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Category: <span>Buying in Nova Scotia</span>
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Radon Awareness for Nova Scotia Homeowners: Protecting Your Health and Home

Author: Keith Kucharski
Categories: Buying in Nova Scotia,Home Inspections

If you’re thinking of buying a home in Nova Scotia, or if you already own a home in Nova Scotia, it’s important to know the facts about radon.

What is Radon?

Radon is a colorless, odourless, and tasteless radioactive gas that forms naturally in the ground. It’s a byproduct of the decay of uranium, a common element in soil and rocks. When radon is released from the ground, it can seep into buildings, particularly through basements and crawl spaces. This makes it one of the leading causes of lung cancer in non-smokers. Prolonged exposure to elevated radon levels can have severe health consequences, making it crucial for Nova Scotia homeowners to take action.

Why Is Radon a Concern in Nova Scotia?

Nova Scotia has unique geological characteristics that make it prone to radon infiltration. The province is rich in granite and other rocks that contain higher levels of uranium. When these rocks break down, radon is released, and it can easily find its way into your home through cracks and openings in the foundation.

You can view the Radon Risk Map, produced by the Government of Nova Scotia.

The Canadian Guideline for Radon recommends that indoor radon levels should not exceed 200 becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m³). Unfortunately, many homes in Nova Scotia have radon levels that exceed this guideline, putting residents at risk.

Radon levels are not tested by home inspectors as a matter of course, as the testing must run over the course of multiple weeks.

Protecting Your Home

Radon Testing: The first step in protecting your home is to conduct a radon test. Most Nova Scotia libraries offer home radon testing kits that you can borrow for free for two weeks. You can also purchase a do-it-yourself radon test kit, or hire a professional to assess your home’s radon levels. Testing should be done in the lowest livable area of your home (usually the basement or crawl spaces).

Mitigation: If your test results indicate elevated radon levels, it’s essential to mitigate the issue. Radon mitigation systems are designed to redirect radon gas away from your living space. These systems typically involve a fan and a ventilation pipe that safely expels radon outdoors.

Ventilation: Proper ventilation is key to reducing radon levels. Ensure your home is well-ventilated, and consider sealing any cracks or openings in your foundation to prevent radon from entering.

Radon is a hidden threat that every Nova Scotia homeowner should take seriously. By testing your home, investing in mitigation systems, and practicing good ventilation, you can protect your family and loved ones from the dangers of radon.

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Nova Scotia’s Regional Differences

Author: Keith Kucharski
Categories: Annapolis Valley,Buying in Nova Scotia,Life in Nova Scotia,Moving to Nova Scotia,South Shore
Atlantic coast

Nova Scotia may be Canada’s second smallest province but a lot of people misunderstand how diverse Nova Scotia’s regional differences really are. The famous ‘East Coast Lifestyle’ is not a uniform culture from one side of our little province to the other. Here are a few of the most notable regional differences in some popular areas I serve.

Halifax

I can’t count how many clients have asked me, “What city should I move to?” My answer is always the same–there’s only one! Halifax is Nova Scotia’s only city. There are plenty of towns and communities, but Halifax is the only city. It’s home to a beautiful and bustling waterfront, excellent restaurants and nightlife, and many head offices and government offices. If you want the excitement of a city with lots happening every night of the week, Halifax should be your destination.

Annapolis Valley

The Annapolis Valley is known for its fertile farmland, scenic landscapes, and long growing season, so it’s very popular with farmers and gardeners. The Valley tends to have an interesting mix of wealth (mainly around Wolfville and Annapolis Royal), university youth (Wolfville again), and more average areas.

Each community really has its own feel. To help people understand the differences, my wife and I have developed MovetotheAnnapolisValley.ca, a website devoted to helping potential residents learn what it’s like living in the various communities in the Valley. 

South Shore

Nova Scotia’s South Shore is known for its picturesque landscapes, charming fishing villages, historic lighthouses, and stunning beaches. While there are some small agricultural operations and plenty of Christmas tree farms, the soil and weather conditions aren’t as conducive to growing, which might be important to you if you’re dreaming of a large garden.

The South Shore has a strong history of seafaring and fishing heritage, and you’ll find those influences in the people who reside there. There can be some resistance to newcomers on the South Shore, though many people are trying to improve the welcoming nature of the community. If easy access to spectacular public beaches is important to you, you can’t go wrong on the South Shore.

The French Shore

The French Shore is deeply rooted in Acadian history and culture. Acadians are the descendants of French colonists who settled in the region in the 17th century. The French Shore is dotted with picturesque fishing villages that exude a quaint and authentic maritime charm but might feel very remote and cut off from civilization if you’re used to more populated areas.

Though Nova Scotia’s French-speaking population is dispersed throughout the province and 10% of Nova Scotians speak French, most of them live in a concentrated area. Acadians make up the majority of the population in the municipalities of Clare and Argyle on the French shore. 

While you can certainly get by living on the French Shore without speaking French fluently, it’s difficult. Most of the people you’ll meet will prefer to converse in French, while chatting at the grocery store, attending a community supper, in your workplace, etc. If this isn’t a fit for your family, you may feel quite isolated by the language barrier.

Eastern Shore

The Eastern Shore is culturally most similar to the South Shore, with some notable differences. There are fewer wealthy enclaves of retirees and less tourism. Without towns like Chester, Lunenburg, or Mahone Bay to draw in tourists or wealthy retirees from the city or other provinces, there are fewer amenities such as restaurants, theatres, and shops. There are a large number of bedroom communities, where residents commute into the city to work, play, and shop, and head home to sleep and relax. There are some beautiful walking trails and beaches on the Eastern Shore.

 

Are you interested in looking at properties in one of these areas? Give me a call at (902) 349-1022 and let’s chat.

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Is Tap Water Safe in Nova Scotia?

Author: Keith Kucharski
Categories: Buying in Nova Scotia
Is tap water safe in Nova Scotia?

Are you considering moving to Nova Scotia, and wondering, “Is tap water safe in Nova Scotia?” As a Realtor in rural Nova Scotia, this is a question I’m asked frequently. And the answer is – it depends! Here’s what you need to know about tap water in Nova Scotia.

There are two ways water can get to the taps in your house:

  1. A municipal water system
  2. A well water system

Municipal water systems
Municipal water systems feed water into your household taps, and this water meets strict national and provincial quality standards. You can safely drink tap water from municipal water systems. One exception to this is the Victoria General Hospital in Halifax, where there are ongoing issues with the tap water.

Well water systems
If you’re buying a rural property, or any property with a well water system, you are responsible for testing your water to ensure it is safe to drink.

Some very common elements in Nova Scotia are arsenic, uranium, and manganese. While most are undetectable by taste, sight or smell, manganese is typically noticeable. It can leave an orange/brown residue on your appliances, toilets, and clothing.

About 42% of Nova Scotians rely on private wells. Testing your well water is the only way to find out whether harmful elements are a concern in your well, so it is important to test your water no matter where you live. Well water should be tested every six months for bacteria and every two years for chemical contaminants.

Well water chemistry can vary seasonally and over time, and so it’s important to routinely test your water. Routine testing can also show you whether water treatment is needed, or whether a water treatment system is working as intended.

When I help a client purchase a home, the client typically adds a condition to the purchase offer for water testing (usually at the buyer’s expense) and I assist in getting the water testing completed.

Once the home is yours, regular testing is important. You can pick up bottles and drop off samples at Nova Scotia Health Authority locations around the province for both bacteria and chemical testing. There are also private labs that test drinking water.

For your bacteria test, you’ll receive a Presence/Absence (PA) test for total coliform and E. coli bacteria. This test costs about $30 to $50.

The chemical test will give you a long list of chemicals present in the water, and their amounts. The well water testing page can help you interpret your results. The chemical test ranges from about $200 to $400 every two years.

You can learn more about well testing in Nova Scotia from this website from the Government of Nova Scotia and testing locations and costs from their Test Your Well Water page.

What happens if your well water tests come back and you discover your well water is not safe to drink? 

You may be able to solve your problem by improving well construction, or you may need to invest in a treatment system. You can search online for well construction and water treatment companies in your area, and compare the cost of improving well construction with the cost of buying and maintaining a water treatment system.

Many treatment options are available, but one system does not treat everything. Some treatment units treat only certain substances. It’s important to test your water for a variety of substances and characteristics, then speak with a water treatment specialist before selecting
a treatment option. We invested in a water filtration system within a year of moving into our rural home, and have been much happier with the quality and taste of our water.

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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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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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Find a Nova Scotia REALTOR®

Author: Keith Kucharski
Categories: Buying in Nova Scotia,Choosing a REALTOR,Moving to Nova Scotia

Do you need to find a Nova Scotia REALTOR®? When we were looking to buy land in Nova Scotia more than a decade ago, we didn’t use a REALTOR® because we believed our search parameters were too broad. After all, we didn’t know where we wanted to buy land. The South Shore is so beautiful, but so is the Valley. We have family on the Eastern Shore, and friends up by Antigonish. And my wife was born and raised just outside Dartmouth, so that seemed like a possibility too.

We also didn’t know if we wanted to buy bare land, or something with a house. Did we want a fixer upper? Was being on water important? We were all over the place, and didn’t think a REALTOR® could help us.

While we did eventually find a place to buy in the Valley, we could have saved ourselves many headaches by using the services of a REALTOR® to help us search, and in the buying process.

Finding a regional Nova Scotia REALTOR®

While a rare few agents cover the whole province, most will serve a specific region. Ideally, you’ll have a first-choice region, and connect with an agent in that area. They can set you up with a custom search that delivers listings to you by email according to any parameters you set. You can search for bare land, a specific square footage, or a certain region, etc. The emails can come daily, three times a week, etc.

Once you’ve built a relationship with an agent, if you change your mind and decide to get serious about property that isn’t in that region, they can refer you to a REALTOR® they know and trust that does serve that area. Good REALTOR® build strong relationships with other agents, and your agent will ensure you’re in good hands. And if you are working with more than one agent to cover multiple areas, just be sure to let them each know. They’ll appreciate it!

Serving the Annapolis Valley to the South Shore

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.

If you’re considering other areas, I can refer you to someone who will provide you with the care and attention you need. After all, we want to avoid you ever having to say, “I regret moving to Nova Scotia.”

*This post is not intended to solicit buyers or sellers already under contract with a brokerage.*

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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.