MyHomeMyCalgary.com Blog

Is your business in need of a visual makeover? Check out Crystal Reynolds at Crystall Ink Graphic Design. Crystal has completed a number of projects for us with top notch quality and service. www.crystalink.ca  

Just sold this listing: "Welcome to this well maintained "Tipperary" model Centrex built home featuring quality materials & workmanship. The main floor offers a spacious front foyer; formal living room and dining room with "built-ins"; a chef's kitchen with attractive raised panel cabinets, granite counter tops & adjoining large breakfast nook; warm inviting Great Room with cozy gas fireplace; and 2 piece powder room. Upstairs you are treated to a master suite with a retreat area and private 4 ... Full Article...

Just sold this listing: C3509159 - "Spacious, bright and welcoming best describes this 6th floor 2 bedroom, 2 bath executive suite. Located in a distinctive Calgary landmark, the Odyssey Towers, this condominium offers terrific views from the floor to ceiling windows of the city skyline, COP, mountains and the North Hill. The special features of this floor plan include an elegant living room; large dining room with garden door to the balcony; eat-in style kitchen with ample cabinets and counter ... Full Article...

When considering the sale of your home the way it's presented becomes extremely important. A clean, uncluttered, tidy home goes a long way toward selling faster and for more money. To assist our sellers, RE/MAX has created the 'Are You Fit To Sell' program and video's with tips on how to effectively stage your home. If you're interested in a FREE DVD contact us and we'll promptly mail one out!

If you're planning to sell, and with spring right around the corner, it's time to start thinking about the curb appeal of your home.  Check out this video from the RE/MAX 'Are You Fit to Sell?' series.
http://youtu.be/uBv4IZS-koE

Is your business in need of a visual makeover?  Check out Crystal Reynolds at Crystall Ink Graphic Design.  Crystal has completed a number of projects for us with top notch quality and service.  Crystal Ink 403-708-8093 www.crystalink.ca  

With Valentine's Day right around the corner we thought it would be fun to share a list we came across showcasing 10 of the most romantic homes.  Check it out here: http://rismedia.com/2012-02-07/2012s-top-10-romantic-homes/  

     Rocky Ridge and Royal Oak are the last two communities on the NW edge of Calgary. The community landscape offers exceptional views of the Rocky Mountains. The developers worked to preserve as much of the native trees and ponds and wove walking paths into the community.        Residents of Rocky Ridge have access to an exceptional community centre featuring two tennis courts, a basketball court, a volleyball court, teatherball, and a playground, games room, wading pool and more.        Li ... Full Article...

Today the Calgary Real Estate Board announced the launch of the Home Price Index.  According to CREB, the Home Price Index enables Realtors to provide their clients with 'purer data that you can use for property comparisons, understanding future price trends and estimating current market values'.  Essentially, this tool will allow us to look at a typical, or 'benchmark' home in a given community and track how its value has fluctuated over time.  We can then take this information and apply it to ... Full Article...

This week we're shining the spotlight on Adjust Your Health.  Owned and operated by Dr. James McIntyre this clicnic offers chiropractic, active release therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy and more.  Jonathan has been a client for 7 years and has trusted their team of therapists to keep him healthy and aid him in recovery from hip surgery. According to Jonathan, 'The staff is exceptionally knowledgable and I trust them to take care of all my aches and pains'. Adjust Your Health can be contacte ... Full Article...

Scenic Acres is located in Calgary’s northwest quadrant, south of Crowchild Trail and West of Nose Hill Drive NW, only 14km from the city center. Scenic acres was established in 1981 and its name was derived from the panoramic mountain and valley views to the west and south. Housing opportunities range from affordable starter homes to move-up and estate style offerings in addition to townhome condominiums. Community Highlights: 1) Gas station and professional centre. 2) Community cent ... Full Article...

Tuscany is located in the NW Quadrant of Calgary, North of the Bow River, west of Stoney Trail and south of Crowchild Trail. Established in 1994 home construction in the community is anticipated to be completed in 2013. Tuscany is a family oriented community and offers affordable single family starter housing, move-up homes and estate style homes. In addition, there are apartment condominiums and townhouse style homes. Community Highlights: 1) Three schools: two public (elementary and middle) ... Full Article...

Are you fit to sell?  Next to pricing, when it comes to selling in the competitive Calgary Real Estate Market, it's imperative that your home shows as well as or better than the competition.  Next up in the RE/MAX video series, 'Are You Fit to Sell?' is the staging of your main selling rooms. 

In a new series of blog posts we will introduce you to our Trusted Business Partner's.  These are people and businesses that we have personally worked with and would trust to take care of our clients, friends and family.  First up is Ninth Avenue Auto in the community of Inglewood.  We've purchased many vehicles from this family owned and operated independent car dealer and will continue to do so in the future.  They offer top notch value and service and if they don't have what you're looking f ... Full Article...

Another video in the RE/MAX series 'Are You Fit to Sell'.  This episode focues on preparing your home for sale by painting.

http://youtu.be/XlLS7wZOdTA

The RE/MAX fit to sell program is a series of videos that assist home owners in prepping their home for sale.  'Prepacking Clutter and Editing' is an informative video on what to do to get your home showing ready.  Click here.

RE/MAX Western Canada just launched a cool new website that shows the number of live searches being performed for homes on the RE/MAX Western Canada website.  Check it out here.

People design their homes to fit every aspect of there lifestyle and to make it confortable for all members of the family.  So why not include the family dog in your design equation?  Check out what these people have done for their 4 legged friends. 

http://www.inman.com/news/2012/01/6/a-house-thats-dogs

Those waiting to for real estate prices to drop in 2012 may be waiting in vain according to Richard Cho of Canada Mortgage and Housing.  Cho suggests that prices in both the new and resale home markets will increase but not by much.  Full article here: http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Housing+prices+increase+2012/5925286/story.html

As the weather turns cooler, it’s time for homeowners to take prudent steps to protect their houses and property—so that the weather does not turn on them. After the damage caused by last winter’s nasty weather and this year’s floods, there’s no reason to delay or to hope that nothing happens this time around. Homeowners should “sit down and think about what some of the challenges from last winter were and try to stay ahead of those this year,” advises ... Full Article...

I like saving energy. Especially my own. That’s why I love tips that don’t require a lot of effort but still help me trim my energy bills. They may not make a big difference individually, but even baby steps add up to some pretty big strides. Here are 10 things you can do right now to cut down on your heating and power costs. And you won’t break the bank or much of a sweat. 1. Lock the windows. Even when a window is closed, a little space remains between the sashes where air ... Full Article...

Sales gain momentum in the first three quarters of 2011 Calgary, October 3, 2011 – According to figures released today by CREB® (Calgary Real Estate Board), residential sales continued to gain momentum in Calgary this year, totaling 14,832 after the first three quarters, a seven per cent per cent rise over last year. “Despite recent turmoil in the global economy, Calgarians are showing confidence in the long term prospects for the city and are taking advantage of affordable a ... Full Article...

We were recently lucky enough to have one of listings featured on HGTV's 'Urban Suburban'.  The show follows a couple as they view homes and try to decide whether the convenience of urban life outweighs the draw to family oriented suburbia.  Our listing came out on top and 'won' the television showdown as the couple picked our client's 3 bedroom Inglewood townhome as their favorite.  However, in the real world they did not step forward and make an offer so this stunning home is still available ... Full Article...

Avoid 'shocking consequences': Hire an electrician By Barry Stone, Tuesday, August 9, 2011. Inman News™ DEAR BARRY: Are the electrical wires in a home color-coded for positive, negative and ground? Our wires are brown, blue and green/yellow. Which ones should we connect to which screws? --Agatha DEAR AGATHA: Assumptions should never be made when electrical safety is involved. Have an electrician verify the color coding. Residential wiring is typically black for hot, white for neutral, an ... Full Article...

Calgary, August 2, 2011 – According to figures released today by CREB® (Calgary Real Estate Board), residential sales continue to trend towards recovery. After the first seven months of the year, single family and condominium sales totaled 11,798, a 5 per cent increase over the previous year. While the improvements signal market recovery, overall sales levels remain 17 per cent below the 10-year average for this period. “The recent rise in average days on market, especially in ... Full Article...

Considering buying a condo?  This short video details 4 great questions every potential condo buyer should ask. http://media.rismedia.com?bcpid=374632058001&bctid=1032807738001

RISMEDIA, July 8, 2011—Most Americans still believe that owning a home is a solid financial decision, and a majority of renters aspire to homeownership as a long-term goal. According to the 2011 National Housing Pulse Survey released recently by the National Association of REALTORS®, 72 percent of renters surveyed said owning a home is a top priority for their future, up from 63 percent in 2010. Seven in 10 Americans also agreed that buying a home is a good financial decision while almost ... Full Article...

Calgary, July 4, 2011 – According to figures released today by CREB® (Calgary Real Estate Board), residential sales surged in the month of June 2011 to 1,979 units. While this indicates a third more sales than June 2010, the year-to-date increase proved a moderate 2 per cent. Strong monthly increases does not imply a housing boom, as it is important to put into perspective that sales activity remains below long term averages. While the single family market has shown signs of improvement t ... Full Article...

Calgary Real Estate market snapshot for June 2011. 

RISMedia, May 19, 2011—Donna Hoffman, a Philadelphia interior designer, offers tips for those looking to refresh their dated decor without starting from scratch or incurring sky-high expenses. “As real estate values have fallen, many people are concerned with how much money to put into their homes. Yet discerning clients recognize that a dated interior really lowers the value of their home,” Hoffman says. To reclaim your enjoyment of your home, here are five fool proof and fis ... Full Article...

By William Hageman Print Article Print Article RISMEDIA, May 17, 2011—(MCT)—Face it, gardens can be overwhelming. What do I grow? Where do I put it? What plants look good together? What if I screw up and nothing grows? But, says Tessa Evelegh, gardening is therapeutic, and too good an experience to be simply dismissed or fretted over. “There’s the sheer thrill of putting in little baby plants and seeing them explode into a profusion of color over the season,” Evele ... Full Article...

By Kathy Van Mullekom Print Article Print Article RISMEDIA, May 16, 2011—(MCT)—Before planting a tree make sure you know how to do it properly, advise tree experts. The way you plant a tree governs how it grows or dies. For example, girdling roots strangle a tree, and roots planted too deeply suffocate a tree. Here’s how to correctly plant a tree, courtesy the International Society of Arboriculture and the website TreesAreGood.com: Prepare the Perfect Hole Dig the hole two to ... Full Article...

RISMEDIA, May 5, 2011—(MCT)—Landscape architect Joann Schwarberg of Mission Hills, Kan., leads us through a weekend action plan for transforming our dead-leaf-riddled outdoor spaces into true retreats—including a celebratory drink at the finish line. The Timeline Friday after Work: Make a plan. Determine the scope of the project. The good thing about a weekend makeover is that the change can be as simple as positioning furniture and redistributing accessories. Truly updating t ... Full Article...

RISMEDIA, April 13, 2011—(MCT)—”All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first warm day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar.” —Helen Hayes So go ahead and dig your fingers into the soil. But put down the shovel and park the tiller. Here’s a different plan that will seem almost sacrilegious to backyard gardeners: Don’t till. Marty Kraft, a Kansas City, Mo., environmentalist, sa ... Full Article...

RISMEDIA, April 5, 2011—A soft, green lawn is a wonderful thing. Here’s some simple advice for growing terrific turf. Prevent weeds before they come up. You can stop weeds from gaining a roothold in your lawn before they even germinate by using a pre-emergent herbicide. This type of product controls the dreaded crabgrass, as well as other hard-to-eliminate weeds, by stopping their seeds from sprouting in your lawn. Use a pre-emergent early in the spring. Eliminate broadleaf weeds o ... Full Article...

RISMEDIA, March 31, 2011—According to DIY shopping and support website Trades Supermarket, the improved spring weather means more than giving the lawn a trim for homeowners; it signifies the time to undertake necessary repair and maintenance checks, not only to make sure the house and garden look good and are safe for summer but also to save expenditure on major improvements in the long run. The strong winds over the winter months may have impacted the safety of areas in and around the ho ... Full Article...

We've just launched our new website!  Check it out at www.MyHomeMyCalgary.com...updated map based home search functions, instructional video on how to prep your home for sale, buying guides, market statistics, and more!