Buying Tips

Tips about Buying Real Estate In Calgary

Found 123 blog entries about Buying Tips.

What You Need to Know About Calgary Home Architectural StylesIn Calgary and throughout Canada, there are several home architectural styles that are prevalent. The style of the individual home is likely influenced by the time period in which it was built as well as the neighborhood in which it resides. Home buyers should know that each home architectural style features a distinct floor plan and layout, which can influence their ultimate decision.

It's important for potential home buyers, especially first-time home buyers, to understand which home architectural style will best suit their lifestyle. The most popular home architectural styles in Calgary are:

Cottage Homes

Cottage homes can best be described as cozy and quaint. They are charming homes that may be small in size, but they boast an

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Why Get Pre-Qualified For a Loan?If you are seriously considering buying a property in Calgary you should get pre-qualified for a loan first. By doing so, you will be taken seriously by your real estate agent and home sellers. It shows that you have taken a step towards buying a house and you are committed to it.

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

Your Agent Will Take You More Seriously

You will find that your real estate agent will work even harder to search for and get you the ideal home in the shortest possible time. If you do not spend some time to get pre-qualified for a loan, you may find your agent less enthusiastic to work with you. When you have obtained a loan…
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What to Know About Working With a Mortgage BrokerAre you ready to get a mortgage? If you are and want to work with a mortgage broker here in Calgary, here are the top three questions you should be asking.

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

Is Hiring a Mortgage Broker a Good Idea?

For thousands of Canadians the answer is yes. Statistics show that approximately 30% of Canadians looking for a new home loan are shopping through a broker. Many will end up saving thousands in the process, especially when you consider the long-term interest paid on a mortgage. Even saving a fraction of a percent on the interest rate can pay off big down the road. Here are just a few of the advantages you can

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How to Prepare to Buy a HomeThere are many benefits of homeownership. It creates a level of stability in a person’s life and provides a safe environment for children to grow and learn. A home can also have several financial benefits, creating borrowing power for the homeowner and the opportunity to build wealth that can benefit people for years to come.

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

The Most Important Financial Reasons Why You Should Purchase a Home

You've heard it said time and time again that real estate is a solid investment that helps to build up a retirement nest egg. So, what makes real estate a good investment for Canadians?

You're Paying For It

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How to Write a Home Purchase OfferReal estate is a business but there are people behind the buying and selling of a house. There's a human factor involved that isn't addressed often enough and you can use this to your advantage. Instead of putting in an offer that comes from a stranger, you can personalize your offer with a letter. But on top of that, there are a lot of legal requirements that may baffle prospective home buyers. Here’s what you need to know when you write a home purchase offer.

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

How to Write a Compelling Purchase Offer

You can explain who you are in it and why you want the house so much. A handwritten letter may help

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Would You Live in a Haunted House?Although you may think it's a silly question, a lot of people believe in haunted houses and say that they have seen evidence of other beings living with them. Whether you're a believer or not, this may be something to take into consideration when you're selling a home. If you do believe that a house can be haunted, it's something you may have to take into account if you find the home of your dreams! There may be other types of beings inhabiting the property that aren't in human form!

Realtor.com has just released the results of their 2013 Haunted House Report and the results were very interesting. It turns out that approximately 35% of the respondents have lived in a house that they believe was haunted.

How Many People Would Buy A Haunted

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Popular Home Architectural Styles in CalgaryUnderstanding the different types of housing styles throughout Calgary is necessary if you want to buy a home here. There are plenty of great styles throughout from a Tudor to a more modern style. Here are some of the most iconic home styles found throughout Calgary.

Craftsman-Style Bungalow

This type of house is very much an American Style from Greene and Greene architects who called their millionaire chalets ‘bungalows'. In their heyday, bungalows were prized for artistic naturalism and exotic looks. The style is also inspired by the English Arts and Crafts movement due to the design's vernacular architecture that melds into its natural setting.

Bungalows typically nestle into the site, low and spreading, so they are aesthetically

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Smoker's Home For Sale In nearly all cases, having a smoker in the house will make it more difficult to sell. The smell of stale tobacco is difficult to remove and turns off non-smoking buyers. On top of this, there are even health concerns related to re-emission of nicotine and tar from surfaces which have previously absorbed them.

The bottom line is that, if left untreated, it will likely take longer to sell a smoker's home, and you may well have to settle for a lower price to do so.

Steps Before a Showing

Whenever you show your home, you want to present it in the best possible light. The last thing you want is the smell of smoke hitting your buyers as they enter the front door. There's several ways to combat this situation:

  • Stop smoking indoors:
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Explore the Haunted Buildings in CalgaryMany old buildings have their share of history, but some attract attention for an altogether different reason. Some homes and structures in Calgary, Alberta appear to be haunted and tales of ghostly visitations continue to bring goose bumps to young and old. Those looking for some of the more unusual attractions in Calgary may want to consider a visit to a few of these allegedly haunted places.

Signs of Hauntings in the Home

Colin Bengert, executive director of the Calgary Association of Paranormal Investigations (CAPI), spent eight years investigating the paranormal and knows how it's done. Most calls about a haunting have the same experiences including:

  • Hearing ghostly voices
  • Seeing electronics or lights flicker on and off
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How to Maximize Profits Before Downsizing a HomeFor some people, the ideal living environment involves cutting down on their current space to something more manageable. This might be a great opportunity, provided that the current sale offers enough incentive. This guide shows how to improve the odds.

Establishing Downsizing Goals

First, sellers should set a few goals based on the reality of the current market. For a lot of people, selling in a hot market can return a lot more money than they were expecting. However, sellers who plan to buy in the same market might also have to pay more for a smaller home. It makes sense to consider some questions about the reasons for downsizing, including:

  • What is the market like in the place I'd like to live?
  • Am I looking to supplement my income
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