Kirby Cox's Calgary Real Estate Blog - Calgary Living

Calgary's Most Affordable Communities

Looking for an affordable home in Calgary?

Calgary has several neighborhoods that are generally considered more affordable compared to others. However, please note that the real estate market is dynamic, and affordability can change over time. That being said, here are some neighborhoods in Calgary that are historically known for being relatively affordable:

Ranchlands

Amenities: 12 Acre Community Park with Off-Leash, Ranchlands Community Centre

Average Price Detached Home: $582,597

Situated in Northwest Calgary, Ranchlands is a well established community offering a mix of housing options, including single family homes, duplexes and townhomes. It's location is second to none, being close to Crowfoot Crossing with a host of amenities, as…

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Investors Flock to Buy Calgary Real Estate

Ontario & BC Buyers scooping up investment properties in Calgary.

The days of Alberta losing residents to other provinces are long gone. In the first quarter of 2023, the province saw a net increase of over 31,000 people from other parts of Canada, especially from the provinces of Ontario & BC.

However, people aren't just moving themselves and their loved ones to Alberta — a large percentage of them are moving their money. In the last few years, Calgary has seen a spike in out-of-province homebuyers scooping up investment properties they can rent out, with the motivating factor being comparatively affordable real estate.

Prices in Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria are completely out of reach, not just for homeowners but for investors as well.…

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5 Features That Can Make Your Home Challenging to Sell

Yay!!!! You’ve finally found the home of your dreams. Right?

Before you commit to buying, be sure to consider whether some of your favorite features might be a detriment when it comes time to sell. Some design and architectural elements—such as swimming pools and tile floors—divide home buyers evenly, with half considering them a no-go and the other half absolutely loving them.

While these amenities won’t necessarily be the main factors determining whether or not you buy the home, it’s best to know exactly what you’re getting into. Here’s what to watch out for when buying your dream home, both on the upside and the potential downside.

1. A swimming pool

Living in Alberta where it often feels like Winter for 8 months of the year, don’t…

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1456 Varsity Estates Drive | New Listing!

1456 Varsity Estates Drive NW | $869,900!

You won't want to miss this chance to raise your family in this lovingly maintained bi-level in the sought-after neighbourhood of Varsity, siding onto the Silver Springs golf course & walking distance to off-leash parks & the trails to Bowmont Park. This fully finished 4 bedroom / 3 bath home enjoys vaulted ceilings & exotic Jatoba hardwood floors, cherrywood kitchen with tile floors, 2 fireplaces & huge covered deck with views of the golf course. Vaulted cedar ceilings span the entire main floor, from the beautiful foyer with brick feature wall, open concept living/dining room with its wood-burning fireplace & 2 sets of sliding doors to the deck, & spacious eat-in kitchen with white appliances - including…

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160 Edelweiss Drive NW | New Listing!

NEW Listing!!  160 Edelweiss Drive NW  $1,349,900

Stunning two-story home on the ridge in Edgemont!  Surrounded by simply stunning views of the mountains & Canada Olympic Park is this lovingly maintained estate home, perched on the ridge on one of Edgemont's most highly sought-after streets. Offering a total of 4 bedrooms, 3 car garage & central air, this amazing home enjoys rich hardwood floors & 2 fireplaces, sun-drenched oak kitchen with black appliances, huge deck with awning & extensive improvements including rubber roof, furnaces & hot water tanks.

Step through the front doors & be greeted by the elegant foyer with its grand staircase & wood paneling, which is open to the gracious living room with soaring vaulted ceilings & formal…

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Luxurious Highs in Calgary

Luxury is back. Forget covid and the economic downturn, multi million dollar homes are selling like hot cakes in some parts of the country.

We’ve all heard about the focus on our homes during covid and it appears the luxury market is also basking in that spotlight. A number of recent reports like Royal Le Page’s on Quebec luxury market have found prices and sales of luxury homes have been rising healthily since last year. So just for fun we took a look at what $5m would get you in the Calgary area and who are the lucky potential buyers?

The Concord $5,999,999

Listed by Rowena Chan, Engels and Volkers

It’s one of the priciest pieces of real estate on the market currently in Calgary. A smidge over our $5m budget this penthouse 3…

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The Fast Track to Suburbia?

The Fast Track to Suburbia?

It’s been a worldwide trend. Calgary like other cities across the world has seen more and more of its population moving to the suburbs and choosing space over proximity to the office. Calgary’s latest assessment figures show property values have increased by more than 10% in some parts of the suburbs. So far that move seems here to stay.

There’s another trend that’s been quietly taking the world by storm that can make the suburbs even more accessible and affordable. Electric Bikes sales have been on the rise worldwide. Deloitte recently predicted there would be around 300 million e-bikes in circulation worldwide by 2023. Calgary is keeping pace. Bow Cycle’s electric bike store saw sales exponentially boom this year, up…

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Calgary Taxes: Assessed Value vs. Market Value

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…

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How to tackle spring cleaning

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…

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Tips for cycling in Calgary

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.
• …

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