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

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

MARKET SLOWER THAN IN JULY BUT STILL AHEAD OF LAST YEAR

PARKSVILLE-QUALICUM

$530,300 apartment UP 4.3% year-to-year

$925,800 detached UP 1.0% year-to-year

$637,000 townhouse DOWN 0.1% year-to-year

BENCHMARK PRICES

57 TOTAL SOLD LISTINGS

Nanaimo, September 2, 2025 - The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) recorded 692 unit sales (all property types) in August 2025, up six per cent from one year ago. Year-over-year active listings (all property types) were 4,405, down three per cent from the previous year. Active listings of single-family homes were 1,424 last month compared to 1,564 in August 2024. VIREB’s inventory of condo apartments was 396 in August, down from the 437 listings posted one year ago. There were 355 row/townhouses for sale last month compared to 364 in August 2024. VIREB Chair Olivier Naud notes that VIREB’s housing market is in the mid-range of balanced, with approximately six months of inventory. “August was slower than July, but that’s typical with back to school on the horizon,” says Naud. “However, sales were up from the previous August, and our market is proving to be resilient. There is pent-up demand but still some hesitancy that we attribute to ongoing tariff concerns.” The Parksville Qualicum area saw its benchmark price increase by one per cent to $925,800. Stats Reflective of August 2025 | 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.

Call me with all your real estate needs and questions.

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

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