Courtesy of Joe Bradshaw

Joe Bradshaw compliments of Real Estate Associate

joesellsedmonton@gmail.com www.homesandgardensrealestate.com 780.940.1640

The highest compliment my clients can give me is the referral of family, friends and co-workers. Thank you for your continuing trust.

Volume 14 Number 4

CURRENT KITCHEN DESIGN TRENDS 2021 is well on its way, and a few kitchen trends have emerged as frontrunners. First up – light coloured countertops. While the beginning of 2020 saw darker countertops trending, a growing desire for a softer, uplifting vibe in the home means white, beige and grey countertops are popping up everywhere. Next – faucets. And more specifically, touchless faucets. Turn the water on with a wave of your hand to avoid spreading germs – and to avoid leaving those annoying fingerprints all over your faucet. Last up – slim appliances. Great for

smaller homes, condos and people who’ve recently downsized, a variety of brands have released appliances that take up much less space. For example, while an average-sized refrigerator is 30-36 inches wide, Fisher & Paykel’s new thin fridge is only 24 inches. And it looks really beautiful too!

LOW-CARB ZUCCHINI FRITTERS

INGREDIENTS: 3 medium zucchini 2 large eggs 2 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons coconut flour 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon dried parsley 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for sweating zucchini

DIRECTIONS: 1. Dice the zucchini. Add to a food processor. Pulse until shredded, scrap down sides as needed. 2. Transfer the zucchini to a strainer, then

place in a large bowl. Lightly salt and let sit (or “sweat”) for 20 minutes, tossing occasionally. The salt will help draw the excess moisture out of the zucchini. 3. Wrap the zucchini in a clean cloth. Firmly squeeze the zucchini to remove more moisture, repeating as needed. 4. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs. Combine the shredded zucchini, eggs, garlic, spices, coconut flour and Parmesan cheese (if using) in a large bowl. Stir well. If the mixture is too watery, add more coconut flour, one tablespoon at a time. 5. Warm oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Form 1/4 cup scoops of zucchini mixture into small patties. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Repeat with remaining mixture, add more oil as necessary. 6. Serve warm and with sour cream, scallions and more parsley. Or enjoy all on their own!

Courtesy of www.ehow.com

MUST-HAVE HOME FEATURES The experts at HGTV have released a list of must-have features, and while the term “must-have” should be taken with a grain of salt, there’s a good reason these features are being touted – they’re a perfect balance of pretty and practical. Take the office-nook for example. HGTV calls a work-from-home space “essential,” but not everyone has an extra bedroom that can act as an office. Instead, a small nook underneath the stairs or in the corner of your kitchen or bedroom can provide you with everything a home office needs – in a fraction of the space. Another highly recommended feature is a good-sized, well-organized pantry. Keep in mind that “good- sized” is a relative term. It’s what you do within the space that’s important. Think multiple shelves, bins, baskets – and labels if you want to take your pantry organization one step further. Heading outdoors, HGTV experts are saying that a space to dine and hang out beyond your four walls is vital. Even if all you have is a small balcony, you can turn it into an oasis with comfortable seating, mood lighting for the evenings, and plenty of potted plants. Lastly, the trend towards living a more eco-conscious lifestyle continues to grow. And there are so many ways you can green your home. From replacing inefficient windows to investing in solar panels – even installing a DIY rain-catcher can make a difference. Keep in mind though, that the most important must-have feature in your home is that it reflects you and your family’s likes and needs.

HOW TO MAKE POTS WITH NEWSPAPER An easy, thrifty and eco-friendly way to start your seeds indoors. All you’ll need is a full sheet newspaper, a pair of scissors and a clean tin can. Step 1: Fold the newspaper in half, cut along the crease. Each piece makes one pot. Fold the half pieces in half again and then fold an inch-wide lip on the open side. Step 3: Roll the newspaper around the can, leave two inches overhang on the bottom. Fold over these two inches to make the bottom. Step 4: Slide the can out while holding the bottom of the newspaper pot and fold the lip over again inside the pot to secure the folds. Step 5: Your seedlings are ready to be placed directly into the dirt!

DECLUTTER YOUR HOUSE WITH THESE 30 MINUTE PROJECTS

Decluttering is one of the most important things a homeowner needs to do when prepping for a sale. Of course, it’s also one of the most difficult. Decluttering – especially if you’ve lived in your home for a long time – can feel very overwhelming. But thinking of the project as a bunch of small tasks instead of one big job helps it to feel much more manageable. Here are six 30-minute decluttering projects that will get your home sale-ready in no time. • Edit your books. If you’re a booklover, there’s a chance you have amassed quite the collection. Edit that collection and pass some of your books on for others to enjoy. Consider donating some to your local library. Just think about all the people who’ll get to read them! • Clear the kitchen counters. Countertops are notorious for collecting all kinds of odds and ends. Challenge yourself to clear them off almost completely, leaving out only a few of your most-used small appliances. • Go through your bedside table. If your nightstand has a drawer, it’s likely full with papers and other assorted things. Go through it and toss, recycle or donate anything you no longer want or need. Then neatly stack the rest. • Downsize your wardrobe. Almost everyone has a few pieces in their wardrobe that they no longer wear. And depending on the size of your clothing collection – you may have a lot more than a few. If you haven’t worn something in a year, it’s likely time to say goodbye. • Simplify your linen closet. How many extra towels, sheets, blankets and pillows do you actually need? Probably not as many as you have. Much like with your clothing, if you don’t regularly use your linens, you likely don’t need them anymore.

HARD SUDOKU

Use the numbers 1-9 to fill in the numbers exactly once in every row, column, and 3x3 region below.

SOLUTION:

Courtesy of www.puzzles.ca

Residential Unit Sales & New Listings Up for March Edmonton, April 5, 2021: Total residential unit sales in the Greater Edmonton Area (GEA)* real estate market for March 2021 increased 109.9% compared to March 2020 and increased 52.8% from February 2021. All residential average prices are up to $391,219, a 13.7% increase from March 2020, and up 3.5% from February 2021. Single-family homes sold for an average of $457,936, a 13.3% year-over-year increase from March 2020, and a 4.6% increase from February 2021. Condominiums sold for an average of $229,690, a 5.2% increase year- over-year, and prices are down 0.5% compared to February 2021. Duplex prices increased 11.1% from March 2020, selling at $348,280 which was a 1.5% increase from February 2021. “The Edmonton market in March saw a significant increase in year-over-year residential unit sales as well as month-to-month sales,” says REALTORS® Association of Edmonton Chair Tom Shearer. “There have also been more sales of single-family homes, condos and duplexes compared to March of last year as well as last month. It is important to keep in mind what we experienced last March with the global pandemic and provincial lockdowns as it relates to the impact on year-over-year numbers. With that said, we are still witnessing a very strong start to the spring market.” Source: REALTORS ® Association of Edmonton

AVERAGE SALE PRICES

$229,690 condo UP 5.2% year-over-year

$457,936 detached UP 13.3% year-over-year

4,057 6,302

NEW LISTINGS

ACTIVE LISTINGS (residential inventory)

SOLD LISTINGS 2,441

2,253

DAYS ON MARKET

1,281

60%

42

SALES TO LISTING RATIO

Stats are Reflective of March 2021 Source: REALTORS ® Association of Edmonton Market values stated are of the average of Edmonton 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.

single family detached NEW LISTINGS condo

Cell: 780.940.1640 Office: 780.436.1162 Email: joesellsedmonton@gmail.com Web: www.homesandgardensrealestate.com Joe Bradshaw Real Estate Associate 3659 99 St NW Edmonton, AB T6E 6K5

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