Connect

Find us on...

Dashboard

Login using...

New Search X

All Blog Entries by Justin Havre

Providing professional real estate services for people looking to buy and sell real estate in Calgary and surrounding areas. Proven marketing plan that sells properties. Call for your free home evaluation today and have your home listed tomorrow.

Found 308 blog entries published by Justin Havre.

Popular Floor PlansA different floor plan can help homeowners meet their unique objectives. Buyers may have to ask themselves what they hope to accomplish before choosing among popular floor plans when buying a new home. Times have changed and so have the options available to today's home buyer. Learn more about the open floor plan and traditional floor plan to get real value from a future home purchase.

What Is an Open Floor Plan?

One of the most popular floor plans seen in homes is the open floor plan. This layout can serve to improve the flow in a home and make spaces look larger. This is achieved through the elimination of some non-essential partition walls. Two or more different spaces may then be joined together. Since the early 90s, this floor plan has

2,080 Views, 0 Comments

4 Things You Should Know About Tiny HomesDownsizing is a great option for many home buyers, but right now some people are taking downsizing to the extreme by building or buying tiny homes. Tiny homes are exactly what they sound like, but in order for a tiny home to truly be tiny, it should fall between 400-600 square feet, though some can be as small as just 160 square feet. They cost anywhere from $10,000-100,000 depending on how it’s made, which can make them sound appealing, but tiny homes come with a lot of risks and variables that need to be accounted for. Here is what every buyer needs to know before investing in a tiny home.

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

Tiny Homes

1,887 Views, 0 Comments

Considering Buying in an Age-Restricted Community? What Smart Shoppers Need to Know FirstBuying a home in Canada is governed by many anti-discrimination laws and regulations. According to Canadian lawm there cannot be housing discrimination based on a persons age. However, there is an exception for senior housing. Age-restricted communities go by a number of names such as independent living, 55-plus, active adult living and others. In fact, these types of communities are the only exception to fair housing laws that prevent age discrimination. While they aren't necessary designed to ‘discriminate,' these housing communities are often geared towards seniors.

This means they might offer amenities such as game nights, golf courses, pools and other features seniors might enjoy within a quiet place to retire with a relatively low

8,180 Views, 0 Comments

Never Do This Before Applying for a MortgageMany Canadians look forward to being in the position to buy a new home. The ability to make renovations on a property and build equity in a home with each mortgage payment are only a few reasons many decide to purchase property. The majority of first-time home buyers cannot afford to buy property without working with a mortgage lender, and there may be mistakes made before applying for a mortgage that reduces the likelihood of approval.

Canadian residents can increase their chances of being approved for home mortgage loan. Learn more about the pitfalls that can undermine mortgage applicants today.

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

Credit

42,472 Views, 0 Comments

What You Need to Know About the Debt-to-Income RatioAlong with credit score and total assets, the debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is an important component for lenders. Even people with perfect credit scores can be turned down from their dream mortgage if their debt is too high in proportion to their income. It is important to not only understand what the DTI ratio is, but also discuss other aspects of the sometimes confusing mortgage process with a mortgage lender prior to searching for a new home to purchase. How can potential home buyers become a more attractive candidate for a loan?

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

What Exactly Is DTI?

When lenders calculate your debt-to-income ratio, or DTI, they

3,903 Views, 0 Comments

How to Organize Your GarageMany people who buy homes also want one with a garage. However, many people's garages become a storage space for everything they can't fit into their home. Whether it's seasonal decorations or that exercise machine someone ordered on a late-night infomercial, the space can become crowded quickly. This may work out fine—until homeowners realize that they can't find anything or that there's no room for any additional items. Here a few ways that everyone can get their garage in order.

Use the Walls

The walls are absolutely crucial for homeowners who use this area for storage. Group similar items together on shelves, or hang large items on hooks along the wall. This not only makes it easier to locate certain items, but it will also give everyone

2,313 Views, 0 Comments

A Seller's Guide to DisclosureSelling a home can be both an exciting and challanging time in a homeowners life. One item that will need to be dealt with by a Canadian home seller is the Seller Disclosre Form. There have been cases of issues discovered by unsuspecting Canadian home buyers after closing on a home. Sellers may not have disclosed or been aware of problems such as mould behind walls, foundation cracks and basement flooding.

Sellers should understand that they may want to share certain types of information when selling a home and buyers would do well to take time to review a seller's disclosure. Understand more about a seller's disclosure on the sale of property in Canada.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional

4,851 Views, 0 Comments

Home Landscaping Information for New HomeownersIn the first year of homeownership, many homeowners are too busy unpacking and making home improvements to focus much on upgrading their home's landscaping. If you're a new Northeast Calgary homeowner who would like to keep your new home looking nice but you don't have much time for making major landscaping changes, these tips can help.

Don't Be Afraid to Prune (or Remove!)

Old shrubs can start to look scraggly or overgrown with time. Pruning shrubs rejuvinates them. Once the leaves grow back, they look almost new. Most plants need to be pruned in spring or fall. Homeowners who aren't sure when to prune their shrubs can check with a local nursery to find out when is the best time.

Plant Annuals for Low Maintenance Beauty

Annual plants

3,104 Views, 0 Comments

4 Must-Include Items In Every OfferWhen a home buyer has finally found a home that they love and want to buy it, it comes time to make an offer. But what many buyers don’t realize is that there’s more to making an offer than just naming a price. Offering on a home requires extra pieces that all work in tandem to convince the homeowner to accept it. Here is what all home buyers need to include in their offers to make them the best they can be.

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

1. The Offered Price, Down Payment, and Earnest Money

The most important part of an offer is of course going to be the price that the buyer wants to pay. Whether it’s $50,000

3,893 Views, 0 Comments

Why Customer Service in Real Estate Is So ImportantThere is no such thing as perfection when it comes to customer service in real estate. Some agents may have mastered their skills more than others, but it's always going to be a never-ending quest to get right. Yet those agents that take the time to learn from their mistakes are usually the same ones who end up with a very long and fruitful career.

Committing to Your Craft

It's easy to be pleasant when there's only one fire to put out every few months. But in customer service, agents and those dealing with the public need to be ready to handle crisis after crisis without losing their cool. Those who find themselves starting to crumble after their first major issue may find it hard to handle the next one. Decisions like whether to buy a home

7,804 Views, 0 Comments
CalgaryHomes.ca