While some reports in the media are claiming that Canadians have lower intentions of buying homes this year, that certainly doesn't seem to be the case here in Calgary. In fact, before March had even come to a close, we set a new record for luxury home sales in Calgary.

By March 27th, 63 homes sold more over $1 million in Calgary, the highest level ever for the month of March. The last time this record was set, was during the real estate boom of 2007 when 60 million-dollar homes sold in March.

In case you were wondering, the all-time record for luxury home sales was made in May of last year when 80 homes valued at over $1 million sold in Calgary in a single month.

With resale home values rising and record numbers of luxury homes selling in our…

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In an annual survey by MoneySense Magazine, Calgary was named the best city to live in Canada. Great news for our city, and most Calgarians would agree with the top ranking. But why is it the best city to live in?

"In releasing its results of 200 Canadian cities on Wednesday, the magazine said “high incomes and an abundance of jobs fuelled by the boom in the energy sector are among the reasons it jumped from No. 14 last year to No. 1 this year.” - from the Calgary Herald. Read full story here.

Here's how Calgary did in all the categories of the survey:

• Bike to work % = 1.18
• Days with rain/year = 67.5
• Days above 0 degrees = 169.3
• Population growth '11 - '12 = 6.56%
• Jobless % = 4.02
• Average house price = $394,550
• Average household income =…

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This year, Royal LePage is celebrating 100 years of Canadian service. To help celebrate the centennial, we've compiled a list of historic moments in Royal LePage history. We are proud to be part of the RLP family!

It all began with Albert E. LePage in 1913. A recent article in Real Estate Magazine outlines how he revolutionized the real estate industry:

"Back in 1913, A.E. LePage revolutionized the Canadian real estate industry by being the first to have outbound property showings by automobile, detailed description listings in newspapers, and by using film to showcase fine homes."

In 1995...
Royal LePage launched www.royallepage.ca, which received more than one million hits per month!

In 1997...
Royal LePage introduced virtual tours on its…

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In last week's blog we discussed the importance of maintaining your home, and why you need to ensure your home is in good repair. Not only is a well-kept home good for your living situation, but also the value of your home.

When your looking into home maintenance and things to look for in that area, you may come across some words you're not familiar with. Here's a glossary of some terms to familiarize yourself with.

Air sealing - weather stripping (such as caulking) applied to seal off cracks or spaces in doors or windows, to reduce air leakage and heat loss.

Condensation - transformation of vapour of air into water on cold surfaces.

Downspout - a pipe carrying water from the eavestrough to the ground.

Eavestrough (gutter) - an eave that…

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Your home represents a big investment, and also the place you spend a lot of your time. So keeping your home in good repair is not just important for your peace of mind, but also safety and value of your home. There are three main things to keep in mind when caring for your home:

Safety

• Fire: faulty heating and electrical can be a fire hazard in your home
• Structural: damaged foundation or rotting floors, etc
• Indoor air quality: moisture trouble, or fuel-burning appliances which can cause carbon monoxide. Both issues can cause serious health problems, or even death.
• Occupational: loose railings, stairs, etc.

Preventing/Fixing Wear and Tear

• Leaky faucets, upgrades to floors and walls, etc.
• Broken fixtures, chipped paint, etc.

…

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Should you buy a brand new home that you can customize, or choose a resale one that's move-in ready? Both options present advantages, and there is no right answer, it's totally up to the buyer. We've outlined a couple benefits of each:

Buying New

• Personalized home: with new homes you can choose the colours, fixtures and upgrades such as lighting and flooring
• New homes are built up to current building codes and standards
• Lower maintenance costs: newer homes tend to have lower maintenance costs as all of the materials are brand new
• Builder warranties: the majority of home builders offer warranties for new homes

Buying Resale

• Easy access: Northwest Calgary homes for sale in established neighbourhoods are in close proximity to services,…

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A recently released study ranked Calgary dead last for walkability, in a list of Canada's biggest cities. The study, done by Walkscore, ranked Calgary 48 out of 100 on the list of Most Walkable Canadian Cities. The study ranks how accessible amenities are by foot from residential areas, as well as the distances between.

Calgary's low score is attributed to the fact that it's a car-heavy city with few amenities within walking distance, says the study. The City of Calgary has big plans to improve our city's walkability with proposed initiatives in place. Read more about those here in this Calgary Herald story.

At the end of 2012, the Calgary Herald completed Walkscore surveys on Calgary neighbourhoods, to see which were the most walkable. Here is the…

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According to the most recent City of Calgary census, Panorama Hills is the fastest growing community in Calgary. While the community offers walk and bike paths, parks and beautiful suburban living, it's also home to some great restaurants.

The Tudor Rose
800 – 1110 Panatella Blvd NW
tudorrose.ca

Tudor Rose is described as a traditional English pub with some modern flare. Whether you're looking for traditional English fare like Fish and Chips or Steak and Guinness Pie, or pub favourites like wings and pizza, Tudor Rose has it. They also offer food specials seven days a week. This pub is a popular spot for sporting events and happy hour.

Nha Trang
760 - 1110 Panatella Blvd NW

This local favourite serves up delicious Vietnamese cuisine. Its…

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The City of Calgary has a system in place to deal with snowfall in our city, it's called the Snow and Ice Control (SNIC) program. The City actually has road crews available around the clock during the winter months, to try and respond to snowfalls in a timely manner.

Calgary public roadways are maintained during the winter in various ways:

Anti-icing before a snowfall
When a snowfall is predicted for our city, an anti-icing solution (calcium chloride) is applied to designated roads. The solution helps to prevent snow from accumulating on roadways, and is also eco-friendly!

Sanding, salting and plowing
Roadways and sidewalks in Calgary are sanded, salted and plowed based on a priority system:
Priority one: major roadways (20,000 or more vehicles a day),…

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The nationwide Royal LePage agent rankings were released earlier this week, and Kirby Cox and Associates is proud to have been named number one in Calgary, number one in Western Canada and number four in Canada.

Kirby Cox is one of Calgary's top producing REALTORS® and has been working in the industry for nearly 30 years, selling over 300 Northwest Calgary homes for sale each year. Our team has now held a spot in the national top ten list for Royal LePage for six years!

This is Kirby Cox and Associates' fourth consecutive year as number one for Royal LePage in Calgary, and actually an increase from our seventh place spot in Canada last year.

We want to share our gratitude with our valued clients and fellow agents, especially at this time of year.…

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