Real Estate Blog - YYC Living

Last Minute Halloween Costumes

Happy Halloween!

A spooky weekend is ahead with plenty of notable events. First, Halloween is on a Saturday! This means you can stay up late without worrying about waking up early for work or school the next day. Second, Saturday night there will be a full moon! Full moon's are always spooky, but with this one falling on Halloween, it's sure to add some extra moodiness to the atmosphere. Third, we say goodbye to daylight savings this weekend! That's right, Saturday at midnight the clock falls back an hour, giving you a full extra hour of Halloween!

Many people around the city are turning to at home events instead of big parties, careful to follow the new Alberta Health Services guidelines of limiting gatherings to 15 people again. Some families…

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Ways to Give Back to Your Neighbors

During this very difficult year, Calgary came together. We always knew you would, Calgary!

Time and time again, Calgarians show up for each other and help the most vulnerable, extending a helping hand and lifting up spirits. While traditional methods of volunteering may not be as easy accessible these days because of COVID-19, there are lots of ways you can support your city, community and closest neighbors. It's going to be a snowy weekend; time some time to spread some sunshine.

Here are some ways to give back to your neighbors:

• Be a snow angel! Like we mentioned, the show is falling heavy all across the city this weekend. It is a legal requirement to keep the sidewalk outside of your home cleared, so while you're shoveling, keep going…

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Your Listing Photos

There are many factors that help sell your Calgary, Alberta home: the real estate professional you partner with, the location, open houses, word of mouth, a competitive listing price, and the right timing. One of the largest factors is, quite simply, your listing photos.

Most buyers search online listings extensively before narrowing down which homes they actually want to see in person, especially during COVID-19 times. Your listing photos show the world exactly what your home has to offer. It is an inside glimpse into the space and layout.

It is your real estate professional's job to provide your listing with photos. Some real estate agents take them themselves, and others will hire out the work to a photography company. Here at Team Ken…

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Are You Ready to Buy?

For most people, their first home is a rental property.

A rental property is a great way to learn how to live on your own without the responsibility of property taxes or major repairs. It is ideal for people unsure of where they want to settle by allowing you to test out a community, and for people whose lives may require they move frequently. Rental properties are also a way for people to get into housing if they don't have the financial means to qualify for a mortgage and buy a home. 

Rental properties also come with some downsides. It can be hard to fully feel 'at home' when you are living under someone else's roof, potentially with other individuals. You also do not have the creative freedom to paint, complete renovations, or put nails in…

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September 2020 Market Statistics Summary

The Calgary Real Estate Board has released their statistics summary giving you the low down on what happened in the real estate market last month in September 2020. If that sounds like a boring read, here is one very important reason why you should care: the people who are most successful in real estate are those that are informed. The information that the Calgary Real Estate Board provides is packed full of details you do not want to miss. Next to your real estate agent, it is the best place to go to learn about the market so you can strategize how to get the most out of buying, selling or investing.

Here are some of the highlights from the September 2020 summary to give you important insight into what October 2020 and beyond could look like: 

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Should You Live in The Suburbs or The Inner-City?

Trying to decide if the suburbs or an inner-city community is right for you? There's lots to consider. 

Here are some of the Pros of living in the Suburbs:

• New homes
• Communities planned out to serve the modern world
• Quiet / Removed from the stress of the city
• Typically populated by younger families

Here are some of the Cons of living in the Suburbs:

• Cookie Cutter homes can lack uniqueness
• Communities in development lack established amenities
• Far from City services such as workplaces and schools
• More isolated community feeling

Here are some of the Pros of living in the Inner-City:

• Historic and unique homes
• Larger property lots with bigger resale value
• Close to all city amenities / well…

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Is Now A Good Time to Sell?

It's the age old question... is now a good time to sell?

This question is constantly on the mind of homeowners on the verge of listing their home for sale. Whether you are ready to upgrade, downsize, or anything in between, for most people selling their current home is a must before they can move onto something else. After all, a house is one of the biggest financial investments you have. Both the release of those funds and the maximization of those funds are essential in making any move a move up, not a step back. 

So, is now a good time to list?

First, take a look at your home portfolio. Trying to sell a home too fast may mean that you'll experience significant loses in value. You may be able to sell your home for $200,000.00, but if you…

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Keeping Your Home COVID-19 Clean

Keeping your home clean is always important, but these days it has gone from a want to a need. The reality is, COVID-19 is still very much present in the City of Calgary. Anytime you leave your home or interact with others you risk being exposed to this virus, which you could in turn bring into your household. At the same time, life must go on. People are returning back to work, schools are open, and it's impossible to completely bubble yourself off from the world. 

Health Essentials writes, "the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes the 2019 novel coronavirus is spread primarily when healthy people come in close personal contact with a person who has COVID-19 who is coughing or sneezing (hence, why social distancing is so important).…

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August 2020 Real Estate Market Statistics

The Calgary Real Estate Board has released their monthly Calgary real estate statistics summary, this time for the month of August. Here are some of the highlights from the report that are important for you to know, whether you're looking for a house, own a house, or would like to own a house one day.

• "Total residential sales in August were relatively stable compared to last year with year-over-year gains in the detached and row sectors...With 1,573 sales in August, this is consistent with levels over the past five years. Year-to-date sales activity remains nearly 13 per cent below last year."  - CREB August Report
• "Recent national reports have shown a bounce back to new record levels over the past several months. Calgary has seen…

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September 2020 Long Weekend Staycation Ideas

Like every other long weekend since March, people are looking for staycation ideas where they can get out of the house but keep safe and follow Alberta Health Guidelines. Here are some tips for this September long weekend to help you take a deep breath before school begins: 

The Town of Nanton: "You might also want to consider heading over to Nanton, one of the hidden gems in Alberta. There is a Bomber Command Museum that has beautifully-preserved vintage aircrafts on display. You’ll also want to visit the town’s candy shop which stays open for winter visitors and has sweet treats that you won’t find everywhere" (Calgary Living Magazine). There are also some incredible antique shops in Nanton!

Fairmount Palliser Hotel: "If you’ve ever had an…

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