Sherri & Carrie's Real Estate Cafe

 In Today’s episode, Sherri and Carrie are hosting Jeremy Novak (also known as Jerome The Grave Keeper) from The Valley Ghost Walks. He’s originally from Vancouver but has been in Wolfville for 18 years. The walks he hosts are history lessons given in a creative way, portraying people who previously contributed uniquely to the valley. Jeremy organized his first walk in the winter of 2008 and the walks grew progressively with his shows. He attributes the success to the cast, as shows wouldn’t be as successful if not for them. The shows usually last for a couple of hours and see an average of 7 ghosts portrayed by actors plus Jerome. This year, the usual shows start on the last Thursday of May and continue every Thursday until Halloween, with a few special shows on Fridays and Saturdays. Sherri, Carrie, and Jeremy share with us how they moved from their hometowns to the Valley and how attached to it they’ve grown. They talk about how they started, what they’ve done before, and how Sherri and Carrie first met.

In today’s episode, Sherri and Carrie are hosting John Robertson, CEO and founder of Home Except. He introduces himself and informs us that he spent his career in business. He went into consulting in Halifax and progressively realized the challenges happening around senior care. He shares with us his turning point and how he started. According to John, Home Except technology came in as a solution to respect the dignity and privacy of seniors at home while providing peace of mind to their older children. He answers questions about the mode of operation by explaining that the system uses ambient sensors to take in information, combine it with artificial intelligence, understand what’s usually happening, and then gives something called pattern of life. Eventually, when that pattern is interrupted, Home Except informs whoever is monitoring allowing them to take appropriate forms of action. We hear about more elaborate uses of Home Except, which works not only for seniors, but also for people with disabilities o

Today’s guest is Temma Frecker, a teacher at The Booker School in Port Williams. Temma and her husband have taught around the world but when they wanted to settle down, they saw that the Annapolis Valley had everything that they were looking for. Temma first talks about how the house that she and her husband found in Port Williams is their dream home. Her major in university was international development studies, which led her down an atypical path to becoming a teacher. We then hear about the modern way that The Booker School teaches its students and a recent lesson where the students learned about tough realities. Temma instructs a cooking program after school once a week, so she shares what this is like and information about other unique activities at the school. She taught an award-winning program last year about understanding different historical perspectives and discusses what it involved, including the media attention that it received. To finish the episode, Temma provides advice for anyone who is asp

Our guest today is Sarah Anderson, owner of East Coast Pop Up Weddings. Sarah grew up in Lower Sackville but always wanted to live in the Annapolis Valley, which she now does. Sarah describes what East Coast Pop Up Weddings does and says that it’s for people who don’t want to deal with the stresses of planning a wedding. We hear about what Sarah talks about with customers who want to wed and the appeal of a pop up wedding. She has been a justice of the peace for years, and seeing people have smaller weddings was one of the reasons she wanted to start this business. Sarah speaks to why people prefer a pop up wedding, including eliminating the time it takes to plan a wedding while still maintaining the significance of the day. She also shares the places in the valley that people have gotten married at and advice for brides-to-be.  Covered topics: - Sarah’s background and what East Coast Pop Up Weddings is. - The process of setting up a wedding through Sarah. - What motivation Sarah had to start this busine

Today we are joined by Sarah Macalpine from Two Birds One Stone Farm, which is a small cut flower farm located near the shores of the Bay of Fundy. Sarah and her husband, Kenny, recently moved to Nova Scotia from Ontario to start their business. They felt like they wanted to make a change in their life and be more involved in nature. Sarah talks about the great energy in the Annapolis Valley that attracted her after considering different areas in the Maritimes. There is a myth that growing is difficult where the farm is located, but Sarah shares that she has not found this to be the case; in fact, she finds that their growing season lasts longer. We then hear about new offerings from Two Birds One Stone Farm, like their subscription service and workshops. Topics covered: - A bit about Sarah and the history of her and her husband. - Choosing to live in Hall’s Harbour. - What Two Birds One Stone Farm is like. - An upcoming collaboration at the Acadia Craft Show. - Expanding the business with a flower sub

Kentville mayor Sandra Snow joins us this episode and she’s bursting with excitement to talk about all the latest happenings within the town of Kentville. Mayor Snow shares the story of how she first became involved with Kentville town council and eventually landed the role she’s in today. There’s lots happening in Kentville, and we’ll hear about some of the upcoming activities for residents, along with some great information for those considering moving to the area. Since January, 22 new businesses have opened in Kentville! With more young families and children living in Kentville, the future is bright! Sandra is super involved with the town and loves helping to make Kentville a great place to live. Topics covered: - What motivated Sandra to pursue the position of Kentville mayor. - New business growth in Kentville, and shifting of other businesses who are moving towards a retail aspect. - Specifics on some new businesses which have opened in Kentville, and others which are coming soon. - The areas

Elsie Morden is a 22 year old singer, songwriter, and motivational speaker living in Annapolis Valley. She has performed at Canadian Country Music Week, is a Music Nova Scotia Country Recording of the Year Award Nominee, and recently released her debut full length album that reached #28 on iTunes. Another of Elsie’s admirable accomplishments is founding registered Canadian charity No Time for That Anti-Bullying Society. She has visited over 500 schools across Canada speaking about bullying prevention, mental health awareness, and youth empowerment. In this episode, Elsie shares her story of being bullied earlier in life, the emotional trauma it caused her, and how this all led to starting No Time for That. We’ll also hear why Elsie and her family loved the Annapolis Valley so much that they all moved here, and details on some upcoming special events! Topics covered: - Elsie’s experience being bullied as a child, and her struggle with depression & anxiety. - How Elsie and her family came to live i

What does wine have to do with real estate? More than you may think! The main purpose of this episode is to highlight a beautiful business here in the Annapolis Valley, but, believe it or not, wineries are having an effect on real estate! Nova Scotia’s soil and mesoclimates create some of the most distinctive premium-quality grapes in North America, and with Nova Scotian wines gaining in popularity, this means more and more jobs in the industry, and more people living in the Annapolis Valley to fill them! We’re joined by Rachel Lightfoot of Lightfoot & Wolfville Wines. She grew up on the farm where the winery is today, and is part of the 4th generation of Lightfoot’s farming this piece of land. Rachel studied oenology & viticulture at Brock University in Niagara and wears many hats at Lightfoot & Wolfville, but has the official title of Brand Manager. Topics covered: - Backstory and current success of Lightfoot & Wolfville Wines. - Nova Scotia and Annapolis Valley wines on the intern

A good lawyer is essential during your real estate transaction! Whether you’re buying or selling, you’ll need some solid legal advice and assistance. Kate Seamen is a Kentville lawyer at Nathanson Seaman Watts in Kentville. She joins us today to give some advice from a legal perspective for buyers and sellers, and shares what she and her family love about living in Annapolis Valley! Topics covered: - Common misconceptions about lawyers. - Advice for people buying or selling property. - Qualities to look for in a lawyer. - Things to keep in mind when closing a deal from either side. - What Kate loves about working and raising a family in Annapolis Valley. Get in touch with Kate: https://24webster.com kseaman@24webster.com 902-678-1616 Sherri & Carrie are your Annapolis Valley Real Estate Duo! Looking to buy or sell? Check out our website for listings, testimonials, and advice! http://sherriandcarrie.com/

Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia spans from Digby to Windsor. It’s known for its vineyards, high tides, and scenery, but there’s much more to love! Today, we take a look at life in the Valley. Becca and Noelle are two moms of families raising their children in Annapolis Valley and loving life! They were looking for a balance, a country / rural upbringing, but close enough to amenities and opportunities for their children. Both found exactly what they needed, right here in Annapolis Valley. Topics covered: The appeal of Annapolis Valley living for young families. A country / rural upbringing with amenities nearby and no shortage of fun! What was attractive specifically regarding real estate in the Valley compared with other places. The myth that there are no young families in areas like Annapolis Valley, or other eastern areas. Valley folks supporting their own community. Sherri & Carrie are your Annapolis Valley Real Estate Duo! Looking to buy or sell? Check out our website for listings, testim

We all know the important role a mortgage plays in buying a home, but there's plenty more to learn. Whether you're a first-time buyer or a previous homeowner, evolving rules and offers mean you can never be too informed when it comes to mortgage shopping. Turner Mortgage Inc. is a mortgage brokerage in Annapolis Valley to which we've referred many happy clients. Dan Turner joins us to discuss some important things to know before mortgage shopping, recent mortgage rule changes, credit ratings, special programs, and more! This 15-minute episode is packed full of valuable information that home-buyers won't want to miss.   Topics covered: Why it's important to start talking to a mortgage broker months before you're ready to actually buy. Nova Scotia mortgage rule changes. The role your credit rating plays in getting approved, and how you can improve it. Things that most people do not like about mortgages, and some programs that TMI has developed in response. No penalty mortgages. Important considerations