I wanted to draw your attention to a page on FACEBOOK that I think is a great resource for all of you who are home owners, and love to update/reno your home. Whether its from painting to a complete gut and redo, to a new yard! You should check it out!
Cheers,
Jared Chamberlain
I wanted to give you some great resources that you can use in your current or next Real Estate Transaction that we use all the time!
AlbertaFirst.com Ltd.
www.albertafirst.com - commercial and agriculture property listings.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
www.cmhc.ca - a wide range of real estate and related information.
Alberta Home Builders Association
www.ahba.ca - an on-line resource for home buyers and homeowners renovating their properties.
Appraisal Institute of Canada
www.aicanada.org - tips on finding an appraiser.
Canadian Association of Home Inspectors
www.cahi.ab.ca - information on home inspectors and inspections.
The City of Calgary
www.calgary.ca - learn more about our beautiful city.
The City of Calgary - Property Assessment Utility
www.calgary.ca - find the last assesment value for any propery, or map the whole neighborhood
mls.ca – Canada-wide
www.mls.ca - access real estate property listings across the country.
Calgary Board of Education
www.cbe.ab.ca - find out about schools and programs in your area
Other real estate organizations:
Alberta Real Estate Association
www.abrea.ab.ca - the provincial arm of organized real estate in Canada.
Alberta Real Estate Foundation
www.aref.ab.ca - supports real estate initiatives benefiting the industry and people of Alberta.
Canadian Real Estate Association
www.crea.ca - the national arm of organized real estate in Canada.
Real Estate Council of Alberta
www.reca.ab.ca - governs the licensing of all real estate practitioners in the province.
Rental Websites
GottaRent.com
www.gottarent.com - This is a service to list your vacant rental properties all across Canada
Rent Faster
www.rentfaster.ca - This is a service to list your vacant rental properties in Edmonton and Calgary Only
Cheers,
Jared Chamberlain
It’s been a while since the last post, but wanted to give you an update on where the Calgary market place is at!
We have seen some slight growth in the number of showings lately, but it still for sure a buyers market! There is still 1 buyer for every 5 homes (or sales) per week… that we can see. If you are looking to purchase a home, there are some very good ‘deals’ out there currently! As from what I’ve heard, it is like this throughout Alberta… It’s a great time to buy right now.
Here is a link to the Monthly Stats Package!
I also wanted to give you some info on the community sales info on each community through out Calgary… Below is a link to the Single Family info and the Condo info for all of Calgary… Enjoy!
May 2008 Community Stats Single Family
May 2008 Community Stats Condos
Cheers,
Jared
Here is a new listing for you to look over… any questions, please give me a call at 403-999-9694
103 Pantego Close Feature Sheet
Welcome to this beautiful, well laid out brand new home. This home boasts 9 ft ceilings on the main level, and has oversized tiles throughout the main floor with carpet. The kitchen in this home is a dream, from your gas stove to the walk through pantry. There are raised cabinets to account for the 9ft ceilings and extra pot and pan drawers. If there is an upgrade to be had in this home, this one has it. There are 3 bedrooms upstairs with a large 5 piece ensuite off of the master bedroom. The laundry room has been upgraded to add a sink in the upper level and includes the washer and dryer. The bonus room is on the upper level as well and is a good 18 x 12′6 is size. The basement in this home is unfinished but is a 9 FT WALKOUT. There will be a park with a playground built a couple steps away from this beautiful home. As this home is situated in the upscale community of Panorama Hills, where you have a resident only community centre, walking paths and much more, you will not be dissapointed!
Single family Calgary metro new listings added for the month of March totaled 3,493, an increase of 11.6 per cent from March 2007 when new listing added totaled 3,131 an increase of 17.2 per cent over last month, when new listings coming to the market were 2,981. At the end of the 1st quarter, we have seen 9,497 listings new to the market, compared to the 7,661 new listings for the 1st quarter of 2007, indicating a 24 per cent increase.
“We have moved into a market that is currently providing a great variety and choices for the buyer. Not only does the buyer have much better supply to choose from, they can also customize their wants and needs in a home, making for a dream home purchase,” remarked CREB® President, Ed Jensen.
Single family Calgary metro sales for the month of March came in at 1,418, showing a decrease of 37.6 per cent from the 2,272 sales in March 2007 but showing an increase of 13.3 per cent over last month’s sales of 1,252. Looking at the ? rst quarter sales for single family Calgary metro, we see that 3,747 homes have changed hands, compared to the 5,709 sales recorded in the ? rst quarter of 2007, indicating a 34.3 per cent decrease.
“Gone are the days of sellers naming their price; sellers have to pay much more attention to what their asking price will be and how they present their home to experience a quick sale.”
Calgary metro condominium new listings added in March 2008 were 1,561, showing an increase of 24.9 per cent from the 1,250 new condominium listings added in March 2007 and a 25.5 per cent increase over the 1,244 new condominium listings brought to market last month. New Condominium listings ? nding their way to the market in the ? rst three months of 2008 totaled 4,208, an increase of 33.9 percent over the 3,143 new listing brought to market in the ? rst quarter of 2007.
The median price of a single family Calgary metro home in March 2008 was $420,000 showing a very slight decrease of 1.6 percent over March 2007, when the median price was $427,000 and showing a 1.9 per cent decrease from last month when the medianprice was $428,000. Quarterly, the 2008 single family Calgary metro home median price also came in at $420,000, an increase of 2.5 per cent over the ? rst quarter median price of 409,900, for 2007.
Condominium sales for the month of March were 565, a decrease of 44.9 per cent over the 1,026 condominium sales in March 2007 and an increase of just 0.5 percent over the 562 condominium sales changing hands in February. Quarterly, condominium sales were 1,577 for this year, a decrease of 40.6 per cent from the 2,656 condominium sales recorded in the ?rst three months of 2007.
The average price of a single family Calgary metro home in March 2008 was $474,513, showing a 1.1 per cent decrease from March 2007, when the average price was $479,914. The average price of a Calgary metro condominium was $312,620, showing a 0.1 per cent decrease from March 2007 when the average price was $312,280.
For Graphs and Stats Click Here
Check your know-how on various homeownership related matters. See how many questions you can answer correctly. (The answers are listed below.) 1. Which cut lumber is thicker: a 2-inch by 4-inch board or a 2-inch by 6-inch board?
2. Which is thinner: a termite’s waist or a flying ant’s waist?
3. Which is colder: 30 degrees Celsius or 30 degrees Centigrade?
4. Which is typically hotter: the air supply temperature of a warm air furnace or the air supply temperature of a heat pump?
5. Which is longer: a six penny nail or a ten penny nail?
6. Which wood is denser: oak or pine?
7. Which will freeze first: hot or cold water?
8. Which produces more light: a 20-watt compact fluorescent bulb or a 60-watt incandescent bulb?
9. Which is lighter: natural gas or propane gas?
This information is provided for general guidance purposes only. Neither HMA Franchise Systems, Inc. nor the local HouseMaster® franchise warrants its accuracy and assumes no liability related to its use. Contact the local franchise office and/or qualified specialists for advice pertinent to your specific house or circumstances.
© Copyright 2008 HMA. Each HouseMaster franchise is an independently owned and operated business. HouseMaster is a registered trademark of HMA Franchise Systems, Inc.
We want to give a big thank you to all of our clients who worked with us last year… It was a great year and again, thank you for trusting our service, and for all of your referrals. We were honored and blessed with not only being in the top 10 in our office, but we were in the top 5.
Thank You!
Calgary’s MLS® Sales for the month of February show signs of increased market pace, according to ?gures released by the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®).
Single family Calgary metro properties changing hands in February 2008 were 1,252, an increase of 15.6 percent over the 1,083 sales reported in January 2008 but showing a decrease of 35.5 from the same period last year, when the sales were 1,942. Single family Calgary metro new listings added for the month of February totaled, 2,981, a decrease of 1.4 per cent from January’s new listing of 3,023 and an increase of 35.1 per cent over the 2,206 new listings added in February 2007. The median price of a single family Calgary metro home in February 2008 was $428,000 showing a 4.9 per cent increase over February 2007, when the median price was $408,000 and showing a 4.4 per cent increase from last month when the median price was $410,000. All Calgary Metro MLS® statistics include properties listed and sold only within Calgary’s City limits. The median price is the price that is midway between the least expensive and most expensive home sold in an area during a given period of time. During that time, half the buyers bought homes that cost more than the median price and half bought homes for less than the median price.
Calgary metro condominium new listings added in February 2008 were 1,244, showing an increase of 39.9 per cent from the 889 new condominium listings added in February 2007. This is an 11.5 per cent decrease from last month, when the new listings added were 1,406.
Calgary metro condominium sales in February 2008 were 562; a decrease of 37.2 per cent from February 2007 when 895 condominiums changed hands and an increase of 23.8 per cent from the 454 sales recorded in the month of January 2008.
“It appears as though things are picking up, as we move into the ?nal month of the ?rst quarter. I don’t anticipate we’ll see the blistering
market that we experienced in the early parts of 2006 and 2007, but I do anticipate stability in this now corrected market,” remarked CREB® President, Ed Jensen. “Calgary is a very desirable place to live at the moment, with our strong economy, low unemployment rates, strength in the oil and gas industry; people are still moving here and that’s great for real estate.” concluded, Jensen.
The average price of a single family Calgary metro home in February 2008 was $471,696, showing a 5.2 per cent increase over February 2007, when the average price was $448,557. The average price of a metro condominium was $311,812, showing a 3.3 per cent increase over February 2007 when the average price was $301,812. Average price information can be useful in establishing trends over time, but does not indicate actual prices in centres comprised of widely divergent neighbourhoods or account for price differentials between geographical areas.
Source: Calgary Real Estate Board
Canadian real estate markets remain “remarkably buoyant”, especially in light of the deepening housing downturn in the United States and the generally softening conditions in most other advanced economies globally, says a national report released Tuesday.
The report, authored by Adrienne Warren, senior economist at Scotiabank, said from a housing demand standpoint, “economic conditions still favour Western Canada, with its booming resource-based industries and extremely tight labour markets.”
“The odds of significant overbuilding, or of the price declines that are now occurring in the United States, are still relatively low. Inventories of unsold homes, including condominiums, in Canada’s major centres are well contained, particularly when compared with the housing-market upswing of the late 1980s.
The current housing boom in Canada is the strongest and longest of the post-war era, she said. Between 1998 and 2007, average inflation-adjusted home prices have soared some 65 per cent, easily besting the 32-to-56 per cent appreciation of the prior three housing cycles of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
“The current housing upswing is going on 10 years, whereas the prior three cycles ranged from five to six years,” said Warren. “It has also outlasted the housing booms experienced in many other advanced economies this decade.”
Mario Toneguzzi, Canwest News Service
To Read Full Article Click Here
The 9 biggest relocation mistakes and how to avoid them
On the one hand, moving can be an exciting adventure. On the other hand, it could be a stressful time if things go wrong. This report explains the 9 (nine) most common mistakes when people relocate. When you plan ahead, you’ll avoid these pitfalls and ensure your move is handled smoothly.
1. Lack of information
Contact the chamber of commerce, tourism department, municipality, or library in your new community. At the same time, compare salaries, cost of living, taxes and housing prices.
2. Home not priced and ready for showing
Before you sell your home, complete repairs. Often, it’s the little things, like chipped paint, worn caulking and sticky doors that potential buyers notice. Have your home cleaned, including carpets. Have a Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) completed by one or two Realtors to ensure a competitive price.
3. Not planning for temporary housing between destinations
You may need to set up temporary housing arrangements until the closing of your new home. This could take from a few days to a few months. If you need interim housing for a few days, perhaps staying in a hotel is the simplest solution. For housing longer than a month, you may want to consider an apartment with a short-term lease.
4. Not being pre-approved
Sellers are usually eager to negotiate with someone who has immediate buying power. Please contact Joshua Taylor at Centum Mortgage to become pre-approved, and tell him Jared & Rebecca sent you…
5. Not completing a professional home inspection
This applies for both the home you’re selling and the one you’re buying, although who pays for the inspection (buyer or seller) is negotiable in each separate contract.
6. Insufficient time to handle children’s concerns
During relocation a child could feel lost, sad, angry or confused. Sometimes, under the stress of completing so many details, the temptation is to get settled as quickly as possible so everyone feels at home. Talk to your children during the process. They’ll feel safe, cared for and comfortable. Acquaint your children with the new neighborhood. If possible, have them meet new teachers and other children in their new school before moving. Try not to move in the middle of a school year.
7. Not being prepared for culture shock
Sometimes, when people move from familiar surroundings to a new community, culture shock can manifest. Symptoms can range from headaches, stomach aches, impatience, sleep problems to anger. These feelings are all normal, and do pass over time. It may be helpful to incorporate the old with the new. This could include taking classes, joining clubs, and pursuing activities you once enjoyed. It takes about six to ten months, for someone to feel “at home” in a new community.
8. Not using local, licensed professionals
Every area is different. Understanding the communities that make up your destination city, a Realtor can find you a home that matches your needs. You’ll save time and energy by having a professional do the work for you.
9. Not reading your employer’s relocation policies
Read your employer’s relocation policies carefully, for the amount of reimbursement. Keep good records and copies of your receipts, as moving expenses are deductible under certain conditions established by Revenue Canada.
If you are relocating, and are in need of an experienced associate to help you out, give us a call today!
Jared & Rebecca Chamberlain
www.ChamberlainGroup.ca
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