Calgary Real Estate Blog

In today's tech-based society, a large number of potential home buyers begin their ‘shopping' experience online perusing MLS database to see what's out there before scheduling a showing. The first photo on the listing should be a photo of the front of the home from a curb-side view, which means that boosting curb appeal should be a priority. After all, surveys report at more than 60 percent of buyers only plan to tour homes they found appealing online. Here are six curb appeal tips for sellers.

1. Step Into the Buyer's Shoes

Step out onto the curb and take a long hard look at the exterior of the Chaparral home as a buyer would (and will be doing online). Does everything in sight look attractive, clean and appealing? Chances are, there will be

More than 7.5 million Canadian households have pets, according to 2016 statistics. Most people love animals and understand the loving relationship between humans and their pets. Pet-friendly features can be exactly what a buyer is looking for. What buyers don't love, however, is to see or smell evidence of those beloved pets in every room and in every corner of the yard and selling a home with pets, especially in a competitive market, can be a great challenge. Many homeowners don’t know what to do with pets when selling their home, so here are some important tips for selling a house with pets.

The first and most important rule is to always relocate the pets during a showing. Take the dog for a walk; put the cat in a carrier and go to a

When it's time to sell your home, unpermitted work can be a big problem. Unpermitted work is any work done without a permit to ensure that it's done to regulation standards. Permits ensure the safety of people who live in and utilize a renovated space, and without them, there's no guarantee for the quality and safety of the home. Therefore, when it comes time to sell, a house with unpermitted work can become a problem that makes selling a home difficult—it may even force homeowners to sell their homes for a significantly reduced price. Knowing what to do about unpermitted work can help homeowners avoid problems when the time comes to sell the property. Here is everything you need to now about unpermitted work and what to do when a house has unpermitted

While both a primary residence and a vacation home are types of real estate properties, there are some considerable difference between the two that can lead to differences in how you approach the sale of the two when the time comes. Even though they are both forms of real estate, they need to be treated differently within the market since the market for both can be drastically different. From GST on real estate and the Canadian capital gains tax to HST on property taxes, there are a lot of different facets to buying and selling property. When selling a rental property or vacation home, keep these things in mind.

Difference in Taxes

When you sell a primary residence, you are not subject to capital gains due to a principle residence tax

Some may be looking to buy their first home and not know about the common requirements and initial challenges they may face. Canadian residents may need prepare themselves beforehand, learning how to best position themselves to have a seller accept their offer and move toward closing on a home. What do new potential homeowners need to know?

Understand more about common home buying processes and challenges faced by Canadian buyers today.

Your Credit Score and the Canadian Home Mortgage Process

Most buyers are not paying for a home in cash and will have to seek a home mortgage loan from a lender. It is important to know your credit score as this is a major factor in getting approved for a loan and getting better rates. One's credit score and

Most home buyers who decide to purchase a home will get a property inspection to ensure that the house meets their needs. However, home inspections can be costly (around $450), so recognizing the signs of trouble without the help of an inspection can help a home buyer determine whether or not it's worth proceeding with an offer.

Signs of Foundation Trouble

Foundation troubles are rare, but when they do occur, repairs can cost thousands. If you're wondering how to tell if a house has foundation problems, use the following list. Some of the most clear signs of foundation problems include:

• Doors or windows that are jammed open or closed.
• Stair stepping cracks in the foundation.
• Large, wide cracks in the walls of the house,

Much has been said and written about the Millennial Generation, and for good reason. As this group moves through their 20's and 30's, they are now the largest population segment on the planet. Young adult homeownership has been quite the divisive topic over the past few years. While opinions will vary widely on this group's ability to purchase real estate, we decided to see just how long young adults believe it will take to hit this milestone to better understand their perception of the situation.

It should be noted that this survey captures the lower end of the age range for Millennials and the higher end of the age range for Gen Z. While generations are an easy way to categorize age ranges, opinions from this group's survey will likely differ

 Following the tremendous success of Justin Havre’s widely publicized endorsement by Barbara Corcoran of ABC’s Shark Tank comes another distinction – exclusive recommendation from Rascal Flatts’ lead singer Gary LeVox. 

The message provided by LeVox as part of the endorsement encompasses the music and lyrics of the Rascal Flatt’s hit “I’m Moving On”, 2002 Song of the Year at the 38th annual Academy of Country Music Awards. 

As the only professional real estate agent in Calgary to be awarded this distinction, Justin Havre said he couldn’t believe it when the opportunity presented itself. 

“To be given the chance to have the backing of an individual like Gary LeVox and to be connected with this song written and composed by one of this generation’s

Live in Calgary in the new community called Yorkville. Yes, that's correct. Yorkville. If you think it has a distinctly Eastern Canadian flavour you would be correct. Yorkville is also the name of a luxury Toronto suburb where many of our country's finest musical and literary stars have their origins.

The Calgary brand of Yorkville promises to be much different. Situated next to Spruce Meadows, homes in Yorkville will have western views of the Foothills and beyond, the Rockies, the same views enjoyed by residents of nearby Silverado and across the highway, Heritage Pointe.

Search Yorkville homes for sale.

Plans for Yorkville Development

The land will lie dormant over the winter but as soon as the spring thaw hits, Mattamy Homes as the

It's been a decade since a new public high school was constructed on the south side of Calgary. That will all change with the opening of a new high school in Seton.

The as-yet unnamed school is expected to open in September of 2018. Plans will be presented at a New Schools Open House from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm on Wed. Dec 2 hosted by the Calgary Board of Education at their building at 1221 – 8 St SW.

New projects showcased during the open house include other public schools, such as elementary schools for the community of Martindale in the North East, Silverado in the South West, and an elementary/middle school for Springbank Hill and Discovery Ridge. These communities have designated space for new schools. Martindale has been waiting for 25 years