Courtesy of Ryan Torris

HOME YOUR Your Good Neighbour. Your Real Estate Concierge.

R yan T orris Real Estate Agent, 1forAll Charity Contributor, SRES ® , REALTOR ® TOP PRODUCER 403.710. SOLD (7653) concierge@blackrockre.ca www.blackrockre.ca @blackrockre

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

LOWEST FEBRUARY INVENTORY SINCE 2006

CALGARY

AIRDRIE

BENCHMARK PRICE Current: $530,900 Last Mo.: 1.9 % Last Yr.: 1.5 %

BENCHMARK PRICE Current: $487,200 Last Mo.: 1.5 % Last Yr.: 0%

Calgary, March 1, 2023 – Consistent with typical seasonal behavior sales, new listings and inventory levels all trended up compared to last month. However, with 1,740 sales and 2,389 new listings, inventory levels improved only slightly over the last month and remained amongst the lowest February levels seen since 2006. “While higher lending rates are impacting sales activity as expected, we are seeing a stronger pullback in new listings, keeping supply levels low and supporting some stronger-than expected monthly price gains,” said CREB ® Chief Economist AnnMarie Lurie. “Prices are still below the May 2022 peak and it is still early in the year. However, if we do not see a shift in supply, we could see further upward pressure on prices over the near term.” Both sales and new listings declined over last year’s record high for the month. While sales activity remained stronger than long-term trends and levels reported throughout the 2015 to 2020 period, new listings fell below long-term trends. With a sales-to-new-listings ratio of 73 percent and months of supply of under two months, the market has struggled to move into balanced territory causing further upward pressure on home prices. The unadjusted benchmark price increased by nearly two percent over January levels and last year’s prices.

DAYS ON MARKET

DAYS ON MARKET

24

33

NEW LISTINGS

NEW LISTINGS

2,389

166

ACTIVE LISTINGS

ACTIVE LISTINGS

2,750

178

SOLD LISTINGS

SOLD LISTINGS

1,740

100

Source: CREB ®

Stats Reflective of Feb. 2023 Source: CREB ®

Stats Reflective of Feb.- 2023 Source: CREB ®

Market values stated are of the average of Calgary. 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.

Market values stated are of the average of Airdrie. 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.

Please spread the word! Have friends or family moving? Don’t hesitate to pass them my info. P.S. I always take good care of my referring clients!

R yan T orris Real Estate Agent, 1forAll Charity Contributor, SRES ® , REALTOR ® TOP PRODUCER 403.710. SOLD (7653) concierge@blackrockre.ca www.blackrockre.ca @blackrockre

201, 120 2nd Ave NE Airdrie, AB T4B 2N2

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