviously very interested in selling equestrian properties, and these are the ultimate choice of buyers wanting the best for their animal friends. Then there are the rest of us, statistics show that MILLIONS of Canadian households have at least one pet. Personally I grew up with dogs, cats, horses and ponies that lived on the same property as my family. My brother and sister both had a pony at one point, but that was short lived as my brother tried to trade his pony for a motorbike by making a sign to place at the end of the driveway. My equine obsession brought me across 46 states, 7 provinces and even across the 'pond' to England.
You could say I am an animal lover.
I don't current own any horses, but I do stay active in the horse community and frequent the local barns to ride and teach. My constant furry companion is a miniature dachshund named Frankfurter, he is a fiercely loyal and obsessively loving little force to be reckoned with. I thoroughly enjoy his pointy little nose poking into whatever I am doing.
I go in a lot of houses and I talk to a lot of people about their ideal home and very often pets are a priority in choosing a property. Things like proximity to a busy road, fenced yards and pet friendly flooring are common topics of discussion. I have one property listed inhabited by a very self assured Jack Russell who believes that he is the king of the castle whenever I show the home! He comes to greet everyone and proceeds to 'show us around' when buyers arrive.
At one showing a while ago, we were told not to let the cat outside, a very cute mottled black, grey and orange - striking looking animal to say the least. We had a good look around the property with the buyers two young girls in tow, they were fascinated with the cat but obeyed when told not to touch. Towards the end of the viewing, we head outside for a final recap and out of the corner of my eye I see the odd coloured feline just beyond the fenced in pool area. Not sure how it got out, and not wanting to be caught, we teamed up to herd it back inside... Meanwhile I can't shake a nagging feeling that we had been so careful not to leave any doors open. I tuck the kitty under my arm to stow back in his/her designated bed on the windowsill (can you guess where this is going...?) I get to the cats perch only to find an identical animal already there! WHOOPS! Bring the outside cat back outside, leave the inside cat where it is and get out of there before a feline fight ensues!
Do you have a special needs pet that would require adjustments to your real estate needs? Tell me about your furry family members!
Tuesday, March 07, 2017
Love Trumps All
Buying or selling property can be extremely emotional, and I see it every day. I get excited about my job, and to be entirely frank here, part of the reason I wanted to get into this profession was because my REALTOR® when I purchased my last home was... less than enthusiastic about the transaction. I am not sure if we didn't have a large enough budget for her to get excited about us, or if she was just too busy to really listen to what we wanted, or if she was just more reserved than I am used to. The truth is I was a little disappointed that she didn't 'get' how monumental this was for us.
Recently I have been involved with 2 sales of inherited lands representing the seller. One of those parcels had been in the same family for over 100 years. When even contemplating selling this type of property, emotions run high and there is more at stake than other sales. I get it. It takes a great deal of tact, understanding and compassion in these cases, and I always try to put myself in my clients shoes in any sale. Often times these sales involve one or two actual clients, but a whole slew of family members and everyone has to have an opportunity to say what they need to say, in turn.
Another recent negotiation for buyers came together after much deliberation and a very long period of time between the first showing and subsequent offers being made. 3 generations of family members were involved and even some in laws and "outlaws". It eventually came together favourably for all parties and I made the triumphant phone call to my buyers to congratulate them (Oh Man, I love making that call!!!) I got both buyers on speaker phone and announced their victory, much fanfare and whooping ensued followed by a brief recap of details. Congratulations all around, many thank yous and then the sign off, in her emotion filled euphoria the buyer (who has been a friend for almost 30 years) squeaked out a jumble of words, followed immediately by laughter and an explanation... she was so excited she had professed her love for me! This made me burst into laughter and I reciprocated, to much more laughter and giggles...
You see there is something so deeply personal about trusting someone else with the largest single transactions most of us ever make in our lives, which is intrinsically linked to the emotional centres of our brains, we can't help but feel connected at the time.
Are you ready to fall in love again? Perhaps not with me ; but with a property that makes you want to shriek and blurt out jumbled professions of loooove?! Call me, I am ready to take that emotional journey with you!
Recently I have been involved with 2 sales of inherited lands representing the seller. One of those parcels had been in the same family for over 100 years. When even contemplating selling this type of property, emotions run high and there is more at stake than other sales. I get it. It takes a great deal of tact, understanding and compassion in these cases, and I always try to put myself in my clients shoes in any sale. Often times these sales involve one or two actual clients, but a whole slew of family members and everyone has to have an opportunity to say what they need to say, in turn.
Another recent negotiation for buyers came together after much deliberation and a very long period of time between the first showing and subsequent offers being made. 3 generations of family members were involved and even some in laws and "outlaws". It eventually came together favourably for all parties and I made the triumphant phone call to my buyers to congratulate them (Oh Man, I love making that call!!!) I got both buyers on speaker phone and announced their victory, much fanfare and whooping ensued followed by a brief recap of details. Congratulations all around, many thank yous and then the sign off, in her emotion filled euphoria the buyer (who has been a friend for almost 30 years) squeaked out a jumble of words, followed immediately by laughter and an explanation... she was so excited she had professed her love for me! This made me burst into laughter and I reciprocated, to much more laughter and giggles...
You see there is something so deeply personal about trusting someone else with the largest single transactions most of us ever make in our lives, which is intrinsically linked to the emotional centres of our brains, we can't help but feel connected at the time.
Are you ready to fall in love again? Perhaps not with me ; but with a property that makes you want to shriek and blurt out jumbled professions of loooove?! Call me, I am ready to take that emotional journey with you!
Wednesday, March 01, 2017
When The Cat's Away...
Once upon a time, when I was a much younger girl, it was a great treat to have my parents house to myself when they went away on hockey tournaments with my brother. I would plan to have my friends over, we would stay up late with no adults enforcing their lame curfews on us! We would order pizza and play loud music (sorry about all those blown speakers Dad!!) It was a time to let loose and test the boundaries of our youth. It was a time to celebrate!
But alas, the tables have turned.
Right now I am home alone, my husband is away on business in Atlanta for the week. It's getting a little out of control (obviously, I am writing a blog at 9pm!) My how the times have changed, I worked hard today, putting more than a few kilometers on my car and sorting through a massive pile of paperwork of offers, counter offers and closing inspection reports for 3 ends! Don't get me wrong I absolutely love my work but it was a BIG DAY!!
Moving on to this evening, I am in my yoga pants, eating homemade soup and snuggling with my ever cuddly dachshund who is like my little shadow at home. I have no desire to stay up late or get foolish this weekend, in fact I am looking forward to sleeping diagonally across my bed with ALL the pillows, perhaps taking my coffee in the hot tub in the morning, and puttering around my house in complete silence! Oh The Joys I Have Come to Appreciate!
In my old age I have become more peaceful with being alone and I don't feel it necessary to fill my days with constant entertainment. In my line of work, I find that I am constantly having to be "ON". I have to have the right answers to never ending questions and queries from my clients and the public. I never know when I might run into a prospective client so even running to the grocery store means making sure I am presentable. My car is fully wrapped with my logo and a larger than life headshot so I can't speed or yell at frustrating people on the road... As a recognizable figure where my face and name is my brand, I must always make sure that I present the right image, and that can be exhausting for a girl that grew up as a tomboy in a barn!
I am finding now that after years as a professional athlete, working in the service industry and having several management positions, I am well suited and enjoy a public sort of life and my personality would never allow me to do otherwise! Perhaps I am mellowing, perhaps I am (gasp) growing up, and perhaps I am just peaceful in my own company... But having my evenings silent, home alone with a fire going, making food and going to bed early sounds pretty darn delightful for this week!
But alas, the tables have turned.
Right now I am home alone, my husband is away on business in Atlanta for the week. It's getting a little out of control (obviously, I am writing a blog at 9pm!) My how the times have changed, I worked hard today, putting more than a few kilometers on my car and sorting through a massive pile of paperwork of offers, counter offers and closing inspection reports for 3 ends! Don't get me wrong I absolutely love my work but it was a BIG DAY!!
Moving on to this evening, I am in my yoga pants, eating homemade soup and snuggling with my ever cuddly dachshund who is like my little shadow at home. I have no desire to stay up late or get foolish this weekend, in fact I am looking forward to sleeping diagonally across my bed with ALL the pillows, perhaps taking my coffee in the hot tub in the morning, and puttering around my house in complete silence! Oh The Joys I Have Come to Appreciate!
In my old age I have become more peaceful with being alone and I don't feel it necessary to fill my days with constant entertainment. In my line of work, I find that I am constantly having to be "ON". I have to have the right answers to never ending questions and queries from my clients and the public. I never know when I might run into a prospective client so even running to the grocery store means making sure I am presentable. My car is fully wrapped with my logo and a larger than life headshot so I can't speed or yell at frustrating people on the road... As a recognizable figure where my face and name is my brand, I must always make sure that I present the right image, and that can be exhausting for a girl that grew up as a tomboy in a barn!
I am finding now that after years as a professional athlete, working in the service industry and having several management positions, I am well suited and enjoy a public sort of life and my personality would never allow me to do otherwise! Perhaps I am mellowing, perhaps I am (gasp) growing up, and perhaps I am just peaceful in my own company... But having my evenings silent, home alone with a fire going, making food and going to bed early sounds pretty darn delightful for this week!
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