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Yes is the answer… now what is the question?

At some point in the past 8 months I was at a Real Estate workshop where the speaker asked us about our ability to be versatile. He asked us to frequently get out of our comfort zone. He told us when being asked to do something, to “Say Yes… then explore the question.”

I wrote notes during the seminar, and upon getting back to my office, I created a list of “Actionable Items” that I wanted to implement in my business. I entered in my Google Calendar “Yes is the answer… now what is the question?” This statement now pops up on my Calendar weekly.

When friends Helen and Greg invited Shirley and I to join them on a 12-day walk from Coast to Coast across the United Kingdom, I immediately said “Yes”.

After saying “Yes”… Shirley and I reasoned if we could. Our youngest child is in the final year of high school. He would be okay. I have a good team in place at RE/MAX. They don’t need me everyday. I have hit my sales goals in the past couple of years. Financially, we can do this.

I don’t like walking. I walk my dog reluctantly. I basically hate it – unless I’m walking with one of my kids and/or Shirley. I never imagined I would ever walk across England.

I like to run, bike, paddle, etc. Walking is slow. I’m not peaceful enough. I don’t spend this amount time with anyone. Will my wife tolerate me after spending ALL day with me for 12 consecutive days… and I value this friendship. Will we still be friends?

So, after saying “Yes”… I booked the tour. A few weeks later, I booked the flight. I few weeks later, I booked the train… then the taxi that would take us to the departure point. I needed to do each step to fully prepare myself.

10 days prior to departure… I considered cancelling. There are always many reasons to cancel. I didn’t.

We began Day 1 by collecting a stone from the Beach on England’s West Coast, at St. Bees. It was a Dramatic walk south, along the coast, prior to heading up towards the mountains inland to the Lakes District.

We travelled through the Lake District – up mountains – and down. We ended each day in a small village with a pint or two and a nice meal.

We walked, picnicked, drank, ate and slept for 12 days. Upon arrival in Robin Hood’s Bay, 307 km later, we launched our stones that were collected in the Irish Sea – into the North Sea.

It was awesome. What did I learn?   Say YES more!

Are  you looking to Sell or Buy a home in Calgary and need someone who won’t rest until you’ve found your dream home or until your home is sold? I’ll work hard to earn your trust and to deliver exactly what you need. Contact me at 403-589-0004 or at TheHowardTeam.net.

About Bryon Howard

Bryon Howard and his team of Calgary real estate professionals sell an average of two homes a week. He is a member of the MLS Million Point Club, which ranks him roughly in the top 1% of productive realtors in Calgary. His aim is not just to please clients but to help them buy/sell a home in Calgary at the best price, in the shortest time, and with the least hassle. He is a member of the RE/MAX House of Real Estate that leads in the Canadian market. Learn more about Bryon at TheHowardTeam.net.

As part of my customer service to my sellers, we ask that our buyers are pre-qualified. We have made it easy for you to get pre-qualified by visiting https://www.mlenow.ca to get step #1 of our process started. In less than 3 clicks you will be on your way to pre-qualifying yourself … and will be closer to your new home!

I would consider it an honor and a privilege to work together with you to achieve your real estate goals! Please feel free to contact me on my cell at 403-589-0004, or visit my Web site at http://www.TheHowardTeam.net for more information.

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Calgary is a big city made up of dozens of individual vibrant communities.  Even though Calgarians enjoy the benefits of everything that a major city can offer, many people live in the suburbs and enjoy a tight knit community within their own neighbourhood.

Establishing self-contained communities in one of the many important initiatives that has become a priority to manage Calgary’s rapid growth.  As the neighbourhoods around the city expand, it is important from a strategic planning perspective that the residents have access to all of their essential amenities close to home.  City planners want to make sure that people can live, go to school and access essential services within a close proximity to home.

If you live within one of these communities, there is no better opportunity to meet your neighbours than participating in one of the local events.  The Community of Huntington Hills has a enough sports and recreation to keep even the most active family on the go.  Figure skating, minor hockey, slo-pitch and lacross are just a few of the sports that are available for a variety of age groups. There are also plans in place to build an outdoor skate park at 64th Ave and Centre St. N.W..

The community lifestyle is appealing for families because it gives them a sense of security.  They have more opportunities to get to know their neighbours then they would in a traditional urban setting.  They are more likely to be actively involved in their kids’ school and everyone is always looking out for each other.

Living in a tightknit community is also appealing for seniors.  The organized events provide many opportunities to socialize and they can volunteer at local events if they are looking to get involved with their community.  The Woodland Creek Community Association offers a bridge club, knitting group, and a senior’s social night every month.  Making friends close by is helpful for whenever they need an extra hand.

The best way to enjoy the community where you live is to become involved with it.  Whether your neighbourhood has an organized board or not, you will always be able to find like-minded people who take an interest in their surroundings and want to collaborate to make it better.

Are  you looking to Sell or Buy a home in Calgary and need someone who won’t rest until you’ve found your dream home or until your home is sold? I’ll work hard to earn your trust and to deliver exactly what you need. Contact me at 403-589-0004 or at TheHowardTeam.net.

About Bryon Howard

Bryon Howard and his team of Calgary real estate professionals sell an average of two homes a week. He is a member of the MLS Million Point Club, which ranks him roughly in the top 1% of productive realtors in Calgary. His aim is not just to please clients but to help them buy/sell a home in Calgary at the best price, in the shortest time, and with the least hassle. He is a member of the RE/MAX House of Real Estate that leads in the Canadian market. Learn more about Bryon at TheHowardTeam.net.

Calgary is home – and Always will be.

I grew up on the East Coast in Prince Edward Island. Many of the people in my family from previous generations came out west at some point in their lives, but they always ended up going back to the east coast. Although we love both sides of Canada, my wife and I can confidently say that Calgary will be our home for good. 

My wife and I started our lives together in PEI. Looking to start a business in Eco Tourism, we moved to British Columbia in the early 90’s to learn what some of the industry leaders were doing. We brought our experiences back to PEI where we started our family.

We discovered pretty early on that my oldest daughter was struggling with a learning disability. (She learns Math and Reading a bit differently.) We tried our best to navigate the local school system. And that’s what brought us to Calgary. Calgary Academy is the leader in individualized education for students with learning issues. We moved to Calgary to give our daughter the best opportunities, but living in this city was a great decision in many other aspects for our family.

I make an effort to visit PEI at least once a year. Even though Calgary is our home, there are lots of things about PEI that I miss. Family is obviously the most important thing, but the seafood is a close second. PEI is a special place and the scenery, lifestyle and local culture is unlike anywhere else in Canada. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to enjoy many different places in Canada through my own Adventure / Eco Tourism busiess, and our own travel experiences. Planning a vacation this summer? You don’t need to cross a border to experience something new.  There is so much to discover right here at home.

Are  you looking to Sell or Buy a home in Calgary and need someone who won’t rest until you’ve found your dream home or until your home is sold? I’ll work hard to earn your trust and to deliver exactly what you need. Contact me at 403-589-0004 or at TheHowardTeam.net.

About Bryon Howard

Bryon Howard and his team of Calgary real estate professionals sell an average of two homes a week. He is a member of the MLS Million Point Club, which ranks him roughly in the top 1% of productive realtors in Calgary. His aim is not just to please clients but to help them buy/sell a home in Calgary at the best price, in the shortest time, and with the least hassle. He is a member of the RE/MAX House of Real Estate that leads in the Canadian market. Learn more about Bryon at TheHowardTeam.net.

If you thought Calgary already felt like a big city, stay tuned for what the future holds.  Over the next 50-60 years, analysts are predicting that the population of Calgary will double.  In a city that already accommodates 1.15 million residents, this is an enormous growth projection over a relatively short period of time.  In the next five years alone, an estimated 100,000 people will move into Calgary.

So how will Calgary handle its rapid growth, and still maintain all the desirable qualities that make this city such a popular destination?  According to the Municipal Development Plan, we can expect to see a progressive expansion of the suburban areas that surround the downtown core.  Proper planning and infrastructure development is crucial in a growing city.  Building desirable housing on the outskirts of the city will prevent congestion and alleviate strain on the current infrastructure.  By the year 2069, city planners expect that at least 50% of the residents in Calgary will live in outlying suburban areas. 

Improving the transit system has also been a priority for the city of Calgary, and the benefits are already being enjoyed by the people who live here.  Creating convenient and affordable transportation options is the only way to convince people to park their cars, reduce emissions, and turn to public transit as a convenient way to travel to and from work.  The CTrain now services 44 stations that stretch as far north as Crowfoot and Saddletown, and as far south as Somerset-Bridlewood. 

Like many other growing cities in Canada, affordable housing is an important issue.  If you were born and raised in Calgary, there is no doubt that you have noticed house prices increasing steadily.  Even the flooding couldn’t dampen the appeal of our local market.  However, compared to all major cities like Toronto and Vancouver, Calgary is still considered to be an affordable city to own a home.  House prices are much lower, and on average, household incomes are higher.  Calgary is a fantastic place to live, work, and raise a family.  As long as the city can continue to keep up with the growing population, the future of Calgary is bright.

Are  you looking to Sell or Buy a home in Calgary and need someone who won’t rest until you’ve found your dream home or until your home is sold? I’ll work hard to earn your trust and to deliver exactly what you need. Contact me at 403-589-0004 or at TheHowardTeam.net.

About Bryon Howard

Bryon Howard and his team of Calgary real estate professionals sell an average of two homes a week. He is a member of the MLS Million Point Club, which ranks him roughly in the top 1% of productive realtors in Calgary. His aim is not just to please clients but to help them buy/sell a home in Calgary at the best price, in the shortest time, and with the least hassle. He is a member of the RE/MAX House of Real Estate that leads in the Canadian market. Learn more about Bryon at TheHowardTeam.net.

Buying your first home isn’t as glamorous as you may think.

We go over some common first time home buying disasters to help you know what you should watch out for.

It is important to be prepared as sometimes the unexpected can happen.

It’s best to be proactive in your home-buying journey, it does not come without challenges but with enough information, and the help of your Calgary Realtor, it can turn out to be an interesting & smooth journey to homeownership.

Learn what to do if you find yourself in a similar situation! http://ow.ly/ASCrP