Calgary Real Estate News- All your info on the real estate market in Calgary - Twitter @joshua_hamilton

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - Typical January for Calgary real estate

The housing market pointing towards price stability Calgary, February 1, 2012 – Home sales in the City of Calgary are off to a slow start as buyers show continuing caution, according to figures released today by CREB®. “Overall, the market is behaving as expected for the winter season,” says Bob Jablonski, president of CREB®. The year-over-year volume of residential sales in the City of Calgary dropped, but the inventory of available homes declined even faster in January 2 ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:25:31 -0700

Thursday, January 26, 2012 - Irishman makes "billion-euro home" of shredded banknotes

BY CONOR HUMPHRIES, REUTERS JANUARY 26, 2012 DUBLIN - An unemployed Irish artist has built a home from the shredded remains of 1.4 billion euros ($1.82 billion), a monument to the "madness" he says has been wrought on Ireland by the single currency, from a spectacular construction boom to a wrenching bust. Frank Buckley built the apartment in the lobby of a Dublin office building that has lain vacant since its completion four years ago at the peak of an ill-fated construction boom, using bricks ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:23:58 -0700

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 - Calgary luxury condo unit pre-sells for record $8.3 million

The River development also has two sales over $5 million BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 25, 2012 CALGARY — Calgary condo sales have reached new heights after a luxury unit fetched a record $8.3 million, before construction has begun. The 5,260-square-foot condo will cover the entire 12th floor of the 15-storey development called The River, located along the Elbow River, which flows through the southern portion of the city. Already, more than $30 million in real estate has be ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:29:25 -0700

Monday, January 23, 2012 - Calgary housing market 'moderately unaffordable'

Vancouver second least affordable in world BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 23, 2012 Calgary’s housing market was rated as one of the most affordable in Canada by an international survey. CALGARY — Calgary’s housing market was rated as ‘moderately unaffordable’ by an international survey released Monday which also shows Vancouver as the second least affordable in the world. The Eighth Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey, which ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:13:25 -0700

Thursday, January 19, 2012 - Calgary MLS sales and prices to rise in 2012: CREB

Increasing consumer confidence cited for growth BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 19, 2012 Increasing consumer confidence in the second half of the year will boost the city's resale housing market pushing MLS sales and average prices higher for the year, says the Calgary Real Estate Board. At its annual forecast breakfast on Wednesday, CREB predicted single-family home sales would jump 12.2 per cent in 2012 to 14,800 transactions while the average sale price would increase by 2.1 per ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:38:51 -0700

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 - East Village residential sales centre opening April 1

Developments could break ground by this summer BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 17, 2012 A rendering of a portion of the three-tower residential-retail development proposed by Bosa Embassy Inc. for East Village. CALGARY — A sales and marketing centre for residential development in the East Village will open April 1. Michael Brown, president and chief executive for Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, confirmed Tuesday that the 8,000-square-foot centre will educate interested ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:47:07 -0700

Monday, January 16, 2012 - Calgary MLS sales in 2011 top Canadian average

Up 7.0% from the previous year BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 16, 2012 CALGARY — Calgary MLS sales in 2011 bested the Canadian average for year-over-year growth, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. In releasing its year-end data on Monday, the association said sales of 22,466 units last year were up 7.0 per cent from the previous year while in Canada sales grew by 2.2 per cent to 456,749 transactions. Sales across Alberta jumped by 6.9 per cent to 53,146 units ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:39:03 -0700

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - Flaherty sees signs of moderate growth

CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - Finance Minister Jim Flaherty pointed on Wednesday to encouraging indications of growth in Canada, despite difficult economic times in Europe and elsewhere. "There are good signs of moderate growth across the Canadian economy, including in manufacturing - for example, the auto sector in Ontario, which has shown considerable strength in 2011 and is expected to do so in 2012 again," he told reporters on a cross-country tour ahead of the annual budget. Flaherty also sa ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:22:59 -0700

Monday, January 9, 2012 - Calgary's real estate market poised to turn the corner in 2012: CREB

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 4, 2012 CALGARY — Calgary’s residential real estate market is poised to turn the corner as 2012 will signal increasing demand for housing in the city, says the president of the Calgary Real Estate Board. “I believe it’s imminent that we’ll start to see the result of all those economic indicators come to fruition and hit the ground, get traction this coming year. It’s got to happen,” said Sano Stante in a year-e ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:59:31 -0700

Tuesday, January 3, 2012 - Calgary MLS sales in 2011 top previous year

Single-family and condo transactions both increase BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 2, 2012 CALGARY — Calgary single-family and condominium MLS sales in 2011 both topped levels recorded in the previous year, according to preliminary unofficial data. On the website of Calgary realtor Mike Fotiou, of First Place Realty, it says year-end sales in the single-family market reached 13,186 in 2011, up from 12,091 in 2010. Condo sales rose to 5,382 units in 2011, up from 4,858 the p ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:07:14 -0700

Thursday, December 29, 2011 - Canadian housing boom in its 13th year, but showing signs of cooling: Report

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2011 CALGARY — Canada’s ongoing housing boom is in its 13th year but showing some signs of cooling, says a global real estate report released Tuesday. The Global Real Estate Trends report, authored by Adrienne Warren, senior economist and real estate specialist with Scotia Economics, said Canada has been a “notable outperformer” in the housing market compared with nine other developed countries including France, Switzerland ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:06:28 -0700

Wednesday, November 30, 2011 - Calgary resale housing market sees increased activity

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD NOVEMBER 29, 2011 Sales of Calgary homes in October increased compared with a year ago. Photograph by: Ted Rhodes, Calgary Herald CALGARY — Calgary’s resale housing market saw sales grow in October but the average price dip, according to the Conference Board of Canada. In a report released Tuesday, the board said the seasonally-adjusted annualized rate of sales in Calgary was 22,572 during the month, up from 22,344 in September and an increase fro ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:57:21 -0700

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 - Alberta forecast to be only province with increase in housing starts

Job and net migration growth fuel housing demand BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD NOVEMBER 22, 201 CALGARY — Alberta will be the only province next year to buck the national trend for housing starts across the country. According to an October 2011 Housing Forecast report released Tuesday by Altus Group, only Alberta is expected to see an increase in housing starts in 2012. Subdued economic growth will take the “sizzle” out of Canadian housing starts in 2012 and deteriorati ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:49:40 -0700

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 - Canada using hard-to-forge plastic for $100 bill

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada released a new C$100 bill made of plastic on Monday, its first step in replacing an entire series of banknotes to thwart counterfeiters and persuade retailers it's safe to accept big bills. The brown polymer note, identical in size and color to the existing paper C$100 note, is made with the same plastic used by some 32 other countries. But Canada is the first to add a metallic hologram that is especially difficult to fake. The release of the plastic C$100 note comes ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:51:32 -0700

Tuesday, November 1, 2011 - Calgary described as Canada's "hot growth mecca"

But pipeline decision could impact development BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD NOVEMBER 1, 2011 CALGARY — The big question for the future of Calgary’s commercial real estate market is whether the United States approves a new oilsands pipeline through Alberta and south of the border in the face of environmental challenges, says a report released Tuesday. “A go signal could rev up the market to another level,” says the PricewaterhouseCoopers and Urban Land Institute&r ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:36:38 -0600

Saturday, October 8, 2011 - East Village receives national recognition

Calgary Municipal Land Corporation cited for excellence in project development BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD OCTOBER 5, 2011 CALGARY — Calgary Municipal Land Corporation has been named a recipient of a national ‘Brownie’ Award from the Canadian Urban Institute for Best Overall Project — Large Scale for its work on the East Village redevelopment project. The CUI Brownie Awards recognize leadership and innovation in brownfield redevelopment, and place emphasis on pr ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:10:47 -0600

Sunday, October 2, 2011 - Positives balance negatives, housing market should remain stable in 2012: BMO

BY KIM COVERT, FINANCIAL POST SEPTEMBER 29, 2011 OTTAWA — Housing sales and prices should remain fairly steady into next year, as a slowing economy is balanced by low mortgage rates and relatively low unemployment, a report to be issued Friday by BMO Capital Markets suggests. "Low interest rates have fuelled Canada's housing market in the past decade, pushing prices to new highs in most regions," said senior economist Sal Guatieri. "However, a weaker economy and new mortgage rules have ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sun, 02 Oct 2011 11:47:59 -0600

Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - Price for repeat Calgary home sales up

Increase of 2.3% in July from June BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD SEPTEMBER 28, 20 CALGARY — A survey of repeat home sales shows Calgary prices increased in July by 2.3 per cent from the previous month. But the Teranet-National Bank House Price Index, released Wednesday, also indicated Calgary prices are down 0.9 per cent from a year ago — the only centre in the survey to experience a year-over-year price decline. The index is estimated by tracking observed or registered home ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:50:11 -0600

Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - Canadian real estate market an outperformer: Scotia Economics

Standing out in resilience and longevity BY MARIO TONEGUZZI SEPTEMBER 27, 2011 10:01 AM CALGARY — The renewed slowdown in global economic activity is putting further downward pressure on already-weak residential property markets across much of the developed world, according to the latest Global Real Estate Trends report released Tuesday by Scotia Economics. And while Canada’s hot housing market also has begun to cool, it remains a “notable outperformer,” says Adrienne ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:04:18 -0600

Tuesday, September 20, 2011 - Another Calgary condo boom coming?

Keynote Urban Village and University City to launch new towers BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD SEPTEMBER 20, 2011 CALGARY — Are we looking at another residential condominium boom in the city? This weekend two high-profile projects launch sales initiatives on the next phases of their developments to capture the renewed interest in the market. Keynote Urban Village is opening its doors Saturday to a new show suite for its Residential Tower Two project in the east Beltline area while Un ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:21:14 -0600

Thursday, September 15, 2011 - Calgary MLS sales jump 22% in August

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 12:02 PM CALGARY — MLS sales in Calgary rose by 22.1 per cent in August compared with a year ago — a greater year-over-year rate of growth than the rest of the country. The Canadian Real Estate Association said Thursday that Calgary recorded 1,907 MLS sales for all residential properties during the month for an average price of $394,251, up 2.2 per cent from last year. New listings in Calgary rose by 11.7 per cent in August to 3,819 and the sale ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:46:15 -0600

Tuesday, September 6, 2011 - Good news having rates come down, more money for consumers to afford the debt and live.

BNN.ca staff 2:02 PM, E.T. | September 6, 2011 Canadian, Economy Investors expecting that the Bank of Canada will maintain its hawkish tone when it announces its interest policy on Wednesday will be disappointed, according to an economist at Goldman Sachs. The interest rate decision comes after recent reports showed the Canadian economy contracted in the second quarter. "In terms of policy, at a minimum, the BoC will decide to keep rates on hold this meeting and this 'warning' language will b ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:46:25 -0600

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 - Calgary region house prices forecast to rise

2.2% annual hikes in 2011, 2012 BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD AUGUST 24, 2011 Calgary region MLS average sale prices are expected to increase in the next two years. CALGARY — House prices in the Calgary region are expected to rise in the next two years, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. In a new forecast report released Wednesday, the CMHC said the annual growth rate for MLS average prices in the Calgary census metropolitan area will be 2.2 per cent in 2011 and the s ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:14:59 -0600

Monday, July 18, 2011 - Condos to rise again as confidence builds

Several projects in motion BY KIM GUTTORMSON, CALGARY HERALD JULY 14, 2011 In a sign of rising optimism about Calgary's housing market, a number of condo towers in the city's centre are moving ahead - including two that stalled with the economy, with shovels already in the ground. "It's all very positive," says David Watson, the city's general manager of planning, development and assessment. "It says to me people are pretty optimistic about the future, any of these plans are probably a two-year ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:34:46 -0600

Tuesday, July 12, 2011 - July Newsletter

Check out my July newsletter for all your Stampede and real estate info in Calgary! /siteFiles/File/July2011-Josh Hamilton(1).pdf

posted in General at Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:33:25 -0600

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - Internet more popular as homebuying tool

Buyers use Net to research mortgages BY MARIO TONEGUZZI JUNE 22, 2011 CALGARY — The Internet has become a valuable resource for homebuyers, according to the 2011 Mortgage Consumer Survey by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., released Wednesday. Among recent buyers using an online search engine, the most popular search terms included interest rates (86 per cent), mortgage options (76 per cent) and mortgage calculators (69 per cent). Of those who noted using the Internet during their resear ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:44:35 -0600

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - Canadian housing sales supported by increased employment

By MARIO TONEGUZZI THU, JUN 9 2011 After some encouraging signs of revival last year, residential real estate markets in much of the developed world are losing momentum — or in some cases, even reversing course, according to the latest Global Real Estate Trends report released today by Scotia Economics. "Increasing nervousness over global economic prospects alongside rising food and gas prices and persistently high unemployment are keeping potential buyers on the sidelines despite highl ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:09:58 -0600

Thursday, June 9, 2011 - Alberta's average rent highest in Canada: Survey

Calgary region among highest in Canada BY MARIO TONEGUZZI JUNE 9, 2011 CALGARY — Alberta has the highest average monthly rental rate in the country and the Calgary region is among the highest in Canada of major centres, according to a survey released Thursday by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. The agency in its Rental Market Survey said provincially the highest average monthly rent for a two-bedroom unit in new and existing structures in April was Alberta’s $1,029 followed by Brit ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:33:35 -0600

Saturday, June 4, 2011 - Calgary single-family sales and prices increase in May

Condo market sees decreases BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JUNE 1, 2011 CALGARY — Single-family MLS sales and the average sale price rose in May compared with a year ago, according to the Calgary Real Estate Board. In releasing its monthly data Wednesday, CREB said there were 1,313 single-family transactions for an average price of $489,482 during the month. Sales were up 4.04 per cent from the 1,262 sales in May 2010 and the average price increased by 1.29 per cent from the $483,240 ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:04:43 -0600

Tuesday, May 24, 2011 - Calgary housing starts to increase in 2012

Contraction expected this year BY MARIO TONEGUZZI MAY 24, 2011 CALGARY — After contracting this year, housing starts are forecast to bounce back in Calgary in 2012, says an Altus Group Housing Report. The report by the economic consulting firm says total starts in Calgary for 2011 are expected to be 8,200 in 2011, falling from the 9,300 experienced in 2010. The forecast for 2012 is 9,700 housing starts. A key factor is job growth. The report says job recovery bypassed Calgary last year & ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 24 May 2011 13:52:42 -0600

Saturday, May 21, 2011 - Calgary luxury home sales balloon

Up 51% this year BY MARIO TONEGUZZI MAY 18, 2011 CALGARY — Luxury home sales in Calgary have soared this year compared with a year ago, according to a report released Wednesday by RE/MAX. The real estate firm noted that 145 homes have sold from more than $1 million year-to-date until the end of April, a 51 per cent hike from the 96 sold for the same period in 2010. Tamara Pilipchuk, a realtor with RE/MAX House of Real Estate in Calgary, said some key factors contributing to the rise in t ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 21 May 2011 09:47:24 -0600

Friday, May 20, 2011 - Calgary house prices expected to grow 5% to 7% short term

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD MAY 20, 2011 CALGARY — Short-term year-over-year price growth for Calgary’s housing market is expected to be in the five to seven per cent range, says the Conference Board of Canada. The board’s Metro Resale Index indicates the average price in the city for a residential property in April was $407,900, up from $393,427 in March and from $395,468 in April 2010. The board also classified Calgary’s housing market as being in balanced condi ... Full Article...

posted in General at Fri, 20 May 2011 09:46:21 -0600

Thursday, May 5, 2011 - Employment growth to help Alberta housing demand

Sales to rise at modest level this year: Economist BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD MAY 4, 2011 CALGARY — Improving economic conditions and employment growth will lead to Alberta’s recovery in the residential real estate market, says a national economist. Warren Jestin, senior vice-president and chief economist with Scotiabank, who was in Calgary Wednesday, said housing demand in the province is underpinned by rising employment and incomes, low borrowing costs and population inflo ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 05 May 2011 10:18:07 -0600

Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - Auburn Bay community of the year

BY KATHY MCCORMICK, CALGARY HERALD APRIL 21, 2011 Everyone loves water, so living in a community that has its own private lake as a focal point is a bonus. But for one particular community, it’s not just the lake — it’s everything else that has put it in the spotlight. Brookfield Residential Properties (formerly Carma Developers) won two developer awards for its Auburn Bay community in southeast Calgary. The honour was announced at the recent Calgary region SAM (Sales and Mark ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:46:58 -0600

Thursday, April 21, 2011 - Price right for resale

By Kathy McCormick, Calgary Herald Affordability of housing is evident in the number of single-family sales in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest statistics from the Calgary Real Estate Board. And you'll want to look to the board's Zone B for those homes. A full nine communities in the area -which represents most of northeast Calgary -sold for an average price under $300,000. That represents 368 resale homes out of 403 in total in that category. The most affordable communit ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:10:06 -0600

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 - Apple to ship new iPhone in September: sources say

Wed Apr 20, 2011 1:02pm By Kelvin Soh HONG KONG (Reuters) - Apple's next-generation iPhone will have a faster processor and will begin shipping in September, three people with direct knowledge of the company's supply chain said. The production of the new iPhone will start in July/August and the smartphone will look largely similar to the iPhone 4, one of the people said on Wednesday. The iPhone -- introduced in 2007 with the touchscreen, on-demand application template now adopted by its rivals ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:34:35 -0600

Sunday, April 17, 2011 - Calgary council urged to OK suburban levy deal

BY JASON MARKUSOFF, CALGARY HERALD APRIL 15, 2011 The cost of new homes in Calgary could rise by about $8,000 under a proposed agreement between the city and developers that would see developers carry more of the cost of building new suburbs. The deal needs city council’s seal of approval.Photograph by: Colleen De Neve, Calgary Herald Calgary’s development industry is urging council to accept a new suburban levy deal that adds about $8,000 per new home, but also demands the city c ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sun, 17 Apr 2011 11:33:52 -0600

Friday, April 15, 2011 - Calgary average house price increases over last year by 1%

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD APRIL 15, 2011 Calgary residential MLS sales have fallen in the first quarter of this year compared with a year ago. CALGARY — The average MLS sale price of a residential property in Calgary has increased slightly so far this year compared with 2010. The Canadian Real Estate Association reported Friday that year-to-date, for the first quarter of 2011, the average residential price was $398,558, up one per cent compared with the first quarter of 2010. At ... Full Article...

posted in General at Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:06:22 -0600

Monday, April 11, 2011 - Young Canadians turning to home ownership

Most likely age group to purchase a new home in the next two years BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD APRIL 7, 2011 CALGARY — Once Joseph Silot and Amy Cruz were pre-approved for a mortgage, it took them about a month or so to find a home to purchase. The young Calgary couple viewed about 30 houses and condos before making their decision to buy a condo in the northwest neighbourhood of Sunnyside. “Numerous factors contributed to our choice to purchase a home,” said the 27-year ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 11 Apr 2011 22:21:03 -0600

Monday, April 11, 2011 - Calgary house prices headed for peak levels

Provincial commodity boom to boost real estate BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD APRIL 7, 2011 Real estate expert Don Campbell says Calgary house prices will rise in the next few years because of a strong Alberta economy. CALGARY — Average house prices in Calgary could flirt with record levels within the next two years due to a commodity boom in the province, says a real estate industry analyst. Don Campbell, president of the Real Estate Investment Network, said house prices could increa ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:26:52 -0600

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 - First-time Calgary homebuyers back in the market: Re/Max report

Nearly one-third of sales under $300,000 level BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD APRIL 5, 2011 CALGARY — First-time buyers have re-entered the Calgary resale housing market with “a renewed sense of confidence,” says a report released Tuesday by real estate firm Re/Max. In the first two months of this year, 32 per cent of all sales occurred under $300,000 in Calgary, said the report. Average price in the metro area was about $410,000, it said. “The strength of the entry- ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:49:29 -0600

Monday, April 4, 2011 - Pets & Home Sales

By: Elizabeth Weintraub Source: www.daverutherford.com Almost everybody loves pets except the home buyer who is buying your house. Don't ask me why, but that's often how it works out. Home sellers who adore their pets -- and I count myself as a huge pet lover -- have a hard time imagining the negative attitudes others harbor against pets. So, while this might be a bitter pill to swallow, if you want to get top dollar for your house, pay attention to how much you might lose with a dog or cat in ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:15:43 -0600

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 - Calgary house prices can expect 5-7% short-term year-over-year growth

Local market classified as balanced BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD MARCH 23, 2011 CALGARY — Short-term year-over-year price growth is expected to be in the five to seven per cent range for Calgary, according to the Conference Board of Canada. In releasing its monthly Metro Resale Index on Wednesday, the board said Calgary’s real estate market is currently classified as being under balanced conditions. In February, the average residential resale price rose to $406,216, up from $4 ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:26:25 -0600

Saturday, March 19, 2011 - Calgary residential sales and prices rise in February

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD MARCH 15, 2011 CALGARY - Overall residential MLS sales and average prices rose in Calgary in February, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. In data released Tuesday, CREA said Calgary sales, which included all residential properties, were 1,917 for the month, up by 0.2 per cent from a year ago. The average MLS sale price was $400,879, an increase of three per cent from February 2010. Sano Stante, president of the Calgary Real Estate Board, said ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 19 Mar 2011 15:12:41 -0600

Thursday, March 17, 2011 - Fixed-rate mortgages find few friends among brokers

ROB CARRICK Globe and Mail Published Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2011 How would you like to be a disinterested bystander during the coming run-up in borrowing costs? Toronto-Dominion Bank’s (TD-T82.30-0.42-0.51%) new special offer of a seven-year mortgage at 4.79 per cent will do that for you. Or, you can buy yourself a decade’s worth of protection against interest fluctuations with a 10-year mortgage at 4.99 per cent. I’ve been doing this job long enough to remember when those rates ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:46:18 -0600

Tuesday, March 8, 2011 - Condos help Canada February housing starts rise 6.6 percent

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian housing starts rose 6.6 percent in February, largely on a rise in starts of multi-unit buildings, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp said on Tuesday. Housing starts climbed to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 181,900 units in February from a revised 170,600 units in January. January starts were revised up slightly from 170,400. Analysts, on average, had forecast 173,000 starts in February. Urban starts rose by 9.4 percent to 161,000 units, driven by a 14.5 per ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:11:27 -0700

Wednesday, March 2, 2011 - Calgary home sales up for second month in a row

Condo sales down for 10 straight months BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD MARCH 1, 2011 Single-family home sales increased in February for the second consecutive month. CALGARY - Single-family home sales and average prices were up in February compared with a year ago. According to the Calgary Real Estate Board, sales in the single-family market hit 1,169 transactions last month for an average sale price of $461,786. In February 2010, there were 1,035 sales for an average price of $458,254. It ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:30:30 -0700

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - Calgary new condo market showing signs of life

University City sparks interest with buyers By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald February 18, 2011 CALGARY - A year ago, the new condo market in Calgary was "mired in a slump" but today it's "starting to show more life," says a residential real estate report by the Altus Group. The economic consulting firm said the success of the planned University City project at the Brentwood Village shopping centre shows that LRT stations offer potential opportunities for condominium apartment developers. Last ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:42:03 -0700

Tuesday, February 15, 2011 - January home resales highest since April

TORONTO (Reuters) - Sales of existing homes in Canada climbed to the highest level since April 2010 in January, led by strong markets in Vancouver and Toronto, the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) said on Tuesday. More than half of the local markets surveyed by CREA posted gains from the month before with a total of 39,481 homes sold in January, up 4.5 percent from 37,773 in December. Sales were down 6.6 percent from January 2010, however. Sales may have risen because of the federal gove ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:04:17 -0700

Saturday, February 12, 2011 - Alberta housing sales growth forecast to lead country

9.5% hike in transactions BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD FEBRUARY 10, 2011 CALGARY - Resale housing market activity has picked up in Alberta since last summer but "it still has some way to go before we can confidently declare it out of its lethargy," says a report released Thursday by RBC Economics. It predicts resales in the province to grow by a nation-leading 9.5 per cent this year. Also, the average sale price of a detached bungalow is forecast to grow by a nation-leading 4.2 per cent i ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 12 Feb 2011 10:04:29 -0700

Tuesday, February 8, 2011 - Calgary homeowners earn among highest rates of return in past decade

Average annual compounded rate of return 7.7% BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD FEBRUARY 8, 2011 CALGARY - Calgary homeowners earned among the highest compounded rate of return for real estate between 2000 and 2010, according to a report released Tuesday by Re/Max. The report said the average residential price in the city grew from $176,305 in 2000 to $398,764 last year - an annual compounded rate of return of 7.7 per cent. That bested the national average of 6.82 per cent. Across Canada, Re/M ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:02:19 -0700

Wednesday, February 2, 2011 - Calgary Real Estate Board January Stats

Check out what's been going on in the Calgary Market in January. I have a feeling we're in for a great year! http://www.creb.com/public/documents/statistics/2011/package/res-stats-2011%20January.pdf

posted in General at Wed, 02 Feb 2011 11:27:58 -0700

Tuesday, February 1, 2011 - Calgary home sales show positive signs of recovery

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD FEBRUARY 1, 2011 CALGARY - After eight consecutive months of year-over-year declines, MLS sales for single-family homes in Calgary showed a positive move forward in January to begin the new year. According to preliminary and unofficial statistics on the website of realtor Mike Fotiou, of First Place Realty, there were 791 single-family sales last month, up from 762 in January 2010. Condominium sales however continued to struggle during the month posting the n ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:35:44 -0700

Tuesday, January 25, 2011 - Penthouse sale sets condo record at $4.1M

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 24, 2011 A luxury penthouse condo in the Princeton Grand tower in Eau Claire sold for $4.1 million on the weekend, beating the previous record price of $3.7 million.Photograph by: Leah Hennel, Calgary Herald A luxury penthouse condominium in Eau Claire sold for $4.1 million on the weekend - the highest MLS sale price for a condo in Calgary. The condo was listed at $4.497 million. The listing by realtor Heather Waddell, of Royal LePage Foothills, descr ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:31:00 -0700

Saturday, January 22, 2011 - Resale house prices in Calgary expected to climb 5-7%

Resale market sees increase in seasonally-adjusted sales BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 21, 2011 Calgary's resale housing market saw annual seasonally-adjusted sales increase in December.Photograph by: Dean Bicknell CALGARY - Short-term year-over-year price growth expectations for Calgary’s resale housing market is in the five to seven per cent range, according to the Conference Board of Canada. The board’s Metro Resale Index, released Friday, said Calgary joins Victori ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 22 Jan 2011 11:12:31 -0700

Wednesday, January 19, 2011 - Canadian mortgages linked to strong economy

Lenders and borrowers 'highly prudent' BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 19, 2011 CALGARY - Residential mortgage credit has expanded very rapidly in Canada during the past decade, at an average of about 10 per cent per year, raising fears about the level of risk in the mortgage market and possible consequences for the broader economy, says a new report. The report - Revisiting the Canadian Mortgage Market-The Risk is Minimal - says the United States experience has provided a "sobering ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:37:26 -0700

Monday, January 17, 2011 - Ottawa toughens mortgage rules

BY ANDREW MAYEDA, POSTMEDIA NEWS OTTAWA -- Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is cracking down on Canadians' ability to qualify for a mortgage, in the government's latest attempt to rein in consumer debt. Flaherty announced Monday the government is reducing the maximum amortization period for government-backed mortgages to 30 years from 35 years. The change will affect mortgages with loan-to-value ratios over 80 per cent. Canadians will only be able to borrow up to 85 per cent of the value of their ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:47:57 -0700

Saturday, January 15, 2011 - Calgary's economy expected to grow over next two years

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 13, 2011 CALGARY - The road out of the recession has been an uphill but by no means steady climb for Calgary's economy. And "depressed natural gas prices and the laggard economy in the United States" will continue to be a drag on the city's recovery, says Calgary Economic Development's State of the Economy semi-annual review, released in partnership with the Herald. But oil prices recovering to pre-recessionary levels, strong recent indicators of forei ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 15 Jan 2011 10:35:59 -0700

Wednesday, January 12, 2011 - Calgary region housing starts soar by 47% in 2010

Most building began in early part of year BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 12, 2011 Housing starts in the Calgary census metropolitan area rose in 2010 compared with a year ago.Photograph by: Grant Black, Calgary Herald CALGARY - Housing starts in the Calgary census metropolitan area were up a whopping 47 per cent in 2010 from the previous year despite a recent slowdown in the homebuilding industry. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reported Tuesday that total starts finished the yea ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 12 Jan 2011 21:24:39 -0700

Monday, January 10, 2011 - January Newsletter 2011

Check out my January newsletter. It has a lot of great information on the Calgary market, as well as a list of many great things happening in and around the Calgary area. /siteFiles/File/Jan-2011-Newsletter - Josh Hamilton.pdf

posted in General at Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:27:03 -0700

Monday, January 10, 2011 - How things shaped up in December

Jan 10, 2011 // by Chad Moore Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB) released December’s statistics last week . I have chosen to highlight several statistics that I believe my community will be interested in. Before we dig into the numbers, lets review what these statistics mean. Sales to new listings ratio Yes this is a ratio which means it is a simple calculation. Take the number of sales divided by the number of new listings for that given month and voila, you have a ratio. If the sales to n ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:51:49 -0700

Friday, January 7, 2011 - Calgary building permits decline 20% in 2010

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 5, 2011 CALGARY - The estimated value of building permits in Calgary fell by 20 per cent in 2010 to just under $3 billion compared with the previous year. The City of Calgary reported Wednesday that the construction value reached $2.92 billion last year, down from $3.65 billion in 2009. The total in 2010 was also off 30 per cent compared with the five-year average of $4.16 billion and off by 12 per cent compared with the 10-year average of $3.33 billi ... Full Article...

posted in General at Fri, 07 Jan 2011 12:02:12 -0700

Thursday, January 6, 2011 - Home prices expected to rise further: Royal LePage

BY DEREK ABMA, FINANCIAL POST JANUARY 6, 2011 OTTAWA — Home prices will continue a "moderate and steady climb" this year, helped along by an improving economy and low interest rates, according to a report released Thursday. Real estate services firm Royal LePage said the average price of a home in Canada will rise three per cent to $348,600, even as the number of transactions falls two per cent. It said that after a "lacklustre" third quarter in 2010, home prices were up between 3.9 and 4 ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 06 Jan 2011 11:39:28 -0700

Tuesday, January 4, 2011 - Calgary MLS home sales drop to lowest level in years - But average prices continue to rise

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 4, 2011 Single-family MLS sales in Calgary plunged to their lowest level in more than a decade in 2010.Photograph by: Leah Hennel, Calgary Herald CALGARY - It will be remembered as one of the worst years for Calgary's residential real estate market in recent years. Data released Tuesday by the Calgary Real Estate Board showed single-family MLS sales in the city were the lowest in 2010 in more than a decade and condominium transactions were the lowest ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:54:38 -0700

Tuesday, January 4, 2011 - Calgary office market rises above global malaise

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 4, 2011 Gary Bugeaud, managing partner of Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP, says the law firm will be moving into the new Eighth Avenue Place in August. Photograph by: Ted Jacob, Calgary Herald CALGARY - It wasn't long ago that some industry experts were predicting challenging times for Calgary's downtown commercial real estate market. With two mega projects -- The Bow tower and Eighth Avenue Place -- still under construction, but set to deliver near ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:20:52 -0700

Monday, January 3, 2011 - Housing market had two faces in 2010

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JANUARY 3, 2011 The first part of the year was active. The second part flat. And it's left many people wondering what's in store for the housing market in 2011.Photograph by: Ted Rhodes, Calgary Herald CALGARY - This past year will be remembered as a tale of two different residential real estate markets in Calgary. The first part of the year was active. The second part flat. And it's left many people wondering what's in store for the housing market in 2011. ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 03 Jan 2011 10:14:00 -0700

Thursday, December 30, 2010 - Calgary annual house price growth predicted of 5-7% in short-term

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2010 CALGARY - Short-term year-over-year house price growth in Calgary is expected to be in the range of five to seven per cent, says the Conference Board of Canada. In its Metro Resale Index released Monday, the board said the average MLS sale price in the city in November was $397,239, up one per cent from October. Also, on a seasonally-adjusted basis MLS sales in November increased by 8.6 per cent from October to 21,017. Realtor Christina Hager ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:48:20 -0700

Tuesday, December 28, 2010 - Christmas is a homebuyer's market

BY GARRY MARR, FINANCIAL POST DECEMBER 21, 2010 When it comes to selling a house at Christmas, don't get rid of the tree all together, but don't overdo it with decorations either.Photograph by: Photos.com, Postmedia News Don’t over do it this Christmas, if you want to sell your house, that is. Royal LePage Real Estate Services says it’s time to start thinking about a smaller tree this year if you plan to list your home for sale over the holiday season. Those large, decorated trees c ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:08:18 -0700

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 - Housing market 'lands safely'

Easing of sales this year defused threat of overheating, crash: TD report BY JOHN MORRISSY, FINANCIAL POST; POSTMEDIA NEWS DECEMBER 10, 2010 There was no bubble and there will be no bust in Canada's housing market, TDEconomics said in a report Thursday. The market has instead "landed safely," said economist Pascal Gauthier. He said 2010 "was not what bubbles are made of. Similarly, under our forecast interest-rate profile, the next two years will not be what crashes are made of." The market's ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 14 Dec 2010 23:24:04 -0700

Friday, December 10, 2010 - Canadian resale housing lands safely, prices up

By Ka Yan Ng TORONTO (Reuters) - The Canadian residential housing sector is landing safely after a wild ride over the past three years, Toronto-Dominion Bank said in a report on Thursday. Looking ahead, the economics unit of Canada's No. 2 bank said it expects improved home sales and a higher average price next year, largely because housing affordability will likely be extended as uncertainty lingers about the global economy. "The most important development since our September forecast is that ... Full Article...

posted in General at Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:19:50 -0700

Monday, December 6, 2010 - Owning a home gets more affordable

BY DEREK ABMA, FINANCIAL POST DECEMBER 3, 2010 Lower home prices and mortgage rates helped push down the costs of home ownership, says RBC. OTTAWA — Owning a home in Canada became more affordable in recent months, according to the Royal Bank of Canada. RBC Economics Research released a report Monday saying the proportion of pre-tax household income it takes to own a home declined in the third quarter of 2010 after a full year of deteriorating home-ownership affordability. Lower home pric ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 06 Dec 2010 11:54:18 -0700

Friday, November 19, 2010 - How to buy a home and be protected if prices plunge

The Buyer Protection Plan (BPP) is a new and creative marketing tool designed to bring some certainty to an uncertain market. Potential home-buyers have been bombarded by negative news about the Calgary real estate market and have a real issue where home prices will be in 6-12 months. During uncertain times, buyers will gravitate towards certainty. During this economic cycle buyers are fueled by fear and find certainty with doing nothing or maintaining the status quo. The Buyer Protection Plan ... Full Article...

posted in General at Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:32:42 -0700

Friday, November 5, 2010 - Steeper fall seen for Canadian home resales this year

TORONTO (Reuters) - Home resales in Canada will decline more than previously thought this year due to weaker than expected activity in the third quarter, the Canadian Real Estate Association said on Friday. The industry group, representing more than 99,000 real estate agents across the country, said it now expects 442,200 sales in 2010, a year-on-year decline of 4.9 percent. In July it forecast sales would drop 1.2 percent this year. The association also lowered its forecast slightly for the av ... Full Article...

posted in General at Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:43:20 -0600

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 - How much to list your home for?

Listen to the experts BY HELEN MORRIS, NATIONAL POST Pricing a house for sale can be a touchy issue: The agent suggests a price based on a study of area sales, but the seller may want to list for more.Photograph by: Brett Gundlock, National Post Putting a price on what is likely your most valuable asset can be tricky, especially if you have lived in your home for a number of years and done it up just the way you want it. In your eyes, it may be the best home on your street. When it comes time t ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:58:24 -0600

Monday, October 25, 2010 - Securing a mortgage more complex for self-employed

BY HELEN MORRIS, NATIONAL POST A good credit rating is essential when applying for a mortgage.Photograph by: Getty Images, National Post Securing a great mortgage deal can take a bit of work and planning, but if you are a salaried employee then you will be taking a well-trodden path. Experts and friends and family alike will all be there to offer advice and tell you about their experiences. However, if you are self-employed, the process can be more complex. The most straightforward way to quali ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 25 Oct 2010 22:52:06 -0600

Monday, October 18, 2010 - Spoils of divorce

BY JOANNE LATIMER, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN Divorce may be a personal tragedy, but it was the best thing that happened to real estate. "In the 1970s and 1980s, it created a new demographic of middle-aged people who were on the move," noted seasoned Montreal realtor Pamela Cyr, my agent and trusted confidant. "Women entered the workforce, which changed everything. They had their own income and they didn't stay in bad marriages. It's rare to find couples who stay in the original marital home for 30 yea ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:04:03 -0600

Monday, October 11, 2010 - Harper says economy headed in right direction

By John McCrank OTTAWA (Reuters) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday said he is confident the global economy, while fragile, is headed in the right direction and he sees no need for further fiscal stimulus to bolster domestic growth. Harper's comments followed data showing Canada shed 6,600 jobs in September. Economists had expected a gain of 10,000. The unemployment rate dipped to 8.0 percent from 8.1 percent as less people were looking for work. South of the border, U.S. non-farm payrol ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 11 Oct 2010 22:41:45 -0600

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 - Whether buying or selling, be prepared

BY LINDA STERN, REUTERS If you want to buy a home and can afford the payments, don't worry so much about the macro-economic forecast for housing.Photograph by: Steve Bosch, Vancouver Sun Buying or selling a home might be the biggest single financial transaction of your life. You want to get it right, but how do you do that at a time when even the professionals don't fully understand what's going on in the housing market? Is it a good time to buy a home or sell a home? Here are some thoughts ab ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:04:37 -0600

Monday, September 27, 2010 - Canada's Top 10 Real Estate Investment Hot Spots Revealed

Alia McMullen Sep 25th 2010 at 11:00AM There are some great money-making opportunities in Canadian real estate at the moment, particularly with low interest rates and affordable house prices. However, you have to know what you're looking for. Serious property investors always do their homework before buying a property, and there are a number of signs they look for in order to maximize their profits through property appreciation and rental income. Right now, those signs point to Calgary as being ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:47:10 -0600

Friday, September 24, 2010 - Mortgage terms explained for regular folks

BY DAN WEBER, THE PROVINCE Whether you like a wild ride or calm cruising, there's a mortgage type for you.Photograph by: Photos.com, Postmedia News Now that real-estate prices in this part of the world have fallen to the point where a family of modest means can buy a modest home in the suburbs for a modest $1.5 million, those of you who haven't yet known the bliss of home ownership may be thinking, "now's the time." Many industry professionals will tell you that's true. The trouble is, those ... Full Article...

posted in General at Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:47:33 -0600

Thursday, September 16, 2010 - Can you afford to take a year off your mortgage?

You could be eligible for a holiday from your payments BY HELEN MORRIS, NATIONAL POST Depending on the level of equity in your home and your own credit record, some lenders may allow you to take a holiday from mortgage payments.Photograph by: Photos.com, Postmedia News As the summer draws to a close and our vacation away from the office feels like a distant memory, thoughts may turn to taking a longer sabbatical. Perhaps you have always had a burning desire to write a novel. In order to determi ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 16 Sep 2010 09:42:20 -0600

Saturday, September 11, 2010 - Fear of housing bubble seems overblown

BY JAY BRYAN, POSTMEDIA NEWS SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 At today’s low mortgage interest rates, housing affordability is pretty good in most Canadian markets, Lefebvre said, and he’s not too worried about a rise in interest rates, since rates are rising only gradually.Photograph by: Photos.com, Postmedia News One of the country's leading economics think-tanks, the Conference Board of Canada, has become the latest entrant in the long-running debate over Canadian housing prices. Its take: no b ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 11 Sep 2010 10:41:08 -0600

Thursday, August 12, 2010 - Where to buy: Top 10 cities

Jesse Kinos-Goodin, Financial Post · Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010 When investing in real estate, sometimes it’s necessary to look beyond your own backyard. The Real Estate Investment Network (REIN), a national organization of investors, has compiled what it says are the top 10 Canadian cities in which to invest. Few are major cities and some are surprising. Don Campbell, president of REIN, as well as one of the researchers on the study, says the results are based on factors such as planned transp ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:05:15 -0600

Sunday, August 8, 2010 - National real estate group forecasts 11% slide in listings for Alberta

CREA predicts fewer total MLS sales, but higher prices BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD JULY 30, 2010 In Alberta, CREA is predicting total MLS sales of 51,300 this year, down 10.8 per cent from the previous year and a further 3.2 per cent annual decline in 2011 to 49,650 sales.Photograph by: Archive, Calgary Herald CALGARY - The Canadian Real Estate Association has revised its forecast downward for MLS residential sales activity but elevated its average price forecast at the national level ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sun, 08 Aug 2010 15:28:07 -0600

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