January 2019

Marketing is an important part of making a home sale. The way a home is marketed can affect how much money the home sells for and how quickly the home sells. In recent years, some new tools have been introduced to the real estate market. Homeowners who want to get creative with their home marketing strategy can use virtual reality to attract a wider audience and more home buyers. Here's what you need to know about virtual reality in home selling.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

What Is Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality is a computer simulation that enables the user to experience a 3D computer generated environment. Virtual reality

Home foreclosures in Canada are a rather involved and somewhat complex process. It is through foreclosure action that lenders attempt to recoup arrears and principal balances on mortgages in default. Some of the most common causes of lenders initiating foreclosures include:

• Failure to make timely mortgage payments.
• Failing to pay homeowner taxes.
• Not carrying required home insurance coverage.
• Failure to pay HOA dues or fines.
• Permitting excessive property damage without making repairs.

The home foreclosure process in Alberta is called a Judicial Sale, and here is what homeowners can expect to occur throughout the procedure.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a financial advisor before proceeding with any

When buying a home formerly owned by a smoker, a non-smoking new homeowner often faces the process of cleansing the home of preexisting odors. Airing out the house can be a multi-step process involving a lot of cleaning and some remodeling. With some extra effort, buyers can make a home formerly owned by a smoker smell fresh and clean.

Common Problem Areas for Smoking Odors When Cleaning a Smoker's Home

Anything permeable will retain odors. Walls can be washed or painted; baseboards can be scrubbed; tile can be sanitized. However, anything soft and porous will hold onto odors--especially if they cannot be deep cleaned. For example, some window treatments such as cloth-covered vertical blinds or lacy curtains can be extremely tricky to clean and

Buying a home in a big city can be very different from buying a home in a small town or a rural area. Parking, traffic and neighbourhood amenities can all impact a homeowner's experience in the area where they buy. Knowing what factors to consider can help you pick a property that will meet your needs and enhance your satisfaction with your home.

Visit the Neighbourhood Day and Night

Some neighbourhoods in big cities can change dramatically after the sun goes down. Prospective buyers spend time walking around their chosen neighbourhood after the sun goes down. If you don't feel comfortable in the neighbourhood of your choice, keep looking until you find a place that's right for you.

Drive the Commute

Big metro areas are known to have at

From start to finish, new home building technology has managed to take the construction industry by storm—even if it's a rather slow-moving storm at the current moment. Construction has been one of the last sectors to embrace the modern, but it won't stay that way for much longer. The innovations offer too many benefits for any serious professional to ignore. While every company is progressing at their own pace, it's helpful for everyone to know how the trends are likely to influence the future of home construction from beginning to end.

Settling on a Site

Before construction can ever get started, leaders have to know where to build. And thanks to scouting technology like drones and 3D scanners, the task has never been easier. Now, investors,

The older we get the less likely we want to go through the hassle of selling our home and moving.  It’s a lot of work and very disruptive and honestly, the majority of people over the age of 65 don’t want to do it. Senior citizens are reluctant to leave their friends, to get rid of possessions and say goodbye to a home they have lived and loved in for decades.

So why do seniors decide to leave it all behind and change their surroundings?

The City of Calgary conducted a survey and questioned a random sample of senior citizens to get the reasons behind their move. The goal was to help the city’s social services departments do some planning around senior housing and economic assistance programs.  The results were very interesting.

Of the 500

When selling a home, visibility is key to finding potential buyers, and that's where marketing comes in. Working with a real estate agent will help with some of the marketing, but there are even more ways homeowners can help their home that don't just rely on giving a collection of photos to their agent. Here are some of the different ways homeowners can market their home to help it reach the right audience.

Take Quality Photos

Online listings are typically going to be the first place a buyer will see the home, so the listing needs to have the best photos possible to fully show off all of the home's best features. Homeowners can either do this themselves if they have some experience with photography, or they can hire a professional photographer

While much of Canada enjoys glorious weather in the summer, and spring and fall tend to be delightful in most provinces, winter can be precarious for outdoor activities, especially in one's own backyard.

The addition of a cozy fire pit or even an outdoor fireplace is sure the extend the season. Both would also be welcome even on chilly summer evenings. Other backyard improvements that a homeowner might consider include:

Simulate an Indoor Room

Adding a roof or attractive vine-covered lattice over a section of patio or deck creates functional and comfortable outdoor living space. With the addition of either built-in seating or all-weather furniture and some colourful cushions, the added square footage becomes a boon for entertaining as well

For those who live in Canada and are looking into financing a home, they may be surprised to find that they are limited to just a few options. For example, unlike some other locations throughout the world, Canada does not offer the 30-year mortgage. That may seem perfectly normal to people who have lived here all their lives, but for those who have moved there from another country it may be surprising to find that they have to look at finances differently when they decide to buy a house. So, what options are available? Fortunately, there are still choices when it comes to loans for first time home buyers in North Calgary and buyers across Canada.

Most Homes Are Bought On Five-Year Loans

Just five years to pay off a house? That may seem

As the kids spread their wings and leave the nest, many homeowners begin to reconsider their housing options. For many, the question of selling the large family home and moving into a smaller one is at the top of the list.

In some cases, this type of downsizing is merely a matter of convenience, and for others the cost of maintaining the larger home can place real strain on a household budget that may have shrunk due to retirement, college costs, or other reasons.

If you are watching your kids leave the nest and wondering why you are still heating and cooling all that excess space, it may be time to seriously consider downsizing. Wondering how to downsize your home? These tips will help you make the move to a new home with grace and style.