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A fence with character in Altadore (© Some rights reserved by JMacPherson)

In my earlier blog post on the history of Altadore real estate, I said Altadore literally means “hill of gold.” That got me wondering: where’s the gold? Now after living here for a decade, I’m not asking anymore. This neighborhood that’s nestled like a king on a hill and has a commanding view of the mountains but sits beside a river, is close to a number of popular parks and is just minutes from Calgary’s culture and shopping hub–this is the gold. No wonder it has attracted a great mix of people!

If you’re thinking of living here, pump up your energy because four out of five people here are below the age of 54. What’s more, they’re family people! We love walking around here (like walking our kids to school and other places because lots of places here are within walking distance), watching our kids play in the park with other kids, walking our dogs in the pet park or pampering them at our high-end dog boutique, hanging out at the great shops and restaurants in our first-class shopping center that’s just minutes away, watching a movie downtown, racing our bikes, hiking up our mountains, boating, swimming and skating outdoors, skiing and playing hockey. And there’s lots of room here to do all these, as we’re still a pretty low-density community, though the recent record flood in Calgary has been luring an unusual number of people to move here to higher ground.

But wait–not everything we do here is play! Three out of four people here aged 25 and above are gainfully employed, seven out of 10 people here have college degrees or diplomas and own their homes, and only 15% belong to low-income households. And if you want diversity, some 17% of our population are immigrants from the U.S. and Asia, though 98% of us can speak English and/or French. And you know why? Because of all the jobs from the more than 100 business establishments on our northern border, which is the well-known business district of Marda Loop!

I can keep ranting on about Altadore real estate here and our great community, of course, but what’s best is if you can come check out my neighborhood for yourself so you’ll see what I mean. Give me a call at 403-589-0004 or contact me at TheHowardTeam.net and I’ll be glad to show you around!

About Bryon Howard

Bryon Howard is a top-producing real estate agent with Re-Max House of Real Estate in Calgary, Alberta. He is in love with his high school sweetheart, an enthusiastic Dad and crazy about endurance sports. To learn more about Bryon and his real estate tips, head on over to his website.

Image resource: www.unprofound.com

I’m finding it a bit difficult to talk about Altadore real estate now with all this commotion going on around here about this year’s Marda Gras Street Festival that’s happening tomorrow, so heck, I’ll just join the fun! For those of you who are wondering what this festival is all about, it’s a free one-day public event every second week of August at Marda Loop, the premier shopping center in Altadore, that’s patterned after the famous Mardi Gras street festival in New Orleans. That means Marda Loop’s streets will be filled with the sights and sounds of New Orleans, from the purple, green and gold colors to the jazz and R&B music! Oh, good – I can wear my purple socks!

There’s actually a long list of activities that will start at 10 a.m. (check them out here: http://www.mardaloop.org/html.php?action=Anchor&anchor=MardaGras), but here’s my pick of those that I think I’ll take my family to:

Street shows

This is a street festival, right? So bring on the street shows! There’ll be a magician, and someone who’ll walk with a nine-foot-tall free-standing ladder and juggle knives up there! (You won’t want to get anywhere near him, of course, but don’t worry – he’s been doing this stunt for eight years!) And there’ll be a group that will put on their unique open-air aerial art, comedy and street theater show with which they’ve been amazing audiences all over the world. Watch out too for strolling music from the Dixie Knights and the Sweet Adelines! And for art lovers, don’t miss the inflatable Art Tent where you’ll see lots of masterpieces.

On the main stage

Expect great street dancing with band music, hot swing and gypsy jazz, blues and swing from the 1920s to the 1950s, plus belly dancing and some new moves! There’ll also be the yearly popular Pet Pageant, with prizes for the Most Unique, the dog with the Best Costume, and the Crowd Favorite!

Kids Quarter

Hey, this is for kids of all ages! There’ll be face painting, a bouncy castle, crafts, games, sports and entertainment. And the organizers say all the funds that will be raised here will be used to support the projects of the Marda Loop Communities Association, so you bet we’ll be there!

Kudos to Marda Loop for putting together such a great event each year. This is one of the areas we’re very proud of here in Altadore, as it offers first-class shopping, professional services and dining, and as you can see, fantastic events!

So again, I’ll be taking a break from selling Altadore real estate (and will hop onto my trusty bike, as there’ll be an Open Streets Area for us bikers and parking would be next to impossible). And for those of you who want to catch the fun, you have until 5 p.m. tomorrow….

Know someone who is looking to make a decision in real estate? If you know any friends, family or co-workers who are looking to buy, sell or invest in real estate within the next six months, would you forward this email to them or reply with their contact information? I’ll send them important information about the Calgary, AB surrounding area real estate market and politely ask for their business. I greatly appreciate your valued referrals; it’s the only way I build my business.

About Bryon Howard

Bryon Howard is a top-producing real estate agent with Re-Max House of Real Estate in Calgary, Alberta. He is in love with his high school sweetheart, an enthusiastic Dad and crazy about endurance sports. To learn more about Bryon and his real estate tips, head on over to his website.

Image resource:
www.flickr.com

Has it been almost six weeks since the biggest flood in Calgary’s history made all the headlines? If your house was swamped, you’ve probably done enough mud cleaning you could write a book on it. But before you move on, are you sure you’ve done everything you should? I helped haul off a lot of mud from my friends’ houses myself and have since learned some new things that could perhaps spare you a lot of headache and heartache.

Contact your utility company to make sure your appliances and electrical installations are safe to use.

Just because your appliances, electrical outlets, switch boxes, and fuse/breaker panels are dry and working now doesn’t mean they’re fine and dandy. You don’t want a fire next time, or an electrocution, or your other appliances to conk out due to a short circuit. So it’s best to do your due diligence now for your peace of mind.

Beware of mold and mildew.

A long-term effect of flooding is the growth of mold and mildew. Your wallpaper, carpet, wood walls and floorboards, ceiling tiles, and mattresses, your kids’ stuffed toys, and your books and valuable papers may seem to have dried up, but mold and mildew starts growing as fast as 24 to 48 hours after a flood and may already be growing where you can’t see it. Experts say breathing in mold spores may cause anything from mere allergic reactions to asthma attacks and deadly brain, lung, nervous and immune system conditions. So check everything very closely and think hard if those stuffed toys and books are worth keeping. Ask a lawyer if you still need to keep your original damaged documents or if you can just jot down the information written on them. And consider hiring a professional mold inspection and home restoration company just to make sure your home has no lurking health and even structural dangers. Check out www.chbacalgary.com and www.renomark.ca for reputable contractors.

Get ready!

We were all caught with our pants down during that flood, and we’d certainly want to be more prepared just in case there’ll be a next time. So clean all your drainages regularly, put all your electricals on higher ground, secure your valuables, prepare emergency supplies, and know your community’s flood warning and evacuation plans.

You can’t be too careful after a flood. After all that upheaval, it’s tempting to think too early that the worst is over and get on with your life. But taking the three additional steps above will help you go all the way in protecting your family and your property from the hidden dangers of water damage.

Know someone who is looking to make a decision in real estate? If you know any friends, family or co-workers who are looking to buy, sell or invest in real estate within the next six months, would you forward this email to them or reply with their contact information? I’ll send them important information about the Calgary, AB surrounding area real estate market and politely ask for their business. I greatly appreciate your valued referrals; it’s the only way I build my business.

About the author:

Bryon Howard is a top-producing real estate agent with Re-Max House of Real Estate in Calgary, Alberta. He is in love with his high school sweetheart, an enthusiastic Dad and crazy about endurance sports. To learn more about Bryon and his real estate tips, head on over to his website.

Image courtesy of Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius

Calgary has certainly risen since the devastating flood a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, there are still 8,000 to 10,000 people who won’t be able live in their damaged homes for quite some time, according to CEMA director Bruce Burrell (http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/06/28/calgary-flood-damage-will-force-as-many-as-10000-people-from-their-homes-for-a-long-time). While the rebuilding gets underway, I have also had homeowners who were fortunately not affected by the flood ask if now is the right time to stay or should they sell.

If this is the position you find yourself in, here are some questions that could help you decide:

• What were my plans before the flood? If you were planning on selling before the flood, re-examine the reasons. Where were you planning to move? Has that area been affected by the flooding or was it relatively unscathed? The provincial government made some announcements this weekend with regard to homes in high-risk areas, so staying on top of the latest developments may help you make an informed decision.

• What if I stay? Calgarians don’t just sit back and wait for things to happen. This is Stampede country, and cowboys don’t give up without a good fight! So if you decide to stay, stay safe. Have your home inspected for lurking danger due to the water damage, and keep your ear to the ground on measures that are being introduced in your neighborhood to make it more resilient to flooding and other disasters.

• What if I want to move? With the expected influx of people moving into the city to help rebuild it, upward pressure on values is expected. Subdivisions like Altadore, which is on higher ground, will likely be considered favorable to buyers. Have your home evaluated and then make a decision.

Whether you’re staying or selling, or still undecided, the Calgary flood has been an emotional time for all of us. There are no right or wrong answers if you are deciding whether to sell or not. Take your time, make informed decisions and you will make the decision that is right for you and your family.

If you know any friends, family or co-workers who are looking to buy, sell or invest in real estate within the next six months, would you forward this email to them or reply with their contact information? I’ll send them important information about the Calgary, AB surrounding area real estate market and politely ask for their business. I greatly appreciate your valued referrals; it’s the only way I build my business. 

About Bryon

Bryon Howard is a top-producing real estate agent with Re-Max House of Real Estate in Calgary, Alberta. He is in love with his high school sweetheart, an enthusiastic Dad and crazy about endurance sports. To learn more about Bryon and his real estate tips, head on over to his website.

Source: baptistmedicalgroup.org

Healthy living is a topic that never gets old in the Calgary real estate industry. At the end of the year, when the idea comes up, someone is always bound to start along the lines of “I will start exercising/eating healthy/sleeping early next year.” The intentions are there, but somewhere along the way, we all get sidetracked at one point or another.

I know that drastic lifestyle changes can be difficult to do, but from experience, I’ve found that they become second nature by doing them repeatedly. Let me share with you three things that I try to do every day.

Get enough snooze time

Sleep is as important as eating right and exercising. Without sleep, your body cannot repair and restore itself, which reduces your immunity and makes you prone to illness.

Now, this one involves our bedtime habits so if you are the type to keep the television, laptop, phone, or tablet on before hitting the sack, you may want to reconsider your pre-sleep habits. Recent findings show that our gadgets’ displays are mimicking daylight and are, in turn, fooling the brain into thinking that we should be up and about instead of sleeping. Essentially, using a backlit device for over an hour will, likely, lead to sleep loss.

For the restless types among you, a Calgary real estate colleague of mine swears by this tip: sprinkle your bedding with lavender water. Lavender is a well-known antidote to sleeplessness. Of course, your mileage will vary with this tip and I have to admit I haven’t tried the idea myself, but if you have some extra lavender water lying around, have a little fun and experiment!

Having some fruits every day

The “apple a day” adage has been around for quite a while now and the funny thing is, it is something that is often overlooked. Before I run out the door to make some inquiries relating to the Calgary real estate market, I try to eat some fruits in the morning. If I don’t have time, I make a smoothie. This way, I’m able to get a fruit into my day.

Speaking of smoothies, I’ve picked up quite a few recipes and one of them is a personal favorite: strawberry-banana smoothies. This one is straightforward and easy to make. Simply combine 2 cups of frozen strawberries, 2 medium bananas, 1½ cups of almond milk, 1 cup of orange juice, and a tablespoon or two of honey in a blender and mix it until smooth. This recipe makes 4 servings, so you have enough for the whole family to share. And because it uses almond milk, it’s perfect for anyone who’s lactose intolerant.

Get moving

Everyone complains that they don’t have time to exercise and go to the gym. That said, your fitness program isn’t limited to the gym. If you’re mindful of your everyday activities, you’ll find that there are so many ways to sneak in exercise into your busy schedule.

One form of exercise that I do a lot is walking. I try to do this when I’m reviewing houses for sale in Calgary. It’s easy, really. What I do is park a little farther away from my destination so I have an excuse to walk. Three brisk 10-minute walks every day can help decrease your chances of getting heart disease, so get walking and keep your heart healthy.

Another way to exercise is by taking the stairs. When I’m making calls or visiting colleagues in the Calgary real estate industry, I try to avoid taking the elevator, especially when it’s just one or two flights of stairs. Not only do I save on energy, it also helps me get some exercise into my routine.

There are many other ways you can do to stay healthy next year. All it takes is some determination and a bit of mindfulness.

Whatever you opt to do, I wish you all the best of luck in your pursuit of great health in 2013!

Know someone who is looking to make a decision in real estate? If you know any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate within the next six months, would you forward this email to them or reply with their contact information? I’ll send them important information about the Calgary, AB surrounding area real estate market and politely ask for their business. I greatly appreciate your valued referrals; it’s the only way I build my business.

Free Market Report on value of your home: www.CalgaryMarketSnapShot.com

Bryon Howard is a top-producing real estate agent with Re-Max House of Real Estate in Calgary, Alberta. He is in love with his high school sweetheart, an enthusiastic Dad & crazy about endurance sports. To learn more about Bryon and his real estate tips, head on over to his website.

Source: dorward.ca

At the end of each year, clients and friends are often eager to know my opinion about the state of the Calgary real estate scene, or, on occasions, even the whole of Canada. I often receive questions like: “Is next year a good year to buy a home?” Another popular question people tend to ask me is: “Will my property’s value appreciate next year?”

I can’t say that my take on the real estate industry is definitive, but I did notice a few trends which I will use as basis for some of my projections in this blog.

Zeroing in on Calgary

Based on economic indicators and real estate figures this year, I can see Calgary’s residential real estate market growing even bigger in 2013, thanks in no small part to the solid economy and strong consumer confidence.

Industry insiders will tell you that 2012 had the highest level of sales activity in the last five years. That’s a good sign and indicates a stable economy. They expect to see this sales activity increase even more in 2013.

What does this mean for buyers and sellers and homeowners? Here are a few things that I see happening in the Calgary real estate industry in 2013:

• Stable property values – Homeowners can rest easy knowing that the value of their investment will appreciate or at least remain stable as employment growth, rising incomes, and low mortgage rates will help sustain demand for housing. In addition, net migration is expected to increase to 20,000 people largely due to the oil and gas sector which is a key industry and is a major factor in generating growth and prosperity. MLS sales are seen to increase by 15.7 percent or 26,000 transactions because of net migration. Moreover, sales prices in the Calgary region are projected to rise by 2 percent or $411,000 and by another 2.7 percent 422,000. 
  

• Good time to buy a home – In recent years, more Calgary residents have been buying property, due to the low interest rates.  With low interest rates expected to continue next year, it’s a good time as any to consider buying a new home.
  

• Good time to sell – A recent report on the Calgary real estate market showed that single-family homes were most sought after in 2012. More than 60% of sales of residential properties were single-family homes that cost below $450,000. So if you have a single-family home and would like to move to a bigger one, you have a good chance of selling it in 2013, especially if it’s under the $450,000 price point.
  

• Strong activity seen in certain Calgary neighborhoods –Killarney, Hillhurst, Marda Loop, Mount Royal, and the Foothills exhibited strong activity resulting in the values of properties in these areas to increase.       One of the reasons that in these areas easily moved is because of their strategic location and proximity downtown.  If you have a few properties in these neighborhoods, next year seems like a good time to sell it, especially with rising demand.
  

• Office real estate increases in value– Calgary’s office real estate market has also strengthened this year, compared with 2011. One indication of this is the premium rates that office spaces in certain Calgary areas demand.

The 8^th Avenue S. W. Strip, particularly, has been listed as the second most expensive street in Canada, next to Toronto’s Bay Street. With its proximity to retail streets, easy access to transportation, and available parking spaces, it’s no wonder that this particular street in Calgary demands an average of $55.33 per square foot, at $76.50 square foot being the top rent.

As you can see, Calgary’s real estate market is strengthening and continues to grow. From the looks of it, moreover, this trend will continue in 2013. Homeowners, buyers, and sellers in Calgary can be confident that real estate will remain a good investment.

Know someone who is looking to make a decision in real estate? If you know any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate within the next six months, would you forward this email to them or reply with their contact information? I’ll send them important information about the Calgary, AB surrounding area real estate market and politely ask for their business. I greatly appreciate your valued referrals; it’s the only way I build my business. You can reach me at this number: 403-589-0004

Bryon Howard is a top-producing real estate agent with Re-Max House of Real Estate in Calgary, Alberta. He is in love with his high school sweetheart, an enthusiastic Dad & is crazy about endurance sports. To learn more about Bryon and his real estate tips, head on over to his website.

Whether you are searching through a list of houses for sale in Calgary or capturing a moment you want to hold on to, taking photos and storing them is an interesting outgrowth of recent technology.  Naturally, when we gather with friends and family, especially during the holidays, we’ll be taking a lot of pictures. Truth be told, we’ve become a trigger-happy, photo taking lot as most of the devices we carry with us have built in cameras which are “good enough.” In fact, there’s a recent adage that goes along the lines that the “best” camera you can have is the one that’s in your pocket. Well, if we make a quick survey of the items we usually have with us, a point and shoot camera is not one of them, let alone the larger, more capable DSLR. So which camera is most likely to be in someone’s pocket then? The funny thing is that our mobile phones which take on the workhorse role of taking pictures simply because these items are usually with us. Interestingly enough, phones and tablets have something else over most point and shoot cameras and DSLRs: phones and tablets can connect to the cloud. This in turn means that anyone can quickly and easily share photos on the different social media networks or simply store material in the different cloud storage services. Well, what’s a tech related article without some recommendations and, to that effect, I’ve found some applications that made saving to the cloud possible.

Picasa Web Albums

Picasa is Google’s free photo app which has both a desktop and a web component, the Picasa Web Albums. It allows you to edit, add cool effects, organize, and share your photos on Google+ or email. I like most its geo-tagging and face recognition tools. It scans faces and once you’ve matched it to a name, helps you do the same to the rest of your photos.  With geo-tagging, it pegs your photo on a map to show where you shot it, which is ideal for those sightseeing photos all of us take. In my usage case, geo-tagging is a real convenience while doing research or listing several houses for sale in Calgary. There are also many editing and enhancing tools that go beyond the basic red-eye correction, cropping, fill lights, auto contrast and color features. If you’re an enthusiast, you’ll have fun tweaking your pictures. All these features are quite handy as well given that sharing and minor touch-ups are going to be in the top spots of the list of things to do with your recently taken photos.

Instagram

By far the most popular choice, Instagram, isn’t only an app but also a social network. I play around with my pictures using the filters that are included with the app. Moreover, the interface is simple and easy to get into. In addition to the quick photo editing capabilities of the app, its social component is what is really going to drive its usage as anyone can directly share on Flickr, Tumblr, and Facebook–very convenient for a realtor who is researching a few houses for sale in Calgary. All in all, Instagram is user friendly and it is just wonderful to have when you’re taking all those memorable moments that simply have to be on your online album.

Dropbox

I used Dropbox mainly for document-sharing but since they updated the app, photos and videos can now be automatically loaded onto the cloud.  Opting into the auto upload feature is one time deal, after which the Dropbox client will extract images from your phone or tablet.  Dropbox, in this regard, is particularly competitive and is doings its best to encourage users to test this new feature. In fact, if you upload often, you get 3GB of storage space added 500MB at a time. Unlike Picasa or Instagram, there is no editing or enhancing features but you can easily share and access pictures anywhere you are in the world.

Touchnote

Now, Touchnote is one app every person who loves postcards should use. While it may not save photos per se, it does take photos and send them as postcards, literally the printed on paper kind. Better yet, you need not step into a post office. Simply create your postcard and go through the app’s easy to navigate interface. Speaking of interfaces and options, you can rotate images, zoom in, add a 220-character text overlay, and, when you are done tweaking your post card, you can send it to a specific address. The app isn’t for mobile devices only though. You can send postcards from your computer and from your Facebook account. It’s a pretty nifty, but simple to use app that has a novel approach to keeping in touch.

Well, there you have it folks, three storage solutions for you mobile tech users and 1 novel way to share photos with friends and loved ones. There are more apps out there waiting to be used with the “best camera in your pocket” device, but these apps are what I frequently use to take and store pictures of houses on sale in Calgary, family gatherings, vacations, and other things which catches my fancy.  Happy New Year!

Know someone who is looking to make a decision in real estate? If you know any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate within the next six months, would you forward this email to them or reply with their contact information? I’ll send them important information about the Calgary, AB surrounding area real estate market and politely ask for their business. I greatly appreciate your valued referrals; it’s the only way I build my business. You can reach me at this number: 403-589-0004

Author Bio:

Bryon Howard is a top producing real estate agent with Re-Max House of Real Estate in Calgary, Alberta. He is in love with his high school sweetheart, an enthusiastic Dad & is crazy about endurance sports. To learn more about Bryon and his real estate tips, head on over to his website.

If you’re thinking of buying or selling property, the Calgary real estate market has been on the rise for most of 2012. While home sales in the rest of Canada have been trending downwards because of new mortgage rules, Calgary’s has been expanding. In fact, the trend for most of 2012 is one of growth, both in volume and values this year. 

Reading the Signs of Growth

One of the best places to check for the strength of a market is from Multiple Listing Service (MLS) sales. MLS sales are a good gauge of how active the housing market is. In the case of Calgary’s Real Estate Market, transactions have risen to 2,054 –up 14.8% from September 2011. Last month’s benchmark prices, the typical sale price for a home, look good too:

• single-family homes are up 8.2% to $432,900
• condo apartments increased by 3.83% to $249,300 and
• condo townhouses grew by 2.2% to $277,700, up

Such data are pointing to the idea that the real estate market of Calgary is getting healthier and has no signs of decline. Coupled with the latest October real estate figures, an even rosier picture can be painted regarding the Calgary real estate market:

• new listings decreased to 5.57 % (or 1,831)—which could mean more people are holding on to their homes, new constructions are keeping apace, or both
• more people are buying homes, with a home staying on the market cut to 45 days
• vendors are gaining the upper hand, with average sale price rising to $433,932 (4.86 % increase) and MLS sales up 21.92% (1,235) from the same period a year ago

The Economy: Driving Calgary’s Real Estate Market Growth

The better-than-normal real estate market can be seen to be linked to a booming economy fuelled by Calgary’s robust oil sands sector. Interestingly, respected economists Craig Alexander and Mario Lefebvre predicted that Calgary’s economy is set to lead Canada for the next three years. Very heartening news indeed!

Another key factor to the growth in Calgary’s real estate market is the decreasing unemployment rate. Compared to the national average which has seen an improvement of one percent, Calgary’s situation has improved by 3.5%. This is very encouraging news as this means more people are finding better work within the city which could only translate to higher household incomes. An attractive employment environment also means more incoming migration from people looking for better job prospects. A growing population in turn will eventually lead to increased demand for housing.  Better still, this increasing demand for housing is projected to grow steadily for the next five years. In fact, the BMO Housing Confidence Report says that people are more likely to purchase a home in Calgary with figures estimated at 62% which is much higher than the national average of 46%, the Greater Toronto Area (57%), and that of Vancouver (53%).  This means that: (1) consumer confidence in the Calgary real estate market is firming up; (2) housing demand will grow over the next year, and (3) a vendor’s market is gaining traction.

Taking stock of all the data, 2012 has been a great year for Calgary and 2013 is looking to continue that trend.

Know someone who is looking to make a decision in real estate? If you know any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate within the next six months, would you forward this email to them or reply with their contact information? I’ll send them important information about the Calgary, AB surrounding area real estate market and politely ask for their business. I greatly appreciate your valued referrals; it’s the only way I build my business. (Free Market Report on value of your home: www.CalgaryMarketSnapShot.com)

Author Bio:

Bryon Howard is a top-producing real estate agent with Re-Max House of Real Estate in Calgary, Alberta. He is in love with his high school sweetheart, is an enthusiastic Dad & crazy about endurance sports. To learn more about Bryon and his real estate tips, head on over to his website.