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        <title>Calgary Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/</link>
        <description>Visit our blog to keep up with news and trends in the Calgary and surrounding areas housing market. Courtesy of Carlos Montes Remax Real Estate (Mountain View).</description>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/garage-sale-season-is-here.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/garage-sale-season-is-here.html</link>
            <author>info@calgaryrealestate.pro (Carlos Montes)</author>
            <title>Garage Sale Season is Here</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
 


Garage sales are always a sign that spring is here and people are removing their clutter from their homes and hoping someone else will find treasures in their no longer needed items. The general rule of thumb is if you have not used an item or worn an item in 6months or longer than you don’t need it or want it so it is time to get rid of it! This can be hard for some people but the benefit of getting rid of the possessions you no longer use or need is you can make some cash from the comfort of your own home! We are here to help you learn how to create and manage a successful garage sale in the coming weeks, clean the clutter from your home and make some extra spending cash!


First and foremost it is a great idea to get your neighbors involved. Although your garage sale may still be successful on your own, several homes within one neighborhood definitely attract more people. It may not be worth their while to drive across town to one single house but if several houses are all throwing garage sales on the same street, this changes everything.


Now, let’s talk advertising. There is nothing more important than getting the word out that you are having a garage sale; no advertising equals no sales and the last thing you want to do is bring all your things back into the house you just cleaned. You have several advertising options to choose from, including:




Facebook postings to all your friends and family


Kijiji is a great classified website, free to use that millions of people search regularly


Craigslist is another classified website option


Your local newspaper


Simple, hand-made signs on intersections close to your home and throughout the neighborhood serve as great reminders


Notices within your grocery stores, libraries, malls and coffee shops




By utilizing as least 3 of these different advertising techniques you are sure to experience a great turn out.


The weather can be a contributing factor because no one is going to want to buy items ruined by the rain! What you can do to avoid being washed out is utilize a portable gazebo to shield your items, hold the entire sale within your garage or you can advertise a rain date in the event the weather is not on your side and you have no gazebo or coverage to utilize.


In terms of pricing this is where many people go wrong. At a garage sale you aren’t looking to make enough money for your next winter getaway the goal is to get rid of the things you no longer need while making a small profit. By taking the time to price all your items ahead of time you are not only saving frustration on the day of the garage sale but you are also taking the time to price items reasonably. Go to a few garage sales yourself and see what prices items sell for to get an idea if you’re not sure.


Lastly, by including snacks, beverages and music you are sure to attract a large crowd and create an atmosphere where everyone will want to buy something. The environment of your garage sale is just as important as your pricing and your day (Saturday is always preferable). Enjoy your first garage sale experience and watch the money accumulate as your clutter is dispersed!
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            <pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 23:40:07 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/building-permits-in-calgary-sky-rocket.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/building-permits-in-calgary-sky-rocket.html</link>
            <author>info@calgaryrealestate.pro (Carlos Montes)</author>
            <title>Building Permits in Calgary Sky Rocket </title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Statistics Canada has posted their most recent data and within this data it has been found that building permits in Calgary as of March of 2012 have risen significantly since March of 2011. Building permits were up by 2.9% from February of 2012 and a whopping 33% higher than that of March of last year with a total spending of $457.7 million in permits for the Calgary metropolitan area. In the total of Alberta, the amount spent in permits for the month of March totaled to $1.2 billion which resulted in a 5.6% monthly increase and a 37.5% yearly increase in permit sales.


In terms of the residential areas of Calgary and Alberta as a whole, the building permits rose to $698.3 million which is a 22.7% increase from last year at this time and a 6.8% increase from just a month ago. The commercial sector of the city is also seeing major increase in movement with $509million spent in building permits in March and a year over year increase of 64.6%; amazingly high numbers for both sectors. As you can imagine these amazingly high spikes in building permits for both commercial and residential properties are only yet another clear sign that the housing market in Calgary is on the rise and buyers as well as sellers are growing in confidence once again.


The two major cities within Alberta, Calgary and Edmonton are now fighting to be number one in terms of most new building contracts for commercial and residential. It wasn’t long ago that Calgary was clearly the winner of this race but today the two cities are neck and neck in terms of development; another clear sign Alberta’s real estate market is strong and healthy. In terms of national statistics, Alberta posted the highest numbers in regards to building permits but the overall residential permits were down nationwide for the third month in a row by 1.3%.


Although the residential market for permits is down across the country, the non-residential sector is only continuing to expand. At $2.9billion the commercial building permits are at the highest they have been since June of 2010. This sector also possesses a year over year increase of 3.3% across the country which is quite impressive.
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            <pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 10:40:29 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/c3520834-9-taralake-terrace-ne-calgary-alberta.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/c3520834-9-taralake-terrace-ne-calgary-alberta.html</link>
            <author>info@calgaryrealestate.pro (Carlos Montes)</author>
            <title>C3520834 9 Taralake Terrace NE Calgary, Alberta</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 



 


Immaculate, clean and classy in Taradale Calgary, Alberta. This home, with central air conditioning has been kept in impeccable condition. Located across from a playground, close to all amenities such as shopping, public transportation, and schools. The main floor, which has all laminate flooring, offers a kitchen, dining room, living room and a half bathroom with main floor laundry. The upper floor has 3 good sized bedrooms and a full bathroom. The basement if fully finished with a family/rec room, full bathroom and extra storage space. The backyard is a fair size with a double detached garage and a spacious deck. And not to forget the front of the home which boasts a lovely porch which face east. Catch the sunrise in the morning and enjoy it in the evening with a west facing back. Possession is very flexible with only 21 days. Please contact us for more information or to set up a viewing. Additional Link with photos will be available shortly.
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            <pubDate>Fri, 04 May 2012 11:20:28 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/macleod-trail-planning-study.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/macleod-trail-planning-study.html</link>
            <author>info@calgaryrealestate.pro (Carlos Montes)</author>
            <title>Macleod Trail Planning Study</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
The city has taken a new approach to transportation updates; they are asking the opinions of commuters to help make future updates as successful as possible. In terms of commuters this means drivers, pedestrians and cyclists as well. If you consistently use Macleod Tr. between 25 Ave. S and Anderson Rd there is an online survey you can complete to report your commuting experience to help the city see where the weak and strong points are of this vital traffic section. At this point in the process the city is completely wide open to suggestions they will use towards a decades old plan to update the Macleod Trail.


The 2009 Calgary Transportation Plan outlined the Macleod Trail as a high occupancy vehicle route and one of the primary travel zones of the city. Today, the transportation committee is interested in taking the 1968 Macleod Trail functional plan report and updates it with the information found from commuters today. Although there has been no funds earmarked for any construction projects in the near future it is quite common for studies such as this to be done as much as 30years before any actual action is taken. This online survey will hopefully outline the major problems within this high occupancy route and help make commuting through Calgary much easier.


Within the survey you will see questions such as:




What mode of transportation you use such as vehicle, bicycle, public transit, etc.


Would you like wider sidewalks?


On-street parking options?


Space for cyclists on the road?


Dedicated lanes for public transit?


Landscape needed?




This is just a quick sample of the different questions you will be asked on this online survey, each helping the transit committee see what the people who use the Macleod Trail are looking for. You will also have the ability to voice some of the more pertinent concerns such as traffic jams, the frequency of accidents on the road, the frequency of public transit and sharing the road with cyclists.


There is no doubt that the Macleod Trail is one of the most important commuter roads within the city of Calgary today and this opportunity to voice your opinion about your commuting experience may be able to benefit you greatly in the future. This survey is going to be launched April 30th and you will have a short 5 day window, until May 4th to complete this survey at www.calgary.ca/macleod.


The city anticipates a very high amount of response to this survey and the response from the public is exactly what they are looking for in order to devise a plan for future construction of the Macleod Trail.
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            <pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:06:54 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/bmo-canadian-real-estate-survey-released.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/bmo-canadian-real-estate-survey-released.html</link>
            <author>info@calgaryrealestate.pro (Carlos Montes)</author>
            <title>BMO Canadian Real Estate Survey Released</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
This past Thursday BMO released the results of an online survey conducted with a sample group of 1,000 home and condo owners throughout Canada. Whether you are interested in buying or selling your current residence the results of this survey may surprise you. 22% of Canadians said that they are more than willing to enter a bidding war when it comes to placing an offer on the home they want to buy. This stat includes Alberta, the Prairies and Ontario as the most likely to enter a bidding war; leaving out Quebec, BC and Atlantic Canada.


Now, of the home and condo owners who stated that would definitely enter a bidding war without question, half of them stated they would pay up to 110% of the asking price. A quarter of this same group stated they would go as far as paying 120% of the asking price in order to get the home of their dreams. If you are interested in seeing a further breakdown of the stats found within this survey here is a quick look at the breakdown of areas within the country willing to enter a bidding war for their home and mortgage:




Manitoba/Saskatchewan: 32%


Ontario: 28%


Alberta: 25%


B.C: 23%


Atlantic Canada: 13%


Quebec : 10%




Although Quebec had the lowest statistic in terms of entering a bidding war, they were first at 62% when it came to paying 100-110% of the asking price for the home. Alberta and British Columbia were next in line at 53%, Ontario at 51%, Manitoba at 48% and Atlantic Canada at 44%.


An even smaller percentage was documented stating that 27% of Canadians would be willing to pay 100-120% of the asking price. First in line with the highest percentage here is Atlantic Canada at 33%, Ontario and B.C at 30%, Quebec at 25% and Alberta at 17%.


As a buyer when reviewing these statistics, it is important to understand that many of the homes experiencing these bidding wars are actually already underpriced by at least 10%. The listing price does not always reflect the appraisal price and as a buyer understanding the difference is essential because this can affect the mortgage you need for the home you may have paid too much for. If the bank appraises your new home and finds it to be worth less than what you paid for it you may find yourself struggling with debt right from the beginning of your ownership.


Although bidding wars are being more and more publicized today they are not new in the Canadian real estate market. Don’t allow yourself to be caught up in a bidding war without having all the necessary information on the property. The average home sale within Canada today is $369,677. Experts say this price has modestly risen from last year except in Toronto and Vancouver. Vancouver’s overall sale prices have actually declined by 3% and Toronto’s have made a major jump up 11% higher than last year. 
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            <pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:31:07 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/redevelopment-plans-for-highland-golf-course.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/redevelopment-plans-for-highland-golf-course.html</link>
            <author>info@calgaryrealestate.pro (Carlos Montes)</author>
            <title>Redevelopment Plans for Highland Golf Course</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Colliers International is the high end real estate broker dealing with the newly listed Highland Golf Course; on sale with hopes of redevelopment. This 9-hole golf course has been a major focal point and draw-in for the Highland Park neighborhood for years and this spring has been the first year it has not opened for the season. The asking price for this unique piece of green land so close to the downtown area of Calgary is $11.5 million. Although residents close to the golf course are not happy about the sale, many admit that it was only a matter of time for a space of this size, so close to the inner city to become a developer’s dream.


The community association of Highland Park is keeping a close eye on how this sale develops. They’re hoping to ensure that any developer who purchases this property has intentions of sparing some greenery for the neighborhood; after all there is not a lot of green space in Highland Park to date. Shawnee Slopes was the first golf course to sell to a developer for redevelopment and the reaction was less than favorable. So far the community of Highland Park appears to not oppose this move but they do intend to be involved in the plans as they evolve. It has taken the developers of Shawnee Slopes nearly 3years to go from their initial purchase to the Calgary Planning Commission for approval.


Wayne Anderson one of the co-owners of the golf course with his brothers has stated that no final decisions have been made but several community oriented developers have approached them with serious interest. He has taken the time to state that any new development would likely incorporate much of the natural greenery that already exists as this is where Calgary neighborhoods have been heading towards for years, natural settings.


For residents who are worried about the Nose Creek tributary it has been reported that previous developing plans for this area left this waterway unburied and open to the public as a natural green space for leisure and activity. Because there are very few other golf courses within Calgary that are privately owned this is likely to be one of the last redevelopment opportunities of this kind. This in itself is definitely going to be a contributing factor to many of the city’s top developing firms.


As for the residents in the area many of the main concerns have been temporarily answered and the community association is definitely going to be keeping a close eye on future sales and potential development. Although a great golf course is now lost to the area there is a potential for bigger growth of Highland Park.
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            <pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:37:38 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/rate-hike-for-scotia-bank.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/rate-hike-for-scotia-bank.html</link>
            <author>info@calgaryrealestate.pro (Carlos Montes)</author>
            <title>Rate Hike for Scotia Bank</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Hello Everyone,


Just a quick update for you on Scotia Bank's rate hike. I've just been notified by our Mortgage Specialist that the 5 year fixed rate will be going up to 3.39% from 3.29%. While the change is not too substantial we would like to encourage anyone who is thinking about making a move to at least get a rate hold on the lower rate. Please feel free to email us at info@calgaryrealestate.pro to be contacted by our Mortgage Broker.


Thanks for your time and hope to hear from you soon!


Best Regards, Carlos Montes


 


 
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            <pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:48:12 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/fewer-listings-but-more-sales-in-calgarys-real-estate.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/fewer-listings-but-more-sales-in-calgarys-real-estate.html</link>
            <author>info@calgaryrealestate.pro (Carlos Montes)</author>
            <title>Fewer Listings but more Sales in Calgary’s Real Estate </title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Calgary’s real estate market has taken a unique turn this year, one few real estate professionals saw coming. There has been a significant increase in resales this year compared to the same months last year but listings seem to be decreasing creating this unique problem of not enough inventory. The Calgary Real Estate Board  is becoming concerned as to what type of effect multiple offers will have on the market. Although this is becoming a common occurrence, multiple offers can happen in any market when a property is priced correctly and/or is so unique it attracts an abundance of attention.


The president of the Real Estate Board in Calgary has stated that although the new listings hitting the market are attracting a great deal of attention that are still within the average price growth range from year to year rising 2.9% this March compared to March of last year which is quite average. At the same time Calgary has been experiencing a rapid decline in new listings hitting the market; an 8.3% decline in new listings from this past January to March. Take this latest statistic and combine it with the 10.3% rise in single family home resales and you can definitely see where the inventory problem is coming from.


There is no doubt this boost in real estate sales is closely related to the ever strengthening economy of the country and the close knit economy of Calgary itself. Consumers and citizens are becoming more comfortable in the area and confident in their investment into Calgary real estate today. In terms of the decline in listings there are most definitely still some people out there waiting for the market to crash unexpectedly and are just not ready to put their property on the market until a bit more time has passed.


In March of 2012 there were 2,167 sales in Calgary, resulting in a 12.6% increase from March of 2011. This is an amazing jump within one year and real estate professionals only expect this number to climb as we head into the warmer seasons and months of the year. If you are thinking of moving into the city now might be the right time as supply may continue to tighten throughout the year.
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            <pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:36:29 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/supply-and-demand-in-the-calgary-real-estate-market.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/supply-and-demand-in-the-calgary-real-estate-market.html</link>
            <author>info@calgaryrealestate.pro (Carlos Montes)</author>
            <title>Supply and Demand in the Calgary Real Estate Market</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Increasing sales in the Calgary real estate market have begun conflicting with the decrease in new homes listed on the market. The first quarter of this year has provided a lot of new information regarding the real estate market within Calgary, information that will help home owners like yourself decide whether it is the right time to buy or to sell. Although the sales to new listings ratio is actually up for last year, it is not quite as high as the demand requires it to be so far this year. Currently at 0.57% this ratio is up 15% from last year; very promising figure.


The Calgary Real Estate Board has reported that during this first quarter sales have reached 4,970 MLS sales for residential homes which is 7.32% higher than the year before. At the same time, new listings have dropped by 7.24% from last year but real estate professionals predict this number has the ability to recover itself as the year progresses. With the average price of homes sold today in the range of $416,679 it becomes clear that buyers are becoming more confident in the market.


There is some good news to this supply and demand problem. The Calgary Real Estate Board has announced that although the new listings are lower than last year, the rate of the decrease has leveled out, providing increased hope for a turn around. There are still many residents within the city of Calgary who are on the fence when it comes to putting their home on the market. As the market continues to strengthen with more sales, a booming economy and a growing population these new-listers will find their homes flying off the market faster than they ever would have thought.


As you can imagine, the lack of supply but the increase of buyers has led to multiple offers on some property. The decrease in new listings has resulted in 5,092 properties on the market compared to the 5,866 from last year. If you are currently interested in real estate within the city of Calgary you will have some competition on your hands in terms of finding your dream home.
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            <pubDate>Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:36:39 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/boom-in-calgary-real-estate-market.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestate.pro/blog/boom-in-calgary-real-estate-market.html</link>
            <author>info@calgaryrealestate.pro (Carlos Montes)</author>
            <title>Boom in Calgary Real Estate Market</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
March of 2012 displayed a massive boom in the real estate market within Calgary, 12.63% higher sales value than the same month only one year ago. Single family homes seem to be leading this newly developed surge but this is not a trend sure to fade; this real estate activity is only going to continue to grow and if you’re interested in moving to Calgary or purchasing real estate there this is an article you should read. Not only is it important to note here that the overall residential sales are up for March, 2012 but also the selling price is up 3.69% to $422,000 on average. Now you may be wondering what is causing this recent surge and when this bubble may pop, allow us to go into detail for you.


First, real estate professionals are certainly not acknowledging this MLS sale surge to be related to any sort of bubble. There are many realistic contributing factors that have made the Calgary market so desirable and therefore worth the risk. Single family homes are the hot commodity right now and they are leading the boom with a 17% spike in sales in comparison to this same time last year. Representatives from Remax have taken the time to speak out regarding this surge. They want to reassure people that this is not a bubble ready to burst; it is steady progress in the right direction.


Calgary has a great deal to offer in terms of land opportunities, employment opportunities, higher salaries than any other major city in the province and the ability to own a home that is only going to increase in value over time. All of these factors are contributing to the new surge in real estate and of course a mild winter only means potential buyers started out looking earlier in the season than usual. There is expected to be another 20,000 jobs coming to Calgary within the natural energy field and as more and more jobs become available Calgary does have the land requirements to fulfill the housing needs of its expanding economy.


Of course we can’t forget to mention the incredibly low mortgage rates. For many first time buyers it simply doesn’t make sense to rent when you can so easily afford to buy your first home and as stated above sit on a long term investment in a city where real estate is consistently appreciating. If you aren’t interested in single family homes, Calgary has also seen a significant rise in condo apartment sales as well as condo townhouse sales. Apartment sales have risen by 7% and townhouse sales by 5%. In a single year each of these are impressive figures not to be scoffed at.


There is no doubt that the Calgary real estate market is steadily and confidently moving in the right direction. As buyers continue to see this as well as the opportunities within the city, this will only continue to grow; make sure you’re apart of this growth!
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            <pubDate>Sun, 08 Apr 2012 11:04:09 -0600</pubDate>
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