Real Estate Blog - yyc

Home Staging: Guest Room Edition

Having a guest room is a great luxury that you should not take for granted. Often guest rooms end up being the catch-all room in the house; they become a storage room, a fitness room, a home office, etc.. These rooms magically transform into guest rooms five minutes before your cousins arrive, which is a fun challenge, perhaps, but not exactly effecient.

While having a catch-all room is nice, it is not the best way to utilize space in your home. If you have so much stuff that you are shoving it into a spare room, chances are you could de-clutter your home significantly. That, or use the closet space in the spare room as an organized storage space with the help of IKEA.

For a guest room to genuinely be a guest room, you need to be committed to it.…

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Bylaws to be Aware of this Spring and Summer

Spring is well underway, and summertime is quickly approaching. With the warm weather and new seasons come new activities, such as gardening, spring cleaning, backyard BBQ’s, etc.. Many of the things that we do on our property’s during the warm months have specific bylaws attached to them. Here are some to be aware of:

Property Care: The spring is a great time to do outdoor renovations. Not only is this good to do for the sake of your property’s value and maintenance, but it is also illegal to neglect outdoor areas of your property in need of renovation. The City of Calgary notes, “all balconies, decks, fences, porches and stairs must be kept in ‘good repair.’ Fines for violations range between $100 and $300.”

Spring Cleaning: With spring cleaning…

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March Housing Statistics

The Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®) had good news to report in their summary of what happened in the YYC housing market in march: the detached sector reached balanced supply and demand levels. This ideal condition gave the market a great boost, with more sales being made than there has been in the last couple of years. This is something we have been waiting for ever since the market crash, and is a testament to Calgary’s ability to bounce back from hardship.

What exactly led to these balanced conditions? CREB® president David P. Brown reports,“it’s not so much that demand went through the roof in March, but that we had less supply come onto the market, which is really helping to balance things out. These changes are lifting the cloud of uncertainty…

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April Events

There are some great events happing this month! Here is a taste of what you can expect:

Make It || April 7th – 9th || Stampede Grounds || Make It is Canada’s biggest craft sale and this weekend it is coming to Calgary. There will be over 175 vendors of artisan goods that are quality made and unique. Support home-grown shops by checking out what they have to offer. It only costs $5 to get in and there will be plenty of fun give aways, food trucks and more to keep you occupied. Grab a coffee and check it out. More information HERE.

Adults Only Night: The Final Frontier || April 13th || Telus Sparks Science Centre || Check out the adults only night happening at the science centre this month. It will be featuring everything to do with space, with a…

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How To Be An Informed Buyer

The real estate market is incredibly complex, especially given the unstable conditions Calgary has been in for the last three years. This means that now, more than ever, you need to be an informed buyer. Being an informed buyer is not as easy as a quick google search and a list of must-haves. You need to be fully equipped to navigate the market. Here are a three ways you can be an informed buyer:

Know Exactly What You Want: Knowing exactly what you want in a future home is important. Make a list of must-haves, a list of want-to-haves and a list of not-required things in your future home. Having this list will help you more easily decipher what home is the best fit for you. Also decide what you want out of the area of the city you are in. Are nearby…

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The Great Thaw

Spring is officially here, and judging by weather forecasts, it may be around to stay. This means that Calgary is entering into a phase known as ‘The Great Thaw.’ The Great Thaw is that time of year when month-old piles of frozen snow begin to melt, when foundations begin to settle back in and when the trees start to stretch their limbs. Calgary is getting ready to say goodbye to another long winter and to welcome a fresh spring.

The Great Thaw is a beautiful, exciting time of year. Calgary’s colour palette turns back from grey to green. Outdoor sporting events, BBQ’s, evening walks and blooming flower beds are on the horizon. However, The Great Thaw also comes with its own unique set of challenges. At the foremost of these challenges is the effects it…

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Ken's Market Update

Hello Everyone,

I am very happy to relay good news, the Calgary real estate market is in a transition towards an improved market!

All of us here at Team Ken Richter are extremely busy facilitating sales in every price range despite the recent frigid winter temperatures. We are experiencing numerous weekly sales and even multiple offer situations! We haven’t experienced a heated market like this for some time. I don’t expect prices to increase anytime soon, but I believe prices will stabilize considering the market activity already this year. The low inventory of housing all across the city and the fact that mortgage interest rates remain at an all-time low are contributing to the recent wave of activity. This is very positive as our market has…

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February 2017 Housing Statistics

The detached sector of housing is what really drove the market this year. CREB® reports, “February sales totaled 1,342 units, which is still 19 per cent below long-term averages, but an improvement over the past two years.” One really wonderful thing that happened is that the average time a property is on the market dropped to 2.4 months, which has helped ease downward pressure on pricing. This means sellers are selling their homes faster and for better prices. The benchmark price for a property was $501,900 in February.

CREB® president David P. Brown notes, “there seems to be a new sense of optimism these days. Some sellers are feeling upbeat about the changing landscape and the improved chances of selling their home. Other people are looking at the…

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Home Staging: Closet Edition

Welcome to our closet edition of home staging!

While potential home-buyers will hopefully not be snooping through every closet in your home, some of the major closets your home features will be looked into. People want to see what kind of space they would be working with. That being said, do not think that when your home is being shown you can stuff all your miscellaneous belongings into the closet and never look inside it again.

The great thing about staging your closet is that not only will it be beneficial when it comes time for you to show off your beautiful property, but it makes keeping your things organized so much easier. Give yourself and your home a helping hand and stage your closet. Here are our top 3 tips:

1). De-cluttering. This…

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January 2017 Statistics

The market is in an interesting place right now. It continues to do better than this time last year, but it is still falling short of long term, ten year averages. This is leaving people in an awkward space where they should be encouraged, but also not comfortable. There will be lots of growth and changes yet.

CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie says, “while housing conditions continue to favour buyers, a slow transition toward more balanced conditions is helping to ease downward pressure on home prices. Conditions have improved over last year, but people need to remember that last year’s market was one of the weakest on record. Despite the appearance of a major shift in activity, the transition in the housing market is going to be a slow process.”

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