By Andrew Macdonald
Forty-year-long realtor Sandra Bryant, proprietor of the well-heeled Bryant Realty, is downsizing her current office needs.
The other day, Bryant listed a commercial condo in Downtown Halifax, which has been her office for nearly 20 years.
Byrant has listed the spacious 3,000-square foot office compound at 1470 Dresden Row, and the asking price is $1.5 million.
“Opportunity knocks! Renovated in 2023, this lavish 3,000 square-foot condo space sits in the bustling downtown Halifax core, just steps away from Spring Garden Road. Positioned right next to the Spring Garden Place public parking garage, it offers convenience and accessibility,” states her marketing material.
Sandra Bryant has been a realtor for 40 years and owns Bryant Realty. Contributed
“Perfectly suited for various purposes such as office space for professionals like medical practitioners, lawyers, or accountants, as well as for retail, educational institutions, or a luxurious salon and spa,” reads the real estate cut sheet.
Sandra Bryant is selling her real estate office. Bryant Realty photo
Known as the Greystones, it was built in 1992, attached to high rise condo building, Charter House.
I caught up with Bryant to talk about the unique listing.
“I am literally downsizing”, explains Bryant on her office listing.
Bryant Realty offices on Dresden Row are for sale with an asking price of $1.5M. Bryant Realty photo
“I am so proud of what I have done, and I love selling real estate. I have done so well, even in the last few months that I could not ask for more,” Bryant tells The Macdonald Notebook.
Bryant Realty offices are for sale with an asking price of $1.5M located on Dresden Row. Bryant Realty photo
“I have a beautiful 3,000 sq ft office downtown and I do not need it. I do not need that space anymore. Agents do not come in. I personally love having an office. So, I have my eyes on a few things,” she says.
Most realtors operate out of their vehicles or are showing a property for buy or sell, and do not need a brick-and-mortar office.
Bryant Realty offices are being listed for $1.5M in downtown Halifax. Bryant Realty photo
“Being on Dresden Row for 15 to 20 years, I have been in that area for 30 years, and you know what, it has been fabulous. I have watched all the goings on, I love having that front door open to the street. People come in and talk to me all the time.”
She does not know where she might move a new office, but is listing a smaller Greystone unit “that is smaller, and I might buy it.”
Bryant suggests her office listing “could be a perfect news office, with its open space offerings, filled with desks”.
She says she has options and if it does not sell quickly she can subdivide the space, because it represents four condo units, and might split into two and keep a smaller portion for her new office.
Sandra Bryant has listed her offices on the market for $1.5M in downtown Halifax. Bryant Realty photo
Bryant says her listing is unique. “If you tried to find an office like this, you will never find it, it does not exist.”
The commercial property could be converted into a residential offering. “It was originally four (residential) units.”
Speaking on the spring and summer market, “Prices never go down, they only go up.”
Bryant says Halifax is firing on all fronts. “Halifax is growing just as you and I always knew. It’s our location. If you look at it as a triangle, if you take London, Toronto, Montreal combined then New York, we are in the middle. I sell cottages to people who work in New York and London,” adds Bryant.
“We can never lose here, we are a beautiful country, a safe country. Too bad our taxes are so high, there’s the story.”
If you think Bryant has given me my news assignment on the taxes in Nova Scotia, in a future edition of The Macdonald Notebook, I’ll report just how high those taxes are compared to the rest of Canada.
I recently met with Alex Whalen, associate director of prosperity in Atlantic Canada, he is with the Fraser Institute, and plan that story in the near future.
Bryant expects a busy spring to fall market on the real estate scene. “I am so busy right now, how can it not be? Definitely from now to September or October, it is going to be busy.”
“Anything under $600,000 is getting multiple offers, and I am selling a higher range than ever before. Ceilings always push up. And, what I am seeing if you want new construction in the South end, you are paying over $2 million. Why? Land value, and I know as I just sold two of them. I have already sold $12M (in real estate), just me, in the last few months.”
I asked Bryant why she does not write a book on real estate. “That could be my future, I’ve always wanted to write a book, I always wanted to engage and talk to people. That is my passion. I believe in Halifax, I believe in homes. I believe the best purchase in your whole life is your home, and it is the best RRSP.”
