Calgary Real Estate Blog - Calgary Home Buyers Blog

Picking paint colours

Paint can make or break a room and if you are like most people you might be nervous about your paint selections. Picking the right colour is an extremely daunting task especially when you get to the paint store (We frequently have used and recommend Cloverdale in Calgary) and discover that ‘white’ or ‘grey’ have 100s of shades each. Just remember it is worth it!! The right execution can elevate a space from small, dingy and rough to clean, bright and fresh for a very minimal cost. Paint is probably the best investment you can make when getting ready to sell your home. Here are a few steps to make choosing the right colour less stressful, help with the process and ensure if you do make a mistake it keeps the time and costs to a minimum. 

Keep reading…

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Calgary Real Estate Statistics November 2021

November 2021 Calgary Real Estate Statistics Recap

Back in September sales were STRONG and they're continuing to be red hot, the city of Calgary and surrounding areas markets continue to stay hot and in demand, with inventory continuing to battle the fast paced sales on the market.  

In November we saw over 2,000 sales across all property types, this is just shy of the previous record which was set in 2005. While some economists believe this to be driven by what's believed to be impending interest rate increases, the truth is, we really can't say for certain that this is the leading cause. Our country continues to open up for immigration, major cities in provinces like Ontario and British Columbia continue to demand housing prices and costs that are…

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Top Subreddits for home owners

Whether you love DIY projects, need some advice from other home owners, or are in need of some advice for various subjects like home automation, home audio, or your basics like plumbing and electrical, the community of Reddit has you covered! 

In our latest blog, we're breaking down the top subreddits for home owners in Calgary! But. Before we begin, for those who may not be 'Redditors' we'll give you the quick low down on the lingo. 

What is Reddit? 
Reddit is one of the most popular social media platforms on the internet. It is a site that has an immense amount of content.

What is a Subreddit?
A subreddit is an internet forum that has specific topics that need to be discussed. They are usually moderated by a team of volunteer users who try to keep it…

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The 15 Biggest Renovation Mistakes New Homeowners Make

You’ve done it! You saved your money, spoke to your investment analyst (multiple times!), signed a mortgage, and bought the perfect home. The next step is moving into your dream home to personalize it and make it feel like your own special space.

The issue is knowing whether to start with a big house renovation or to simply redecorate. Remodelling a home requires many design skills that not everybody has. We came up with a list of important factors that design and renovations experts want new home-owners to consider before diving into a total house remodel.  

1. Not budgeting enough funds towards the renovation plans

When starting to plan for your new and improved home, many people can envision their renovations designs in their mind, but often…

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7 MOVING DAY MISTAKES TO AVOID

After countless hours of house searching, viewing and signing all the papers, the day is almost here—moving day! Finding your dream home can feel like a rush, so when it comes time to finally move into it, a few key things may be forgotten about. And let’s be real, moving isn’t fun for anyone. Luckily, you’ve got us to make sure the transition into your new home is easy and stress-free.

Here are the top seven moving day mistakes we see and how you can avoid them: 

1. Not downsizing before moving day

If you’re sitting here thinking that you don’t have that much stuff, then sure, we’ll believe you. But take it from us when we say people typically own more than they think they do. Chances are, all the items in that drawer you never open will just…

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Buying a House VS. Condo in Calgary

If you are in the market for a new home, it can be difficult to decide exactly what type of home you want to buy. In Calgary, the most popular options for many  is buying a single family home, or a condo. Each option has benefits and drawbacks depending on what your needs and desires are.  

Depending on where you are at in your life and what your needs are will determine which option is the better fit for you. Buying a home is a big expense, so it is always useful to look at the pros and cons of buying a condo compared to a house.

Let’s explore the difference between a condo vs house and you can decide which is the best option for you.

Section 1: Why Should I Buy A Condo?

Is A Condo A Good First Home?

If you are looking to purchase your…

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Calgary Real Estate Statistics September 2021

September 2021 Calgary Real Estate Statistics Recap

The headline for September real estate in Calgary? SALES REMAIN STRONG. 

The record for sales in September was set back in 2005 when Calgary witnessed some of it's most significant increases in value in the housing market. This month nearly reached this total with a combined (all property types) of 2,162 sales! This represents a year of year increase of over 26.7%. 

Chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie of the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®) said “While sales activity in the fall tends to be slower than in the spring months, the continued strong sales are likely being driven by consumers who were unable to transact earlier in the year when supply levels had not yet adjusted to demand,” 

Right now…

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What is a purchase plus improvements mortgage?

Purchase plus improvements introduction

Purchasing a previously owned home, that hasn’t been recently renovated, can mean that the new owners want to put some work into freshening things up.  Home renovations have been very popular this year as Canadians moved to larger homes and set themselves up for move favourable work from home situations.

Many of our client’s who utilize our partners at Spire Mortgage's use what’s called a, “purchase plus improvements” mortgage to help make sure that they were borrowing the cost of the renovations at the very best rate.  Purchase plus improvements mortgages can be a super useful tool for clients but they come with a little bit of fine print as well.  Let’s take a quick look at the pro’s and cons. 

Pros of a…

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10 Things I Wish My REALTOR® Would Have Told Me

Not all home-buying and selling experiences go as smoothly as they do on HGTV. We've definitely heard of some cases where home buyers are left with questions, concerns and regrets. To help you with this exciting time in your life, our social media team polled previous home buyers online to find out the top ten things Albertans wish their REALTORS® had told them, so you can feel better prepared and ready for this next step.

Not everything comes with the house

“One of my friends bought a multi-million-dollar home and when they arrived on possession day, they found out the previous owners took all of the appliances. Apparently, it was missed in the contract!” – Haleigh 

“Confirm whether every single item that's unattached to the home is staying or…

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Things To Do When Moving Into A New House

It’s totally understandable to be excited if you’re moving into a new house. However, take a moment to think about what to do before moving into a new house. For your own safety, security and  peace of mind, it’s well worth taking care of a few things before you start your move.

Here’s a list of things to do when moving into a new house:

1. Get to know your circuit breaker box and main water valve

When the power goes out or you blow a fuse, you’ll want to know which breakers correspond to what areas in your home. You can test this by having one person stand at the breaker box and the other checking to see if turning circuit breakers on or off changes anything throughout the house. 

You’ll also want to know where your main water valve is if you…

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