Fred Pollock

Nanaimo, BC Sales of single-family homes in March board-wide dipped by 23 per cent year over last year. Last month, 309 single-family homes sold on the Multiple Listing Service® System compared to 399 in March 2018. In the apartment and townhouse categories, sales dropped by 10 percent and 30 percent, respectively. The negative shock to affordability and purchasing power created by the stress test is expected to continue preventing many buyers from entering the housing market

The immaculately kept Willow Park is a gated 55+ community. It is truly an urban setting in a suburb. This mobile park backs onto a green space like no other. There are endless hiking trails weaving their way around Mt. Benson, to Westwood Lake, a jewel of a park that has it all; sparkling clear waters to swim, fish and kayak in, and of course a fabulous beach area where you work on your tan. Morrell Sanctuary and Buttertubs Marsh are yet two more wonderful areas where you ca

Some people will tell you that North Nanaimo is the ONLY place to buy a home. That couldn't be further from the truth!! Not only is the Old City Quarter alive and well, it is a vibrant and THRIVING gem, one is is sought out for being one of the few truly walking neighbourhoods in Nananimo. The area is a charming mix of re-vitalized heritage homes and buildings. It is perfect for those who desire to live nestled near a collection of eclectic specialty shops and services, bou

You named your first car Babe Magnet. You named your last boat Negative Equity. Shouldn’t your house have a name that reflects its personality too? Naming a house isn’t something new. Historically, houses were not organized by number, or even by street. They sprang up sporadically like mushrooms all over the countryside, often with nothing but a wagon wheel pathway connecting it to the rest of the world. Without an adhoc layout, how then could a pastor or pal find you? Or ho

“Older home of diminished value.” In the Realtor.ca world, this description can be baffling. Does it mean house prices have dropped in the area? Does it mean the place needs fixing up? Or does it mean the dud needs tearing down? While I pride myself on the clear, concise descriptions I write for every home I list, a few realtors specialize in cryptography. Well, have no fear, I am here to decode their words for you . . . 1) “Newer well, septic, and roof is sitting in sunny lo

Nanaimo has some quirky street names . . . Bergen-op-zoom, Dingle Bingle Hill, and Twiggly Wiggly Road, to name a few. And of course there is the charming “Sherwood Forest” Community, bearing street names such as Robin Hood Drive, Sherriff Way, and King Richard Drive. There are names that reflect the surrounding natural beauty, such as Arbutus Avenue, Rhodo Way, and Hydrangea Hill. Fur, feather, and fin are also well represented with the likes of Cougar Ridge Place, Hummingbi

Ahhh . . . Thank you NANAIMO for creating this delicious bar that is a absolute favourite from coast to coast to coast. But why stop at just ONE local specialty? We think EVERY neighbourhood in Nanaimo should have its own, customized treat. Today, we give you the spicy Cinna-Bar, for Cinnabar Valley, of course!! Base: 2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut ⅓ cup icing sugar, sifted 2 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted ½ tsp cinnamon ¼ tsp salt ½ cup unsalted but

Ah, old homes . . . gotta love them. Builders of bygone eras were craftsmen, painstakingly installing custom details such as inlayed hardwood floors, wainscoting, and ornamental plaster work into the houses they built. However, it wasn't just architectural touches they added. No, indeed, a well-heeled home needed a few “extra” features to make it complete. A robust 110 years old, my previous home came crowned with a third floor walk-up attic, which the original owner thought

Think your Realtor gets up at ten, quickly submits your home listing to the board, places a phone call for a sign to be placed in your yard, then goes golfing for the rest of the day? As nice as that would be, it is about as realistic as a Ferengi buying your house for full list price. Do you really want to know what a Realtor does? Okay – here goes – one day in the life of a Realtor. 7:30 am. Spend half an hour trying to get a hold of a home owner for an unexpected showing t

It is not a good idea to buy a house built on cursed grounds. It is also not a good idea to buy one with poison arrows pointed at it, a cemetery across the street from it, or a dead end street that well, dies right where the front yard begins. All these unlucky locations would kindle sha chi, or a killing energy to you and your family, causing you grief, ill health, bad luck, and poor fortune. At least that is what the rules of feng shui say. Feng shui (rhymes with oy vey!)

Owning your own home has always been the great American (or as it may be, Canadian) Dream. However, did you know ownership comes rift with strange rules and rituals? Here are a few points to ponder. In Pennsylvania, housewives are banned from sweeping dust under the carpet. Where the heck else are you supposed to hide your dirt before that unexpected showing your Realtor just called you about?! Have a pesty rodent in the house? Don't get out the mousetraps just yet. In Ohio,

How the Chase River Got Its Name Chase River is 11 kilometers long, rich with spawning chub and coho salmon. But do you know how this important river got it's name? In the winter of 1853, two young native men, a Cowichan Native and Siamsit, a Snuneymux Native, were suspected of shooting Peter Brown, a shepherd working for the Hudson Bay Company at Forest Hill. Governor James Douglas immediately sent out scouts to find the alleged perpetrators. The Cowichan Native was quickly

What’s in a Postal Code? Apparently a lot more than “What’s in a Name?” Your postal code can depict you age, your income, your education level, and even if you prefer golf over snowboarding – at least that is what the data-based product company Environics Analytics believes. They have come up with an online calculator called the Prizm5 that can determine just which of 68 different lifestyles you belong simply by typing in your postal code. Using catchy names like “Lunch at Ti