Resources
Buying Tips
A house is the single most expensive purchase that most people will make in their lifetimes. Call Jovette at Century 21 for help evaluating the many factors that affect the house price, its affordability, and your ultimate purchase decision. Jovette can negotiate hard for you.
Consider these factors.....
- Listing price - How does the house you want compare to similar houses in the area.
- Financing alternatives - Existing financing, mortgage assumability, owner financing, interest rates on existing and new mortgages.
- Access and possession - Location and access to the property, and possession date. Consider any special conditions the seller might require as part of the deal.
- Property appraisals - Many banks and lenders require appraisals before agreeing to provide mortgage funding. The cost of obtaining appraisals are often negotiable.
- Condition - A house inspection can reveal hidden deficiencies and needed repairs.
Jovette can....
- Research available properties and select the properties that meet your individual needs.
- Negotiate a purchase price that is in keeping with comparable properties.
- Develop a customized purchasing strategy and discover the seller's motivation. That factor is often the key to negotiating a lower purchase price.
- Explain the forms and process to remove the mystery that purchasers often fear.
- Refer you to qualified professionals including lawyers, mortgage brokers, banks and lenders.
A prudent approach is to get pre-qualified for a mortgage. Lenders often secure the mortgage interest rate for pre-approved mortgages.
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Selling Tips
Before listing your home for sale, invest a bit of time to increase its salability. The attention to detail inside and around your home is a reflection of how well you have maintained its structural integrity .
Getting ready to sell.....
- Make your house sparkle. Clean up clutter and store out-of-season clothes. Show buyers that your house has ample storage space.
- Make minor repairs. The little things count, and can increase or reduce a house's attractiveness. Fix dripping faucets, loose screws, sticking windows and doors -- anything that might irritate potential buyers.
- Make space for everything. Clean up the garage, basement, and shed.
- Increase curb appeal. Clean up the yard, driveway, and landscaping. Put toys out of sight.
- Make potential buyers feel at home. Bake an apple pie or make some bread before an open house. These inviting aromas give visitors a sense of comfort and ease.
Recover your Investment
- Recovering the cost of renovations is an important consideration.
- Before investing in upgrading your home, consider that the cost of some renovations are more easily recovered than others. Be careful that the renovation investment does not over-price your house in relation to the houses in your area.
- For low-cost improvement with quick recovery potential, apply a fresh coat of paint to make your home look more appealing.
- Contact Jovette at Century 21 Foothills for advice about which renovation costs are most easily recovered.
Jovette will:
- Evaluate the many factors that affect the salability of a house.
- Analyze the property to identify desirable features to attract the appropriate buyers.
- Establish a fair selling price that is in keeping with comparable properties.
- Develop a customized marketing plan to advertise and promote your sale, to the appropriate buyers. Multiple Listing Service is a great benefit to a speedy sale.
- Promote and present the property to reach the largest possible buyer audience.
- Explain the forms and process to remove the mystery that sellers often fear.
- Refer you to qualified professionals including lawyers, surveyors, and inspection services.
Renovation Recovery
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Exterior Paint
- Interior Paint
- Main Floor family room
- Finished Basement
Over-priced houses take longer to sell, and ultimately sell for less than the market value.
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Mortgages
Jovette can refer you to reputable and reliable sources for financing your new home and can help negotiate the best rate available. For more information contact Jovette at 995-7721.
Consider these alternatives.....
- Mortgage Brokers do the leg work to determine what you can afford, and can help find a lender willing to provide mortgage funds for your new home.
- Banks, trust companies, and credit unions. A range of alternatives are available as sources of mortgage funding.
Jovette at Century 21 Foothills will:
- Research properties that fit within your financial needs, to ensure that you aren't tempted -- then disappointed -- by houses that would become financial burdens.
- Negotiate a reasonable purchase price that meets your needs.
- Explore alternative financing -- whether through mortgage brokers, financial institutions, or vendor
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Calgary, January 3, 2007 – Calgary's MLS® Sales and Listings numbers closed the year with record breaking figures
According to figures released by the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®).
Year-to-date combined residential sales totaled 32,912, the highest ever recorded in MLS® history and an increase of 4.53%
over 2005's year end combined residential figure of 31,485. Listings, while slow at times during 2006, finished at 44,712, surpassing 2005's year end combined listing number of 39,698, showing an increase of 12.63 per cent.
The December residential combined sales rang in at 2,015, showing an increase of 7.52 per cent from December 2005 when the sales were recorded as 1,874 and showing a decrease of 12.88 per cent from November's sales of 2,313. The following shows the breakdown of the December combined sales; 1,414 single-family residences, 593 condominium, and 8 mobile homes.
December 2005 sales in the same categories were, 1,341, 530, and 3, respectively.
Combined residential listings in December were 1,670, showing a typical seasonal drop of 41.40 percent from the 2,850 recorded in November, but showing an increase of 6.98 per cent from the 1,561 listings that came to the market in December 2005.
The average year-to-date residential sale price was $346,673, an increase of 38.17 per cent over the year end average price in 2005 of $250,906. The average combined residential sale price for December 2006 was $361,640, showing a 32.35 per cent increase over December 2005, when the average price was $273,238, and showing a slight increase of 0.27 per cent from the November average price of $360,674. Broken out, the following is a comparison of single-family, condominium, and mobile home average sale prices for the month of December 2006 over 2005: single-family $396,870 / $305,676; condominium $281,459 / $192,412; and mobile home $78,250 / $53,000.
Year-to-date Condominium sales were a record breaking 9,608, an increase of 9.76 per cent from 2005's year end number of 8,754. Condominium sales in December totaled 593 showing an increase of 11.89 per cent over December 2005 when 530 condominiums changed hands and a decrease of 11.49 per cent from the 670 sales recorded in November. The average sale price of a condominium in December 2006 was $281,459, an increase of 46.28 per cent from December 2005 when the average price was $192,412 and a very slight decrease of 0.43 per cent from November's average price of $282,680.
“It is good to see that unit sales in December 2006 were up slightly over December 2005, probably due to having 50% more inventory as we close the year,” says Calgary Real Estate Board President, Kevin Clark. “That however is not the full picture.
Of the properties that sold in December, 40% had reduced their price by an average of 5.3% before selling; 90% negotiated a sale price an average of 3% below their asking price; and 11% sold at or above list price! It remains a complex market, so talk to your REALTOR®; it will be the best investment you make in 2007”
All information above is supplied by the Calgary Real Estate Board.
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Checklist: Winterize Your Home
by Service Magic
As cold weather approaches, it is important to take a few preventative measures to protect your home through the chilly months. Here is a checklist to help you prepare:
- Check the attic, walls and basement for adequate insulation.
- Feel around electrical outlets and switch-plates for cold air, add insulation where necessary.
- Look around doors and windows for gaps and potential places where warm air can escape.
- Caulk or apply weather-stripping around problem draft areas.
- Consider replacing windows with energy efficient double-paned windows.
- Clean gutters and downspouts in mid-fall and double-check them before winter.
- Have a contractor look for damaged roof shingles and loose gutters.
- Replace the filter in your furnace.
- Have a heating/cooling expert look at your furnace if you are unsure of its efficiency.
- Have chimneys and woodstoves cleaned early in the season.
- Test the flue for each fireplace for a tight seal when closed.
- Close any vents in your home that may have been opened for the warm weather.
- Disconnect hoses from outside faucets and turn off the water.
- Consider installing an overhang above the entrance to your home to make steps safer.
- Buy a snow shovel and other winter supplies before the messy weather hits.
- Keep extra water and canned food in storage just in case.
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Get the House Ready
A house that "sparkles" on the surface will sell faster than its shabby neighbor, even though both are structurally well-maintained.
From experience, a realtor know that a "well-polished" house appeals to more buyers and will sell faster and for a higher price. Additionally, buyers feel more comfortable purchasing a well-cared for home because if what they can see is maintained, what they can't see has probably also been maintained. In readying your house for sale, consider:
- how much should you spend
- exterior and curb appeal
- preparing the interior
How much should you spend?
In preparing your home for the market, spend as little money as possible. Buyers will be impressed by a brand new roof, but they aren't likely to give you enough extra money to pay for it. There is a big difference between making minor and inexpensive "polishes" and "touch-ups" to your house, such as putting new knobs on cabinets and a fresh coat of neutral paint in the living room, and doing extensive and costly renovations, like installing a new kitchen. Your realtor, who is familiar with buyers' expectations in your neighborhood, can advise you specifically on what improvements need to be made. Don't hesitate to ask for advice.
Maximizing exterior and curb appeal
Before putting your house on the market, take as much time as necessary (and as little money as possible) to maximize its exterior and interior appeal. Tips to enhance your home’s exterior and curb appeal:
- Keep the lawn edged, cut and watered regularly.
- Trim hedges, weed lawns and flowerbeds, and prune trees regularly.
- Check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling.
- Inspect doors and windows for peeling paint.
- Clean and align gutters.
- Inspect and clean the chimney.
- Repair and replace loose or damaged roof shingles.
- Repair and repaint loose siding and caulking.
- In Northern winters, keep walks neatly cleared of snow and ice.
- During spring and summer months consider adding a few showy annuals, perhaps in pots, near your front entrance.
- Re-seal an asphalt driveway.
- Keep your garage door closed.
- Store RVs or old and beaten up cars elsewhere while the house is on the market.
- Apply a fresh coat of paint to the front door.
Maximizing interior appeal
Enhance your home’s interior by:
- Giving every room in the house a thorough cleaning, as well as removing all clutter. This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with crowded rooms have actually rented storage garages and moved half their furniture out, creating a sleeker, more spacious look.
- Hiring a professional cleaning service, once every few weeks while the house is on the market. This may be a good investment for owners who are busy elsewhere.
- Removing the less frequently used, even daily used items from kitchen counters, closets, and attics, making these areas much more inviting. Since you're anticipating a move anyhow, holding a garage sale at this point is a great idea.
- If necessary, repainting dingy, soiled or strongly colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or beige. The same neutral scheme can be applied to carpets and linoleum.
- Checking for cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the attic and basement.
- Repairing cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint, and tiles.
- Replacing broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings, and other woodwork. Inspecting and repairing the plumbing, heating , cooling, and alarm systems.
- Repairing dripping faucets and showerheads. Buying showy new towels for the bathroom, to be brought out only when prospective buyers are on the way.
- Sprucing up a kitchen in need of more major remodeling by investing in new cabinet knobs, new curtains, or a coat of neutral paint.
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Why People Want to Live Here
The 10 Best Places to Live in Canada
By Ellen Barsky, Chatelaine Magazine, 1992
Strange how our ideas about what makes a city or town a great place to live have changed so drastically in just a few years. Back in 1988, when we first pondered the question, relocation experts across the country told us that Canadians favored urban centres with strut and swagger. But by 1991, soaring housing prices and unsettled big-city life had taken their toll. Our experts reported that Canadians preferred smaller, user-friendly towns or cities, where community spirit and family-oriented activities were more likely to flourish.
This year's priorities are different again. We've been battered by a recession that's lasted far longer than most of us ever imagined. We've gone to war in the Persian Gulf and faced a constitutional crisis at home, not to mention a frightening surge in crime, social disharmony and homelessness. It's no surprise that affordability and safety are uppermost in our minds. In 1992's 10 top towns and small cities, you may not make a fortune or have a wide choice of things to do on Saturday night, but you can sleep soundly knowing your family is safe and your future secure.
Picturesque Okotoks, which straddles the Sheep River, has tree-lined streets and wide boulevards, and a young population: 85 percent of its residents are under 45. Maybe that's because Okotoks is within commuting distance -- 34 kilometres -- of Calgary and provides a safe affordable environment in which to raise a family. And jobs -- in energy, technology, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism -- abound in the area which has an employment rate of 97.2 percent, compared to the national average of 89.7 percent.
It's hard to beat Okotoks for small-town friendliness and community pride. Kids are so committed to the beautiful Rocky Mountain environment that their local high school, Foothills Composite, has been designated one of Canada's "green" schools.
Like other Albertans, Okotoks residents have no provincial sales tax to worry about, and a three-bedroom bungalow on a sprawling lot costs about $120,000 to buy and about $540 to heat annually. They don't have to worry about safety either: people can walk anywhere at night, and many residents don't bother to lock their doors.
There are no big grocery chains competing to offer "best buy" prices, but residents say prices are reasonable and write letters to the editor of the newspaper applauding the service of local stores, which give such friendly services as a regular "carry-out" for shopping bags. Residents cherish their town's peace and quiet. Most activities centre around the town recreation facility's swimming pool, hockey arena and curling rink.
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