Blog

My wife Shirley and our son playing frisbee

My family is one of the things in my life that inspires me to work hard, take care of myself and do my best in everything that  I set out to do.  Even though our kids are getting older, my wife and I like to spend time with them whenever their busy scheduels and our allow.  We appreciate the great outdoors together by going hiking, kayaking, or just a walk with our dog Max in the local parks.  We try to go cross country skiing a few times a year.  After a busy day, we all realy enjoy a meal together at home as a family.  The time that we spend together creates lots of great memories and allows us to talk and enjoy each other’s company.

My son is especially good  at reminding my wife and I about the importance of our connections with our friends and family.  Like everyone else our lives get busy with work and other obligations, and he will freuquently ask a question –  making sure that we take the time to connect with the people that are important to us.  Sometimes our kids need to remind us where our real priorities lie when we get caught up in the details of our daily lives.

One of the best things about living in Calgary is that there is no shortage of activities that you can do as a family.  Whether your family enjoys outdoor activities, theatre, or science – there is something for every age and activity level.  Each season brings new opportunities for adventure and trying to keeping up with the kids is sure to keep you feeling young at heart.

If you are looking for an exciting event this spring, The Calgary International Children’s Festival is taking place May 21st to the 24 th .  This is a great family event that offers live shows, open air activities, and a toy theater.  Bring your kids to get their faces painted and enjoy all the lively entertainment that this show has to 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 TheHowardTeam.net.

About Bryon Howard

Bryon Howard is a top-producing real estate agent with RE/MAX House of Real Estate in Calgary, Alberta. He and his team sell an average of two homes a week–mostly single-family homes, luxury homes, condos and commercial properties. He is a member of the MLS Million Point Club, which ranks him roughly in the top 1% of productive realtors in Calgary. Bryon is above the pack because he aims not just to please clients but to help them buy/sell their dream home in Calgary at the best price, in the shortest time, and with the least hassle. He is well-equipped to do this with his sterling education, capped by an MBA degree from Athabasca University and degrees from Acadia University, the University of Prince Edward Island and the Universite de Bourgoyne in France.

As an Altadore real estate professional, it is important that I am connected to my community.  I have had the opportunity to sit on the board for the Marda Loop Communities Association.  This association manages the facilities, community events and other recreational activities in South Calgary, Altadore-River Park, Garrison Woods and the commercial district of Marda Loop.

This association assists in the issues surrounding neighbourhood planning, parks and transportation in the community.  They are also responsible for an extensive calendar of activities for kids, adults and seniors.  If you are new to the Calgary area, this is a great way to fill up your social calendar with some great fitness classes and educational events.  Be sure to stop by the outdoor pool or the ice rink depending on the season.

This non-profit association has been operating for over 40 years by a group of dedicated and hard-working volunteers.  They commit their time and talents to improving the neighbourhood life in Calgary.  If you are looking for a great way to meet new friends and get involved with your community in South Calgary, consider volunteering for the Marda Loop Communities Association.  They are always looking for extra helping hands to assist with planning, volunteer during the events, or help out with many of the children’s programs.

Although I no longer sit on the board for this association, I still enjoy participating in their community events.  The Indulge Event, held every spring, is a fantastic food and wine expo that brings many residents together.  The event gives restaurants in the Marda Loop area a chance showcase a sample from their menus.  There is a silent auction followed by a live auction later in the evening.  This event is not to be missed, and I look forward to seeing you at Indulge 2014.  Please feel free to say hello and let me know if you have questions about the Altadore real estate market.

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 is a top-producing real estate agent with RE/MAX House of Real Estate in Calgary, Alberta. He and his team sell an average of two homes a week–mostly single-family homes, luxury homes, condos and commercial properties. He is a member of the MLS Million Point Club, which ranks him roughly in the top 1% of productive realtors in Calgary. Bryon is above the pack because he aims not just to please clients but to help them buy/sell their dream home in Calgary at the best price, in the shortest time, and with the least hassle. He is well-equipped to do this with his sterling education, capped by an MBA degree from Athabasca University and degrees from Acadia University, the University of Prince Edward Island and the Universite de Bourgoyne in France.

It’s understandable that home owners contemplate selling their home themselves. Doing so would seem to save money and may look pretty simple; clean the house, put up a sign and do some open houses. For those home owners thinking about this approach, I’d like to provide some details you may not have thought about.

Know the market

First, pricing a house needs objectivity and excellent knowledge of the current market. What is the current inventory in your estimated price range? What are the prices of comparable properties? How long do properties stay on the market before they sell? Why are some houses on the market for a long time and others sell right away? Are there lots of buyers in the market right now? It takes all this information to price a house to sell in a reasonable amount of time and get market value for your it.

Stage your home properly.

Proper staging prepares a house to show from the buyer’s viewpoint, not the seller’s. Buyers are very influenced by their first impressions of a house, inside and out. It only takes seconds for buyers to get a first impression, a few seconds to look at the yard and the entry way, and another few seconds to get the feel of the house as they walk in and glance around. Staging is critical to capturing a buyer’s interest and making sure there are no major distractions. You may not notice where repairs are needed, but they will.

Hold open houses.

Once a house is ready to show, you need to have open houses that get traffic from interested buyers. You need to balance being available to describe your property’s attributes with leaving buyers to look on their own. Buyers can find it very awkward when home owners are in the house as they walk through.

Make your house is available to show for the convenience of buyers and their realtors, not for your convenience. That means making the house available during the day and during the week. Just nights and weekends won’t sell the house. When showing the house, be organized and relaxed. Plan ahead how you are going to handle showings and practice.

Evaluate offers.

As the home owner, you will be working directly with agents to negotiate offers. Receiving an offer is just the start of negotiations that determine the sale price and other important terms. You need to know how to evaluate buyers as well as their offers.

There is much more to selling a house than you might think. An agent knows all these details and represents the seller’s best interests — from setting the right price to negotiating the best sale. Before you decide to sell your house yourself, think realistically about all it takes to be successful. You might want a professional agent in your corner.

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 one home 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 who are considering condos as investments are entering a solid condo market. Condo sales have been doing very well in Calgary because of the migration into the area for jobs. No investment is a sure thing, though, and even in a good market, investors still need to do their homework. No matter what the market is like, I can offer a few tips based on my experience in this market.

Always do the math.

Every investor has a different set of financial circumstances and expectations. What you pay for a property is obviously a big factor. However, investment calculations need to consider mortgage carrying costs versus cash in the deal. Look at any tax implications in the short and long term. Plan how to handle utility costs and property taxes in establishing the right rental fee.

Have a good idea of how long you are going to hold the property and why.

This is important to factor into expectations for return on your investment. In the short term there is the cash from rental income but it takes time to build value from market appreciation.

As with any real estate, it’s all about location.

Know the neighborhood, current rental rates and who makes up the rental population. Some neighborhoods are in transition either up or down. Get details on the local rental market from your Realtor®.

Check too the economic trends outside the local neighborhood.

Those trends have a significant impact on neighborhood real estate, e.g., mortgage rates, employment figures and market stability.

Consider the pros and cons of new construction versus established properties.

With new construction, you can get a better price and staggered payments in the pre-selling phase of a condo development. Initially, you will have significantly low maintenance and upkeep costs. However, there is uncertainty in the final value of the property once it is finished. It’s good to know the track record of the builder regarding on-time completion and building quality. You will need to find tenants who are looking for new construction. Existing condos have a track record of income, and the sale price reflects this value. The characteristics of current tenants give you a good foundation for finding the right tenants for your purchase.

I have a lot of experience working with condo investors. Some have made good investments and others, not so good. I’m glad to put my experience to work in making the right information available to my clients to help them make the best business decisions.

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 one home 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.

Image Courtesy of Land Rover MENA

Are you all set for 2014? This is my first post for this new year, but unfortunately, it’s nothing new. In the last year, I raved on and on about Altadore real estate and about Calgary real estate in general (even during the great flood when the Calgarians’ volunteer spirit shone bright), and I’ll just keep doing that now! All indicators are telling us that this year will be quite a strong one for Calgary, especially as it is projected to lead in job growth throughout Canada. So personal incomes are expected to rise, as is population growth driven by in-migration. With that, housing demand should be on an upswing and the city, in building hyperdrive.

Let me just quickly share a few exciting facts here on how the Calgary housing market is doing. Last year was a record year for the city, as home prices across the board as well as sales volume hit all-time highs! The price increased almost 7% year-over-year to $456,703, and the sales volume, by 11%, spurred by several factors such as higher-than-expected employment growth and net migration, low unemployment rates, low mortgage rates, a decrease in new listings, and the lowest vacancy rates in a decade. This year, not only Calgary but the entire province of Alberta is seen to outperform national markets, due to sustained employment, income, and population growth.

I’m ready. I’ve made my goals, and I am always very focused. Maybe I get that from competitive biking, where I have to be fast but to keep my eyes on the road even as I have to know what’s coming from all around me. That should bode well for my clients, who can expect better service and smoother transactions. I will continue to keep close to them and to reach out to all who need help with their real estate needs here in Calgary, through this blog and my overall online presence, and through the good old personal touch.

Of course, there’s again the Calgary Stampede to look forward to this year. We saw it happen come hell or high water last year just days after the record flood, so I’m excited to see what it will do now especially to get everyone fully back to our usual fun and festive spirit. Get your tickets early!

Bring it on, 2014!

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 one home a week. He is a member of the MLS Million Point Club, which ranks him roughly in the top 8% 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.

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.

It’s the New Year and the frequent topic of discussion at the beginning of each year is our list of resolutions.  Well, I have accumulated quite a few over the years while working in the Calgary real estate market, and I’ll just say that I have made quite a few realizations over the years about resolutions.

Change is a Gradual Process

It is one thing to desire to change and it is another thing to actually realize it. Resolutions are great and everyone has a list somewhere. These lists usually have eating healthy, exercising more, calling friends and family more often, or even something as mundane as taking the trash out on time.  Now, all these resolutions are great, but I think we have to be nice to ourselves and not expect that we should accomplish everything in our list in one go. It’s like searching for a home where you don’t simply take the shotgun method and scour the entire Calgary real estate market in one day. Instead, you visit one or two open houses in a day, take note of what you like or not like about the property and methodically go through your list of requirements. It’s the same way for changing ourselves via resolutions—we take things slowly and methodically. First, we choose one particular resolution we want to tackle and, second, we stick to the resolution until it becomes habit. In my case, I wanted to cut down on sugar so I decided to cut down my soda intake. I told myself, instead of drinking soda, I would drink water instead. After a month, it was wonderful to see that I had created for myself a new, healthier habit! It’s really about being patient, mindful, and methodical.

Making Your List

I tend to think resolutions are starting to become pretty generic at times. While it’s great that a lot of individuals are getting conscious about their health, their eating habits, or just trying to connect better with friends and family, sometimes, you have to wonder if those resolutions are indeed yours or someone else’s. If they aren’t your resolutions or you don’t feel too strongly about the particular list of changes, chances are that you won’t stick to them. The great thing, however, about the start of the year is that it is a good chance to assess what we truly want to see in our lives. Now, it doesn’t have to be these large and abstract goals, though those can be great too. However, if a goal is too daunting, just go for something simpler and mundane. In my case, I opted for simpler goals which I thought I could easily accomplish without getting sidetracked. Here’s my list from a years back that should illustrate my idea:

• Take my family out to more cross-country skiing trips
• Have a fresh fruit smoothie everyday
• Join a marketing seminar/course
• Figure Twitter out
  

Think Small, but Genuine Change

My list fits a broad idea of what it is that I’d like to see in my life or attain for myself. For example, I know that I may not know everything there is to know about the Calgary real estate market so I am always in favor of education or at least keeping myself up-to-date. I want to have a healthier diet, but I was not too keen, at that time, on following a strict regimen so I opted for having a fresh fruit smoothie as often as I could. In short, I was looking for specific and attainable goals which worked well for me and I knew I was passionate about.

Now, before this blog post becomes a lot longer than it should, I’ll just end it with this reminder: Be patient with yourselves, go for the things you care about, and stick to your resolutions. With that, have a 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

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