Modern technology has given us wonderful tools that can make our lives easier in so many ways and real estate is no different.

 

Most people know they can search the Calgary MLS® System on the website of their favourite REALTOR®, however you have more power at your fingertips and on your iPhone, iPad or even an Android Smartphone than you probably realized! Here is some info on a very cool, free application that once installed, combines real time GPS capability from your Smartphone with the Calgary MLS® System, allowing you to search thousands of listings while on the move: quickly, easily and instantly!

 

What’s so unique about this?

 

If you're a serious home buyer, it brings an entirely new dimension to looking for your new home. Once activated, the system uses GPS technology to create a map showing you all current listings within a 1 kilometre radius of your current location.

 

See a home you like...

 

Despite what you may have read or heard, consumers do not now have unlimited access to Canada’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) Systems. You can’t list your home on MLS® System without a using a REALTOR®. And the public website operated by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA®), is not the same as the MLS® System that REALTORS® use.

 

There have been a lot of misconceptions about the MLS® System and how it works, as the news media struggled to figure out the implications of a recent dispute between CREA and the Competition Bureau, a federal government agency. After the bureau filed a complaint stating that CREA’s MLS® rules were too restrictive, the two organizations came to an agreement (with both sides claiming victory) that now allows real estate brokerages to post “mere listings” on the MLS®.

 

A “mere listing” is just that – a REALTOR®...

Your most important decision when selling your home is the selection of the person you choose to represent you in this often difficult and complicated process.

 

The job of your real estate professional is to support you in selling your home with the best possible terms, advise you on your options and the aid you through the entire process.

 

Your real estate professional will explain the process of selling a home, and familiarize you with the various activities, documents and procedures that you will experience throughout the entire process. 

Your Real Estate Professional should be:

• A member of the local real estate board and a REALTOR® - only REALTORS® have complete access to the MLS® System in Canada. Only a member of the local board will get you local exposure to local agents,
• Highly aware of the complicated local and provincial requirements affecting your transaction,
• Knowledgeable about your...

It's so great when the national aggregator of the home listing data from the various MLS® Systems gets updated to include a few of the advanced features that we've had on our website since as far back as I can remember! When I reviewed the changes yesterday, I honestly didn't see these changes because they are expected on every agent's home listing website. Aren't they? 

 

Too bad that REALTOR.ca directs you to call the Listing Agent, and their office, for viewings and more information. Shame on them - what bad advise for the vast majority of buyers! But then again, REALTOR.ca has always been nothing more than an advertising vehicle for the Listing Agents and not the properties they have listed for sale. It's not about selling homes, it's about selling agents!

 

 

Ottawa, ON – December 1, 2011 – Earlier this week, a new version of REALTOR.ca was released. This version introduces exciting new features and tools that allow users to customize REALTOR.ca...

If you have had your home on the market for several months and haven’t seen much activity or any offers, chances are that one or more of the reasons below are to blame:

No doubt about it, the most common reason for a home not selling is that the asking price has been set too high. The reasons for setting your price too high to begin with are many. Ranging from over enthusiastic listing agents, to unrealistic seller expectations, to a falling market. Regardless of the reason though, if your home is priced too high, you’ve set yourself up for a number of obstacles to actually selling your home. Even if you do get an offer for the overly high asking price, the deal may fall apart before closing because the buyer may have problems getting financing at too high a price. Look at other homes for sale, ones as similar and as close to yours as possible in location, style, features and even lot size and site influences. If they're going for less than you are asking,...

- A guest blog submission:

 

You have finally found the house of your dreams. It is priced right and is receiving a lot of attention from other buyers. You don’t want to miss this opportunity so you are ready to put in an offer with the real estate agent immediately. What can you do to guarantee your offer is the one accepted?

 

Financially, offers can be broken down into three categories:

Most homeowners are "house-proud." They truly love their homes and think they are worth a lot of money. You are probably in the same boat – you have put plenty of time, money and effort into this very big investment and of course you want to achieve the highest possible return on that investment. We all do!

 

Remember when you were buying your home? You probably weren’t too concerned with what the sellers wanted to achieve. Instead, you kept your eye on market conditions to make sure you weren’t overpaying. When the time came to make an offer, you probably considered offering less than the sellers were asking. You wanted your agent to negotiate the best possible purchase price regardless of what the sellers wanted.

 

That’s why the truth is so important. Any agent can visit your home, ask you what you want to sell it for, and agree with you. You can go ahead and list your home for sale at that...

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 currently in the market for a committed and reliable Real Estate Professional? My name is Tom Bushey and I am here to help. For quite some time now I have been offering folks just like you the necessary tools and resources needed to purchase great new properties at the lowest prices currently on the market. I can help you to parse those MLS® System listings in order to select and purchase a property that not only meets your needs, exceeds your expectations and falls neatly within your budgetary requirements. I can also help you to sell property if need be, even in today’s tricky real estate market conditions. Let me provide you with the high quality realty services that you deserve!

I offer some of the best and most reliable real estate services in the industry today. You can rest well assured that if you simply give me the opportunity to earn your business and you discover the sheer volume of success and satisfaction that comes when you purchase a great home at a great price, you’ll...

Despite what you may have read or heard, consumers do not now have unlimited access to Canada’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) Systems. You can’t list your home on MLS® System without a using a REALTOR®. And the public website operated by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA®), is not the same as the MLS® System that REALTORS® use.

 

There have been a lot of misconceptions about the MLS® System and how it works, as the news media struggled to figure out the implications of a recent dispute between CREA and the Competition Bureau, a federal government agency. After the bureau filed a complaint stating that CREA’s MLS® rules were too restrictive, the two organizations came to an agreement (with both sides claiming victory) that now allows real estate brokerages to post “mere listings” on the MLS®.

 

A “mere listing” is just that – a REALTOR® can place your house on the MLS® System...