104 Strathlea Pl SW

What a place to call home! Custom-built and offered for sale for the first time ever. Amazing location on a quiet no-through road backing onto the ravine; it’s like living on an acreage in the city! The back yard is serene, imagine sitting on the patio to enjoy the sunrise and listen to the birds chirping in the forest. This home is great for entertaining, with it’s large Tuscan-style kitchen with two ovens and plenty of space to move around, big dining area with a view of the forest, and the front sitting area by the fireplace. The basement boast a large wet-bar that’s bigger than some kitchens, and walks-out to the back yard and it’s built-in BBQ. Enjoy the hot tub while gazing at the stars, or cook s’mores at the private fire pit. Upstairs has 4 bedrooms to keep all the kids close and still gives everyone their space. The master has stunning views. Downstairs is fully developed including a media room, a second office (a great flex room), a 5th bedroom, and a full bath with a sauna and steam shower.

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

Suddenly a lot more people know what Airbnb is.

The company has been in the news of late as a Calgary couple rented out their home using the online service for some extra cash, only to return to find it had been completely trashed in what police called a “drug-induced orgy.” Damages to the King family’s northwest property are now estimated at $150,000.

Airbnb offers a “$1,000,000 Host Guarantee”, reimbursing up to one million dollars in repair bills to homeowners whose properties have been damaged by Airbnb customers, and the company has stated they will pay to have these Calgarian victims made whole again. But nothing can take away the memories of a family home decimated and disrespected so fully.

So, is it worth it to rent out your home on Airbnb? Like most means of earning extra income, there are risks and rewards. Apartments in Calgary start at around $65 per night, more depending on location and amenities (some homes can fetch $800 per night), and there are nearly 900 rentals listed in our city on Airbnb’s site; during Stampede, rates can quadruple. The vast majority of people who rent out their property have no problems at all, especially since renters must register with the service and both renters and homeowners can be reviewed, making them at least somewhat trackable should anything happen. Further, many choose to simply rent out a single room in their primary residence, which allows them to meet new people from around the world as tenants.

The first risk factor is self evident given recent events: the trashed house in the news was rented using stolen credit cards, and two weeks later no culprit has been nabbed. While the host guarantee means victimized homeowners won’t be out of pocket for long, irreplaceable items are, when destroyed, irreplaceable. Also important to know: if you’re a renter, it may be against your lease agreement to sublet your apartment. Review your agreement and check with your landlord before listing your property.

Many advise that the ideal method to use Airbnb for extra cash is to rent out a second home, keeping your primary residence for you and your family. Otherwise, think about the worst case scenario – basically what happened to the Kings – and see if it’s something from which you could move on with no lasting scars.

Do you have home ownership questions? Contact me!

As you may or may not be aware, lenders offering a mortgage to those purchasing a home with less than a 20 percent down payment usually require that mortgage be backed by mortgage loan insurance; the most familiar provider of mortgage loan insurance is the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, a government of Canada operation. This is a good thing, as it protects banks against defaults, while lowering the barrier to entry into the housing market. Homebuyers can purchase (typically their first) homes with as little as five percent down, so long as they’re willing to pay the CMHC premium as part of their mortgage.

Last month, CMHC announced it was increasing premiums effective June 1, 2015. These new premiums only affect buyers with a down payment of less than ten percent, and are intended to maintain CMHC’s capital holdings.

Homebuyers putting ten percent or less down will now pay a CMHC premium of 3.85 percent, up from 3.35 percent. According to CMHC, this should result in affected buyers paying about $5 per month more in insurance.

Like all insurance companies, CMHC maintains a large amount of capital holdings, which rise and fall as investments do. The money the company makes on these investments helps to pay for claims; by using this model, insurance companies are able to keep premiums relatively low while still having cash on hand to pay claims. So there you go; the more you know.

Want to know more? Contact me!

1061 Panatella Bv NW

No viewings are possible. This is a Civil Enforcement sale under Section 7 of the Civil Enforcement Act in Alberta. Most information taken from tax records and community historical information. This property is offered as is/where is and no warranty is given. Please do not enter the property. Listing agent has not been able to view the interior of this property and as a result no additional information is available. The home is believed to have 3 bedrooms upstairs with an ensuite and a second full bath; and an open kitchen plus a living/dining area with a half-bath on the main floor. Located within a 2-minute walk of restaurants, groceries, a park with a playground and public transportation.

To view full listing details visit my web page.

New Real Estate Fees for 2015 As reported by the Calgary Herald, last week’s provincial budget included some pretty hefty hikes to land title and mortgage registration fees, which are paid by the buyer at the time of a transaction’s closing. These fees are calculated, in part, as a percentage of a home’s selling price, and have remained stable since 2011.

After July 1, 2015, buyers will pay 0.12 percent of their new home’s purchase price in mortgage and land title registration fees, up from 0.02 percent, in addition to a flat fee of $75 (increased from $50). What that means to the average homebuyer is that instead of paying $290 (based on a $500,000 home with a 20 percent down payment), they’ll now be forking over $1,230.

User and registration fees went up virtually across the board in this latest budget, and so it’s not a huge surprise that these particular ones did too. Alberta’s land transfer and mortgage registration fees were among the lowest in the country, not to mention our being blessed with no land transfer taxes, and so its unlikely this will have any effect on Calgary’s real estate market other than inspiring some grumbles as buyers write cheques for closing costs. When Ralph Klein slashed these fees from 0.1 percent to 0.02 percent, interest rates were higher and the market slower than we currently enjoy; in our present economic climate, this increase is a fairly obvious move.

It is always important to consider closing costs when determining how much house you can afford. Remember, while the mortgage will likely be paid off over 25-plus years, closing costs are due right away and add up to several thousand dollars. Curious about what closing costs you may be looking at when you purchase? Check out our Buyer’s Guide, then contact me!

91 Copperfield Ri SE

Act fast, this is the lowest priced single-family home in the area! Bright and functional Jayman home with lots of room for a growing family; over 1,450 sq.ft. of developed space, with still more room leftover for storage. Nicely appointed with upgrades and fresh paint. Maple kitchen with a centre island and a dining area surrounded by windows. Large living room features a gas fireplace with maple mantle and tile surround. Lower level media room, wired for sound. Large deck overlooks the fenced south back yard and parking pad. This home is located on a quiet street, and is a short walk to parks and playgrounds, transit, shopping and more. This is a good one.

To view the floorplan, virtual tour and full listing details visit my web page.

I love the annual Home + Garden Show that takes place at the BMO Centre and Corral each winter. Not only do the exhibits and demonstrations help me keep on top of the latest trends in landscaping and home improvement, it also offers plenty of ideas that I can use to improve my own home. It’s always a fun weekend, well worth both the the perilous journey through the snow and the price of admission.

That price can be even lower for you! By using the promo code SHOWTIME and buying your tickets online, you can get them at a 2-for-1 discount. Click here to buy before February 27!

Want to discuss how to spruce up your home before putting it on the market? Just contact me!

260 Walden Me SE

Massive pie lot. Fresh contemporary decor. Open Jayman plan with a large breakfast bar and a separate eating area. Tones of windows let the natural light from the west facing back yard flood in, and what a yard. It’s HUGE! Seriously, its nearly a 1/4 acre! Large bonus room with tall ceilings. Big master bedroom with a large ensuite that includes a deep soaker tub and a separate shower. Upper floor laundry. Extra long double garage. Unspoiled basement awaits your storage items or future development plans. Furnace includes an HRV system (an eco-friendly fresh air supply). This is a great home at a great price.

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

51 Coral Springs Cl NE

Original owner home, first time offered for sale! This one is a good one; clean, fresh, and well-maintained. There’s lots of space for the family. Living room / dining room plan with a large breakfast nook. Enclosed family room with a fireplace and a door to close out the TV noise. Upstairs you’ll find a large bonus room and three good-sized bedrooms. The master’s ensuite has a stand-up shower and a separate deep soaker tub. Main-floor laundry and a large double garage. the unspoiled basement is awaiting your storage items or finishing ideas. Plenty of parking available.

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

Holey moley, were those record-breaking weekend temperatures pretty great, or what? I hope you managed to get some outdoor time with your family to soak up this rather stellar chinook.

Don’t let the disappearing snow fool you, though: we’re still in the dead of winter, and have more -30 days ahead of us. With that in mind, it’s not a bad idea to ensure all this runoff isn’t going to damage your home when the party’s over: check for pools of standing water near your foundation, and take this opportunity to repair and clean out your downspouts. If for some reason you decide to turn the water back on for your outdoor hoses, don’t forget to shut it back off and drain the hoses again before anything bursts. If your flower beds have perennials, like strawberry plants and the like in them, ensure they don’t get too dry after the snow cover disappears – otherwise they might not come back.

And for those of you not subscribing to Edmonton’s push to keep Christmas lights up through February to make winter more bearable, now’s a good time to box up those LEDs too.

Otherwise, get out there while the sun is shining and get some colour on your pasty self!

Chinooks are also a great time to house shop – to chat about your options, give us a call!