Advantages of being in a buyer’s market.
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Ready to buy a home? Choosing the perfect place to live in requires a little bit of work up front, but laying the groundwork for a smart buying decision will help you make a purchase with confidence. Here are four tips to get your property search started in the right direction:
Meet with a mortgage professional. Discussing your financing options is the best way to start. Banks and mortgage lenders have very specific guidelines in place. Knowing exactly where you stand will help you avoid disappointment down the road and help you establish realistic expectations before you even start to look at homes. If you aren’t approved right away, don’t worry. Your mortgage professional will give you all the information you need to improve your application and let you know exactly how long it will take before you are in good standing.
Determine your budget. Knowing how much you are allowed to spend is the first step, and deciding how much you are comfortable spending each month on housing costs is the most important . Based on today’s mortgage rates, determine a price range that works for you. Keep in mind the additional costs for property tax, condo fees, maintenance, and all other expenses.
Assess your needs. Are you looking for a place to occupy for the next 3-5 years, or are you shopping for a home that you can grow into? Do you love to entertain or need some extra space for a home office? Each buyer has his own unique list of must-haves. Decide on the things that really matter to you, yet leave some room for compromise. Sometimes, it takes a little while for the right home to come on the market, but once it does, it’s always worth the wait.
Choose the right neighbourhood. The location of your new home is one of the most important considerations. Your neighbourhood and the surrounding community should complement your lifestyle. Try to choose an area within a convenient proximity to work, even if you need to spend a little more. You can change almost anything in a home, but the neighbourhood is something that you must accept as is.
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.
Regardless of your profession, personal growth and a desire to continuously improve are the foundations of long-term success. “Good enough” just won’t cut it when you are fuelled by goals and aspirations. The real estate industry is a fiercely competitive business, so our clients and competitors always keep us on our toes. After all, no job is worth doing unless you are doing your best.
We draw plenty of inspiration from our peers in the business. We recognize the success of others and take note of the things they have done that made a difference. Real estate is very much a business built on relationships. Our relationships with our clients, peers, and other professionals help us build our experience and continue to deliver the kind of exceptional service that our network has come to expect.
Success also goes beyond your professional development. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating well, and making sure your health is a priority is essential to keep you going at your full potential. In our busy lives, it is important to make time for family and friends. Especially as the holiday season approaches, we become more aware of the significance of our role in others’ lives and their importance in our own.
Having a creative outlet can also serve as a wonderful stress reliever and break from the motions of your typical work day. In my case, I immerse myself in music. I play the cello and I always look forward to rehearsing and performing with my ensembles on a regular basis. Music is so uplifting, and speaks to the spirit.
Many highly successful professionals credit their motivation to reading. Unwinding with a great book after a busy day or taking some time to read an inspiring message while you enjoy your morning coffee might be all you need to keep your mind focused. Success might mean something different to everyone, but nothing beats the satisfying feeling of accomplishment. What drives you to do better? What keeps you focused on your goals and pushes you to be your best self?
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.
Like everyone, I have been involved in real estate my entire life! Like you, I grew up in a home! My husband and I purchased our first home in 1998, and since 2001 I have been assisting my husband, Bryon Howard, in our real estate investments and his work as a Top Producing Sales Professional. I assist sellers and buyers meet their goals, efficiently and have fun doing it.
To serve you better, I network daily with top producing REALTORS in various markets across North America, keeping abreast of the many and varied trends and cycles of real estate.
I look forward to serving you to help you find what you want in our exciting city. Please take some time searching my website http://www.GreetingsCalgary.com. Many of my clients have advised that the search engine incorporated here is very user friendly.
The real estate market in Calgary is constantly changing. Supply and demand fluctuate, and specific trends can affect certain areas of the city while having little impact in others. Understanding the current market in your neighbourhood can help you determine how much equity you have in your home, and decide if the timing is right to make a move.
Many people rely on the active listings displayed on MLS to see what’s happening in their surrounding area. The truth is, this doesn’t always show you the full picture. Sometimes, listings are priced too high and sit on the market for weeks before the sellers are obligated to reduce the price. Other times, the list prices is driven up by multiple offers.
So how do you stay informed with accurate and up-to-date information, specifically customized for your neighbourhood? Sign up for our Market Snapshot Report. You will receive a report containing all the homes that have been recently listed and sold in your neighbourhood. You can even customize how often you would like the report to be sent to you. Wondering what the home up the street sold for? Curious about how the interior finishes compared to yours? The Market Snapshot Report will provide you with all the information you need. Take advantage of this free, no-obligation resource to keep yourself informed on your biggest investment – your home.
Staying on top of the value of your home is no different than keeping an eye on your investments in the bank. Each month, market trends in Calgary continue to impress. Home values are on the rise, new developments are breaking ground all over the city, and investors are securing their money in Calgary real estate. Your Market Snapshot Report will help you stay up to date.
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 GreetingsCalgary.com.
About Shirley Wright
Like everyone, I have been involved in real estate my entire life! Like you, I grew up in a home! My husband and I purchased our first home in 1998, and since 2001 I have been assisting my husband, Bryon Howard, in our real estate investments and his work as a Top Producing Sales Professional.
I assist sellers and buyers meet their goals, efficiently and have fun doing it.
To serve you better, I network daily with top producing REALTORS in various markets across North America, keeping abreast of the many and varied trends and cycles of real estate.
I look forward to serving you to help you find what you want in our exciting city. Please take some time searching my website www.GreetingsCalgary.com. Many of my clients have advised that the search engine incorporated here is very user friendly.
You’ve found the perfect home, made an offer, and signed the deal! The hard work is done, right? Not so fast. There are a few important things to keep in mind before closing to make sure your new home purchase goes exactly as planned.
Get your paperwork ready. If you haven’t done so already, you’ll need to provide all the necessary documentation to your mortgage lender. They will need a copy of the signed purchase and sale agreement, as well as the paperwork that verifies your income. This can include tax returns, T4’s, a recent paystub, and anything else that is relevant to your type of employment.
Don’t make any large purchases or apply for additional credit. Keep in mind, your mortgage approval is based on your financial situation at the time of your application. Even though it seems obvious, some buyers do make the mistake of switching jobs, racking up a loan, or purchasing a car right before closing. Big changes in your financial situation could void your mortgage approval.
Have your down payment and closing costs ready to go. Your lawyer will require a bank draft at the time of closing to cover your legal fees and the remainder of your down payment. Make sure your funds are in an accessible account so that you can retrieve them a day or two before closing. If you are withdrawing from an investment account or an RRSP, move the money as soon as you can to avoid delays.
Organize your move and set up your utilities. Hiring movers? Call around ahead of time to get a few quotes, and make sure the company you choose is available on your moving day. If you are moving into a condo, book the elevator with the building’s superintendent. Next, make sure all the utilities are set up in your name.
Book an appointment with your lawyer. Your lawyer will need you to sign off on a pile of paperwork for the lender, verify your ID, disperse the funds, and hand over the keys to your brand new place. After that, you’re all done! Welcome, 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 GreetingsCalgary.com.
About Shirley Wright
Like everyone, I have been involved in real estate my entire life! Like you, I grew up in a home! My husband and I purchased our first home in 1998, and since 2001 I have been assisting my husband, Bryon Howard, in our real estate investments and his work as a Top Producing Sales Professional.
I assist sellers and buyers meet their goals, efficiently and have fun doing it.
To serve you better, I network daily with top producing REALTORS in various markets across North America, keeping abreast of the many and varied trends and cycles of real estate.
I look forward to serving you to help you find what you want in our exciting city. Please take some time searching my website www.GreetingsCalgary.com. Many of my clients have advised that the search engine incorporated here is very user friendly.
Buying your first home is an exciting process. You’ve probably worked hard and made lots of smart decisions to get you closer to your goal of becoming a homeowner. More so than any other purchase, it’s important to educate yourself in several areas and set realistic expectations.
Understand the current market conditions. The real estate market is always changing. Sometimes it favours buyers, sometimes it favours sellers. It can be affected by a variety of factors including interest rates, available inventory, consumer confidence, and even the weather. You need to work with a local real estate professional who understands the market in your area. This will equip you to make the right decisions and negotiate wisely when purchasing your first home.
Sit down with a mortgage professional. It’s easy to get caught up in the purchase price of a home, but the monthly payments are what will really have an impact on your budget. A mortgage professional will take the time to help you figure out exactly how much you will need to put aside for your down payment, what kind of interest rate you can expect, and how much your new home will cost you on a monthly basis.
Research how far your money will go and consider the various housing options within your budget. Although you may have a particular type of house or neighbourhood in mind, you might be pleasantly surprised if you step outside your comfort zone. Take the time to see properties in person, think about your long term goals, and weigh out the pros and cons of whatever is available in your price range.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew. If you are looking at homes that need some TLC, bring someone along who can help you understand the scope of the project. Renovations can be a profitable investment in the right areas, but you need to do some homework ahead of time to make sure it’s worth your time and effort. With a little research and the help of the right professionals, buying your first home will be an exciting and rewarding experience.
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’s condo sectors continue to set the pace for the city’s residential resale housing market, which recorded 2,148 sales in September, nearly 12 per cent higher than the same period last year. “September’s sales growth was stronger than expected, due largely to a surge in condominium apartment and townhouse sales,” said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie, who credits Calgary’s strong economy and fewer options in the lower-priced single-family market behind the continued demand.
For the fifth consecutive month, year-over-year condominium apartment sales growth outpaced growth in the single-family sector. Year-to-date condominium apartment sales totaled 3,819, a 21 per cent increase over last year. This compares with a seven per cent increase to 13,842 units in the single-family market over the same time frame. Added supply in the condominium apartment sector, meanwhile, is providing more choices. New listings increased by 48 per cent in September over last year and nearly five per cent over last month, further improving inventory levels and pushing this market into balanced territory.
In the condominium townhouse market, sales and listings continued its year-to date trend, rising 20 and 21 per cent, respectively, compared to the same period a year ago. Over the first three quarters, 3,002 units have exchanged hands, relative to the 4,011 new listings. Despite an increase in new listings, the condominium townhouse market continues to be relatively tight, with absorption rates remaining below two months.
“While overall supply levels have improved, the condominium townhouse sector continues to reflect the tightest market conditions in Calgary,” said CREB® president Bill Kirk. New listings in the single-family market similarly increased in September, helping to improve inventory levels above two months. A total of 2,148 units entered the market during the month, a jump of nearly nine per cent compared to the same period last year.
“While conditions are now more balanced, the composition of the single-family market has changed,” said Lurie. “One-quarter of year-to-date sales in the sector has been for product priced below $400,000. Last year, it represented 35 per cent of the market share. Two years ago, it accounted for 44 per cent of all single-family sales.”
The single-family benchmark price topped $512,800 in September, similar to August, but a 10.6 per cent increase year-over-year. Condominium apartment and townhouse benchmark prices grew to a respective $298,800 and $330,200, reflecting gains of more than 9.5 per cent relative to last year.
“Calgary’s housing market throughout the spring favoured the seller, resulting in higher-than-expected price gains,” said Kirk. “Now, a more balanced market is relaxing some of that upward pressure on home prices, and prices are leveling off relative to the previous month. Year-over-year, however, gains are still in the double-digit range.”
Recent price gains have encouraged listings growth and, ultimately, supply in all sectors, said Lurie. “However, citywide inventory levels continue to remain below historical norms, and current demand levels continue to point toward healthy absorption rates,” she said.
Download the full market report here
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.
| The data included on this website is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate by the Calgary Real Estate Board |
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| Trademarks used under license from CREA |
