Last week, the Royal LePage Market Survey Forecast was released, with some notable predictions for the year ahead in real estate in Canada. The survey measures home prices in 53 major Canadian cities, and in terms of nationwide predictions, the average home price in Canada is expected to jump 4.9 per cent to $661,919 by the end of 2018.

One of the most significant regulatory interventions in the housing industry in years is the incoming Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) mortgage financing stress test, which will take effect on January 1, 2018. The stress test targets existing and prospective homeowners applying for a mortgage, requiring them to meet stricter criteria when seeking new financing. With a large number of…

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We’ve all seen those signs around town and perhaps in our own neighborhood. If you’re thinking about selling your Calgary home in the near future you might be thinking this is a great way to save some money -- but is it really?

While keeping those commission dollars in your pocket instead of a Real Estate Agent's is definitely tempting, not all homeowners are up to the challenge of selling their own home. Even if it’s a straightforward transaction, there is plenty of legal paperwork as well as advertising and marketing challenges to take care of. For most people these three items alone are a deterrent to selling your own home. A home is a financial investment so it makes sense to use a professional REALTOR®.

Access to MLS®

REALTORS® have access…

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For many Calgarians, the holidays can be an especially stressful and hard time. For clients of the Calgary Food Bank, this is especially true. Your support is more important than ever, and Kirby Cox & Associates is proud to support Calgary Food Bank as well. Here's how you can help: 

  • Donate Food: Drop off non-perishable food in Calgary Food Bank donation bins at any major grocery store in your neighborhood. Drop off fresh or non-perishable donations directly to the Calgary Food Bank warehouse at 5000 - 11 Street SE, Door #3 at the loading bay.
  • Donate Money: You can donate online here You can call 403-253-2059 for more information about donations
  • Donate Time: There is an increased need for volunteers now through December 24th for special…

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As we edge closer to Halloween 2017, this weekend will mark the start of many events and ghoulish-themed festivities. If you're looking for a way to take in this celebration, here's a list of some Halloween events happening in northwest Calgary. 

  • Halloween in Kensington: this Saturday, October 28th from 2pm to "late", head to Kensington as many businesses in the area will be participating in this celebration. Participating venues include Tenth Street Landing, Oak Tree Tavern, Vine Styles, Kensington Pub, Higher Ground, Hayden Block, Hexagon, Wine Bar, Brasserie and. Side Street Pub & Grill.
  • Halloween at Bass Pro in CrossIron Mills: this store has a ton going on for Halloween this weekend and early next week. From Friday until Tuesday, you can get…

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If you're thinking of selling your home this season, you want to ensure your space looks as appealing as possible to potential home buyers. But how do you do that without spending too much money? This is where home staging can be a cost-effective, and easy way to up the ante on a home sale. Plus, the colours this time of year really bode well for appearance of a home!

Here's some simple tips for successful home staging in Autumn:

  • Keep it Clean: Look at your home as though you’re seeing it for the first time. Is every room neat, spotlessly clean, dusted and uncluttered? Steam clean carpets and wax floors. Wash walls, heating and A/C vents and light fixtures. Pay special attention to your bathroom and kitchen - make sure that tile grout is mildew…

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The Thanksgiving long weekend is already here (can you believe it!?) At this point, you may be feeling the pinch of feeling unprepared for holiday guests, grocery shopping, and so on. To save you some time scouring the Internet for hours, here's some quick links to all the Thanksgiving tips and advice you'll need this year. 

  • How to avoid holiday dinner disasters 
  • 10 ideas for dressing up your Thanksgiving table
  • 15 kitchen organization ideas
  • 60 of the best ever Thanksgiving recipes 
  • How to use natural elements in your Thanksgiving decor
  • How to get your homer easy for guests in under 30 minutes  
  • 6 places to get Thanksgiving dinner to-go in Calgary
  • 8 Calgary restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner this year

And to get you…

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This weather is a sign of the changing season, and Autumn officially starts today (hard to believe!). The colder temperatures can mean big changes for your home, so this time of year is perfect to tackle some of those home maintenance chores early. We came across a great checklist in Better Homes and Gardens recently, and there were some great tips in there like this one: 

Your roof's drainage system annually diverts thousands of gallons of water from your house's exterior and foundation walls. That's why it is so important to keep this system flowing smoothly. Clogged gutters can lead to damaged exterior surfaces and to water in your basement. They are also more prone to rust and corrosion. Before the leaves fly this fall, have your gutters…

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Variable interest rates have been the better option for many years and have saved homeowners significant sums of money. However, the Bank of Canada recently increased its prime rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 0.75 per cent, prompting charter banks to hike their prime rates to 3.2 per cent. The Bank of Canada jumped at the opportunity to make a 0.25 per cent hike last week over concerns about being behind on inflation as well as high levels of consumer debt. This somewhat surprising hike before the scheduled monetary policy update in October could be a tip-off that more could be coming.

A Bloomberg survey of economists says Canada’s central bank will raise its benchmark interest rate for a third consecutive meeting in October. The Bank of…

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The house hunting process can be fun and exciting, and visiting open houses is all part of the action. If you finally find a home (or two) that appeal to you, and you make your way to an open house or showing, now what? With a few tips, you can ensure that your next open house visit is a successful experience.

Look at all the elements that are important for you and your family:

  • Are there enough bedrooms or bathrooms?
  • Is the house the right size?
  • Is there enough storage space?
  • Is it in the right location?
  • Is it close to schools?
  • Is the house in good repair?
  • Does it fit your needs?

You may walk into a home and fall head over heels in love with it. But is it because it's beautifully decorated and furnished? Remember,…

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Green cart composting bins will start being collected by the City from about 100,000 homes in the northwest next week. After successful rollouts with the blue bins (recycling), the City of Calgary is now completing the launch of the green composting bins in our city. 

Green carts are the same size as the blue and black bins, but will be used for all food and yard waste including meat, bones, plate scrapings, tree branches and pet waste. Starting on August 14th, green and blue carts in northwest Calgary will be picked up weekly, with black carts being picked up once every two weeks. 

“One of the biggest adjustments for residents is going from one to two collection days a week,” spokesperson Philippa Wagner said in a news release. “But we have…

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