Real Estate Blog - Ken Richter

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:…

743 Views, 0 Comments

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…

887 Views, 0 Comments

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…

989 Views, 0 Comments

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…

775 Views, 0 Comments

Exterior Finishes

Here in Calgary we are lucky enough to experience all four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. While others need not be concerned with weather patterns beyond one season’s limitations, Calgarians must be ready for anything. Evidence of this would be the snow that fell in some areas of Calgary earlier this week. In July.

While these differing seasons provide us with spectacular sights–Golden forests in the fall, fresh blankets of snow in the winter, blossoming flowers each spring and pink august skies–the weather each season brings can put a lot of strain on properties. Shifting ground, sun-bleached surfaces, hail damaged paneling: all results of the way our often unpredictable environment can damage our properties.

Exterior finishing already…

978 Views, 0 Comments

Home Staging: Kitchen Edition

Kitchens are one of the most frequently used areas of the home, making it understandable that they often experience the most wear and tear. Kitchens are an area where dust and grime can build up quickly if left unattended, making them one area potential buyers will zero in on quickly to see what the level of cleanliness is in your home. When it comes to home staging, kitchens cannot go neglected.

Here are some easy ways to fix up your kitchen without having to completely remodel it. Doing this will be good for your wallet and good for your home, along with making it a much more aesthetically pleasing space for buyers.

1), Wipe down all surfaces and re-paint where needed. Using a simple mix of water and vinegar helps clean away dirt, stains and…

926 Views, 0 Comments

June 2016 Statistics

The June statistics are in!

For those of you just joining us here at Team Ken Richter, welcome! Every month the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®) publishes a summary of what happened in the housing market during the previous month. This is a fantastic way for buyers, sellers, investors and renters to stay up to date on market conditions. By tracking trends you can make smarter real estate choices, and we are here to help.

So, what happened in June?

Home prices continued to slide downwards as a buyers market persisted. What is a buyer’s market, you ask? That is when there are high inventory levels with low prices. This kind of market gives buyers the advantage because they have more to choose from at a lower price.

The detached home sector was…

804 Views, 0 Comments

Vacation Homes

The economy is slowly but surely beginning to recover. While some people have had to cut back on extra expenses, such as a home away from home for summer (and winter) vacations, others have been able to take advantage of the market conditions. With rent and housing prices dropping significantly to adjust to this high-inventory, low-purchase market, there are some great deals out there.

Whether you are looking to sign a long-term lease or buy, these beautiful areas of Canada are a great place to start looking for your dream vacation home. These destinations are full of things to do all year round, so choose today and secure a great getaway for this summer.

Whistler, British Columbia: If you’re looking for somewhere that serves as a year-rount tourist…

690 Views, 0 Comments

Daycation Ideas

August long weekend is almost here and with it comes the opportunity for many people to get away from the city and go exploring. While not everyone has the time or the money to go on some elaborate vacation across the globe, one needn’t drive far to find beauty and new things.

Here are some daycation ideas for those wanting to explore Alberta this August long weekend:

Frank’s Slide: This is the perfect place for those of you who love history. Frank’s Slide is located north of Calgary and is a historic site marking the place where part of Turtle Mountain collapsed, burying a small town back in the early 1900’s. Not only is there a great visitor center full of old photos, artifacts and information, but you can walk through the massive rocks at the…

1093 Views, 0 Comments

Ice Cream in YYC

July is National Ice Cream month! Finally, a month where our ice cream habit has a good excuse. Surprisingly, for a city that is so cold with not ideal ice cream conditions, Calgary has a great ice cream scene. YYC has stepped up its game when it comes to frozen treats and we are so excited to share them with you. Without further ado, here are some great places to grab a scoop in YYC:

1). Made By Marcus: This company began on the streets of Calgary, using festivals and markets to share their delicious ice cream with the world. They opened their flagship store on 17th Ave and have a new location coming to Hillhurst later this month! The ice cream flavours are decadent and surprising, like Beets & Cream. Our favourite is the White Chocolate Birthday…

932 Views, 0 Comments