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        <title>Real Estate Calgary Blog &amp; Calgary Real Estate News Letters</title>
        <link>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/</link>
        <description>Welcome to CalgaryRealEstateBroker.com site blog with news and insights on the real estate industry and market in Calgary. Brought to you by Justin Havre &amp; Associates of CIR Realty</description>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/dealing-with-noisy-neighbours.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/dealing-with-noisy-neighbours.html</link>
            <author>danno@elitenewmedia.com (Justin Havre Writing Team)</author>
            <title>Dealing With Noisy Neighbours</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Are you a victim in
your own Calgary home? Living with noisy neighbours can have a
profound effect on your quality of life and health, whittling away your
confidence while you feel increasingly disempowered by a spiralling problem
that eludes your grasp.


Creating excessive noise disturbance is
an offence and will be dealt with as such by the appropriate authority…but the
solution may be simpler than you’d thought.





Article photo by Aidan Jones


In the first
instance, always try to approach your neighbour. A face to face meeting doesn’t have to mean a
confrontation, but it is advisable to wait until the noise has subsided, when tempers are less likely to flare and the situation less
likely to become volatile. It may be hard for you to believe, but it is
possible that your neighbours are unaware that they are causing you a problem. Approach
them with a calm and courteous manner, point out that the situation has been
difficult for you and offer to help solve the situation together – it’s hard to
refuse a genuine offer and might just embarrass them into recognition without
the need to take it any further.


If you feel that the direct approach is not for you, if you are
genuinely fearful of their reaction, or if your initial efforts didn’t come to
fruition, an alternative first or next step is to put your feelings on paper.
Your case will carry more weight if you can back up a letter with an activity
log, wherein you have recorded times and sound levels over a period. If you can
muster up support from other community members, so much the better. The leverage
of a group force will not only empower you, but can provide well-needed emotional
and practical support. Even if you don’t enlist other members, you can always
pretend you have done!


If you live in a condo – you may be wiser to leave the whole issue in
the hands of the property managers. They will follow the above steps on your
behalf, leaving you to remain anonymous. As members of a condo community
everybody is expected to comply with a certain level of respect. Noises that
might violate a noise ordinance such as barking dogs, the playing of loud music,
excessively loud car engines or shouting for example, can be grounds for them
to pursue a case. Everyone’s noise tolerance and view of what degree of noise
exceeds an ambient level will differ, on both sides. It might be considered
that you, the person complaining are the unreasonable one! 


As a Calgary resident:


If you want the noise to stop immediately or if you think the noise is
caused by criminal activity, notify Calgary
Police Services at 403-266-1234. 


To request an investigation by Animal &amp; Bylaw Services, call 3-1-1 (from within Calgary) or 403-268-CITY (2489)
(from outside Calgary).


To aid 3-1-1 and assist Animal &amp;
Bylaw Services’ staff to respond faster, please be ready with the following
information:




​Your name and address.


A primary and alternate phone number.


The address and exact location of the property for which you
     wish to register a complaint.


A brief and concise description of the complaint.




In the meantime – Good luck!


 


 


 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:33:50 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/fire-safety-in-your-calgary-home.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/fire-safety-in-your-calgary-home.html</link>
            <author>danno@elitenewmedia.com (Justin Havre Writing Team)</author>
            <title>Fire Safety in Your Calgary Home</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
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 fire.


Install fire
extinguishers in your home and ensure that all family members know how to
operate them. When using an extinguisher, always make sure you have a clear
escape route behind you. If the fire doesn't abate immediately or starts to
spread, leave at once. Remember that 40% of fire victims lose their lives trying
to fight the fire.


Consider installing
a fire sprinkler system in your property. Smoke
detectors provide an invaluable warning system but do nothing to extinguish a
growing fire or protect the more vulnerable, such as the elderly or small
children, who cannot escape unaided.


Seek fire
safety and prevention advice from your local fire department. They will readily
come and inspect an individual home.


Smoke detectors:


Increase your chances of surviving a fire by 50% and install a reliable
brand of smoke alarm in your home.


Install them on each floor, placing them as high up as possible and
situate them outside bedrooms, open stairwells and the kitchen.


Test and clean your smoke alarms every month and replace batteries yearly.
You should replace the alarms themselves every 10 years.


Heating Sources:


Make sure that heaters are not covered or left on at night.
Position heaters at least 3 feet from any flammable materials.


Keep chimneys, wood stoves and furnaces
swept and regularly inspected, along with boilers and other heating equipment.
Always use a fire screen to surround a fireplace.


Ensure that candles are not left unattended and are blown
out before bedtime. Never leave children alone in a room where candles are
burning or where matches and lighters are within reach.


Cooking Risks:


Never leave children unattended in the kitchen whilst you are
cooking and always leave a child-free space of at least a metre around the
stove.


Make sure all pan handles are turned to face away from the stove edge.


Electrical/Gas/Carbon-Monoxide Hazards:


Have an electrician inspect your home for any wiring damage and
potential danger. Extension cords should not be over loaded. Frayed or exposed
wires pose a danger as do loose plugs or sockets. Check gas appliances
regularly and the sources of any potential carbon-monoxide leaks.


Escape:


Phone the fire department.


Instruct everyone to keep as low to the ground as possible in order to
crawl beneath the smoke – which will rise with the heat. Smoke inhalation can
be as dangerous as the fire itself. Get everybody out safely via your emergency
escape route – don’t go back inside the building – for any reason.


If you find yourself trapped in the building, head for
a room with an outside window and a telephone, closing the door(s) between you
and the fire as you go. You should put towels or sheets across door cracks and
over vents to keep the smoke out. If can, cover your mouth with a damp cloth. Be patient and wait for help.


If you live in an apartment or a high-rise condo it’s likely that many of the prevention steps will already have been taken for you, such as marked escape routes, and the installation of fire doors, smoke alarms or sprinklers systems. However, you can further help yourselves by remaining vigilant about not blocking exit routes or closing fire doors and can benefit by instructing your family on an escape route from each room of your dwelling.


With these measures in place and knowledge on board, you can now rest assured at night, safe and sound!
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:23:45 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/tips-for-the-calgary-garden.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/tips-for-the-calgary-garden.html</link>
            <author>danno@elitenewmedia.com (Justin Havre Writing Team)</author>
            <title>Tips for the Calgary Garden</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
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 Colleges/Garden Centres/Horticultural Societies and
Gardening Clubs


For the second category or low
maintenance gardener, remember these points:


1. Don’t
     disrupt the flow of grass too much - a larger area of lawn is easier to
     mow than fiddly patches.


2. Ensure
     that you plant beds next to buildings, fencing or driveways, rather than
     flush to the lawn – this way, you’ll ensure that you spend next summer
     resting your back in the deckchair rather than breaking your back weeding out
     grass seedlings!


3. Grow
     flowers in frost-resistant tubs – these will reduce the spread of weeds in
     summer and protect your plants in winter. When the frost bites too hard,
     you can easily bring less hardy plants inside. Take inspiration from the gorgeous
     displays found
     here.


If you’re our third type and
picture a blank canvas when you gaze outside your window – winter is the time
to plan your designs, order new plants or start preparations for new landscaping.


Think of
colour, especially for the next winter – when you’ll want to look out of that same
window and see a cheering profusion in the leaves and berries that adorn your
garden. Plant Holly, for berries that make an attractive winter, feature or the
Common Wild Rose, with pale pink blooms in mid to late summer and hips for winter
colour.  Azaleas and Oleanders (the
latter, beautiful but poisonous!) will flourish well in the summer. How about
the exotic sounding, native Red or Yellow Paintbrush - perfect for covering that
canvas. Research your soil type and remember to position them with maximum
access to sunshine. Beyond this, you can extend your seasons with a heated
greenhouse and turn your hand to self-sufficiency by growing your own fruits
and vegetables.


Introduce interest and wildlife
to your garden, whatever its size, with a pond. Freshwater habitats are incredibly
important to conservation. Take a leaf out of the Canadian
Gardener’s book – and grow a pond in a pot! Calgary is a committed,
environmentally conscious city. It makes sense to incorporate that philosophy
into your house and garden in terms of design and maintenance, note the points
below and find inspiration and information here:


Compost where and when you
can


Use native plants or ground
cover wherever possible


Conserve and reuse our
rainwater


Reduce or avoid entirely the
use of pest and weed killers


Go green – use those green stockist and garden
suppliers if you can


Employ mulching to insulate
the soil and help prevent frost, use several inches of wood chips, leaves or
compost. Grass cycling is an excellent way to boost the lawn's yearly nitrogen
requirements and also cuts down trips to the dump to deposit your clippings as
landfill waste.


Whatever your gardening
status, exploit your niche and enjoy a year round investment that will enhance
your property and appease both soul and conscience by reducing your environmental
footprint at the same time!
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:15:24 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-renting-or-buying-calgary-real-estate.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-renting-or-buying-calgary-real-estate.html</link>
            <author>danno@elitenewmedia.com (Justin Havre Writing Team)</author>
            <title>The Pros and Cons of Renting or Buying Calgary Real Estate?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
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 floors"


Those less rooted may opt for the cheaper start and comparative flexibility of a rental to suit their current lifestyle or until they’re ready for the commitment. However, if you’re in for the ride you’ll reap what you sow in the form of these pointers below: 


Security - undoubtedly a house purchase in Calgary is a long-term investment. The variety and stability in the local market coupled with a growing market confidence all suggest that you should benefit from the security that comes with knowing that but you’re building equity in your own home rather than your landlord’s. Once you’ve hurdled the typical outlay of insurance costs and outset expenses, you have the guarantee that your mortgage payments are steering you on course towards a secure financial future.


Money for nothing – renting might be cheaper initially, but in buying, you’re saving money long term. Take comfort in the prediction that Calgary interest rates will stay low for some time ahead. You can relax and potter in the garden, knowing that the pleasure gained here, and from choosing fabrics and designing renovations is simultaneously enhancing the property and contributing to your investment.


Fixed period/fixed price - most mortgages offer you opportunity to make additional monthly or annual payments to reduce your principal more quickly. If the mortgage is for a fixed period – the future holds no surprises and, perhaps most importantly, the end is always in sight. When you’re renting, you’re subject to period fluctuations in rent that can unwittingly take you over budget, in addition to facing an endless monthly bill.


Tax advantages – Canada’s Economic Action Plan boasts various incentive schemes brought into existence to help you realize your dream. Both First-Time Home Buyers' (FTHB) Tax Credit and Expansion of the Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) are examples of these and depending on your situation, you may find that all or at least a portion of your real estate tax and mortgage interest may be deductible from your income tax. A specialised accountant will be able to further advise you. 


Freedom – you have the freedom as a homeowner to customise your castle as you see fit. Your home is an extension and an expression of yourself. You hold the keys and make the decisions on who is and is not welcome. Besides - as a home owner, you always have the ultimate freedom to choose to become a landlord yourself!


Fuzzy logic – let’s face it – there are a hundred untenable reasons that tell us why we want to be home-owners. There’s an inherent security that comes with ownership that taps our desire to create something beyond basic shelter. All of the above provide a heightened independence that reflects our status and self-worth. As a proud home owner, you are in charge of your life and the way you live it. 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:03:57 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/which-to-buy-a-house-or-a-condo.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/which-to-buy-a-house-or-a-condo.html</link>
            <author>danno@elitenewmedia.com (Justin Havre Writing Team)</author>
            <title>Which to Buy: A House or a Condo?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
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 same. Taking into account the geographical location for proximity to work,
school, friends and family, beyond these you can consider the following pluses:


Affordability – high property prices mean the
condo is still an accessible route to purchasing your own home, with lower
maintenance costs due to shared amenities and public space. Savings are not
only made in your initial purchase price, but external, structural repairs and
renovation costs will also be absorbed, freeing up both your time and
resources.


Security – living within a complex can provide greater
security, not only for those living alone but also by offering the general
assurance of a built in neighbourhood watch. Practically, a condo often comes
with such additional security features as buzzer system or a concierge service.
Neighbours are always on hand to survey your property whilst you’re on
vacation.


However, make sure you’re not dazzled by all the superficial
benefits of a condo for sale in Calgary and take a look under the bonnet,
ensuring you‘ve checked the list below:


Owners Association - if buying your dream home
means being master of your estate then maybe the condo is not for you…you may
find more of your leisure time than you envisaged spent in mandatory meetings.


Privacy – having neighbours might make you feel
less isolated and vulnerable but it can also impinge on your privacy. Enforced
communal living is not for everyone, sharing walls, parking and hot tubs does
not always make for a utopia!


Investment – mass property production might
impinge on the inherent value of your property. In choosing a home that is part
of a development you may have compromised individuality and find it hard to
distinguish your home from your neighbours when it comes to selling. Generally
speaking, a house is more likely to appreciate in value than a condo.


Hidden restrictions – it’s essential that you
establish exact maintenance
costs and monthly home owners’ association fees before
purchase. Investigate thoroughly the covenants, conditions and restrictions of the condo – these can cover potentially invasive
issues like pet-ownership, interior décor and satellite dish installation. Bear
in mind that it might be harder to secure a mortgage for a property on a
development that houses a high percentage of rentals.


Ultimately a house purchase means assuming
complete control. For some this is a daunting prospect and the condo serves as
an ideal first step up the ladder, but for the fearless property tycoon, finding
and buying the perfect house in Calgary is the only solution.


 


 


 


 


 


 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:59:06 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/a-new-homeowners-guide-to-historic-homes.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/a-new-homeowners-guide-to-historic-homes.html</link>
            <author>danno@elitenewmedia.com (Justin Havre Writing Team)</author>
            <title>A New Homeowners Guide to Historic Homes</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
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 and River Park, the Calgary Golf and Country Club and
Stanley Park.


Owning a house with historic value means being responsible
to maintain and conserve the historicity of the house and the character of the
building and its environs. Just like having a classic automobile, living in
old houses has specific maintenance requirements not shared by those who live
in new homes.


Aside from aesthetic and historical purposes, maintaining
the character of a house is also important in retaining its real estate value.


As a guide to new homeowners of historical or old houses,
these are the basic differences between them and their modern counterparts: 




In terms  of
housing materials – historic houses oftentimes are made of varying materials
such as wood, masonry, and metals, carefully matched to one another and fitting
to a particular climate or history. Modern houses are usually made of synthetic
materials that are standardized or preassembled. Until recently, when the trend
in green living permeated home construction, these materials had no regard for
local culture or climate;


In terms of durability – modern houses
are made of materials with an average lifespan of 10-25 years when
well-maintained while historic houses are designed to last for centuries when
well-maintained; 


Modern houses usually use veneer
masonry of extreme hardness due to firing at much higher temperature  while old houses are made of structural masonry
of varying hardness due to placement in a kiln; 


Historic houses were made constructed
with flexible mortar with high concentrations of lime while modern ones
used rigid mortar with high concentrations of cement; 


Modern houses put emphasis on waterproofing to prevent
water penetration while historic houses have permeable construction designed to
absorb water and then readily release it through evaporation; 


For modern houses, the energy
efficiency and comfort is controlled by  automated
temperature control systems, oftentimes using remote control, while old houses
provide energy efficiency and comfort using nature such as light building
materials, openings, and carefully-designed building placement to maximize the
sunlight;




With these differences in mind, homeowners of old houses
have to develop a maintenance plan with these things in mind:




Carefully assess the condition of your property using an
inspection checklist


Determine how often you will inspect each element 



Identify which items you can appropriately inspect
yourself 



Identify those items for which you may need professional
assistance to properly inspect 



Maintain a list of qualified professionals, contractors,
and tradesmen that may be contacted for advice, recommendations, or repairs 



Develop a timetable for maintaining, improving, and
repairing items that need attention


 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:40:28 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/warren-buffett-on-homeownership.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/warren-buffett-on-homeownership.html</link>
            <author>danno@elitenewmedia.com (Justin Havre Writing Team)</author>
            <title>Warren Buffett on Homeownership</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
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 will probably be your
biggest asset in the long run. Pure and simple, it pays to know the facts and
to hear the opinions of experts of the field. And if you’re planning to treat
your house as an investment, then there’s no other expert that’s more respected
than Warren Buffett himself. So what does the Oracle of Omaha have to say about
real estate?



First of all, Buffett has said that the biggest risk in any
investment is not knowing what you’re doing. Purchasing a house requires a lot
of specialized knowledge—from construction to appraisal, taxes to mortgages,
you’re bound to be overwhelmed by all the details involved with buying real
estate. For this reason, it is of utmost importance to seek advice from people
whom you can trust.



One of the fundamental tenets of value investing is the
margin of safety. This term can be applied to real estate in the sense that you
should first determine the intrinsic (or real) value of your real estate before
purchasing it—and of course, only purchasing it at a discounted or bargain
price. It’s a pretty basic concept—one might say commonsensical—and yet it
seems to be overlooked often enough. Going back to the practice of buying your
house for less than what you think it is worth, you might argue that accuracy
will pose a major problem to its application. But that’s precisely why you want
to apply a margin of safety: the larger your discount percentage, the more
wiggle room you give yourself in case your estimates fall short of reality.


There may be no specific advice on Calgary real estate given
by the Oracle himself, but you can chew on these nuggets of wisdom that apply
broadly to buying real estate. Buffett’s basic stance with investments is to be
prudent and conservative, and these will manifest in the following pieces of
advice he has shared before: 




Buy
     only what you can afford. Of course,
     you’ll probably have to take a mortgage, but make sure that you have the
     capacity to pay off these mortgages as scheduled, and that you have a
     backup plan in case something goes awry, especially in terms of income
     source. If you keep wanting to buy your dream home instead of making
     practical choices, you may run into trouble sooner or later.


Plan
     to stay for the long-term. Not only
     do you minimize the costs involved with constantly buying and moving into
     new houses, you also avoid the risks imposed by mortgages’ financial
     constraints.


Opt
     for fixed mortgage payments.
     Financial planning is crucial. You will want to know your regular housing
     expense payments to aid you with your cash flow and to avoid insolvency
     issues.




The secret to homeownership success is actually no secret at
all. To use a fitting cliché, plan for the worst and hope for the best. While
you have all these tools that can help you initially—buying at a favourable
market, choosing the right mortgage—it is irresponsible to think that your
house will eventually pay for itself. Just don’t commit to anything you can’t
afford in the future, and hopefully, you’re bound to stay away from trouble in
the future. 


Image by Fortune Live Media
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:01:02 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/home-energy-conservation-tips-for-calgary-residents.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/home-energy-conservation-tips-for-calgary-residents.html</link>
            <author>danno@elitenewmedia.com (Justin Havre Writing Team)</author>
            <title>Home Energy Conservation Tips for Calgary Residents</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
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 Calgary homes, outdoor lighting used to mean a welcoming
porch light or a floodlit driveway. Today, energy-saving measures include
automated controls, sensors and  outdoor
compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and spotlights that are creative, economical
and friendly to the environment. 


Photo by thijis.


You can also use infrared or halogen parabolic aluminum
reflector (PAR) spotlights for bigger outdoor spaces – they are not just
cost-wise and environmentally-sound, they provide better security. Enhance the
effectiveness of security lighting with motion detectors on halogen bulbs that
consume about 40 percent less electricity and last up to four times as long as
incandescent bulbs. For maximum efficiency, buy sensors that aren't triggered
during daylight, and adjust the sensitivity so animals don't turn them on.
Maximize the sun's natural energy with simple solar-powered lights for
landscapes and paths.


 2. Save on Your Furnace


Most of the classical houses in such communities as Lake
Bonavista and Mount Royal have old furnaces. It is as basic as cleaning your
furnace and keeping them lubricated and properly adjusted with annual
maintenance. That way, your furnace will
use less energy and cost less to operate. Clean or replace the filter every 1-2
months - a dirty filter reduces the airflow and forces the furnace to run
longer to heat your home.                                        


3. Save on Your Thermostat


Research found out
that houses with lower thermostat (by 4 - 5 degrees Celsius or 7 - 9 degrees
Fahrenheit) while people are sleeping at night and when no one is at home
significantly reduce their energy consumption. You can install a programmable
thermostat and save 2% on your heating bill for every 1 degree C you turn down
your thermostat.        


4. Save on Your Laundry


Always switch to cold
when doing your laundry. 85 – 90% of the energy used to wash your clothes is
used to heat the water. By turning the dial to cold on your washing machine,
you help the environment, save energy, and save money.     Also, make sure that you wash full load and use a front loading
washing machine:  it uses about 40% less
water and about 50% less energy.            



5.  Save on Your Windows, doorframes, sills and
joints


Calgary condos and
houses may save energy by applying a sealant around windows, doorframes, sills
and joints, or use plastic covers to prevent heat loss.


6. Save on Your Basement


Your clue? Look for a spider web. It means there is a draft
and a leak. A large amount of heat is also lost from an un-insulated basement.  So, insulate the basement walls.


These are just some
of the ways in which Calgary houses reduce their energy use. The city
government has a vast resource of materials and tips to make the City as
environmentally friendly as possible.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:51:23 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/condo-living-how-much-space-do-you-need.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/condo-living-how-much-space-do-you-need.html</link>
            <author>danno@elitenewmedia.com (Justin Havre Writing Team)</author>
            <title>Condo Living: How Much Space Do You Need?   </title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
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 space often leads to a reduced
propensity for clutter, as you will likely become more aware and more
deliberative of the things you buy. All in all, that comes down to shorter
cleaning time, as you not only have less space to cover, but also less clutter
to worry about.


Image by wonderlane.


Well and good, you say, but
what about the limited space? Well, it’s only really a matter of perspective.
Just ask yourself how much living space you really need. Are condos really too
cramped, or have we simply become so used to large amounts of wasted space in
low-rise structures? The key to wrapping your head around the idea of a
1,000-square foot condo unit is your willingness to simplify your lifestyle and
your ability to use innovative space-saving solutions. After all, it isn’t too
far-fetched nowadays to hear of much smaller homes, some of which are less than
500 square feet. If those homeowners can deal with the limited area, then most
likely, you can, too.


When you’re looking at
Calgary condos, keep an eye out for open-concept suite layouts. More often than
not, the livability of a condo rests heavily on its layout. You’ll want to
maximize your usable space by minimizing waste such as unnecessary doors and
divisions.


Be creative. Consider
setting up multifunctional rooms—do you really need a separate dining room, or
will you probably end up having dinner on your living room couch anyway? 
 
Don’t let height intimidate
you, either. You can make do with a tiny kitchen by investing in innovative
storage solutions that make good use of your kitchen walls. Stack your books up
to the ceiling, and you won’t need to dedicate a precious room for your
library. 


One last thing about
space-saving techniques: bigger isn’t always better, and small appliances can
actually be charming and more eco-friendly. Plan wisely when furnishing your
condo. Before making any purchases, think about how an item will fit into your
home. Will that oversized bed make your room look even smaller? Do you actually
need that big of a coffee table? Should you buy a new treadmill even if Calgary
condos usually have fully equipped fitness centres?


Living comfortably in a
condo is not an insurmountable task. All it really takes is a willingness to
simplify and prioritise, as well as a certain open-mindedness and innovativeness.
The next time you have concerns about the limited space condos offer, ask
yourself this: how much space do I really need? 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2011 03:58:56 -0500</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <guid>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/can-you-afford-your-house.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.calgaryrealestatebroker.com/blog/can-you-afford-your-house.html</link>
            <author>danno@elitenewmedia.com (Justin Havre Writing Team)</author>
            <title>Can You Afford Your House?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
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 may be times when you may have to tweak the formulae to fit your
needs.


To start, home buying
calculators compute for your potential gross debt service or front-end ratio.
Don’t be intimidated by this jargon. All it means is the percentage of your
gross monthly income (that is, before taxes) that goes straight into your
monthly mortgage payments. This figure should be 32% or less. From another
perspective, you can spend X dollars
on your monthly mortgage payments, where X
is 32% of your gross annual salary divided by twelve months.


The other ratio commonly used
in the industry is your total debt service or back-end ratio. Your total debt
service, which is the percentage of your gross income that goes into paying all
your debt (including mortgage, student loans, car loans, and others), should be
40% or less. Conversely, this means that on a monthly basis, you should be
spending only 40% of your annual salary divided by twelve months for all your
debt obligations.


Sounds simple? Maybe. But
don’t rely too much on these percentages. Remember that they function merely as
ballpark figures. You still need to consider various factors, including down
payment and other initial expenses. It goes without saying that buying Calgary
homes for sale costs more than just the house’s listed price. Consider
appraisal fees, legal fees, moving expenses, and a whole range of other costs.


Photo by flickr-rickr.


And then, there’s this scary
prospect we call the future. Much of the risk involved with buying a house
draws from the uncertainty of the future. Will the economy crash? Will housing
prices plummet? Will you lose your job? You can’t hold yourself accountable for
some of these factors, but you should at least give them some thought when
buying Calgary real estate. For starters, make sure the assumptions you used in
your preliminary calculations will hold true—particularly, how confident are
you that you can maintain your income over the mortgage period? Next, will you
be incurring any major expenses in the foreseeable future? If a big wedding or a
child comes into the picture, the entire equation shifts. Make sure your
finances will survive this shock.


If you’ve decided that you
are ready to look at Calgary homes for sale, your next steps are to check your
credit report and get pre-approved for a loan. Otherwise, see a credit
counsellor, pay off some more loans, or save some more for your down payment.
You may find some home ownership programs in your area, and mortgage loan
insurance may serve as a safety net, but in general, you will want to be honest
and realistic when making your decision. Conservative assumptions may put a
damper on your breadth of choices, but it’s always better to be safe than
sorry.

 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:49:57 -0500</pubDate>
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