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March 8th  is International Women’s Day.  This special day commemorates the many obstacles that women have overcome in their struggle for fair wages, equality and human rights.  There is no doubt that women have made incredible progress throughout history. They have demonstrated the amazing ability to rise to the occasion and excel in their personal and professional lives, often simultaneously.

Without the women in our lives, many of us wouldn’t be where we are today.  My wife often offers her perspective when I am dealing with challenges.  She helps me to evaluate how I should respond and reason carefully.  I look back at these situations and appreciate that I have her input when I am deciding the best course of action.  I won’t say that she is always right, because I don’t want her to hold it against me later!

Woman view the world with empathy.  As mothers, their perspective helps to raise children to be thoughtful and considerate of others.  It helps to foster a sense of community and makes our kids grow up to be understanding and non-judgmental adults.

Women excel at being patient, understanding and thoughtful.  They are able to bring a positive energy to just about any situation.  They are organized and methodical and can multitask their way around the most hectic schedules.  In the real estate industry specifically, women do a great job at putting their clients at ease and building great relationships.  They are strong negotiators and have a good understanding of the emotional side of the home buying and selling experience.

There are many women throughout history who have raised the bar personally and professionally.  Helen Keller, Amelia Earhart, and Harriet Beecher Stow made their mark in history and are still regarded as role models today.  As professionals, women are dominating every industry in Canada.  They make exceptional leaders and bring a fresh perspective to their industries.

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.

Bryon is as driven to help his clients sell or buy a home in Calgary as he is to finish well in the toughest bike races or triathlon competitions. When not enjoying the outdoors running, biking, swimming or skiing, he enjoys walking his dog in the many beautiful parks where he lives in Altadore, and hanging out with his family at home or the many nearby restaurants in Marda Loop. He married his high school sweetheart (and still is thanking his lucky stars), who teaches performing arts at Central Memorial High School and plays cello in her own ensemble and also with the Calgary Civic Orchestra. He’s a devoted Dad, and will stop at nothing to assist his late teenage kids along in their education and interests. Bryon and his family originate from Canada’s East Coast and  moved to Calgary in 2003. Learn more about him and his real estate tips at TheHowardTeam.net.

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.

Bryon and wife Shirley at the first Alberta Cup Race of this season in Canmore. Shirley won a Silver Medal for her age group in the Skate Category!

I love skiing; it’s great exercise but even more than that, it gets me out in our spectacular winter environment. These events bring out a big crowd ready for a little competition and a lot of fun. Many of the events are family-oriented. In February, there are two events worth noting. Try one out yourself.

Canadian Birkenbeiner Ski Festival

The premier ski event in this area is the Canadian Birkenbeiner Ski Festival. It’s held the second Saturday in February every winter (7th and 8th this year). The event is east of Edmonton at Cooking Lake. It usually attracts about 2,000 skiers and has something for everybody, so bring the family! The five events offer an opportunity to participate no matter what the age or ability. I’ve done this race before. If you’re not up to the skiing, volunteer. There are over 600 volunteers who take part as well. People come from all over Canada to this event. Enjoy the very festive atmosphere, the great skiing and the scenery.

Cookie Race

This year, I’m also considering the 37th annual Kananaskis Ski Marathon, better known as the “Cookie Race.” Yes, there are cookies along the way and yes, it’s a marathon, so lots of cookies. This year, it will be held at Peter Lougheed Provincial Park on Saturday, February 22. I can’t imagine how many cookies it takes to satisfy over 600 skiers.

Here are some tips for participating in ski events:

• Show up on time. This means get there in plenty of time to park, suit up, prep your gear and not rush to the start line. It can be nerve-racking to cut it too close and have to rush. Put energy into skiing, not in worrying about the time.

• Dress right; this can be challenging. It’s cold, sure, but you warm up quickly and need to shed layers. Not too cold and not too hot.

• Get the right wax for your skis. If you’re not sure, ask someone or go to a ski shop. The right wax makes a big difference in the amount of effort and energy you have to put out.

I’m looking forward to getting out and enjoying the scenery we are so fortunate to have here in Alberta. Skiing is great exercise and good for the entire family. Let me know if you will try one of the events I’ve mentioned!

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.

Image Courtesy of Photo Dean

Recently, I had a number of clients who were looking for a Craftsman bungalow in Altadore. It’s a pretty interesting architectural style, so I figured I’d dig up some info on it and share it with you. Who knows, it might catch your fancy too.

Historical treasures

The Altadore area of Calgary was established in 1945, when the classic Craftsman bungalow was at the height of its popularity. Many of these original bungalows have been restored to their classic style, and others have been torn down to make way for more spacious contemporary living. Some of these original homes were actually sold from the Sears catalog and came as a kit to assemble on-site. The design was typically one or one-and-a-half stories, with a long and low profile characterized by a large front porch beneath an extension of the main roof, also referred to as a “veranda.” These houses are usually small, with some having less than 1,000 square feet of living space.  

The Charm of Bungalows

Bungalows in Calgary are becoming increasingly popular options for empty nesters and downsizing seniors who prefer not to constantly navigate up and down stairs. Most of the living space is on one floor that offers convenience with a very comfortable style and layout. Features often include a single bathroom, two or three bedrooms, an eat-in kitchen, and a living room. Some have a detached garage, which is a real plus in an in-town setting. These homes are also a good option for first-time home buyers who want to get into a neighborhood that might otherwise be out of their price range. In some houses, there is the opportunity to expand the second floor living area by taking in the large eave spaces. Every once in a while, an original bungalow will come out on the market as a “fixer upper” for people who want to build equity over time. These can be real gems in the rough.

Because the style has a lot of contemporary appeal, in-town builders often use the  bungalow style but break with the traditional layout to offer a separate dining room, up to six bedrooms with a large garage, and the luxury of higher-end homes. You will also see the style out in suburb communities, in houses that have a hint of bungalow but with much more contemporary space.

I enjoy showing this style to my real estate clients because it is so unique to Altadore. If ever you’ll find yourself here, give me a call and I’ll take you to see one!

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.

The New Year is on — goals are set, and for me, that means it is time to get things done. I’m busy with real estate; of course, my family; and the outdoor winter sports I love. I love to operate at 100%, which means being efficient and thorough. Here’s how I do it. Maybe this will give you some ideas for setting your goals and getting them done. 

Focus on the right skills and best practices.

In real estate, it is important to be analytical. The market is defined by numbers — for example, prices, inventory, finance, trends, and economics. Clients look to me for expertise on what is happening in the real estate market. I know the market and use what I know to help my clients achieve their goals. In this business, best practices mean really knowing the real estate statistics, and your clients.

Always be ready to learn something new.

Technology advances everyday. In real estate, it improves client communications. Important information about the market is at my fingertips. That means my clients know when something is happening that’s important to them. Technology helps me reach more people with the right information. But it’s not just about work. My wife and I make sure our kids have new experiences that expand their view of the world. With our two kids, we are constantly learning through their eyes. There’s always something new.

Work with competent people.

I’ve always found that teamwork produces a better product. When teams really click, you are more efficient and new ideas are always in the air. Good team members challenge each other to bring the best they have to offer. Team work is very rewarding for everyone. It’s not just a job well done by me, but a job well done by the team. Everyone benefits.

Keep it positive.

Everybody gets more done in a positive atmosphere. Even when things go wrong or just not the way you wanted, a positive attitude will bring better solutions. A positive attitude really makes a difference with clients. I’m confident that they are working with the best real estate team. We all hear about having a positive attitude in sports. It does make a difference. If I know I can take that difficult ski run, I will. If you know you have the right approach, you probably do.

It’s a new year, so let’s get things done!

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.

 Woot Woot! Just a few more weeks until the Annual Strides Streak!  It’s that time of year … where the dark comes early and the morning light comes late. How do we stay motivated to be active? STRIDES STREAK can be the answer.

Three years ago early in December I heard about an event called Strides Running Streak. It is put on by Strides Running in Marda Loop (http://www.stridesrunning.com/) each December as a way of encouraging runners to stay active over the busy Holiday Season. It’s pretty simple and actually involves keeping your clothes on. The idea is to burn off Holiday calories and fight the winter blues by running at least 1 mile per day (or longer), every day in December.

Last year, I signed up for the challenge and did manage to run at least 1 mile for everyday in December. Last year we had more snow in December than we have had in more than 100 years!

Most of the runs were on my own around the streets and paths of Altadore, River Park, North Glenmore and the Reservoir.  (All my runs were outside.)  A few runs were with other active ‘Streakers’ which was a lot of fun. While not required, “Streakers” shared photo’s and experiences while doing the run on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #StridesRunStreak. This helped to motivate each other.

I’m hooked … and will be streaking in December. Will you?

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.

6607 Silver Springs CR, NW. Beautiful views of both the city and mountains, short walking distance to the Bow River, wonderful parks and public transportation, the new buyers are thrilled to soon be living in this fantastic home, they could not ask for anything more. They will be enjoying their bright new kitchen, huge rec room, and $80,000 in recent renovations including: New windows, doors, furnace, driveway, deck, fence, landscaping and flooring. At the end of a long day the new buyers of this lovely home will be able to relax and enjoy the sun set on their huge deck or enjoy their park like west back yard before heading to bed in this stunning 4 bedroom house.  My Sellers are thrilled to be moving into a bigger 3 bedroom home with another walk out … even CLOSER to the LRT!

So excited! I get to do not one but two open houses today! My seller Wendy Rumboldt Renton asked if I was bringing cookies!!! (Do I look like I bake?) Please pop into 148 Hawkfield CR, NW between 1 and 2pm and/or 311 Templeby PL, SE between 3 and 4pm. Awesome family homes. MLS #C3506628 and #C3506608. (There will be no freaking cookie crumbs for me to have to clean up afterwards.) http://tinyurl.com/75bjuv5