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Dealing with Stress when Selling Your Home

Friday, June 12th, 2020

Let’s face it. Planning events, even exciting ones like an overseas vacation, can be stressful. So, it’s not surprising that some homeowners — even those thrilled about moving — can slip into “worry mode” when putting their property up for sale. Unfortunately, this anxiety can make the process of selling an unpleasant experience. Who wants that? So here are some things you can do to reduce selling stress and enjoy the adventure.

• Understand the selling process. The more you know about the steps involved in selling your home, the less mysterious — and, therefore, less stressful — it will be.

• Give yourself the time you need. Feeling rushed and stressed comes from trying to do too much in too little time. Even if you’re selling quickly, it’s important to block off sufficient time in your calendar for the things you need to do.

• Take care of yourself. As television psychologist Dr. Phil often points out, you can’t give what you don’t have. When it comes to selling your home, that means you need to eat well and stay healthy, so you have the energy you need throughout the process.

• Make your home attractive to buyers. That not only means tidying up and doing a little home staging, it also means setting the right listing price. Nothing eliminates the stress of selling more than having flocks of qualified buyers interested in your home.

• Get the help you need. You don’t have to do everything on your own. That’s why working with us is so advantageous. We take care of the many details for our clients so that they can enjoy the journey. Sure, there are going to be a few stressful moments. However, the process of listing and selling your property, while looking for your next dream home, can be an exciting experience. Let me help you.  Contact us Today.

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Just Listed 6 Chisholm Cres NW Calgary Ab. T2L0Z1

Thursday, June 11th, 2020

Just listed this immaculately maintained 4 level split located on a quiet tree lined street situated on an oversized lot in the desired community of Charleswood.

Check our our Video Tour:  https://youtu.be/1J9InZXErQA

MLS Listing:  C4301537

See more info and photos @ https://www.tswrealestategroup.com/for-sale/6-chisholm-cr-nw–C4301537

Contact us for more information or to view

 


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Calgary Real Estate Market Snapshot June 1, 2020

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2020

The market is simply a result of Supply and Demand therefore we look at both Supply (inventory) and Demand (Sales) and the relationship between the two.  We also update you on the current benchmark price for all housing sectors.

Following is a graph that shows the months of inventory for each Sector.  Looking at a 2-year trendline gives you and indication of where things are really heading.

Shows the absorption rate for every sector in the Calgary Real Estate market for the last 2 years.

Absorption Rate Graph

Following is a summary of what I deem to be the most important numbers.  Again, we look at Total Inventory, Sales for the past 30 days, Months of Inventory and of course the benchmark price.  All numbers are taken from the Calgary Real Estate boards monthly stats package.

Key Stats from the Calgary Real Estate Board.

 

Gord’s commentary for the month (just my opinion).

Its been another interesting month in the Calgary market during this Covid 19 time.

An optimist would say we gained 88.5% on sales (from last month)

A pessimist would say were down 45.5% (from last year)

Calgary Listing Inventory

Typically, May is the start of the spring market and that means increased listings.  In May we increased our listing inventory from 5576 to 5813, only an increase of 237 listings.  This small increase is good news and is helping us hold the value of homes.

Calgary Sales:

Wow, what a change Sales in May increased by 88.5% over April.  All categories increased over 80% except apartment condos and they increased by 44.2%.

Sales Compared to 2019:

It is critical to note that in all my other numbers I look at month over month.  This shows us the numbers this year compared too last year.   So, although the market saw a huge improvement in May we are still down 45.5% from last year in May, meaning we have a long way to go.

Calgary Real Estate Sales Prices:

As one would expect we did see price decreases in all sectors of between $1,800 (Condos) To $4,800 (detached homes) except for Semi-Detached homes which increased by $2000

Calgary Real Estate Sales Prices Year to Date

Every sector has seen a decrease in Year to Date Benchmark price – the smallest decrease being in the Semi-Detached sector with a loss of $600.  All other sectors saw decreases of between $5,800 to $8,600. The Total decrease across all sectors is -$6,900  or 1.65

Current Months of Inventory (Absorption Rate): 

In May, all sectors decreased the absorption rate drastically.  This is mainly driven by our inventory holding, Decreases were between -3.8 to -4.95

It is also important to note that these numbers vary by community, and by price range.  If you would like numbers for your community contact us.

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Just Listed this beautiful home in the Hamptons

Friday, May 22nd, 2020

Check out the Virtual Tour of this great listing below.

Highlights:  2578 Sq Ft. Above Grade, 4 Bedrooms up, Backs onto Green Space.

Impeccably maintained 2542 Sq. Ft. 6-bedroom home in a  fantastic Hampton’s location backing onto a south green space. Upon entry you will be amazed with the grand entry, chandelier, open ceiling and spiral staircase. Gleaming hardwood on main and upper floors. Main floor features a large living room, dining room, den-office, kitchen with stainless steel appliances,  granite, pantry, eating bar & a 3-sided fireplace all open to family room. Step onto the 12 x 19 deck with gorgeous open views of the green space making home perfect for entertaining.  Yard extensively landscaped with retaining wall, Waterfall & Pond, and mature decorative trees. Upstairs you will find hardwood flooring, 3 large bedrooms and the master featuring a 4- piece ensuite with corner jetted tub and a massive walk-in closet.  Down is fully developed with 2 additional bedrooms and boasts in-floor heating and new carpet.  Large Rec room with corner gas stone fireplace. Most windows replaced in 2018.

MLS: C4297293

Address:  312 Hampstead Way NW

For more Information or to View this home contact me

 

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What’s really happening in the Calgary Real Estate market?

Friday, May 1st, 2020

 What is really happening in the Calgary Real Estate Market?

The market is simply a result of Supply and Demand therefore we look at both Supply (inventory) and Demand (Sales) and the relationship between the two.  We also update you on the current benchmark price for all housing sectors.

Following is a graph that shows the months of inventory for each Sector.  Looking at a 2-year trendline gives you and indication of where things are really heading.

 

Graph shows the 2 year trend of Months of Inventory for all housing categories in the Calgary Real Estate Market.

Following is a summary of what I deem to be the most important numbers.  Again, we look at Total Inventory, Sales for the past 30 days, Months of Inventory and of course the benchmark price.  All numbers are taken from the Calgary Real Estate boards monthly stats package.

Calgary Real Estate Board Stats

 

Gord’s commentary for the month (just my opinion).

Well, its been an interesting month in the Calgary market during this crazy time. Notice I did not say unprecedented – the most over used word of 2020 in my humble opinion.

Calgary Listing Inventory

Typically, April is the start of the spring market and that means increased listings.  Do to the Covid-19 situation some Seller’s took their homes off the market and others simply did not list.  The total inventory decreased by 238 listings or 4.1%   The total new listings in April 2019 was 3126 and this year we had only 1425 so a decrease of 54.4%

Calgary Sales:

As expected, sales plummeted.  What surprised me is how many actual sales we had even with the City being essentially locked down.  Sales dropped from 1175 (in March) to 573 in April a 51.2% decrease.  April is also typically when sales increase due to spring market.

Calgary Sales Compared to 2019 Sales 

 

 

Calgary Real Estate Sales Prices:

Prices decreased in all sectors except apartment condos which somehow increased by $700.  The highest decrease was in Attached – row homes and they decreased by $4300.

 

Calgary Real Estate Sales Prices Year to Date

Every sector has seen a decrease in Benchmark price – the highest being in the Attached Row house sector at $4,700 and the lowest decrease in Detached homes at $1000.

 

Current Months of Inventory (Absorption Rate): 

In April, all Sectors saw a massive increase in the absorption rates.  Actually, I honestly thought they would be much higher and, in my opinion that is what saved us is the number of new listings going on the market fell compared to a normal April.

 

Looking Forward

I am not going to pull out my crystal ball here, but I am going to share one more set of numbers for you.   CIR Realty has a way to track how many showings we have on our listings.  Here are the numbers.

Again, I do not have a Crystal ball, but this showings graph indicates to me that activity is starting to pick up again.

It is also important to note that these numbers vary by community, and by price range.  If you would like numbers for your community contact us.

 

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9 Steps to Finding your Next Dream Home

Friday, May 1st, 2020

If you’re thinking ahead to your next dream home, the road you need to take to get there may seem confusing. Do you search for listings online? Drop by Open Houses on the weekends? Call the number on For Sale signs? Let’s break it all down! Here are the specific steps you need to take to ensure you find a home that fits your wants, needs and budget.

1. Find out how much your current property will likely sell for on today’s market.

2. Arrange for financing, so you know what you can afford.

3. Select neighbourhood’s you’d love to live in. (That may involve some fun exploring!)

4. Decide on the type of home you want to buy. (For example: detached, three-bedroom, etc.)

5. Prioritize the property features you want into must haves and wants, so you can be flexible if a feature is missing from a home listed on the market that is otherwise ideal.

6. View properties on the market that closely fit your criteria, particularly new listings that may not yet be posted online. (Tip: Arrange to be immediately notified of new listings that are a good fit for you.)

7. When you find a home you want, make an offer designed to get the property — without overpaying.

8. Negotiate until you secure the deal. This may involve counter-offers.

9. If the negotiation is skillfully done and all goes well, the home is yours. As you can see, there isn’t a lot of mystery in finding your next dream home. You just need to take the steps and get the professional help you need along the way. Looking for a real estate agent that can get you to the finish line? Contact us today

TSW Real Estate group has created a Home Buyer’s Action Plan – Get your free copy here

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When a Home Inspector Finds an Issue!

Saturday, April 25th, 2020

Imagine you’ve found the perfect home. You love it. You’ve made an offer that’s been accepted. So far so good! The only catch? You’ve wisely made the offer conditional on passing a professional home inspection. What happens if that home inspection reveals a major issue? First, you should know that, depending on the age of the property, a home inspection will typically turn up at least a few areas of concern. The inspector might find loose insulation in the attic that is thinning out or roofing shingles that will need replacing in two or three years. Issues like those are not usually deal-breakers. However, if the home inspector finds a major issue — such as old wiring that’s worn and presents a safety concern — then you’re facing a potentially high cost of repair should the deal go through. In a situation like that, as your real estate agent, I will address the issue with the seller,  through the seller’s agent. Since neither of you will want to lose the deal, the seller often agrees to get the repair done at his own expense or, have some or all of the estimated repair cost deducted from the sale price. Will the deal be in jeopardy? Usually not. In most cases, if you have a real estate agent like me working in your best interests, it all works out.

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What if your Ideal Home Isn’t Available?

Tuesday, April 21st, 2020

Imagine you’re looking for a new home. You have a list of all the features you want, just like you would have a grocery shopping list. However, when you explore the homes currently on the market, none meets all your criteria. What do you do? You have a few good options.

First, you can take a second look at your list. Does your new home need every single feature on it? Are there one or two features you can do without? For example, can you for a smaller kitchen assuming the property has everything else you want? Often, buying a home that’s close to perfect is perfect enough.

Second, consider what features you might be able to add to a home later, by way of a renovation or other improvement. If a property doesn’t have a finished basement, for example, you might be able to get that done down the road. Indeed, there are probably many features you can add later to an otherwise desirable property.  It is critical to prioritize your wish list and realize what can and cannot be changed later.  IE: Do not compromise on LOCATION as that cannot be changed.

Finally, consider the current level of activity in the local real estate market. Is it likely that a lot of new homes will be coming on the market soon? If so, your perfect home may come up on the market within the next few weeks. Maybe even tomorrow! In that situation, make sure you arrange to get immediate alerts for newly listed homes that meet your criteria. You’ll want to jump on each new opportunity before other buyers learn of the listing. The good news is, in most cases you should be able to find and buy a great home, with most — if not all — of the features you want.

My last tip here is that if none of the above is working  it’s smart to sit down with your Real Estate Agent, have them put in all your criteria then review sold’s for the last year.  If you find little or nothing in that search maybe your looking for something that does not exist meaning you may need to adjust your expectations.  Want some help finding your dream home – Contact us now. 

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What to Fix Up in your Home before You Sell?

Sunday, April 5th, 2020

If you have a home that is overdue for a renovation, you might be worried that it will be difficult to sell as a “fixer-upper”. In fact, you might delay listing your property for that reason. The good news is, you don’t need to fix up everything in your home to prepare it for sale. You can be selective and choose only those projects that are most likely to help your home show well and sell quickly. Here are some projects to consider:

• Repairs. Few things stand out more during a viewing than something in obvious need of repair. That includes minor issues, like a dripping bathroom faucet, as well as major concerns, such as the central air conditioning unit not working. Get these repairs done.

• Painting. Painting is one of the easiest and most affordable DIY projects you can do. Yet the impact it can have on your home is stunning. Some rooms are completely transformed by a fresh coat of paint.

• Kitchens & Bathrooms. Buyers love to see great looking kitchens and bathrooms. In fact, there are even magazines devoted just to those rooms! You don’t necessarily need to do a major renovation of these spaces, but a makeover can be a good idea. Consider replacing sinks, countertops, and/or cabinet hardware.

• Floors. If the floors in any of your rooms have become worn and unsightly, look at options for refreshing them. Consider replacing carpeting, refinishing hardwood, and/or getting tiles professionally cleaned and polished.

• Outdoors. Sometimes you can compensate (a little) for a less-than-ideal interior by sprucing up the outdoor space. Explore ways to improve your deck or patio, walkways, and landscaping. Even if your home is older, you can make it more attractive to buyers with any one of these projects. Want more ideas for finding eager buyers for your home? We offer a free – no obligation home walk through where we will make suggestion on minor improvements you can do to sell your home for the most money in the least amount of time.  Free walk through 

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Covid 19 affect on the Calgary Real Estate Market

Wednesday, April 1st, 2020

What is really happening in the Calgary Real Estate Market?

The market is simply a result of Supply and Demand therefore we look at both Supply (inventory) and Demand (Sales) and the relationship between the two.  We also update you on the current benchmark price for all housing sectors.

Following is a graph that shows the months of inventory for each Sector.  Looking at a 2-year trendline gives you and indication of where things are really heading.

Graph shows the 2 year trend of Months of Inventory for all housing categories in the Calgary Real Estate Market.

Following is a summary of what I deem to be the most important numbers.  Again, we look at Total Inventory, Sales for the past 30 days, Months of Inventory and of course the benchmark price.  All numbers are taken from the Calgary Real Estate boards monthly stats package.

 

CREB Stats for March 2020

 

Gord’s commentary for the month (just my opinion).

 

First and Most importantly to really understand what is happening it is critical for you to be clear on two things.

  1. Once a home receives an offer there is a delay of 5 to 10 days for the buyers to remove their conditions such as financing, home inspection etc. What this means is listings that are reported sold today actually got sold between 5 to 10 days ago resulting in what I call a lag time.  In a normal market this does not greatly affect stats but when sales are rapidly declining like they have been this in my opinion becomes important.
  2. The Covid-19 actions for social distancing did not start until part way through the month and they got stronger as the month progressed.

 

Current Months of Inventory (Absorption Rate): 

In March the overall months of inventory increased slightly. Increases were seen in Detached (.23) Semi-Detached (1.22) and Attached Row (.67) sectors while the absorption rate decreased in the Apartment Condo sector (.33).

Calgary Listing Inventory

Listing Inventory increased slightly where with the largest increase being in Detached homes with an increase of 175. Typically, in March we would see a large increase in listings.  With Covid-19 we are seeing some Seller’s withdraw their listings as they do not want people coming through their home currently. Other sellers are just not listing yet.

Calgary Sales:

I am a little surprised that in March we sold only 21 homes less than in February.  This in my opinion is a result the sales lag and Covid hitting mid month.  You will see a much steeper drop in April.

Sales Compared to 2019:

Sales in all sectors for January 2020 were 7.6% higher than in January 2019.

Sales in all sectors for February 2020 were 23% higher than in February 2019.

Sales in all sectors for March 2020 were 88.7% on Sales in March 2019 – 12.3% Lower

 

Calgary Real Estate Sales Prices:

Prices increased in Detached and Semi-Detached sectors while decreasing in the Attached-Row and Apartment Sectors. The changes were minor except for the Apartment condo sector losing $5,100.

 

It’s also important to note that these numbers vary by community, and by price range.  If you would like numbers for your community contact us.

 

 

 

 

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