It’s a (bidding) war zone out there right now. There are nearly twenty percent fewer homes on the market than there were a year ago, yet sales are up just over three percent; well-priced, attractively located homes are being snatched up as quickly as hours after hitting MLS, according to the Herald. While this doesn’t mean people should be overpricing their homes, it does mean that sales for above-asking price are possible for savvy sellers.

Before you list, make sure you discuss with your Realtor (hey, I’m available!) which features of your home are the most appealing, and maybe put a little money into enhancing those areas as applicable. Then, when your home hits the market, your Realtor can ensure the right people are coming to take a look.

For buyers, there’s never been a more important time than now to ensure you have all your proverbial ducks in a row before diving into the market. For the love of Pete, get pre-qualified on your mortgage before doing anything else. Discuss with your spouse and any other stakeholders what the absolute must-haves of your next home are, and decide what you might be willing to sacrifice to obtain those features. Research the neighbourhoods at the top of your list to find out what kind of home you can expect to find there in your price range. Then, when the time comes to go shopping, bear in mind that you may need to move quickly to get an offer in before another buyer.

While it’s not a market for the timid, the right Realtor can reassure and guide you throughout the process so that you can find the right home, at the right price, for you and your family without too many sleepless nights.

This winter’s been a cold, snowy one: indeed, December saw more of the white stuff hit the ground than has fallen in 112 years. There have been chinooks, sure, and they’ve been glorious, but sadly they’ve also managed to cause problems thanks to the record precipitation. While, most years, a good chinook will dry everything else and ‘reset’ the city, this season those warm few days are just melting top layers enough to create treacherously icy sidewalks and roads that can be near-impossible to navigate safely. Just in my neighbourhood, I’ve seen more people land on their keister than any year I can remember, and hospital workers are reporting two or three times more people are showing up with sprains and breaks thanks to falling on ice than usual for this time of year. Tragically, a woman was found dead last week in Edmonton after what police suspect was a slip on the icy sidewalk.

All of this should serve as a reminder – or a provocation – to know and live up to your responsibilities when it comes to keeping the sidewalks safe in front of your house. According to city bylaws, homeowners are expected to clear their sidewalks of snow and ice within 24 hours, or else risk having the city do it at the homeowner’s expense. Staying on top of your clearing duties (as opposed to putting it off through a three-day snowstorm) can make it lighter work, and a bag of sidewalk salt, sand, or kitty litter is a lot cheaper than the deductible on your liability insurance if someone sues you for slipping; it comes down to the safety of your neighbours, their kids, their elderly parents.

We all like to complain – and justifiably so – about the insane snowpack in our suburbs this year, but all homeowners (and good natured renters too) can help make Calgary’s sidewalks a whole lot safer just by spending a few minutes with a shovel.

I talk a lot about the detached home market in Calgary, and how remarkably well its doing, but our city’s condo market is also on fire right now. The Herald reported recently that new condo sales are near the records set in 2005 – when prices were significantly lower – as people look to live closer to the action of our downtown core.

Condos have a lot of great benefits for the right homebuyer. First, you get the financial advantages of owning a home with a lot of the mitigated responsibilities (for things like shoveling snow, replacing the roof, and so on) that go along with renting. Second, singles may feel a greater sense of security living in a highrise condo building, surrounded by helpful neighbours and with a monitored entrance, rather than in a big suburban home. Third, a major element of the condo lifestyle is living with less stuff: you just plain don’t have the room to store a pile of collectables, and so you learn to live with less.

It’s not for everyone, of course, and it does have risks: a poorly managed condo board can leave maintenance undone, for example, leading to major repairs paid for out of residents’ pockets. For those who do their research and know what they’re getting into, though, condos hold a lot of value and appeal. If you think you might like getting into the condo market, give me a call or visit my web page to view those I currently have listed.

59 Wentworth Ci SW

**Open House Sat Jan 25 1-4pm** Absolutely loaded! This open plan, fully developed 3-bedroom home boasts many, many extras- Custom made hand crafted built-ins throughout. Upgraded flooring including tile floors, hardwood up to and in the bonus room, and upgraded carpet with 11 lbs underlay. Large master bedroom with a vaulted ceiling and a secondary room that would serve well as an office, exercise area, or extra closet / dressing room. 50 year metal roof. Navien tankless water heater. 3-ton air conditioner. Other bonuses include a reverse osmosis water system, top-of-the-line water softener, electronic air cleaner, and concrete front step. This home has never been smoked-in and the owner has no pets; it’s super-clean. Hobbyists will appreciate the huge garage which is wider and much longer than normal, is plumbed with water and wired with 220V, is insulated and boasts a storage loft! All this and low-maintenance xeriscaped landscaping and a large deck that hosts an 8 person hot-tub. Ahhhh!

To view more photos, floor plan and virtual tour visit my webpage.

1520 18 Av Nw

Fully developed gem in Capitol Hill with an income-helper basement. Close to everything including the C-Train, North Hill Mall, SAIT, and Confederation Park. Soaring vaulted ceilings on the main level with a wood-burning fireplace that boasts a floor to ceiling rock mantle. Huge windows to let the light shine in. Huge kitchen with loads of counter space and lots of room, plus newer stainless steel appliances and a rear sun room overlooking the back yard. This home boasts numerous upgrades including: newer hardwood and tile floors, new roof including skylights, new high-efficiency furnace, and new ground level deck. Upstairs the master boasts dual closets and a massive master ensuite with dual sinks and a dressing area. The suite downstairs has a separate entrance, separate laundry, and lots of windows. The den could easily be converted to an additional bedroom, if wanted. Air conditioning and a double garage add to the home’s appeal. Located on a no-through-road. This is the one!

To view more photos, full listing details, floorplan and virtual tour visit my webpage.

As the father of two rad sons (unbiased opinion), who has used its services in the past, the Alberta Children’s Hospital obviously holds a place in my heart. From the off-kilter, brightly coloured design to the unbelievably kind staff, it’s a special place that can take a bit of the edge off being the parent of a sick child.

Every year, Country 105 runs a three-day radiothon to raise money for this essential hospital, airing interviews with kids and parents who have been or are in the hospital, sharing stories that would make Vigo the Carpathian well up (Ghostbusters 2 reference, anyone?). This awesome event raises millions of dollars for equipment to help kids get better faster, and I can’t think of a better cause to support.

I strongly encourage you to visit http://www.kidsradiothon.com/ to donate, or set up your own fundraising team, then tune in for those three days of heartwarming and tearjerking takes from the hospital.

The New Year is off to a great start in the real estate market, with the Calgary Real Estate Board predicting strong growth in both prices and the number of newly-built homes. While that’s a familiar-sounding tune these days, we’re coming off a year that saw more than 12 percent growth in the number of sales made with prices rising by six percent; to see sales increase by what’s predicted to be a little under four percent from last year is a really impressive sign of a healthy, robust market.

With interest rates now predicted to remain low for the foreseeable future (as opposed to the ‘there’re going up next month!’ prognostications we’ve been hearing for the last few years), this is an good time to build your ideal property or find a great resale home to move up into. A couple weeks ago I posted about some things you can do around your home to get it in saleable condition; I recommend having another read of that, and make a game plan if you want to enter the market in the spring. A few touch-ups can really affect your bottom line, which in turn will help you get that new home you want.

Want a personal, no-obligation evaluation of what we could sell your home for today, and what you could do to sell it for more? Contact me!

802, 281 Cougar Ridge Dr SW

This wide-open, top-floor stacked townhouse is absolutely perfect for a new start or as an income property. Kitchen boasts ample counter space and loads of storage including a pantry and maple cabinets. Bedroom has a walk-in closet with organizers. 9-foot ceilings enhance the large and airy atmosphere. Attached garage with extra parking on the driveway, as well as visitor parking right across the lane-way. Views to the west from the living room picture window and balcony. All the appliances are included, along with the washer/dryer. Situated close to a large green-space and a playground, and two blocks from the ski hill. Fast Possession is available.

To view more photos, floorplan and virtual tour visit my webpage.

# 1301 281 Cougar Ridge Dr SW

Bungalow-style main floor townhouse. Wide-open and functional floorplan. Two bedrooms, two full bathrooms. The bedrooms are on opposite sides on the unit, and the master has an ensuite. Granite counters, stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, 9″ ceilings and neutral decor. The attached garage has private access directly from the unit. Located on the quiet back side of the complex on the greenway near a green space and extra street parking. The full basement awaits your development ideas or storage items.

To view full listing details, more photos, virtual tour and floor plan visit my webpage.

There’s something special about the couple of weeks immediately following New Year’s Day: the Christmas season is over, company has returned from whence they came, and your home is starting to look like it did last fall. Opportunity and renewal is in the air; anything is possible. As you tidy up the decorations you might find a few bits of maintenance that need doing, or improvements that can be made. Rather than overwhelming, though, this list is inspiring, because it’s a new year, baby!

The trick, then, is to capitalize on this newfound optimism and actually accomplish something. If you’re thinking about putting your home on the market this year – and judging by early indicators, this’ll be a great time to do so – make your New Year’s resolution to get your property market ready.

First and foremost, start decluttering your home. Haven’t used something in more than a year? Donate, sell, or toss it. Clear off the flat surfaces like desks and countertops, and resolve to keep them clear. Those who are really ambitious can use the ‘clean sweep’ method, taking absolutely everything out of a room, then only putting back those things that truly belong in that space; the rest has got to go.

Decluttering doesn’t have to mean getting rid of things, though: packing rarely-used but still useful things in preparation for your move will both improve the roominess of your home and save you some time later.

Next, really put some effort into identifying all the areas where your home could use some maintenance, and make a plan for how and when you’ll get it all done. Then start looking at inexpensive improvements you could make to freshen up the place: maybe get all the supplies you need to paint your main floor, and the next time a chinook hits crack open the windows and get to it.

Now’s also a useful time to do some research, both of the types of neighbourhoods in which you might like to live, and on Realtors in your area who might be a good fit for you. January’s not generally the busiest month for Realtors, so call a few up to go for coffee in an informal interview (I’m available). The right agent can make your selling – and buying – experience a lot easier.

So those are a few tips to get you started. And because I’m still in the giving mood, how would you like 2-for-1 tickets to the Calgary Home and Garden Show, taking place at the end of next month? Just click here, and make sure to use the promo code NEWYEAR.