Courtesy of Mary-Ann Kennedy

PARKSVILLE QUALICUM BEACH REALTY

Mary-Ann Kennedy Real Estate Agent, REALTOR ® Office 250.248.4321 | Cell 250.616.2332 maryann@maryannkennedy.ca maryannkennedy.ca

173 Island W Hwy Parksville, BC V9P 2H1

YOUR HOME GUIDE

Volume 16 | Number 3

THE VERSATILITY OF LED LIGHTING

Since the dawn of time humans have struggled to find ways to illuminate their living spaces. Our ancestors used numerous methods from flaming torches to oil and gas lamps, while more recent generations developed and continued to improve on the incandescent electric light bulb. In the 21st Century the LED bulb is quickly becoming the go-to norm when it comes to lighting our world. But what exactly are LED (Light-Emitting Diode) lights? In essence an LED light is a small glass or durable plastic light bulb that shines when an electric current passes through it. Some of the primary advantages of LEDs over traditional incandescent light bulbs are that they last far longer, use much less electricity, come in a variety of different colours, don’t get as hot and some can even be made programmable. LED lights are used in a variety of different applications, not just for household lighting. LED bulbs are found in everything from holiday decorations to flashlights as well as in a host of automotive related uses. As the LED technology continues to improve, innovative designers are expected to find even more uses for these versatile products. For the homeowner LEDs are a lighting option that are useful in several different areas of the home including: Lighting Strips: As the cost of producing LEDs continue to drop consumers can expect to find more LED strips factored into home décor. A lighting strip can add mood and coziness to any room, in addition to added safety, especially around stairways or along steps (inside and out). Smart Lightbulbs: LED smart lightbulbs provide users a variety of different options including the ability to change or adjust the colour, brightness, tint and even the on-off schedule of the bulb – right from your smartphone. Systems of this sort are simple to set up and allow for changes to be made from anywhere – even while away on holiday. An especially important capability when it comes to security of an empty house. LEDs Outdoors: LEDs are not only for the inside of the home – they’re just as effective outdoors. Some exterior applications for LED lighting include illuminating the backyard and walkways/garden paths. The ruggedness of the bulbs coupled with the low energy consumption make them the perfect cost effective way to add exterior security to your home and yard.

Courtesy of www.foodnetwork.com CHICKEN WITH CREAMY MUSHROOMS AND SNAP PEAS

INGREDIENTS : 4 chicken cutlets (about 1 1/4 pounds), patted dry Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 2 tablespoons vegetable oil All-purpose flour, for dredging

1 tablespoon unsalted butter 2 scallions thinly sliced 8 ounces mushrooms (button, cremini, shiitake or a combination), quartered 1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

3/4 cup heavy cream 2 cups sugar snap peas stemmed and halved lengthwise

DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat the oven to 200°F. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet. Dredge 2 chicken cutlets in flour, shake off any excess and place in the skillet. Cook until golden, about 1 1/2 minutes per side; transfer to a baking dish. Repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and the other 2 chicken cutlets. Cover the dish loosely with foil; place in the oven while you prepare the vegetables. 2. Add the butter to the hot skillet, then add the scallions and mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms brown, about 4 minutes. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Cook until the liquid is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the cream and boil until the sauce thickens slightly, 3 to 4 more minutes. Stir in the snap peas and heat through, season with salt and pepper. Serve the chicken topped with the creamy vegetables.

MUSIC COMES FROM AN ICICLE AS IT MELTS, TO LIVE AGAIN AS SPRING WATER. -Henry Williamson

Henry William Williamson (1895 – 1977) was an English writer who wrote novels concerned with wildlife, English social history and ruralism. He was awarded the Hawthornden Prize for literature in 1928 for his book "Tarka the Otter." He was born in London and raised in a semi-rural area where he developed a love of nature, and nature writing.

HIRING AN INTERIOR DESIGNER OR AN INTERIOR DECORATOR

Moving into a new home affords you the opportunity to create spaces that are aesthetically pleasing, make you and your family comfortable and provide functionality. For some, this comes easily and doesn’t require a second thought. For others, it's a struggle that warrants the hiring of a professional. But what professional do you need exactly? If your goal is to have your home look a specific way – minimalistic, country chic, contemporary, rustic – your best course of action is to consult with an Interior Decorator. These experts use décor, paint colour, flooring and furniture to make a space look put together and attractive. Ask for their portfolio with examples of past work as well as references of past clients to ensure their skillset suits your needs. On the other hand, if you want the spaces in your home to function a certain way, you will want to consult an Interior Designer. Designers take a more holistic approach, envisioning and designing the space from scratch. A designer’s focus is more involved with core elements such as architecture, structure and functionality. They often have professional certification and can use knowledge and experience to create living spaces that meet your family’s specific needs.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT NEIGHBOURHOOD FOR YOUR NEW HOME

While it may sound easy, choosing a neighbourhood to live in can be a much harder task than you first imagine. After all, if you buy a house you’re going to be in that area for a long time. Making a commitment like that deserves as much planning and research beforehand as possible. Here are some criteria you might want to consider when settling on a neighbourhood to live in. Safety? You’ll want to know that you and your family are going to be safe in your new home. Check with city hall or the local police department to determine what areas of a community have the lowest crime rates. If you narrow your search to a few select areas do a walk around on your own. Talk to local shopkeepers and others who live and work in the area to get their opinion. They're likely willing to share experiences and thoughts. Noise? You may not think about sound, but background noises can impact the enjoyment of an area. If you like a certain section of

the community, but realize a busy highway, railway tracks, airport or industrial facility are nearby, that could have a very unpleasant influence on your day-to-day existence. You don’t want to move into your new home to only discover that freight trains are at their busiest at 3:00am. Transit? Not everyone owns a car. If going to school or to work requires travel, it’s important to learn beforehand where the local transit routes are. If you're a regular user, ensure you’re comfortable with the distance to connect with your ride. Streetlights? Much like background sound may not be uppermost in your mind when house-hunting, how well an area is served by lighting could be another factor you’ve not considered. Visiting a selected area during the day won’t provide much information about this overlooked feature, but a trip through the neighbourhood at night will.

BRAIN TEASERS Courtesy of www.goodhousekeeping.com

1. What is the longest word in the dictionary? 2. Throw away the outside and cook the inside, then eat the outside and throw away the inside. What is it? 3. What has hands but cannot clap? 4. Four cars come to a four-way stop, each coming from a different direction. They can’t decide who got there first, so they all go forward at the same time. All 4 cars go, but none crash into each other. How is this possible?

hand turns.

2. Corn on the cob. 3. A clock. 4. They all made right

there is a mile between each ‘s’.

Answers: 1. Smiles, because

WORD FIT A word fit is a bit like a crossword, except that instead of clues we give you the answeers, and your challenge is to fit them into the spaces.

WORDS TO FIT

• Badger • Lion • Reindeer • Elephant

• Monkey • Gorilla • Rat

Courtesy of www.freeprintablepuzzles.co.uk

Market picking up steam as we head towards spring

PARKSVILLE-QUALICUM

$450,200 apartment DOWN 6.6% year-to-year

$848,100 detached DOWN 8.3% year-to-year

$648,100 townhouse DOWN 9.7% year-to-year

BENCHMARK PRICES

36 TOTAL SOLD LISTINGS

March 2023 – Last month, 220 single-family homes sold in the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) area, a 37 percent decrease from one year ago (350) and a 33 percent increase from January 2023 (165). Sales of condo apartments in February 2023 came in at 64, declining by 40 percent year over year and increasing by 52 percent from the previous month. In the row/townhouse category, 50 units changed hands in February, down 44 percent from one year ago and up by 39 percent from January. Inventory continues to post gains but is still below ideal for a balanced market. Active listings of single family homes were 937 in February, up from 345 one year ago and 861 in January. VIREB’s inventory of condo apartments hit 253 last month, up

from 116 listings one year ago and 239 in January. There were 251 row/townhouses for sale last month compared to 66 one year ago and 239 the previous month. Although listings have increased from the depleted level seen at the beginning of 2022, they’re still low compared to historical levels,” says O’Dwyer. “As a result, we’re not expecting supply to normalize until some time in 2026, and weak inventory will put more pressure on prices when demand increases.” The Parksville-Qualicum area saw its benchmark price drop by eight percent to $848,100. Stats Reflective of February 2023 | Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board | Market values stated are of the benchmark of Parksville-Qualicum. 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.

Mary-Ann Kennedy Real Estate Agent, REALTOR ® Office 250.248.4321 | Cell 250.616.2332 maryann@maryannkennedy.ca maryannkennedy.ca Call me with all your real estate needs and questions.

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