Courtesy of Amanda Milford

AMANDA MILFORD PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

TOP 1.2% FVREB 2024

604.330.2975 amanda.milford@theagencyre.com

THE AGENCY - WHITE ROCK A Global Marketing and Sales Organization

TheAgencyRE.com | white-rockproperty.com

2025 | ISSUE 9

FALL DECOR TRENDS

With the warm and sunny days of summer slowly transforming to cooler autumn weather, home decor trends are also shifting and retro is making a comeback. According to the Pinterest Fall 2025 Trend Report, searches for “thrifted decor” and “thrifted kitchen” are leading the pack and transforming homes everywhere. Thrifted items are not only sustainable and budget-friendly, but they allow you to curate a look that is uniquely yours. When thrifting this fall, to keep in line with trends, look for polka dots on anything from serving dishes to area rugs to bedding. Also, keep an eye out for items in the Art Deco style, characterized by bold geometric patterns, rich colours, brass, chrome, lacquered wood and other elements that bring you back to the 1920s and 1930s. The colours of fall seem to be trending toward caffeine-inspired shades, which are perfect for creating a cozy and comfortable aesthetic perfect for the season.

Easy CHICKEN MARSALA

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil • 4 (6 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves • 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms • ¼ cup chopped green onion

• ⅓ cup Marsala wine • salt and pepper to taste • ⅓ cup heavy cream • ⅓ cup milk

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute chicken in hot oil until cooked through and juices run clear, about 15 to 20 minutes. 2. Add mushrooms and green onions to the pan and saute until soft, then add Marsala wine and bring to a boil.

3. Continue to boil for 2 to 4 minutes, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in cream and milk and simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE GREAT TO START, BUT YOU HAVE TO START TO BE GREAT.”

ZIG ZIGLAR

CREDIT SCORE Maintaining or building a good credit score is imperative if you’re looking to buy a home in the near future (or a vehicle or another large purchase where you’ll need a lender to extend credit). The score, a number between 300 and 900, helps lenders determine how much of a risk you are. Based on that, they decide whether to lend you money in the form of a loan or mortgage, and if so, how much interest to charge you. Five factors contribute to your score: payment history, credit utilization, credit history, credit mix and hard credit inquiries. Various lenders (and the credit bureaus) weigh each factor differently, so your credit score may differ slightly from what you see when you pull it versus what your bank sees, for instance. The two credit bureaus in Canada are Equifax and Trans Union and both allow you to look at your credit report once a year at no cost. It doesn’t count as a credit inquiry and won’t impact your score overall, so don’t worry about requesting it. Once you know where you’re sitting, you can take steps to improve your credit score or maintain it if it falls in the very good or excellent categories (above 725 and 760 respectively).

YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY

Libraries offer so much more than just books. The majority of public libraries across the country are free and all you need to obtain a library card is ID and proof of address. Once you have a library card, so many free resources are available to you. Of course it depends on your local branch, but free Wi-Fi, use of a computer and printer, quiet working space and a community hub are some of the physical benefits aside from books, magazines and reference materials. Librarians are also on hand to help you find reference material, connect you with programming and help you find just the right book to cozy up to next weekend. Digitally, many libraries offer access to ebooks, audiobooks, streaming movies and music. Online courses to develop life skills, further your career or just general interest courses are available to help you grow your knowledge. Beyond these, some libraries provide access to cutting-edge technology such as 3D printers, virtual reality headsets and coding workshops. They also host community programs including workshops, story times for children, book clubs and cultural events, which foster community engagement and lifelong learning.

FALL JOKES What’s the best thing to put into a pumpkin pie? Your teeth.

Star Puzzle To complete the puzzle fill in each of the empty hexagon cells with numbers between 1 and 7 following the 3 rules:

Why do birds fly south in the fall? It’s too far to walk.

1. No numbers in a

horizontal line can be repeated. 2. No numbers in a diagonal line can be repeated. 3. No numbers in the 7 gray hexagons can be repeated.

What’s an elephant’s favourite vegetable? Squash. What do you call a small pepper in late fall? A little chili. Why did the tree giggle? It heard acorn-y joke .

Solution

Declining prices and high inventory strengthen buyer’s market heading into fall

$1,436,800 detached DOWN 5.7% year-to-year

8.91%

$514,100 apartment DOWN 5.9% year-to-year DOWN 4.5% year-to-year $807,800 townhouse

SALES TO ACTIVE LISTING RATIO

11.2

MONTHS OF INVENTORY

10,445

ACTIVE LISTINGS

BENCHMARK PRICES

apartment 2,540 1,781 townhouse

detached 3,769

2,793

NEW LISTINGS

Statistics reflect market activity in August 2025 | Source: FVREB ® Fraser Valley Real Estate Board Market values stated are of the benchmark of Fraser Valley and surrounding region. Individual home market values will vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to-date evaluation of your home.

931 SOLD LISTINGS

SOUTH SURREY & WHITE ROCK MARKET UPDATE – SEPTEMBER 2025

presentation, pricing, and patience are critical. Buyers are cautious but serious, and they’re responding to properties that show well and reflect today’s market reality — not last year’s. LOOKING AHEAD The economic uncertainty of 2025 has already been priced into the market, which is why we’re seeing this steady softening. The next interest rate announcement on Sept 17 could set the tone for how fall unfolds, but the fundamentals of choice, value, and slower pacing are already shaping decisions. A NOTE FOR FAMILIES IN TRANSITION Many of you are in a season of big decisions — whether it’s downsizing into something easier, upsizing for a few more years with kids at home, or helping parents and young adults make the right move. The good news is that today’s market gives you the time and flexibility to align your next step with your long-term plans. As always, I’m here to guide you through not only the numbers but the life transitions behind them.

The latest numbers confirm what many of you may already be sensing: the market is moving slowly, and it continues to favour buyers. • Average sale price is down 9.7% • Sales volume is down 41.7% — the lowest since 2023 • Sales-to-active ratio is 5.5% (buyers’ market) • Days on market are up 15.9% • Only 4.1% of all listings were successfully sold in August (37 out of 901 total listings) WHAT THIS MEANS FOR BUYERS For those looking to move up, downsize, or help family with their next step, the advantage is clear: more choice, softer prices, and less pressure to rush. This kind of market allows you to negotiate boldly, particularly on homes that have been sitting for a while where sellers may be more motivated. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR SELLERS On the flip side, sellers are competing in an environment where fewer than 1 in 20 homes listed actually sell. That means

COMPLIMENTS OF

604.330.2975 amanda.milford@theagencyre.com AMANDA MILFORD PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

Thank you Kevin for referring me to your friends. I truly appreciate your trust and look forward to seeing you at my VIP Event later this year!

THE AGENCY - WHITE ROCK A Global Marketing and Sales Organization

THE AGENCY WHITE ROCK IS AN INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED FRANCHISEE.

Privacy Disclosure: We respect your privacy. The sponsor indicated on the front panel provides a complimentary subscription of this publication to you, a valued client. If at any time or for any reason you do not want to receive this publication, please contact the sponsor using any of the contact info on the front panel, and your personal information will be removed from the mailing list immediately. Without response to this cancellation offer, we assume your implied consent and permission to continue provision. Disclaimer: This publication is distributed for the purpose of information only. It is not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract by a real estate firm or under contract with another Broker or Mortgage Specialist, nor is it intended to cause or induce breach of any existing agreement. Distributed by: dmsmarketing.ca Copyright© 2025 All Rights Reserved / Printed on recyclable material. The trademarks REALTOR ® , REALTORS ® and the REALTOR ® logo are controlled by CREA and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA.