As the school year kicks off, I'm hoping your households are smoothly adjusting—it's always a big moment. We may be saying goodbye to summer and its easy commutes, but September in Nova Scotia is ripe with opportunities to soak up the final moments of patio season and attend local events. In real estate news, the market has remained fairly steady from July to August, although average prices are notably higher than last year (up 20.6%). For those eyeing the short-term rental scene, remember that new restrictions kicked in on September 1st. With the last gasps of summer upon us, I'm tackling some outdoor projects. If you have home improvements on your end-of-summer checklist, feel free to reach out. I have a solid network of service providers who can help you winterize your property.

Best regards,
Max

The Market

August has been a month of relaxation for many, myself included, and the real estate market reflects that slower pace. While prices have seen only a modest dip compared to July, they remain significantly higher than last August's average of $480,000. Interest rates have remained stable (next announcement Oct. 25), inviting cautious optimism among prospective buyers. Although sales were slightly down compared to last month and 8.7% lower than last August, homes are generally selling faster, with the median days on market down to just eight days. However, it's worth noting that properties in the $600K and above range are sitting longer, a trend attributed to higher interest rates.

Where to Eat: The Canteen on Portland

The Canteen is one of my favourite spots in the city to get lunch. Their kale Caesar salad is fantastic! In you’re in Downtown Dartmouth this is a place you have to try.

What to Do

September still has great weather (hopefully less rain) and some great events.

Halifax Wanderers Home Games Sept. 12, 16 and 30 - All at the Wanderers Grounds. See their website for tickets.

Opening Reception for Dwell: New Paintings by Shelley Mansel Sept. 14 - At The Prow Gallery, 1479 Lower Water Street, Bishop’s Landing, Halifax 5 - 8 PM. From what I understand the art is related to the feeling of home.

Atlantic International Film Festival Sept. 14 - Sept. 21 -  There are multiple venues that will be showing local and International films.

Garrison and The BG Oktoberfest Sept. 15 - Sept. 25 - At the Garrison Grounds

Development Highlight: The Parks of Lake Charles

The Parks of Lake Charles is the first large-scale neighbourhood development in Dartmouth in a generation. It is sandwiched between Waverley Rd. and Highway 107. Spanning 465 acres and approximately 4,200 residential units. It will have a phased completion over the next 15 years. Designed for an estimated 11,000 residents, the community will feature a variety of housing options such as apartments, townhomes, and two-storey homes. The developer is the same as that of the Parks of West Bedford and will include many of the same home builders. There are two-storey units and townhome units on sale now. They are not on MLS yet, so if you are interested, please reach out to me.

New Short Term Rental Rules

If you are in HRM then there are new rules for if you want ethane a shot term rental. Council passed this in April but it didn’t go into effect until September 1 so owners could have some time to adjust to the new rules. This is in addition to the provincial rules that requires every short term rental operator in Nova Scotia to register.