Just Listed 175 Mapleburn Drive SE

December 27th, 2018

Just listed in Mapleridge.

1444 sq. ft. solid Bungalow with oversized double garage is looking for an update.  Gain some equity with your ideas and renovations.

MLS: C4220488

List $470,000

You tube Video:  https://youtu.be/NzgptvzCxFo

Just listed in Mapleridge

Solid bungalow awaiting your ideas and finishing touches. This mostly original 4-bedroom home boasts 1444 Sq. ft. and an oversized double garage on a large lot located on a beautiful mature street in sought after Maple Ridge. Main floor is laid out well with living room with wood fireplace, dining room, Kitchen with refaced cabinets and updated countertops. Master bedroom is large and offers a 2-piece ensuite, 3 other bedrooms and full bath complete the main floor.  Downstairs is partially finished with a large recreation room and a bedroom (no egress window).  Plenty of storage space.

 

 

Calgary Real Estate Market Snapshot for Dec 1, 2018

December 4th, 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

Current Months of Inventory:  If we did not list any more homes this is how many months it would take to deplete inventory.  In November there were some ups and some downs with the most significant being the Apartment Condo sector that went from 7.12 months to 5.49 months, which is a significant drop and is now the lowest Apartment Condos have been in well over a year.  One month does not make a trend and I speculate that this is largely do to listings expiring and people are leaving them off till the new year. All categories are still in a “Buyers Market” position.

End of Oct 2018    Nov 2018    Change
Detached 4.80 5.14 0.35
Semi Detached 6.53 6.94 0.40
Attached – Row 6.59 6.56 -0.04
Apartment 7.12 5.49 -1.63
Total City 5.56 5.55 -0.01

  

Calgary Listing Inventory

In November, our inventory decreased in all sectors and overall, the highest decrease was in the Detached home sector followed by the Apartment Condo sector. This is normal at this time of year and we should expect this trend to continue for the rest of the year as consumers move their focus to Christmas.

 

Inventory Oct 2018    Nov 2018    Change
 Detached 3976 3491 -485
Semi Detached 823 749 -74
Attached – Row 1009 944 -65
Apartment 1509 1317 -192
Total Calgary 7345 6501 -844

 

Calgary Sales:

In November we saw a slight increase in Sales in the Apartment Condo Sector over last month while other sectors saw a decrease in sales. Sales decreasing at this time of year is normal with Christmas approaching.

Calgary Sales  Oct 2018    Nov 2018    Change % Change
Detached 829 679 -150 -18.09%
Semi Detached 126 108 -18 -14.29%
Attached – Row 153 144 -9 -5.88%
Apartment 212 240 28 13.21%
Total City 1322 1171 -151 -11.42%

 

***Sales Compared to last year:

As you can see from the chart below comparing sales to last year there have been some substantial changes.  In the first half of the year we were trending up and in the last 6 months we are trending down rather quickly.  My belief is that this is due to the Economic conditions in Calgary and declining consumer confidence.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov  Dec
102% 82% 72% 80% 82% 89% 95% 93% 85.9% 89.9% 83.0

 

Calgary Real Estate Sales Prices:

November saw prices decrease in all sectors with the largest decrease being in the Detached home sector.  This is expected with the high number of months of inventory on the market.  Unless something changes we can expect to see this trend for a few more months.

  Sales Prices Oct 2018     Benchmark Price   Nov 2018   Benchmark Price Change
Detached 490,200 486,000 -4,200
Semi Detached 403,400 400,700 -2,700
Attached – Row 293,400 292,900 -500
Apartment 257,200 252,800 -4,400
Total City 426,300 422,600 -3,700

  

Sales Prices “Year to Date”  

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

$

% Change
Detached 499,600 486,000 -13,600 -2.72%
Semi Detached 416,600 400,700 -15,900 -3.82%
Attached – Row 299,500 292,900 -6,600 -2.20%
Apartment 257,700 252,800 -4,900 -1.90%
Total City 433,200 422,600 -10,600 -2.45%

  

**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 and does not take into account differences in different price ranges.  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 TSW Real Estate Group here.

 

Calgary Real Estate Market Snapshot for Nov 1, 2018

November 1st, 2018

What is really happening in the Calgary Real Estate Market?

Months of Inventory for last 2 years.

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

_______________________________________________________________________

Current Months of Inventory:  If we did not list any more homes this is how many months it would take to deplete inventory.  In October we saw every category decrease in the number of months of inventory, however all categories are still in a Buyers Market position.

End of Sept 2018    Oct 2018    Change
Detached 5.49 4.80 -0.69
Semi Detached 7.09 6.53 -0.56
Attached – Row 7.58 6.59 -0.99
Apartment 7.68 7.12 -0.56
Total City 6.25 5.56 -0.69

  

Calgary Listing Inventory

In October, our inventory decreased in all sectors and overall, the highest decrease was in the Detached home sector followed by the Apartment Condo sector and then Attached-Row.  This is normal at this time of year and we should expect this trend to continue for the rest of the year.

 

Inventory Sept 2018    Oct 2018    Change
 Detached 4348 3976 -372
Semi Detached 872 823 -49
Attached – Row 1107 1009 -98
Apartment 1620 1509 -111
Total Calgary 7947 7345 -602

 

Calgary Sales:

An interesting twist, normally we see sales drop in October over Sept,  yet this year we saw an increase.  Not a large increase but an increase.

Calgary Sales  Sept 2018    Oct 2018    Change % Change
Detached 792 829 37 4.67%
Semi Detached 123 126 3 2.44%
Attached – Row 146 153 7 4.79%
Apartment 211 212 1 0.47%
Total City 1272 1322 50 3.93%

 

Sales Compared to last year:  Thought this is a number that deserves a look as the trend is changing. Chart shows this year’s sales as a percentage of last years so yes,  sales are down but they are down less than at the beginning of the year.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov  Dec
102% 82% 72% 80% 82% 89% 95% 93% 85.9% 90.1%    

 

Calgary Real Estate Sales Prices:

October saw prices decrease in all sectors except Apartment Condos which did not change. This is expected with the high number of months of inventory on the market.  Unless something changes we can expect to see this trend for a few more months.

  Sales Prices Sept 2018     Benchmark Price   Oct 2018   Benchmark Price Change
Detached 493,100 490,200 -2,900
Semi Detached 407,400 403,400 -4,000
Attached – Row 294,200 293,400 -800
Apartment 257,200 257,200 0
Total City 428,700 426,300 -2,400

  

Sales Prices “Year to Date”  

Same as monthly number

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

$

% Change
Detached 499,600 490,200 -9,400 -1.88%
Semi Detached 416,600 403,400 -13,200 -3.17%
Attached – Row 299,500 293,400 -6,100 -2.04%
Apartment 257,700 257,200 -500 -0.19%
Total City 433,200 426,300 -6,900 -1.59%

 

**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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 Not-So-Obvious Indicators it’s Time to Sell

October 6th, 2018

There are many good reasons to put your property on the market. Some examples include a relocation, the kids leaving the nest, the need for something bigger or smaller, and the list goes on and on.

However, there are also some less-than-obvious indicators that it may be time to sell. Consider the following:             1. Your Property is no longer a Good “Fit” Your home may have been perfect for you when you bought it. But things change. Families grow. Needs evolve. For any number of reasons, your property may no longer be a good fit for you. If that’s the case, it makes sense to at least take a look at what’s available on the market. Who knows? Your next “perfect” home may be for sale right now — within your price range!                                                                                       2. The Neighbourhood is Changing.  You may have been in love with the neighborhood when you first moved in. But, over time, the characteristics of any area can change. Those changes don’t necessarily mean the neighborhood is getting worse. In fact, it may be changing in a positive way; perhaps becoming more urban. But, “more urban” may not be what you want. So take a look at the direction your neighborhood is heading. Ask yourself, “Do I still want to be living here in two years?”                                                                                                                                                                3. You’re Ready for Your Dream Home Remember when you purchased your current property? Did it have every feature you wanted? Was it your dream home? Or, did you have to compromise on a few things, such as the size of the kitchen? If you had to make some tough choices back then, it might be time for you to finally get the home of your dreams.

Those are just three indicators it may be time for you to make a move. Of course, there are many others. If you’ve been entertaining the idea of selling your property and finding your next dream home,  give me a shout, I can show you what’s available on the market, and keep you informed of new listings that match what you’re looking for. Contact me anytime.

Calgary Real Estate Market Snapshot Oct 1, 2018

October 2nd, 2018

Months of Inventory for 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

_________________________________________________________________________

Current Months of Inventory:  If we did not list any more homes this is how many months it would take to deplete inventory.  In September we saw every category increase quite substantially in the number of months of inventory putting the entire Calgary market into a buyer’s market position.

End of Aug 2018    Sept 2018    Change
Detached 4.78 5.49 0.71
Semi Detached 6.45 7.09 0.64
Attached – Row 6.22 7.58 1.36
Apartment 6.86 7.68 0.82
Total City 5.45 6.25 0.80

 

 Calgary Listing Inventory

In September, our inventory decreased in all sectors and overall, the highest decrease was in the Detached home sector followed by the apartment condo sector.  This is normal at this time of year and we should expect this trend to continue for the rest of the year.

***One interesting note is that in the last 2 days of September the inventory decreased by almost 500 listings. I believe this is listings expiring and some of these will get re-listed as this is exactly what happened last month.

Inventory Aug 2018    Sept 2018    Change
 Detached 4433 4348 -85
Semi Detached 909 872 -37
Attached – Row 1113 1107 -6
Apartment 1666 1620 -46
Total Calgary 8121 7947 -174

 

Calgary Sales:

Sales were down in all categories. This is normal for September as we will now tread down every month until the new year.

Calgary Sales  Aug 2018    Sept 2018    Change % Change
Detached 927 792 -135 -14.56%
Semi Detached 141 123 -18 -12.77%
Attached – Row 179 146 -33 -18.44%
Apartment 243 211 -32 -13.17%
Total City 1490 1272 -218 -14.63%

 

Sales Compared to last year:  Thought this is a number that deserves a look as the trend is changing. This chart shows this year’s sales as a percentage of last years so yes,  sales are down but they are down less than at the beginning of the year.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov  Dec
102% 82% 72% 80% 82% 89% 95% 93% 85.9      

 

Calgary Real Estate Sales Prices:

September saw prices decrease in all sectors which is expected with the high number of months of inventory on the market.  Unless something changes we can expect to see this trend for a few more months.

  Sales Prices Aug 2018     Benchmark Price   Sept 2018   Benchmark Price Change
Detached 497,000 493,100 -3,900
Semi Detached 411,300 407,400 -3,900
Attached – Row 296,700 294,200 -2,500
Apartment 258,100 257,200 -900
Total City 432,000 428,700 -3,300

 

Sales Prices “Year to Date”  

Same as monthly number

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

$

% Change
Detached 499,600 493,100 -6,500 -1.30%
Semi Detached 416,600 407,400 -9,200 -2.21%
Attached – Row 299,500 294,200 -5,300 -1.77%
Apartment 257,700 257,200 -500 -0.19%
Total City 433,200 428,700 -4,500 -1.04%

 **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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just Listed 1628 Copperfield Blvd

October 2nd, 2018

Just listed this great home in Copperfield.

MLS C4209515

List Price $425,000

You tube: https://youtu.be/P2S4WJ-oJcw

 

Just listed this beautiful home on the market for the first time.

Just listed this beautiful home on the market for the first time.

Beautiful one owner home in a Copperfield.  Home has been well taken care of and has upgraded flooring on main and includes Central Air.  Living room features a large island with eating bar, pantry, and a gas stove.  Large dining area is great for family get togethers.  Living room features new laminate flooring and a gas fireplace.  Main floor also includes laundry and a guest bath.  Upstairs you will enjoy the size of the bonus room with vaulted ceilings, Master Bedroom features 5-piece ensuite and walk-in closet. Complete the upstairs with 2 bedrooms. Downstairs has large windows and is waiting for you creative touches.  On those hot summer days enjoy you yard with deck and awning (included) and fire pit. Located minutes away from the pond and walking paths, close to schools. For more info or to view this listing contact us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watch Out for Carbon Monoxide In Your Home

September 21st, 2018

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is invisible and odourless, so you can’t actually “watch out for it”. However, you should monitor for it because an excessive build-up of this gas in your home can be deadly.

Fortunately, there are many types of Carbon Monoxide detectors you can purchase — and most are effective and affordable. Some models simply plug into an outlet. (Many also have a battery backup.) Carbon Monoxide is caused by the incomplete burning of fuel. It can be released by a faulty gas furnace, kerosene heaters, and gas fireplaces.

If you live in Alberta, Atco gas will come out and so an inspection on your furnace to ensure it is healthy – This is a FREE service!

That’s why it’s a good idea to install detectors in areas close to these fixtures, as well as near bedrooms. Experts say you should always follow manufacturer’s instructions when installing CO detectors, and test them regularly. You want to make sure you can hear the alarm from your bedroom.

CO build-up in homes is rare. So your detectors may never go off. But, if the alarm does sound, get everyone (including pets) out of the home and into the fresh air. Then call 911. Typically, the fire department will do an inspection and determine the source of the carbon monoxide.

A final tip: Never use your BBQ or outside grill in the garage or, especially, anywhere inside your home. The risk of CO exposure is very high and definitely not worth the convenience of a grilled burger!

What Type of New Home Are You Qualified to Buy?

September 14th, 2018

When you think about looking for a new home, one of the first questions that probably comes to mind is: “What type of property can I afford?”

That’s an important question because your price range is a major determining factor in the types and sizes of homes you should be viewing. You don’t want to waste time looking at properties that are beyond your price range. At the same time, you don’t want to purchase a less-than-ideal home, only to realize later on that you could have afforded more. So how do you determine what type of new home you are qualified to purchase?

The first step is to find out what your current property would likely sell for in today’s market. I make that calculation for clients all the time. It involves reviewing what homes similar to yours have sold for recently, as well as other data — such as special features your home may have that are likely to boost the selling price.

Once you know the current market value of your home, subtract any outstanding mortgages and estimated selling expenses, and you’ll end up with an amount that can be applied to the purchase of your next home. (You may also have other funds you want to use.)

The next step is to talk to a lender or mortgage broker to see how much of a new mortgage you qualify for. (Contact me if you need a recommendation.) It’s important to get a proper Pre-Qualification or Pre-Approval. That makes the offer you make on a new home more credible and will also lock you into an interest rate. If you want to find out the types and sizes of homes you can get into, give me a call. I’d be happy to show you the possibilities!

The Basics of Do-it-Yourself Video-based Home Security

September 7th, 2018

According to law enforcement experts, a video-based home security system is significantly more effective than a simple alarm system. The reason is obvious. Burglars don’t want their crimes captured on video, which can then be used as evidence in court. So it’s no wonder that many homeowners have, or are considering, video-based security.

These days, most video-based home security systems are wireless. The cameras either record to your DVR (just like recording your favorite TV show), or to a cloud-based server provided by the manufacturer. There are many do-it-yourself systems on the market. You simply place the cameras around your property and do some initial setup. Most of these have motion-detection that records automatically when someone comes into the frame of the camera. These are typically installed at your front door, patio door, main floor windows, and garage door. Some systems will even alert you when a camera turns on, and let you see the action on your smartphone or computer.

If it’s a burglary attempt, you have the opportunity to call the police. Although most of these products are weatherproof, check and confirm before purchasing. The packaging will say something like, “Suitable for outdoor use” or “Suitable for all-weather conditions”. Also look for night vision capability. Not all security cameras have that feature.

5 Ways to Make the Selling Process Stress-Free

September 6th, 2018

For some homeowners, the process of listing, showing and selling their home can be stressful. Fortunately, there is plenty you can do to make it much less nerve-racking—and even exciting and enjoyable. Here are some ideas:

1. Make a plan. Decide when you’re going to show your property, search for a new home, view listings, etc. Block out these times in an agenda book or calendar. That way, you and your family can see what’s coming up.                                 2. Be flexible. Few things go exactly as planned! So, it’s important to build in flexibility. For example, you may plan to see homes for sale on Saturdays, but if an opportunity comes up on a weeknight, give yourself room in your schedule to jump on it.                                                                                                                                                                             3. Eat well. There are numerous studies that connect poor nutrition with increased stress. When people are selling and moving, there’s a tendency to rely on quick fixes, such as hot dogs and pizza! Try to plan more nutritious meals that will keep everyone healthy and energized.                                                                                                                               4. Get stuff done early. Doing things last minute, such as finding a real estate lawyer or getting rid of clutter, can quickly lead to stress and frustration. Whenever possible, get tasks done early. That way, you won’t have to worry about them.                                                                                                                                                                                             5. Hire the right professionals. By far, the surest way to a stress-free move is to get the right professionals working for you: everyone from contractors to mortgage brokers to movers. By the way, a big part of what I do for clients is help make every aspect of buying, selling and moving go smoothly. Contact me to learn how I can help you.