There are different types of brokerages and realtors in Calgary. Having a few insights may help you decide which brokerage and agent suits you best. About the brokerage The Real Estate Act Rules mention there are different classes in real estate. There is the brokerage, the broker, the associate broker and the associate (which we… [Read More]
Competing offers in Calgary’s real estate market
Competing offers happen on a regular basis in Calgary’s real estate market. And multiple offers don’t necessarily happen only in a sellers’ market. Even in a buyers’ market they occur. For example, when a property is priced well below market value in a buyers’ market, multiple offers can be sparked. Sellers love the idea of… [Read More]
Want to live near a Calgary park?
Homes for sale near Calgary’s top parks Calgary has many great parks. And of those, Nose Hill Park and Fish Creek Park are two of the largest urban parks in Canada and North America! For obvious reasons, many Calgarians love to live near a park or greenspace. Hiking, biking, birding and tranquility nearby is great…. [Read More]
Bareland Condominiums in Calgary
In Alberta, there are two types of condominiums: conventional condominiums and bare land condominiums. Conventional condominiums are usually units located within a building. If you own a unit, you have control over your unit within its walls. Most apartment style condos in high-rises and low-rises are considered conventional condominiums, as well as many townhomes. Bare… [Read More]
What does a real estate lawyer do
At some point in the process of buying or selling a home, you will need a lawyer. Here is a general outline of what the real estate lawyer does in the process, and why a good lawyer is important. Again, this is just a very general overview of how the process works in Calgary, where… [Read More]
What is an RPR or Real Property Report?
When selling your house, you need to have an updated RPR, a Real Property Report. This document is an essential document to close the sale of your house. A lawyer will need this RPR a few weeks before closing, but in any case, the earlier the better. In fact, we strive to get this RPR… [Read More]
The history of a home in Calgary
Many home buyers are interested in the history of a home. Without too much effort, we can see how often a home has been bought and sold. The MLS gives us all this information, going back to around 1984. The MLS If a home gets listed, it is submitted by the Realtor. When it sells,… [Read More]
Mortgages for Canadian immigrants
Effective as of January 1, 2023, the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act (the “Act”) prevents non-Canadians from buying residential property in Canada for 2 years. For more information visit the Government of Canada or CMHC. Living in Canada is one dream, but owning your own home is another. If you… [Read More]
18 questions to ask a realtor
The CREB, the Calgary Real Estate Board, published an article with 18 questions you should ask a realtor before hiring. We’ll try to answer these questions for you! How long have you been in the business? Tanja has been a realtor since 2009 and an associate broker since 2018. Ariette has been a realtor since… [Read More]
Walkthrough when buying a home
It’s one of the biggest moments of your life… the door of your new home opens, and the previous home owners have left you a disaster. The house is dirty, belongings are left behind, there is a hole in the wall and the yard is a mess. As the new owner, what can you do? And… [Read More]
Realtor fees in Calgary
In Calgary, the most used model is 7/3. This means a seller pays $7,000 on the first $100,000 and 3% on the balance. If a house sells for $400,000, that means $7,000 for the first $100,000 plus 3% on $300,000. That is $7,000 plus $9,000 equals $16,000. This commission will most often be split in… [Read More]
Difference between term and condition
What is the difference between a term and a condition when buying or selling a home? Both terms come up often when buying or selling real estate. Here is an explanation about the difference between a term and a condition. Also, some simple examples are included. A condition needs to be satisfied to close the… [Read More]