Courtesy of Natalie King

Direct: 778-870-4323 | natalieking@live.ca www.NatalieKingHomes.com Natalie King Real Estate Agent

Selling Real Estate Since 2005 with Integrity, Dignity, and Grace. Always making my clients #1 goals, my #1 goals. Providing my clients with genuine professionalism throughout their Real Estate experience, while decreasing any stressors or difficulties with authentic care.

2026 | ISSUE 9

RETHINKING THE OPEN FLOOR PLAN

Open-concept homes are popular but shifting family needs, increased work-from-home and more families living together mean modern households often need more separation. Open layouts offer benefits like larger rooms, more natural light and easier conversation while cooking or relaxing. Households are also seeking clearer boundaries between work, school, relaxation and everyday chores. The challenge is that a single large room does not always translate into a single useful one. A laptop on the dining table, a television in the living room and a busy kitchen can quickly compete for attention. The best floor plan is not necessarily the trendiest one, but one that fits how you actually live. For many households it could simply be enough openness, keeping a home feeling spacious with enough separation to make each area work together. Half walls or glass doors, rugs and furniture like bookcases or tables can serve as visual boundaries. The aim isn’t necessarily to build more walls but to make the space easier to define. Before permanent changes try temporary dividers or different furniture arrangements for a while. Observe how people move, where noise collects and which areas feel crowded or exposed. This trial can show whether a change improves daily life and helps avoid costly mistakes.

CLASSIC SOUTHERN Cornbread

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups flour • 1 cup cornmeal • 1 cup sugar • 1½ tbsp baking powder • 1 tsp salt

• ½ cup melted butter • ½ cup oil • 1 ¼ cups milk • 3 large eggs for the wet mixture • Honey and extra butter for serving, optional

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. 2. Whisk the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. 3. Mix the melted butter, oil, milk and eggs together in a separate medium bowl. 4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until the batter is combined. 5. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake for 35–45 minutes, until golden and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean or with only a few crumbs.

THE MOST AWKWARD THING IS THE DECISION TO ACT; THE REST IS MERELY TENACITY.”

AMELIA EARHART

A fall window check is a simple task that can make a home more comfortable before the first cold snap. Inspect windows and doors early, look for worn seals and address concerns before winter weather makes them harder to fix. A few minutes of checking can help homeowners understand how their home responds to colder temperatures and decide whether it needs further attention. On a cool day, run your hand along the edges of windows and doors. If you feel moving air, inspect the weatherstripping and seals for signs of wear. A draft does not automatically mean the window needs replacing. The problem could be a worn seal, a gap around the frame or another part of the wall. Checking the likely source first can help avoid assuming that a major replacement is necessary. For any unclear or more serious issues calling a professional may be necessary. STOP FALL DRAFTS EARLY

COFFEE SHOP WORD SEARCH

BARISTA CAPPUCINO CHEESECAKE

COOKIES CROISSANT ESPRESSO

LATTE MILKSHAKE MOCHA

MUFFIN SYRUP

SOLUTION

WHY WE KEEP A JUNK DRAWER

Almost every home has one: a random drawer filled with batteries, tape, keys, scissors and mystery hardware. A junk drawer is not a sign of poor organization sometimes it is simply a practical home for small items that do not have a better place. The problem starts when the drawer becomes a catch-all for everything, to the point that you can’t find the things you need. Reset it when it gets too full. Paperwork, broken items, dried-out pens and old batteries can quickly crowd out the things you actually need. Start by emptying the drawer, wiping it clean and sorting the contents into groups. Throw away broken or unusable items, move things that belong elsewhere and consider small trays or dividers for tools, office supplies and other odds and ends. Pay special attention to anything that can leak, expire, break or become unsafe over time.

Home sales continue downward trend to close the summer

$686,200 apartment

$1,799,400 detached DOWN 7.2% year-to-year

DOWN 6.6% year-to-year

$1,028,800 attached DOWN 4.5% year-to-year

BENCHMARK PRICES

15,798 ACTIVE LISTINGS 1,869 SOLD LISTINGS

detached 5,824 6,527 apartment detached 557 891 apartment

45.6% SALES TO NEW LISTING RATIO

4,100 NEW LISTINGS

50 DAYS ON MARKET (detached)

8.5 MONTHS OF INVENTORY

VANCOUVER, BC (September 2026) — Home sales registered on the MLS ® in Metro Vancouver* declined 4.6 per cent compared to August last year, marking the end of a summer season that underperformed the summer of 2025. The Greater Vancouver REALTORS ® (GVR) reports that residential sales in the region totalled 1,869 in August 2026, a 4.6 per cent decrease from the 1,959 sales recorded in August 2025. This was 20.7 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (2,356). “The soft August sales data suggest the modest downward revisions we recently made to our 2026 forecast were a timely and prudent decision,” said Andrew Lis, GVR chief economist and vice-president data analytics. “The market’s performance matched our expectations for the first four months of 2026, but since May, sales have lagged our January forecast, and we expect that trend to persist to the end of the year.” There were 4,100 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service ® (MLS ® ) in Metro Vancouver in August 2026, representing a three per cent decrease compared to the 4,225 properties listed in August 2025. The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS ® system in Metro Vancouver is 15,798, a 2.7 per cent decrease compared to August 2025 (16,242). Across all detached, attached and apartment property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for August 2026 is 12.3 per cent. Sales of detached homes in August 2026 reached 557. The benchmark price for a detached home is $1,799,400, representing a 7.2 per cent decrease from August 2025.Sales of apartment homes reached 891 in August 2026. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $686,200, translating to a 6.6 per cent decrease from August 2025.Attached home sales in August 2026 totalled 412. The benchmark price of a townhouse is $1,028,800; this represents a 4.4 per cent decrease from August 2025. Statistics reflect market activity in August 2026 | Source: Greater Vancouver REALTORS ® (GVR) | Market values stated are of the benchmark of Vancouver 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.

Natalie King Real Estate Agent Direct: 778-870-4323 | natalieking@live.ca www.NatalieKingHomes.com

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