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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.

My team and I are proud to announce that The Howard Team/ReMax House of Real Estate and I have both been selected as possible finalists for 2016 Metro Calgary Community Choice Awards. In order to be nominated and included in the final voting, we need our clients, colleagues, fellow real estate professionals, old friends and new friends to click on the link below to nominate us both in the categories of “Realtors” and “Real Estate Companies.” Voters are free to nominate their favourite business and business people once every 24 hours now through May 25^th.

The Metro Calgary Community Choice Awards provides an opportunity for the citizens of Calgary to vote for their favourite Calgary businesses in many categories – everything from hair stylists to auto mechanics to Realtors! My team of top producers and I have worked hard for years to earn the respect of our clients and peers through exceptional service and it is always satisfying to be recognized for a job well done.

We love the fact that the Community Choice Awards allow the residents of Calgary to shine a spotlight on their favourite Calgary businesses and then vote those businesses to the top. The list of the top ten nominees in each category serves as an excellent source for anyone looking for business and service provider referrals.

Perhaps we represented you in the purchase or sale of your home or both. Maybe you are a mortgage loan officer, home inspector or appraiser who has worked with us on many occasions. Anyone who has worked closely with my team and I understands that our clients come first and we receive highly positive feedback from everyone in our network of clients and contacts on a daily basis. The Metro Calgary Community Choice Awards and its easy to use portal will permit us to share with Calgary readers what we already know – that our clients respect and appreciate our representation and continue to hold us in high regard.

It only takes a few seconds to vote! Thank you for taking the time.

 Click here to nominate The Howard Team

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.

This year Valentine’s Day falls on the first long weekend of the year, Family Day! So why not combine a bit of romance with some family fun time? Here are just a few of the amazing events happening in Calgary that can satisfy the need for romance and good old family fun!

Take the Family on a Bike Scavenger Hunt

Every year, Calgary hosts an annual bike festival called Winterpalooza. This year’s event kicks off on February 10 and runs until Valentine’s Day. Some of the cool events happening this year include the Annual Polar Run, the Winter Bike Scavenger Hunt and the Winterpalooza photo booth. For more information about Winterpalooza and the events that lead up to it, visit cyclepalooza.ca

Check out a winter music festival

For the music lovers, start your weekend at one of Calgary’s newest music festivals, the Block Heater Festival. Organized by the Calgary Folk Music Festival, the three day event is hosting twenty different folk and roots musical acts. A few of the performers at the inaugural festival include The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer and Elliott Brood. Tickets start low at $15. For more information, visit calgaryfolkfest.com

Spend the day at the market

One of the best things about the Calgary Farmers Market is that it’s opened year round. And if you love the market, you can get a taste of it at the Market Eatery, a satellite retail location of the restaurant. At the eatery you can buy the Market’s chocolate treats, sauces and condiments here.

On Valentine’s Day the actual market will be transformed into a romantic destination with live music and entertainment. Open for brunch and lunch, visitors can enjoy a roaming musical quartet, make fruit flower Valentine’s with Poppy Innovations, and capture your love in their romantic photo booth. Check out calgaryfarmersmarket.ca for more details.

Celebrate all things winter in Canmore

The Canmore Winter Carnival has been happening for more than two decades and returns on February 1. Plan a weekend getaway to enjoy all the different carnival events such as the World Cup Biathlon event, cooking classes, art workshops and mutt races that take place until the end of March.

Go shopping at a new Italian market

Sauce Italian Market is a bakery, a deli, a market and a restaurant. With specials every day of the week you can stop by for a coffee or lunch to enjoy some of the spectacular food or one of their daily specials. (The two-for-one pizza deal on Tuesdays is hard to pass up.) After you eat, check out the grocery store where you’ll find signature sauces, house-made pasta, salad dressings and plenty of imported cheeses and charcuterie.

There are so many other amazing events happening in the city on Valentine’s/Family Day weekend. And with a wide variety of great restaurants in the neighbourhood your choices are endless! Enjoy the weekend!

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

About Bryon Howard

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

If you could start over and be a kid again, which sports would you choose to participate in?  Being active is a big part of my family’s lifestyle.  It seems that our favorite sports are the ones that we are familiar with because we know our own abilities.  Especially as an adult, it might be intimidating to go out on a limb and try something brand new.

For the kids in Calgary, there is a unique opportunity to try their hands (and feet!) at a whole range of activities.  Leaving the Talisman Centre after a swim yesterday, I noticed a poster promoting “ALL SPORT ONE DAY“. The event takes place on June 20 and features a full day of sport discovery for kids aged 6 to 12.  That’s 50 exciting sports to try in 14 facilities around Calgary.

Bike racing in Edmonton recently as a ‘master blaster’ at Velocity Stage Race, I had an ‘epic for me’ 3rd place finish with a ‘long ago’ Olympic Rower Joe S.  We finished 3rd and 4th by taking a chance and breaking from the peloton with 5km left in the race.  After the race, I asked him if he would encourage his kids into rowing. From my perspective, it looks like a peaceful and beautiful sport.  His response surprised me.  “Oh no,” he said, “I hate that sport.  It’s the same lake – over and over again. So boring.  I love cycling and the variety of terrain you get to see.”

I guess that got me thinking – what is the right sport?

Growing up I played all kinds school sports.  I spent a great deal of time alpine skiing and then got pretty good at Rugby and played during University.  I suppose Rugby set me up to be a pretty tough endurance athlete.

I’m not sure I would have wanted my parents to do anything different in terms of promoting a particular sport to me.  I was fortunate to be exposed to plenty of challenging activities and have maintained a love for athletics all my life.

Times are different now.  Just the other day, I saw a couple of kids outside on the street playing street hockey. That was awesome. It not something you see as often anymore, but it reminds you of a time when sports weren’t limited to organized leagues.  Kids just played to have fun.

I recently heard an interview where an adult vocalized that kids from Junior High to High School should have a compulsory sport; meaning they MUST participate.  It’s an interesting idea, and probably one that would be met with a range of strong opinions.  Athletics aren’t necessarily for everyone, but there are so many life skills that can be derived from achieving an athletic skill or playing on a team.

I tend to agree with this concept, and it wouldn’t hurt to get kids committed to learning a musical instrument as well!  In my job, I visit plenty of homes and see a lot of kids staring into devices.  While I don’t like it, I understand it. My home is the same, and as adult, we are also guilty as charged.  Technology has taken the place of real life activities in many ways.

Living in Calgary, we really do have the opportunity to shape our kids lives and assist them with their high performance sporting goals. Many young Canadians travel to Calgary to live with host families and train with our great coaches and facilities.

If you know kids between 6 and 12 years, try to encourage them and their parents to participate in the All Sport One Day on June 20. Who knows, your kids may discover some amazing abilities that they didn’t even know they had!

So – knowing what you know now, which sport would have been right for you as a teenager?  Do you wish you had committed to a team sport so you could feel confident about joining a league as as adult?  Are there any athletic activities that you recently discovered that are now an important part of your life?  Which sport would you direct your ‘loved’ neighbours, nieces, nephews, and kids into?

Have a great weekend.