Unemployment impacting housing activity Click here to view the full monthly stats package. Home prices declined further in March as economic conditions weigh on Calgary’s housing market.  Calgary’s benchmark price totaled $442,800 in March, a 0.49 per cent decline over February and 3.51 per cent lower than levels recorded last year. “With no improvement in the labour market, it’s no sur ...

Getting ready to sell your home?  You need to take a few minutes to read my top tips for Home Sellers!1.  A clean home always shows better than one that is dirty or cluttered.2.  Price your house for the market in which you are selling.3.  Attending to small repairs will pay off.  Anything you try to hide will come out during the home inspection. 4.  Make sure you can say “yes!” to as many ...

First-time home Buyers typically share one common worry:  will they be able to afford their own home?  Of all the worries I encounter when helping a Buyer, this is often the easiest to address!  One of the great things about the home buying process is that it is unlikely you will be able to finance a home that you truly cannot afford. Addressing a Buyer’s financial concerns is usually a fa ...

With the weather we have been having this winter, you do not need to go far to enjoy some sunshine!  If you are staying around town this March break, there is plenty to keep your kids busy.  These are some of my top tips for things to do this March Break. Devonian Gardens Butterfield Acres Easter Egg Hunt Spring Break Escape at Participating Chapters/Indigo locations Inglewood Bird Sanc ...

In this day and age of global connectivity, many people are looking to connect locally within their own communities.  One of the best ways to do this is by shopping local.  Accessing the stores and services within your neighbourhood has many benefits beyond supporting the local economy. Get to know your neighbours When you are accessing local home based businesses or retail stores then yo ...

Monthly prices decline for fifth consecutive month. Click here to view the full monthly stats package. February sales totaled 1,127 units in Calgary, a 6.63 per cent drop over last year and 37 per cent lower than long-term averages for the month. City wide unadjusted benchmark prices totaled $445,000 in February, a 0.63 per cent decline over January and 3.45 per cent lower than levels reco ...

Normally, there is snow during a Calgary winter (not this year, apparently!).  When you are buying a home that is covered in snow, there is a risk that you will not be able to identify potential deficiencies.  Here is a list of issues that could be covered up by snow and what you can do about it. Leaking Water can penetrate your home from multiple points of entry including windows, the ro ...

Times are tough for many families in Calgary and the surrounding areas.  When faced with job loss or job insecurity, many homeowners wonder what will happen if they can no longer afford their mortgage payments.  There is no one size fits all solution for this situation since everyone’s circumstances are unique.  The best advice I can give to anyone facing this reality is to contact a truste ...

If you own a home in Calgary, you should have received your annual property assessment notice by now.  Your annual property assessment notice is not a tax bill; it is simply the assessed value of your property.  Your annual property tax bill is based on this assessed amount.  I often receive questions about this process from new and veteran homeowners.  Here are a few of the most frequently ...