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        <title>Kirby Cox's Calgary Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/</link>
        <description></description>
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            <guid>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/a-guide-to-roofing-repair-or-replace.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/a-guide-to-roofing-repair-or-replace.html</link>
            <author>kirby@kirbycox.com (Kirby Cox)</author>
            <title>A Guide to Roofing: Repair or Replace?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ Your roof has a tough life.&nbsp; Just when its survived another long, cold Alberta winter, it faces the heat and wind of the summer months ahead.&nbsp; Thats why spring is the perfect time to assess the state of your roof, and decide whether you need to take steps to improve its condition.&nbsp; Heres some suggestions on where to start.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Look for Proof of a Faulty Roof
No matter how old or new your roof is, its always a good idea to conduct yearly inspections of its condition.&nbsp; Start with the interior walls of your home that touch the roof and look for things like flaking paint, ceiling stains and peeling wallpaper.&nbsp; All of these may be an indication that your roof has a leak.&nbsp;On your roof itself, symptoms of deterioration can include missing shingles/shakes, visible fiberglass threads, raised shakes/shingles with nails &nbsp;protruding or any areas that look darker or a different shade.&nbsp; You can always hire a roofing professional to do an assessment for you and many will credit the cost back to you if you use them to do the repair/replacement work.&nbsp;&nbsp; 


Two Options:&nbsp; Repair or Replace
If youve discovered signs that your roof may be damage or leaking, first determine if its repairable.&nbsp; If its less than ten years old and only has a few minor issues, the remedy may simply require a little patchwork.&nbsp; If you need to consider replacing your roof altogether, a professional roofer can determine the state and age of your roof to help you decide if you want to replace it.&nbsp; As a general rule, if your roof is older than 15 years or showing significant signs of decay, theyll likely recommend that you replace it.&nbsp; A moderately sized, professionally-installed roofing job will usually take about three to five days to complete.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;
Return on Investment 

If its time to replace your roof, you should consider what the return on investment will be.&nbsp; If youre planning on staying in the home, youll enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a new roof as well as the aesthetic benefits.&nbsp; If youre planning to sell your home in the near future you could recoup anywhere from 50% to 75% of the costs.&nbsp; Youll also have an advantage over other listings that may be in need of roof repairs/replacement.&nbsp;&nbsp; 


Replacing your roof can also add a lot of curb appeal to your home.&nbsp; This is especially true for homes that have pine or cedar shakes.&nbsp; They can often be replaced using a lightweight clay tile that looks outstanding and gives your home a mini-makeover making it look more modern and up-to-date, not to mention safer and more energy efficient.&nbsp; 


Make sure to make the most of your investment by maintaining and inspecting it on a regular basis.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you considering putting your house on the market, I would strongly encourage you to obtain a roofing inspection prior to listing.&nbsp; This will allow you to better prepare for any concessions potential buyers may be looking for before purchasing your home. ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:43:35 -0700</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/new-home-sales-continue-to-increase-in-2012.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/new-home-sales-continue-to-increase-in-2012.html</link>
            <author>kirby@kirbycox.com (Kirby Cox)</author>
            <title>New Home Sales Continue To Increase In 2012</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
New home starts in the Calgary area increased for the sixth straight month compared to the same timeframe last year. &nbsp;According to CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) there were 786 housing starts in January, up from 518 during the same month last year. &nbsp;Metro Calgary itself experienced the most gains at 36%, with 271 homes in the ground, says CMHC. &nbsp;Construction starts of multi-family units continue to lead the way, averaging more than 340 starts per month since August 2011.&nbsp;
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            <pubDate>Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:46:59 -0700</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/record-low-interest-rates-fuel-buyers-market-in-calgary.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/record-low-interest-rates-fuel-buyers-market-in-calgary.html</link>
            <author>kirby@kirbycox.com (Kirby Cox)</author>
            <title>Record Low Interest Rates Fuel Buyer's Market in Calgary</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Taking advantage of the mortgage wars between Canadas major banks, investors, first-time buyers, and home owners looking to &ldquo;move up&rdquo; are out looking for homes in droves.&nbsp; The big five banks (BMO,&nbsp;TD, CIBC,&nbsp;Scotiabank and RBC) dropped their fixed rates to record lows and it all started when BMO reduced their Low Rate 5-year fixed mortgage product to 2.99%, the lowest interest rate for a Canadian bank ever.&nbsp;&nbsp;

But prospective buyers need to be cautious and really make sure they know what theyre getting into.&nbsp; Many of these mortgages come with greater restrictions and higher payout penalties.&nbsp; Homeowners also need to buy what they can afford, so that when rates do rise again, they wont be caught holding the bag when they need to renew.
These record low mortgage rates should continue sustain the housing demand despite the weakening economy, according to Royal LePage Real Estate Services.&nbsp; LePage president and CEO Phil Soper said that forecasts from housing experts and economists for a decrease in prices for 2012 are off the mark as mortgage rates should remain closer to record lows.&nbsp; &quot;Interest rates are the primary driver behind activity levels in the marketplace,&quot; Soper said. &quot;People buy homes on the payments that they will be making, not on the sticker price of a particular home.&quot;&nbsp; Most experts believe interest rates will remain stable for this year and well into next as the economy slowly expands, but eventually rates should increase with stronger growth. ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:03:33 -0700</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/kirbys-pumpkin-give-away-day.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/kirbys-pumpkin-give-away-day.html</link>
            <author>kirby@kirbycox.com (Kirby Cox)</author>
            <title>Kirby's Pumpkin Give-Away Day</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
We would like to offer a big thank you to everyone who came out to our 15th Annual Pumpkin Giveaway to support the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank. We had a really successful day; there were so many new faces out to help us, as well as many familiar families from previous Pumpkin Giveaways. We hope that you will make this event a tradition for your familys future Halloweens. We have a lot of fun hosting this event every year!

&nbsp;


&nbsp;
The great people at the Hamptons Coop generously allow us to  hold this event right on their doorstep and let us buy large quantities of  pumpkins from them every year. Having such a good location really adds to the  convenience for shoppers to pick up some extra items to donate. We  gave away an amazing 600 pumpkins (or more!) this year. 


This year we also collected over 7 bins of non-perishable food and  raised $346.33 for the food bank. As you may know, for every $1 donated, the  food bank can distribute $4 worth of food to people in need. 

If you couldnt  make it out to our event but are interested in donating to the Calgary  Inter-Faith Food Bank, see their website to find out where you can drop off  some food items to help them stock up for the winter. 

&nbsp;



&nbsp;Here are some happy customers with a beautiful pumpkin!



&nbsp;Look at the great selection of pumpkins that we had to offer! 



&nbsp;Serhan and Stephanie enjoying helping kids pick out potential jack o'lanterns. 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:03:48 -0700</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/kirby-coxs-annual-pumpkin-giveaway.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/kirby-coxs-annual-pumpkin-giveaway.html</link>
            <author>kirby@kirbycox.com (Kirby Cox)</author>
            <title>Kirby Cox’s Annual Pumpkin Giveaway!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 


When: October 22 from 10 am  2 pm (as supplies last)


Where: At the Hamptons Co-op, located on the corner of Country Hills Blvd NW &amp; Hamptons Drive NW



The Event





Every year for the last 14 years, we've worked with the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank to distribute 600-700 pumpkins on the weekend before Halloween to the public in exchange for donations of money or non-perishable food. We also have candy for the kids!

Every year the generous Calgary residents who come out to the pumpkin giveaway donate around 500 lbs of non-perishable food items to the food bank. We estimate in the years since we first organized this event, we have helped to raise about $25,000 for the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank in food and cash donations! 

Every year we send out flyers with details about the event to over 35,000 homes in NW Calgary to help spread the word, but many families whove come by the pumpkin give away in previous years need no reminders and look forward to the event as a part of their Halloween celebration. 

We buy our pumpkins from the great people at the Hamptons Co-op who let us set up shop out front where its easy for people to pick up a few extra things while they shop 


&nbsp;


The Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank


The Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank had 140,442 client visits last year of which 41% were children. &nbsp;


Most of the clients that the food bank helps are working poor families who only need occasional help to get through a rough time due to unexpected circumstances. Anyone can find themselves in a position where they need a little hand up to get back on their feet. 


You dont have to bring food to donate, for every $1 donated to the food bank, they can purchase $4 worth of food for hungry families. This allows them to buy items like ground beef, milk, and eggs.




Right now, the food bank says that the most needed items are:




Juice (1 litre boxes)


Baby Formula with Iron


Pasta


Pasta Sauce


Canned Tomatoes


Peanut Butter


Canned Beans in Tomato Sauce


Cereal


Canned and Dry Soup


Baby Food (jars)


Canned Fish


Macaroni and Cheese


Canned Vegetables


Rice


Canned Meat


Canned Fruit




 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:02:24 -0700</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/calgary-secondary-suite-fight-still-being-battled-out-at-city-hall.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/calgary-secondary-suite-fight-still-being-battled-out-at-city-hall.html</link>
            <author>kirby@kirbycox.com (Kirby Cox)</author>
            <title>Calgary Secondary Suite Fight Still Being Battled Out at City Hall</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
While the mayor is still fighting for changing the regulation of rental suites across the city, the majority of city council seems dead set against easing rules for renting out basement suites in areas of Calgary where basement suites are not legal at this time. And for many Calgary residents, the lack of change in this area is just the way they want it to stay.&nbsp; 

Due to disagreement by the majority of city council, the changes to restrictions on secondary suites have been thoroughly thwarted thus far. All of the council except for the mayor and two aldermen are firmly against the changes and this stance is not likely to change, according to Alderman Druh Farrell. Calgarians should not expect any change in the position on the secondary suite issue without at least an election that results in changes to the composition of city council. 

While it was thought that a referendum on the topic during the next election could help to alleviate the discord surrounding this issue, the vote would not actually be legally binding and could open up the city to legal troubles in the future if they pushed forward with the regulation changes without a more binding agreement. To change the rules, Calgary city council needs to have a public hearing with all attending city council members being open to debate and making an informed decision on the matter. 

In all of this disagreement at city hall, it is interesting to note that in the public opinion poll done this spring by students at the University of Calgary of almost 1600 residents from seven different wards, there was support for the citywide changes by 79% of the Calgary residents polled. 

From the poll, Calgarians expressed the most concern with building &amp; fire code compliance and parking issues; though the majority of residents polled also agreed that the most important consideration is in the safety of tenants who reside in these secondary suites. How many of the polled residents expressing an approval over the possible changes who actually live in the R1 residential areas which would be affected is another matter altogether. 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:55:53 -0700</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/celebrating-oktoberfest-in-calgary.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/celebrating-oktoberfest-in-calgary.html</link>
            <author>kirby@kirbycox.com (Kirby Cox)</author>
            <title>Celebrating Oktoberfest in Calgary!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 


For beer and German cuisine fans, late September/early October could be considered the most wonderful time of the year because it is time for Oktoberfest!

Oktoberfest is a massive beer festival held each year in Munich Germany that runs for just over two weeks. While you can travel to Germany to take part in this celebration of good food and great beer, in many places across Calgary you can also find some of that celebratory atmosphere here too. 

Oktoberfest celebrations outside of Munish usually include a variety of German beers, authentic German foods like bratwurst &amp; sauerkraut, traditional German folk music, and maybe even some traditional clothing like Lederhosen and Dirndl.

Places in Calgary you can enjoy Oktoberfest:

Craft Beer Market Restaurant &amp; Bar


Sept 19 - Oct 1

German-inspired menu


Austrian-Canadian Cultural Centre


Oct 13 - 22

Special lunch &amp; dinners

Live music


Oktoberfest at the Tudor Rose (panorama shopping centre)


Oct 1 - 4

Authentic cuisine

Live music

Folk dancers

Cooking demos

Kids' activities

Contests

Car show


Red &amp; White Club - 1833 Crowchild Trail NW.


Oct 15

Food

Music &amp; dancing

Beer

Sponsored by the Huntington Society of Canada and the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. 

Tickets sold in advance 

More information


Check with your local neighbourhood events calendar to locate other Oktoberfest celebrations in your area!
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:28:14 -0700</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/luxury-condos-of-a-different-sort-available-for-calgarians.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/luxury-condos-of-a-different-sort-available-for-calgarians.html</link>
            <author>kirby@kirbycox.com (Kirby Cox)</author>
            <title>Luxury Condos of a Different Sort Available for Calgarians</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
While the concept of a condominium for vehicles might seem like something youd find in a Disney/Pixar movie, this idea has become a reality in the community of Springbank just outside of Calgary. The Dens is more than a luxury storage facility, it is (according to the company) a &ldquo;condo development, specifically designed for private storage with a club atmosphere&rdquo;.

This high-end facility is for residents who not only need some extra garage space to store recreational vehicles, luxury cars, seasonal sport vehicles, motorcycles, boats, and more, but also hobbyists who want a space to gather to share their passion for their collections. 

The Dens isnt just all about vehicles though, management encourages anyone whos looking for a space to set up their dream hobby space to take a look at their facility. Whether you need a space to work on your car restoration projects, store your antique collection, or set up an art studio, The Dens is a great place to get away to enjoy your hobbies and collections.

The Dens offers the following amenities: gated entrance, 24/7 access for owners, climate controlled, heated slab, variety of unit sizes, private owners clubhouse, sprinkler system, private bathroom, and more. Extras and add-ons to your unit at The Dens may include: custom flooring, cabinets, car lifts, and the addition of the mezzanine level.

The availability of a luxury storage facility like this will likely prove popular with residents who live in&mdash;or are interested in buying&mdash;a luxury condo in Calgary but are concerned about either the security or amount of storage there is available for their vehicles. The possibility of storing expensive vehicles or other hobby items in a secure, climate-controlled facility can more than make up for the lesser amount of storage available if you purchase a condo instead of a house with a garage. 

The price of a single unit at The Dens starts at $275,000 and condo fees are approximately $130 a month.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:56:56 -0700</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/3-strategies-for-dealing-with-calgarys-daily-commute.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/3-strategies-for-dealing-with-calgarys-daily-commute.html</link>
            <author>kirby@kirbycox.com (Kirby Cox)</author>
            <title>3 Strategies for Dealing With Calgary’s Daily Commute</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
With gas prices up again, many Calgarians are feeling pretty cranky about that drive to and from work every day. According to Stats Canada, most commuters in Canada take between 45 and 90 minutes a day to get to and from work. This roughly adds up to between 195 and 390 hours spent in the car every year. When you factor in the cost of transportation and the cost of these lost hours, it may become evident that you could be spending time in your day much more pleasantly.

While the following strategies may not work in all situations, it can be well worth trying to find a workable solution to help you save your money and your sanity!

Take public transit or car pool

When youre not driving, youre free to do other things. You can do work, or you can take the time to work on things for home, or even just read. Not being behind the wheel can save you a lot of stress if you live in a busy area too; being stuck in a traffic jam for 15 minutes can feel like an eternity if youre driving, but is much easier to deal with if you can immerse yourself in the morning paper. 

Work from home

More and more businesses are opening up to the idea that telecommuting is the wave of the future. This saves the employee the hassle and expense of driving to and from work every day and the expense for the employer of leasing office space. Sadly, this idea is taking a long time to gain widespread acceptance because many employers still believe that telecommuting would make employees less productive with no one to watch over their shoulder. 

Live closer to work

While this isnt always an option, many Calgarians could benefit from living in a more proximal location to their workplace than they currently reside. The city offers a wide range of homes and condos in and around the downtown core where so many of the citys residents live. Homes near downtown Calgary arent all prohibitively expensive either; while there are many luxurious homes to be found in this area, there are many more modestly priced properties as well. 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:45:48 -0700</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/calgary-homes-sales-make-recovery-look-promising.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.kirbycox.com/blog/calgary-homes-sales-make-recovery-look-promising.html</link>
            <author>kirby@kirbycox.com (Kirby Cox)</author>
            <title>Calgary Homes Sales Make Recovery Look Promising</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
For anyone concerned about the health of the real estate market in Calgary, the steady increase in sales of single family residences will be welcome news. While the numbers of Calgary home sales have not recovered to the 10 year average rates, experts are optimistic that the local market is continuing to strengthen. 

The combination of well-priced homes hitting the market, along with a steady supply of interested buyers has increased home sales by 5% over last year. While the number of sales has been slowly but steadily increasing, home prices have remained fairly stable at reasonable levels that have encouraged potential home buyers to take the plunge.

For homeowners looking for something affordable, there are many homes in Calgary that are priced well below the $12 million French castle that has seen so much coverage lately. Single family homes in the city are priced at an average of about $500,000 and condos average at just over half of that amount. 

Of course, with the recent debt downgrade south of the border, it is difficult to say how the markets in Canada will be affected in the next few months and beyond. Only time will tell how far the fallout from that situation will spread into aspect of the Canadian economy.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:43:06 -0700</pubDate>
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