Cranston Parade of Garage Sales

May 16th, 2012 by Scott Baker

Do you live in Cranston? Or maybe you just love garage sales? Come and take part in the Cranston Parade of Garage Sales, June 2nd from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. We will have more than 60 homes taking part this year (maybe more), and we’ll have signage everywhere to direct you. Last year’s event was a huge success, and we’re looking to improve on that.If you live in Cranston and want to take part, here’s how: Read the rest of this entry »

Calgary Inches toward Seller’s Market

April 9th, 2012 by Scott Baker

If price always follows activity in a real estate market, (which it does) sellers are about to experience something in the Calgary real estate market that we haven’t seen since before the stock market meltdown of 2008; a seller’s market. Realtors have been seeing an increase in activity and not surprisingly, sales through the first quarter of 2012. We have not seen a corresponding increase in new listings to cover this increase from buyers, so inventory has shrunk month after month. How much?    Read the rest of this entry »

New Home Page Makes Searching Simple

March 17th, 2012 by Scott Baker

I’m excited to announce our new Home Page is live on CalgaryHomeListings.ca. After months of re-design, our ’2.0′ version of our website makes searching for homes, condos, and acreages a snap. We’ve improved the Quick Search area to make it cleaner and with more choices for your search parameters, moved our featured listings up to the top for easy reference, and made it simple to click on whatever you’re looking for, like community prices, a mortgage calculator, and an easy home evaluation button. The Acreage Search is now just above our Featured Community area. It’s the simplest way to find any Calgary MLS listing. Read the rest of this entry »

Calgary Sales Improve In February

March 1st, 2012 by Scott Baker

Calgary MLS sales activity improved over last year in February, which accurately reflects my own experience in the market. In booking showings for clients this past month, I have personally found numerous homes sold before we could get in to see them, homes sold on multiple offers, and homes sold above list price. The CREB statistics show bookings for showing through our online ‘Touchbase’ software at spring levels, and much higher than a year ago.

Read the rest of this entry »

7 Tips for Selling this Winter

January 2nd, 2012 by Scott Baker

Selling a home in the winter (a Canadian winter, not the snowbird winter we dream of) is a very good strategy, and better statistically than most consumers know. A study done in 2009/2010 showed that the the price, days on the market, and selling percentage to list price was all better than the median average for the entire year, when comparing winter sales to the rest of the year. One of those factors is the number of new listings, which tends to peak in the Calgary market in April and May. January and February is somehow seen as a less attractive time to list, but the truth is, you have less competition, and the buyers that are looking are actually serious buyers. After all, who would go out in the snow and below zero temperatures if they weren’t serious about moving? Here are 7 tips to selling your home in the winter successfully: Read the rest of this entry »

November Stats Better, But Below 10 Yr Average

December 1st, 2011 by Scott Baker

 
According to figures released today by CREB® (Calgary Real Estate Board), Calgary residential sales in November increased eight per cent over last year, at 17,538 after the first 11 months of the year.
While sales activity tends to taper off in the winter months, so far this year Calgary area sales remain significantly stronger than levels recorded last year. Single family home sales totaled 962 for the month, an increase of eight per cent from November 2010. Meanwhile, year-to-date sales totaled 12,464, a 10 per cent increase over last year. Over the long term, however, sales remained a tepid 17 per cent below the 10 year average.
“Despite any global economic cautions, consumers are actively seeking well priced listings in the market, a reflection of their positive long term outlook for the city,” says Sano Stante, president of CREB®. “Following two years of employment losses, the current growth in jobs is translating into improvements in the housing sector and a more optimistic consumer.” Many companies in the oil patch are reporting significant new hiring, which will eventually show up in the way of housing demand.
November listings have edged down over last year’s levels, decreasing by two per cent. Lower listings combined with the increase in sales helped reduce the months of inventory to less than four months.
The year-to-date average and median price of single family homes were a respective $467,140 and $406,500. Overall, prices remain relatively flat compared to last year.
“This stable pricing provides an opportunity for buyers in our market. The addition of historically low interest rates, combined with a good selection of inventory, makes it a trifecta,” Stante says. “With positive wage growth in the wind, this is a signal, and a reminder, that this market opportunity will not remain forever.”
Condominium sales for the first 11 months of the year totaled 5,074, a five per cent rise over the same period last year. Inventory levels declined to 1,676 units, helping push down the months of supply.
“The rise in condominium sales can be attributed to the confidence in the market, and is typical of this phase of a normal market recovery,” says Stante.
Condominium year-to-date average and median prices in 2011 were $287,545 and $261,500, respectively, a decline over the first 11 months of 2010, mostly due to increased sales in units priced under $200,000.
“Calgary continues to record impressive employment growth and long term fundamentals remain strong,” Stante concludes. “The strength in our economy, combined with affordability levels that outperform most major centers, will continue to attract migrants to the city and spur further growth in our Calgary housing market.”
If you’re thinking that 2012 is finally the time to peek out from the bunker you’ve been hiding in due to all the scary news, or perhaps if you have finally established enough equity from the 2006-07 markets, give me a call. I’d love to share more insights into the current market as it applies to your goals. The time to discuss it is in the first quarter, when buying opportunities are good, and you have some time to prepare your home for the more active spring market.

Clauses and Conditions Need Clarity

November 22nd, 2011 by Scott Baker

I have seen many contracts (unfortunately) that have the appearance of having been written on a cocktail napkin. The process of writing a purchase contract should be thorough and clear. It also should follow the ‘kiss’ philosophy. An unclear term or condition can put both the client and the Realtor in a bad position. A good example of this is in an article regarding an ‘Approval by Seller’s lawyer’ clause. Read the rest of this entry »

What Web Usage Stats Mean to Real Estate

October 13th, 2011 by Scott Baker

Stats Canada has released some data regarding Canadians usage of the internet, showing that the majority of time spent is for personal use. It essentially confirms what we all know, particularly in Alberta, that people are using the internet to do most things in their lives. How does this affect the way we buy and sell real estate? Read the rest of this entry »

Seton Development to Start

September 18th, 2011 by Scott Baker

The commercial and retail development talked about for the Deep South is one step closer. This recent article outlines more specific plans for the area immediately surrounding the new South Hospital, which will open in stages beginning in the spring of 2012. Seton will be a massive mixed use area of retail, office space, recreation, and multi-family residential. Have a look at the article I have linked to this blog post above. It has a really cool 3D video of Seton as developers invision it over the next 6-10 years. Read the rest of this entry »

Stiff Upper Lip, We’re Okay

August 15th, 2011 by Scott Baker

It seems as though we experience some kind of allegedly life-altering financial shake-up on a monthly basis these days. The latest roller coaster was brought on by the debt crisis in the U.S., followed by nervous world markets experiencing sell offs, buy-ins, and so on and so forth. While this does play havoc with your stock portfolios, it really has limited impact on local real estate, speaking from a Calgary perspective. In a recent Calgary Herald article, Marty Hope points out that  condo sales are up over last year. Inventory in both single family and condos are lower, creating stability for sellers, while still allowing buyers a good selection of homes and condos to choose from. Real estate is a ‘get rich slow’ proposition, so buying at a time when interest rates are still very low, and selection is good just makes economic sense. Add in the recent and it would seem, chronic, volatility of equity markets, and putting your money where you live, (or where someone else needs to live), is an attractive investing option.

It would appear that interest rates may stay low longer than originally predicted, with governments not wanting to cripple any industry that might be affected by a rise in interest rates. The recovery has been bumpier than most would have expected, but people always need a place to live. Combine that with the tax-free component of a primary residence, and buying a home or condo becomes a safer bet than you might have been hearing for the past two or three years. Look to an active fall market in the Calgary area, with both buyers and sellers able to accomplish what they want, as long as everyone plays nice, and doesn’t get too greedy.

Scott Baker

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