Psst . . . I have a Secret!

November 27th, 2013
Come closer… I have an incredible secret about Airdrie!  It’s there perfect combination of luxury living and community. Let’s talk about the luxury living part.  Cooper’s Crossing is generally thought of as one of the nicest areas in Airdrie but there are others too.  Many communities offer pockets with Estate Homes including Bayside, Woodside, Thorburn, Meadowbrook, Canals, Old Towne, Fai ...

Why Low Ball Offers Aren't A Good Idea

September 4th, 2012
Every now and then a buyer suggests that they will just write a “low ball” offer and see what happens.  This rarely ends in their favour.  First let me clarify what I mean by a low ball offer.  If a home is listed at a reasonable price and an offer is written significantly lower than the list price, that is a low ball offer.  However, if a home is over priced and an offer is written that is a ...

Love & Loss In Real Estate

August 22nd, 2012
They say that it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all, but is that the case when it comes to real estate? I recently had some clients that feel in love with a home but due to circumstances they weren't able to write an offer.  Knowing that, they basically crossed their fingers and hoped that the home would still be for sale when they were able to make an offer.  I ...

How To Have A Successful Buying Trip

March 28th, 2012
I recently had some Clients come in from out of town on a buying trip and before they came they sent me an email asking if I had any tips on how to make this trip as successful as possible.  When looking at homes it's really important to clarify your needs, wants and deal breakers before you start looking.  We of course spent time discussing what those were so that I could narrow down the lis ...

Deposits & Downpayments

January 3rd, 2012
At the end of the day both the deposit and the down payment go towards paying for your home but knowing when you pay them is important so you aren’t caught off guard. The deposit is paid when your offer on a house is accepted.  Generally you write a cheque to the Listing Brokerage (ex. Sotheby's International Realty Canada) and then when the paperwork is exchanged between REALTORS the cheque ...

The Right Number of Homes to Look At Before You Buy

December 12th, 2011
The reality of buying a house is that you just can’t look at them all.  It will eventually become confusing and you start to look at properties to see why they won’t work instead of why they will and that’s just counterproductive.  Finding a home is kind of like finding a partner.  You are going to go through some bad ones and some that look good on paper but aren’t great in real life.  With ...

Buyer's Should Know Their Needs, Wants & Deal Breakers

November 7th, 2011
When you embark on the process of buying a new home a good place to start is with a list.  I’m biased to this idea because I love making lists (I make lists about lists) but the truth is that it’s a good way to organize your thoughts.  It’s also a good way to make sure you are on the same page as the other person(s) you are buying the property with. Deal breakers are just that.  They are the ...

Home Buyer's Must Budget

October 11th, 2011
Whether you are a first time buyer in Airdrie or Calgary, moving up or moving out of the city to fulfill your acreage dream, budgeting is paramount.  The first step is to contact your bank or mortgage broker to find out what you can afford – there now you have a budget right?!  Not so fast!  When approving you for a mortgage they will ask you a series of questions about your employment, debt, ...

Condo Parking

August 30th, 2011
If you are considering buying a condo you will also have to think about where you will park.  Whether you buy an apartment condo or a townhouse condo you could have either a titled stall, a leased or assigned stall. A titled stall(s) means you own that piece of the parking lot.  You will have a title certificate for it.  If it’s leased you are essentially renting your parking stall(s) from t ...

Buyer's Real Estate Agent

August 23rd, 2011
I often run into buyer’s (usually first timers) that have the misconception that they have to contact the Listing Agent (the name on the sign) for each home they are interested in, in order to book a showing. This is not the case. When you list your home you want to make sure you hire a REALTOR® you trust and whom you feel comfortable with because they are going to be selling your largest as ...