Calgary Real Estate

Closing costs — the list of charges that you need to pay to complete a real estate transaction — come as a surprise for many home buyers. Since closing costs are additional costs over and above the price of a home, you should budget at least 2.5% of the purchase price for closing costs, in addition to the down payment.

Your exact closing costs depend on where you live, how much you are borrowing, and how you are financing your mortgage.  The rules and regulations surrounding the various mortgage fees can be complex, and can vary from lender to lender. 

Below you will find a brief explanation of these costs. Some of these fees may (or may not) apply to your specific situation. Use this is a guideline and then talk with your lawyer or real estate

Positive economic news and low borrowing costs led to strong sales through the first five months of the year, including the increase in May. At the same time, the market has become much tighter compared to last year, due to a substantial dip in new listings.

Overall, the market is in a balanced position, however there are significant differences amongst individual communities and property types stressing the importance of getting local expertise if you’re thinking of buying or selling.
 
Ontario - residential condominium market sees highest gains in May

Toronto, June 3, 2011 – Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 10,046 sales in May 2011 – up 6% compared to May 2010. This result was the second best on record for May under the current Toronto Real

Basement windows present a significant security vulnerability for many homes. Although the basement itself may not hold anything of value, often doors or windows leading to the basement are not as well protected as other entry points to the home, and therefore, burglars see it as easy access to the rest of your home.

Here are a few quick tips to guide you through improving the security of your basement windows.

Use good outside lighting
Make sure your basement windows are always well-lit during the evenings and at night. A dark place is always more likely to be broken into.

Keep basement windows visible from the outside
A basement window that is concealed by plants or shrubs is attractive to burglars because it provides them a cover under which

When trying to decide whether to buy an older home or a newly constructed one, many questions come to mind. Start by educating yourself and knowing the pros and cons of each.

Real estate agents don't like to call a house a "used" house. It makes it sound too much like a used car, doesn't it? But when you're buying a home you only have two choices: new or used. Real estate agents prefer to call a used home an "existing home" which sounds a lot nicer!

If you're deciding between buying a new home and buying one that someone else has owned, you need to consider several issues.

In most cases, existing homes have a touch of character with their own charm and details. They are usually located in more established neighbourhoods with mature trees and

Patio furniture can greatly enhance your outdoor living space.  By choosing your patio furniture wisely you will not only create a great outdoor ambience but will also extend your inside décor to the patio and backyard.  

Choosing patio furniture should not be a hard decision. There are many types of outdoor furniture to choose from.  Taking a walk through a home improvement store, a patio furniture store, or a garden centre during the spring and summer months will remind you of the many types and styles of furniture that are available.  Since there are so many options, selecting outdoor patio furniture or accessories to suit your decorating style should be a breeze.

Several factors should be taken into consideration: price, style and

The environment we live in is important and we all have to do our best to protect it. Being eco-friendly doesn't require going solar or growing all your own food. A few simple changes in our lifestyle can go a long way to combat both high energy bills and global warming.

1. Plant a tree
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

2. Change a light bulb
Replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

3. Walk, bike, carpool or take the transit
You’ll save one pound of carbon dioxide for every mile you don’t drive. If you must drive, keep your car tires inflated properly to improve gas mileage. Every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide

Many people think of adding square footage to create more space. But that doesn't have to be the case. You can make your home appear bigger without going through the hassle of renovating and remodelling. With just a few home modifications, it is possible to make more from less. And remember, often what the eye needs is the illusion of spaciousness not actually more space.

Here's how to create the illusion of space without adding square footage.

1. Think diagonal views. Think back to geometry and how the hypotenuse of the triangle was the longest of the three sides. Apply that to the sightlines within your small-house design. Your house will appear much bigger than it actually is if you are able to stand at one corner of the house and look to the

Do you know that over 30% of Canadians now source their home loans through a mortgage broker. Why? Because it can save time and possibly money.

A mortgage broker act as an intermediary between lenders and customers who are looking to finance their home. One visit to a reputable mortgage broker will make the process much easier and could save you thousands of dollars. They look after you through the entire home loan process by providing information and documentation advice, sourcing suitable home loan choices, and submitting applications.

Brokers have access to information for all kinds of loans from banks. They don’t work for the bank and can give you the most cost-saving deal that they can find in the market. Brokers are expected to be transparent