If you have always dreamed of wide open spaces and country living, then buying an acreage or rural property might be a great choice for you!  Out of town properties have different features and potential challenges that you need to know about before you make the decision to buy.  Here are a few questions you should ask your Realtor before making an offer on your rural dream home. How is the w ...

Sometimes, size does matter and this is especially true when buying or selling a home.  Size is one of the factors taken into consideration when determining the value of a home.  Accurate measurements are critical.  In order to ensure that measurements are standardized, Alberta Realtors are required to use the Residential Measurement Standard (RMS).  The RMS is important because -          I ...

Selling This Fall? Court Millennials and Empty-Nesters If you’re planning on putting your house on the market this fall, be aware that people at different stages of life enter the market at different times of the year. For example, the lively spring real estate season thrives on families wishing to relocate while their kids are on break from school. Home sales in autumn, however, are drive ...

Growth in new listings outpaced sales preventing inventory declines  Sales posted a modest gain in August, but a rise in new listings kept inventory levels elevated.    Inventories totaled 6,624 units, where over half were comprised of attached and apartment style properties. While inventories were 16 per cent higher than August 2016 levels, the slight rise in sales prevented further gains ...

The community of Royal Oak, located in NW Calgary, has grown into a lovely and amenity rich area.  This neighbourhood is easily accessible via Country Hills Boulevard, Stoney Trail, and Crowchild Trail.  It is the perfect community for people who enjoy Calgary during the week and want to venture west to the mountains on the weekend!  In minutes, you can be on the open highway headed towards a ...

CREB® forecasts a process of recovery for the remainder of 2017 The first-half of 2017 marked a shift in Alberta's economy from recession to recovery, with conditions supporting stability rather than expansion. "Economic challenges continue to exist, as high unemployment rates, weak migration levels and more stringent lending conditions are weighing on the housing market," said CREB® chief ...

I recently had the pleasure of working with a Buyer who bought a house in Calgary without setting foot in the city!  While this is not a typical Buyer experience, it does happen and there are a few things you can do to make sure the process is smooth and that you end up with a house you love. Narrow your criteria When house hunting from a distance, you will have the most success if you have ...

One of the first things homeowners notice when they move into a new home is the lingering odour of the previous owners.  Regardless of how well a home is maintained, there will almost always be a smell.  The previous homeowners were likely nose blind to the odour, just like you are to the smell in your home.  Here are some tips to help eliminate lingering odours so you can help your new house ...

Housing recovery remains a work-in-progress Market sees modest inventory gains, but overall prices inch up Sales exhibited stable growth through the first half of the year in the Calgary housing market, but the number of transactions slowed slightly in July compared to last year.  City-wide sales totaled 1,637 units, six per cent below July 2016 levels. Year-to-date sales activity totale ...

More Interest Rate Hikes Expected? The Bank of Canada has raised its key interest rate as expected to 0.75 per cent — the central bank’s first move upward in the cost of borrowing in seven years. The bank’s target for the overnight rate—at which major financial institutions make one-day loans to each other—moved up by one-quarter of a percentage point from 0.50 per cent. The move means c ...