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May 2009 Real Estate Newsletter FROM LOUISE FULLER |
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Visit My Website to View Fantastic Canmore listings.
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Sponsor Louise for
The Ride To Conquer Cancer
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Louise is just $750 away from her goal of $2500
Please consider sponsoring even $20 to this worthy cause. |
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Greetings!,
Sales for the month of April 2009 are as follows:
Please remember these are averages only.
Single family: 7 sales, average sale price $720,785, average days on market 83 (DOM).
Half duplex: 1 sale, average sale price $499,900, average days on market 32 (DOM).
Townhouse: 4 sales, average sale price $429,374, average days on market 169 (DOM).
Apartment: 2 sales, average sale price $491,250, average days on market 135 (DOM).
Fourplex: 2 sales, average sale price $622,500, average days on market 161 (DOM).
Lots: 0 sales.
For specific details, please email or call and I would be happy to be of assistance. Best Regards,
Louise Fuller |
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The Ride to Conquer
Cancer benefiting the Alberta Cancer Foundation is a cycling journey
along the majestic Canadian Rockies that I'm embarking on to fight
cancer. With my bike, my helmet, and your generosity, a real impact
will be made! I lost my Mum to cancer last summer and that's
why I'm riding. It made me realize how precious life is and how
helpless we are when faced with such a devastating disease. This is my
way of contributing to change that. If you can, please
contribute to this history-making event with a donation. Every little
bit helps. Funds raised in The Ride to Conquer Cancer will support
breakthrough research, exemplary teaching, and compassionate care at
the Alberta Cancer Foundation, a leader in cancer research and
treatment.  Thanks for supporting me!
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254 GRIZZLY CRESCENT
Feature Listing
BACKS ON TO CREEK, BEAUTIFULLY RENOVATED
Quality family home with superb park-like setting, south views of Three Sisters and backing on the creek. Thoroughly up-dated with a blend of old world charm. Grand entrance, cherry hardwood floors and angled staircase. 5 Bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, mountain views. Two spacious suites with separate entrances, ensuites and private balconies. Air Conditioning, high efficiency furnace, air filtration/air exchanger, stainless appliances including thermodor stove.
ASKING $835,000 |
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
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FIVE REASONS IT IS A GOOD TIME TO BUY
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by Duane Page
Everybody has heard about the state of the real estate market--prices and sales are down, but not by that much, at least here in Calgary, which just so happens to be one of the best places in the world to own real estate.
And keep in mind when you look at the statistics, they are compared to those in 2008 and 2007--record years for sales and prices.
Here are five good reasons why it is a good time to buy.
1. The Federal Government has some really good programs out right now. The first time homeowner (a person who hasn't owned a home in four years or more) is entitled to a tax credit of $750.
There is also a Home Renovation Tax Credit of 15% for home renovations. This includes savings of up to $1,350 on renovations completed before February 2010.
Buying a home that needs a bit of work can always save you money and if you want to fix it up--the government will help.
The ECO Energy Home Retrofit Grant provides help with the renos for up to $5,000; the work has to comply with their energy guidelines, but there are quite a few things that apply. Plus, making your home more energy efficient is just a good thing to do-#8212;it saves you money and it increases the value of your home.
If you are a first time buyer, you can now use $25,000 in registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) money (up from $20,000). A bigger downpayment from your RRSPs can mean saving a lot in interest on mortgage payments and saving money by reducing mortgage insurance fees.
2. You can leverage your investment by using the bank's money; If you invest $10,000 in stocks and it earns 10%, you've earned $1,000. If you put $10,000 down on a $200,000 house, borrow $190,000 from the bank, and the value of the house increases 10%, you've made $20,000, 20 times the amount of the stock investment.
3. Owning real estate is instant equity: If you buy right for 5% or 10% below market value--and there are some good deals out there--you've instantly made that much in equity. When prices go up, as they always do, your equity goes up even more.
4. Costs are fixed. If you lock in on a five or 10-year mortgage, and rates have never been better, your payments stay the same as everything else goes up.
5. It's yours. You need somewhere to live, and if it is an investment, you own that too. You have something, not just a piece of paper or note from some other type of investment, and you can do whatever you want to it; You are in control!
The bottom line, the most money is always made in a downturn, not when everybody else is buying.
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EXTENSIVE PREPARATION SHOULD GO INTO RENOVATING
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by Gemma Beierback
I know from personal experience that undertaking any sort of renovation on a home can be an arduous task.
If you are already living in the home, you have to cope with the loss of space as well as the general mess and inconvenience.
It seems that times lines always seem to get pushed and delayed and that no matter how realistic your budget is there are always little surprise expenditures along the way.
I was recently chatting with a client who has just finished a major kitchen renovation in Calgary. She moved walls, replaced everything and custom designed the cabinetry.
This kitchen renovation took about five years to complete, and most of that time was taken up by thinking about it, designing it and budgeting for it.
I remember when they purchased the house--the kitchen had to go, but the new owner didn't want to slap together a renovation just for the sake of having a new kitchen. She wanted to love her kitchen.
The first step was a scrap book full of ideas, clipped from magazines, jotted down after trips to home shows or new homes, even complaints or improvements that struck her in the course of working in the existing kitchen.
After several years of gathering ideas and focusing on what materials she really wanted to work with, it was time to source the materials and develop a more accurate budget. At this point the homeowner began to compile a list of contractors from various friends and interview them with respect to their experience, opinions and time lines.
During this middle part of the process, there were a few compromises that needed to be made.
Some of the materials the homeowner had chosen where either very difficult to source in Canada or prohibitively expensive so changes needed to be considered.
As all the groundwork came together the ball was set in motion and the kitchen was demolished and the new kitchen slowly but surely took shape.
This was a large job and took quite some time to complete with custom millwork and unique features galore.
Finally about a month ago the proud homeowner sent out an email with pictures of her new kitchen.
Her labour of love was complete and the results were stunning.
The years of research, investigation and planning had produced the kitchen she had dreamed of and it is a true work of art.
Of course this project could have been finished much sooner, on a much smaller budget and with far less effort, however a dream of this magnitude needed to be fulfilled and the homeowner had waited too long to let her vision not come to fruition.
Often things like this are well worth the wait. |
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Thanks for reading and I will send you more info next month.
For all your real estate needs I am ready and willing to help you take that next, very important step.
Sincerely,
Louise Fuller
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