Real Estate Blog - Calgary homes

Back to School Basics

Back to school season is right around the corner! As schools begin allowing students to trickle in, some opening their doors for the first time since March 2020, it feels like a whole new world out there. If you have students in your household, here are some tips to get you mentally prepared for back to school season as we continue to grapple with COVID-19 and talks of mask mandates, vaccinations, lockdowns, fourth waves and more…

1). Create a Health Checklist: Patch Magazine writes, “create a checklist to help you figure out if your child is up to date with their immunizations, they're getting enough rest and if they are mentally prepared for the school year. You'll want to get them back on a sleep schedule, organize their medical records and schedule…

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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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The Dos and Donts of Window Replacements

There are many reasons why homeowners decide to change their windows, including: water leakage, drafty seams, too much condensation (which can cause mould to grow on the interior), lack of outdoor noise control, poor temperature regulation, etc.. While cracks or breaks on the surface of the window are obvious cause for immediate replacement, the listed reasons for changing your windows are gradual issues that you need to keep a cautious eye on.

Many people choose to hire a contractor to come replace their windows. This is certainly a wise idea for large and/or heavy windows that will require precise professional care. However, for your average window, you can easily replace it yourself so long as you exercise extreme control and care. Don’t be…

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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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Home Safety During Summer Holidays

Summertime is the season for adventures. It is the time for booking that extra day off, gathering your loved ones, packing up the car, and leaving the city in your dust. As much as we love Calgary, sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what the doctor ordered.

While leaving it all behind to embark on a wild adventure is exciting, you can not completely negate your responsibilities back here. After all, the safety of your property lies in the gentle embrace of a little foresight. Studies have proven time and time again that homes are most vulnerable when their owners are away. Without you there regularly to keep an eye on things, lots has the potential to happen.

So, how can you keep your property safe while you’re away?

It’s not all about…

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Maximizing Outdoor Spaces

One of the most attractive features of a new property can be the outdoor space included. Here in Calgary, many properties include nice outdoor living spaces compared to other cities where homes are lucky to have a strip of grass in front of the door. With this space, Calgarians get creative. If you search the city, you can find people who have created elaborate garden oasis’ in their backyard, or crafted mini hockey rinks during the winter. While these features are fun, they aren’t always the best example of maximizing the space.

Outdoor living spaces are something to be treasured and taken care of. In fact, here in Calgary we have bylaws about maintaing this part of the property. Part of taking care of your outdoor living space is properly…

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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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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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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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