Once we put your home on the market and set our sellers marketing system into action, you’re going to start receiving showing requests on your home. You probably know the drill, you likely did the same thing when you purchased the house. REALTORS® and our team, with active home buyers will connect with your agent to book a showing of your house with their clients, and that could end up keeping you on your toes. Many of our sellers still have to juggle the everyday tasks of life and showings to view your house can be unpredictable. If you have children or pets, it is likely to become a harder job to maintain your home in pristine show ready condition, than you may have anticipated. 

However, there are always ways to…

When you’re asking your friends, family and colleagues about their recent home purchase and their mortgage experience, often the conversation starts  and ends with “what’s your mortgage rate?’ 

Here is the truth, when you’re shopping for a mortgage, the rate is a super important piece of the conversation, but it shouldn’t be the only piece of the conversation. We sat down the Renee Huse at Spire Mortgage one of our key impact partners and got the low down on the important questions you should ask your mortgage broker if you’re planning to get a mortgage.

7 things to ask your Mortgage Broker if you’re getting a mortgage in Calgary

1.    What is the down payment requirement for this mortgage rate? 

Reminder, mortgage rates…

If you feel like the views of your walls are getting old, or that they are starting to close in around you, it might be time to get outside and experience Alberta's great wilderness, and if your family is new to hiking, you've found the right spot! 

Grassi Lakes

First up on our list is one of the most popular hikes and it's located in Canmore! This beautiful trail path is well maintained and heavily traversed making it easy for families of all ages to take on (stroller friendly when the snows melted) and if you've ever been on a good hike, you know one of the most rewarding feelings is getting to your destination and experiencing the views and sights to see! The Grassi Lakes trail will not disappoint! Once at the top, you'll find…

Buying a home is certainly a dream come true for many Calgarian's. But for many young first time home buyers it's often their first run at tackling the maintenance that comes with home ownership. In Canada, as of 2019, about 50% of the surveyed homeowners spent up to $2000 dollars on house maintenance, and roughly 5% spent over $20,000 dollars on renovations and fixes. 

While many readers may not be jumping into major renovation projects, or always going the DIY route, there are still tons of scenarios and situations where being a little handy can go a long way in saving you time and money.

Ten Tools We Recommend

1. Stop. Hammer... Time! 
2. Measuring Tape
3. Screwdriver Set
4. Pliers
5. Stud Finder
6. Utility Knife
7. Hex /…

In todays times where technology has become a normal and accepted part of our lives, a logical progression is the adoption of using it for more and more purposes around our homes.

Reports online indicate that over 47% of US millennials do have a smart device for their homes, which sheds some light on how the smart home market is on the rise. The introduction of smart technology has really changed how we spend our lives around the house – and to some, makes it better and more productive.

In this article, we’ll be discussing some popular smart technology options that could prove beneficial in your resale if you have them in your home. 

1. Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats let you control HVAC components like your air…

Cozy winter nights, sweet Christmas treats, and the aroma of a beautiful wood burning fire place describe some of our favorite moments in the winter season. While there are many Calgary home owners who prefer gas fireplaces (for convenience) to natural wood burning, it’s still hard to match the rustic and natural feel of a wood burning fireplace. 

There are many choices for firewood for homes, such as hardwoods or softwoods, fruits or nuts, and heat energy limit, high smoke or less smokey, and even the color of fire. Different firewood will bring out specific aroma, heat, smoke, and will have shorter or longer burning times. 

If you live in Canada, it’s difficult not to have your fireplace running throughout the winter season, we’ve got a…

 The question many homebuyers ask is whether they should get a newly constructed building or a resale property. Today we're digging into buyers who are seeking a new build home for sale in Calgary.

Buying a new house can be quite the experience for home buyers and is often described by many of our buyers early on as "nerve-racking". You want the best, you want to work with a trusted builder, and you want a good deal as well, right?

Below are a few things you should know when purchasing new construction in Calgary, there are both advantages and disadvantages of buying new homes and we unwrap these in detail below starting with the benefits.

Advantages of buying a newly constructed home

Customization is almost…

Oftentimes, as we move through the mortgage pre approval process with our clients, they end up confused about their credit score.  They check the score themselves using one of their banking apps or Credit Karma and the score reads 780, but when we pull their beacon score, they are so frustrated that often their score is lower.

Here are the straight goods:  Every credit information provider has a different algorithm for calculating credit scores.  They all scrape information from the internet in different ways and they all come up with a different number in the end.  It’s also super important to remember that credit scores fluctuate monthly.  My personal credit score can land between 750 and 850 depending on the month.  If I’ve had…

Buying a home can feel like an epic adventure, full of ups and downs. From working with a real estate agent to viewing Calgary homes for sale to organizing open houses, it can be stressful. 

So, when closing day approaches, buyers are overjoyed and relieved that part of the journey is over. However, while finding the home of your dreams and closing the sale are major accomplishments, before you crack open the bubbly, you'll need to pay some administrative fees, otherwise known as closing costs.

What are closing costs in Alberta? Our experts will explain.

Closing Costs: The Breakdown

Closing costs are fees or expenses that the buyer owes before or on closing day. Homebuyers should budget 1.5%-4% of the property's purchase price in…

One of Calgary's most popular destinations, Kensington features a large collection of trendy businesses including boutique shops, incredible restaurants, pubs with outdoor patios, some great coffee spots, very similar to Inglewood with it's own style and flavour. 

~ Image Description: Much like every other trendy and emerging neighbourhood in North America, Kensington features some incredible street art. ~

Our neighbourhood guide is built to give you an idea of this revitalization zone, which primarily runs along 10th Street Northwest and throughout Kensington Road. 

Kensington Neighbourhood Guide

1. Kensington Introduction
2. Real Estate in Kensington
3. Lifestyle and Living in Kensington
4. Schools in Kensington
5. Events in Kensington
…