Blog - November, 2020

[Nov 20' Update] Sales activity remains strong in November!

Sales activity remains strong in November!

City of Calgary, December 1, 2020 –

For the sixth month in a row, sales in the Calgary market recorded a year-over-year gain.

Sales growth over the past several months has been the strongest seen in the past five years, but the activity has not been strong enough to offset the pullbacks from the spring. Year-to-date sales remain over three per cent lower than last year's levels.

New listings continue to slow, reducing inventory in the market. On a year-to-date basis, new listings have eased by nearly ten per cent and are at the lowest level recorded since 2001. This has reduced the oversupply that has been impacting the market for nearly five years.

"The gains in sales in the latter part of…

63 Views, 0 Comments

The Top 7 Reasons to Buy a Home in the Winter

Think the only time to buy a home in Edmonton is in the spring or summer? Think again! Here are seven great reasons why wintertime may be the BEST time to hit the market (seriously!).

1. Eager Sellers

We think it’s pretty fair to say that no one WANTS to move in the middle of winter (especially in Alberta). If someone has put their home on the market in thirty-below weather, you can (almost) bet they are selling now because waiting for balmier temperatures isn’t an option.

As a result, you can look forward to highly motivated home sellers who may be more willing to negotiate on sale price, terms of sale, closing date, closing costs and much more. 

2. Less Competition

People aren’t just less enthusiastic to sell in the winter, they’re…

856 Views, 0 Comments

Buying a Home that Needs Some Work

When you’re shopping for a new home, you probably want the property to be
as “move in ready” as possible. That way, you can... well... just move in!
However, there are a lot of fantastic properties on the market that need some
work. For example, you might see a home that has everything you need, but
the kitchen is long overdue for a renovation. Or, you might view a property
that requires a lot of repairs and painting — tasks that, at first glance, seem
overwhelming.
You don’t want to just pass on a property that might be a great buy. On the
other hand, you don’t want to purchase a home, only to end up with more
renovations, repairs and expenses than you anticipated.
What’s the solution? Here’s an idea.
When you view a home that needs work, make a note of exactly…

2754 Views, 0 Comments

Builder RIP-OFF. How innocuous choices impact YOU.

When you are buying your new home, you are faced with a bewildering array of specs, guidelines, options, and pricing. Some builders take advantage of this, and put in something that LOOKS like what you've come to expect.  One of the substitutions COSTS the builder less, but COSTS you much more in the long run.  Hot water heaters:

Notice any differences?  Let's eliminate the tankless and the small units (more for offices), and show just 2 options:

They LOOK almost identical.  The biggest difference is one is ELECTRIC and the other is NATURAL GAS.  If you aren't paying attention, you won't notice the lack of exhaust or the missing gas line on the electric.

The electric one is cheaper to buy (Rheem 40 Gal electric is $448 @ Home…

309 Views, 0 Comments

Chestermere Lakeside Greens Price Plunge? Slokker Redevelopment = $39 000 Loss per home

I wanted to explore a little more the FINANCIAL ramifications that Slokker's redevelopment of Lakeside Greens COULD have on the people living in the area.  Short answer, likely a $39 000 price plunge; could be as high as $61 000.  OUCH.

Lakeside Greens golf course in Chestermere is partnering with Slokker to redevelop the course. Essentially fairways to townhomes. IF the city agrees, the price plunge could cost families an average of $39 000 per house (or MORE).

I want to emphasize that the redevelopment is NOT approved by Chestermere, and active community involvement will help craft the guidelines under which council approves any redevelopment, and the final plans.  I encourage anyone in the area to become active in this matter.  Too much…

321 Views, 0 Comments

Maintenance tips and tasks to get your home ready for winter

Although we’ve already gotten our first doses of snow, winter is (technically) still just around the corner, with many more cold days and tons of the white stuff to come.

Unfortunately, winter is also the season that tends to reveal and worsen issues within the home, so there’s no time like the present for some proactive maintenance. A bit of extra effort now could save you countless headaches when temperatures drop.

Here’s a handy checklist to get you started:

Gutters and downspouts

Make sure they are clear of debris, as blocked gutters can lead to overflows and ice dams. It is also a good idea to check gutters for sagging sections or missing brackets and point downspouts away from your home’s foundation to reduce the risk of leaks and…

269 Views, 0 Comments

SOLD!

A huge congrats to these new acreage owners! This property has some stunning views! Wishing them all the best in their new adventure.

344 Views, 0 Comments

Feeling Cool about Selling in November or December?

If you need to sell your home in the next month or two, you might be worried. After all, isn’t spring the ideal season to list your property? If you list in November or December, you might have difficulties attracting buyers and getting the best price for your home. Right? 

Not necessarily. 

While it’s true that spring is traditionally busy in the real estate market, properties do sell every month of the year. 

So, if you’re thinking of selling, you’ll need to know two things: 

·       What comparable homes are selling for at this time of year.

·       How long homes are taking to sell, on average. 

There might be a local seller’s market this month. That would mean there are more buyers looking for homes like yours than there are…

264 Views, 0 Comments

7 Great Reasons to Live in Sherwood Park

First established in the mid-1950s, Sherwood Park was originally a small community whose sole purpose was to house industrial employees from nearby Refinery Row. Since then, this flourishing city is now home to over 70,000 people and become a top choice for growing families looking for a safe and friendly place to call home.

1. Affordable Home Prices 

Sherwood Park has many affordable home styles to choose from - including apartment condos, townhomes, duplexes and single-family homes. Due to the city’s popularity among families, however, detached single-family homes reign supreme and include older, updated properties, brand new builds (and everything in between). Average prices in the area typically range between the late $300’s and early…

651 Views, 0 Comments

Detached homes drive Calgary sales growth in October

City of Calgary, November 1, 2020 –

With strong gains in the detached sector, October sales in the city reached 1,764 units. This is a 23 per cent increase over last year and well above longer-term averages.

The gain in citywide residential sales outpaced the growth in new listings, supporting tighter market conditions and improving prices.

“Over the past several years, higher lending rates and the stress test pushed many out of the detached housing market. However, recent declines in rates, combined with prices that are lower than several years ago, have brought back some of that demand,” said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

“This is helping support more balanced conditions and price improvements in the market. However, price…

384 Views, 0 Comments