Real Estate Blog - Ken Richter

Preparing Your Home To Sell In 2021

The real estate market has certainly changed in Calgary, Alberta -- especially for sellers. While for a long time the market was flooded with excess inventory from an economic downturn, COVID-19 cleared the slate and has left a distinct shortage in properties available to potential buyers. This won't last long, so act now! 

If you have been considering listing your home, now is a great time to do so! Contact Ken Richter directly at 403-630-6363 or email him at Ken@KenRichter.com. With 30+ years of experience working in the real estate market, Ken has helped sellers of all kinds in all areas of the city find the right buyer at the right time at the right price. Looking for more information? Check out our home sellers page by clicking here. Whether…

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Getting Back to Work After Holidays

Sweet, sweet winter break is ending for most Calgarians as offices open back up and email auto-responses turn off. Whether you did way too much during the break or nothing at all, it can be hard to get back into the swing of things. For those of you who are already back at work, we imagine this week was rough. It is not an easy transition to make, but here are some tips:

1. Plan for your first day back to work. Pack a lunch, make sure your bags are ready to go, clothes are laid out. Shower the night before, make a checklist of things to do in the morning, ensure your car has gas or your at home workspace is tidy. Do what you can to make the mornings easier!
2. Make sure you get lots of sleep. Sleep is essential in giving your brain the rest it…

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December 2020 Market Statistics Summary

Here are some of the highlights from the Calgary Real Estate Board's December Real Estate Monthly Statistics Review:

• "With December sales of 1,199, this is the highest December total since 2007." - CREB® December Report
• "The number of sales exceeded the number of new listings in December contributing to further declines in inventory." - CREB® December Report
• "Annual sales activity declined by one per cent compared to last year and remain well below long-term averages." - CREB® December Report
• "The recent gain in the benchmark price was not enough to offset earlier pullbacks as the annual residential benchmark price in Calgary declined by one per cent over last year." - CREB® December Report
• "Housing demand over the second-half of…

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Goals for 2021 You Can Accomplish

After a tremendously difficult year, many people feel as though they're barely managing to crawl into the new year. If there has ever been a year where "new year, new me" seems applicable, it's this one. As 2020 comes to an end, many people find themselves self isolating at home, likely wearing yesterdays sweater and still picking through Christmas leftovers. The glimmer on the horizon? A new year. A fresh start. 

Before you begin goal setting for 2021, we want to encourage you to take a moment to pause. Acknowledge the tremendous effort and strength it took to accomplish what you did this past year, and give yourself grace for the items on your to-do list that you never got to. As the year comes to a close you're likely to begin seeing posts about…

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Merry Christmas

All of us here at Team Ken Richter would like to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. It may be different than in years previously, but we hope the season brings you time to rest and take comfort in small graces.

2021 is just around the corner, and though you may be tempted to rush into the new year, we encourage you to take time to pause. Reflect on this last year, the good and the bad, and take time to be thankful. You made it, and that is something to be proud of. 

This holiday season we would also like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all of our valued clients for your continued support throughout this challenging year. We look forward to serving you again in 2021 and beyond!

We hope that…

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Best Christmas Lights in Calgary

Calgary loves to celebrate the holidays. A drive through any neighbourhood will quickly get you in the Christmas spirit. In Bowness, Christmas wreaths are lights adorn the streetlights and shops, giving the community even more of a festive, small-town feel. It is our favourite time of the year to drive through one of our favourite communities. 

Here is an inexpensive holiday activity idea: get a cup of hot chocolate from Tim Hortons and take a drive through the city. Set your radio to 95.9 CHRM for non-stop Christmas music and turn up the heat. Not sure where to start on this beautiful, Christmas adventure? Here are some places to check out:

1). Downtown Core: Many buildings in the downtown core are adorned with Christmas lights inside and out.…

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Buy Yourself The Gift of a Home

During the holiday season many people choose to express their gratitude and love for others with gifts. It’s a tangible way to show thoughtfulness and care, and is a long-standing tradition of many religious and nonreligious homes during this season.

Well it may be pious to say you get more pleasure from giving than receiving, it is fun to receive a gift picked out especially for you. Some people even buy themselves a Christmas gift, a little treat in celebration of the end of the year. At Christmas, items such as perfume, books, toys, tech and more are popular gifts for under the tree.

Another popular Christmas gift? A house! Arguably the most extravagant and expensive Christmas gift one can receive, a house is a great option. This long term…

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Holiday Decorating Trends in 2020

With American Thanksgiving over, the Christmas holidays are officially in full swing!

This year Christmas is going to be different as families are modifying their plans in the wake of new COVID-19 restrictions. Even though some of our traditions may no longer be feasible, like large family dinners or sitting on Santa's lap, one tradition that stands the test of 2020 is decorating for the holidays. As we settle in for a new round of quarantine here in Alberta following a state of public health emergency being declared, it's becoming more appealing than ever to decorate our homes. If there is one thing we all need right now, it is holiday cheer and coziness.

There are consistent holiday decorating staples, such as a Christmas tree and stockings…

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Shop Local this Christmas

Calgary has a thriving small business sector that we always like to encourage people to check out. It is important to support small local businesses and the Calgarian's that pour their hearts into them, especially this year as many Calgary businesses have faced loses due to COVID-19. As they say, when you shop from a big box store, a CEO doesn't blink twice. When you shop from a small business, the owner does a little happy dance. Support a fellow Calgarian this Christmas by buying your holiday gifts from one of these local shops:

• Outside The Shape: A curated shop with items from local YYC makers. You can find everything from candles to jewelry to workshops here!
• Plant: Your succulent dreams will come true in his gorgeous shop featuring all…

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4 Unique Smart Home Technologies

Smart Home Technology is a booming industry. What used to be the creative imagining of science fiction stories is now a reality. Homes are now being built with built-in smart home technology or retrofitted to accommodate smart home technology. These products aim to help our homes run more efficiently, from energy use to time spent.

Here are some new smart home technology products for you to check out:

Lockly: A door lock that does so much more than a simple key ever could. Digital Trends writes, “Lockly is known for its high tech smart locks that have advanced features like fingerprint sensor technology, a touchscreen keypad that moves the numbers for added security, app control, voice control, and temporary codes for guest access.”

Jupiter…

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