Calgary Real Estate Blog

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A One-Weekend Garage Makeover

Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 10:00pm. 45 Views, 0 Comments.

A One-Weekend Garage Makeover
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Garages are the most hardworking spaces in your home. Investing a few hundred dollars in garage organization tools during one weekend will pay off in savings of both time and money.

A clean and organized garage saves you time by keeping essentials in clear view, so you can find what you need without tripping over items or causing an avalanche whenever you pull something from the bottom of a pile.

You'll also save money because your sporting goods and tools will last longer when they’re stored safe from moisture, heavy weights and dust. Even your car will be protected from falling skis.

Step 1: Aim for spotless clean and clutter free
Start by cleaning out the junk. Release the clutter240, 240);

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Tax-Deductible Moving Expenses for Canadians

Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 9:58pm. 27 Views, 0 Comments.

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Have you recently moved to a new location? Do you know that you can deduct certain moving expenses on your next tax return, including transportation, packing and storage costs.

Many people never realize these tax benefits because they don't know what can be deducted. If you are preparing to move, it's best to be informed beforehand so you know which receipts to keep. You may find it worthwhile during a move to pay for various services that are tax-deductible rather than doing them yourself. A typical move involves a number of costs including hiring a company to transport personal effects and furniture, hotel stays and meals (if the move involves driving a long distance to a new home), and service fees to disconnect240, 240);

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How Will the New Mortgage Rules Affect the Canadian Market?

Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 9:56pm. 45 Views, 0 Comments.

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Finance Minister Jim Flaherty recently unveiled new mortgage rules aimed at stopping housing speculators and ensuring homebuyers can adequately handle their debts when interest rates inevitably rise. Mr. Flaherty stressed that Canada's real estate market is healthy, and that the new rules, which take effect April 19th, would stop “negative trends” from development.

"There's no clear evidence of a housing bubble, but we're taking proactive, prudent and cautious steps today to help prevent one. Our government is acting to help prevent Canadian households from getting overextended, and acting to help prevent some lenders from facilitating it," commented Minister Flaherty.

"The underlying message is that Canadians should be prudent in the obligations they…

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Calgary Housing Market Shows Signs of Balance, not Bubble

Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 3:49pm. 36 Views, 0 Comments.

Calgary, March 1, 2010 – Calgary’s housing market continues to build stability and momentum in the second month of the year, according to figures released today by the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®).

The number of single family homes sold in February 2010 in the city of Calgary was up 25 per cent from the same time a year ago, while condominium sales saw an increase of 56 per cent from the same time a year ago.

February 2010 saw 1,035 single family homes sold in the city of Calgary. This is an increase of 36 per cent from 762 sales in January 2010. In February 2009, single family home sales totaled 825. The number of condominium sales for the month of February 2010 was 536. This was an increase of 43 per cent from the 376 condominium…

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Market Watch - February 2010 Sales Start Off Strong in 2010

Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 7:24pm. 52 Views, 0 Comments.

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The Canadian housing market has rebounded well from the lows in sales experienced at the beginning of 2009. Sales climbed back to healthy levels across the country because the cost of home ownership remained affordable in most areas.

Compared to last January, the market has returned to balance. Increasingly confident consumers moved to take advantage of the affordability created by lower interest rates.

“Expect strong annual growth rates for existing home sales and average price through the first quarter as we continue to make comparisons to the weak market conditions at the beginning of 2009,” said Jason Mercer, Toronto Real Estate Board’s (TREB) Senior Manager of Market Analysis. “The rate of sales and price growth240, 240);

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Tuscany - NW Calgary- Real Estate Market update for January 2010

Friday, February 12th, 2010 at 12:16am. 79 Views, 0 Comments.

January 2010 Tuscany Market Update

  • The average Tuscany home for sale was a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1,852 square foot house
  • The average List price for Tuscany Homes: $562,423
  • The Average Size of a Tuscany Single Family Home Sold: 1,571 square feet
  • The Number of Tuscany Homes Sold in January, 2010: 14
  • The average sold price for a Tuscany Home in January: $443,192
  • The median Sold price of Tuscany Homes: $414,000
  • Most homes for sale in Tuscany spent just 36 days on the market
  • Average Sale Price per Square Foot of a Tuscany Home was $289.99
  • Average Sale Price to List Price Ratio of a Tuscany Single Family Home in December was 98%

If you are thinking of Selling your Tuscany Home or Moving to Tuscany, a NW Calgary Community, feel free to contact…

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Real Estate Marketing - What Type of Marketing Works?

Thursday, February 11th, 2010 at 12:45am. 52 Views, 0 Comments.

Over the past few years we have seen a huge shift in the way small businesses and multi-billion dollar companies market their products. There has been a big shift in where these companies have allocated their marketing budget and there is a reason why. The Internet & Social Media is changing the way we market products.

Print Marketing in Real Estate

In the past print marketing was a very effective way for Realtors to market homes to buyers. People used to pick up the weekly real estate news paper, magazines and property books to view all the new homes that were for sale. There is still a large portion of Realtors that advertise their clients listings in print media, but DOES IT REALLY WORK?

Agents normally use print marketing to make the sellers happy…

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How to Help Your Child Cope with Moving Anxiety

Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 4:17pm. 102 Views, 0 Comments.

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Moving can be stressful for every member of the family—children included. Depending on the age of children, their fears about a move vary from child to child, but most children approach the idea of moving with some hesitation.

One out of five Canadian families move into a new home each year. Some families experience a stressful time two weeks before and two weeks after a move. For many families, the actual move is a time when everyone pitches in and works together. Reality starts to sink in about a month later. People then begin to realize how much they miss friends and places they left behind. Confusion, frustration, and anger are common emotions at this time. Even if you are upgrading to a bigger house in a nicer240, 240);

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Prospects for the 2010 Canadian Housing Market

Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 4:16pm. 94 Views, 0 Comments.

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The rebound that occurred in the Canadian housing market in 2009 was nothing short of incredible. Having started the year a dismal 47% off 2008 levels, sales steadily clawed back. Purchasers who held off in the final quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 quickly acclimatized to new market realities and moved to take advantage of favourable lending rates. Yet, inventory levels proved a significant impediment, as supply struggled to meet demand—down considerably for much of the year.

Consumer confidence started to return in the second quarter and the real estate market was the first place in the country to show signs of the recovery.

Housing proved to be a safe harbour for much of the year. Rock bottom rates fueled much of the activity, but…

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15 Tips for Hiring a Calgary Remodeling Contractor

Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 4:14pm. 80 Views, 0 Comments.

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Finding a qualified contractor for your home remodeling project can be daunting and confusing but it's not a difficult task. You can easily search the web or look in the yellow pages and find many home remodeling contractors listed in your area. But the questions are: Which one do you hire for your home remodeling project? Which one will perform quality work, charge a fair price, and get the job done on time?

By following these tips you will make the selection process easier and be better prepared to make an informed decision that best suites your needs.

1. To reduce the risk of hiring the wrong home contractor you should first do a little preparation yourself for the home remodeling project. Sketch out and write down what you want to get done.…

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