Real Estate Blog - Ken Richter

New Brunswick || Canada 150

Our Canada 150 series is still going strong! This week's highlighted province/territory is New Brunswick. Read on to learn more about the history of this maritime province, what makes it unique and how New Brunswick is celebrating Canada 150.

Originally inhabited for hundreds of years by indigenous people groups, the land of New Brunswick has always been treasured. Unfortunately, when European explorers arrived, these indigenous groups were pushed off the land and forced to retreat, some into extinction and others into fringe communities. As Canada has grown more culturally conscious, many efforts have been made to preserve what is left of these indigenous communities and histories. 

New Brunswick was named by King George III. Britannica writes,…

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October Events

Here are some events happening around Calgary to check out this month:

Wordfest Festival || October 9th - 15th || Various Locations || This event is every literary lovers dream come true. Enjoy panels, games and books from over 70 authors and artists as they celebrate the power of words! Avenue Calgary notes, "the highlight of this year's roster will likely be Between the Pages, an event that will gather all five of this year's Scotiabank Giller Prize finalists together." This event combines learning and fun for one incredible week. For more information, visit their website at www.wordfest.com!

Jerry Seinfeld || October 13th-14th || Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium || Whether they know him from his hit 90's T.V show, his Netflix special, or his…

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The Value of a Spec Home

Building a home is a rather dreamy process. You get to pick where exactly to build your home and what it will look like. You finally have an excuse to be on Pinterest all the time, searching for décor and design ideas. You will be the first-ever owner in a home truly customized to your every desire. Sounds wonderful, right?

For those who can afford to build a new home from scratch, the process can be very rewarding. However, it often involves unexpected expenses, long wait times, stressful decisions and inevitable compromise. Lucky for you, there is another option for people wanting a brand new home: spec homes. 

Spec homes are built and designed by a contractor, not due to a contract with a buyer to build a home, but in hopes of finding a buyer to…

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Halloween Events in YYC

Calgary really gets into the Halloween spirit this time of year. Looking for some fun, spooky, even scary events? Here are some you do not want to miss: 

Heritage Park Ghost Tours || September 13th - October 18th || Ever wondered what ghosts haunt Heritage Park? Join this walking tour to learn about the creepy stories of days past, staff ghost encounters and maybe even (hopefully) experience the paranormal yourself. Heritage Park may be bright and kid-friendly during the day, but at night the ghosts come to play... 

Screamfest || October 13th-18th on Fridays & Saturdays, and October 29th - 31st || This Calgary Halloween classic is a classic for a reason: it is notoriously the scariest event in the city. Walk through multiple haunted houses, such as…

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British Columbia || Highlights

British Columbia has so much to offer that it was incredibly hard to pick just three must-sees. Consider these ideas a starting point—not the end-all be-all.

Tweedsmuir Park Lodge: This lodge is peacefully remote, but very accessible. It is right on the edge of the Chilcotin Plateau, 63 KM from the Bella Coola Harbor. What makes this lodge unique is that it hosts one of the world’s best Grizzly bear viewing tours. The Province writes, “From Aug. 23 to Oct. 15, guests board rafts or drift boats and float by grizzlies hunting for salmon on the Atnarko River, which bounds the lodge’s property.” They are very dedicated to protecting guests and the bears. Get your camera ready—unless you’re afraid of bears, then skip this hidden gem and try the next…

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British Columbia || Canada 150

In honor of Canada’s 150 birthday, we are featuring a different province or territory each week. This week we are driving to the east coast: British Columbia.

British Columbia’s first people likely arrived in North America via the Bering Land Bridge which connected Asia and North America during the ice age. It is estimated that at their peak, over 300,000 indigenous people lived in the area now known as British Columbia (B.C). British explorer Captain James Cook was quick to set up a trading post on Vancouver Island, which is now old town Victoria, and European settlers flooded in. In 1871, B.C became the 6th province to join Canada on the promise that the Canadian Pacific Railway would be extended into interior B.C.

B.C is known across the…

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Nova Scotia || Highlights

Did you know that Nova Scotia is one of the top provinces Canadians say they want to explore? It's definitely on our bucket list. If you're planning to visit Nova Scotia, here are three experiences you do not want to miss out on:

York ReDoubt: Built in 1793 at the start of the war between France and Britain, the fortress of York ReDoubt made Halifax the most heavily guarded city in all of Canada. This historical site "[features] interpretive panels, tunnels, muzzle-loading guns, and a World War II Command Post.  Visitors are invited to stroll along the many walking trails, wander among the armament and fortifications and enjoy the spectacular panoramic views of the Halifax Harbor." This is a great opportunity to see part of Canada's history. 

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September 2017 Statistics

Good news, Calgary! Gains in the real estate market for the first half of 2017 have bumped sale levels 7% higher than last year!

Inventory levels rose to 6,861 units in September. While this increase was seen across all the different property types, attached homes and apartments saw the largest increase. CREB® chief economist AnnMarie Lurie reported:

“The recent rise in inventories is preventing further price recovery as sales activity has moderated over recent months. This does not come as a surprise as sales activity is expected to remain modest by historical standards until more substantial economic improvements take hold. Some may consider this a setback, but it is important to note that recent movements are balancing out the higher than…

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Nova Scotia || Canada 150

In honor of Canada's 150th birthday, we are featuring a different province each week. This week we are highlighting the beautiful maritime province of Nova Scotia! 

Nova Scotia's beginnings were very similar to Prince Edward Island's. Originally inhabited by the Mi'kmaq First Nations people, there is evidence of human occupation on Nova Scotia dating back 11,000 years! Nova Scotia was named by the European explorers who stumbled upon it, using the Latin translation for "New Scotland." The land was fought over by both the first nations people who had already settled it and the European immigrants who wanted it. After a long and messy history, Nova Scotia eventually became one of the founding provinces of the Canadian Confederation in 1867. 

Nova…

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The Yukon || Highlights

There are so many fun things to see and do in the Yukon that we could never fit them all into one blog post. However, here some ideas to get you started:

1). Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park: Be a part of the Yukon Gold Rush by visiting the town of Skagway, the original gold miner hub. Visit historic buildings and museums, go on tours and learn how to pan for gold, shop the small boutiques and enjoy local cuisine, and watch the cruise ships come into the harbor. This park is busiest in the summertime, but Skagway is its most beautiful in the winter. Perfect for family fun and learning, the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is a must-see and well worth the trip.

2). Takhini Hot Springs: Located just 20 minutes out of…

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