Real Estate Calgary Blog & Calgary Real Estate News Letters 
Fire Safety in Your Calgary Home
Monday, February 6th, 2012 at 11:23pm. 93 Views, 0 Comments.
It’s a fact that none of us wants to contemplate; but your Calgary home could be engulfed by fire in as little as 5 minutes. In that moment of hellish reality, let common sense prevail over panic – leave the memories and the valuables behind and save your lives. Having said that, we all know that prevention is better than cure and the following are essential guidelines to help avoid a fire in the first instance or, in the unthinkable event of a fire, to protect yourself, your family, and your property:
Article photo by Dave Hogg
General fire safety in your home:
Make sure every family member knows the fire department emergency number and an escape route from each room.
Close bedroom doors at night to prevent the spread of…
Tips for the Calgary Garden
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 at 8:15am. 224 Views, 0 Comments.
Bring a little bit of Eden to your Calgary home this year. Gardening is good for the body, the soul and your investment. An old Chinese proverb reads: "If you want to be happy for an hour, get drunk; if you want to be happy for three days, get married; if you want to be happy forever, make a garden.”
"Article photo by Crinklecrankle.com"
There are three types of gardener –
1. those who pay someone else to garden for them
2. those who like to main order with a minimum of maintenance
3. those for whom an outdoor space is a blank canvas…
If you’re first on the list and have had no luck searching on the internet for suitable green-fingered help, you might try investigating these alternative routes:
Community…
The Pros and Cons of Renting or Buying Calgary Real Estate?
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 7:03am. 264 Views, 0 Comments.
Granted, if you’re looking to buy a property for sale in Calgary, the success of your venture as an investment will certainly depend on how long you intend to stay in your home. Since the late 1990s Calgary real estate has consistently led other property markets in investment return, but the age old sentiment that buying has the unquestionable advantage over renting does carry a couple of provisos. If you are seeking a secure family home around which to pitch your white picket fence, sit back and watch your family grow, and your investment appreciate, a home purchase is a sound choice. On the basis of a financial analysis,The New York Times concludes that “If you stay in your home for 6 years, buying is better.”
"Article photo by Mirage…
Which to Buy: A House or a Condo?
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 at 2:59pm. 411 Views, 0 Comments.
Sifting through the wealth of Calgary homes for sale you could be forgiven for finding the decision between a house or condo purchase a stumbling block. The recent boom in condo development means that the traditional dictates of family size, neighbourhood calibre, and personal privacy have become blurred. At one time Condo living was the province of the single professional, seeking easy access to the vibrant city life for both work and pleasure. Now we’re seeing luxurious and spacious condominiums on the market that appeal to and accommodate all lifestyles.
"Article photo by New Inspiration Home Design"
Whether your motivation for buying property in Calgary is to invest or simply to pursue a lifestyle upgrade the fundamentals are the…
A New Homeowners Guide to Historic Homes
Friday, November 4th, 2011 at 8:40am. 1482 Views, 0 Comments.
Families who are attracted to live in historic and classical houses will find plenty of choices in Calgary especially in one of its oldest wealthy communities such as Mount Royal, Elbow Park/Glencoe, West Hillhurst, Pump Hill, or Britannia.
Mount Royal, for example, maintains its reputation as having the finest luxury homes in Calgary. some of them were first developed at the turn of the 19th century. Tudor, French provincial, art deco, modernist, and Victorian homes provide a patrician ambiance to the place.
For real estate properties closer to downtown, Britannia homes provide a mix of history with contemporary urban living with its proximity to Britannia Plaza, the Lindsay Park Sports Centre, the Glencoe Club, the Elbow River Valley…
Warren Buffett on Homeownership
Sunday, October 30th, 2011 at 10:01am. 595 Views, 0 Comments.
Calgary real estate may not be the riskiest housing market, but that doesn’t change the fact that homeownership is a significant milestone in one’s life. In addition, acquiring one’s home is a monumental investment—the biggest one that most of us will probably enter in our lifetimes. Unfortunately, as has been evidenced by the not-so-distant US housing bubble, some consumers simply do not view homeownership as a form of long-term investment, or at least a commitment.
If you’re a first-time homebuyer interested in making a smart purchase, you should try to understand how to put your assets into good use in conjunction with purchasing and maintaining a house. While a house may not be a surefire investment as history tells us, it…
Home Energy Conservation Tips for Calgary Residents
Monday, October 24th, 2011 at 2:51pm. 596 Views, 0 Comments.
Calgary is a great city to live and work in. But it is not just great for the residents, it is also great for the environment. Calgary homes reflect the city's commitment to help mitigate the effects of climate change. The City is committed to protecting our precious land, air and water resources. These efforts include implementing a sustainable building policy; using renewable electricity; reducing energy use; capturing greenhouse gases; using energy efficient street lights; and ensuring clean air among others.
But if you plan to buy any of the Calgary houses for sale, it might be better for you to brush up on some tips to help you save energy, save money and do your part for the environment.
1. Save on Your Outdoor Lighting
For…
Condo Living: How Much Space Do You Need?
Monday, October 24th, 2011 at 2:58am. 200 Views, 0 Comments.
Say you’re in the market for Calgary condos, but you’re just not sure if a condo will suit your needs. After all, condos tend to offer less square footage than low-rise homes—won’t you feel cramped in such limited space? This is a valid concern for any home buyer shopping for Calgary real estate, but it doesn’t have to turn into an agonizing topic. You just have to come to terms with the idea that there are two types of condo buyers: one that can cope with the limited living space, and one that can’t.
If you’re on the fence, it might help to consider the advantages of condo living. For starters, a cozy condo unit can potentially cost less, so that helps enormously if you have a tight budget. Moreover, the reduced living…
Can You Afford Your House?
Sunday, October 23rd, 2011 at 2:49pm. 81 Views, 0 Comments.
Before you start looking at Calgary homes for sale, practicality asks you to conduct preliminary number crunching to see how much you can afford on a new house.
Of course, you don’t head straight for a real estate agent or mortgage broker headfirst. Even if you do not have any formal training in real estate or in finance, it falls on you to conduct at least a bit of rudimentary research on the outlook of the housing industry as well as on the entire process of buying Calgary real estate.
Fortunately, tons of websites provide home affordability calculators; so coming up with a fairly reliable ballpark figure shouldn’t be too difficult. That said, you should still do your homework and figure out how these calculators work, as there…
Trends in Condo Living in Calgary
Saturday, October 22nd, 2011 at 1:07pm. 62 Views, 0 Comments.
Condominiums are among the most popular real estate choices in Calgary. Buyers have the option to own a downtown high-rise or a condo in a lakeside property. Calgary condos are all about the value and lifestyle: some condos let you enjoy Eau Claire Park while those in Victoria Park or Connought make you part of the trendy 17th avenue. A more serene option is a condo in McKenzie town, or newer areas like Auburn Bay.
The trend these days is about style and décor. So, what is considered trendy in 2011?
Minimalism
It is all about clutter-free living spaces, which is what condo living should be about. Because of limitations in space and storage, condo owners stick to what is essential. Minimalism as a movement has an almost…
