At the end of last week, another report from one of Canada's largest banks was released in regards to the Canadian housing markets. This time it was from their research branch: TD Ecomomics (for TD Bank, TD Waterhouse, TD Canada Trust).

 

They report that the Canadian housing market in 2012 will be in a battle between on the one side: low interest rates, and on the other side: economic uncertainty along with slow income and employment growth.

 

It's forecast that there will be huge price corrections in both the metro Toronto and metro Vancouver markets which have again heated up in 2011 - especially in the apartment condo markets. Combined with the price corrections, they also forecast a higher that average sales corrections for both cities in the next two years.

 

TD estimates that house pricing, on a national basis, are over-valued 10 to 15 percent, although that is expected to drop over the forecast period.

 

According to the report, there has been little upward pressure...

The registered size of a condominium property is the only legally recognized size measurement for condominiums in Alberta under the Condominium Property Act. The Calgary Real Estate Board Co-operative (CREB®) has determined that this means it's important to ensure the accurate reporting of this legal measurement for both new and resale condominium properties listed on the Calgary MLS® System database.

 

On November 3, the Board of Directors of CREB® (on behalf of the board's membership) passed a motion to allow the total floor area field in the condominium database to be auto-populated with the information entered in the registered size field of the MLS® System database. This registered size will be automatically be uploaded to agents' premium websites and also the aggregator of the over 110 MLS® Systems in Canada, Realtor.ca (formerly mls.ca), and will automatically show what is included in the remarks section of every condominium listing. The public, and real estate...

On Tuesday of this week, the Calgary Herald speculated that we might be seeing a boom in the near future in the Calgary condo market. Here's the story: Read More

 

Here are the thoughts of the writer:

• Two new condo projects are being announced now
• Demand is increasing according to one of the projects sales managers
• Sales of some recent new projects have been solid
• Employment growth, increased earnings and increased net migration to the province and the city seem to be fuelling demand in the condo market again

Those are his comments for the new condo market which will add many hundreds of new condo apartments in the next several years. There are dozens of other projects currently selling apartments and townhouses today.

 

The resale market is also experiencing signs of positive growth. As of this minute, and so for this month, there have been 317 condo sales for an average selling price of $303,901, according to the Calgary Real Estate Board Co-Operative's MLS® System. If this...

Every year, a condominium board is required to convene an annual general meeting of unit owners. At the meeting, owners elect a new board, which typically includes re-elected and new board members.

The addition of new members can cause some strife on the board, and between the board and the property manager. However, John Wannamaker of Samuel Property Management Ltd. says that if the property manager has a good understanding of the condo and is able to communicate effectively with all different types of personalities, conflict may be averted or, at the very least, minimized.

 

Read More and View the Video>>

If you are considering buying or selling a condominium property, I'd be happy to talk to you.

Insurance for condominium units is very different compared to the insurance that homeowners and tenants buy. Because condominium corporations must buy their own insurance, the insurance that unit owners buy has to be designed to complement that insurance coverage.

 

Like a tenant’s insurance policy, condominium unit owner policies cover personal property – furniture and personal effects. Like tenants and like homeowners, special attention is required to ensure that there is adequate coverage for high-risk property like jewellery, certain collectibles (like stamp and coin collections), and so on. If a pipe burst in a unit and seriously damaged the furniture, this section would provide coverage.

 

Read More>>

 

If you are considering buying or selling a condominium property, I'd be happy to talk to you.

Like any real estate agent, I can help you buy or sell any kind of real estate, but one of my favourite kinds of home is a condominium. Condominiums come in all kinds of different shapes and sizes. Often, people from other areas view condominiums as "apartments for sale." In actual fact, condominiums are all sorts of different building styles and not just apartments. Condominiums could be townhouses, or even detached homes. Condominium is a term for an ownership style and not a building style.

 

As a real estate agent working with buyers or sellers for the purchase or sale of condominium properties, it's quite complicated and it is one of the reasons that less than 20% of the real estate agents within the Calgary Real Estate Board have been able to achieve the CCS certification (Certified Condominium Specialist). While it's not required to have, this certification is something that astute buyers and sellers should be looking for in their real estate agent's credentials when they're...

All of our clients are welcome to use our terrific Moving Truck at no charge* to help with their move. It's just one of the many innovative extras you'll get when you buy or sell a home through us.

* As with most promotions or incentives, limitations apply - one day only, local moves only, based on availability. Client is required to provide their own licensed driver, helpers, fuel and insurance. Call me for all the details.

 

Q: If I attend an Open House, do I have to use the REALTOR® that is holding the open house? - Anonymous.

 

A: Absolutely not! In fact, this may be the very worst person for you to use!

 

You aren't the first buyer to be confused about the role of a real estate agent in their quest to purchase a home. Buyers, whether it's their first time or their fifteen, may not understand exactly who the agent represents and real estate agency (broker) relationship. Let me educate you a bit about what’s called "Agency" (i.e. who represents whom) in a real estate transaction for Alberta (every province or state has their own rules and laws). In Alberta, real estate agents must give buyers and sellers an "Agency Disclosure" form to sign before a transaction is started or offer is written. This form is not a contract or an agreement, it simply disclosures the various types of possible agency relationships that may exist. But it does require a signature to show that you have in fact...

 

Residents of a west-end high-rise condominium just got the following message in a letter from their management board president:

 

"Don’t buy an electrically powered vehicle in the expectation that you can have it recharged or powered on our premises… for now, thinking about buying an electrically powered vehicle may not be a practical thing."

 

I learned why at a meeting with members of the board and the condo’s major management committee.

 

The building was constructed in the late 1980s. None of its roughly 450 underground parking spaces, on three levels, is wired. The garage contains only two or three outlets for maintenance work.

 

As with all older condos, the electricity bill covers the entire building, including private and common areas. The expense is apportioned among the units according to their floor area.

 

So, meeting participants argued, even if the owner of a battery-powered car...

Maybe you're just curious. Or, maybe you want to know how much equity you have in your own home. Or, perhaps you're thinking of selling soon and want to know how much your home has increased in value. Either way, I can help... with NO "sales pitches," NO "cat and mouse games," NO "bait and switch tactics" and NO runarounds.

 

Just give me a call or use the contact form to ask the question and I'll give you all the facts.

Are you looking into purchasing one of the beautiful high end condos for sale in Tuscany in Calgary? If you aren’t, then you probably should be. We are going to show you what tried and true real estate services are really all about. We are here today to provide you with the kind of tools that you need to quickly and easily purchase a great new home at the lowest prices currently around. Just give us the chance to ensure your complete success when it comes to purchasing a great new home or a solid investment property. Let us provide you with the kind of tools that you need to ensure your lasting success within the real estate industry. We are going to provide you with the kind of tools you need to purchase a great home at a great price. Find out more today about these quality Mountain View properties in the neighbourhood of Tuscany.

Let us offer you the necessary tools and techniques to purchase a great new home or investment property at the lowest price point currently on the market. We...