Real estate analyst, Barbara Corcoran explains how to go about buying a condo for your son or daughter and why it's far better than living in the dorm. We'd be glad to chat with you about how to make this is a great real estate strategy for you. Contact us today.

 

Source: Used under standard YouTube license terms.

Source: Used under standard YouTube license terms.

 

 

This Outlook report for Calgary is published semi-annually and offers forecasts and analyses of trends in the new, resale and rental housing markets. For the new home market, housing starts and price changes are examined in detail, while the resale section presents sales activity, average prices, and listings. Analysis of the rental market focuses on vacancy rates, average rents and related forecasts. An overview and forecast of key economic indicators is also detailed, along with other factors affecting the local economy and housing market.

 

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Source: Used under standard YouTube license terms.

In 2011, there were 13,186 single-family MLS sales in Calgary, up 9.06 per cent from the previous year while the average sale price increased by 1.14 per cent to $466,402. There were 5,382 condo sales, up 3.98 per cent, but the average price dipped by 0.94 per cent to $287,172.

 

Dan Sumner, economist with ATB Financial in Calgary, described the local housing market in 2011 as “slightly disappointing.”

 

“We definitely saw a rise in sales from 2010 but sales still remain quite slow compared to 10-year averages ... Prices have been flat for now 2 years and it really continued along in 2011,” he said.

 

Sumner said he’s cautiously optimistic for 2012.

 

“Overall the Canadian housing market in general I wouldn’t say it’s in a place where I’d want to put a lot of money right now if I had to bet on it,” he said. “But as far as housing markets in Canada go, I think the ones...

 

Calgary, January 3, 2012 – According to figures released this morning by CREB® (Calgary Real Estate Board), the number of Calgary residential sales in 2011 increased eight per cent over last year, with 18,568 sales for 2011 compared to 17,267 in 2010.

 

Recovering from tepid sales activity in the first half of 2011, early improvements in employment and migration resulted in a pickup in housing demand in the second half of the year. By the end of June 2011, year-to-date sales activity had only increased by two per cent compared to the second half of the year, where residential sales improved by 15 per cent.

 

“While sales activity in 2011 remained below the long run average by 17 per cent, monthly figures point towards the trend of this gap narrowing,” says Sano Stante, president of CREB®.

 

2011 single family sales totaled 13,186, a nine per cent increase...

Source: KWRI - used under standard YouTube license terms.

I came across this YouTube video today that was prepared for one of the agents that I follow in Wilmington, North Carolina at a conference that she attended in August. The information that Jessica gives is right on the money and just as applicable in Calgary as it is in Wilmington. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to give me a call.

 

Source: Used under standard YouTube license terms.

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...

Alberta is once again positioned as one of Canada’s provincial growth leaders, according to the latest RBC Economics Provincial Outlook report released today.

 

The provincial economy is set to grow at a rate of 4.0 per cent this year and 3.9 per cent in 2012.

 

“Amid the heightened global economic uncertainty, Alberta’s steady progress towards full recovery from the recession is refreshing,” said Craig Wright, senior vice-president and chief economist, RBC, in a statement. “Were it not for the even stronger performance by Saskatchewan, Alberta would recapture the crown of Canada’s fastest growing provincial economy.”

 

RBC is forecasting economic growth for Canada of 2.3 per cent this year followed by 2.5 per cent in 2012.

 

Saskatchewan is expected to lead the country both years with growth rates of 4.5 per cent in 2011 and 4.2 per cent in 2012.

 

RBC said oil production in Alberta has fully recovered from the disruptions...

"Closing costs" is a term that you will likely hear often in your real estate transaction, whether you are buying or selling a home. The "closing costs" are the costs paid for at the end of the transaction at your lawyer's office. Many of them are directly related to the legal fees, property tax adjustments, land transfer fees, mortgage fees, etc. and generally add up to between $800 and $2,000 for the Buyer and $600 to $1,500 for the Seller - depending upon the transaction and the legal firm selected.

 

Other jurisdictions may have additional costs or may not involve lawyers in the real estate transaction (they use "Title Companies" and refer to a concept of "Escrow"). As always, you should verify this discussion within the context or your own jurisdiction.

 

A much better discussion involves the total costs included in buying or selling real estate. These costs are many and which is why it is not advisable to be "flipping"...

Source: Used under standard YouTube license terms.

This real estate website was designed as a consumer service to help Buyers and Sellers make truly informed real estate decisions. We know that it is often difficult to get relevant information when you're looking to buy or sell a home.

 

In order to better educate and inform Calgary area Buyers and Sellers, we have provided comprehensive information as a free, no-obligation service. Many Buyers and Sellers who visit this site are so impressed with this service that they will contact us in order to assist them in the purchase or sale of their home.

Let's face it, there is so much information on the Internet these days that is erroneous. We have sifted through some of it and repost interesting articles here and try to always follow the licence agreements of YouTube (i.e. any venture, commercial or otherwise, may repost any YouTube video providing that it is not altered and the licence rights are restricted by the poster) or where we cite other published articles, we always try...

Source: Used under standard YouTube license terms.

Alberta’s housing market is showing increasing signs of strength, due to impressive employment gains and a strong provincial economy so far this year, and remains the most affordable province in the country, says the latest Housing Trends and Affordability Report released Friday by RBC Economics.

 

“In the third quarter, provincial home resales and housing starts picked up some steam, reaching their highest levels in more than a year,” said Robert Hogue, a senior economist with RBC. “This renewed demand for Alberta’s housing was partly a result of being an easily affordable market – in fact, the most affordable in Canada.”

 

RBC’s housing affordability measures for Alberta – which capture the province’s proportion of pre-tax household income needed to service the costs of owning a home at market values – have remained the lowest among the provinces, said the report.

 

According to the index, the higher the reading,...

An article written by a senior business writer in a recent edition of the Calgary Herald peaked my interest since it's one of the leading indicators of possible rising selling prices for homes...

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...

 

October 14, 2011 (Calgary, AB) – Mayor Naheed Nenshi today thanked Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore for naming Calgary a 2012 Cultural Capital of Canada.

 

"This is an honour of Calgary that recognizes the importance of our arts and cultural sector," said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. "Calgarians take great pride in our support for the arts and culture, and we can use 2012 as an opportunity to share that pride with all Canadians while helping our cultural industry to grow even more."

 

The designation and support from Canadian Heritage will augment the $2 million commitment to Calgary 2012 made by Calgary City Council in April of this year. Today's designation will enhance the celebrations and investment programs planned by Calgary 2012 which include the recently announced granting programs and grassroots engagement activities.

 

Elements of the celebration outlined in Calgary's bid include an artist in residence program, a national and...