Calgary Real Estate - Josh Hamilton - Century 21 Bamber Realty Ltd.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - The terminology of condo ownership explained

by Sharon EssingtonMortgage Matters | Vol. 28 No. 29 | July 15, 2010 Calgary Real Estate News Continuing on with our discussion around key terms and things to know when considering buying, let’s have a look at some of the specifics involved in purchasing a condominium this week.In Calgary, for the month of June, the average sale price for single family homes and condos were $481,964 and $292,238 respectively, ccording to the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®). With condos costing an averag ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:41:42 -0600

Saturday, July 3, 2010 - Risk and reality

The long and short of it is, combination mortgages work in uncertain times BY HELEN MORRIS - NATIONAL POST JUNE 29, 2010 In recent years, a number of lenders have begun offering mortgages that feature a fixed and variable combination.Photograph by: Photos.com There is a lot to consider when deciding whether to go for a fixed or variable rate mortgage -- not least, your tolerance of risk and your ability to sleep at night. Generally, fixed rate mortgages charge a higher rate and cost more, bu ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 03 Jul 2010 17:58:27 -0600

Saturday, June 26, 2010 - How do mortgage changes affect you?

Plenty of confusion over government rules BY BILL MCFARLANE, CALGARY HERALD Tortoises carry their homes on their backs -- but people should avoid that idea.Photograph by: Photos.com Unless you're a turtle, you don't want your home to be a big weight on your back. But for many people, the thought of buying a home is just that, a weight. Where to look? What to look for? How much to pay? What is the impact of the new the government rules for qualifying for a mortgage? The considerations go on a ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:35:27 -0600

Monday, June 21, 2010 - Love at first sight is not always right

BY MARIE-JUDITH JEAN-LOUIS, CANWEST NEWS SERVICE JUNE 17, 2010 Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you fell in love with a home, bought it, moved in and then realized that it just wasn't right? If so, chances are you bought a Fast House. According to John Brown, founder of Slow Home (theslowhome.com), almost 20 per cent of homeowners move within the first three years of their purchase and buy another home because they are unsatisfied with the way their house functions. That's bec ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:58:40 -0600

Sunday, June 13, 2010 - Forget market timing, buying a house is about life timing

Homes are a long-term investment By Garry Marr, Financial Post June 10, 2010 Predicting the ups and downs of the housing market is near-impossible, so the best time to buy is when you can afford it.Photograph by: Tyler Anderson, National Post'You know, you're making the biggest mistake of your life. The housing market is going to fall." I got this great piece of advice from another journalist at the Financial Post, who has since left the newspaper, after buying my first home. Not exactly the ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:45:29 -0600

Tuesday, June 8, 2010 - Calgary housing starts leap 80% in May compared to year ago

Analyst expects hot trend in Calgary won't last through 2010 BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JUNE 8, 2010 10:02 AM According to preliminary figures released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., total housing starts in the reached 862 units, up 79.6 per cent from 480 units in the previous year. Photograph by: Archive, Calgary Herald CALGARY - Housing starts in May ballooned in the Calgary census metropolitan area compared with year-ago levels. According to preliminary figures release ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 08 Jun 2010 10:24:27 -0600

Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - Slower growth seen for Canada house sales, prices

TORONTO (Reuters) - The Canadian Real Estate Association cut its 2010 forecast for resale house prices and sales on Wednesday, saying sales in British Columbia were not as strong as expected at the start of the year. The industry group said it now expects the average price to climb 1.6 percent to C$325,400 ($309,905) nationally in 2010, a big drop from its previous forecast of a 5.4 percent gain. Sales are seen rising 5.5 percent to 490,600 units in 2010. In February, CREA forecast sales of 527 ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:54:33 -0600

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - Making the most of a small space

Focus on refitting your flexspace BY CLAUDIA KWAN, VANCOUVER SUN It’s the space that’s supposed to be a bonus in condominiums: the one marked "flex" or "storage" or even "multi-purpose" on the floor plans. The problem is, the space is often so small, it hardly serves any purpose at all. Designer Erik Lauzon of Konstruk Design has seen how much of a disaster these rooms can be. "The flex room becomes a dump. People throw in stuff that they don’t know where else to put, or mayb ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 25 May 2010 22:38:21 -0600

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 - Clean up, cash in

A garden can change the resale value of a home, for good or ill BY HELEN MORRIS, NATIONAL POST Long before a buyer signs on the line to purchase your home, you need to get them to come in the front door. The last thing you want is for them to take one look at the front of your home and drive straight on by. "When they pull up in front of it, you want them to go 'Hey, wow, this looks good,' and want to go inside," says Laurin Jeffrey, an agent with Century 21 Regal Realty. "I've pulled up in f ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 19 May 2010 11:41:36 -0600

Sunday, May 9, 2010 - Checklist for open house

BY ANNA VOZZA, THE WINDSOR STAR For a complete list and advice on prepping your home for an open house, talk to your realtor. Before throwing your doors open to potential buyers, use this checklist: - De-clutter. This can't be overemphasized. A cluttered home is a turnoff to most buyers. It's also potentially dangerous: you don't want people injured as they navigate through the clutter. And don't stuff everything into cabinets and closets -- people will be looking there to assess storage capa ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sun, 09 May 2010 20:07:46 -0600

Monday, April 26, 2010 - Green and growing

One of the fastest growing towns in Canada, Okotoks deals with 'surge' BY KATHY MCCORMICK, CALGARY HERALD It's all about compromise and trying to maintain the quality of life of one of the fastest-growing communities in the country. Okotoks, the town 18 kilometres south of Calgary, was one of the first communities in Canada to recognize its environmental limits to growth were restricted by the carrying capacity of its local water supply. In 1998, it capped its population at 30,000 people -- a ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:47:58 -0600

Thursday, April 22, 2010 - Bank of Canada gives notice on rate hikes, no date

The bank expects the private sector to become the sole driver of domestic demand in Canada by 2011, making this year a "turning point" as monetary and fiscal stimulus, which kick-started the recovery, are withdrawn. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, already in Washington for the Group of 20 talks, said he was "relatively comfortable" with the Bank of Canada's projections, saying they show Canada is emerging from the recession stronger than any other G7 country. The central bank said the housing se ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:22:59 -0600

Monday, April 19, 2010 - Last gasp for housing

Sales growth slows as pent-up demand peaks BY GARRY MARR, FINANCIAL POST APRIL 19, 2010 1:13 PM The spring homebuying season has reached a fever pitch with a record number of "for sale" signs being placed on Canadian lawns for the month of March. But there are indications the market has reached the peak with nowhere to go but down. The Canadian Real Estate Association said yesterday that 97,663 properties were put on the market last month, a 25% increase from the number of new listings in Mar ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:10:48 -0600

Thursday, April 15, 2010 - Canada home resales rise in March, new listings up

April 15, 2010 – Reuters.com TORONTO (Reuters) - Sales of existing homes in Canada climbed 1.4 percent in March from the month before, while a rise in new listings pointed to a more balanced housing market, the Canadian Real Estate Association said on Thursday. The industry group said a total of 43,621 homes changed hands on a seasonally adjusted basis in March, boosted by strong activity in the Toronto and Ottawa markets, which more than offset a decline in activity in Vancouver that was ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 15 Apr 2010 23:07:04 -0600

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - Mortgage rates rise for second time in a month, up a quarter point at Royal

Tue Apr 13, 5:48 PMThe Canadian Press TORONTO - Royal Bank is boosting its mortgage rates by a quarter of a point effective Wednesday, marking the second time rates on home loans have risen in the last month. Canada's largest bank (TSX: RY.TO) said Tuesday all of its fixed-rate closed mortgages will move higher, from a six-month convertible to 10 years. The new rates are effective Wednesday. The announcement marks the second mortgage rate increase from the banking industry in recent weeks, as t ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:54:21 -0600

Monday, April 12, 2010 - Housing starts dip in March

Financial Post Published: Monday, April 12, 2010 OTTAWA - Canadian home construction fell unexpectedly in March after revised figures showed more housing starts in February than previously reported. The seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts decreased to 197,300 units during the month from an upwardly revised annual rate of 200,400 units in February, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation said Monday. February starts were previously reported as an annual rate of 196,700 units. "Th ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:58:00 -0600

Sunday, April 11, 2010 - Interest rates to remain low through 2011: CIBC

Julie Fortier , Financial PostPublished: Thursday, April 08, 2010 OTTAWA - With the Canadian economy doing surprisingly well over the past six months, many see higher interest rates from the Bank of Canada in the not so distant future, but according to a report released Thursday from CIBC's chief economist Avery Shenfeld, rates are likely to remain at a very low 2.5 per cent through to 2011 - not the seven to eight per cent forecast by some. With the Canadian economy doing surprisingly well ove ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sun, 11 Apr 2010 13:52:50 -0600

Thursday, April 8, 2010 - Canadian data shows economic recovery taking hold

By Louise Egan – Reuters.com OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian economic recovery remains on track as purchasing activity jumped more than expected in March and building intentions were near a 2007 peak despite cooling slightly in February, according to reports on Wednesday. Statistics Canada said the overall value of building permits slid 0.5 percent in February versus market expectations of a 2 percent gain, due to a sharp decline in construction plans for apartment buildings. But analysts ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:31:51 -0600

Monday, April 5, 2010 - Avoid becoming a victim of fraud

High values make homes key targetMarty Hope, Calgary Herald Home ownership remains the dream of the vast majority of Canadians, but there are those out there hovering like vultures, waiting to swoop down and turn that dream into a financial nightmare. Toronto real estate lawyer Ray Leclair says, because of the high value attached to homes, they are also a key target for fraud -- and Canadians have the potential to lose "big time" if they don't know how to protect themselves. For most of us, hom ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:49:37 -0600

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 - Suddenly money is not so cheap

Rising mortgage rates announced Monday signal the end of historically low home borrowing costs and present Canadian consumers with a dilemma: either stay flexible, hope for the best and ride out the next several months or lock in to long-term loans. Three big banks raised their mortgage rates by more than half a point, effective Tuesday, and most industry watchers expect that's just the beginning of future small jumps that will hike the the cost of home ownership the rest of this year. For co ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:00:00 -0600

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - Setting the stage for a successful sale

Spring cleaning will help when house goes on the market Jean Patteson, McClatchy News Service Want to sell your home? Get out the bucket, mop and Mr. Clean. If your house isn't clean, it instantly sends up negative thoughts that the home is not well maintained. If your house is spotless, you're ahead of the game. "Get it clean, clean, clean," said Rinomato. "If your house isn't clean, it instantly sends up negative thoughts that the home is not well maintained. If your house is spotless, you're ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:46:45 -0600

Monday, March 29, 2010 - Canadian banks hike mortgage rates

Tara PerkinsFrom Tuesday's Globe and Mail Published on Monday, Mar. 29, 2010 9:16PM EDT Canadian banks delivered the first clear sign that the era of rock-bottom interest rates is over by suddenly hiking mortgage rates, a move that will cost Canadians more to finance home purchases and likely hasten an expected slowdown of the red-hot housing sector. Surging home sales and prices were already expected to cool in the second half of this year as more listings hit the market and the Harmonized ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:00:29 -0600

Thursday, March 25, 2010 - Doing it yourself can yield designer results

Published by Cody Stuart – CREN MagazineMarch 25, 2010 When it comes to the world of designer home fashion, saving money isn’t likely the first thought that enters most people’s minds. With the cost of a simple kitchen chair running into the thousands at some of the city’s furniture boutiques, having a set of furnishings that is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the wallet might appear like an unrealistic expectation.Lucky then for the discerning homeowner that DIY chic ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:27:21 -0600

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - Comparing Maui abodes to Calgary

David Parker, Calgary HeraldPublished: Saturday, March 20, 2010 Vacations are supposed to be a getaway from work. But like many others, I find it hard to stop comparing Calgary to other cities I visit. I'm just back from a weeklong trip to Maui -- a great escape from the snow that still covered my lawn the day we left. There are some wonderful homes on Maui -- including several owned by Calgarians -- but the uniqueness of The Rainbow House at Ka'anapali Coffee Farms is the 3,600-square-foot liv ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:28:37 -0600

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - New Mortgage Rules: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Canadian Mortgage Trends.com March 10, 2010 On April 19 our government will lay down three major rule changes to “prevent” a housing-price bubble and keep homeowners from getting “overextended.” Here is the official announcement from today: Finance Department release These new rules apply to government-backed insured mortgages only. The Good: 5-Year Fixed Qualification Rates The New Rule: Borrowers will need to qualify using a 5-year fixed rate regardless of what term ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:33:14 -0700

Monday, March 8, 2010 - Housing starts, home buying intentions rise

By Ka Yan Ng Reuters – March 8, 2010 Canadian housing starts rose a better than expected 6.1 percent in February, reinforcing views that the residential housing sector is a key lever pulling the economy out of recession. Starts on new homes rose to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 196,700 units in February from a downwardly revised 185,400 units in January, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said on Monday. The number of starts in February surpassed the consensus expectation ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:02:41 -0700

Thursday, March 4, 2010 - Bank of Canada keeps rates low despite robust growth

Tue Mar 2, 2010 Reuters By Louise Egan OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada held its key interest rate at a record low on Tuesday, but signaled it is getting closer to raising rates, though promising again not to do so before the third quarter. The central bank reiterated the commitment it made in April 2008 to keep its target overnight rate at a record low 0.25 percent until the end of the second quarter, conditional on inflation staying on track. In its policy statement, however, it ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:54:13 -0700

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - CMHC forecasting boost to new, resale housing markets in Calgary

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. is forecasting increases in both the new home and resale housing markets this year and next year in Calgary and in Alberta. In releasings its updated market forecast today, CMHC said the Calgary census metropolitan area will see total housing starts rise by 20.3 per cent this year to 7,600 units followed by a 21.1 per cent hike in 2011 to 9,200 units. BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD MLS sales in the Calgary area are expected to climb by 10.9 per cent to 27 ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:45:53 -0700

Saturday, February 20, 2010 - Why cooling housing market may precede a spring rush

Michael Babad Globe and Mail Update Published on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010 3:18PM EST Last updated on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010 8:05PM EST Today's top stories from Report on Business : Home buying rush expected in spring Canada's housing market remained vibrant in January, though showed signs of cooling from December. Year over year, resales rose 58 per cent in January, though from a depressed state a year earlier, the Canadian Real Estate Association said today, and prices rose almost 20 per ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:25:39 -0700

Thursday, February 18, 2010 - Why Jim Flaherty's mortgage rules won't hurt homebuyers

This won't hurt a bit, homebuyers. Rob Carrick Ottawa — Globe and Mail Update Published on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 12:42PM EST Last updated on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010 2:24PM EST The mortgage rule changes announced Tuesday by Financial Minister Jim Flaherty will weigh a bit on real estate speculators and heavily indebted people who want to fold their high-rate credit card debt into a lower-rate mortgage. But for rank and file homebuyers, the changes will barely be perceptible when they ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:50:19 -0700

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - The way we buy houses might be changing

Flaherty moves to toughen mortgage rules By CBC News Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has announced new rules aimed at preventing homebuyers from getting into financial difficulty when mortgage rates rise. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced new rules Tuesday aimed at preventing homebuyers from getting into financial difficulty when mortgage rates rise. After consulting with major Canadian lenders, Flaherty outlined the latest weapons at Ottawa's disposal aimed at removing some of the spec ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:21:56 -0700

Monday, February 1, 2010 - Home renovation tax credit exipres

Some big-box home renovation stores stayed open later than usual Sunday night to accommodate Canadians hoping to take advantage of the federal Home Renovation Tax Credit. Consumers had until midnight to buy eligible supplies to claim the tax break before the program ended. The Canada Revenue Agency said building materials that arrived at homes before the deadline would qualify for the credit. Those materials don't have to be installed before the deadline — just purchased. Homeowners were ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:52:04 -0700

Monday, January 11, 2010 - Bank of Canada backs off housing bubble talk

By CBC News, cbc.ca, Updated: January 11, 2010 3:31 PM The Bank of Canada backed away Monday from its recent warnings about a real estate bubble in Canada. In a speech in Edmonton, bank official David Wolf ruled out increasing interest rates to discourage mortgage lending. Wolf, an adviser to bank governor Mark Carney, said that in the central bank's view it is premature to be talking about a housing bubble in Canada. "We see the housing market requiring vigilance, not alarm," he said. He ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:33:09 -0700

Monday, January 4, 2010 - Loonie hits two-month high as oil, equities climb

Jennifer Kwan, Reuters Published: Monday, January 04, 2010 Reuters Canada’s dollar advanced against most of its 16 major counterparts as oil, the nation’s biggest export, traded above US$81 a barrel for the first time since November. TORONTO -- The Canadian dollar rose nearly one U.S. cent against the greenback on Monday as the price of crude oil rallied and global equity markets kicked off 2010 on an upbeat note, increasing demand for riskier assets. The unit rose to its highest ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:36:22 -0700

Wednesday, December 30, 2009 - Condo boom leaves little room for families

Garry Marr, Financial Post Published: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 It is the dominant form of housing under construction in urban centres across the country. But smart design and effective use of space cannot compensate for the fact that the condominium is simply too small for families. The typical unit is a one-bedroom and averages about 600 square feet. According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., multi-family units made up half of the 117,500 units constructed in the first 11 months of 20 ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:18:37 -0700

Wednesday, December 30, 2009 - Industry rises to challenge

Marty Hope, Calgary Herald Published: Saturday, December 26, 2009 Now that the jolly old guy is back at home sleeping off his around-the-world-in-one-night gig -- and the turkey leftovers are being readied for sandwiches while the newest toy is being played with -- there is time for homebuilders and consumers to reflect on 2009. Frustrating? Got that right. Baffling? To say the least. At the start of the year, there seemed to be a whole ton of doom and gloom -- a hangover from 2008 when wor ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:29:07 -0700

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - Generation gap for homebuyers

Desire to buy remains, priorities differ BY MARTY HOPE, CALGARY HERALD I can still clearly remember, as a high schooler, the day my dad came home from work and dropped a large brown envelope on the kitchen table. There was no big celebration, just satisfied smiles. My mother opened the envelope, looked inside and put it in her cedar chest. The letter marked the day when the home they had purchased in 1943 for something like $7,000 was theirs. The mortgage had finally been paid off. Every ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:33:53 -0700

Monday, November 16, 2009 - Canada's dirty oil needed on market: UN report

The world needs Canada's so-called dirty oil, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday even as it called on leaders to make decisive moves to slash greenhouse gas emissions at a United Nations-sponsored negotiating session next month. "World leaders gathering in Copenhagen next month for the UN Climate Summit have a historic opportunity to avert the worst effects of climate change," IEA executive director Nobuo Tanaka said in a statement after releasing the agency's annual World Energy Out ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:14:20 -0700

Monday, November 16, 2009 - Why choose a condo?

Lifestyle a prime motivator as market perks up By Marty Hope Edmonton Journal November 7, 2009 Condo living is a lifestyle choice--it reflects how the owners use their time, or how they want to use it. They don't want to shovel snow, cut grass or tend gardens. They want to be able to get up and go, enjoy leisure time, or pack up and go on vacation without the security worries that go with a house. Baby boomers, empty nesters and young people make up the bulk of the condo demographic. For Ka ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:09:08 -0700

Monday, October 26, 2009 - Sacrifice vacations to own home?

Make Sacrifices: Vacation plans shelved in favour of buying house Bradley Bouzane, Canwest News Service Most Canadians would give up their vacations if it meant owning a home sooner, according to a new report. According to the report, vacation budgets were high on the list of things to cut in order to buy a home. Sacrificing vacations also remained a common solution to adjust to lost income, such as layoffs or reductions in hours. The First-Time Homebuyer's Monitor, made public yesterday by ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:01:03 -0600

Thursday, August 20, 2009 - Albertans upbeat about buying a house

By Bill Mah Edmonton Journal More Albertans believe now is the time to buy a home than in anytime since PricewaterhouseCoopers began tracking the indicator in early 2007, said the firm’s business and consumer confidence survey released Monday. Buying a house reached an index rating of 164 in July--the highest index since tracking started in February 2007. It was 157 in May and 146 in March. "Consumers continue to see advantage in purchasing a house in the current economy," said David B ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:19:17 -0600

Thursday, July 2, 2009 - Plenty of good deals remain in Calgary

Marty Hope, Calgary Herald Published: Saturday, June 27, 2009 You blinked, didn't you? After months of patiently waiting for the market to hit bottom--and watching interest rates, house sales and prices slide--you blinked. And in that nanosecond, you might have missed it. Don't be upset. You're not the only one. I recall one real estate front-liner saying to me: "If you are waiting for the market to bottom and it does, then you've already missed it." The real estate and housing recovery, a ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:54:45 -0600

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - Tweeet! This building's rad

Residential developers use Facebook, YouTube--and even Twitter -- to market projects Lisa Van de Ven, National Post Tridel, for one, is doing it. Follow the developer on Twitter and you'll find out about new prices and sales milestones, and be linked to suite floor plans. Or if you'd rather, join their group on Facebook, become a friend or just a fan and get your information that way. It may not be the most traditional method of marketing a condominium development, but Toronto developers ar ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:55:00 -0600

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - Affordability drives increase in home sales

First time buyers generate interest Marty Hope, Calgary Herald Published: Saturday, May 16, 2009 Calgary's resale housing market is chugging along. Once in a while, you hear of a home that has attracted more than one buyer, setting up a bidding war--but for the most part, the sales engine in this buyers' market is purring along nicely. In April, nearly 1,300 detached homes were sold through the Calgary Real Estate Board's MLS system, along with 579 condos. As I've said previously, affordabi ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 19 May 2009 16:53:41 -0600

Friday, May 1, 2009 - Warranty program protects buyers

Every Thing From Deposits To Structural Problems Marty Hope, Calgary Herald Whether you know it or not, when you decide to build a new home, there's more to it than just picking a community, picking a floor plan you like and deciding on price. When you sign on the dotted line with a builder, it marks the start of a personal relationship that could last a decade. To get the most out of the relationship, make sure the builder is a member of a reputable warranty program and is also a member of th ... Full Article...

posted in General at Fri, 01 May 2009 13:32:00 -0600

Monday, April 27, 2009 - Pace of home sales up in March

Canwest News Service; Financial Post Published: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 The Canadian real estate market is still sinking, but the rate of decline is slowing, indicating that stability is at least returning, the country's real estate board said Wednesday. The number of transactions on existing homes on a seasonally adjusted basis rose seven per cent month-to-month in March. The number of transactions on existing homes on a seasonally adjusted basis rose seven per cent month-to-month in Ma ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:05:30 -0600

Sunday, April 26, 2009 - More Cash In Our Homes

Canadians have more equity in their houses than Americans, says survey. National PostThe study for the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals shows Canadian homeowners have, on average, 72% equity in their house, compared with 43% for Americans. Canadians continue to have more than two-thirds more equity in their home than Americans, according to a new survey. The study for the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals shows Canadian homeowners have, on avera ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:16:50 -0600

Saturday, April 25, 2009 - What Rate Cuts Mean to Mortgages

The latest rate cut means consumers buying a house can borrow for as little as 3% interest on their loan if they are willing to buy into the Bank of Canada’s statement Tuesday that it won’t be changing rates until June, 2010. If you don’t believe the bank will hold steady on its promise, you can lock into five-year, fixed-rate mortgages for as low as 3.85% on a discounted basis -- the lowest rate in Canadian history. But all of that may amount to nothing when it comes to soo ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:18:12 -0600

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - The New Website!

Today marks the first day of the new website. The new site offers a wealth of fresh industry information that's constantly being updated. Have a great time checking it out!

posted in General at Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:02:39 -0600