As well as being convenient and a great conversation starter, smart technologies are also fantastic at making your home more eco-friendly! If you are looking to lessen your carbon footprint, here are a few technologies worth checking out this year.

Smart Thermostats:
Smart thermostats are a great choice that can help the environment and lower your energy bills! Simply programming the thermostat to reduce energy consumption during hours you are not home is a great way to get started.

Smart Lighting:
We don’t need our light bulbs to be at max brightness all the time! Smart lighting can allow you to dim your lighting to match your preferences and reduce power consumption. Some can even text you when you leave a light on!

Smart Plugs:
Smart plugs can essentially turn any appliance into a smart appliance! Besides allowing you to turn it off and on using your phone, some smart plugs can tell you how much energy is being used by an appliance and whether you have forgotten to turn it off!

Victoria real estate market returns to traditional sales numbers, but low inventory persists

A total of 411 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this January, 24.9 per cent more than the 329 properties sold in January 2019 and 2.2 per cent more than in December 2019. Sales of condominiums were up 6.3 per cent from January 2019 with 118 units sold. Sales of single family homes increased 31.6 per cent from January 2019 with 200 sold.

“Our new year is already showing a strong distinction from the year previous,” says Victoria Real Estate Board President Sandi-Jo Ayers. “We’ve returned to more traditional January sales numbers – which tend to be over 400 sales. Unfortunately, we have not seen a corresponding increase in listings alongside the demand, so buyers in the low- to mid-price segment of our market may find themselves in competition for desirable properties. Our market is challenging and at times like these the services of your local REALTOR® are invaluable.”

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