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Calgary Real Estate Updates

News and Topics pertaining to the Calgary Real Estate Market

There are currently 30 blog entries related to this category.

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Retractable Awnings Protect and Extend Summer Fun.

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010 at 6:15pm. 265 Views, 0 Comments.

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Everyone wants to enjoy the beautiful weather that summer brings. But the warm sun and damaging rays sometimes force us to retreat inside, where we crank the costly air conditioning to stay cool.

Creating an outdoor room is a great way to expand your home's living space without the cost of an addition. Retractable Awnings expand homes by turning decks and patios into added living space, combining the comfort of the indoors with the enjoyment of the outdoors.

In the hot summer days, an awning provides a simple solution that shields out these harmful rays while keeping you cool. It also helps homeowners conserve energy and therefore save money because awnings block the sun from entering the home through windows. Not only do your cooling costs go…

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Calgary Real Estate: Renting vs. Buying, Which option is better for you?

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010 at 6:14pm. 290 Views, 0 Comments.

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Buying a house can be the most rewarding purchase you ever make. However depending on your current circumstance this may not be your best option.  To help make an educated decision, try to answer the following questions first:

1. Do you really want to own your home?
Some would argue that this is the first question you should ask yourself. Home ownership, like everything else, is a matter of choice. Only you can decide whether or not home ownership is important to you. If it is then you may want to re-assess how you spend your money every month.

2.  How often do you expect to move in the future?
If you expect to be moving a lot (every couple of years or more) then you probably shouldn't buy your own home. Every time you buy or sell a home you incur…

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Today's most desirable home features

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010 at 6:11pm. 235 Views, 0 Comments.

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Housing trends and styles are changing constantly. Today, more than ever, buyers have a strong sense of what they want in a home.
 
Today’s desirable home features depend greatly of the type of buyer.  Buyers can be divided into two main groups. The first group are first-time buyers which is pretty self-explanatory. The second group are the move up buyers, which are looking to move into a home that addresses the shortcomings of their existing home. They aren't necessarily second-time buyers but they are often people that have out grown their current home. Buyer age is also a main factor in deciding the desired home features.

This article will focus on what is hot in the housing market today. Whether you are planning on renovating, selling, or you…

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Alberta Approves Construction of 5 New Calgary Schools

Friday, April 23rd, 2010 at 10:51am. 177 Views, 0 Comments.

The Alberta government announced on April 22, 2010 that they have awarded the construction jobs of the 5 schools that are to be built in Calgary.

The Calgary Board of Education gets the following schools built:

  • Coventry Hills Middle School (5-9) Capacity 900
  • Taradale Middle School (5-9) Capacity 900
  • Panorama Middle School (5-9) Capacity 900
  • Tuscany Middle School (5-9) Capacity 900

The Calgary Catholic Board gets one school in Copperfield which will have grades K to 9 also with a capacity of 900.

These schools are expected to open in 2012 and are built under a private-public partnership and these schools are badly needed in their communities.

 

Justin Havre

CIR Realty

 

 

 

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Bank of Canada upgrades forecasts; opens door to June rate hike by removing conditional commitment

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 at 10:00am. 132 Views, 0 Comments.

 

Here is an update I just received from my RBC Mortgage professional and I thought I would share it with you guys.

"The Bank of Canada left the overnight rate at 0.25% this morning and opened the door to rate increase at the June meeting by removing its conditional commitment to keep the policy rate at its current level, "until the end of the second quarter of 2010." The Bank stated that with, "recent improvements in the economic outlook, the need for such extraordinary policy is now passing, and it is appropriate to begin to lessen the degree of monetary stimulus. The extent and timing will depend on the outlook for economic activity and inflation, and will be consistent with achieving the 2% inflation target." The change in the Bank's statement…

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Market Watch – April 2010 Residential Resale Market Maintains Momentum

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 at 8:56am. 209 Views, 0 Comments.

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The spring market kicked off early and strong this year, possibly boosted by the unseasonably warm weather and absence of snow in March. Inventory is still lower than at this time in 2009, but has begun to increase slightly in recent months.

“The strong rebound in the existing home market was one of the initial drivers of economic recovery,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Tom Lebour. “While we don’t expect to see the same rates growth moving forward, GTA households will remain confident in ownership housing as a quality long-term investment, especially as economic recovery expands across all industries.”

Most major banks raised their fixed mortgage rates in late March and the Bank of Canada has warned that interest rates will rise again after…

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Selling Your Home? Appeal to the Homebuyer's Senses

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 at 10:28pm. 96 Views, 1 Comments.

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Every seller wants his or her home to sell fast and bring top dollar. It's not luck that makes that happen. It's careful planning and knowing how to professionally spruce up your home that will send home buyers scurrying for their cheque books.

Your home will be judged not only on its outward appearance, but also on the feelings it evokes in those who view your property. Follow these simple tips to prepare your house and turn it into an irresistible home.

Sight
Use light to showcase your home. Open draperies in the daytime and turn on lights (day and night) to accentuate a cheerful atmosphere. If you have a fireplace, burn a Duraflame log. De-clutter and remove any personal photographs and any potentially offensive posters or religious…

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How to Make Your Home Unattractive to Thieves

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 at 10:27pm. 95 Views, 0 Comments.

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One thing nearly every home owner is concerned about is home security. Whether that means installing a burglar alarm, a home security camera, or simply fortifying windows and doors for a more burglar proof home.

Most thieves do not usually try to get into any home, they select their target carefully. So the trick is to make your home less attractive (or harder to get into) than someone else's.

You can make your home unappealing to a potential thief in a number of ways without the need to break your bank account. Here a few effective deterrents that you can do by yourself.

1- Start with doors and window
In many homes, the most serious home security weakness is doors. A thief's job is made simpler by poor locks, breakable doors or both. Doors…

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Mortgage Talk: Interested in a Fixed Rate Mortgage?

Sunday, April 4th, 2010 at 5:14pm. 142 Views, 0 Comments.

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With the prospect of upcoming rate hikes looming over, many home buyers think that locking into the best fixed rate mortgage is the way to go. Does the idea of a mortgage with a fixed interest rate sound appealing?

There are mixed messages out there about when and if interest rates are going to go up. But just as important is a thorough understanding of fixed-rate mortgages and what it could mean for you and your home investment in the long run. Keep in mind that the cost of interest rates rising by 1% is equivalent to the home price falling by 10%. Historically when interest rates have gone up they have gone up fast. It is not uncommon for there to be a 1% hike in a matter of months.

Here are some common fixed-rate questions you may be asking…

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March 2010 Calgary Real Estate Market Update

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 at 10:05pm. 170 Views, 0 Comments.

  

Calgary’s housing market enjoyed a healthy boost in March as homebuyers anticipate an earlier than expected rise in interest rates, according to figures released today by the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®).

The number of single family homes sold in March 2010 in the city of Calgary was up 29 per cent from the same time a year ago, while condominium sales saw an increase of 37 per cent from the same time a year ago.

March 2010 saw 1,396 single family homes sold in the city of Calgary. This is an increase of 35 per cent from 1,035 sales in February 2010. In March 2009, single family home sales totaled 1,086. The number of condominium sales for the month of March 2010 was 609. This was an increase of 14 per cent from the 536 condominium transactions…

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