Real Estate Blog - Real Estate

August 2021 Calgary Real Estate Market Statistics

And just like that, September arrived!

August was another busy month for Calgary real estate, though we did see things slow down as the spring and summer rush faded out. The market remains strong for buyers, sellers and investors moving forward. Here are some of the highlights from the Calgary Real Estate Board's monthly report:

• "Citywide sales in August reached 2,151 units, 37 per cent higher than last year and 25 per cent higher than long-term trends."
• "On a year-to-date basis, the eight-month total of 19,516 sales is higher than annual sales figures recorded over the past six years."
• "The months of supply in August was nearly three months... Some improvements in supply compared to sales have been slowing price growth."
• "As of…

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Open Season: Renting

August is one of the busiest times of the year for rental properties. This because one major portion of renters are students preparing to go back to school in September. With so many people looking for affordable housing in Calgary, renters and landlords need to be informed. 

Renting is a great option if you are not planning permanent settlement in the location or if you cannot yet afford to purchase a home. Renting gives you the freedom to negotiate terms (such as payment, length of stay, etc.) and allows you to "shop around" until you find a location you want to stay in permanently. 

If you are planning to permanently live in the location and can afford a down payment on a house and a mortgage, we highly recommend you look into purchasing a…

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Getting Open House Ready

When you purchased your home you inevitably went to see the property. What was your first impression like? Chances are the home felt welcoming, clean and well maintained. While you may have been amazed at the property owner’s cleanliness and organization, they likely spent a lot of time preparing the space so it would be ready for you. Similar to how we clean our homes before visitors arrive, homeowners do the same before an open house. After all, it is about putting your best foot forward.

A lot of things are noticeably done to make a home more appealing to potential buyers. However, there are also a number of not-so-obvious things that need to happen in order for a home to be ready to be showed off. When you are selling your home, make sure you can…

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July 2021 Calgary Real Estate Market Statistics

It has been a busy season for Calgary Real Estate! After the hit the market took in 2020 following the outbreak of COVID-19, experts were weary of how the economy and real estate sector would recover. However, expectations have been completely blown out of the water this past spring and into the summer. While the rush is cooling off, numbers are still strong!

Here are some highlights from the Calgary Real Estate Board’s report, which you can read in full by clicking here: 

• “July sales totaled 2,319 units, which is well above long-term averages and the best July on record. The pace of sales growth has eased over the past few months, but so too has the pace of new listings growth. This has helped prevent any further monthly gains in…

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Lakeside Living in Calgary

Nothing says summer quite like sitting by the lake with a cold drink in one hand and a good book in the other. The air that sweeps over the water is cool and refreshing, the sound of the shore summer's best symphony. Dig your toes into the sand and wade through the water. If summer was something tangible, this would be it.    Does this all sound like a beautiful dream from a faraway place? A little too exotic for dry Alberta? For a long time it was nothing more than a pipedream. The only solution was to buy a vacation home someplace like Arizona or Radium. However, innovators quickly found a sweet solution: lakefront living.    One of the most popular trends in real estate  is crafting communities around man-made lakes to provide family's…

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First Time Sellers

Selling a home for the first time is a big decision! And many of you are planning to sell, because the Calgary market is hot!

Perhaps you are ready to upgrade or downsize, or are simply just wanting something new. We understand that selling a home is just as big of a financial decision as buying it was, and an emotional one. You've made memories in this house, and as the saying goes, parting can be such sweet sorrow. It may also feel overwhelming, and you may be unsure of where to start. Don't worry; Team Ken Richter is here to support you from start to finish!

The first thing to do is connect with us. You can call Ken Richter directly at 403-630-6363, or email directly at Ken@KenRichter.com. One of the first things we will do is provide you…

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Taking Home Sweet Home on the Road

There are many benefits that come with owning a home. It diversifies your investment portfolio, puts a roof over your head, allows you to gain equity and so much more. One of the downsides? It keeps you tethered to one spot; unless you are Captain Richard Deane, the Superintendent of Fort Calgary. Captain Deane didn't let anything stop him from moving the Deane House in 1926 across the Elbow river to where it sits today. They used logs to literally roll the house across the river!

All this being said, rolling a house across a river is not for everyone. So instead, why don't you roll up with a house on wheels: a Recreational Vehicle (RV). Many people are turning to RVs as a way to own a home that they can take with them on the road! Popular blogger…

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June 2021 Calgary Real Estate Market Statistics

The headline of this month's market summary from the Calgary Real Estate Board? We are still in a seller's market! 

Here are some of the highlights from their report:

• "Calgary’s housing market is showing few signs of letting up, as sales reached 2,915 units in June – a record high for the month."
• "New listings in June totalled 4,135, the second-highest level ever recorded for the month. This caused inventories to trend up to 6,918 units."
• "[Inventory] was balanced by strong sales and the months of supply remained relatively tight at 2.4 months."
• "The benchmark home price continued to trend up in June, but the monthly gain slowed to less than one per cent."

Calgary Real Estate Board Chief Economist Ann-Marie Lurie notes, "It is…

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Your Guide to Property Taxes

It is property tax season! If you own a home and are confused about what exactly property taxes are, how they are calculated, or how to pay them, read on!

First off, there are some incredibly important reasons why we have to pay taxes. Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. once said, "taxes are the price we pay to live in a civilized society." Paying taxes are not just your legal duty, but your civic duty. Taxes help Canadians receive the services that make Canada great, such as schools, courts, roads, parks, hospitals, garbage collection, sewer maintenance, clean drinking water, public transit and more. In 2013 it was reported that the average Canadian receives about $41,000 in public services each year. This would not be possible without everyone…

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Relocating Tips

Relocating is very exciting!

It means you get to start a new adventure in a new place. Did you know that on average people relocate once every five years? No matter what the circumstances are behind your relocation, we are here to help make the process go as smoothly as possible:

1). Make sure all of your closing and move-in documents are taken care of. This is why having a real estate professional on your side is such a big asset. We can walk you through exactly what you need and what to do as you say goodbye to your old home and welcome your new one. 

2). Have your affairs in order. This means making sure all your mail will get forwarded to your new property, that things like electricity, heat and internet are all set up, that any licences…

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