Real Estate Blog - Ken Richter

2017 CREB Forecast

2017 is going to be all about working towards market stability, something that has been shaky for the last two years. However, market stability will not reach all sectors of the housing market. CREB notes, “both detached and attached prices remain unchanged over 2016 levels, while apartment is forecasted to contract by another two per cent.” The stabilization of the housing market is going to be slow.

CREB chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie writes, “The transition in the housing market will be a slow process. We are entering the year with high unemployment rates and the possibility that job growth will not occur until the latter portion of 2017. These conditions will continue to weigh on housing demand, but supply is adjusting to weaker sales activity,…

1028 Views, 0 Comments

Calgary Home Renovation Show

The Calgary Renovation Show is hitting the BMO Centre this weekend from January 13th – January 15th. cNot sure what this show is? You make know it was the Calgary Home + Garden Show, because it was recently re-branded. Although the name may be different this year, the quality of the show will remain and–in many cases–exceed previous years.

There are going to be over 200 vendors at the show to share their ideas and innovations with you. Whether you are looking for some inspiration for your next home renovation or are wanting to find a contractor to work with, this show promises to shower you with new ideas, innovations and contacts.

Just like in previous years, there will be keynote speakers on the MainStage. Here is the lineup for this year:

…

2068 Views, 0 Comments

December 2016 Statistics

At the start of each new month we summarize the key points from the Calgary Real Estate Board’s (CREB) report on what happened in Calgary real estate the previous month.

Many people do not like reading about statistics. The numbers seem confusing and convoluted, sometimes manipulated to produce a specific result. They leave many people feeling frustrated and even more uneducated than they were to begin with. However, when it comes to CREB’s report, we guarantee credible, clear, helpful information.  CREB is a fantastic resource for buyers, sellers, investors, agents, etc.. If you are looking for information on the real estate market, they should be your #1 resource.

There is an important reason why we consistently relay the CREB report to you:…

906 Views, 0 Comments

The Story of St. Nick

Merry Christmas from all of us here at Team Ken Richter!

This is our favourite time of year. Christmas is the perfect time to take a step back from busy day-to-day life and focus on what is really important: family. It’s the time to curl up by the fire, drink hot-cocoa, reminisce and wait for Santa Claus.

We all know the story of Santa Claus. He lives in the North Pole with Mrs. Claus and makes toys all year with the elves, which he then delivers via sleigh to children all across the world. However, did you know that Santa Claus is a tale based on a very real man from Turkey in the 4th century?

His name was St. Nicholas and he had a reputation for helping those in need. His parents had died, leaving him an enormous sum of money that he used to…

1031 Views, 0 Comments

Home Care During the Holidays

With Christmas quickly approaching many people are preparing to leave for vacation. Along with making sure you pack enough pairs of socks and that book you’ve been meaning to read, make sure that you also prepare your home for your absence. The most important thing you need to do to keep your home safe over the holidays is to make it appear occupied and well looked after. There are a number of ways you can do this:

Leave A Light Leaving a light on makes it look like someone is always home. Leaving a light on all the time is not very energy efficient, though. This is why we recommend investing in a light that you can control via your smartphone to turn on and off at certain times while you are away.

Turn On The Radio: Leaving a radio on is not only…

957 Views, 0 Comments

Home Staging: Movie Rooms

This month we are going over some ways you can stage your media room. This is the room in your home that houses your books, games and T.V equipment. These rooms are really fun to decorate and stage because there is so much you can do with them. Here are some suggestions on how you can renovate, decorate and/or stage this room so that it makes the best impression possible:

A media room is where people go to escape their responsibilities. Make sure that this room caters to this by being cozy, welcoming and secluded. We recommend the walls be painted darker colours, such as navy blue, maroon, evergreen, grey, etc. These colours are relaxing and heavy, making people want to settle in and relax. Furniture should also be deep colours with lots of cushions…

1012 Views, 0 Comments

November 2016 Statistics

October was a strong month for the real estate market here in YYC. However, in November conditions turned back to previous trends. CREB® writes, “year- over-year monthly sales totalled 1,227 units, which is nearly three per cent lower than last year and 17 per cent below long-term averages.”

As we reported on back in November, major changes were made to Canada’s housing rules last month. The changes were aimed at helping Canadians keep from taking on larger mortgages than they could economically handle during a time when interest rates were incredibly low. For more information on this, check out an article on it HERE.

These changes may be helpful in the long run for people, but right now they are stopping many people from entering the market. This…

884 Views, 0 Comments

Home Staging During Christmas

The Christmas season is upon us! With the end of November festivities, lights are being strung and trees are being put up. Lots of people like to go all out with their Christmas decorations. However, if you are trying to sell your home, there is a dilemma: on one hand decorating will make your home seem warm and cozy, on the other hand no one wants to set up all their decorations only to pack them up right away upon sale. Also, Christmas decorations can make spaces crowded and busy. So, what is the solution?

When you are trying to sell your home over the holidays, it is important to do some decorating. However, it needs to be minimal, simple and effective. Here are some ideas of decor options to get you started:

Front Door: Rather than putting a…

1158 Views, 0 Comments

Giving Back This Christmas

Many people cite Christmas as the best time of the year. They are surrounded by loved ones, get to eat delicious food and exchange gifts. However, Christmas is not like this for everyone. For many families Christmas is just another day of struggling to get by. It can be hard to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, but please try. Can you imagine what Christmas would be like if you had to go without? This is a reality for people all over the world.

There is something really wonderful about having the privilege we do: we can use our privilege–our wealth, talents and connections–to help others. This Christmas we challenge you to find a way that you can give back. No matter how big or small you believe your contribution to be, giving back makes a…

1076 Views, 0 Comments

October 2016 Statistics

This month the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®) had some good news for us: “For the first time in two years, sales activity in October resembled normal levels. City-wide sales totaled 1,644 units, which is an increase of nearly 16 per cent over last year.”

This is fantastic information for all of us who have been carefully watching the market as it has navigated turbulent economic conditions. We have always believed in Calgary’s ability to fight hard times with strength and perseverance. As Calgary’s economic confidence has begun to recover, Calgarians are starting to make confident real estate moves that are positively influencing the market.

The detached sector saw major sales in October. Sales are what have been preventing the market from making…

833 Views, 0 Comments