royal lepage solutions: What Do You REALLY Want to Do with Your Money This Year?
- 12/28/09 04:38 AM
As we get closer to New Years Eve, and the time that people start making resolutions that usually aren't kept, I put forward the question: What do You REALLY Want to Do with Your Money? Do you want to save up a down payment for your first house? Would you like to take the family on a great vacation? Would you like to invest for your future? Is there something important you'd like your kids to experience? Would you like to be able to contribute to a specific cause or charity? The reason I ask, is over the past couple of … (1 comments)
royal lepage solutions: If you can Smell it... You Can't Sell it!
- 11/16/09 10:26 AM
Nothing trigger's the memory quite like a familiar smell... Remember this when you're trying to sell your home, because home buyers sure do. This past weekend, I was working with a lovely couple of newly weds who were excited to be out shopping for their first home. We toured 9 homes that day, and they could easily recall and describe almost each and every home by the particular odor it had. One house was spacious, and very functional, but had a distinctly musty smell to it -- a tell tale sign of the mould problem that had once been present, and reportedly remediated. Certainly the remaining … (8 comments)
royal lepage solutions: Dog Lover's Dream in Deer Ridge
- 11/03/09 03:31 PM
Here's a great opportunity for you if you're looking for your first home, and a place for your Dog to roam in Deer Ridge, Calgary Alberta for under $250,000! This 2 bedroom End Unit townhouse condo is just adorable... Open the front door to your cozy living room featuring a Vaulted Ceiling that gives this room a feeling of openness. The lovely Bay Window allows the light to pour in while the mature trees out in front provide privacy and a little extra shade and protection from the wind. It's just a few stairs up to the wide open eat-in kitchen, … (0 comments)
royal lepage solutions: Closing Costs Across Canada
- 10/27/09 03:23 AM
I'm very fortunate to work with a brokerage that has on-going education for and by Realtors in our office. I was in one of our classes last week, and the topic of Closing Costs came up. As we began to discuss this topic, and how we educate our clients with regard to preparing for closing costs, the question of the difference in closing costs from province to province came up. For example, here in Alberta, we don't (at least not at the moment) have Land Transfer Tax, which is a considerable expense, and may be quite daunting for the first time … (2 comments)
royal lepage solutions: Just Steps from the LRT... and Everthing Else Somerset and Shawnessy Have to Offer
- 10/20/09 12:14 PM
2 BEDROOM APARTMENT CONDO IN SOMERSET, CALGARY ALBERTA Wow! A Corner Unit plus all of the coveniences of Somerset and the Shawnessy Shopping Centre at your doorstep! This 2 bedroom condo on the 3rd floor features brand new carpet, and has just been freshly painted. The spacious Master bedroom features 2 separate closets, plus a "cheater" ensuite bathroom. The second bedroom looks out over the West facing balcony and the corner location means your bedrooms don't share any walls with neighbouring units. Enjoy the convenience of in-suite laundry... Plus Electricity, Heat and Water are all included in the Condo Fee. This … (0 comments)
royal lepage solutions: Keeping an Eye on the Price of Your Next Home? How about Your Interest Rate?
- 10/14/09 04:58 AM
In the Calgary Real Estate market over the past year we've seen home prices drop significantly to say the very least. It's been a fantastic time for those ready to buy. Still waiting for the price to Drop on that home you've had your eye on? If you're paying a mortgage over 25 years, how much of a difference does the price you pay make to your over all cost? The chart below shows how the difference in price affects both your monthly payment, and the amount of interest you might pay in 25 years if the interest rate remained the … (5 comments)
royal lepage solutions: Negotiating for All its Worth -- How to Get What You Really Want
- 10/10/09 05:03 AM
When you hire a Realtor, it goes without saying... You expect them to help you find your next home, or sell your last home. A key factor in the service the Realtor provides is in Negotiation. Whether your buying or selling, it helps to understand the Negotiation process. Here are 5 Tips to keep in Mind: 1. Don't be insulted by a low offer or a low counter offer. It is natural that the potential buyers want to pay as little as possible.2. The members of each party should feel like winners in the end.3. Counter offers need to show movement by each party. … (4 comments)
royal lepage solutions: Sundance Market Report - A Trip Down Memory Lane
- 10/05/09 07:54 AM
Well here we are on the verge of the anniversary of when the real estate market, and markets in general began the wild rollercoaster ride that threw the world for a loop. Do you recall last October when each day the new lows, and temporary highs of the North American stock markets were Headline news? Here's a snap shot of what the Real Estate Market in the Calgary Alberta neighbourhood of Sundance looked like in Septmber of 2008:
Here's what the local Real Estate Market looks like as of October 5, 2009 in Sundance:
The number of Active Listings … (0 comments)
royal lepage solutions: Loving Living in Lake Sundance
- 09/24/09 06:04 AM
10 years ago, when we bought our first home, I had visited a couple of homes in Lake Sundance in Calgary... and I can't for the life of me, figure out why we didn't choose this well established, vibrant lake community to live in. 10 years later, we're just coming to the end of our first summer in Sundance, and I keep hoping the fantastic weather we've been enjoying in Calgary will last just a little longer... We still have so much to do! Since we moved here, we've found the neighbours to be friendly, and very active in the community. Every … (6 comments)
royal lepage solutions: Life Changes and Leaving Home
- 09/05/09 06:17 PM
When you decide to sell your home, it almost always comes as a result of a major life change. Getting Married, New Baby On the Way, Another new Baby on the Way, Divorce, the Kids are moving out, and sadly Death. These are the big steps we take in life. In the Real Estate industry, we have to remember that we are not dealing with industry, we're playing a part in people's lives. It's a privilege and a huge responsibility. More than just the packing boxes should be marked "Handle with Care." As a Realtor, when someone asks me to come … (6 comments)
royal lepage solutions: Before You Leap… Look! Where is Your Financial Net?
- 08/01/09 05:32 PM
People love looking at houses...And Why not? I love looking at houses too. That's one of the many reasons I'm a Realtor®. But if you're serious... that is, if you're really considering buying a home or an investment property, it pays to know where you stand financially. Where is your Net? Every day hopeful buyers looking to take advantage of today's market ask me to show them homes. So, as a professional service, I send them the latest listings for the type of home they're thinking about. Sometimes, people tell me that they're not ready right now, but perhaps in … (0 comments)
royal lepage solutions: It's July 2009 and the Weather's Fine... So is the Calgary Real Estate Market!
- 07/07/09 02:33 PM
The real estate market in Calgary has changed significantly in the past few months. We went from having an over-supply of homes where sellers waited endlessly for offers, to a brand new market where, in certain price ranges, multiple offers on the same home are becoming more and more common every day. Here's the latest News Release from the Calgary Real Estate Board... Calgary, July 2, 2009 - The number of single family homes and condos sold in June in Calgary metro are both up from the same time a year ago. MLS® sales activity of single family Calgary metro … (1 comments)
royal lepage solutions: It's Time To Sell... Do You Know Where Your RPR Is?
- 06/18/09 12:52 PM
As I write, I'm sitting in the Planning Department of the City of Calgary waiting to apply for a stamp of compliance on my Real Property Report (RPR)... For the Second Time. If you're a home owner in Alberta, you my recall the Real Property Report. It's a document prepared by an Alberta Land Surveyor that shows the boundaries of the property and the location of permanent buildings and improvements on the property. A Certificate of Compliance is a confirmation by the City of Calgary that the locations of improvements on the property comply with the Land Use Bylaw. When … (2 comments)
Your Home in Calgary is a place to learn more about Calgary from an insider's perspective. Considering a move to Calgary? This is a great way to find out what's going on...
As we get closer to New Years Eve, and the time that people start making resolutions that usually aren't kept, I put forward the question: What do You REALLY Want to Do with Your Money?
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