Real Estate Blog - Ken Richter

Top Questions From First-Time Buyers

Congratulations! You are ready to buy your first home. This is a huge step and we are so excited for you. Real estate is a great investment in your future. Think of it this way: instead of paying someone else every month and having that money disappear forever, you are now putting money towards something that will almost guarantee you money back one day. Not only this, but you can paint the walls, hang up things and make the place fully and truly yours.

Being a first time buyer on the market is incredibly exciting, but it can also be a little daunting. Our goal in today’s blog post is to answer some commonly asked questions first time buyers have in the hopes that you will learn something and gain a little peace of mind. Remember that here at Team Ken…

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September Statistics

Hello, October! The season of pumpkins and plaid is upon us. The weather is swiftly turning crispy here in YYC, but we are very happy to report that it looks as though the snow will hold off a little longer. In the meantime, we have some very important statistics to go over with you.

The word ‘statistics’ carries many negative connotations. People immediately think of the class they failed freshmen year or the report their boss is always hounding them for. However, statistics are important–especially if you are in the real estate market hoping to sell or buy a home. Staying informed is the best way to make a wise decision you will not regret come November.

Without further ado, here are the statistics from what happened in the real estate market in…

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Renegotiating Your Lease

Many leases on suites across the city end this month, prompting listings to rise for rental units. This is a great time for this to be happening because Calgary is currently in a buyer’s market. This means that buyers (or renters, in this case) can be more selective since there is a lot on the market but not a lot of demand.

In this buyer’s market, renters have the upper hand. If you are renting and your lease ends soon, it is time to take a look at your lease and evaluate if you are happy with it remaining unchanged for another length of time. For those of you unhappy with the current agreement, now is your time to negotiate.

The first thing to consider before attempting a negotiation is that even though the market favours renters right now, there…

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Home Staging: Entryway

When people are staging their homes one commonly overlooked area is the entryway. It is just for shoes and coats, right? Wrong! Your entryway sets the tone for the entire interior of your home. Do not let it go neglected. Here are some home staging tips to help you get your entryway ready for your next showing:

First things first, de-clutter. Entryways are a common place for old shoes, winter jackets, gym bags, sports equipment, pet toys and more to build up. Start your staging by going through everything in the entryway and deciding whether it is essential to have there or not. Create three piles of things: keep, pack, donate.

Invest in some organization tools. Purchase new coat hangers, a shoe rack, little crates for scarves and mittens, etc. Also…

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Places To Check Out in Bowness

Here at Team Ken Richter we love working in the City of Calgary. One community that is especially close to our heart is Bowness. Few neighborhoods have as much resilience, passion, history and community spirit as Bowness. We are so excited about what is going on in the community of Bowness, so for today’s blog we are going to share some of these things with you.

The Re-Opening of Marty’s Corner Store: Back in 2013 the Calgary flooding drowned Marty’s Corner store, which had been a Bowness staple for almost 70 years. The corner store “[offered] residents a community gathering place where children spent their allowance on sweets, parents purchased bread, milk and other groceries, and seniors gathered for morning coffee” (The Calgary Herald). Newly…

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The Psychology Of Smells

A quick drive through any neighbourhood reveals that there is lots on the market right now. If you are one of those people with a sign on your lawn hoping to sell your home, we are here to help you. Although it can be difficult to sell a home in this market, there are lots of little things you can do to give your property an advantage.

One of the things that is most neglected when people stage their homes and prepare to show it to potential buyers is how the home smells. People get so used to the smell of their homes that it never occurs to them to amp it up in preparation for the viewing. But, did you know there is a psychology to smells? That’s right: smells can trigger emotions, memories and leave a lasting impression.

Do you want your home to…

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The Perfect Planner

School is officially in session which means there are a whirlwind of things to keep track of: assignments, extra curriculars, due dates, etc.. Trying to squeeze things in, prevent over-booking and make sure you remember a date before it’s too late can cause a lot of anxiety. Whether you are a student or a parent, keeping track off all these important dates and times can be extremely overwhelming.

The best way you can combat this anxiety is by being prepared and organized. This can seem like a large, daunting task, but we promise you it will be worth it. Here are some clever ways you can organize based on your needs:

1). For The Single Busy Body: Start a bullet journal. Bullet Journals are the latest fad in personal organization for one great reason:…

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August 2016 Statstics

Every month the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®) publishes a monthly housing summary. These summaries go over what happened in the real estate market, how trends shifted, what to expect moving forward, benchmark prices, information behind changes in the market, etc.. This is a fantastic resource that we highly recommend! The most successful kind of buyers and sellers are the kind of buyers and sellers that are informed.

Most recently CREB® divided their report into two parts: the Calgary statistics and the Calgary region statistics. In our monthly summaries of the CREB® report, we focus specifically on the Calgary statistics. However, if you are interested in knowing about Calgary and its neighbouring areas, check out the full Calgary region…

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Block Party Essentials

Can you believe it is already the last week of August? Summer flew by, as it always does. However, here at Team Ken Richter we are committed to helping you get the most out of the remainder of the summer. One way to take advantage of the long summer days is to host a block party.

Block parties are a great way to meet more people, eat good food and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Whether your neighbourhood has done one before or not, we encourage anyone who is interested in having one to go for it. Here are some block party essentials:

1). Team Up: If you are already friends with people in the neighbourhood, team up with them to host the block party. Having other people to help organize all the details can be a huge help. Have one person in charge of…

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July 2016 Statistics

This year’s census data has shown a major decline in net migration. While families already in Calgary are growing, the number of people coming to Calgary from other places has decreased. This has affected the housing market by sales activity dropping.

CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie explains, “continued pullback of sales activity is a sign of economic conditions. The number of unemployed workers keeps rising and when you combine job losses with declining net migration, the result is going to be weaker housing demand.”

One thing that worked in favor of this was a decline in new listings. Less buying activity was matched with less inventory on the market, which significantly helped prevent pressure on benchmark prices. CREB® notes that the…

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