Real Estate Blog - YYC Living

Home Security Tips & Tricks

Keeping your home safe and secure while you’re away on summer holidays is extremely important. There would be nothing worse than returning from your glorious summer vacation to a mess back home. Statistics show that homes are most vulnerable to predators during the summer months and at Christmastime, because both are seasons where thieves know people are traveling and distracted. Here are some easy tips to help keep your home safe that don’t require a hefty down payment:

1). Get a Beware of Dog sign. Whether you have a menacing guard dog, an overly friendly companion , or no dog at all, Beware of Dog signs are proven to deter criminals. These signs are incredibly inexpensive and easy to post on your gates and doors.

2). Leave on a light and the…

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Camping Tips and Tricks

It’s camping season! This summer has ushered in incredible weather, with plenty of rain and heat. The grass is green, the water is cool, and the sun is shining. Many Calgarians are taking advantage of this beautiful weather by packing up and heading to their favorite campsite to breathe in the fresh air. Looking for some tips and tricks to make your camping experience better? Here are some of our favorites:

Frozen Water Bottles: Instead of buying a bunch of ice for your cooler that will melt and leave a mess, instead buy a flat of water. Crack the lid and dump out a little bit from each bottle to release the pressure, then pop it in the freezer overnight. Once frozen, you can line your cooler with them to keep things icy! As they melt, they also…

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Stampede 2022 Roundup

It was another Stampede for the books!

We had so much fun celebrating with you, Calgary. The theme for the 2022 Stampede was ‘Together Again,’ a fitting sentiment. As many of those who didn’t return last year due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis came back to the grounds for the first time in two years, there was a feeling of relief this summer as the greatest outdoor show on earth began. We’re back, and we’re betting than ever.

This year had everything we love about the Stampede: community, pancakes, western wear, sportsmanship, two-stepping, sky-high rides and more! The feeling on the grounds was electric. Whether you were watching the chuckwagon races or the BMX show, shopping in the BMO center or playing games on the midway, it felt like being…

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Home Search Red Flags

The search for a new home can be exciting! You are starting a new chapter; and you want to do everything in your power to make sure it is a good one. This is why it's important to keep an eye out for red flags when conducting your home search. Your real estate professional will be able to help with this, but here are some general things to keep an eye on: 

A Lack of Photos: Listing photos are all about showing off a property. Some listings will have thirty plus photos. Others? Not so much... A lack of photos can sometimes mean there is a lack of a good home to show off. They may show the outside only, or just the kitchen. It could be those were the only photos available, but usually it means the rest of the property doesn't show as well. It's always…

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JUST LISTED!!! #1-4, 4839 Varsity Drive NW

***ATTENTION ALL INVESTORS***.....Just listed is a legacy revenue property that is extremely rare and hard to find, legal 4-corner, 4-plex in any area of the city, especially in the exclusive close-in, inner city area of Varsity! For sale are all four units together and the titles are strata condo tilted and have four separate titles for selling individually into the future. Located on a huge 62x103ft M-C1 lot offering 6 parking stalls! These buildings are very well constructed and three out the four units are totally renovated including kitchens and bathrooms. Each 3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath, two storey unit offers approx. 1100sqft per unit, plus full undeveloped basements, and patio doors to a balcony. Current yearly gross rents are $62,280 and are low…

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June 2022 Market Statistics Update

The big headline for this market report from The Calgary Real Estate Board? The market is starting to shift as sales slow down. 

If you've been putting off listing your home to take advantage of the sellers market conditions, you need to act now. Contact Team Ken Richter today at 403-630-6363 or email Ken@KenRichter.com. 

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

• "Sales activity in June eased relative to the past several months and with 2,842 sales...the decline was driven by a pullback in detached and semi-detached home sales."
• "This pullback in sales was not met with the same level of pullback in new listings. This caused inventories to trend up over previous months. These…

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Calgary July 2022 Events

Happy Canada Day, Calgary!

This Canada Day we are celebrating how far we have come as a country, those who have fought for our freedom, and each and every one of you who strives to bring more good into this world and embody what it means to be truly Canadian. Canada is not perfect, and celebrating Canada Day does not mean we are celebrating or negating it's imperfections; it means we are lifting up the good, and will continue the work to make Canada a place people are proud to call home. All of us here at Team Ken Richter are very proud to call Canada home! 

July is always a busy month for Calgarians. Not only is it Canada Day and the kickoff to the summer, but Stampede season! This year the Calgary Stampede goes from July 8 - July 17. It is…

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Bee-Friendly Gardening

Our ecosystem is powerful; but fragile. One missing link can set off a catastrophic domino effect, just as when one area of it is thriving, the rest has the opportunity to thrive. One member of this ecosystem is our precious pollinator: the bee. Bees don't simply gather nutrients from flowers for their own honey and hive; they also help to cross-pollinate plants to ensure greenery thrives and continues to regenerate every season. Without bees, our ecosystem would be in serious danger. 

The biggest threat to bees is, believe it or not, us! With more land being developed, natural habitats are lost. With carefully manicured and planned our gardens and lawns, the plants bees need for their nutrients are cut down and plucked like weeds. With insecticide and…

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How to Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day

Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day! 

The Government of Canada writes, "this is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Although these groups share many similarities, they each have their own distinct heritage, language, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs. In cooperation with Indigenous organizations, the Government of Canada chose June 21, the summer solstice, for National Aboriginal Day, now known as National Indigenous Peoples Day."

Why June 21st, Summer Solstice? For many Indigenous groups, summer solstice is an important day of celebration and ceremony. Peter Bellegarde, the National Chief of The Assembly of First…

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Buying In A Sellers Market

We’ve said it before, and we will say it again: right now Calgary is in the midst of an incredible hot real estate market. Houses are selling quickly, and there is not enough inventory to meet the intense demand of consumers. While we are already starting to see things cool off, experts are predicting the market will remain hot right through to the end of the summer before going back to a more normal conditions.

If you’re in the market to buy a house, this is a challenging time. We are in a Sellers Market, which means market conditions are favouring the seller over the buyer. This is the case because there are more buyers than sellers, resulting in limited inventory that is selling quickly and way over asking price. Does this mean you should put off…

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