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Tradewinds Weekly Update i.Newsletter for the first week of June 2011

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Tradewinds – Everywhere for You

In today’s market, just about every company has a Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube account, to represent their business on social media. It has become a necessity for companies who are building a brand with longevity, and establishing not just sales but, life long customers.

Real estate is an industry in which social media has really taken off as of late. Agents are using these platforms to not only promote their listings but to build relationships and connections to the neighborhoods in which they specialize.

As with the Tradewinds’ other social media initiatives, Facebook will be used to share our weekly inewsletter, videos from the Broker, events of interest in Nova Scotia and to connect with You. We believe that culture is the most important factor around social participation and doing social media right.

Recognizing that Facebook has over 600 million users and is now used by 1 in every 11 people on earth, we feel that this is an exciting announcement and are encouraged by the interest already. We know that is certainly not a replacement of the one on one conversation of which we encourage first and foremost, however, we feel that this is one more opportunity for us to celebrate our unique offerings, as well as informing the community of any important information that has happened or is upcoming.

Along with LinkedIn, Twitter, and our Tradewinds Youtube account, our new Facebook page will provide us with one more venue to incorporate social media as a means to connect with the Nova Scotia community and speaks to our strong commitment to 21st century learning at Tradewinds.

To become a fan of the Tradewinds Facebook page, search for Tradewinds Realty Nova Scotia on Facebook.

For more information on Tradewinds Realty, please visit our website.

Tradewinds Realty represents a wide selection of waterfront, oceanfront and ocean-view real estate as well as residential, business and land real estate.

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With an inventory of twenty eight properties on the market for a million dollars or over, it is good news that five of these are under a sales contract. The first quarter of 2011 has been excellent. Showings on our higher end properties are on the increase as well. Getting activity on our upper-end inventory is a good indication the market in Nova Scotia is on the rebound.

WATER STREET CHESTER

In 2010 we only sold three homes over a million dollars, so this early activity is welcomed. First quarter results also show that we have closed 50% more sales in 2011, than the same period for 2010.

However, even with the sales activity, the effort that is required to put a Buyer and a Seller together is extreme. Negotiations have been protracted and at times heated, as the Buyers are squeezing the Seller for every drop of blood. Having said that, once the deal is signed, everyone is shaking hands and looking forward to the day of closing.

Two of the five sales have been in Chester, one west of Chester near Lunenburg, another one east of Chester and one in St. Margaret’s Bay on Peggy’s Cove Road.

We typically have an inventory of forty or more properties over a million dollars, so the present lower inventory is also a benefit for those still in the market. Others have decided to remain off the market until things pick up. Maybe the time will soon be near for more inventory to hit the market. – Tim Harris, Broker, Tradewinds Realty Nova Scotia

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[click here] NOVA SCOTIA PROPERTY NEWSLETTER

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Property and Prejudice

Nick Churton of Mayfair International Realty comments on how the continued reticence of the banks to offer sensible  mortgages – other than to those with large deposits – may risk changing the way many look at property ownership.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single family in possession of a good mortgage must be in want of a house. Thus a Jane Austen novel on the property market could have begun.

Sadly today there are plenty of families on both sides of the Atlantic wanting a home, especially with affordability at near-record levels, but many can not get hold of a mortgage.

Austen knew a thing or two about property, or at least the importance of owning it. Her novels had much to do with its acquisition. Although her heroines tended towards marriage as a route to ownership, she would have understood about financing a property purchase through borrowing, as her life coincided in the
UK with the advent of mutual building societies.

Austen understood that social status played a major role in owning or aspiring to own property. Above all perhaps, she understood that an individual’s or family’s financial circumstances played a pivotal role in determining where and how one lived – and how one was seen to live. She certainly knew the value of a fine location and the benefits that well-proportioned rooms and good natural light bestowed upon occupants.

This understanding seems as apt today as it was when Jane Austen was alive in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The desire to house one’s self and/or one’s family comfortably, and the pleasure that a well-designed house gives to its owner – both socially and materially – seem largely unaltered.

But two things have changed. Residential property no longer just demonstrates wealth but also creates it, and thus makes it even more desirable. Also, as far as the UK is concerned, most of the building societies, who traditionally did the lion’s share of the mortgage lending have now been de-mutualised and swallowed up by large banks. These are not much in the lending mood at the moment. So, with no other way of obtaining a mortgage this is altering the way many must think about owning property. In 2011 this means that, unless the UK government and the banks take urgent steps to reverse the situation, for the first time in over two hundred years it will only be the already well-off who can realistically afford to buy property.

Non-profit-making mutual building societies were created to allow their members to buy property. Banks were created to make money for their shareholders. Building societies were prudent and fiscally responsible. Banks clearly haven’t been, and are a perfect example of pride coming before a fall. To extract themselves from the trouble they are in the banks are now prejudiced against the very people the building societies were formed to assist. Jane Austen could have written a book about it.

Republished by permission.

by Tradewinds Realty, Nova Scotia, Canada

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36 Hours on Kilimanjaro

[On January 7, 2011 A group of twelve charitable individuals recruited by Make A Wish - Atlantic Canada and Quebec  began a 10 day trek to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. This is part of the story of the reaching the summit on Jan 14th and descending on Jan 15th & 16th. - © Tim Harris 2011]

On the roof of Africa

We left from ‘Barafu’ Base Camp (15200ev.) at 5 am Sat morning, Jan 14, 2011, climbing through the dark til daybreak at 6:30ish. First set of whales-back rocks about 15 or 20 minutes out of base camp scared me silly, really, really scared! But as I was the first climber of the group and  directly behind the lead guide (and had been in this position for every day of the past 7 days of the trek.). It was not proper to ‘cut and run’ directly off the mountain, as much as my little legs said different.

So the climb was slow, I was not in the best of shape, as I was overweight by fifty pounds, we had to stop almost every 10 minutes to 20 minutes to allow time to catch my and our collective breaths.

On the top

Water was essential and we had to carry 5 liters for this final climbing  day. The air was so thin that even drinking water was a challenge, as the missed breath while trying to swallow meant a gasp for air for a few minutes after a drink. Breathing was constant, heart rates fluttered at 100 to 120 beats/minute, my oxygenation was at most times 80%. My base rate oxygenation at start of climb was 96%.

We hit Stella Point 19,000′, (the crater edge) about 9.5 hours into trek. I was so exhausted all I could do was weep, but even that caused loss of breath, so crying was not of any use, except to lead to one to passing out, due to lack of air. After 10 minutes we headed to the summit signpost, which was visible from the crater edge and looked to be a mile away… about 1.5 hours later we made the signpost. Energy returned, photos etc. etc. We had a satellite phone and after about 20 minutes I called Barbie, my partner back in Nova Scotia to say we made it.**

While on the phone at the summit some commotion started. ‘Gaudence’ one of the guides unexpectedly had to sit down, then told ‘Frank’, another of our three medically trained guides with us at the summit, he couldn’t feel his arms or hands. ‘Frank’ clipped on pure oxy to ‘Gaudence’ treating him, I imagine, for Acute Mountain Sickness. as the conversations between the guides were all in Swahili. However Gaudence had other ideas, he then decided to jump up and bolted at full gallop off the summit, oxy tube trailing behind. ‘Frank and a porter ran after him and caught with him 200 yards away, he collapsed and they stood him up and collectively disappeared over the trail edge back towards Stella Point. That left us with the only lead guide ‘Elias’.

While Elias was trying to comprehend what was happening, Another of our group turned and biffed, and another of our group announced “I’m sick and I am leaving”, which then prompted the rest of the gang to head out. Only myself and 3 others of our group seemed to not be suffering any altitude sickness. All the others were in some sort of head pain, diarrhea, nausea, or general discomfort.

As the balance of the group headed away from the summit, this left myself, ‘Elias’ our lone guide and one porter at the summit. ‘Elias said we will all head down ASAP. To which I announced to ‘Elias’ that I was physically spent, baked, done in, exhausted. It had taken everything out of me to get to the summit in the past 11 hours and my little stumps could not make a 3 to 4 hour decent in darkness, as it was 4:30pm and night was 1.5 hours away and as we were going to burn up 45 minutes or more just to get back to Stella Point at the edge of the downward decent. Regardless, we started off after the others that were now over the path ridge and out of site. 45 minutes later the 3 of us made Stella Point at the craters edge. ‘Elias’ again asked if I would descend and I said it wasn’t in the cards and that my legs would collapse on one of the rock steps and I would be a casually and if I broke a leg, there was no way the two of them could carry this chunk of meat off the mountain. Luckily there were 3 porters in the crater packing up tents etc due to a planned but now a aborted overnight stay in the crater.

Kilimanjaro from Moir Camp on Day 3

One of our trekkers, ‘Stephanie’ was at Stella Point when we arrived waiting to see what was the final decision (she was the Que. group leader, so she felt responsible to see that everyone was taken care of.) Elias told her to descend with a porter, as it was going to be enough to try tent me for the night. Then 3 porters arrived within half an hour from crater camp with 2 tents and some food.

As it was still light, Elias asked me to descend down the mountain for 15 minutes and the porters would set up tents at about 18500′. We arrived at a small somewhat level, but really a side hill. The porters had arrived ahead of me and had set up 2 tents. Elias said to crawl in a tent and he would bring some food, which he did an hour later. At this point I was to exhausted to eat and let the tea and soup freeze on the tent floor.

I was in a -40c rated sleeping bag, with a fleece liner, my balaclava hat on, arctic gloves and my polar parka over my head. This was about 7:30pm. Elias took my vitals at this time as well, my oxy was 81% and pulse was 97 b/m. This was after being at reat for an hour. I lay there trying my best not to slide out of the tent because of the acute angle we were on, praying the tend zipper wouldn’t pop at my feet.

Around 8pm I heard the porters around my tent on the outside rocking up the sides, back and front so I would not to be blown off the slope, in case a freak storm came through. Tent pegs were useless as the it was solid rock or loose gravel, with no way to sink a peg that would hold. I had to pee 4 times through the night and virtually did not get any sleep. At 5am, Julius, the porter that had been at my side for the past 14 hours of climbing brought me two boiled eggs and tea. This gratefully and hurriedly ate. 15 minutes later Elias said to grab my day-pack (hiking knap-sac) and to leave everything else, as the porters would pack up my other belongings. At 5:30am we started our decent in the dark and arrived and ‘Barafu camp’ at 8:30am. I had time for a cup of tea and repack my gear. At 9:30am everyone had packed up and we descended to ‘Mbecka camp’ and arrived at 5pm at elevation 5500 feet. 12 hours from leaving the upper slope at 18,500′.

In a 36 hour period I had climbed for 12 hours and over 4000 vertical feet to reach the summit at 19430 feet, spent 12 hours, either on, or near the summit, or in a sleeping bag and then close to 12 hours descending almost 14000 feet to the rain forests of Tanzania.

Tim Harris – January 2011

*For whatever reason, the lead guide of the day placed me as first climber in front of the 11 others in our group. I believe I was put there as the ‘canary in the coal mine’, if I keeled over then he knew he was pushing to hard. In any event it drove me well beyond my limitations over the 24 hours of the summit.

** 10 of 12 of our group made the summit, we lost one member the morning of Day 4 at ‘Moir Camp’ due to physical exhaustion, he was 82 years old and in relatively good shape as he was a constant walker and trekker back in Nova Scotia, to his credit he left that morning and completed a 9 hour trek back down the mountain. A second climber, also self-elected to retire on Day 7 at ‘Barafu base camp’. She had completed 7 days of difficult daily treks, but was having unaccountable dizzy periods and she thought it best to not go on. After a somewhat perilous decent in a one wheeled stretcher, the next day to the town of Moshi, she was diagnosed with severe dehydration. In any event, that left 10 of us to attempt the summit of Day 8.
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*** Gaudence. the guide that had a difficult time, at the summit, I was informed upon our return to the hotel, that he actually had a latent malaria reaction and is AOK. The stress of the long climb, days without sleep due to the constant watching over us, in my opinion weakened his body enough at 19340′ to bring on a malaria reaction.

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I have dreamed of going to Sable Island to take photos. Maybe I will have a chance some day soon. “Graveyard of the Atlantic is our newest national park” The full story http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/9016487.html

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Exceptional commercial properties and turn-key businesses for sale in Nova Scotia, “Canada’s Atlantic Playground”, provide opportunities for immigrants to start a new life in the Eastern Maritime province

Canada remains one of the top five countries for British immigrants looking build a new life abroad, but the immigration process can be complicated and long.  People wishing to settle in Nova Scotia, however, may apply for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), which offers a quicker entry into Canada for qualified workers and experienced entrepreneurs who want to make the province their new permanent home. The process can take as little as 15 months for qualified immigrants. In comparison, according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the current processing time for permanent resident applications made via their London office is 40 months.

Second Home Nova Scotia, a UK-based company providing a comprehensive property buying services, is planning to expand its relocation department to provide resources and contacts for would-be immigrants. “The quality of life offered in Nova Scotia is very attractive to British people. It’s safe, friendly and welcoming, and spectacularly beautiful. Plus, with a population of less than one million, it’s also pleasantly uncrowded,” says Kilmeny Denny, Second Home Nova Scotia’s director and licensed property consultant.

Through Second Home Nova Scotia, a number of commercial properties and turn-key businesses are being offered for sale, presenting good opportunities for immigrants wanting to start a new life in the province. The Biscuit Eater, located in the scenic, much photographed seaside town of Mahone Bay, is a prosperous cafe and book shop. At 233 years old, the attractive building is the second oldest house in town and features a spacious owner’s flat on the first floor. As popular with locals as it is with visitors, the business is being offered turn-key with all stock and equipment for approximately £435,000.

In Cape Breton, a landmark salmon fishing inn on the famous Margaree River is for sale at  just under £515,000. It is located on the Cabot Trail and has 42 acres, with approximately 1km of river frontage, 32 rooms and two suites housed in 11 buildings, plus an outdoor swimming pool.

Someone with a creative bent will find inspiration in taking over the Opera House in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Town Lunenburg. The main floor has a new stage framed by the original proscenium arch and back by a mural of its first show in 1909. The ballroom floor has a 14ft pressed tin ceiling and offers some of the best views in Lunenburg. Would-be impresarios will need just over £450,000.

A number of attractive inn and B&B opportunities also abound in popular tourist centres in the province. In the heart of Lunenburg is the 1826 Maplebird House, a beautifully restored Registered Heritage property with an outdoor swimming pool overlooking the famous harbour. The Garrison House Inn in Annapolis Royal – named as “the Most Liveable Small Town in the World” in 2004 – was built in 1854 and originally named the Temperance Hotel. The well-known restaurant seats 45 inside plus 22 on the veranda in the summer. There are seven air-conditiond rooms with new ensuites, a commercial kitchen and owner’s quarters.

Second Home Nova Scotia is affiliated with Nova Scotia’s premier real estate company. “Our association with Tradewinds Realty Inc, the largest brokerage with province-wide offices, means that we can provide the most comprehensive buying service and resources to our UK clients,” said Denny.

http://secondhomenovascotia.com/

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Fox Harb’r Resort in Nova Scotia makes cut for 8 of the best golf resorts with homes by UK Independent Golf magazine!

http://www.foxharbr.com/

http://tradewindsrealty.com/cgi-bin/listings.cgi?development=8

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This past Monday we opened the Bridgewater Office at 673 King Street:

And I am pleased to announce that we have a great crew shaping up in that office. The latest Associate to join us is MARY STOCKS.
After raising a family in Montreal, Mary and her husband decided to come to Nova Scotia in 2006. They bought land in East LaHave and built their own home overlooking the LaHave River, where the temperatures are always warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Always a gentle wind – never a black fly or mosquito to be seen!
Having volunteered in many organizations in Montreal, from hospitals to schools, Mary continues the practice of volunteering in Nova Scotia both in Lunenburg and Bridgewater.
Mary has a background in property management and in the hospitality industry and possesses strong people skills as a result of working with people to solve problems creatively and to the satisfaction of all involved. She loves working with people and goes the extra mile to help both buyers and sellers of real estate attain their goals.
Mary welcomes you to drop by Tradewinds Realty’s new Bridgewater office at 673 King St. to review their extensive Display Gallery or call Mary at any time, 902-553-0113.

Please all welcome Mary Stocks…. Mary’s email is:mailto:mary.stocks@tradewindsrealty.com

Tel: 902-553-0113

Web bio: http://www.tradewindsrealty.com/cgi-bin/listings.cgi?profile=124

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Tradewinds iPhone Splash Page

Search or browse all Tradewinds properties throughout beautiful Nova Scotia. Use the map button for “Near you” listings and search for price points, locations, etc.

Find exceptional properties across Nova Scotia. From Yarmouth to Halifax or Annapolis Royal to Baddeck in Cape Breton. We routinely catalog close to a thousand listings and in peak summer months well over a thousand of Nova Scotia’s finest properties.

We utilize Google maps with instant directions to every property in the province. Includes contact info for our office locations which feature real estate galleries of our listings, full time licensed REALTORS and lots of extra information to make your property search easy and successful.

Each listing has buttons to contact our Associates at any time or share the information quickly with your loved ones.

Lastly, make a point of joining our weekly “iNewsletter subscription list” to receive timely weekly updates of all our new listings, no matter where you are in the world.

DOWN LOAD NOW

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/tradewinds-realty-nova-scotia/id364494172?mt=8#