calgary: Calgary Real Estate - 02/07/16 12:41 PM
Calgary Real Estate
If you are searching for a home in Calgary, or maybe you already own a house or a rental property in Calgary and want to sell it, then please read this.
 
I have been licensed to sell real estate in Alberta since 1993.  This is my 23 year in the real estate industry.  Over the past many years I have worked as a real estate agent, I have been employed as a real estate broker.  I have also worked for over a decade as a licensed mortgage broker in Alberta.  Currently I own and operate an Alberta … (1 comments)

calgary: Alberta Real Estate Referrals - 02/05/16 02:33 PM

 
These days when you are searching online it is difficult to cut through all the bs and sometimes find exactly what you are searching for.  This is true when searching for a good real estate agent too.  There is so much marketing hype and so many agents who spend thousands of dollars trying to make themselves look like a super agent, that it is really hard to tell who is great at their job and who is just full of hot air.
 
I have been in the Alberta real estate industry since 1993.  I have worked as an real estate Agent, as … (0 comments)

calgary: Calgary Real Estate in 2016 - 02/05/16 09:37 AM
Calgary Real Estate in 2016
The Canadian economy and the challenges in Alberta oil industry have presented some unique situations in the Calgary real estate market.  A city that was once used to having a solid supply of more buyers than sellers is currently in a market where the buyers are getting harder to find and the prices are weakening.  This is not true in all price ranges and in all locations though.  There are still neighborhoods that are in high demand and there are still property types and styles which are in reasonably short supply.
 
If you own real estate in Calgary … (0 comments)

calgary: My Friend the Calgary Denturist - 11/04/13 01:34 AM
Just wanted to take a second and post a thank you note to one of my friends and clients.  George Torre-Alba is the owner and denturist at Chinook Denture Clinic in Calgary Alberta.  His office is located in the Chinook Mall Professional Tower, which is pretty prime location and easy to find.  George not only consistently provides his dental patients with the highest quality of false teeth and other denture products, but his service is far beyond what most people expect from a Calgary Denture Clinic.  His completely brand new office space looks great too.  
 
Recently, Chinook Denture Clinic … (0 comments)

calgary: Message to My Mortgage Broker Friends - 03/08/12 03:38 PM

When I see things such as:  "AGF Trust is offering two 5 Year Fixed Quick Close options at reduced commission rates"
show up in my inbox I cannot help but to cringe.  I realize that the lenders in their limited wisdom are attempting to provide us with a tool to avoid losing business to others such as Bank of Montreal, but they are killing the industry and us by doing so.

I don't need their help to give my money away.
 I don't need them to give me permission to do so. 
I don't need them to try to sell me … (1 comments)

calgary: Where has time gone? - 01/24/12 05:50 PM
Wow, I have been so busy the past while helping others with their business that I have neglected to spend adequate time on my own business it seems.  Crazy that this is exactly what I tell others to avoid doing.  So what is one to do but get right back at it and to pick up where they left off.  This is a far better choice than avoiding getting back to business and using your procrastination as another excuse to continue to avoid things.
 
So without further delay, I am back.  I have tons of great things to share and … (4 comments)

calgary: RIP Concentra Mortgage - 06/21/11 09:28 AM
Concentra has been involved with mortgage brokers and the residential mortgage market for about 20 years now.  Effective the end of the month this will no longer be the case.  Their business seems to be changing to focus upon the wholesale market instead and no longer accepting mortgage applications from mortgage brokers.  Here is an excerpt copy of their notice:
 
"A recent review of our business model has resulted in the decision to use an alternate source for originating mortgages. As an outcome of this decision, Concentra will no longer accept applications for mortgage funding after June 30, 2011."
 
… (0 comments)

calgary: Lethbridge Real Estate - Promoting Calgary Mortgage Broker - 06/20/11 08:54 PM
Lethbridge Real Estate and Mortgage News
 
I posted a day ago about how I was making a couple of websites to target the Calgary mortgage market for my brokerage partners who live and work there.
 
I made the sites over the weekend and submitted them for rapid indexing using my own private techniques.
 
As of today I ran a check to see if they had been hit by the Google spiders yet, and to no surprize they are fully indexed now.
 
The websites are now live and can be viewed at:
 
www.CalgaryMortgageBroker.org  - Calgary Mortgage Broker
… (0 comments)

calgary: Canada Real Estate Average Prices - 06/20/11 05:47 AM
Calgary average house prices fifth highest in Canada A report by the Canadian Real Estate Association indicates Calgary had the 5th highest average MLS residential sale price in the Canada in the month of May.
The survey of the major real estate markets across Canada showed Calgary's average price for the month was $416,055 for all residential properties (down by 0.5 per cent from May 2010).
Leading the country was Vancouver with a whopping average sale price of $831,555, up 25.7 per cent from a year ago.  A boom which once again is being caused by investment from Asia.
Vancouver high … (2 comments)

calgary: Lethbridge Mortgage Broker ranks Calgary Mortgage Broker Website - 06/19/11 07:30 PM
Calgary Mortgage Broker Challenge
 
As an example of Calgary SEO, I have decided to take up a challenge this weekend. (a little link love or reblog of this post would be most appreciated and reciprocated)
 
In the very competitive keyword search for "Calgary Mortgage Broker", my brokerage is already ranked a solid #1. 
 
I have decided that I will build and rank an additional TWO (2) websites and also put them onto the first page of the organic search results!  Now that will be an amazing SEO task and one that I hope I can accomplish in about … (0 comments)

calgary: Lethbridge Real Estate - $248,000 - 06/18/11 08:41 PM
Lethbridge Real Estate

Recently there has been lots of news coverage about the various real estate markets in Canada.  Alberta continues to be the most solid and stable market in the country.  Also of note is that New Home Construction in Lethbridge continues to be hot.  Also, the average home price was the lowest of any city in Alberta in Lethbridge, coming in at $248,000 for an average home.  This just points to one more reason why Lethbridge is poised to see another influx of home buyers this coming real estate season.
 
Robert May
… (2 comments)

calgary: Real Estate News: Canadian Debt Increases! What About YOU? - 06/10/11 05:45 AM
 
. Canadians rack up debt How do you compare to other Canadians? "Low interest rates today do not necessarily mean low rates tomorrow," warned Bank of Canada's Mark Carney. "Risk reversals, when they happen, can be fierce; the greater the complacency, the more brutal the reckoning." According to the TransUnion credit rating company, Canadians average $26,000 total debt on their credit cards, lines of credit, and vehicle loans.  That's an increase over the same period last year of 4.5 per cent, or another $1,000 per person. Average Canadians also owe just over $1 trillion in mortgaged debt.  An amount that … (2 comments)

calgary: Zero Down, Cash Back, and Flexible Down Payment Programs? - 06/10/11 05:10 AM
Lethbridge Real Estate - Calgary Real Estate Flexible DP Program; have you considered offering the client an alternative to ‘Cash Back’, I know Cash Back has its advantages, however, we know the rate is much higher than other rate offers, which results in the client paying much more in interest, and there is a claw back along with penalties if the client decides to make changes during the term; benefits of considering the Flexible DP Product; No premium on rate. No claw back, standard penalties apply. Allows the client to ‘Borrow’ their DP from their own resources, loan, LOC, credit card, … (0 comments)

calgary: Lethbridge - Calgary Alberta Real Estate - News - 04/14/11 04:40 AM
Calgary CMA new home prices fall in February  
But increased from a year ago CALGARY — New home prices in the Calgary census metropolitan area fell in February from the previous month.
In releasing its New Housing Price Index on Tuesday, Statistics Canada said new house prices in February were down 0.4 per cent in the Calgary CMA. However, they were also up by 0.4 per cent when compared with February 2010.
At the national level, the federal agency said prices were up by 0.4 per cent on a month-over-month basis and by 2.1 per cent on an annual basis.
… (0 comments)

calgary: Be Albertan - Leading the New Economy and the World! - 02/28/10 10:54 AM
Want to know more about Alberta? Want to know why we are leading the world economy and will continue to be the strongest economic powerhouse for the next decade? It is as simple as an open door...
 
 
Want information on living and investing in Alberta? Let's talk.
… (0 comments)

calgary: New Home Starts Across Canada - Statistics - 02/04/10 05:25 AM
Lethbridge Real Estate Statistics Series - New House Starts across Canada
 
This is a boring post, except for those of you who love stats.  Just wanted to post some updated numbers on what is going on across the country.  The one thing of note and interest to me is that Alberta once again continues to be one of the strongest markets in the entire world.
 
If you are a smart real estate investor, you should be here in Alberta already.  There are some big things happening and the next couple years are going to be amazingly progressive.
Total New … (0 comments)

calgary: Calgary Hip Hop - 12/22/09 10:24 PM
Calgary Hip Hop Artists and Calgary Hip Hop Producers ALL agree on one thing: when it comes to Calgary Hip Hop Artists and Calgary Hip Hop Producers, we've got something that the world is dying to see and hear. From Calgary Hip Hop Artists to Calgary Hip Hop Producers creating Calgary Hip Hop for Calgary Hip Hop Promoters to do "they thang" with, the world is about to have the Calgary hip hop sound and Calgary hip hop talent unleashed upon them! Once they catch a glimpse of the likes of Calgary hip hop artists M.C. Spy, Chain Reaction, BiGZ, King … (2 comments)

calgary: Alberta Jobless Rate Declines, Why Don't You Live Here? - 10/11/09 07:24 AM
Here is a great article from the Calgary Herald today.  It points once again to the fact that Alberta is the leading economic powerhouse of North America.  Seriously, if you are living in an area of economic hardship, you should be relocating to Alberta ASAP.  We continue to lead the world economy and are widely regarded as the highest standard of living anywhere.
 
Alberta Jobless Rate Drops
 
Edmonton — Alberta's unemployment rate fell in September, the first monthly decrease since recession-related job losses started taking their toll on the economy in December, Statistics Canada reported Friday.
The rate fell … (1 comments)

calgary: Foreign Workers Moving To Alberta - 09/10/09 06:16 PM
If you are a citizen of a country other than Canada and are interested in moving to Alberta Canada to work, there are a few great resources available to you.  In recent years, the number of foreign workers who have immigrated to Canada and more specifically Alberta is amazing.  The majority of these immigrants seem to prefer the large cities of Edmonton and Calgary, due to their sizable ethnic populations offering a bit of familiarity and comfort.
 
In recent years though, many immigrants have travelled to Alberta to work in agriculture processing, oil field related industries, and also academics.  We … (0 comments)

calgary: Alberta Real Estate, Back On Track - 09/09/09 08:41 PM
Alberta Real Estate Prices Back On Track Two years ago, the economics within the Province of Alberta were solid as a rock.  Business was growing at a nice steady pace.  Major corporations were shifting their head offices from Eastern Canada out west to either Calgary or Edmonton.  The price of commodities was fairly stable.  Home prices were moving up at a consistent 3 to 6% a year.  Things were great!
 
Then the price of oil started to climb rapidly.  The market in Alberta seen a huge influx of foreign investment and immigration.  The housing and employment sector could not keep … (3 comments)