All Blog Entries by Kirby Cox

Yay, The Taxman Cometh. . .

It can be very confusing determining the difference between the terms “assessed value” and “market value” when either buying or selling a home. Assessed value is often much less than market value, so buyers would prefer the assessed value while sellers would much rather sell at the market value of the home. It is because of this discrepancy that assessed values are not very reliable when calculating true Real Estate values. Let me explain further.

Market Value

Simply put, the market value is how much your home is worth on the market today. The market value is usually what the home will sell for and is typically the price used when calculating a listing price for the property. True market value is ultimately the

As more homes are equipped with “smart” technologies for everything from surveillance to home automation, the real estate purchase process is changing.

Home sellers are increasingly using video and/or audio surveillance to eavesdrop on potential buyers, using the information gleaned as leverage. This places the buyer at an obvious disadvantage during negotiations.

With many of today’s sellers using technology to their advantage, it pays to exercise caution. If you are viewing a home, a good rule of thumb is to assume you are being recorded and act accordingly.

Although it can be a challenge, especially since a home purchase can be such a personal and emotional process, try to keep any comments to yourself. The home showing is not the time to gush

If you're wondering when the right time is to say goodbye to your family home and downsize to a home more suitable for your lifestyle and needs, consider these scenarios:

• You plan on travelling: if you're nearing a time in your life when you plan on seeing more of the world, then leaving a big home just sitting doesn't seem sensible. You can downsize to a home that's more appropriate, and then rent it out for the months you are away. 
• The kids have moved out: with your kids moving out and you becoming an empty-nester, you likely don't need the same amount of space anymore. This also leads into the next point...
• You have empty rooms: if you have rooms in your house (especially bedrooms) that are sitting empty and you can't come up with a

Finding a home, you know you can live with can be difficult business. Whether buying a brand-new house from a builder or a resale home there are a number of things you should look for. It’s also important to keep in mind that new homes can be just as problematic as older homes. First of all, let me start by saying it almost always makes sense to hire a qualified home inspector and it can potentially protect you from costly surprises down the road. 

However, if you anticipate serious problems (that you’re not prepared to remedy) in the house, you’re better off saving the cost of a home inspection and moving on to a more suitable prospect. Here are some things to watch for to determine a house’s overall quality before you commit to the cost of hiring

• Canmore leads the way with 10.2% price increase
• Prairies see softening in both prices and sales
• Prices in British Columbia to remain stable while sales continue to decline

The Royal LePage 2019 Recreational Housing Report indicates vacation homes in Canada saw healthy price gains going into the 2019 spring market, rising 5.0% to $411,471 compared to last year. As high demand in Ontario and Quebec continue to put upward pressure on prices, Royal LePage is predicting another year of increases (4.7%) offsetting softer market conditions in BC.

Weak demand in British Columbia (mirroring the residential market) and low inventory in Ontario were behind a decline in total Canadian recreational property sales (-8.3%).

Both Ontario and

Finally some good news in the Calgary Real Estate market, where we're seeing an improvement in sales relative to the number of homes on the market. The uptick in sales for May 2019 was met with a decrease in new listings, easing the pressure on inventory levels throughout the City of Calgary. Homes priced under $500,000 are the driving force behind this sales growth, which we hope to see continue into the move-up market.

"While sales activity remains low based on historical activity for May, the easing prices have brought some people back to market, while also preventing some others from listing their homes,” according to CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie, “This has started to push the market towards more balanced conditions. If this trend

Summertime in Calgary means something different to everyone. For some, it means floating down the Bow River with their friends; for others, it means hiking through the mountains or taking walks on our world-class pathways. Of course, there’s also the world-famous Calgary Stampede that takes over the city for two weeks in July. It is deemed to be the ‘greatest show on Earth,’ but we also boast a wide variety of other festivals. There is always something for everyone here in Calgary. Here’s a list of the best festivals around this summer:

• Sled Island Music Festival takes place each year in mid-June, bringing together over 200 performers that range from comedians and artists to films and, of course, live music. Spread over five days and 35

Spring is finally here and with it comes everyone’s favourite activity: spring cleaning! It might seem like a difficult task at first, but once you get started, you might even enjoy the clean outcome. Here, we’ve got eight tips to help make your house sparkle this spring:

1.  Use doormats to help mitigate dust. Put one outside your front door and one inside. To keep the outdoor mat clean, give it a spray with your hose now and then; stay on top of dust inside by vacuuming both sides of the indoor mat. 
2. Wait for an overcast day so you’re not bombarded with direct sunlight (which causes streaks) to wash your windows. Use glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth to clean the windows themselves, then pull the blinds down and wipe them with a duster. If

The snow is melting and the paths are finally starting to dry off, so that means it’s time to hop on your bike, feel the wind in your helmet and the bugs in your teeth. Each year, more and more people are choosing to ride to work so that they can avoid traffic and get in better shape simultaneously. It may take longer to get to your destination, but you’ll feel better with the extra sunlight and exercise that riding outside brings.

Riding a Bike

Now, as fun as biking can be, it can also be dangerous. There are many hazards to look out for: 

•      Drivers may fail to notice you when you’re riding, so keep your eye on them when going through intersections. Even if you’re in the bike lane with the right of way, they might not see you.

World Yoga Day falls on Friday, June 21 this year. In preparation, we’re highlighting some of the top yoga studios in northwest Calgary so that you can become a pro before the big day. The growing collection of studios in Calgary has made it easier than ever to get your sweat on and stretch out those tight muscles. Tap into the countless health benefits that have been associated with practicing yoga as you learn to perfect one of 2019’s top fitness trends.

Healing with Yoga & More

Location: Montgomery Park NW

Participate in a wide variety of meditation, yoga asana, pranayama and subtle body practices at Healing with Yoga & More. With over 13 years of teaching experience, you can attend philosophy lectures, yoga nidra healing classes,