When is the best time to meet with a REALTOR® like me? Chances are,
you would say, “When I’m thinking of buying or selling a home.” You’d be
right, of course!
However, there are many other good reasons to meet with me. Here are just
a few:
• You want a professional opinion as to the current value of your
property, so you know what it would likely sell for in today’s market.
• You notice a home listed for sale in a desirable neighbourhood, and
you’re interested in learning more — even if you’re unsure you want
to make a move.
• You’re thinking of moving within the next couple of years, and you
want to find a REALTOR® like me, that you can get to know and
trust.
• You want some recommendations for preparing your home for sale
and especially determining what repairs and other work needs to be
done.
• You want an honest assessment as to the state of the local market,
and the best time for you to buy or sell.
• You have real estate-related questions and you want to talk to an
expert who knows the local market well and can provide you with
answers.
As you can see, there’s a lot of value you can get from talking to me as your
REALTOR®. Call today.

Buying Up: Selling a home of lower value and purchasing a home of higher value or selling a smaller home and buying a larger home.

There are many reasons why people “buy up”, the most common of which is a growing or aging family that requires more space to live. This scenario occurs for thousands of families every year in Calgary and continues to happen no matter what type of real estate market exists. According to the National Association of REALTORS ® a typical family changes homes, on average, every five to seven years.

Buyers’ Market: A market in which there are significantly more sellers than buyers giving the negotiating advantage to the buyer. Normally, prices decline in a buyer’s market. Calgary is currently in a Buyers’ Market. In a typical buyers’ market, homes with higher values tend to decrease in price by a greater dollar value over a given time period.

EXAMPLE:
Community A has a typical home selling for $650,000 in March of 2015 and in March of 2016 the same home has dropped in value by about 5% to $618,000. Community B, on the other hand has a typical home selling for $425,000 in March of 2015 and $422,000 in March of 2016. This is very comparable to what is currently happening in communities around Calgary in today’s buyers’ market.

Let’s say community A could be a house in Hamptons and Community B may be a house in MacEwan Glen.
A family in MacEwan has decided to move to the Hamptons to a bigger house. Had they made the move to that house in March, 2015, they would have sold their MacEwan house for $425,000 and purchased the Hamptons house for $650,000. The difference in price would have been $225,000.
Now let’s look at the same purchase in March, 2016. The MacEwan family is selling their house for $422,000 and buying the Hamptons house for $618,000. The difference in price is now $196,000. Even after accepting the lower price on the sale of their MacEwan house, there was a $29,000 difference in their favour on the purchase. Add $12,000 in interest that will not be paid on that amount over the 25 years of the mortgage and the MacEwan family saves $41,000 through buying up in this buyers’ market.

For more ways to save money in the current market, contact me directly.

When you make an offer on a home, it’s a smart idea to have a professional
home inspector check it out from top to bottom. This inspection will ensure
that the property doesn’t have any unexpected “issues”. After all, you don’t
want to buy a home only to discover that the roof needs to be replaced,
immediately, for thousands of dollars.

That being said, you might question whether you really need to invest the
few hundred dollars it costs for a professional home inspection. “The home
we want to buy looks like it’s in very good shape,” you might be thinking. “I
can’t see anything wrong with it.”

However, a professional home inspector can see things you can’t. When
you view a property that’s on the market, you might be able to notice
obvious issues, like a crack in the foundation or a dripping faucet. If you’re
experienced with home maintenance, you might even notice roofing tiles
that look like they’re overdue for replacement.

But you won’t pick up all the issues a home inspector can.
A home inspector will, for example, use a special device to check for
moisture build-up in the washrooms – which can be an indication of mould.
He or she will also inspect wiring to make sure everything is safe and
compliant with the building code.

That’s not all.
Like a determined detective, a home inspector will investigate the property’s
structure, electrical and plumbing systems, insulation, and other
components — and then report the findings to you.
In the end, a professional home inspection gives you peace-of-mind and
protects your investment. So getting one is highly recommended — even for
recently built homes.
A good REALTOR® can recommend a trusted home inspector for you.
Looking for more ideas on making smart decisions when buying a home?
Call today.

When would you talk to a car salesperson? Probably only once you’re ready
to buy a new car. You would do some initial research (perhaps on the
internet), get an idea of what you want, and then go to the dealership to
meet a salesperson, test drive the car and make the purchase.
Although that approach may work when you’re buying a car, it’s not the best
approach when it comes to real estate.
You see, successfully buying or selling a home requires a lot of planning
and legwork. You want the process to go smoothly, the right decisions to be
made, and the best possible deal to be negotiated.
After all, this is the purchase and/or sale of your home!
So, the best time to talk to a REALTOR® is as early in the process as
possible.
In fact, even if you’re just thinking of buying or selling — and simply want to
explore the possibility of making a move sometime this year — you should
have a conversation with a good REALTOR®.
A REALTOR® will answer your questions, provide you with the information
and insights you need, help you avoid costly mistakes, and make sure
you’re heading in the right direction.
When you are ready to buy or sell, having worked with a REALTOR® early
in the process will help ensure you get what you want.
So talk to a good REALTOR® when:
• You have a question about the local market.
• You want to know what your home might sell for today.
• You’re interested in checking out homes currently available on the market.
• You’re in the midst of deciding whether or not to make a move.
• You’ve decided to buy or sell.

When you’re thinking of selling your home and buying another, you face the
inevitable question: Should I list my property first or buy my new home first?
Let’s take a look at both options.
If you attempt to buy a property before listing your home, you run into a
couple of challenges.
First, sellers may not take you seriously as a potential buyer. After all, you
haven’t put your own home up for sale. As far as they’re concerned, you
might merely be testing the market.
Second, your property might not sell as quickly as you thought it would. If
there is an early closing date on the home you purchased, you might end up
owning, and paying a mortgage on both properties, at least until your home
sells.
If, on the other hand, you list your property before buying a new home,
sellers will know you’re serious. That puts you in a competitive position in
the event of multiple offers.
Also, if your home sells quickly, you’ll have the peace-of-mind of knowing
exactly how much of a new home you can afford. You’ll be able to shop with
confidence.
Of course, like the first option, there is a chance that the closing dates won’t
match and you’ll end up owning two properties for a period of time.
However, solutions such as bridge financing are available to help.
So, there is no perfect answer. A lot depends on the state of the local
market.
Looking for a good REALTOR® who can help you decide which is the best
move for you? Call today.

In This Edition
Market Temperature: Start of 2013 brings upward pressure
Home Advisor: Tools for the Home Buyer
Home Maintenance: Making your Home more Energy Efficient
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Market Snapshot: Are you getting a FREE monthly Market SnapShot of your neighbourhood? They contain valuable information about real estate in your area. I provide them for your neighbourhood at my website, www.calgarypropertyprice.ca Empower yourself with knowledge and tell your friends about this free service.
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Market Temperature
Sales in Calgary ended the year on a high note. Sales volume was up 15% in 2012 compared to 2011, and benchmark prices were up by up by 5%We are seeing a solid recovery to the Calgary real estate market and even though prices have not yet reached the highs recorded in 2007, the market is moving in that direction. There is a measured sustainable recovery that is being fueled by growth in the energy sector and spilling over into housing and other aspects of the Calgary economy.
Healthy employment and migration into Calgary has increased demand for homes and this trend that is expected to continue through 2013. The single family market sales growth outpaced increases in the total condominium market within city limits. Single family sales rose by 15 per cent in 2012 compared to 2011.
New listings have not keep pace with demand, declining by 7% over the same period. This has significantly reduced the inventory of single family homes in the market causing an upward trend in pricing. Buyers are looking for value and if a home is priced they are buying. Over the first half of 2013 we can expect the spread between asking and selling price to narrow. If you are think of putting your home on the market, now is a good time as inventory is down and there is definitely buyers out there looking for the right home.

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Home Advisor
If you are on the lookout for your next home there are a number of tools available to you online. Perhaps one of the best “One Stop” resources is the CMHC website. http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/buho/ here you will find a cornucopia of resources to help you through the buying process. From their 5 step buying process to useful tools like their many calculators, the sites helps to inform buyers about every aspect of the financial side of making the purchase. There are a number of worksheets that cover every aspect of buying, including a list of questions you should be asking your Realtor. If you are just starting down the buying path or even if you are already committed, you will finds this site invaluable.
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Home Maintenance
Ok, it’s a new year and you have decided that you are going to change the way you use energy. Not only will you be saving money on your utilities, you will be making a significant contribution to the health of the environment. So, the next question is’ “ What can I do to make my home more energy efficient”? Tapping into the sun’s warmth and light, making a few simple design changes, choosing and using appliances wisely, and changing a few old habits can make an impact. Here are 10 things you can do in your home right now to make a difference.
1.Stop Drafts – Plug the gaps in your windows, doors and other external openings where air is leaking
2.Lower the Heat – a reduction of just one degree can cut bills by 10 per cent. A programmable thermostat can also help you to more precisely control temperatures at different times of the day
3.Hang Clothes to Dry- A close line may not be practical in this fast pace world, but reducing your dryer use by hanging some clothing items will make an impact
4.Improve Insulation – If you are in an older home, this can make a significant difference the cost of heating and cooling your home.
5.Cover the Windows – heavy draperies can decrease heat loss by as much as 30% during cold winter days. Before you leave the house for work, close the drapes and blinds
6.Take Advantage of the Sun – On sunny winter days let the light into the room and use the natural warmth to help heat your home
7.Plug appliances into a Power bar – When your TV, stereo, video games and computer are sitting idle they can account for as much as 10% of your energy consumption. Turn off the power bar.
8.Update light bulbs – LEDs use far less energy and last much longer than conventional bulbs and even CFLs are a better alternative to the old incandescent bulb.
9.Insulate Hot Water Tank and Pipes – 25% of your energy bill can go toward heating water and 50% of total water heating costs can be due to heat loss.
10.Choose the Right Size Appliances – When it comes time to replace your appliances consider that larger appliances use more energy. A 284 litre fridge will use 20% more energy that a 210 litre fridge even if they have the same energy rating.

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I hope you enjoyed this edition of The Property Ladder News. As always, your comments and feedback are welcome. If you have any questions about real estate or there is a topic you would like me to cover here in The Property Ladder News, let me know.
Jim Perks
The Property Ladder Guy
403 660 6239