All Blog Entries by Justin Havre Real Estate Team

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Found 362 blog entries published by Justin Havre Real Estate Team.

What You Need to Know About Installing SidingDifferent kinds of siding perform in different ways. When the time comes to choose a siding, knowing the pros and cons of each siding type can help homeowners decide which type of siding is right for them. This siding guide will discuss some of the most popular options and talk about how to proceed after making a choice.

Know the Options

Siding comes in a range of styles. Some types of siding are longer lasting and more durable than others. Here's what you need to know.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is one of the most popular types of siding available today. It is popular because it's easy to install, easy to maintain, attractive, comes in a range of colors and is relatively pest-resistant. Unlike wood and some other types of siding, it

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Buying a Home With a Fireplace'Tis this season to hang up your stockings by the fireplace with care. If you don't have a fireplace, you can hang your stockings somewhere else in the home. While a fireplace is a definite necessity for some people, others wouldn't give it a second thought. When it comes to having this luxury in a home, it all comes down to personal preference.

Do You Want a Fireplace in Your Home?

There are a number of reasons someone may choose to buy a home with a fireplace or not. After all, fireplaces can bring warmth and comfort to a home, but they can also require consistent maintenance and involve some element of safety risk. If you're considering getting a home with a fireplace, consider these facts.

The Warmth And Glow

For some people there's

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An Insurance Primer: Canadian Homeowners Have Varied Insurance NeedsThere's more involved in buying a home than finding the right property and qualifying for the mortgage. It's smart to protect against different types of loss, although it's not mandated by law. It's not always easy.

Required Coverage

Prospective buyers all realize that there are more costs attached to a home purchase than the mortgage and the price of new furniture. Insurance is one of those costs, and it's important to be aware of requirements that protect the lender, as well as assessing the need for additional coverage to protect personal interests and capital investment.

Mortgage Default Insurance

A mortgage default policy, commonly known as CMHC insurance in Canada, is required for all loans with down payments between 5 and 19.99%.

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Selling Your Vacation HomeA vacation home can be a wonderful thing. You'll have the opportunity to get away and explore somewhere new, and you'll also be able to avoid the high costs of a motel. Especially if you vacation in a very popular area, getting a motel room for a few nights could really add up. With a home in that location you won't have those costs, but you will have other expenses that are important to consider. One of those is the mortgage payment, and when you finance a vacation home it's not quite the same as getting a mortgage on the primary residence where you spend the majority of your time.

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

Recreational Real

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Preparing for Snow in CalgaryWhen the winter months arrive in Calgary, it's inevitable that snow and ice will be piling up. In order to keep up with the exterior home maintenance and snow removal of a Calgary home, consider the following tips.

Preparing for Snow in Calgary

Living in Calgary means you need to be ready for the snow. The right snow removal equipment and the right plan can make the winter so much easier, especially if you're new to the area. Here are some tips for snow removal this winter.

Choosing Your Equipment

Snow removal equipment comes in just a few forms. You can choose a snow blower, electric snow melter or a shovel. If you have back issues, a shovel may not be the best choices, but it's the cheapest option. Just make sure the shovel you choose

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Should You Buy or Rent Calgary Real Estate?If you are weighing your options in terms of buying or renting Calgary properties you should carefully consider all aspects of the debate. Depending on your financial situation, your choices should be fairly straightforward.

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

Should You Rent a Home?

Reasons To Rent a Home

Renting a home means that you will have no major renovations or maintenance to do in the house. You will not be held responsible for major damage unless you have caused it as a tenant. This means that you do not have to worry about large and small expenses arising with little or no warning that can personal financial distress.

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How to Choose Whether to DIY a Project or Hire a ProfessionalWondering how to improve home value and thinking about DIY projects? Do-it-yourself home improvement manuals and stores would have you believe that it's easy to complete all sorts of home repairs.

It can be tempting to take on do-it-yourself projects when you see the amount of money that you can save. Some renovations, however, need to be left to the experts. Things like plumbing, electrical and structural changes should be managed by a professional only. By skimping on these types of things, you may end up with a bigger problem as a result.

Should You DIY or Hire a Professional?

Although there is little doubt that many homes for sale could benefit from a bit of DIY remodels and stylish decor changes, there are some tasks that are best

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Tips for Winning a Bidding WarA bidding war is a dream come true for a home seller, but it can be a nightmare to the buyer. It's not unusual for home buyers in a sellers market to lose control of themselves during a bidding war for that "perfect house". while letting their emotions or competitive drive push the price of the home higher and higher. And while the initial joy of 'winning' the home can be elating, the consequences of a higher mortgage can be dire. To help cooler heads prevail, keep these tips in mind before your budget ends up spiraling out of control.

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

Mortgage Preapproval Letters

A pre-qualified mortgage statement

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The Best Winter Sports to Play in CalgaryWhen the cold of the winter sets in, there’s nothing better to warm yourself up than bundling up, going out in the snow, and working up a sweat in the snow. From skiing to bobsleigh, there’s sure to be some winter sport in Calgary to pique your interest this winter.

Dog Sledding in Calgary! Have You Tried It?

Experience a true Canadian adventure with a dog sledding team this winter! There’s a company in Canmore named Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours Inc. that offers sledding for both young and old. You'll have your choice of overnight, moonlight, short and long tours.

The tour begins with an introduction to the sport of dog sledding and some instructions to follow. The instructors are friendly and ready to answer any and all of the questions you

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Buying a Home With KidsA National Homebuying Survey was released recently and stated that those moving to and living in Alberta put a high priority on family. Choosing a new home is a very important decision. The right neighbourhood can lead to the right schools and the right activities. Here are a few of the highlights from the survey.

  • Albertans ranked as the most "family-oriented" when choosing a new home and community
  • 25% of all Canadians want a home that's move-in ready
  • 19% of Albertans believe a family-friendly community is the top priority
  • Over 50% of Canadians are planning to move within the next five years

These are just a few of the stats, but they clearly show how important family is to many of the people living in Alberta. With such a high

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