Our Calgary Realtor® Blog

We try to keep on top on local trends and reports for our clients (as much as our real estate business allows).  If you’d like to comment on any of these postings, please feel free to either phone us directly on (403) 619-6864 or send us an e-mail at realtors@showmeproperty.net.

Daniel Kepka and Marlene Alcon
 

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Friday, February 5, 2010 - Calgary Home Sales for January 2010 Much Improved Over January 2009

Home prices and sales in the Calgary real estate market continued to rise in January, even with the slightly lower start to the year. The city is expecting the still low mortgage rates and affordable home prices to keep sales at a healthy pace at least through the first part of the year.  Calgary is still attracting job seekers, creating more sales opportunities.
Compared to last year’s dismal predictions, this is indeed a pleasant forecast.

Once the economic recovery is on firmer footing, the Bank of Canada is expected to increase the record low interest rates.  This might further generate sales during the first part of the year as buyers try to get in under the mortgage rate wire. Depending on how high the hike is, sales in the second half of the year could be affected.

The Calgary Real Estate Board predicts a 6 percent increase in single family home prices, averaging $470,000 per unit.  Condos are expected to increase by just over 4 percent to an average of $296,000.  Single family home prices are up 7 percent from last January and condo prices have increased by 4 percent for the same time period.  Both housing products were down slightly, roughly 2 percent from the December 2009 average prices.

Single family home sales increased by 39 percent from January 2009 and condo sales jumped an impressive 67 percent over last year. Listings are steadily increasing, giving those buyers looking for property more choice and keeping price points on those listings steady.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Tuesday, January 26, 2010 - Calgary Homes and whats' next

Christmas and the New Year like usual were a slow time in Real Estate for Calgary and Canada as a whole. Average pricing went down for the first time in many months and inventory is low. Is this a sign of things to come? Not at all. Calgary like other places in Canada always slow down in December and even January. Home sales languish and inventory drops.

Do not fret fellow Real Estate buyers and sellers. Spring is around the corner. On average spring is the time of year where Real Estate takes off again after the winter slumber. Look for a good increase in prices and a pick up in inventory. So if you're buying do it NOW. If you're selling then list in a couple weeks to get the most bang for your buck. But only if you're not buying. Why? Well if you buy AND sell then the market does not affect you as you are the seller AND the buyer.

So I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year. Whether you will be a client or not. Hopefully we will see you in the Calgary Real Estate arena soon.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Monday, January 18, 2010 - Calgary’s Commercial Real Estate Market Still Struggling as Vacancy Levels Climb

Calgary’s residential real estate market may be in a healthy state, but the business lease division is still struggling.  At the end of 2009 the vacancy rate of offices in Calgary was 15.7 per cent.  In September that figure was 13.1 percent. The report, compiled by CB Richard Ellis and Avison Young (both commercial real estate firms) listed Calgary as having the highest vacancy rate of the 10 cities surveyed.  This means that it is still a renters market, with substantial rent cuts and incentives expected to continue through 2010.

The downturn in the economy is the major factor in the downfall but the fact that new inventory continues to be added to the lease market doesn’t help. Sublet properties are not helping either.  Predictions are that vacancy rates could hit between 16 and 18 percent by the end of 2010.

No less than 19 buildings offering roughly seven million more square feet of rental space are under construction. Though rental rates have decreased by 50 percent since the high water mark in 2007, per square rental rates in Calgary are the highest in the 10 cities surveyed.  Prime class A rental space will cost you $24.85 per square foot.

Industrial rental rates, highly influenced by the economic downturn in the energy industry have taken a hit as well, though not quite as substantial.  At the end of 2009’s third quarter, the vacancy rate was at 5.2 percent compared to 3.8 percent at 2008’s year end. The prediction is for the vacancy rate to top 7.5 percent by the end off 2010’s fourth quarter.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Monday, January 11, 2010 - Home Prices Continue to Rise Across Canada

According to a report released Wednesday, the country's real estate market has continued its recovery as resale home prices rose for the sixth consecutive month in October.  Calgary saw the largest rise, with prices rising nearly a whole percent from the previous month's figures.

The resale house price index of Teranet-National Bank for all major markets rose 1.27% during October.  Year-over-year figures were up over a half percent, first rise in nearly ten months.

Home prices have risen one percent or greater each of the past five months.  Toronto and Vancouver saw modest monthly gains, with each city's home prices up one and a half percent.

Although prices continue to push higher, the average price of a home in Vancouver is still more than 4% lower than its peak in June 2008.  Prices in Calgary are still down nearly 11% since the peak in 2007.

Economics strategist, Millan Mulraine, says that rise is not entirely surprising, and it represents a sharp uptick in housing sales activity.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Monday, December 14, 2009 - Local Canadians Chosen to Carry Olympic Torch

Remi Christianson recently participated in the epic cross-country Olympic torch relay in Canada, and her three children were the in Bedeque, P.E.I. to see their mom carry the torch.  She is one of twelve thousand Canadians that was selected to carry the symbolic flame.

The Olympic Flame reached the the soil of Prince Edward Island on November 21, and the procession relay made its way through the province.  Even Chinese speed skater Yang Yang and Olympian Heather Moyse carried the torch through Canada.

Christianson proclaimed that it was an honour to carry the torch.  People were cheering her on like she was an Olympian.  She only ran for three minutes with the torch, but she says its three minutes of her life that she will never forget.  It was a great experience all around, and even more of a special event because her children were able to witness her carry the Olympic Flame.

The participants in the relay were chosen by Coca-Cola, The Royal Bank of Canada, VANOC, and the Olympic organizing committee.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Wednesday, December 9, 2009 - Suncor’s New Project Creates Almost 400 New Jobs

Calgary-based Flint Energy recently announced that Suncor’s Firebag 3 project will create over 380 new jobs for workers at its Service’s Sherwood Park modular fabrication facility.  Suncor and Flint released a new release stating that work on the project is underway and should be completed by the middle of 2010.

It is great news for the region because the new jobs will bring needed revenue to the area, not to mention, the project should also present future opportunities for Flint workers, who have become a prime choice for Suncor’s projects.

Suncor just announced that it plans to spend over $900 million to resume construction on the Firebag project.  When the site in complete, it is expected to generate over 68,000 barrels of crude oil daily by mid-2011.

The new commitment from Suncor is a solid sign that there is corporate interest in developing Canada’s oil sands, and UTS Energy recently announced that it has sold half of its stake in three oil sands leases to ExxonMobil and Imperial Oil for almost $250 million. 

UTS explains that the sale is part of its strategy for generating revenue organically through reserves and by finding new sources of oil sands.  They also believes the sale of its leases demonstrates the strength in the market value of its other projects such as the Equinox and Frontier projects.
 

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Thursday, November 26, 2009 - Bill 50 Controversy

Bill 50 is at the center of a political debate over whether the $5.6 billion electricity transmission project is as critical as the Stelmach government claims.  They are trying to fast track the plan without hold the standard public hearings.  Bill 50 actually calls for the elimination of the legal requirement for holing public hearings about such planned projects.

Energy Minister Mel Knight claims that the government has already addressed the public concerns about the project, and they have decided that the project must be completed.  He explains that the government’s plan allows the projects to be built in stages to only create enough supply to meet demand.

The bill has met harsh opposition from the Liberals, NDP and Wildrose Alliance, who have all joined in protesting the bill, and they claim the necessity for the planned projects are grossly exaggerated.  They are calling for an independent assessment of the seriousness of the problem and what levels of construction need to be taken.  The Stelmach government’s decision is biased because they stand to profit extremely from the project.

Landowners feel like their rights are being violated.  Albertans as a whole feel like the project is not in the public’s best interest.  An energy consulting firm recently reviewed the AESO’s plan, and they do not believe the AESO has taken sufficient steps to prove that the project is needed.

There are over $6.5 billion in new projects proposed in Bill 50, and the cost of the bill would raise every citizen’s utility bill by $100 each year.  Opposition parties also argue that the money is needed to be used elsewhere, for more important projects.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Wednesday, November 18, 2009 - 5 tips for smartly acquiring real estate

Harsimran Singh wrote a book called A to Z of Foreclosures. He provides tips that can help real estate brokers and agents and individuals who are selling or buying their homes. These tips include investment strategies which can help make you money if followed properly. They include the following:

1. Remove speculation and stay with the facts. If your profit margin is not at least twenty percent on the day you purchase your home then you should reconsider making that purchase. It is not impossible to find this type of opportunity and it is well worth the effort of looking.

2. Make sure to understand Section 8 rules, regulations and requirements and that the property you will be purchasing will qualify for Section 8 rental subsidies. The regulations of Section 8 relay the number of bedrooms along with the size of the rooms for the level of rent. Not all homes actually qualify for Section 8 so you should contact your local public housing authority to determine whether the home you want to purchase qualifies for Section 8 or not. If not then you may want to reconsider your options.

3. Obtain advice from several real estate brokers and research the best available options. Each real estate broker has different homes listed for sales. They all include varying information on their listings and have differing opinions on the local areas and markets. Take your time and spend a minimum of one day with each real estate broker to understand their prospective of the local housing market. They will also give you better insight into the schools, taxes, shopping centers and real estate prices in the area. Real estate agents and brokers are a great resource to use when determining which area is suitable for your needs.

4. If you do not have the money to purchase an investment home then locate a partner or investor. If you can find a partner who can put a down payment on a home, then you resale that property at a higher price than originally purchased you can pay back the partner and make money on the property. If you can find the homes to purchase at very low costs you can also find partners willing to put up the money for you to make money on their investment once it is sold. You both win and will make a profit.

5. The best opportunities are most often found in low income neighborhoods. You can make money in these situations because in most cases the rent is paid by the government and not by the tenant. The landlord does not have to pursue the tenant for the rent due but instead it will be provided by government subsidies.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Friday, November 6, 2009 - How to Work With Your Renovator

It is important that when you are sitting down with the person who will be renovating your home that you both are on the same page. The last thing that you want is to have a renovator that thinks you said to remove a wall when you said you wanted to add mud room to your home. This article will help you in knowing what to be prepared for when dealing with your renovator.

Start By Defining What Exactly You Want And Don’t Want - You will want to start by making a list of the things that you like about your home and the things that you don’t like about it. It’s important that everyone agrees with what is on the list. You may hate the way the kitchen looks but the rest of the family loves the design. These questions are ones that you need to keep in mind when deciding on what you are going to do. This will help your contractor greatly in knowing what it is that you are wanting to do to the house.

Be An Informed Homeowner - It is a fact of life that there will be intrusions into your daily life along with a mess. There is no way that this will be able to be avoided no matter how hard you try. You will need to open your home up to the contractor, work around their schedule. Many contractors schedules will not fit up exactly with your schedule. You may want to plan to have dinners out a few times each week to help get you out of the house away from the craziness that is going on. Remember the more you accommodate the contractor the quicker they will be out of your hair.

Be A Good Communicator - This is a must for you to be able to communicate effectively with the contractor. Make sure that you are in the loop and know what all is going on with your renovation. One great idea would be to have a calendar that will show the rest of the family what is going on in the house any particular day.

Plan To Spend More Than You Thought - If you have a planned budget for your renovation, it is a great idea that you add about 20% to this total in order to accommodate things that come up all of sudden. This is just a simple fact that you will have to deal with as you go through the renovation.

Check Your Contractor’s References When Hiring Someone You Don’t Know - If you are using a friend of a friend or just using a contractor that you are not familiar with then you will want to make sure that you get references and make sure that you check the contractor out throughly before any work is started or money is exchanged.

These are just five tips that will make the renovating of your home a little bit easier. If you follow these tips then you have no problem with your renovations.
 

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Monday, November 2, 2009 - Alberta Realtors Want Drug House Guidelines

Alberta realtors are making it known to the local government that something has to be done about marijuana growth operations and meth laboratories. They are proposing that new guidelines be adopted for cleaning up the houses that are used for these purposes.

A report was released by the Alberta Real Estate Association from Karen Rollins, a consultant who specializes in indoor air quality; and Tang Lee, a University of Calgary professor of architecture studies. The body of people instructed the pair to come up with a set of standards to govern these types of operations.

The Director of Industry and Government Relations for the Alberta Real Estate Association, Bill Fowler, announced that there are no principles or standards in place at present for air quality when there are houses being used for drug operations returning to the marketplace for credible homebuyers to acquire. Mr. Fowler reportedly has said that whenever there are drugged operation bust conducted, the utility issues such as plumbing, electrical, heating and overall building structures can be easily corrected because the code requirements established. He went onto say that the bigger issue is the presence of mould, air remediation and quality.

Whenever the growth of pot plants or cooking of meth is conducted by drug criminals they usually leave behind a potentially harmful disarray of moulds that are toxic in nature, chemicals and illegal changes to various systems such as the wiring, venting and plumbing systems plus the structural integrity is compromised. Karen Rollins went on record to say that the mould issue is basically because the raised temperatures and creation of more humidity from growth operations and the conditions for growth are intensified.

Since the forming of the special task force Green Team, made up of Edmonton Police Service and RCMP there have been over 500 growth operations dismantled throughout the city of Alberta, based on a study conducted by the Edmonton Police Service. According to Fowler, there are an estimated 100 operations of drug activity put out of action annually.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Monday, October 19, 2009 - Calgary Prevails Over Alberta in Home Sales for September

Calgary powered ahead of all other cities in Alberta in home sales during September. Up 12.4 percent since last year, some 2,255 residences were sold in Calgary, with an average price of $394,835. The average sale price climbed 1.1 percent over 2008. With current new listings of 3,478 homes declining 26.1 percent versus last year, the result could be a drive toward price increases.

September sales for Edmonton registered a modest decline of 1.4 percent, with 1,704 residences having sold. A price increase of 0.7 percent to $327,235 was recorded.

The month of September was particularly robust for residential realty. Sales transactions in Vancouver soared 124 percent versus a year ago, and sales in Victoria for the same period escalated 50 percent. A 20 percent increase in sales was seen nationally versus September 2008, and prices rose by 18 percent.

Dale Ripplinger, president of the Canadian Real Estate Association, noted that low interest rates, as well as improving economic conditions, are supporting the home-buying surge.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Tuesday, October 13, 2009 - Calgary’s Healthy Home Market

In a surprising turn of events, the housing market in Alberta seems to be flourishing during the current recession. Even though Alberta has had the highest numbers of job losses in Canada, those losses have affected less than 10% of the total population. The majority of the province has seen the reduced home prices and low interest rates as an opportunity for home ownership.

The Calgary Real Estate board released some impressive figures a week ago. The increase in single family home sales came in at 9.1% and condo sales were up an amazing 24.7%. Calgary’s residential MLS sales have increased over those of last year for five consecutive months.

Economists were for the most part surprised at the sudden turn around in the housing market. The weakened economy was not considered a healthy climate for house hunting or buying.

The resale home market in Calgary is now considered to be balanced according to the Calgary Real Estate Board. The percentage of houses available verses potential buyers has evened out. Inventory is there to satisfy those looking for homes, but there is no longer a glut on the market. Calgary is continuing to adjust to the current economic environment, with surprising results.
 

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Tuesday, September 29, 2009 - Fort McMurray Leading The Way

In Fort McMurray, Alberta, a four bedroom two and a half bath home carries an average price tag of $638,000. This beats both Calgary at $525,525 and Edmonton’s average price of $432,250. These figures are taken from the 2009 Coldwell Banker Home Price Comparison Index that evaluates home prices in real estate markets in North America.

The homes in question average 2,200 square feet and are single family homes found in 345 individual markets across Canada and the United States. The study also revealed that compared to other world housing markets, housing in Canada is a relative bargain.

The four-bedroom, two and a half bath homes in the study are usually purchased by buyers that are financially able to move up to a larger property. One particular buyer would be a middle management corporate employee that is relocating. Canada’s low interest rate is helping these and other buyers upgrade their homes.

Of the other cities in the study, Vancouver’s average price for the same four bedroom home was $1.26 million, making it the 10th highest priced city in North America. The number one spot went to La Jolla, California with an average price of $2.13 million. Toronto priced out at $824,347 for the home.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Friday, September 18, 2009 - Ponzi scheme one of Canada’s biggest

The RMCP have initiated fraud charges in what is alleged to be one of the largest Ponzi schemes in Canadian history. Tax examiners are poring over evidence seized from across Western Canada during an intense search by auditors and investigators from the Canada Revenue Agency.

After a two-year investigation, authorities charged Milowe Allen Brost, of Chestermere, and Calgary resident Gary Allen Sorenson with fraud. The men are alleged to have defrauded as many as 3,000 investors of hundreds of millions of dollars over the past nine years. The scheme allegedly involved recruiting investors through seminars where they were promised returns as high as 40%, as well as continued access to their funds.

According to court documents, investors were also informed that they would be eligible for an RRSP tax shelter. Some of the alleged victims complain that they have received large tax bills, in addition to being unable to recover their funds. The CRA has reportedly reassessed 295 investors in withdrawals of at least $29 million causing them "significant" tax consequences.

Both Brost and Sorenson have a history of legal troubles. The Alberta Securities Commission ordered Brost to pay $650,000 for fraud in 2007. Brost is reportedly also facing fraud charges in Ontario.
 

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Wednesday, September 9, 2009 - CREB August stats are out, our summary

So another month in Calgary Real Estate. Still a very balanced market in Calgary. Calgary single family average price went up 4% and condos went down 1%. Again condos will fluctuate heavily due to over-building in the past few years. Inventory is down but so are sales. New listings 3,740, sales 2,403. Still a very healthy market and numbers.

Everyone is optimistic for good fall numbers and a good fall market. This is still the best time to buy in a decade or so. Also if anyone has a lot of RRSP’s and wants to invest. This is the time to start.

Fall might cool down but no one sees the market cooling down.
 

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Monday, August 24, 2009 - CHBA and Real Estate Development Institute team up for University of Calgary Certificate Program

The Real Estate Development Institute has partnered with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) in support of the University of Calgary’s Certificate Program in Real Estate Development.

The recently announced pairing represents the successful culmination of the Institute’s ongoing search for the ideal industry partner to assist with the University’s growing Continuing Education program, which was launched in 2004 to encourage continued progress and skills creation throughout Calgary’s development sector workforce.

Students of the Certificate Program in Real Estate Development come away with a thorough understanding of real estate topics ranging from finance to multi-family, industrial, recreational, and commercial development issues. Program instructors with real-world experience and specialized training offer students valuable insights into the dynamic Calgary real estate industry.

According to Jason Hardy, executive director of the Real Estate Development Institute, the partnership with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association is a natural fit. Citing the resilient real estate market throughout Alberta and the need for developers to keep up with growing demand, Hardy called this a prime opportunity for Canadian Home Builders’ Association members to enhance the skills of their regional workforce.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Saturday, August 8, 2009 - July Market Update

It’s that time of month again. Let’s talk about the market and trends. Single family homes decreased 2% from last month and condos had no change at all. It has been up and up for the last 4 months or so, a down is inevitable. The market is still doing very, very well considering this should be the historical summer time slow period.

The days on the market have no changed much. 54 for single family homes and 50 for condos. Inventory in Calgary has fallen off but so have sales so they are still in-line with each other.

So what does all this mean in the end? Well we are still in a balanced market. Calgary properties in the 300k-400k range in newer communities that are well priced are going fast. This should be the summer time slower period but the numbers are very strong and that should setup the fall for a brisk and good market.

It’s always great when we are in a balanced market. No one has the advantage, everything is just right and shopping for a home has never been better. See you on the real estate ladder.
 

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Thursday, July 30, 2009 - Website News

Wanted to tell everyone that the best Calgary Real Estate and property website will be getting better. There will soon be three new sections. One for the investor, one for mortgage information written by a professional mortgage broker and finally a staging section written by 2 ladies that live and eat staging homes to sell quicker and for more money.

This is gonna be new and exciting information, tips, tricks and advice for people that are looking for it. Some will be Calgary specific but some won’t. So not not only do you get great info from 2 great Calgary Realtors but you also get staging, mortgage and investor tips. 

We are working toward the ultimate goal of having this site, right here, as the total package when it comes to Calgary Real Estate and Calgary property.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Wednesday, July 22, 2009 - June Report

June stats have been out for a bit. We have not gotten around to blog about it so we say better late then never! Let’s dive right in shall we?

We’re in a balanced market. Calgary housing sales are moving, and moving well. Usually there is a lull in the summer due to vacationing and I guess enjoyment of the outdoors. But this year no lull whatsoever. Average single family has gone up 2% to $447,142 and average condo has gone up 4% to $285,595. All good news for all homeowners.

The days on the market are 44 for single family and 51 for condos. Pretty good I say. Finally inventory and sales are really close. The market is climbing up slowly.

This is a great market for buyers, sellers and investors alike. Even if we were not Realtors, I would recommend anyone and everyone to pick up some property. If you’re an investor we can help as we have over 9 years of investor experience. Thanks everyone and have a good month.

 

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Thursday, July 09, 2009 - CMHC has some Calgary new home info

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Saturday, July 04, 2009 - June Stats are Out!

Hey everyone. June stats are out. What oh what do the trends and stats tell us. Well single family homes have gone up another 2 percent. Again. Good news. I think most of us expected this. But what I did not expect is that condos have gone up in price 4 percent! That is good news for condo owners.

So the stats tell us that the market is truly balanced. No one has the advantage. The days on the market is 44 and 51 for single family and condos. Lets all hope the market stays this way. Inventory and sales are pretty close at 2,244 new listings and 1,837. Calgary properties are finally in a state of balance. Will it stay that way? Only oil prices and employment levels will tell us that.

 

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Friday, June 19, 2009 - The Water Is Fine

Just read an article from Sun Media about CMHC’s short report. The report talks about how this is a great time to buy with a good inventory and low interest rates. Over 70% off the homes bought in Calgary are under the $400,000 dollar range which means that home buyers in Calgary are mostly first time buyers.

Personally we have been meeting more and more people that wish to invest in Real Estate. Whether it’s a flip or a long hold and rent. Either way, if you have a good team of professionals surrounding you, you cannot lose. With over 9 years of flipping homes in our pockets we can tell you that it can be exciting and good for the wallet.

As we have been saying. It is a great time to buy and if you already own a home then it’s an amazing time to invest and become rich through Real Estate. Come on Calgarians, jump in the water is fine.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Friday, June 12, 2009 - Good news for 2 neighborhoods in Calgary

Just read an interesting article in the Herald about 2 Calgary area codes that for some reason or another have been recession proof. Anyone lucky enough to live in the T2A and T3E area codes had steady increases since this whole recession thing started.

Here is a small portion of the article...

"The area with the postal code T2A saw average prices of $263,598 in April, an increase of 12.55 per cent from $230,519 in March, but a decline of 10.41 per cent from $294,218 in April 2008. This area is bounded on the north by 16th Avenue N. (the Trans-Canada Highway), south by 17th Avenue S.E., east by 84th Street S.E., and west by Barlow Trail S.E.

The area with the postal code T3E saw average prices of $399,548 in April, an increase of 10.45 per cent from $357,779 in March, but a decline of 10.06 per cent from $444,218 in April 2008. This area is bounded on the north by 17th Avenue S.W., on the south by the Glenmore Reservoir, on the east by Crowchild Trail S.W. and on the west by the Sarcee Trail S.W. "

Most of Calgary is doing very well this spring and early summer. More good news in this time of recession and gloom.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Friday, June 12, 2009 - Buyers, buyers everywhere

Just read a great article about how Canadians are very optimistic when it comes to the housing market. From the article 90 percent of the people that recently bought think it is a great time to invest. Also 70 percent of recent buyers said it is a great time to get into the market now.

What is driving this? Low mortgage rates, government incentives, lower housing prices and a bit more to choose from. All those factors make this the best time to buy in many, many years.

So if you’re renting and think you can get that mortgage, this is the time to do it. Same goes for people with money just sitting around. Invest in Real Estate and you will not regret it.

Good job on always being the optimist Canada!

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Thursday, June 4, 2009 - May Calgary Market Stats

Market is hot, hot, hot

It’s that time of month again. The May Calgary market stats are out and I will of course like i always do give a quick summary. So without further delay...The market in Calgary is picking up. There was a 2% increase from April for single family homes. Again like I mentioned condos went down 2% from April. Again cause of too much inventory.

The inventory and sales gap is getting smaller. Less and less inventory and more and more sales. That is awesome. Average and median price for the entire Calgary mls went up.

What does all this mean? It means the market is stabilizing and getting to a nice balanced market. Good news for everyone.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - A Summary of April

April was another good month. Even though the average MLS home price dropped just over 2000 dollars. Single family homes actually increased about 1%. Condos are declining and taking the MLS market stats down with it.

Inventory also decreased and that is also a good thing. The absorption rate went down again, that is good as it shows the market is balancing out. So what does all this mean...

There is more confidence in the market by all. Prices are stabilizing finally and inventory is declining which is also good. All these are good signs. Condos have an uncertain future. By that I mean value. They might drop some more this year as there is an influx of condos. Does this mean you should not by a condo? Nope. Just find a great deal and when the market bounces back. You make money.

So not only was April good for flowers, birds and trees but also for Calgary Real Estate. Till next time everyone.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Monday, April 20, 2009 - A Summary of March

For all you out there that are too busy to look over the CREB stats and the ones that hate numbers and just want someone to tell them what is going on in Real Estate. Here is my quick monthly summary.

March has been a good month. The 3rd month in a row that housing price have gone up. Not very much mind you but an up is an up. Now some communities are doing better then others of course. Inventory and sales numbers have been creeping closer and closer together which is a good thing. Getting slowly into a balanced market.

I can’t say this enough but Calgary is a great place to live, recreational and financially. We are well positioned for a strong come-back from the economy. And there has not been a better time to buy some investment property in the last 7 years then now. Have a good month everyone.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Saturday, March 21, 2009 - Community Focus: Evergreen

The Evergreen Community

Where to start? Well let’s start with a look at Calgary as a whole. The Days on Market (DOM) is 51 for Calgary. The average price is 415k. The market is still a buyers market but getting closer to balanced.

Now Evergreen as an island onto itself. Well its DOM is 37 days and the average price is now 434k. What does that tell us? Houses are selling faster for more. But as an agent specializing in the area I know there are great deals out there, houses for the low, low 300ks.

So we know Evergreen is a HOT little community for Real Estate. How does this affect you? Well if your selling, your probably gonna get a better price for your home. If your buying there are great deals and your home will gain in value quickly.

Forget housing what about Evergreen itself you ask? Well there are 2 new schools being built. We got curb side recycling quicker then any other area in the city. Spring is here and the beautiful green spaces are getting ready to be used by children and families.

With ALL amenities minutes away, LRT close by and Fishcreek literally steps away from some homes. I can’t think of a reason you would not want to live in Evergreen.

Calgary Realtor® Blog - Saturday, February 28, 2009 - Dan’s Thoughts

Is this a good time to buy? What about the economy? Why would I buy when we’re in a recession?

All valid points. Think of this everyone. If everyone is doing something should you do it? If everyone is running for the exit, maybe see if there is a second exit or stairs out or or or.

I am a strong advocate of doing the opposite of the masses. It usually pays off. So this is the time to step up and really make a financial future for yourself and your family.

Interst rates are the lowest in a very, very long time. Homes are the cheapest they have been in Calgary for a long time also. Sellers are willing to deal and there is a good amount of inventory out there.

We have mortgage specialists that deal in building wealth through buying many homes and doing little to no work. It is possible and you do NOT need to go to a seminar or pay thousands for the knowledge. It is very possible to retire early and very wealthy with Real Estate. Why are you waiting? Buy now!!