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The spring market is already in full swing in Calgary. There is no doubt that our real estate climate is quite a bit different during the same time last year. Although we’ve had a bit of a slow start, it’s important to remember that we are constantly comparing the market to 2014, which was a record-setting time. If you are seriously considering making a move, the changes in the economy have made it essential to have a smart plan in place.

As a buyer, you are in an excellent position to find exactly what you are looking for, without finding yourself in a bidding war over and over again. First-time buyers need to take advantage of the current market conditions while they last. The interest rates are unbelievably low and entry-level homes are in abundance. Still, many like to exercise caution in the market – values may decrease or a better deal maybe just around the corner. The key is to not wait too long. We have seen similar states in Calgary in the past, so there is really no guarantee that this buyer’s market is here to stay for the long haul.

As a seller, recognize that buyers are still seeing the value in the real estate market. They may be a little more cautious than they were in 2014, but they certainly know good value when they see it. Homes are taking a little longer to sell simply because there is no shortage of inventory. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to have a strong pricing strategy and go the extra mile to make sure your home shows a 10+. There are plenty of resources available, and home stagers, in particular, can make an ordinary home look quite exceptional for a reasonable investment.

If you are finding yourself on both sides of the transaction, be sure to work with an experienced Realtor who can help you create the right strategy to accomplish your real estate goals. Should you buy first then, put your house on the market? Should you set out to find your ideal home after selling? The right answer varies depending on the type of property you have and are seeking to upgrade to.  In a buyer’s market, it is advisable to sell your home first. This will allow you to move forward knowing exactly how much equity you’d be able to bring into your new purchase.

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.

A quick rundown of what’s going on in the market for the first 31 days of 2015.

Find out more!
Website: www.TheHowardTeam.net
Facebook: Calgary Real Estate by The Howard Team
Twitter: @Calgary_Life
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bryonhoward

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.

Buying your first home is an exciting process.  You’ve probably worked hard and made lots of smart decisions to get you closer to your goal of becoming a homeowner.  More so than any other purchase, it’s important to educate yourself in several areas and set realistic expectations.

Understand the current market conditions.  The real estate market is always changing.  Sometimes it favours buyers, sometimes it favours sellers.  It can be affected by a variety of factors including interest rates, available inventory, consumer confidence, and even the weather.  You need to work with a local real estate professional who understands the market in your area.  This will equip you to make the right decisions and negotiate wisely when purchasing your first home.

Sit down with a mortgage professional.  It’s easy to get caught up in the purchase price of a home, but the monthly payments are what will really have an impact on your budget.  A mortgage professional will take the time to help you figure out exactly how much you will need to put aside for your down payment, what kind of interest rate you can expect, and how much your new home will cost you on a monthly basis.

Research how far your money will go and consider the various housing options within your budget.  Although you may have a particular type of house or neighbourhood in mind, you might be pleasantly surprised if you step outside your comfort zone.  Take the time to see properties in person, think about your long term goals, and weigh out the pros and cons of whatever is available in your price range.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew.  If you are looking at homes that need some TLC, bring someone along who can help you understand the scope of the project.  Renovations can be a profitable investment in the right areas, but you need to do some homework ahead of time to make sure it’s worth your time and effort.  With a little research and the help of the right professionals, buying your first home will be an exciting and rewarding experience.

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.

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.