Real Estate Blog - Calgary living

Selling This Spring

Many people choose to list their home in the springtime. The reasons to are plenty: the warmer weather makes it easier for prospective buyers to visit, curb appeal significantly improves when the dirty snow has melted away, and more people have flexibility in time off from work and school to prepare for an eventual move. Springtime is always the busiest season of the Calgary real estate market, and this year won't be an exception! 

Are you ready to make your move? Here are some tips on getting ready to sell your home this spring:

1. Get on top of your spring cleaning! Listing your home for sale is the perfect opportunity to really deep clean your home. Move everything out of the way get in all the nooks and cranies. Cleaning well is an art form.…

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Things To Tuck Away For The Big Day

An Open House is the time for your home to shine. Help it shine by removing anything that may distract potential buyers from how beautiful your property is. Here are some items we recommend taking out of sight for the big day:

1). Clutter: We all have it, no matter how minimalistic our tastes are. Gather any extra clutter on countertops, bedside tables, shelves, etc. that does not serve a staging purpose and tuck it away. Whether you put it in bins beneath the stairs or stuffed into dresser drawers, make sure it is out of sight. Remember that Open House etiquette is that people will open doors, but not drawers.

2). Linens: Make sure that any towels, dishcloths, rags, etc. are put away. It does not matter if they are clean or not; throw them in…

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March 2022 Calgary Events Things To Do

Check out these great events happening in March!

• March 1-19 Shipp's Creek at Jubilations Dinner Theatre : If you love the popular Canadian TV show Schitt's Creek, you'll love this hilariously satirical take on it.
• March 1-31 Live Music at The Commonwealth : Live music is back! Head to the Commonwealth to check out some amazing local artists.
• March 1-31 Calgary Philharmonic Showcase : The Calgary Philharmonic is where our best musicians showcase their talents. Sit back and enjoy the music.
• March 4-13 The Winter Paralympics : Team Canada's paralympic team is poised to bring home medals with a top-notch team! Support our athletes!
• March 8-April 3 Steel Magnolias At Arts Commons : This show has become widely renowed and is sure to make…

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March 2022 Calgary Real Estate Market Update

It is always important to understand the housing market if you own property or are planning to own property. If you currently own property, knowing when the market is hot and when it cools off can help you make a decision on when to list your house or hold on. If you are wanting to own a property, understanding if we are in a buyers market versus a sellers market will inform your home buying strategy. If you don't fall into either of those two categories, remember that the housing market is reflective of our economy and health as a city, so it's still good to know at least a brief overview!

Each month the Calgary Real Estate Board releases their Calgary Real Estate Market Statistics Update. Here are some of the highlights from their report, which…

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First Time Home Buyer Tips and Tricks

If you are currently in the market for your first home, you probably have lots of questions. This is a major investment of both your money and time, so you're likely feeling the weight of this as you begin your search. Ken Richter has a wealth of experience in helping first time home buyers, and he is here to help you make the most out of this moment!

Here are some tips that will make your home buying process successful: 

Tip #1: Do Your Homework: The perfect home won’t find you by itself. A key step in buying a home is doing the proper research. Educate yourself on local schools, neighborhoods, and the kinds of homes available. By reading available materials and talking with experts, you can start to put together what the perfect home looks…

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YYC Hot Chocolate Festival Favourites

It's YYC Hot Chocolate Festival time! This annual event will help you discover new local cafes, try some tasty drinks, and give back. $1.00-$3.00 from every cup sold goes towards Meals on Wheels, a charity that brings healthy and filling meals to those in need. You can vote for your favourite drink, and in the end, a winner will be crowned. Here are just a handful of the drinks being featured this year:

Euphoria Cafe: "Inspired by Bantha Milk, with the power of the force, we introduce to you our “Tatooine Hot Chocolate”. White chocolate melted to order blended with blue spirulina and lavender, fresh steamed coconut and gf oat milk, topped with a dusting of the light side and dark side. This sweet exotic drink is sure to please in this cold…

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5 Moving Mistakes To Avoid

Moving homes can be a complicated process. This is why you need Ken Richter, your trusted real estate professional. With Ken's 30+ years of expertise, he'll make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible from start to finish. Another way we can help? Check out our buyers guide by clicking here, and helpful blogs like this one to give you all the tips and tricks you need along the way!

Here are 5 Common Moving Mistakes, and how you can avoid them:

1. The Forced Move: You may be surprised to learn that many people sell their homes without any plan of where they will reside next. Especially in such a hot real estate market, people are listing their homes before they’ve gotten their bearings, and selling before they come up with step 2. Make…

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Wants vs. Needs

Congratulations, you have decided to purchase a home! Whether you are planning on purchasing the property for personal use or as a rental/investment property, there is a lot to consider. You may feel overwhelmed as you begin to consider all that goes into purchasing a home: finding a real estate agent, getting a mortgage pre-approved, dealing with your existing property (or properties), etc. Take a deep breath.

The first thing you need to figure out is what your wants are, versus what are you needs when it comes to your new property. Here is what to do:

Make a list with two columns. One column will be for your wants, the other for your needs. 

Address the wants column first. After all, this is where you get to have fun! Your wants list may…

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January 2022 Calgary Real Estate Market Statistics

The Calgary Real Estate Board has released their summary of what went on in the market last month. It's always interesting to see what happens in the first month of the year, because it sets the tone for the next eleven months. If January 2022 is any indication, it's going to be another incredible month for Calgary real estate!

The following are some of the highlights from their report, which you can read in full by clicking here.

• "Thanks to persistently strong sales, inventory levels in the city eased to 2,620 units, the lowest levels seen since 2006. This caused the months of supply to remain exceptionally low for this time of year at 1.3 months."
• "The unadjusted benchmark price in January reached $472,300, a monthly gain of nearly two…

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February 2022 Calgary Events & Things To Do YYC

This is a strange month for events, since so much is up in the air with COVID restrictions. While we’re trying to stay positive, we wanted to make sure this month you get some suggestions of things you’ll be able to do no matter what COVID restrictions are in effect. Here are our top 10 suggestions:

1. Go Skating on Bowness Lagoon. The weather is cold enough for ice, but warm enough that you won’t freeze out on the pond. Check out their new ice pathways!
2. Shop Local in Inglewood! Wandering through the local shops in Inglewood is such a fun way to spend an afternoon. Check out the Spice Merchant, Plant, Rosso Coffee and more.
3. Check out our local murals! You can view maps of where all the prettiest murals are in the city. Take a friend and a…

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