Calgary Real Estate Blog

A well-organized home office requires privacy, comfort and technology.Working from home has become not only possible, but increasingly common, across all fields and in all parts of the world. With the reliability of high-tech communication, and a growing trend toward decentralization in commerce, more and more employees work at home at least part of the work week.

If you work from home, even if only for a few hours each week, a dedicated work space is a decided benefit. An attempt to concentrate on business while family life swirls around you will usually be less than successful.

In order to make working from home a viable option, both aesthetics and efficiency should be considered. Soundproofing your home office may also be necessary. Design of the work space is a strategic benefit and a priority. The space need not

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Best Ideas for Outdoor Living SpacesAt one time, it was enough to have a patio in the backyard for lounging and entertaining. Today's homeowners are more sophisticated, which may be why outdoor living areas are gaining in popularity and becoming a popular home improvement for homeowners and sellers. The best outdoor living areas have a variety of components that can increase comfort and give homeowners options as they spend time outside.

Shade

Sun is a welcome component of any outdoor living area, but its position can make or break the outdoor experience. No outdoor living area is complete without shelter to give shade. Shade can be provided in many ways, so it's up to the homeowner to decide how it should be done.

  • Canvas covering. This option is utilitarian, easy to install
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What to know About Dual Master HomesAll jokes aside, a dual-master is about bedrooms and bathrooms. Not about who's in charge at home. Dual-masters are becoming more popular and satisfy a particular niche in Calgary's housing market.

There is a cross-section of the population for which a traditional three-bedroom home doesn't quite work. Dual masters can be a great alternative, with bedroom/bathroom configurations that work well in smaller homes such as townhomes and condominiums.

What is a Dual Master Home?

A dual master home is a home with two master bedrooms, each with their own ensuite and frequently their own walk-in closets. They often take that extra square footage that would have been a third bedroom and instead make a second master bedroom so people can be accommodated

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The Best Family-Oriented Neighborhoods in CalgaryMoving to a new city is a stressful event, but it can also be very rewarding. If you choose the right neighbourhood for your family, you get involved sooner rather than later and you embrace your new city, you can eliminate some of the moving stress. It starts with the neighbourhood you choose and here are a few of the best choices for families in Calgary.

Parkland

If you have younger children, Parkland is the best choice. This neighbourhood has the highest population of children under 14 years of age in the city. The Community Association here is very active and many programs are provided for children, including Sparks & Brownies, Cubs & Beavers, soccer, hockey, karate and many other choices. Along with the emphasis on children, the homes here

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Baby boomers are getting older and greatly influence the housing trends here in Calgary and across Canada. The largest increase in birth numbers since 1921 took place in 1945 and 1946, which was the beginning of the baby-boom. It ended in 1964 and 1965. This means that there were approximately 20 years of increased birth amounts and these babies are now in their late 40s - 60s.

There were more than 8.2 million babies born during this time period. If you average that out it's about 412,000 births yearly. During the same time women were averaging 3.7 children each while in recent years the number has decreased to 1.7. The 2011 Census figures showed that approximately 3/10 Canadians were baby boomers.

How Baby Boomers Affect Real Estate Trends

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Sell a Home with Virtual RealityIt may be time to take a listing to the next dimension. Static images are a common way to market a property but cannot provide the type of experience that comes with virtual reality. Virtual reality is here and can be a useful tool in depicting features of an available home in emails and online. Learn more about how virtual reality is being used to help sell homes faster and possibly for more money.

Why Embrace Virtual Reality

Home buyers can get a sense of a home, both inside and out, with traditional real estate photography. However, they do not see the layout of a home or the get a sense of spaciousness. Agents are attempting to address these gaps as they realize how important it is for a property to appeal to buyers.

Using virtual reality

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What to Know When Qualifying for a MortgageMany people wonder if buying a home is really within their reach. It often seems like a daunting purchase for the first time buyer. The good news is that with the large variety of options available today, it has never been easier to secure a mortgage.

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

What Criteria Do Mortgage Lenders Use to Select Qualified Buyers?

Mortgage lenders assess a variety of criteria when considering mortgage applications. Most lenders look at the following factors when determining whether you qualify for a mortgage loan.

One of the first questions a lender will consider is how much of your total income you'll be spending on

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Buying Farm Fresh Groceries in CalgaryThe nice thing about living in the province of Alberta is the offerings for food you get to experience in almost all corners of the place. In every small town, you will be able to find food establishments offering farm fresh dishes making you want visit them for second time around.

The Saskatoon Farm - 80181 338 Avenue East, De Winton

Located to the south of Calgary is The Saskatoon Farm. This stop offers delectable and authentic Mexican dishes, where food is grown by Mexican farmers who take pride in their fresh picks. Aside from the excellent dishes, you can also check out the fresh fruit preserves, which you can bring home and you can take a sip of their heart warming hot drinks from its cafe.

The Millarville Farmers' Market - Box 68,

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What Should You Do When You Can't Afford Home Maintenance?Deferred maintenance occurs when a homeowner puts off necessary repairs either due to cost or a lack of spare time, and it's unfortunately relatively common for people to do. While understandable for homeowners to try to delay five-figure repairs, such as replacing the roof or fixing the foundation, the consequences of doing so can be drastic. The good news is that managing maintenance (and mitigating the damage of deferred repairs) is possible once homeowners understand how they can spend their limited resources to limit the degradation of the structure or grounds.

Catching It Early

Even if a homeowner can't afford to fix the problem with DIY projects, noticing it in the infancy stages can give all the residents an edge. The key is for

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What to Know About Age Restrictions in CondosCalgary land is becoming more and more popular as house prices continue to rise and the dream of owning a home becomes more and more difficult for young people. One of the alternatives to buying a home is to purchase a piece of land as an investment opportunity.

Just like a home, Calgary land will rise in price over the years. It is at the bottom of the chain in real estate, but it is still an excellent option if you just need to get started.

Building On The Land

Some people just don't have enough disposable income coming in to set aside enough savings to make a big purchase all at once. If you decide to build a home on the land, you can do it in stages per your budget. You can do a lot of the work yourself if you're handy to keep the costs

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