Community Game Plan

About Community Game Plan

Jim Smardon and Eric Holman, from The Real Estate Team, are grabbing a mic to discuss all things Community and Halifax Real Estate! Join Jim and Eric as they talk about how to manage the challenges you may face listing your home, to avoid ”seller’s remorse.” They also will chat about the importance of understanding a community beyond real estate, their military backgrounds, and their involvement in coaching youth sports. On this show, you can expect guest industry professionals and community leaders, who can provide comprehensive insights to help you make informed decisions about choosing your new community, including practical aspects like childcare and recreational facilities. Tune in to Community Game Plan for community, real estate, and other shenanigans!

Publisher

The Real Estate Team

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Nov 2024

Latest episode

24 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

25 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   24 Oct 2026

   Episode 23: Halifax Housing Market Sept 2026: 3 REALTORS® + a Rubber Chicken

   In Episode 23 of the Community Game Plan Podcast, Eric and Jim Smardon welcome Jason Paul, REALTOR® with eXp Realty and host of the Halifax Real Estate Podcast, for a candid conversation about the September 2026 market figures, public frustrations with real estate agents, and how buyer and seller expectations are shifting. To get the complaints out in the open, Jim brings real-estate-themed Family Feud questions based on survey results. Confusion about commission tops the list at 24%, followed by whether you even need an agent and affordability. The most common complaints about REALTORS® are poor communication (22%), a focus on commission (18%), and clients feeling their agent does little for the pay (15%). From there, the panel digs into a cooling Halifax-area market. Halifax sales rose 4.1% in September while provincial sales fell 6.4%, and Jason explains how Halifax prices ripple out to surrounding Nova Scotia communities. Median days on market have climbed from 33 to 42, which makes it riskier for sellers to dismiss an offer while waiting for a better one. Still, homes are often selling at around 95 to 98 percent of asking, a far cry from the deep discounts of past downturns, so the group cautions against calling it a buyer’s market too soon. Provincial home-value growth has settled back to roughly 1 to 2 percent a year, and year-over-year comparisons don’t necessarily mean values are falling. What we cover: Buyer expectations: Why some buyers assume they can offer far below asking, even on a fairly priced home, and how to keep negotiations open without treating an extreme offer as a serious starting point Buyers have options: Jason describes showing clients 18 to 20 homes in about two weeks before tightening the search Pricing and competition: How showing activity and offers reveal whether a listing is positioned well, why pricing should reflect fresh competition, and how inspections become negotiation points Contracts: Why Jason’s team uses three-month agreements for typical clients, and why contract length should reflect the property, price point, and market Choosing an agent: Eric’s advice to interview agents, understand the agreement before signing, and pick someone whose communication style and personality fit First-time buyers: A friendly debate on the value of underserved areas, including Dartmouth, Cole Harbour, Eastern Passage, Herring Cove, and Sackville Agent standards: Uneven transaction volume, the 90-day pipeline-building cycle, and why consistent prospecting and service matter when the market slows What’s next: The usual fall slowdown toward the holidays, with inventory rising from pandemic-era lows Our takeaway: don’t try to predict the market. Sellers should focus on current competition, patience, and pricing based on recent evidence. Buyers should act when their own circumstances are ready rather than trying to time prices. Reach out to Eric Holman and Jim Smardon — info@movewiththeteam.ca https://www.instagram.com/therealestateteamns/ https://www.instagram.com/community_game_plan_podcast/ Eric Holman Eric@movewiththeteam.ca https://www.instagram.com/ericholmanrealestate/ Jim Smardon Jim@movewiththeteam.ca https://www.instagram.com/jimsmardon.greenrealestate/

2. 

   18 Sept 2026

   Episode 22 - Insuring the Investment - Life Insurance, & Protecting Your Family with Chad Bailey

   In Episode 22 of Community Gameplan, hosts Eric and Jim sit down with Chad Bailey, insurance advisor with IDC WorldSource Insurance Network, for a Community Business Spotlight on a topic that doesn't come up nearly enough when people are buying a home: life insurance, mortgage protection, and planning for the unthinkable. Chad brings eight years of experience as a life insurance advisor to break down what most homebuyers get wrong — starting with the biggest misconception of all: that mortgage insurance through the bank is the same as life insurance through an advisor. It isn't, and the difference can cost a family hundreds of thousands of dollars when it matters most. The conversation covers: Why people — especially younger buyers — avoid the conversation around death, sickness, and disability The real difference between CMHC insurance, bank mortgage insurance, and life insurance through an independent advisor Term vs. permanent (whole life and universal life) policies, and how to balance coverage with budget How some life insurance policies let you draw funds while you're still alive Why this conversation should happen early in the homebuying process, not tacked on at closing What to look for — and watch out for — when choosing an insurance advisor Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, self-employed without workplace benefits, or just haven't thought about what happens to your mortgage if the unexpected happens, this episode offers a practical, no-nonsense look at protecting the people who depend on you. About the Guest Chad Bailey is an insurance advisor with IDC WorldSource Insurance Network, specializing in mortgage protection and life insurance. With eight years in the industry, Chad focuses on building long-term relationships with clients and matching coverage to their real needs and budget — not just what pays the highest commission. Reach out to Chad Bailey baileychadm@gmail.com 902.441.2621 Reach out to Eric Holman and Jim Smardon — info@movewiththeteam.ca https://www.instagram.com/therealestateteamns/ https://www.instagram.com/community_game_plan_podcast/ Eric Holman Eric@movewiththeteam.ca https://www.instagram.com/ericholmanrealestate/ Jim Smardon Jim@movewiththeteam.ca https://www.instagram.com/jimsmardon.greenrealestate/ Want to be a guest or have a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know. Reach out to info@movewiththeteam.ca

3. 

   28 Aug 2026

   Episode 21: Halifax Real Estate Market Update — Hot Takes & Honest Numbers

   In this episode of Community Gameplan, Eric and Jim ditch the guest chair and go head-to-head on the current state of the Halifax real estate market. No filter, no fluff — just recent statistics, market trends, and blunt, honest takes on what buyers and sellers actually need to know right now. From softening prices to shifting inventory, Eric and Jim break down what's really happening on the ground and what it means whether you're listing this summer or waiting to buy. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Where Halifax market stats stand right now, and what the recent trend line looks like How the market has been cooling since spring, and why summer has brought further softening What shifting inventory levels mean for buyers and sellers alike Why accurate, data-driven pricing matters more than ever in a changing market How new developments and infrastructure projects are shaping property values across the region Strategies for buyers and sellers to navigate a market that's no longer moving in one direction Real Talk Moments: "Market's been going down since April" — Eric and Jim don't sugarcoat where things stand "Prices are dropping over the summer" — the shift buyers and sellers both need to understand "The market sells at the correct price" — why chasing the market instead of pricing accurately can cost sellers time and money Who This Episode Is For: Sellers wondering if now is still a good time to list Buyers trying to time the market without guessing Anyone curious about how Halifax real estate has shifted since spring Real estate agents looking to sharpen their pricing conversations with clients Bottom Line: This isn't panic, and it isn't business as usual either — it's a market correcting, and Eric and Jim lay out exactly what that means for anyone buying or selling in Halifax right now. Reach out to Eric Holman and Jim Smardon — info@movewiththeteam.ca https://www.instagram.com/therealestateteamns/ Eric Holman Eric@movewiththeteam.ca https://www.instagram.com/ericholmanrealestate/ Jim Smardon Jim@movewiththeteam.ca https://www.instagram.com/jimsmardon.greenrealestate/

Podcast Authority Score: 9 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

18

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.