October 2022 newsletter – ally and dennis

Welcome to October!

It’s officially Fall, which means that people are on the move to find their new house and property prior to the holiday season.  October is a busy month, and it’s a great time of year to reflect on what we’re thankful for and to make room for new beginnings.

We’re looking forward to Thanksgiving and the chance to give thanks. We appreciate all of those who we’ve had the pleasure to work with and your continued support so here is a big thank you! 

Fall is always a great time for real estate and this season is no different. The market has seen a shift, and buyers have some reprieve from the intense sellers’ market we have seen but sellers are still seeing sales with strong numbers. 

Keep reading to see market stats, and some more articles and information. If you have any questions about the market and about your real estate investments please do not hesitate to connect as we’re here and happy to help you make educated Real Estate decisions.


Ally and Dennis

Victoria’s summer real estate market conditions push into September

October 3, 2022.  A total of 410 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this September, 46.1 per cent fewer than the 761 properties sold in September 2021 and a 14.2 per cent decrease from August 2022. Sales of condominiums were down 58.8 per cent from September 2021 with 126 units sold. Sales of single-family homes decreased 33.2 per cent from September 2021 with 221 sold.

“September heralds the start of the fall season, which traditionally brings a more active market than what we see in the summer months. October is generally the peak of the fall and winter market,” says Victoria Real Estate Board President Karen Dinnie-Smyth. “This year sales have dropped month over month since May and we saw a reluctant September with some of the lowest sales numbers for that month in decades. While the rate of decrease has slowed due in part to concerns about rising interest rates and inflation, this level of activity may not necessarily reflect the actual demand that exists in the marketplace. While overall activity is below historical norms, well-priced properties are still receiving plenty of attention. Multiple offers on these homes are still quite common, which may not be reflected in the overall statistics, but is noticeable if you are actively buying and selling.”

See the full report HERE.

With December slowly approaching, CFAX Santas Anonymous Society is one of Greater Victoria’s longest-running children’s charities, working diligently to serve families with children in need. It provides much-needed funding for projects and programs that support children, youth (17 and under), and families in Victoria. If you would like to help and contribute there are other options other than donating like volunteering and fundraising whether that’s you creating a fundraiser or finding a fundraiser to join. Click the image below to find out more information on how you can give back to children in need and make their holidays something they truly will remember forever.

This time of year, we start taking out our winter clothing and that can cause problems with already crammed closets. Here are some tips on how to organize and clean the coat closet for a tidier home.

1. Make sure you are storing off-season items. You probably don’t need the bug spray, sunscreen, flip-flops, and beach towels so put those away (under beds is a great place to store those items!).

2. Hang coats by length. That way the shorter items don’t get hidden by larger ones.

3. Use the inside of the door to store things like hats, gloves, and even shoes! There are a multitude of over-the-door storage options you can choose from.

4. Use the shoe rack.  Often, when you get home, the shoes get kicked off and end up in a pile right in the front entry of your home. Try to get into the habit of storing them on a shoe rack.  Bonus – you won’t spend extra time hunting for a shoe!

5. Use the upper shelf. Labelled baskets or clear storage bins are perfect to tuck away mittens, hats, and scarves. Make sure you have a step-stool handy if you can’t reach those bins easily.

Hopefully, these tips will help keep you organized throughout the colder season. If you have other organization ideas, we would love to hear them!