As the days shorten and the temperature drops, many people start feeling the effects of the "winter blues." Although experiencing less energy during this season is common to some people, simple self-care practices can help you stay positive and maintain your mental health.

Soak Up Natural Light: Because a lack of sunlight can affect your mood, try to be outside during daylight hours, even for a short walk. If that’s difficult to do, then consider using a light therapy lamp indoors to mimic natural sunlight.

Stay Active: Physical activity boosts endorphins, which help improve your mood. Even a gentle indoor workout, yoga session, or brisk walk around the block can make a big difference.

Eat Nourishing Foods: Incorporate mood-boosting foods into your diet, such as leafy greens, nuts, and foods rich in Omega-3s. These nutrients can help stabilize your mood and energy levels.

Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing. These practices can reduce stress and help you stay grounded and focused on the present, rather than letting the winter blues overwhelm you.

Stay Connected: Talk with friends and family, even for only a quick chat. Social connections are key to maintaining a positive mindset during the colder months.

With these self-care tips, you can navigate the winter months with a positive outlook and keep the blues at bay. Small daily habits can have a big impact on your mental well-being!

Make Christmas morning extra magical with these fun and unique ways to show your kids that Santa really made his visit!

Santa’s Footprints: Use flour or powdered sugar to create “snowy” boot prints leading from the door or fireplace to the Christmas tree. Your kids will love following Santa’s path through the house!

Santa’s Magic Key: If you don't have a chimney, leave a special "magic key" by the door for Santa to use. In the morning, the key can be left behind with a sprinkle of glitter and a note from Santa saying he used it to enter the house.

A Text from Santa: Schedule a personalized text or email “from Santa” to arrive on Christmas morning. It could say, “I just left your house! Thanks for the cookies! Enjoy the presents! – Santa.” Your kids will be amazed that Santa can text!

Santa’s Wrapping Paper: Wrap a couple of gifts in special “Santa” paper, and leave a scrap near the fireplace or tree, as if Santa accidentally left a piece behind during his late-night delivery.

Santa’s Lost Hat or Glove: Place a red glove, Santa’s hat, or even a black belt under the tree or by the fireplace. Let the kids discover it and say, “Looks like Santa was in such a hurry, he left this behind!”

Some extra care can keep your poinsettia staying beautiful for months. Location is the first consideration: Place it near a bright and indirect light source.

If the pot is wrapped in decorative foil, punch holes in the bottom so the plant's roots will not be standing in water. Place the plant in a saucer to collect extra water.

When watering it, always use water that is room temperature, so the roots don't chill. Slowly add water to the pot until it drains out the bottom. Discard the excess water.

Water only when the top quarter inch of the soil is dry. Too much water will make the leaves turn yellow and drop; not enough water will cause the plant to wilt and drop its leaves.

As the real estate market continues to shift, staying informed about your home’s value has never been more important. With mortgage rates beginning to stabilize and more balanced conditions emerging between buyers and sellers, understanding where your home stands in today’s market can help you make confident financial decisions.

An Annual Equity Review is your opportunity to get a clear picture of your home’s current value, equity growth, and future potential. Think of it as a financial wellness check for your most important investment.

I’ll provide you with a personalized, data-driven analysis that goes beyond headlines or online estimates, so you can see exactly how market trends affect your specific property and long-term goals. Whether you’re planning to stay, refinance, or explore your next move, this review gives you clarity and confidence for the road ahead.

Just as you review your finances or retirement plan each year, assessing your home’s equity is essential to protecting and growing your wealth.

Let’s schedule your Annual Equity Review and make sure your real estate strategy is aligned with today’s evolving market.

Contact me here: Gino Pezzani

As this year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the families I’ve had the privilege to help. Many of those opportunities came because someone like you trusted me enough to share my name when a friend, neighbor, or coworker mentioned they needed real estate guidance. That trust means everything.

When you introduce someone to me, you’re not just connecting them with an agent, you’re giving them access to someone who will treat their goals as carefully as I’ve treated yours. As your friend in real estate, I take that responsibility seriously.

If you know someone entering the new year with questions about buying, selling, or simply understanding their options in today’s market, I’d be honored if you’d keep me in mind. Your introductions have made all the difference this year.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season!

December nights offer some of the clearest views of the winter constellations. For centuries, sailors relied on these stars, particularly Polaris, the North Star, to navigate safely home. What's remarkable is that Polaris doesn't move across the sky like other stars; it remains close to constant, a relatively fixed point you can always count on.

Ancient navigators would teach their crews to identify it, knowing this knowledge could save lives. They'd pass this wisdom to others because having a reliable guide wasn't just helpful, it was essential.
Just as those sailors once shared their knowledge of the North Star, we too can be that steady light for others. Whether through experience, encouragement, or kindness, each of us has the power to help someone find their way when the path ahead feels uncertain.

This time of year, trees teach us something we often forget.

They don’t rush to bloom. They don’t force growth when the environment isn’t right. Instead, they retreat. They shed what’s no longer needed, draw energy inward, and settle into stillness. Not because they’re lazy or unproductive, but because rest is part of the cycle.

In the human world, December tends to mean high gear: end-of-year wrap-ups, social obligations, holiday logistics, the relentless pull to do, buy, plan, perform. But nature, in all its wisdom, does the opposite. Trees know the value of dormancy. They trust that quiet seasons are just as necessary as the colorful ones.

What if we took a cue from them?

What if we allowed ourselves a little more softness this season, not just cozy blankets and cinnamon tea, but true spaciousness? A little less pressure to perform. A little more permission to pause. Not everything needs to be resolved before the year ends. Some things are meant to wait.

So consider this your nudge from the natural world: rest is not a weakness. It’s a strategy. A strength. A rhythm older than any to-do list.

Here’s to honoring it, at least a little.

To view the full interactive BCREA Mortgage Rate Forecast, click here.
Download the full report (PDF)

Highlights:

• Canadian fixed mortgage rates are holding steady amidst bond volatility.
• Trade uncertainty continues to be a drag on economic growth.
• After two rounds of rate cuts, is the Bank of Canada done?

For more information, please contact:  Gino Pezzani

Canadian employment increased by 0.3 per cent from the previous month, with the economy gaining 54,000 jobs to 21.136 million in November. The employment rate rose by 0.1 points to 60.9 per cent, while the unemployment rate dropped by 0.4 points to 6.5 per cent. Average hourly wages rose 3.6 per cent year-over-year to $37.00 in November.
           
Employment in B.C. rose by 0.2 per cent to 2.948 million, with the provincial economy gaining 6,200 jobs in November. Employment in Metro Vancouver increased by 0.5 per cent to 1.695 million. The unemployment rate in B.C. decreased by 0.2 points to 6.4 per cent in November. Meanwhile, Vancouver's unemployment rate also fell by 0.2 points to 6.1 per cent in November. 

November’s jobs report marks three consecutive months of strong employment growth, with the unemployment rate dropping to its lowest level since July of last year. Following a weak first half of the year, Canada has cumulatively added over 180,000 jobs since September, most of which is driven by boosted private sector and part-time employment. Resilience from the Canadian labour market will reaffirm the Bank of Canada’s determination to remain on the sidelines in the short-to-medium term following its brief cutting cycle, leading to a hold at its last meeting of the year. 

For more information, please contact:  Gino Pezzani