Kirby Cox's Calgary Real Estate Blog - Calgary Living

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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World Yoga Day: Where to find yoga studios in northwest Calgary

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,…

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How to Volunteer at the Calgary Food Bank

With Christmas around the corner, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of decorating, shopping, baking and all those festive tasks. However, Christmas is a stressful time for many people, especially the less fortunate in Calgary who perhaps don’t have the means to provide an extravagant day for their loved ones.

The Calgary Food Bank has been providing for those in need since 1982 and has grown into a million-dollar charitable organization with 9000 volunteers contributing to the cause. Every day, over 160 Calgarians volunteer their time to help those in need. This support has an enormous impact on the Calgary families and agencies to whom they provide emergency food resources.

Today, December 5th is International Volunteer Day so we…

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The 4 Best Coffee Shops in Northwest Calgary

To some people, okay most people, coffee truly is their lifeblood. Coffee in the morning, coffee at work, coffee with friends, coffee in ice cream – our society really loves this little bean! Whether it’s the flavour you love or the caffeine you crave, coffee has become a staple in our everyday lives that simply can’t be ignored. 

There are hundreds of coffee shops scattered around Calgary and you have to wonder: which ones are the best? Whether you like a large cup of joe or a sweet, milky latte, every shop makes it uniquely. Different machines, new ingredients, beans from around the world – coffee at one shop can mean something completely different at another. If you frequent the northwest corner of the city, it might help to know which coffee…

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How to Host the Perfect Backyard Soiree.

Calgary, summer is finally heating up in Calgary and we sure hope it’s here to stay! With the temperatures in the high 20s, it’s time to stock up on hot dogs, fruity popsicles and cases of beer for those hot days and late nights around the fire. July is shaping up to be the ideal backyard party month so here’s how to do it right. 

Music = Must

Nothing can bring a party down like a bad playlist. Find some music that keeps people attentive and moving, with a few tracks worth reminiscing and singing along to throughout the night. Not a huge music geek? That’s what the Internet is for. Sites like Spotify, Apple Music and 8tracks all host music online and create playlists with themes just for this occasion. Happy summer beats, chill hits or hot country…

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In defence of suburban living

The suburbs are still the number one choice for Calgarians choosing to buy (according to the 2014 City of Calgary census), and if you've never considered living in the suburbs, they have a lot to offer. There are some common misconceptions about living the suburbs that may be holding you back, and we're going to dispell them right now.

According to the 2011 census, 94 percent of the growth in Canada’s cities has been outside the urban core, and nothing has happened to change that trend in the intervening few years. [Ottawa Citizen]

While those numbers are outdated by now, we have seen nothing to prove this trend has shifted. Yet somehow, the suburbs can get a bad rap, so here are some common misconceptions we will debunk:

• The suburbs…

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It's Community Association Awareness Month in Calgary

Did you know March is "Community Association Membership Month" in Calgary? It's the perfect time to learn about your community's association and all the great work it does for your neighbourhood, perhaps even getting more involved.

We're lucky in Calgary, that most communities in our city have community associations. Knowing about your community association and where it is located, can offer you a ton of opportunity to get involved in the neighbourhood you live.

What is a community association? 

Community associations are neighbourhood-based volunteer organizations providing support, and opportunities in recreation, education and social life. In Calgary, nearly 150 community associations even operate facilities and/or halls. The Federation of…

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