According to a recent forecast released by Royal LePage, housing prices in Calgary are expected to increase by around 2.5% this year. A drop in oil prices recently has not yet impacted real estate in our city. 

“Oil is a major economic influence in Calgary, so the recent price drop is worrying,” said Ted Zaharko with Royal LePage Foothills. “While we believe there may be some immediate term impact on the local housing market in the form of slowed appreciation, there would need to be prolonged low oil prices for any spillover into the housing market to be significant.”

CREB's annual forecast was yesterday also, and the sentiment there was the same. This year will bring stable price growth for Calgary and offer more options to homebuyers. 

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Nnow is the perfect time to take steps towards a clutter-free home, so you can take on the new year with pride! Below are some easy declutter and organization tips for your home:

• Purge: if you can't remember the last time you used something, there's a good chance you don't need it. Purge, and purge often.

• Tackle a little each day: trying to do this one day will leave you overwhelmed. Identify and prioritize the trouble spots in your home, and tackle a little bit each day.

• Use unused space wisely: install hooks, and use labels, shelves, etc. The more tools you can use to organize easier, the better.

• Identify a place for everything: everything needs to have a home, so if you find things that currently don't have a home, create one.

• …

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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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The snow is here! 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…

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With colder weather the past week and more on the way, we're giving our fireplaces more attention, but it's important to give your fireplace some maintenance and care so it can continue working properly.

An article on the Global News Calgary website gives some helpful information on fireplace maintenance:

Just like a furnace, gas fireplaces draw in air from outside and can get dirty or plugged up, releasing dangerous carbon monoxide

“The seal that goes around this glass door is your only defense between you and the carbon monoxide that thing produces, and a lot of people have fireplaces running on thermostats where they don’t even know these things are kicking on and off automatically, and they’re filling their basements full of CO,”…

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We were hit with our first big snow dump of the season this week, just a reminder winter is coming. 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,…

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The Calgary Real Estate market has unquestionably been one of the most popular housing choices in Canada for several years with house sales rising over 25% on an average from the 2004 figures according to the MLS reports.

Why Calgary is Special?

Since year 2009, Calgary was labeled as the top – ranked metropolitan region in Canada. Even up to now, Calgary still has the fastest influx of people among all examined cities as it is attractive for those drawn by employment opportunities. In addition to that, Calgary’s significant advantage is the housing affordability and the clean air. These characteristics also accentuate the attractiveness of the city to those deciding to move into a new hometown. The two strongest points of Calgary are the city’s…

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Valley Ridge is a beautiful golf course community in Northwest Calgary real estate.   It is located on the western edge of the city and in close proximity to the Rocky Mountains.  There are ups and downs to living in a golf community which will be the main focus of this article.  But first, let's start with:

A Short Geography, History and Demographics

Valley Ridge is located in the northwest part of Calgary and at the western edge of the city. Before turning into a golf community, the community's main attraction was “Happy Valley Campground” which features a golf course, ski hill, camping grounds and picnic area. Although most of it are gone now, the entire golf course has been revamped turning the Valley Ridge into a golf course community.

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Northwest Calgary is one of the largest quadrants in the City of Calgary with approximately 300,000 residents. It is known for its proximity to the mountains, hilly terrain, beautiful golf courses and suburban living.  It is also home to the University of Calgary, SAIT Polytechnic, and the Alberta College of Art, making it a great choice for those pursuing academic studies.  Northwest Calgary boasts panoramic views of the Mountains, Bow River and Canada Olympic Park.

It is also home to Nose Hill Park, considered one of the largest municipal parks located in Canada. Nose Hill Park is also known for its beautiful city and mountain views and numerous hiking areas. This can be a perfect spot for people who love to hike without leaving the City. The…

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If you are looking for a place to live, one that best suits your needs there are many areas of  Calgary Real Estate to choose from including Northwest Calgary, Southeast Calgary, Calgary Condos, Southwest Calgary, and Calgary Acreages. Each has their own appeal and offers many different styles of living.

Different areas in the Calgary Community

Before you search for a house that you are planning to buy, think of the kind of environment you would like for your new home - a bustling city, a laid back countryside, or quiet suburbia. Also check out the community itself, a friendly walkable neighborhood is always ideal.

If you enjoy having your own yard, being close to schools, shopping and recreation amenities then Northwest Calgary is the…

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