Buying

Foreclosure. 

This daunting word haunts our television screens as we watch fictional, and sometimes real, people face losing everything. All of the love and care they put into making their house a home was for naught; now the bank owns it and they have to be gone by Monday. We feel sick hearing that word because everyone knows that foreclosure is not something you ever want to experience. So, what is it and how can you avoid it?

Foreclosure is when a homeowner loses ownership of their property to the bank. It's not that the bank ever owned the home, but when you can't pay back the bank, they take your assets. Typically foreclosure happens because homeowners have failed to pay monies owed on debts, particularly a mortgage. As you can see from the

Finding a new home can be difficult and emotional experience.  After all, this is a major life decision. This why it is so important that you partner with a licensed, experienced real estate agent like Ken Richter. Ken has been working in this industry for over 30 years and understands everything that needs to go into making this major decision. He will always be looking out for your best interests and will make sure you are informed and protected throughout the entire process. Call him today at 403.630.6363 to discuss your real estate needs!

After walking through different properties, doing research on the areas and starting to imagine what all your furniture would look like different homes, making a final decision can be hard. When you're torn

Owning a home is no small feat. Why? Because they are a major financial investment. One of the main things to understand about owning a property is that you will likely start paying a mortgage.

So, what is a mortgage? A mortgage is the money you pay a creditor over time in exchange for them lending you all of that money upfront to pay for your property of choice. Essentially, it is a loan you take out to finance the purchase of a property. Depending on your unique situation, the creditor (typically a bank) will determine how much money they are comfortable lending you based on things like your job, credit score, assets, etc.. Finding out how much money the bank is willing to give you usually directly determines how much money you can spend on a

Open Houses are constantly happening all over the city. There are so many ways you can find an open house to visit: you can ask your realtor to take you to them, check local ads and roadside signs for house showings, follow word of mouth recommendations, google it, etc. An Open House is a great opportunity to see what is on the market, whether you are thinking of buying or selling. Plus, it can be fun to peak inside other people's homes. 

When you go to an Open House, you need to come up with a clear game plan. Start by answering this simple question:

What do I hope to get out of this?

If you want to simply explore various properties for fun, that is completely fine! Make sure that when you do this you are considerate of the people who are

In the summertime everything comes to life. The trees start growing their leaves, the flowers start blooming, animals come out of hibernation and people start turning off Netflix and heading outside. With the sun out longer and holiday time banked, the summer becomes the perfect time to tackle that big project, have cold drinks on the patio, spend time with the family and, for many people, move.

That's right, while the springtime is when many homes get listed for sale in Calgary, Alberta, possession often happens during the summertime. This is because with such nice weather and more holidays, it is easier for people to move out of their old homes and into their new homes. If you are one of these people, we have 3 tips to help the process go

Every once in awhile we like to provide you with a refresher list of real estate terminology. We use these terms a lot, so it is important to fully understand what they mean so that you can learn more from what we share. We want you to feel informed and supported in your real estate journey. Here are some of our top terms:

Multiple Offers: This occurs when multiple buyer’s are interested in purchasing your property. They will each submit a bid, then you get to choose which one you will sell your property to. Some factors to consider when this happens are: who the people are, how much money they are offering, when they expect to move in, etc.. To read more about how we can help your property get multiple offers, check out our 10 Step Marketing Plan!

I feel incredibly honoured to receive the news that I ranked #24 in all of RE/MAX Western Canada and #2 at the #1 RE/MAX Office Worldwide, RE/MAX Real Estate (Central) for sales volume in the month of March 2019. I couldn’t have done it without my amazing team, loyal clients, and my wonderful family and friends. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Ken Richter
RE/MAX Real Estate (Central)

It is starting to feel like spring in Calgary, Alberta; and not just because the snow is melting and the grass is turning green. It feels like spring because the real estate market is starting to see movement again, a sign that brighter days are on the horizon. Given the circumstances one thing is becoming

Owning a home in Alberta, Canada comes with many benefits; especially during Tax season.

Buying a home in Calgary, Alberta is a dream for many people. While getting to explore new types of homes and neighbourhoods as a renter is fun, actually owning a property enables you to do so much more that it's worth being more stationary. For example, you can paint however you like and put nails in the walls. You can renovate the space to meet your needs and even rent out some of it yourself. You can proudly call yourself a homeowner, and come tax season, you can claim a number of benefits and deductions.

First, for you first time home buyers, you can claim a tax credit of up to $5000.00 for the purchase of a qualifying home during the tax year. So long

Buying a home is an extremely personal investment. With so many options available on the market, homeowners get the luxury of picking whatever will be best for them.

Buying a property is not all about keeping up with the Jones's. Do not waste your valuable time and money trying to find a home just like everyone else. You need to make a long-term decision that benefits you. After all, you'll be the one living with it. 

There are many factors that go into purchasing a home, such as location, job opportunity, space requirements and desired amenities. However, one of the most important factors is type of property. Different property types have different pros and cons. Carefully evaluate all your options before committing. 

Discover what property type

If you were born sometime between the late eighties to the year 2000, you are a millennial. While many people bemoan millennial's as out of touch and entitled, statistics prove otherwise.

According to these statistics, millennials are the generation most passionate about justice. They are at the forefront of charity and non-profit work. Millennials also are not as lazy as people make them out to be: the average millennial works 3 jobs at a time to support themselves. And while millennials do spend a significant amount of time staring at their smart phones, they are also developing incredible technological advances that will benefit society as a whole.

One thing many millennials are struggling with right now is the housing market. There is so