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 ...

The residential real estate market is Calgary is currently in a phase commonly known as a Buyer’s Market.  Like all businesses, real estate markets ebb and flow.  The ebbs and flows of the real estate market are heavily influenced by factors such as interest rates, the local economy, and government policies.  The last few years in Calgary have been characterized by a high demand for housing ...

Slow sales activity and inventory gains place downward pressure on prices Click here to view the full monthly stats package.   Calgary’s housing market is starting 2016 firmly in buyers’ market territory, much the same as last year ended.    “The recent slide in energy prices has raised concerns about near-term recovery prospects for the city,” said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie. ...

For many homeowners, renting out a legal suite is a great way to earn additional income.  Check out my best tips on how to get the most out of your legal suite! Sign a lease It does not matter if your new tenant is family, friend, or foe:  make absolutely certain that you have a legally binding lease agreement.  This can help to avoid misunderstandings around issues such as rent payments, ...

With no economic change on the horizon, demand for housing in Calgary will be weak in 2016, as sales activity is expected to fall by 2.2 per cent to 18,416 units, CREB® said today in its annual forecast. The annualized benchmark price is expected to decline by 3.44 per cent to $438,652.Weak demand and supply gains are expected in 2016, adding to an already elevated level of inventory. In this ...

In a perfect world, all your monthly expenses would be static and you would never be caught off guard by unexpected costs and bills.  Unfortunately, hidden costs and surprise out of pocket expenses are a reality for every single homeowner.  While it would be nearly impossible to list every potential cost associated with home ownership, I have put together a list of a few that you might not ...

Saving money to put towards your first home does not mean you have to sacrifice all your favourite luxuries.  It is possible to save money, spoil yourself a little, and continue to do the things you love.  One way to save money is to buy things at a lower cost (obviously) and then save the difference.  That second step is critical and it is the step that most people forget about.  Check out ...

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Elevated supply levels placed downward pressure on prices in December Click here to view the full monthly stats package. With the focus shifting toward the holiday season, December sales activity slowed to 878 units in the city, 18 per cent below last year at this time and well below the five and 10-year averages. As a result, the unadjusted benchmark price dipped to $448,800, a 0.42 per c ...

Forget dieting or heading to the gym.  This year, try something different and set a few New Year’s resolutions for your home.  For many of us, our home is one of our biggest investments and it makes sense to protect that investment.  Here are some resolutions to consider for the upcoming year.  Safety first This year, resolve to make safety a priority.  Check and replace batteries in your ...