Success in real estate investment is totally dependent on the property owner’s ability to find and lease space to qualified, dependable tenants.  Good tenants are building blocks for a solid investment.  Each turnover in tenancy involves costs – in lost rent and the cost to prepare space for a new occupancy.  There can also be substantial legal costs involved in removing problem tenants.  While a certain amount of turnover is both inevitable and manageable, the goal must be to keep turnover to a minimum.  Turnover is a landlord’s greatest enemy.

Here are a few valuable tips for pulling in quality tenants and avoiding every landlord’s worst nightmare – the deadbeat tenant from hell who does not pay rent and destroys your property.

Don’t take shortcuts when it comes to tenant screening. – Order background and credit checks on every tenant applicant you consider and have them provide proof of income, such as a current pay stub.  Also, ask for landlord references and make every effort to contact those references.  It is also fair game to check out the social media pages of prospective tenants.  Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram are home to treasure troves of information when you are trying to find out more about a person.  Just because one report or reference comes back looking good, don’t neglect to follow-up with the other checks.

Try a little patience! – Yes, we have established that turnover costs money, but do not lease to the first tenant who comes knocking just to avoid a short-term vacancy.  The costs associated with evicting a tenant will far exceed the costs of a brief vacancy.  Develop patience and wait, if necessary, for the right tenant to come along.

Look for obvious red flags that may signal a problem tenant. – There are signs that alert landlords to tenants that are best avoided.  Anyone who is in a big hurry to move in immediately should cause you to slow down and ask a few questions.  What is the big hurry?  Were they evicted by another landlord or thrown out by their parents?  Also, beware when throngs of friends and family show up to look at a simple one-bedroom apartment.  An excessive number of people living under one roof will result in increased wear & tear and higher utility costs and may even violate the rules of your condo or homeowner’s association.  Finally, watch out for applicants who have multiple addresses over a short period.  This means they move all the time.  Before you know it, they will be moving from your property and you will be back at the drawing board in search of a steady, long-term tenant.

Consider employing a professional property manager. – If your budget has some wiggle room, you may want to opt for the services of a professional property manager.  They have websites designed to attract tenants and are already set up to screen prospective tenants in assembly line fashion.  Best of all, many investors report that property management pros can negotiate better rents than they were getting on their own.

Another way to avoid bad tenants is to be a good landlord.  Honor your own obligations under your rental agreement, respect your tenant’s privacy and your good tenants will be more inclined to renew the lease.  You may even persuade them to accept a little bump in rent to sweeten the deal!

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.

It is never easy to watch loved ones grow old – especially when it is your own parents. The aging process invariably calls for one or more lifestyle changes and moves along the way. These moves are often fraught with a tremendous amount of emotion and anxiety. Not everyone is fortunate enough to age in place. When the time comes to make some tough decisions and real estate moves, it helps to have a trusted Realtor who understands the range of options available and can guide you and your parents toward the best possible living arrangement to accommodate your parent’s needs.

We often work with clients whose primary goal is to relocate their aging parents closer to their loved ones. In addition to selling the parental home, we try to focus on educating the entire family on the choices available to today’s seniors in the Calgary area. These choices involve everything from downtown apartments to secondary suites, to 55+ communities, assisted living and long-term care facilities.

Since Canadians can boast of one of the world’s longest life expectancies, the challenge of meeting the needs of a growing elder population is a major hot topic in today’s housing industry. It is difficult to navigate the multitude of choices available, but as professional Realtors, we are here to help. Many of us have already or will soon face the same difficult choices to be made with our own parents. When your parents start to slow down and need more help with everyday tasks, it may be time to sit down and talk as a family before the situation worsens. A professional Realtor can bring objectivity and clarity to a confusing and deeply emotional situation.

Although we all face common problems and tough choices, we start with the premise that every family is unique. While many elderly people remain fully-independent and simply want to downsize and simplify their lifestyle, others will require a higher level of monitoring and hands-on care. Transitioning to a new living arrangement requires respect and sensitivity as well as knowledge of the housing options and resources available. When your family decides that it may be time for Mom and Dad to make a move, take some of the stress out of a difficult situation. Resolve to work with a Realtor who you can trust to take care of the details involved in a major move while you take care of Mom and Dad.

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.

Do not make the mistake of placing your real estate affairs in the hands of an inexperienced agent. In red hot real estate markets, it seems that everyone wants to be a Realtor. After one rainy day of binge-watching HGTV, people start to believe that anyone can flip a house and make a fortune. It all looks so easy on TV, but in reality, it is not.

A successful career in real estate requires knowledge, hard work, formidable people skills, and EXPERIENCE!

Sure – we have all gone to school and earned our credentials, but the real training in this business comes on-the-job. It is the oldest way to learn and still the best.

As experienced Calgary Realtors and business people, we bring to the table everything we have learned through hundreds of unique transactions. Our clients today are the direct beneficiaries of our years developing a “feel” for real estate and fine-tuning our negotiating skills.

We also bring along our network of proven professionals – appraisers, lending officers, contractors, and home inspectors. We know who is good at their job and who is not, as well as who can be counted upon to move quickly when time is of the essence.

The HGTV fans can easily get the impression that real estate is just a fun exercise in matchmaking – nothing more than bringing buyers and sellers together and hoping for a match. In reality, there is so much more to a Realtor’s job, especially in the Calgary real estate market where excellence is expected in each and every transaction.

We know from experience how to make sure our sellers reap the highest and best price for their property – even when that involves looking them in the eye and advising that their property is not worth what they thought it was. We know from experience that we should introduce our buyers to a neighbourhood not on their wish list but worth investigating.

And we know from experience how to whittle down a long list of home inspection deficiencies that leaves our client satisfied while getting the deal done.

Experienced Realtors tend to have more resources – including advertising funds, state-of-the-art digital photography equipment, and administrative support. Perhaps most importantly, experience breeds confidence – an essential tool of successful Realtors and all business professionals. If you do choose to work with an inexperienced agent, make sure he or she has the full backing of an experienced broker and team of professionals.

Experience is not the only factor when it comes to selecting a Realtor, but it certainly belongs at the top of the list. Many real estate transactions start out simple before taking some tricky turns. Make sure your Realtor has the experience needed to help keep your goals and dreams on track.

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.

Even the best real estate investment strategy is doomed to failure without the presence of the most critical ingredient – qualified, reliable tenants.  Ask any landlord who has learned this lesson the hard way.  Problem tenants can wreak havoc at your property and stall your income stream.  The good news is that with proper prescreening to find the right tenants, you can avoid potential nightmares and the proverbial tenants from hell.

Follow these tips to minimize your chances of leasing to problem tenants:

Screen all Prospective Tenants – No Exceptions!

Screen EVERYONE interested in renting from you and make no exceptions!   I don’t care if your cousin’s best friend comes highly-recommended.  Take the time to conduct thorough and reliable background and credit checks on all tenant applicants.  Ask for references from current and past landlords.  Interview the prospects and find out why they are moving. A clever person may be able to fool you in one or more of these tests, but it is unlikely that they will pass all the tests if they are not a quality tenant.

Be Patient

Do not panic and lease to the first person who comes knocking on your door because you are anxious over the thought of a vacancy.  Remember that in the long-run, the expenses associated with problem tenants will far outweigh the cost of a short-term vacancy.  When preparing your property budget, set aside reserves to cover the potential cost of loss of rent while you search for the right tenant.

Learn How to Spot Red Flags with Prospective Tenants

In addition to the obvious red flags such as a low credit score, non-existent bank account and lack of references, beware of prospective tenants who wish to delay payment of their security deposit, move too frequently or are unwilling to cooperate with the tenant screening process.  Also, look out for tenants who appear to be breaking their current lease mid-term.  If they do that to other landlords, they will probably not hesitate to do the same thing to you.

Hire a Professional Property Manager

Think about retaining the services of a professional property manager – an individual or firm specializing in the management of residential rental property.  Leasing and managing real property is a time-consuming business that is best left in the hands of professionals who are already set up to handle tenant turnover and coordinate routine repair and maintenance issues.  These managers usually have their own websites to attract quality tenants and they maintain accounts with reliable vendors providing credit and background reports.  Many landlords are surprised to discover that the added cost of paying a property manager is balanced by increased income in the form of higher rents and lower repair and replacement costs owing to preventative maintenance that is performed on a regular basis.

In real estate, turnover costs money. The best tenants are the ones who stay in one place for a while and have reliable sources of income and a proven record of timely bill paying.  They respect the property of others as if it were their own.  A satisfied tenant who renews their lease will save you the expense of procuring a new tenant and preparing the property for a new tenancy.  Whether it is your first property or your fiftieth, do yourself a favour and take the time to prescreen and recruit the best possible tenants.

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.

Successful Realtors are skilled at wearing multiple hats.  The “best of the best” are not only knowledgeable and experienced in the nuances of their market, but they also have good business sense, fine-tuned instincts and the ability to lead a team of professionals working on behalf of the buyer or seller.   They have the ability to utilize their knowledge and experience to solve problems.  When there is a hiccup in your pending transaction or a delay in financing, you need to know that the Realtor quarterbacking the deal will have the right set of skills and know-how to get everything back on track.

A good business person utilizes a proven system based on “best practices” and ensures that all professionals and staff under their wing do the same.  At the same time, they need to stay flexible and adapt to changes when needed. The real estate industry is always evolving, especially in a fast-paced market such as Calgary.  The digital age has revolutionized the way we do business. In order to best serve our clients, all Realtors need to stay on top of the latest tools and trends.

Successful business people invariably understand the value of teamwork and they surround themselves with talented, hard-working team players.    When choosing a Realtor to represent your interests, look for someone who can lead a team and is confident enough to surround themselves with proven winners.  Look for signs of a cooperative work environment where individual strengths and skills are nurtured and utilized – where everyone is working together toward a common goal.

Finally, in deciding if a Realtor has the leadership qualities and good business sense to get the job done, do not forget the importance of good instincts and the ability to read and handle all kinds of people.  No matter how many deals a Realtor has closed, there are always new twists, turns and unforeseen circumstances.  The ability to anticipate the unknown and adjust accordingly is another mark of a good leader.

When choosing a Realtor, look for the “best of the best” – proven winners with in-depth knowledge of the local market and digital marketing, as well as the ability to motivate people, lead a team of professionals and anticipate problems before they arise.

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.

For many Calgary home buyers and sellers, the prospect of packing up to move is the least enjoyable part of the process. While it certainly does involve a good deal of hard work, moving does not have to be so painful. Follow these simple tips to ensure a smooth, stress-free moving experience.

Get an early start. – It is never too early to start planning for the big move. Whether you are a seller preparing to list your property or a buyer looking to upsize, downsize or relocate, the time to start packing is when you first decide to make a move. Seize the opportunity and begin by decluttering and disposing of items you have not used in years. Consider yard sales and charitable donations as ways to lighten your load as you move forward to the next exciting chapter in your life. Next, focus on packing non-essential items that you do not need every day such as books, photo albums, seasonal decorations, fine china and collectibles. Aim to have the bulk of your belongings wrapped, boxed and ready to go well in advance of moving day.

Keep moving supplies handy. – There are websites that can help you estimate the number of boxes you will need along with rolls of masking tape, bubble wrap and markers for labeling contents. Order your supplies in bulk and remember to label boxes by room and contents. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you will remember what is in each box. You will not!

Stay away from oversized boxes. – Unless you a professional weight lifter, steer away from oversized boxes that are cumbersome to lift and often end up breaking under the weight of their contents. Stick to small and medium-sized boxes and reserve a few large ones for lightweight pillows and comforters. Your back will thank you for this wise decision.

Invite friends and family to help. – Who says moving can’t be fun? Chances are you have helped someone move over the years. Give your friends and family an opportunity to return the favour. Crank up some music, supply food and drinks, and enjoy the company of your favourite people as you pack your belongings.

Buying and selling property and uprooting your life to a new home can be a complicated affair. Regardless of you are in the Calgary area moving to another city, there will be countless dates and tasks to monitor and coordinate. On the business front, let a trusted Calgary Realtor guide you through the process and keep the stress meter as low as possible. On the home front, stay organized and follow these tips to stay on track for a smooth move.

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.

Forget what you think you may have learned from watching HGTV.  There is nothing simple or routine about most real estate transactions.  Almost every home sale or purchase is accompanied by some complication that requires the knowledge, guidance and oversight of a trained, experienced professional.  So, before you consider going the FSBO route, consider these five top reasons for hiring a Realtor.

Realtors have access to all sectors of the local MLS data. – The general public can only access a small portion of the MLS information that is available to licensed Realtors who subscribe to the local MLS service.  Realtors, on the other hand, can view current and historical sales information and comparable sales data to measure market trends. This information is critical when it comes to pricing your home to sell for top dollar and finding the best home for you in the right neighbourhood.

It takes time to sell a house – lots of time. – Be honest.  Do you really have the time it takes to conduct open houses and arrange for showings on short notice?  Interested buyers will be put off if they cannot visit a home when it is convenient for them.  Today’s homes are marketed across multiple media platforms.  In order to compete with other buyers and sellers, you will need to utilize all available forums.  A professional Realtor is familiar with the process and prepared to market your home in the most efficient and effective manner.

Selling real property requires the services of a trained real estate professional. – Calgary is a volatile, fast-moving market.   Sometimes it seems that the rules and regulations governing our industry change as quickly as the market sometimes swings.  The paperwork alone is enough to drown a layman without proper training.  Think twice before treating the sale and purchase of your home – your most valuable asset – as a DIY project.  You would not try to take apart the engine on your new sports car without any mechanical training, would you?  Treat your home as the valuable asset it is and hire a professional to run the show.

It is very difficult to represent yourself. – The best negotiators are able to maintain complete objectivity at the bargaining table.  It is almost impossible to remain objective when emotion is involved and buying and selling homes triggers all kinds of emotions in buyers and sellers.  That is why you need a Realtor to represent you and defend your interests.

Successful Realtors work with a dependable network of professionals. – When you buy or sell a home, you will also be working with a small army of other real estate professionals – lawyers, mortgage loan representatives, home inspectors, appraisers and contractors – to name a few.  An experienced Realtor will have relationships with a network of proven professionals you can rely upon.  Even more importantly, your Realtor will serve as the team leader – pushing, prodding and cajoling when necessary to make sure your transaction receives the full attention it deserves from everyone involved.

In the final analysis, you are unlikely to save any money by foregoing the services of a Realtor.  Savvy buyers who do stumble upon your listing often feel entitled to deduct the cost of a commission from their offer.  Even worse, properties that languish on the market for too long become stale and subject to speculation about hidden defects.  In the end, sellers are forced to drop their price and accept less than the home is really worth.  Save yourself time, stress, and money and work with an experienced Realtor to achieve your real estate goals.

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.

Home staging is a powerful tool in pulling in buyers and selling a home for the highest possible price.  It is all about creating a memorable first impression that will stay with homebuyers when they sit down to think about the homes they have visited. Professional home stagers do an excellent job in preparing properties to show, the added expense often brings a stronger offer.

Professional stagers may replace your furniture with updated trendy pieces that catch the eye of buyers. That being said… Here are a few do-it-yourself tips for effective staging – guaranteed to make your house stand out!

Let Your Light Shine

Buyers love homes that permit generous flow of natural light.  Pull back all curtains and window coverings and update light fixtures and lamps with newer, brighter, more energy-efficient bulbs.  Turn on all the lights for open houses and showings.  You don’t want buyers to think you are trying to hide anything.

Clean and De-Clutter

After a thorough cleaning of the house (inside and out) including closets, garages and storage spaces, conduct an exhaustive de-cluttering of the entire home.  This does not only mean putting away personal items, memorabilia and photos. All extraneous furnishings should be removed also.   The furniture that remains should be arranged in groupings to permit easy flow of traffic through the home.  Remember that the goal is to create a blank palate so would-be buyers can envision the home as their own.  Arrange for off-site storage of the extra belongings with a friend or at a storage facility.  Although it is a lot of work, the good news is that you will already be half packed when your house sells and it is time to move.

Send Your Pets on a Much-Needed Vacation

We know that you love your pets and think of them as members of the family, but the cold, hard truth is that everyone does not love them the same way you do.  If possible, make arrangements for pets to be out of the home during open houses and showings.  Many potential buyers are allergic or uncomfortable around animals and there is no bigger turn-off to buyers than unpleasant pet odors.

Focus on Curb Appeal

Make sure the lawn is cut and the bushes are trimmed.  Remove all dead flowers and then focus on the front entryway.  A fresh coat of paint on the front door framed with potted plants and flowers will impress buyers right away.   Do everything you can to make the home seem warm and welcoming.

Accentuate the Positive

Choose a room or focal point in your home that ranks among its best features and spend a little extra time and energy in staging that area.  It may be a fireplace or a state-of-the-art kitchen or an enchanting outdoor living space.  Remember what it was that made you fall in love with your home and then do everything you can to make sure buyers notice.

Home staging is all about taking control of that all-important first impression that buyers have upon walking into your home.  Follow these tips, take control and stage your home to sell!

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.

Real estate investors and homeowners share a common goal when it comes to the value of their home or portfolio. Everyone is looking to build equity. In real estate jargon, equity refers to the current market value of a property minus the balance of any mortgage loan owed to a lender. Equity is one of the main benefits of home ownership. In frenzied, seller’s markets, equity growth can sometimes appear to be exponential. Other times, it just creeps up in small increments through the years.

Many homeowners are content to take a passive approach and watch their property appreciate over time. Serious investors and homeowners looking to pull equity from one home to finance their next one are well advised to take an active approach to promote equity growth through renovations that will enhance the value of their property. Another way to increase equity is to reduce debt through early pay down of mortgage loan balances.

Here are a few proactive tips for building equity:

Maintenance and Upkeep

A house that is well-maintained will always retain more value than a property that is unkempt. More importantly, a home that is unloved and neglected can lose equity in the blink of an eye. Seemingly small items such as leaky faucets and roofs are equity killers when they lead to major damage. Maintenance can admittedly be boring. If you do not wish to perform the maintenance tasks yourself, consider hiring a handyman or property manager to protect your equity.

Renovation

Renovating is a great way to build equity in a property, but beware that not all home renovation projects offer the same return on investment (ROI). Before sinking hard-earned money into a makeover, talk with your Realtor to learn which projects are most likely to enhance the value of your home. This will vary considerably by property, neighbourhood and price point. On some highly-coveted building lots, a tear down of the existing structure will help build equity faster. In most situations, however, this is not the case. Kitchen and bathroom renovations traditionally bring the best ROI, but homeowners should shy away from over-the-top projects and high end materials that do not always deliver a good return.

Debt Reduction

Imagine owning a debt-free home, unencumbered by the constraints of mortgage loan financing. You can make this dream a reality with an aggressive approach toward pay down of your existing mortgage loan through shorter loan terms and extra payments. Even one extra mortgage payment a year can significantly reduce the duration and total cost of your loan. Each dollar spent to reduce the debt gets added to the equity column on your home’s balance sheet and, by making the extra payments on a voluntary basis, you maintain flexibility and the right to direct those funds elsewhere when the need arises.

Meticulous Tenant Screening

A bad tenant who goes months without paying rent and forces you into court to seek an eviction is a definite equity killer. It can get even worse if you find out they trashed your valuable asset. The best way to guard against bad tenants is to adhere to strict qualifying standards with in-depth screening. In addition to reviewing each tenant’s credit history and financial situation, insist on checking references with former landlords. Make an appointment to check in on the home periodically to ensure that the tenants are respecting your property. This will also afford you the opportunity to attend to any repairs that are needed.

One of the best things about being a homeowner is that it gives you freedom – the freedom to decorate and renovate your home as you see fit without requesting approvals. Once you have built up equity in a property, you will also realize the benefits of financial freedom and the security that comes with the ability to borrow money against the equity in your home. Over time, investing in Calgary real estate has proven to be a lucrative investment. Start building that equity now!

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.

First-time homebuyers face a myriad of choices when it comes to narrowing the search for their first home.  How much money to spend?  Which neighbourhood?  Downtown or suburbs?  These are all tough choices, and for some first-time buyers, another difficult decision is whether to put money down on a condominium or single-family home.  Some buyers know exactly what they want, while others need to do some serious soul searching and weighing of pros and cons to determine the best choice for their first home.

The Howard Team has worked with hundreds of first-time buyers over the years and we know how to ask the right questions to guide undecided buyers toward the choice that suits their budget and complements their long and short-term goals. We can educate them on the advantages and disadvantages of each choice and the intricacies of condo associations, maintenance fees and home maintenance.  Most importantly, we help them make the choice that is the best fit for their preferred lifestyle.  Here are a few of the questions we start with.

How long do you plan to stay in the home?

If you do not plan on owning your first property for more than 5 years, long-term goals are of less importance and can take a back seat to short-term considerations.  In this case, the best choice may well be the property that offers the best chance for rapid appreciation in the local market.  Based on statistical analysis and current trends, we can advise clients which neighbourhoods and type of housing are most likely to hold their value or appreciate.

What is your total budget for home ownership?

In many instances, condos are the more economical alternative and an excellent choice for first-time buyers looking to get the most house they can within the confines of their budget. Especially in Calgary, condos are a logical choice for many young, first-time buyers.   Nevertheless, it is critical that as a buyer you understand how to estimate the total cost of home ownership for condos vs. single-family homes so there are no surprises post-closing.

Do you have children or do you plan on starting a family?

Nowadays, when it comes to growing a family, it is not so much a question of how many kids you plan to have, but rather, how you plan to raise them.  The migration back to cities and downtown living is populated with many families choosing urban over suburban lifestyle.  Others still yearn for the extra square footage and freedom afforded by a single-family home with a backyard.  Fortunately, the Calgary market offers a wide range of options to suit almost everyone.

 What are your favourite leisure time activities?

This is probably the most important question and the tipping point for many buyers on the fence as to condo vs. single-family home.  Is your idea of a perfect Saturday afternoon tending to your large garden or visiting a museum? Would you rather be renovating your kitchen or snowboarding in your spare time?  How far are you willing to commute to work? Do weekend visits to a big box home improvement store leave you giddy with anticipation or bored silly?  These are lifestyle questions to help you determine if you are a condo or house person?   If you find yourself uncertain and leaning in both directions, it might be prudent to start your real estate venture with a condo, see how that feels and then move on to a single-family home down the road if it feels right.

Buying a first home is a life-changing event that merits careful thought and consideration.  Before launching your search for your starter home, sit down with an experienced Realtor to make sure you are heading in the right direction for you and your family.

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.