Calgary Real Estate Blog

The white stuff has fallen again, this time in a much more seasonally appropriate manner than September’s snowpocalypse (I can’t believe spell check doesn’t have a problem with that word), and it’s time to double check your home is winterized if that hasn’t been done already. One key appliance for Calgarians over the next several months will be the furnace, and you want to make sure that puppy is running smoothly and reliably; a 10:00 pm emergency repair call in -30 degree weather could cost you a small fortune.

It’s a wise idea to contact your favourite trusted furnace specialist sometime in the fall for a tune up, just to ensure everything’s running as it should. There are a couple things you can take care of yourself as well, though.

Your furnace filter should be changed every one to three months, and some recommend that cheap fibreglass filters are actually better for your furnace than expensive high efficiency ones; check with a professional to be sure of what’s right for your system. Check your air return ducts for drafts, and seal with metallic tape any that you find. There are several more steps that more industrious homeowners can do, but unless you’re a confident do-it-yourselfer, call a pro.

Also consider creating setbacks on your digital thermostat, lowering the temperature when you’re away or asleep, and raising it back up again when you’re around. This can lead to some significant cost savings on your gas bill – up to 15 percent according to the Canadian Centre for Housing Technology – as long as you are prepared to find the right balance. Lowering the temperature by too much can lead to an uncomfortable house, high humidity, and reduced airflow, which may not be worth the money saved; a two degree change is the safest bet, offering some savings with little downside.

Have any other tips for keeping your house warm? Share them in the comments!

Looking for a new house to enjoy this winter? Contact me!

As oil prices drop due to increased production and reduced global demand (I filled up for 98.9 at Costco this week), I’ve heard rumblings from people fearful of property values plummeting along with the price of crude. It’s not a foolish worry: Calgary’s market fluctuations have often risen and fallen along with our province’s energy economy, as one would logically expect. Not this time, however, at least, not yet.

The Globe and Mail ran an excellent breakdown in early October describing Calgary’s continually strong market growth, as the median house price rose to nearly $490,000 in September, up $10,000 from the month previous. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Urban Land Institute, Calgary and Edmonton are the top markets in Canada for real estate investors. The survey quoted by the Herald notes the increasing numbers of young adults moving to Alberta for employment are helping drive condo sales as they enter the market looking for urban dwellings; as they age, their housing needs will progress, too, meaning we will likely see a very healthy market for a decade or more.

While increased prices aren’t necessarily music to the ears of those looking to buy their first property, they speak to the stability and robustness of the city’s market, making investment in Calgary real estate a sound decision in many cases (although your personal mileage may vary – I’m not offering personal financial advice here). Thinking of jumping in? Check out my Buyers Guide, then contact me to set the wheels in motion.