Real Estate Blog - Buying

Have You Outgrown Your Starter Home?

Beginner homes hold a lot of memories. They were your first major property purchase, where you paid your first mortgage, where you learned exactly what it means to be a homeowner, where you first put nails in the wall and flowers in the garden, where you began to create the life you have now. Some people buy their first home and stay there for their entire life; others buy their first home and then eventually move onto something else. It can be hard to know when it's time for that next big step: to upgrade, or downsize, depending on your situation. 

Have you outgrown your starter home? Your biggest indicator of this has to do with space. 

When families have more children, or an elderly parent moves in with them, they often need extra space for beds…

708 Views, 0 Comments

Value Of Infills

Infills are becoming increasingly popular for homeowners across the world. An infill is a home that is built on an existing property lot, often following the destruction of an older structure. Infills are new homes in old neighbourhoods. As the subarbs sprawl further and further away from city centres, infills are becoming an increasingly attractive option for homeowners looking to remain central.

Here at Team Ken Richter we serve homeowners all across the city, but specialize in the communities of Bowness and Montgomery. These two communities are rich in history and thus filled with old structures. Therefore, infills have become very popular for people wanting to own property in the area but who are seeking more modern structures. If you’re thinking…

869 Views, 0 Comments

What Actually Are Good Bones?

We have all heard the phrase "this house has good bones." Those of us who watch HGTV know that a house having "good bones" is often used as a way to convince buyers that the property could be something wonderful, even though it is in need of a major makeover. A couple will walk into a derelict home, the wall paper stripped, ceiling beams exposed, stepping around holes in the floor, and their HGTV expert will say, "I know, I know. But it has good bones!"

The reality is that most houses that look like a mess are a mess. Not every decrepit home has "good bones"; in fact, not every nice home has good bones! Rarely will you be able to tell what kind of bones a home has without the eye of a home inspector. These professionals see through the grime and…

739 Views, 0 Comments

Your First Day Home

Congratulations on finding your new home sweet home! Sometimes finding the right house can be a long, complex process. You can breathe easy now: the paperwork is signed, the mortgage approved, and the keys are in your hand. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in your life and we couldn't be more excited for you. 

Settling into your new home is similar to settling into a new season. With spring upon us here in Calgary, everyone is looking for a fresh start. We are adjusting to the new sunlight hours, clearing out the garage for a deep clean, taking down winter décor and pulling out the pastels and florals, and just generally preparing for something new. Lucky for you, a fresh start is inevitable. 

While having a new home is exciting, it can…

816 Views, 0 Comments

There is Still Time to Buy!

The end of 2017 may be swiftly arriving (yikes!), but you still have plenty of time to list your home with Team Ken Richter. Our website has a lot of extremely helpful resources for potential buyers, because we know that a successful buyer is an educated buyer.

There is a lot of information to carefully learn and consider before you decide to search for a new home. Not sure where to start? Here is our recommendation: 

1). Visit our Buyer's Guide and fill out the form on the page. Let us know what you are looking for and any questions you may have. One of our agents will be in touch to give you all the information you need. No pressure, no hassle, just help. 

1). The Buyer's Guide is also full of helpful links to things such as our home finder,…

807 Views, 0 Comments

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…

871 Views, 0 Comments

When Your Offer Is Rejected

So you found the perfect property. It checks off everything on your wish list and is in your budget. Your real estate agent submits your offer to the sellers, and you cross your fingers. Everything seems like it is going according to plan when suddenly, you get terrible news. 

Your offer on the property has just been rejected. 

There are a number of reasons why your offer on a property could be rejected, and a number of things you can do to remedy the situation. Here they are:

1). Your Offer Was Too Low: The most common reason why your offer on a property could be rejected is that you did not offer enough money. Sellers know what they want to sell their home for, and many will be stubborn on that price. This is fair: they want to make a profit…

845 Views, 0 Comments

Entering The Market In Spring

Spring has arrived in Calgary! The grass is green and the flowers are in bloom. People are beginning to venture outside and play again as Calgary warms up for the summertime. Another thing that is warming up is the housing market.

Spring is always the most popular time in real estate. While other times of the year experience peaks in the market, spring is consistently active in the selling, buying, investing and renting sectors. There are a number of reasons why spring is the most popular time to enter the market.

Read on to find out why and how you can reap the rewards of such an active time in real estate.

First and foremost, the timing is ideal. Spring is a time of change and transition. University students are moving for the summer or…

848 Views, 0 Comments

How To Be An Informed Buyer

The real estate market is incredibly complex, especially given the unstable conditions Calgary has been in for the last three years. This means that now, more than ever, you need to be an informed buyer. Being an informed buyer is not as easy as a quick google search and a list of must-haves. You need to be fully equipped to navigate the market. Here are a three ways you can be an informed buyer:

Know Exactly What You Want: Knowing exactly what you want in a future home is important. Make a list of must-haves, a list of want-to-haves and a list of not-required things in your future home. Having this list will help you more easily decipher what home is the best fit for you. Also decide what you want out of the area of the city you are in. Are nearby…

1240 Views, 0 Comments

Now is a Great Time To Buy!

If you are looking at entering the real estate market now is a great time to do it.

Right now the Calgary real estate market is perfectly poised for buyers. Interest rates are incredibly low. This means that paying off your property will be faster and cheaper. Inventory levels have dropped and prices have stabilized, giving you more property options, less competition and better prices. Given how up and down the market has been for the last two years as it has been in recovery mode, now is a great time to get locked in during ideal conditions.

Real estate has always been a great investment. Although at times the market has taken a hit, if you are willing to put in the time and the effort you can turn a great profit. This can be done with your…

777 Views, 0 Comments