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Hurray the holidays are finally here! The snow has fallen, and melted… and fallen and everywhere you look, there are signs of the festive season. The bright lights and beautiful music make the cold weather not so bad after all. In fact, Calgary is a great place to be during Christmas time. There are plenty of events happening around the city to help you get in the spirit of the festivities.

Our family looks forward to the holidays as a time to relax, unwind, and spend time together. We also make it a point to enjoy the great outdoors. Heading to the mountains for a few days of skiing has become an annual tradition. Even though everyone is way faster then me now, I still love it! When you have some of the best slopes in the country just an hour or two away, staying indoors all winter is not an option! Walks in the city that give us mountain views can be breathtaking. The pinkish glow of the early morning sun on mountain peaks always stops me in my tracks.

The holidays are all about family and traditions, and of course, the food. Every family has their own special recipes. I love to make French Breakfast Puffs fresh on Christmas morning. They are an easy and simple treat that we now refer to as “Christmas Puffs”. I put the ingredients together the night before, so it’s an easy task on Christmas morning. I’ve included the recipe below. Thanks to my Mom for sharing it with me many years ago.

French Breakfast Puffs

Combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; set aside.

In a bowl stir together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/8 teaspoon salt.

In another bowl, combine 1 beaten egg, 1/2 cup milk, and 1/3 cup melted margarine or butter; add to flour mixture, stirring just till moistened.

Lightly grease muffin cups or line with paper bake cups; fill 2/3 full.

Bake in a 350 oven for 20 to 25 minutes or till golden.

Immediately dip tops into 3 tablespoons melted margarine, then into sugar-cinnamon mixture.

Server warm. Makes 12.

From our family to yours, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season. Find some time to unwind and make special memories with the people that matter most. Travel safe if you plan on escaping to somewhere a little warmer or plan on traveling across the country to visit loved ones. At the end of the day, our family and friends are what makes it all worthwhile.

We wish you all the best and we look forward to connecting with you again in the New Year.

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 403-287-3880 or at  www.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.

As a real estate professional, I enjoy the process of helping homeowners get their property ready for the market. There are plenty of decisions to be made along the way. Although each home is unique in its own way, every seller has one important objective in mind – to accomplish a smooth and profitable sale.

Decide on the right price.

The pricing strategy is one of the most important factors to influence a successful sale. Market value is determined by analysing recent sales in the area, market trends, the condition of the home, and the competing inventory on the market. We will prepare a comparative market analysis for your property. We will discuss pricing.  If you decide to price a home on the high end, you run the risk of being overlooked by potential buyers who aren’t sure if you’d be willing to negotiate. Pricing a home on the low end could result in multiple offers if the time is right, but you also run the risk of getting less than what your home is worth.

Prepare your home for the market.

A well-kept home will probably require deep cleaning and some simple decluttering. A vacant home, or one that is less visually appealing, can usually benefit from a staging professional. It always helps to go the extra mile to make your home stand out from the rest. If you are concerned about some maintenance issues around the property, consider hiring a home inspector for a pre-sale inspection. These are becoming more common with homeowners because it allows them to address potential problems ahead of time, not after the negotiations are already complete.

Reach your target market.

Professional photographs, a well-written, detailed description of your house and plenty of online advertising are just the beginning of the marketing process. My team also relies on our established professional network to promote your home and reach out to other agents who may have a buyer that is interested in your neighbourhood. Once the showings begin, we often request feedback to get buyers’ reaction to your property, and encourage them to bring in an offer.

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.

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.

I would like to take the opportunity to introduce one of the newest members of the Howard Team.  For some of you, she might be a familiar face.  I’m pleased to announce that my wife, Shirley, has made the move into real estate.  Shirley acquired her real estate license at the beginning of this year, and some of our buyers and sellers have already had the chance to work with her.

Coming from a background in music and education, Shirley is passionate about teaching our clients everything they need to know about their real estate transaction.  After graduating from McGill University with a Music Degree and then doing an Education Degree at the University of Prince Edward Island, music has been at the heart of Shirley’s teaching career.  She has been teaching music for 22 years and over the last 10 years, she has been employed by the Calgary Board of Education.  Shirley is an accomplished cellist and performs with the Calgary Civic Orchestra.  She has shared her love of music with countless students and also provides cello lessons at a private music school.  To add to her list of accomplishments, Shirley is also bilingual.

For many people, buying or selling a home is a learning experience.  Even though our clients hire us to represent their best interest in the transaction, they still want to have a strong sense of awareness each step of the way.  After all, buying a home is one of the most important decisions that you make in your life.  Shirley prides herself in providing exceptional customer service, and will take the time to answer all of your real estate questions.

As always, we appreciate your business and your referrals.  Shirley and I look forward to assisting you with your real estate needs.  Have questions about selling your home?  Thinking about making a move in the near future?  Don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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.