Every new home in Alberta is covered by a mandatory warranty under the New Home Buyer Protection Act. This new home warranty applies to any type of home in Alberta: single family home, duplex and condominium. Here follows a short overview of the Act, including a few tips for buying new-built homes or newer homes… [Read More]
Secondary suite in Calgary
Interested in buying or selling a property with a basement suite in Calgary? It is important to know if the suite is considered legal or illegal. To confirm if the suite is legal, it must be registered at the City of Calgary’s website, the Secondary Suite Registry. If the basement suite is not registered… [Read More]
Buying a Home, 8 Mistakes to Avoid
The process of buying a home can be incredibly exciting, yet stressful, all at once. Where do you start and what do you need to know? It is essential you do your homework before you begin. Learn from the experiences of others, do lots of research. Of course, with so many details involved in the home buying process,… [Read More]
What are HOA fees or Home Owners Association fees?
What are Home Owners’ Association fees and Residents’ Association fees? And what exactly does a community association do? What is a Home Owners’ Association? The Home Owners’ Association (HOA) is a non-for-profit organization, within a community, that establishes control over beautifying the community, the maintenance of greenspaces and the entrance of the community. As well,… [Read More]
Buying a home without hiring a realtor
In Alberta, it is not required to hire a realtor to buy a home. Even when the home is listed on the MLS, and listed by a licensed realtor, a buyer can work without his or her own representation. However, buying a home is a complex process. It involves many parties like sellers, buyers, lawyers,… [Read More]
Required list of condo documents to buy or sell
Selling or buying a condo? Condominium owners are part owners in a corporation. A seller must provide the buyer with a long list of condominium documents. What are the documents that a seller must provide to the buyer? And what do these ‘condo docs’ tell? Following is the entire list of condominium documents, which is… [Read More]
Why sign a service agreement or buyer brokerage agreement
Since July 2014, the RECA, the Real Estate Council of Alberta, made it mandatory that realtors sign an agreement with buyers. These service agreements have always existed, but before this agreement became mandatory, most realtors didn’t use them. Even today, sometimes realtors take buyers home hunting without any agreement in place. It is mandatory, but… [Read More]
Use of cameras and recording devices when selling your home
Selling a home means allowing buyers in your home to view the property. In recent years, there was a strong increase in the use of cameras and listening devices in private homes. As a seller, it is important to know if cameras and listening devices are allowed to spy on and listen to potential buyers… [Read More]
Closing costs when buying a home
Between the start of the home search and receiving the keys of a new home, a home buyer has to pay some costs. We often refer to these costs as closing costs. What closing costs can you expect in Calgary, Alberta? Please note that these closing costs are subject to change and are based on… [Read More]
Moving to Calgary? A guide to discover real estate in Calgary and area
Over the years, we have had the privilege to meet and help many people who were moving to Calgary from abroad. Our first contact with newcomers was often when they first planned to visit Calgary. Many were still in the orientation phase of moving and asked us about Calgary real estate as well as the… [Read More]
Questions to ask a realtor
Buying or selling a home should not be taken lightly, as your home is most likely the biggest asset in your life. You want that realtor who can do the job and has your best interest in mind. With more than 5000 realtors in Calgary, it is important to ask the right questions to pick… [Read More]
Back up offers when selling or buying a home
What is a backup offer A backup offer is when a has seller accepted an offer on the home, but accepts a second offer as a backup, just in case the first offer falls through. This is generally good news for the seller, because if the first offer falls through on financing or home inspection,… [Read More]
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