The White Hills subdivision, just off the Hammonds Plains Rd, extends from Pockwock Rd to McCabe Lake. This community backs on the Glen Arbour community. The development of this community began in the early 1990′s, and the remaining few lots were complete in the Fall of 2009. Later phases are currently for sale in a variety of quiet courts opposite Madeline Symonds Middle School. These are the only building lots currently available in this area of Hammonds Plains.

White Hills is home to day care facilities, an excellent elementary and junior high school, and a new long term care facility which is currently under construction. There are over 500 family living in White Hills. Lots are very large, and in many cases, set in amongst forested areas that provide maximum privacy.

Housing prices range from $250k to over $500k.

White Hills is only 10 minutes to Bedford, or 15 minutes to Halifax.

Elementary School
- Hammonds Plains Consolidated School

Junior High School
- Madeline Symonds JH

High School
- Charles P. Allen High

As always, I can be contacted by e-mail: bruce@listhalifax.com or cell: 497-6865.

Cheers,

Bruce Annis, Halifax REALTOR®

The Voyageur Lake Community, just off the Hammonds Plains Rd, is a unique community with distinct housing styles. It began in 2003 and was marketed as an equestrian community. Since 2003, 12 “Dream Homes” have been constructed for the QEII Hospital Foundation. Currently, there are over 50 homes in this community including condominium homes.

Voyageur Lakes was designed around two main elements: a marketplace and a multi-use equestrian centre. This community has been designed to have everything a home owner will need, from shops to restaurants. There are extensive walking trails, 2 beautiful lakes, and very large lots – many that are still for sale. Restrictive covenants have been established and apply to each lot to ensure that the architecture and theme of this community are preserved.

Homes in Voyageur Lake generally range from $400k to well over one million dollars.

Voyageur Lake is only 10 minutes to Bedford, or 15 minutes to Halifax.

Elementary School
- Hammonds Plains

Junior High School
- Madeline Symonds JH

High School
- Charles P. Allen High

As always, I can be contacted by e-mail: bruce@listhalifax.com or cell: 497-6865.

Cheers,

Bruce Annis, Halifax REALTOR®

The Glen Arbour Golf  and Residential Community, just off the Hammonds Plains Rd, began in 1997. It features a championship Par 72, 18 hole golf course and golf memberships are included with the purchase of most residential properties in this community. There are a variety of housing styles;  from custom to condominium and townhouses. Glen Arbour is comprise of  approximately 225 residences and diverse landscape: ponds, lakes, beautiful wooded areas, views of the golf course and much more. There are restrictive covenants applicable to each lot ensuring the look and feel of this community is maintained.

Housing prices in Glen Arbour range from high 300k to over 1 million dollars. It is located less than 10 minutes to all  amenities that Bedford as to offer, and less than 15 minutes from Halifax.

In 2005, the Glen Arbour Golf Course hosted the 2005 LPGA Canadian Open.

Taken from the Glen Arbour website:

“Construction took two long years, Annapolis Group’s attention to detail was evident from the start. The course at opening needed to  have the feel and quality of a course much older. This feeling of maturity was achieved and Glen Arbour, with its glistening bentgrass fairways opened to rave reviews.

At 6800 yards in length, Glen Arbour Golf Course is not long by today’s standard but the combination of natural hazards, elevation changes and tricky bentgrass greens challenge players of all skill levels. In its brief few years of existence, Glen Arbour  Golf Course has played host to many celebrities with the highlight being the inaugural Wayne Gretzky and Friend’s Invitational and most recently the BMO Canadian Ladies Open in 2005.

The motto for staff at Glen Arbour Golf Course is the experience must exceed our customer’s expectations. We aim to do just that for every guest who enters the facility, treat yourself… come and experience golf as it is meant to be.”

Elementary School
- Hammonds Plains

Junior High School
- Madeline Symonds JH

High School
- Charles P. Allen High

As always, I can be contacted by e-mail: bruce@listhalifax.com or cell: 497-6865.

Cheers,

Bruce Annis, Halifax REALTOR®

Kingswood, just off the Hammonds Plains Rd., is a very popular subdivision in the Halifax Regional Minicipality (HRM). Kingswood is comprised of mid to large sized homes. This subdivision features lots that start at one acre. In fact, Kingswood is the closest subdivision to Halifax that features lots of this size. Kingswood is a very desirable area to live for families where it is only 5 minutes from the conveniences of Bedford.

The housing in Kingswood is typically 10 to 20 year old homes with the majority of the styles being split entries or 2-storey single family homes. The subdivision contains a couple hundred homes, with many of the lots (almost half) supplied by city water. and they all have their own septic systems. Families are attracted to the area because of the great school system (there is an elementary school right in the Kingswood subdivision). House prices generally range from $300,000 to over $600,000.

Kingswood has recently expanded.  The Kingswood North development is situated on the other side of the Hammonds Plains Rd.

Elementary School
- Kingswood Elementary

Junior High School
- Madeline Symonds JH

High School
- Charles P. Allen High

Link to website: http://www.kingswood.ca/home.htmlxx

As always, I can be contacted by e-mail: bruce@listhalifax.com or cell: 497-6865.

Cheers,

Bruce Annis, Halifax REALTOR®

In my last post, I said that I would be focusing in the Hammonds Plains area for the next few days. Today I want give you a high level overview of the beautiful subdivisions and exciting new developments in this area.

The residential  development occurring in the Hammonds Plains area right now is the largest anywhere in Nova Scotia.

Kingswood subdivision is comprised of  hundreds of homes – all different styles. Most of the homes would be categorized on the higher end of the housing prices for Halifax, however, there are still some lots available for development and some of the houses in this subdivision are actually supplied by city water.

Kingswood North is the largest development in the area Hammonds Plains area.  It is an extension of Kingswood subdivision on the other side of the Hammonds Plains Rd. Once complete, there will be over 100 new homes.  This area, similar to Kingswood subdivision, will be on the higher end for housing prices.

Glen Arbor is the premier subdivision in the area. The price of these homes is the most expensive for the area. This subdivision boasts a nationally recognized golf course that hosted the 2005 LPGA Canadian Open. There are building lots available to build your dream house.

Whites Lake is only 6 -7 years old and is approx. 5 minutes up from the Kingswood subdivision. Much of this area has already been developed, but there are areas that are currently being developed.  Prices for homes in this subdivision are in the mid range.

Cox Lake Ridge is closer to the end of the Hammonds Plains Rd. Many of the lots within this subdivision have great views of beautiful Cox Lake. The builder is developing this subdivision to be very high-end. Development was slow to begin, but in the last year and a half has picked up quite a bit. There are about 20 lots available for sale in this subdivision.

Highland Park began in the 1970′s, but the majority of development began in the 1990′s. There is a wide variety of housing types and prices that are mid range. There are still a number lots available for sale.

Haliburton Heights is a beautiful subdivision that is located just off of highway #103 (Exit 5) in Tantallon. There are very few lots available. This subdivision is very close to all amenities. Prices range from mid to to high end. Again, there are a large variety of house styles to choose from.

Westwood Blvd is a newer subdivision currently expanding with many lots available to build your own home. This subdivision is also just off highway #103 (Exit 5) in Tantallon, located in behind the Sobey’s shopping area. There are a wide range of housing styles. Prices range from mid to higher end.

St. Margaret’s Village a beautiful subdivision at the end of the Hammonds Plains Rd (close to St. Margaret’s Bay Rd). The builder for this subdivision owns the 50 or more available lots. Prices are at the higher end for the area. Some of the lots have beautiful ocean views of St. Margaret’s Bay.

As always, I can be contacted by e-mail: bruce@listhalifax.com or cell: 497-6865.

Cheers,

Bruce Annis, Halifax REALTOR®

Over the next few posts, I am going to focus on the Hammonds Plains Rd area. There are many exciting projects that are underway from Bedford right up to St. Margaret’s Bay Rd (at the end of the Hammonds Plains Rd).

In 2009, the HRM partnered with Nustadia Recreation Inc. to build, own, and operate a new sports complex that will house 4 new NHL sized ice surfaces in Bedford. For years now, with the increasing population base of HRM, prime-time ice availability has been a growing issue for hockey programs all over the city; from minor hockey right up to recreational and pickup leagues. This complex is being built in response to this capacity issue and will hopefully alleviate some of this demand. It is scheduled to open in early November of this year.

One of the arenas will be fully accessible and able to accommodate sledge hockey.  The complex will also contain four competition beach volleyball courts, a sports retail store, and a food and beverage concession area.

The center will cost $40-million when complete. It will be 160,000 sq/feet and will be located on the Hammonds Plains Rd.

CBC announced that the BMO Financial Group has been awarded the naming rights for the new arena in Bedford. This will be a 10-year agreement.

As always, I can be contacted by e-mail: bruce@listhalifax.com or cell: 497-6865.

Cheers,

Bruce Annis, Halifax REALTOR®

Good afternoon,

On Friday, I told you about the Keller Williams grand opening here in Halifax. Today, I want to share a great video with you. It features Gary Keller, Chairman of the Board of Keller Williams Inc talking about the company. You will see why this company is so attractive to Real Estate agents.

http://www.youtube.com/v/Csolgnx-moM?fs=1&hl=en_US

It is my hope that our brokerage will grow to over 100 agents quickly. I think this would give our office a strong voice to help make some changes in the Halifax Real Estate industry that I feel are needed.

As always, I can be contacted by e-mail: bruce@listhalifax.com or cell: 497-6865.

Cheers,

Bruce Annis, Halifax REALTOR®

http://www.kellerwilliamsrealty.ca/kwca/pressrelease.html

Last night was the grand opening for Keller Williams Realty – the energy was awsome. I think this company is going to take Halifax and the HRM by storm. We have only been open for the last 2 and a half months and we already have over 45 agents. It’s not only the number of agents that we have attracted, but the quality of agents is incredible.

Stay tuned because my next post will be more about Keller Williams: where the company originated, how they think very differently from the rest of the real estate offices around, why they are so attractive to good quality agents, and much more.

As always, I can be contacted by e-mail: bruce@listhalifax.com or cell: 497-6865.

Cheers,

Bruce Annis, Halifax REALTOR®

Yesterday, I completed my sales trends and statistics for the major areas within the HRM. The overall market looks to be in very good shape. The fall market  is already showing signs that is (will )be busy.

If you are on the fence about buying, you should seriously look at the market right now – overall it is a Buyer’s market. This might be a better time to get a good price on a home rather then waiting for the spring market.

For your convienence, I have provided the links below to the reports on the different areas of the HRM.

Halifax and the Peninsula

Bedford and Hammonds Plains

Dartmouth, Cole Harbour and the Eastern Passage

Sackville and Fall River

As always, I can be contacted by e-mail: bruce@listhalifax.com or cell: 497-6865.

Cheers,

Bruce Annis, Halifax REALTOR®

Yesterday, I commented on sales trends and statistics for Dartmouth, Cole Harbour, and Eastern Passage. I will finish off today with Sackville and the Fall River area focusing on single family detached homes.

Key indicators for any Real Estate market are:

• Price Trends: the direction where housing prices are going.
• Absorption Rates: the number of weeks a house can be expected to remain on the market based on the previous months sales. This is a very strong indicator in determining if a current market is a “Buyer’s market” or a ”Seller’s market”.

Below are price and absorption rates for single detached homes:

xxx

Good gains in the price of single family homes can be seen over the past 12 months. What is surprising is the level of  Buyer’s market status those areas are currently experiencing. If you are selling or planning to sell your home located in the Beaverbank, Upper Sackville or Fall River area, you should be prepared for your home to spend a lengthy amount of time on the market. I do not think prices will start to decline, however, I am not expecting any increases over the next 6 months. The Sackville area is also a  Buyer’s market right now, but I would say it is only slighly weighted  in favor of the buyer.

As always, I can be contacted by e-mail: bruce@listhalifax.com or cell: 497-6865.

Cheers,

Bruce Annis, Halifax REALTOR®