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Category: <span>Annapolis Valley</span>
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Did you make the right move?

Author: Keith Kucharski
Categories: Annapolis Valley,Buying in Nova Scotia,Choosing a REALTOR,Selling
Walking trail in the Annapolis Valley

During Covid, Nova Scotia experienced a large migration of new residents into the province from other provinces. Many of our newcomers moved here without having lived on the east coast – some even moved here without having ever visited! At the peak of the pandemic some people from out of province were buying houses sight unseen.

Maybe the pandemic was the final straw in driving you toward a lifelong dream of a slower pace of life. Regardless of how you arrived, you’re here now. But did you land in the exact right place for you and your family? I’ve definitely heard stories from people who say they regret moving to Nova Scotia. In fact, I wrote a blog post called “I Regret Moving to Nova Scotia” and it’s one of the most popular posts on my website. However, what if it’s not the move to Nova Scotia you regret, but just the community you choose?

While our province is small, relatively speaking, it’s not homogenous. Living on the French shore in the tiny community of St. Bernard (yes, where that massive old church was up for sale and made headlines across the country) is very different from living in the university towns of Wolfville or Antigonish, or in downtown Dartmouth or suburban Halifax.

As a Nova Scotia REALTOR®, I live roughly halfway between the Annapolis Valley and the South Shore. That puts me in the unique position of being able to serve two of the most picturesque areas of this province. If you’re looking in that area, you can certainly reach out and work with me. I’ve produced a number of guides available here you might find helpful as a buyer.

I’ve also created Move to the Annapolis Valley, a website devoted to detailing what life is really like in small communities in the Valley. Each featured community has information about what it’s like living there from a local perspective, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Most communities and video posts will be added regularly.

Would you like to chat with me about listing your home for sale, and making the move to a community that better fits your needs? I want to help you find your perfect place in this beautiful province. Call me!

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Frenchys Road Trip

Author: Keith Kucharski
Categories: Annapolis Valley,Life in Nova Scotia,South Shore
Frenchys Road Trip

Have you taken a Frenchys Road Trip yet? Any serious fan of the used clothing and household goods store has heard that the best locations are in the Valley, and have either done or dreamed of doing the Valley/South Shore loop. If you’re considering a Frenchys Road Trip, here’s what you need to know.

Frenchys or Frenchy’s? There’s a difference.
Edwin Theriault opened the very first Frenchy’s in Meteghan, and his store “inspired” Guy’s Frenchys, which opened its flagship store in Digby in 1972. Today, Guy’s Frenchys stores are larger and better organized, with higher quality modern items. Frenchy’s original stores are less enjoyable a shopping experience for some, but they typically have more vintage and upper-tier designer pieces. In our list of Frenchys locations below, we’ve noted which stores are which, in case you have a preference for which stores you want to stop in on the loop.

Neither store offers returns or exchanges, but most do have change rooms (dedicated thrifters are still holding a grudge about Value Village permanently removing their change rooms during Covid).

All Guy’s Frenchys locations are open weekdays 9 to 9, Saturdays 9 to 5, and Sundays noon to 5, so a Thursday/Friday or Friday/Saturday Frenchys Road Trip is ideal for giving you the most shopping time.

Frenchys Road Trip

New Minas (Frenchy’s)
927 Commercial Street

Coldbrook (Guy’s)
6931 Highway 1

Berwick (Guy’s)
104 Front Street

Wilmot (Guy’s)
14384 Highway 1

Digby (Guy’s)
343 Conway, Highway 303

Meteghan (Frenchy’s)
2-182 Maxwellton Rd, Meteghan Centre

St. Bernard (Guy’s)
4118 No. 1 Highway

Yarmouth (Guy’s)
10558 Highway 3

Yarmouth (Frenchy’s)
1 Glebe Street

Shelburne (Guy’s)
72 King Street

Liverpool (Guy’s)
344 Main Street

Italy Cross (Frenchy’s)
17198 Fishermen’s Memorial Hwy

Bridgewater (Guy’s)
61 North Street

Frenchys Road Trip

Frenchys Shopping Etiquette
While more Frenchys locations are offering racked clothing (much easier to browse!), most stores still have some clothing, shoes, and household goods in bins. To ensure you avoid dirty looks from Frenchys pros, here are a few tips:

  • Pick a spot in front of your chosen bin, then start selecting items and discarding them in an orderly manner.
  • Don’t toss your discards on someone else’s pile.
  • Don’t grab items from an area someone else is clearly working through.
  • If you’re not sure you want it, add it to your basket anyway. You can always change your mind before you check out.
  • Do inspect items carefully for holes or stains.
  • Do offer to swap spots with someone working in the same bin if you’re done in your area.

Are you considering moving to the Annapolis Valley for a slower pace of life? Check out MovetotheAnnapolisValley.ca to learn more about the various small towns and communities in the Valley.

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Annapolis Valley U-Picks

Author: Keith Kucharski
Categories: Annapolis Valley,Life in Nova Scotia,Moving to Nova Scotia
Annapolis Valley U-Pick

One of the best things about living in Nova Scotia is the easy access to fresh, local, fruits and vegetables during the summer months. Sometimes though, buying your fresh fruit and veg from the many farm market stands or hundreds and hundreds of end-of-driveway market tables just isn’t enough. If you feel the urge to get out to the fields and pick your own blueberries, strawberries, beans, corn, and more, I’ve compiled a list of my favourite Annapolis Valley U-picks.

Dempsey Corner Orchard in Aylesford is our family’s absolute favourite Annapolis Valley U-Picks. They offer fruits and vegetables including squash, pumpkin, corn, potatoes, carrots, onions, and beets. There’s a small farm-themed playground and petting zoo with goats and other farm animals, and there are often kittens playing about. A bakery, tea room, and retail area are onsite, and during special events, they have scavenger hunts, wagon rides, and more.

Noggins Corner Farm in Greenwich is a mixed farm operation that includes a variety of homegrown fruits and vegetables, a dairy, a bustling year-round farm market, and a corn maze.

Spurr Brothers Farms in Melvern Square, near Kingston offers limited berry U-pick, and a fantastic market store. Check their Facebook page before you go to ensure they’re allowing picking.

Blue Ridge Farms outside Berwick offers blueberry U-pick each August.

Morse’s Farm in Berwick offers strawberry U-pick, and a small market with veggies they’ve picked and packed. Check their Facebook page before you visit.

Kennie’s Farm in North Kentville offers U-pick strawberries, beans, peas, and more.

Vital Berry Farms (also known as My Country Magic or Blueberry Acres) in Centreville offers U-pick berries and tomatoes.

Boates Farm in Woodville offers apple and pear U-pick in the fall. Follow them on Facebook for updates.

Arirang Farm in Port Williams offers no spray blueberry U-picking in August.

Make a day of it – visit a U-Pick and one of these popular Annapolis Valley festivals.

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Raise a family in Annapolis Valley

Author: Keith Kucharski
Categories: Annapolis Valley,Buying in Nova Scotia,Life in Nova Scotia,Moving to Nova Scotia
Kids at the beach

Are you thinking of moving to Nova Scotia, and wondering if the Annapolis Valley is a good place to raise a family? In 2017 my wife and I moved to the Annapolis Valley with our then 10, 7, and 6-year-old children, and we’re so happy we did. Here are some of the reasons we love raising our kids in the Annapolis Valley.

Close to nature

We traded in our tiny city suburban backyard for a beach, lake, and forest. But even if you’re moving into one of the towns in the Annapolis Valley, you’ll likely still find nature is much closer than it is where you’re living now. When we lived in Alberta, the closest public beach was a 90-minute drive away, and the ocean was a full province away! Now we spend a lot of spring, summer, and fall hiking and enjoying the hundreds of beaches Nova Scotia has to offer. Because we bought a rural property, we can raise chickens, grow a huge garden, and feel like we’re on vacation as soon as we pull up to the house. The kids get hands-on experience with growing their own food, and their new peer group is also more familiar with this kind of lifestyle. Many of the kids they now socialize with have chickens, barn cats, or horses, and raise animals for food.

A slower pace of life

People often say they want to move to Nova Scotia for a “slower pace of life.” But what does that actually mean? For some, it means enrolling the kids in fewer structured activities and enjoying more leisurely pursuits, such as family board games, fishing, or just spending time together at the waterfront or around a campfire. If you move to a rural part of Nova Scotia to raise a family in the Annapolis Valley, it’s not as easy to access elite-level sports or academics. For instance, many smaller schools don’t offer AP or IB classes in person but do offer them virtually, and clubs like Debate or Coding may not be available at all. Stepping out of the elite level of these pursuits and enjoying them more recreationally might be the right move for your family.

Fewer commercialized activities

There are so many free or inexpensive events and activities in the Annapolis Valley, and the focus is less on attending large-scale, costly events or facilities. When you have to drive an hour to the nearest indoor trampoline park, or 45 minutes to the McDonalds, you just don’t go as often! Instead, you can take in a festival, sign up for a free class with groups like Annapolis Valley Folk School, or visit one of the many beaches, parks, playgrounds, orchards, or farms in the area.

Do you want to learn more about what each of the smaller towns and communities has to offer? Visit my relocation website, MovetotheAnnapolisValley.ca, to find information on places like Berwick, Kingston, Paradise, and more.

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Saving for a down payment on your first home in Nova Scotia

Author: Keith Kucharski
Categories: Annapolis Valley,Buying in Nova Scotia
saving for a down payment

Are you saving for a down payment on your first home? The Nova Scotia government has a program that can help.

If you want to buy your first home, it can feel nearly impossible to save enough money for the downpayment while also paying normal living expenses, such as rent, groceries, and gas. In many cases, the cost to rent can be higher than a mortgage payment, property tax, and home insurance and maintenance combined.

In response to increasing home prices, the province of Nova Scotia has made significant changes to the Down Payment Assistance Program (DPAP) that will help more Nova Scotians who have been saving for a down payment. The program provides eligible homebuyers with an interest-free repayable loan of up to 5% of the purchase price of their first home. This means that instead of having to save up the full downpayment and closing costs for a home, you only need to save enough for things like closing costs and legal fees.

The loan provided under this program is interest-free, repayable over a 10-year period, and must be used for a down payment. The loan cannot be used for financing, closing, or other costs.

The most significant change to the program is an eligibility increase for the home purchase price.

  • Halifax Regional Municipality: $500,000 (up from $300,000). The new maximum loan for a home in this area is $25,000.
  • Northern and Eastern regions (Cumberland, Colchester, Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough, and Cape Breton) and Yarmouth region: $300,000 (up from $200,000). The new maximum loan for a home in this area is $15,000.
  • Annapolis Valley/South Shore: $375,000 (up from $200,000). The new maximum loan for a home in this area is $18,750.

In addition, they have increased the total household income eligibility to $145,000 across the province, up from $75,000.

The province has a comprehensive website with information on the DPAP, available at housing.novascotia.ca/downpayment. There you can find complete eligibility guidelines, details about the application process, and the application forms.

If you’re looking for a Realtor to help you in your home-buying search, I’d be happy to help. Learn more about working with me when buying a home.

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Annapolis Valley Festivals

Author: Keith Kucharski
Categories: Annapolis Valley

With Covid restrictions easing, residents and visitors alike are excited to get back to popular pre-pandemic activities. Nova Scotia is home to hundreds of festivals – here are my favourites in the Annapolis Valley area.

Popular Annapolis Valley festivals

The Apple Blossom Festival is the number one festival in the Annapolis Valley. It kicks off tourism season at the end of May, and features mostly free and family-friendly events in communities throughout the Valley. One don’t-miss event is the Grand Street Parade, but there are also fireworks, brew nights, art events, concerts, and more.

Berwick Gala Days in early September offers up a bunch of fun activities, include a car show, in this quaint little town throughout one weekend in early September.

Kingston is home to the longest running Steer BBQ in North America each July. Enjoy a pancake breakfast, grand street parade, live entertainment, craft fair, dessert contest, children’s activities, an adult dance, and of course, a steer BBQ!

Valley music festivals

Like country music? You’ll love the Fox Mountain Country Music Festival. Held every August in Aylesford, this multi-day event offers 17 hours of live music, workshops, and more. Camping is available!

The Canadian Deep Roots Music Festival brings together a truly fantastic blend of up-and-coming and tried-and-true, performers to their festival stages. Held in late September in Wolfville, this is a must-see for music aficionados.

The Hantsport Music Festival in July is the highlight of a weekend of events to celebrate the greater Hantsport area.

Looking for more festivals and events? Check out ValleyEvents.ca.

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Should I move to Nova Scotia?

Author: Keith Kucharski
Categories: Annapolis Valley,Buying in Nova Scotia,Moving to Nova Scotia

Should you move to Nova Scotia? Here are some of the reasons why the answer might be yes.

Affordable housing

Nova Scotia housing prices were once the envy of the nation. “But there are no jobs!” people used to complain, and certainly a depressed job market was an east coast reality.

However, Nova Scotia is booming, and with remote work finally gaining by leaps and bounds, living in Nova Scotia but working for a remote company is a reality for many.

Though increased demand has driven up the cost of housing and home prices in Nova Scotia are rising faster than nearly anywhere else in the country, homes here are still affordable compared to other areas. We were able to buy an acreage on a lake for a fraction of the price of our suburban home in Alberta. And while our place needed significant repairs (many older Nova Scotia homes do), it was definitely the right decision for us.

Lakefront and oceanside fun

Living near the ocean, “lowers stress and anxiety, increasing an overall sense of well-being and happiness, a lower heart and breathing rate, and safe, better workouts. Aquatic therapists are increasingly looking to the water to help treat and manage PTSD, addiction, anxiety disorders, autism, and more,” says Dr. Wallace J. Nichols in his book Blue Mind.

Whether you choose Halifax, a suburb, a smaller regional centre, or a place out in the sticks, you’re never more than 30 minutes from the ocean, and usually less from a lake. It’s easy to plan a last-minute beach day or get out for a paddle or go fishing when the mood strikes, without having to plan a multi-day trip. This province is absolutely spectacular, with stunning shorelines, charming scenery, and the most incredible fall foliage you’ll ever see.

Friendly and welcoming people

While we had family in Nova Scotia (my wife was born and raised in Cole Harbour), we didn’t know anyone in the area of the Annapolis Valley that we moved to. However, East Coasters are a friendly bunch (as long as you don’t complain too much about the things we like, such as stores closing on holidays, or the slower pace of life). Even in the tiniest communities, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to make friends and connections in these close-knit communities. Community suppers, usually held in schools, church basements, and fire halls, are a tradition in Nova Scotia that bring neighbours together to raise funds for projects while sharing delicious, home-cooked food. Volunteering for the local fire department, or a shore clean-up is a sure-fire way to make friends fast.

A thriving cultural scene

Nova Scotia is a musical place, and there is live music everywhere, all the time. And the festivals? There are literally thousands throughout the province all year long (our favourites are the South Shore Lobster Crawl and the Apple Blossom Festival). Keep in mind that the further you buy from Halifax, the less sophisticated or frequent the events and restaurants will be. Each of Nova Scotia’s 7 distinct regions is different, and where one area might have vineyards and five-star restaurants, another might feature golf courses and food trucks.

Are there any downsides to moving to Nova Scotia?

Yes, there definitely are some reasons not to move to Nova Scotia. In fact, there’s enough that I wrote an entire post about it. Check out I Regret Moving to Nova Scotia to read some of the reasons why people might decide against moving to Nova Scotia. Also, don’t hesitate to reach out to me to discuss why you’re considering moving here and how I can help, or download my free Guide to Buying a Home in Nova Scotia for Out of Province Buyers.

Let’s connect! If you’re considering buying or selling property in Nova Scotia, I’m happy to chat, with no obligation. If you’d rather call or text, you can reach me at (902) 349-1022.

keith@keithkucharski.com

© 2024 Keith Kucharski, RE/MAX REALTOR®. All rights reserved.