Archive for August, 2018

Just Listed 318 River Heights Drive Cochrane

Wednesday, August 29th, 2018

Just listed this awesome home in Riversong.

MLS: C4203419

You Tube Video:  https://youtu.be/JSsJBUaQl2g

 

Just Listed

Just Listed

Stunning Walkout home perfect for the growing family in River Song. This amazing home provides 3397sq . ft of living space and features many builder upgrades including a 500 sq. ft dream ensuite.   Jayman built green, Quantum performance energy efficient home.  Main is an open  plan with 9 ft. ceilings and hardwood, living room with fireplace and a Gourmet Kitchen with high end appliance package including a gas cooktop. Kitchen features an island, pantry,wine fridge, granite and a large eating bar.  Large dining area perfect for family dinners.  Upstairs you will find 3 bedrooms and bonus room. Master bedroom boasts a 500 sq. ft. – 6 pc. EnSpa. Relax in your Infinity overflow tub with effervescent bubbles while you watch tv.  Includes a bar fridge in floor heat and a walk-in closet to die for.  Lower is a professionally finished walkout with family room and a bedroom.  Your maintenance free yard takes care of itself with Hardy Board, vinyl fencing and synthetic lawn giving you more time to play.

 

See more information/photos here

 

 

 

 

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Four Things You Should Know About Staging

Tuesday, August 28th, 2018

You’ve probably heard about “home staging”. As the name implies, it’s all about arranging each room in your home in a way that will make the best impression on buyers. Here’s what you need to know about staging if you’re thinking of listing your property.                                                                                                                                                                         1. Staging can get you a higher price. On average, a fully-staged home tends to sell for 17% more than an unstaged home of the same type in the same local market. Depending on the current market value of your property, doing some staging in your home could put thousands of extra dollars in your pocket, post-sale.                                                    2. It can speed up the sale. A study by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) showed that fullystaged homes spend an average of 90% less time on the market. So, if you need to sell quickly – without dropping your price – or you just want the comfort of having offers come in sooner, staging will definitely help.                                                        3. You don’t have to go crazy. Completely staging every room in your home is going to give you the full benefits of this strategy. However, you don’t have to go that far. In fact, just implementing a few simple staging techniques to some key rooms can make a big difference.                                                                                                                                                4. Get professional help or advice. When it comes to home staging, don’t guess at it. Get professional help or advice. As a REALTOR®, I have a lot of expertise in this area and always offer sellers a free Staging Consultation.

Contact me anytime.

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Open House Questions Some Buyers Forget to Ask

Tuesday, August 28th, 2018

An Open House is an event. And, like many events, it’s easy to get caught up in all the excitement and energy. In fact, when you visit an Open House, you might even end up rubbing elbows with other buyers who are there at the same time. It can feel like a party! In an environment like that, it’s not unusual to forget to ask important questions about the property.

Here are some of the most common:

• How old is the roof?                                                                                                                                                                              • How old is the furnace, air conditioner and other HVAC equipment?                                                                                        • How does the price compare to similar properties in the neighbourhood?  (You don’t want to make an offer that’s too high.)                                                                                                                                                                                                    • What are the characteristics of the neighbourhood? (Amenities, safety, traffic, access to public transit, property turnover, etc.)                                                                                                                                                                                           • What doesn’t come with the home? (Ask specifically about kitchen appliances, gas-connected BBQs, chandeliers, window coverings.)                                                                                                                                                                                  • Are there any potential impediments to the sale? (Tenants, outstanding liens, etc.)                                                              • Are there any outstanding maintenance issues, or repairs that need to be done? (For example, cracked ceramics on the foyer floor.)                                                                                                                                                                                         • Are there any issues that impact the full use of the property? (Ask specifically about shared driveways or walkways, public “right of way” through the property, water drainage rights from neighbouring homes, etc.)

• What factors might impact the re-sale of this home.

Yes, an Open House can feel like a frenzy, and if it’s a home you love, you might feel pressured to make an offer. But, it’s important to take the time to ask the right questions and consider your decision carefully.  One consideration is do you want to be represented by the same agent that’s representing the seller (but that’s a whole other topic).

You don’t want to find out, too late, that there were questions you should have asked.

Want more tips on finding the home of your dreams?  Call today.

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Beware of Over-Downsizing or Over-Upsizing

Tuesday, August 21st, 2018

Buying a new pair of shoes is relatively easy. Once you find the style you like, all you need to do is try them on and see if they fit. If they do, you go to the cash register and pay. When it comes to size, buying a new home can be trickier! Whether your intention is to upsize or downsize, figuring out the right size can be especially challenging. Say for example, you’re downsizing from a large two-story home to a smaller bungalow. You don’t want to underestimate the space you need and end up in a place that feels tight.                                                                                                                    If you’re going the other way and upsizing, you don’t want to end up sinking extra money into a property that’s larger than you really need. So how do you avoid these scenarios? One of the best ways is to start by considering your current home. Do you use all the rooms in your home regularly? Is there a bedroom that’s rarely occupied? Has the recreation room become simply a storage area? If you’re downsizing, subtracting rooms you scarcely use can give you a better idea of what you need in a new home.                                                                                                                                  Upsizing is a bit more challenging because you have to anticipate what you will need in the future. For example, if you have young children, and your place is feeling cramped, then a home with a recreation room or separate family and living rooms may be a good idea. You may also need a bigger kitchen with a spacious eating area (in addition to a separate dining room.) Think about the extra room you’ll need and how you’ll use that space. When I work with a client, I typically sit down with them and discuss the type of home they want in detail — and, based on needs and circumstance, I make expert recommendations. Bottom line, I help clients find the perfect fit in a new home. Contact me if you’d like to learn more.

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How a Professional Chef Would Remodel Your Kitchen

Tuesday, August 21st, 2018

Watch any TV cooking show, and you’ll notice that a chef’s kitchen looks quite a bit different than what you’d find in most homes. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t have one just like it in your home! With a little remodeling, and splurging on some new items, you too can have a kitchen worthy of Gordon Ramsey, Jamie Oliver, or Rachel Ray. Chefs love counter space. So, when remodeling, plan to create as much as possible. If you have an existing island, for example, you can replace the countertop with a larger one. Just adding eight inches in both directions will make a big difference. Most chefs have more than one oven. If that’s impractical for you, consider buying a double-oven stove. Also, chefs prefer gas burners for quicker heatup times and exacting control of cooking temperature. One thing you’ll notice about chefs is they love stainless steel. That’s because it’s easy-to-clean, hygienic and durable (assuming you take care of it). Finally, because chefs spend so much time in the kitchen, they want the space to be attractive and comfortable. So, when remodeling, keep decor in mind. Even if you’re just an amateur chef, creating a chef-worthy kitchen will make the foodie in you smile.

Want to check out some photos. Houzz is a great place – here’s the link 

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Does your home match the lifestyle you desire?

Tuesday, August 14th, 2018

Subtle Signs it May Be Time to Sell  Sometimes the reason for putting your home on the market is crystal clear. For example, you might have a job relocation and need to move. Or, you might have decided to downsize because the kids have left the nest. However, there are many other motivations to list your home that are not as obvious, and yet are still good reasons to make a move. Here are just a few examples…

  • You’re bored with your home and are looking for a change
  • There’s something you’ve always wanted in a home that your current property doesn’t have, such as a wooded backyard.
  • You want to be closer to work, or to activities you enjoy, such as golf.
  • There’s another neighborhood you’ve always dreamed of living in.
  • Your tastes have changed and you want to live in a different type of home.

None of these reasons makes it an absolute necessity to list your property and find a new home. Yet, they’re all worth considering, especially if moving will make you and your family happier, and provide you with a more desirable lifestyle. Want to talk about the possibilities?

Call today.

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Using Neighbourhood Data to Help Sell Your Home

Sunday, August 12th, 2018

Your neighborhood has a lot of features that can help sell your home faster. Unfortunately, buyers don’t usually notice those features just by driving around. So, you need to make sure they get all the information they need about your neighborhood. For example, say homes don’t go on the market often in your area. That’s an indication that the quality of life in the neighborhood is so good that no one wants to leave! In real estate we measure the area’s “turnover rate”, and it’s handy data to have when listing your home.

Another bit of data that buyers can’t simply see is the local crime rate. But, most police departments keep those statistics. If your neighborhood has a low crime rate, that’s an obvious plus to sellers.

Demographic data can also be helpful when selling your property. If your neighborhood has a lot of families, for example, that’s going to be appealing to buyers with kids. Even local development plans can play a role in making your home more attractive to buyers. If a new ramp to a major highway is in the works nearby, getting to work is going to be easier. That’s a big benefit to commuters.

Other types of data that can help sell your home include:

• Planned local construction

• Proposals for neighborhood improvements. (For example, a new playground.)

• Rates at which local property values are increasing. Any information that shows the advantages of living in your area is going to be useful when selling.

By the way, this is the kind of information I put together to provide to prospective buyers when selling your home. Contact me today.

 

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Calgary Real Estate Market Snapshot – Aug 1, 2018

Thursday, August 2nd, 2018

What is really happening in the Calgary Real Estate Market?

What is really happening in the Calgary Real Estate Market?

Stay ahead of everyone else by following our Monthly Market Snapshot of the Calgary Real Estate Market. This shows what’s really happening! The market is driven by supply and demand so here we show the inventory (supply) and sales (demand) and most importantly the relationship between the two and how it affects the price of Calgary Real Estate.  A simple way to keep up to date with how the market is trending and to stay ahead of most! All numbers are taken from the Calgary Real Estate Boards Stats package for Realtors. I have also included some general comments which are simply my opinion.

Months of Inventory/Absorption Rate – the inventory divided by the number of sales in the last month). What does this mean you might ask?

Buyer’s Market >4.0 Drives prices down
Balanced Market Between 2.4 to 4.0 Prices typically remain stable
Seller’s Market <2.4 Drives prices up

 

Watch the Trend

On the above graph it is important to see the trends – As you can see the apartment condo absorption rate is has been trending down however in July it reversed and when back up.

 Current Months of Inventory:  If we did not list any more homes this is how many months it would take to deplete inventory.

In July the months of inventory increased in every Category.  If you have been following my monthly snapshot you will notice that most months when this changes it changes only a little where this month the numbers have increased substantially. This change puts us deep into a Buyer’s market in every category.

 

End of June 2018    July 2018    Change
Detached 3.98 4.72 0.74
Semi Detached 5.04 6.07 1.04
Attached – Row 5.73 6.78 1.05
Apartment 6.41 7.01 0.60
Total City 4.65 5.46 0.81

  

Calgary Listing Inventory

In July, our inventory decreased increased in all sectors and overall. This is totally normal at this time of year and we should expect this trend to continue for the rest of the year.

 

Inventory June 2018    July 2018    Change
 Detached 4817 4578 -239
Semi Detached 922 911 -11
Attached – Row 1209 1187 -22
Apartment 1872 1774 -98
Total Calgary 8820 8450 -370

Calgary Sales:

Sales were down in all categories and again this is normal for July as this is moving out of our busy season when people are focused on vacations and outdoor activities.

Sales Compared to last year: Of interest if we compare to last year Sales in June we were 11.3% down from last year while July we were down only 4.8% from last year – a big improvement.

 

Calgary Sales  June 2018    July 2018    Change % Change
Detached 1210 969 -241 -19.92%
Semi Detached 183 150 -33 -18.03%
Attached – Row 211 175 -36 -17.06%
Apartment 292 253 -39 -13.36%
Total City 1896 1547 -349 -18.41%

  

Calgary Real Estate Sales Prices:

As we are now in a buyer market we should expect prices to decline slightly which is what happened except in the Apartment Condo sector where prices increased slightly.

 

  Sales Prices June 2018   Benchmark Price   July 2018   Benchmark Price Change
Detached 503,100 501,300 -1,800
Semi Detached 418,000 416,200 -1,800
Attached – Row 302,300 300,300 -2,000
Apartment 259,100 259,700 600
Total City 436,500 435,200 -1,300

  

Sales Prices “Year to Date”  

Same as monthly number

Sales Prices Jan 1, 2018    Benchmark Price  July 2018   Benchmark Price Change

$

% Change
Detached 499,600 501,300 1,700 0.34%
Semi Detached 416,600 416,200 -400 -0.10%
Attached – Row 299,500 300,300 800 0.27%
Apartment 257,700 259,700 2,000 0.78%
Total City 433,200 435,200 2,000 0.46%

  

**Please note that these numbers include only Calgary homes and do change on a community basis and more so for towns.  This report does not include rural properties.  If you would like to find stats on your community just let me know.  If you have any questions about this summary or about Real Estate in general, please feel free to contact us.

 

 

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