July 2024

As you step into Downtown Calgary, you're immediately surrounded by a culinary landscape that caters to a variety of tastes and preferences. Among the top-notch eateries, some standouts include CHARCUT Roast House, blending Italian and Portuguese flavours, and Major Tom, known for its panoramic views and innovative cocktails. Visitors will also find River Café, offering upscale, sustainable dining, and Caesar's Steak House & Lounge, renowned for its gourmet menu and signature drinks. 

As one of Calgary’s most walkable neighbourhoods, the downtown area is a great place to stroll and sample the offerings of some of the city's best restaurants.

Downtown Calgary Dining Highlights

• Major Tom offers panoramic city views and cutting-edge

When selling your home, traditional methods often involve buyers securing financing through banks or mortgage lenders. However, another option can benefit both sellers and buyers: seller financing. This alternative approach allows the seller to act as the lender, offering the buyer a loan to purchase the property. This can open the door to a wider pool of potential buyers, offer attractive terms, and even potentially expedite a smooth home selling process. However, the risks weigh heavier on the seller, so seller financing requires thorough consideration. 

For informational purposes only. Always consult with an attorney, tax, or financial advisor before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Seller Financing at a Glance

• Seller

Moving to Calgary is a big decision, especially if you're coming from another province or country. This is a very popular, growing area found in Alberta and provides a number of great features. However, before you make the move, there are a few things to consider.

To help you determine what part of the city you should live in, questions you should ask yourself before moving include:

• Which neighbourhoods are the best choices for you in Calgary?
• What do you value most about your current home?
• How large of a home do you need when you move?
• Where do you expect to be in five years, 10 years, or even 15 years?
• Will you be working in the city or searching for a job once you arrive?
• What kind of lifestyle do you and your household

Are you ready to improve your bedroom? Perhaps you need bedding for your Airbnb's interior design? From new sheets to bedspreads, Calgary retailers have a lot of great options. For a place you spend a third of your day in, it's important that it's comfortable and fits your personality. When you're looking for the softest sheets or the perfect duvet cover, be sure to check out the best bedding stores in Calgary:

Sleep Boutique - Suite 160, 5423 61 Ave S.E.

Do you need a higher-quality custom or oversized mattress? This Calgary-based mattress manufacturer handles all sizes and styles and sells directly to consumers. They offer custom mattress options to help with sleep issues and back/shoulder pain, as well as custom sizes and shapes to fit your

There's joy to be discovered while playing in the water. While spending time at the lakes near Calgary is relaxing, it can always be fun to drop by a water park or splash pad instead. Both the young and young at heart love to escape their worries by splashing, swimming, and sliding down gigantic water slides. There are excellent splash pads and water parks in Calgary—both indoors and outside—all waiting to be explored.

Calgary's Water Parks, Spray Parks, & Wading Pools

• Calgary has a number of wading pools, spray parks, and outdoor pools including ones at Bowness Park, Valleyview Park, and Prairie Winds Park.
• The city also offers indoor swimming pools and water playgrounds at locations like Southland Leisure Centre and Village Square Leisure

Selling a home can be stressful from start to finish. There's so much riding on a home sale that many homeowners spend the time selling their home sitting "on pins and needles," as they say. It's hard not to worry. From the moment that a home is put up for sale, homeowners must ask themselves: what will we do if the home doesn't sell for enough money? What if it takes too long to sell? These questions and concerns are valid. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to make the home-selling process go more smoothly.

Below, we've listed the most common reasons sellers are stressed out when trying to sell their homes and what we suggest homeowners do to manage these fears.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real

You’ve got a house you need to sell, and a house you need to buy. But which transaction should you close first? Buying a house before selling and selling your house before buying both have pros and cons.

Deciding whether to sell your current home or buy a new home first can impact your finances, timeline, and overall stress levels during the transition process, so it's essential to weigh the pros and cons of each scenario, keeping in mind your specific needs and circumstances. As you navigate this pivotal next step in your homeownership journey, remember that thorough research and guidance from real estate professionals can help you reach the best choice for you.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate

Navigating a bidding war demands a strategic approach that can make all the difference in securing a property in a competitive market. Buyers must be prepared to deploy tactics like offering above the asking price, making cash offers, and potentially waiving contingencies to gain an edge. Sellers must be prepared to analyse multiple offers to choose the most advantageous one.

Both buyers and sellers need careful strategies to win a bidding war on a house. Here’s what to consider to get the ideal outcome.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Quick Bidding War Tips for Buyers and Sellers

For buyers:

• Obtain a preapproval letter to

When you get a cash offer on your home, the decision can be pivotal in your selling process. It's a tempting proposition with its promise of a fast and simple sale, but it’s important to decide whether a cash offer is the right choice for you. Consider the implications beyond the immediate benefits before making your final decision.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

5 Things to Know about Selling For Cash

• Accept cash offers for quick, hassle-free sales.
• Consider traditional sales for higher sale prices.
• Cash offers are ideal for urgent situations or as-is sales.
• Traditional sales offer the potential for competitive bidding and

Maybe you’ve seen the term in a real estate listing. Maybe you’ve been suggested it as an alternative to foreclosure. But what does “short sale” mean when it comes to homes?

Short selling a house is, essentially, getting your lender to agree to let you sell your home for less than your outstanding mortgage balance. This can benefit both the seller and the lender in various ways.

Understanding the intricacies of short sales can be pivotal in making informed decisions about housing and financial stability.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed mortgage or home loan professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Short Sales in a Nutshell

• Short sales are typically made by homeowners in financial