Making Some Changes…

Wanted to let you know that the site will be going through an overhaul over the next week… If you have troubles viewing anything, or would like to contact us, please send us an email to sales@tcgroup.ca.

Thank you for your continued readership, and I’m very excited for our new blog site once it’s completed.

Cheers,

Jared

Are They Serious…

So… Here is a photo that I came across on MLS today.  It’s not the photo that is crazy, it’s what the listing agent wrote as the description of the property…

This is a beautiful 1/2 duplex located in ______ (Calgary), FULLY RENOVATED including new paint, laminate hardwood, and appliances.

Are They Serious… This picture looks like the nicest renovation on the block…. wow!  It truly amazes me how some agents will write without thinking…

I want to start a new series this year called “Are They Serious”  If you come across any home photos, listings etc. that you would like to add here, please email them to me at sales@tcgroup.ca

Should You Sell Your Home?

Millions of homes are sold every year. Even though each transaction is different, all sellers want the same result – the best price in the least amount of time with the fewest problems.
Selling Calgary Real Estate is more difficult than it used to be. As a seller you need to be aware of a range of issues and deal with many complex forms. You also need to know that buyer agents represent buyers and each of them are giving their fiduciary responsibility to their clients.

Successfully selling a property requires the Realtor to have experience and training in areas like marketing, financing, negotiation and closing deals – this is the very expertise that Real Estate Agent offer.

It is Important to Know Why You Want to Sell Your Home.

1. You should have a clear idea why you want to sell your home.  Selling a home is an important matter and there should be a good reason to sell, such as moving to a new community, needing more space, retiring to a smaller home or moving closer to family. Your reason for selling can impact the negotiating process so it’s important to discuss your needs and wants in private with the Real Estate Agent who lists your home.

   To get an idea of whether it’s a seller’s market or a buyer’s market, many people start by looking at online or printed real estate guides to research the current market and the price of comparable properties.

2. Is Your Home Ready to Be Sold?
   The home-selling process typically starts several months before a property is made available for sale. For best results when selling your home, you need to look at your home through the eyes of a prospective buyer and determine what needs to be cleaned, painted, repaired and thrown out.

   Ask yourself: “If I were buying this house, what would I want to see?” The goal is to show a home which looks good, maximizes space and attracts as many buyers – and as much demand – as possible.

When setting a list price for your home, you should know the current market conditions. Consider the following pricing factors:

• If you set the price too high, your house won’t be picked for viewing, even though it may be much nicer than other homes on the street. You may have told your Real Estate Agent to just bring an offer, but compared to other houses for sale, your home looks way too expensive to be considered.

• If you price too low, you’ll short-change yourself. Your house will sell promptly, yes, but you may make less on the sale than if you had set a higher price and waited for a buyer who was willing to pay it.

Horoscope for 2009

It's that time of year when radio stations begin playing their "top 100" songs of the year and horoscope predictions for the upcoming year are printed out and scoured over. For a different spin on the Real Estate outlook, I thought I would format it in the style of a horoscope. These are my predictions for the market this year:

Where's my luck this year?

If you are a first time home buyer looking to buy, this is a great year to buy. You've patiently waited out the storm (subtle metaphor for the more commonly used term "boom") and now the pouring rain has slowed to a mere drizzle. This is the time to secure a pre-approval and take advantage of low interest rates, 4.79% for a 5 year fixed.

Home Sweet Home

No need to lament over perceived lost income due to buying at the so-called "wrong time." Truly, there is no wrong time. The way I see it is this: you need a place to live. Yes, the value of your home has likely decreased on your annual property statement this year but what would you have paid were you to have continued on living in your rental? Perhaps those numbers balance each other out. Enjoy your home and make it your own - have fun this year with some new paint with a funky name like sulfur yellow or black raspberry. With names like these, what's not to enjoy? (disclaimer: the two listed above do not match each other).

Mantra for 2009

"Focus on what you do best and let go of the rest" - Les Hewitt

Why You Shouldn’t Sell Your Home Without A Real Estate Agent?

Think twice before you decide to ‘save money’ and sell your own home. It just may backfire.

Research indicates that you’ll get roughly one tenth the exposure of a well-run brokerage if you decide to sell on your own. This means it will take on the order of ten times as long to sell your home. This impacts your selling price, because buyers view houses that have been long on the market as problematic. They might avoid it altogether because of this, or, at best, offer you very little.

Buyers of real estate consider how long a property has been on the market when determining their offers. Imagine that in your ninth or tenth month, after reducing your asking price several times, you can end up misreading the nature of the local housing market and price yourself too cheaply. So you lose.

Ask yourself if you possess the market savvy and requisite skill set to deal with seasoned brokers and veteran real estate lawyers and bring a deal successfully to close? And to get the best price in the bargain?

There’s a lot that can go wrong on your way to saving a little on commission.

Finally, the risk of a botched contract or mismanaged closing could expose you to expensive legal proceedings that far outweigh the pittance you initially hoped to save on commissions.

Please think twice before trying to sell on your own, especially in this market that we are in right now.

The Basics Of Real Estate Investing

Real estate investments may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but some people who have already tried investing in real estate know that it can be profitable. Real estate investment experts say there are several keys to making significant profits in real estate investment deals. And when the deals are profitable, you will certainly be well on your way to success.

For real estate investment neophytes, don’t be afraid of the challenges and pitfalls you may encounter along the way. There is definitely a lot to learn, but in the long run after you have gained some experience, you’ll hopefully become a master at closing profitable real estate deals.

There are 5 core skills that are necessary for building a real estate investment business. These will be the key factors in creating a profitable real estate investment portfolio.

These are the 5 core skills of real estate investment:

1. You must learn when and where to find the right kind of sellers.
2. You must learn the art of being a master negotiator when it comes to closing your real estate investment deals.
3. You must be able to quickly and accurately analyze each real estate investment deal so you’ll know exactly when to proceed and when to pull the plug.
4. You must become an expert in all areas of real estate investment and understand such terms as lease options, cash sales, short sales and other terminology common in the real estate investment trade.
5. You should totally understand the meaning and concept of investing in real estate, including all of the financial risks and benefits.

Now is a great time to consider investing in real estate.  Like Warren Buffet says… “When the masses are greedy is a time to be fearful, and when they are fearful is a time to be greedy” There are great potential rewards and the effort you put forth can yield enormous monetary returns on your investment.

Your confidence level will grow when you’ve gained some experience and closed on your first few real estate deals. But, don’t stop there…

Continue to learn about real estate investing and to develop your investment skills. In a short time you may find yourself managing a profitable and growing portfolio of investment properties.

Continue to follow your real estate investment “game plan” and always keep an eye out for the hidden investment opportunities. The opportunities are definitely out there and with a little knowledge and desire can be yours for the taking. So, why not get started in what might be a new and exciting (and profitable) career today? For more information please visit The Chamberlain Group today… and we can help you achieve what you want in life through investing in real estate.

Map of Calgary Show Homes – January 2009

Buying a brand new home can be a very exciting, as most likely you are getting exactly what you want, and not settling for a resale home with aspects you may or may not love.  There is a giant myth out there that Real Estate Agents are not able to work with new home builders, but in fact, this is not true, especially in this current market where builders are needing the MLS to market their homes.

Some builders will do almost anything to have you sign on the line, and with some rep’s that sit in the show homes not be fully qualified to sell homes, you will want someone on your side who has your best interest in mind and fully qualified.  We at the Chamberlain Group have had extensive experience with new homes and new home builders as we were apart of a development that sold 93 brand new condos where we did marketing and sales.

We have also had clients who wanted us to sit in on all meetings with the builder and even attend the meetings for picking out their flooring, lighting, cabinets etc. But then we have had clients that just want us to help them with all the paperwork and read over what the contract says to make sure that they are fully covered, as builders & developers use their own offer sheets that are drafted by their lawyers, and in most cases cover their ASSets before yours…

Whether you use us or not, it is very important to have a third party representative who has your interest and only yours as their number one priority.

On that note…

Below is a map of all the show home location in Calgary that was used in The Calgary Herald on January 3, 2009.  If you have any questions about new homes, show homes, spec. homes etc. please contact us at sales@tcgroup.ca or 403-366-3130

Please Click On The Image To Enlarge It

New Condos Outside of Calgary – Updated for Jan ‘09

AIRDRIE:

BREEZE AT AIRDRIE: By Generations Group of Companies. Three-bedroom townhomes or one-, two-or three-bedroom apartment-style condos from low$200,000s.At 2370 Bayside Rd. S. W.,Airdrie.

COURTYARDS OF KING’S HEIGHTS: Gardenside condos from$194,900, plus GST. At Kingsland Road in Airdrie.

COPPERSTONE VILLAGE: By Jade Landing Holdings. Oneand two-bedroom suites on the developing west side of Airdrie, across from Creekside Crossing.

CROWN SHORES: From$212,900. Sales centre 405 Airdrie Rd.

PATIOS OF SAGEWOOD: By Beattie Homes. Two-storey three-bedroom units.

ZEN: By Avalon. Two-and three-bedroom townhomes. From the mid-$250,000s. Show homes at 102 2445 Kingsland Rd. S. E.

BLACK DIAMOND:

MOUNTAINVIEW MANOR: Marketed by Ken Placsko Realty. Phase 1 of 3; 22 adult condo units, 819 to 1,710 sq. ft., from $199,000-$440,000.At 400 1st Ave. S. E., Black Diamond.

A WINCHESTER, THE: By Prairie Dog Development Inc. Ecofriendly, 33-unit luxury development near Sheep River. At 415 4A St.N. W., Black Diamond.

CANMORE:

BLACKSTONE MOUNTAIN LODGE: By Assured Developments. Fully-furnished condos from$414,900 to $539,900. At 170 Kananaskis Way, Canmore.

FAIRHOLME VILLAGE: By Devonian Properties. From 1,151 1,343 square feet. Sales centre at 743 Railway Ave.

LODGES AT CANMORE: By Devonian Properties. Condos from mid-$200,000s.

MOUNTAINEERS VILLAGE: By Alpine Homes. From $490,000. Show suite at 104 Armstrong Pl. (Three Sisters Mountain Village.)

SERENITY RIDGE: By Swan Group Inc. Maintenance-free townhomes from 1,000 to 1,200 square feet. At Three Sisters Mountain Village.

SOLARA CANMORE: One-, two-and three-bedroom apartment-style condos. Fractional ownership. Show suite at 1205 Bow Valley Tr.

TIMBERLINE LODGES: By Alpine Homes. From 1,000 to 3,200 square feet. From$400,000s to $1.6 million. Show suite at 104 Armstrong Pl. (Three Sisters Mountain Village).

CARSTAIRS:

VILLAS AT STONEBRIDGE GLEN, THE: By Gold Seal Homes. Executive villas next to the Carstairs Golf Course. From 1,225 to 1,700 sq.uare feet. From$290,000 to $450,000. Show suite open.

CHESTERMERE:

BROWNSTONES OF RAINBOW FALLS: Two-storey town-house condos at 324 Rainbow Falls Dr.

CHALETS OF RAINBOW FALLS: By Lionsworthe Homes. Twoand three-bedroom units. From 1,400 to 1,600 square feet. Show home at 164 Lavender Link. From$330,000 to $400,000, plus GST.

GEORGIAN VILLAS AT RAINBOW FALLS: By Urban Escapes by Truman. Bungalows starting at $436,000.At 300 West-creek Blvd.

WESTMERE GARDENS: By Reid Built Homes. Semi-attached estate homes at 147 Springmere Rd., Chestermere. Show home open.

CROSSFIELD:

ARCHES, THE: By Crossfield Affordable Housing Inc. Apartment-style condos. One-bedroom, $154,900; two-bedroom, $189,900.At Main Street, Crossfield.

COCHRANE:

ALORA IN SUNSET RIDGE: Aspire Condo Living by Jayman. From$199,900. Three suites to view, at 201 Sunset Dr.

LAREDO PLACE: By Trico Homes. At 28 Heritage Dr. in Cochrane. From 1,253 to 1,669 square feet. Two-to three-bed-room unit from$299,900, plus GST.

RANCHEROS: By CalBridge Group Inc. Maintenance-free bungalow villas at 89 Sunset Square, Cochrane. Starting from $412,800. Sales centre at 101 Sunset Dr., Cochrane.

SUNSET POINTE: By CalBridge Group Inc. An exclusive maintenance-free enclave of townhomes at 307 Sunset Point, Cochrane. Three floor plans available. Show suite open Sept. 18. Walkouts starting from$390,000s.

VILLAGE, THE: By CalBridge Group Inc. Maintenance-free, luxury apartment-style condos from the low$200,000s. From 710 to 1,434 square feet, and loft penthouses. Variety of floor plans. At 15 Sunset Square, Cochrane.

HIGH RIVER:

MURALS OF HIGH RIVER, THE: Three-bedroom townhomes in Montrose, High River. Sales centre at 1403 Montrose Ter. S. E. (in Greenboro show home). From$320,000s.

A VIEW AT SUNRISE, THE: By Enzo Developments.Adultlifestyle condos in two-bedrooms and one-bedroom-plus-den. From$199,900.At 43 Sunrise Lo.,High River.

WILLOWS, THE : By Welig Developments. At 101 1st. Ave. N. E., High River. This 66-unit 30-plus adult community townhome development has two-bedroom, two-bathroom delux units with garages starting at under $250,000.

LETHBRIDGE:

WEST LAKE TOWNHOUSES: By Condo Condo Development Group Inc. Two-and three-bedroom units: two-bedroom is 765 square feet and priced at $211,500; three-bedroom is 997 square feet and priced at $231,000.At 375 Columbia Blvd. W. in Lethbridge.

OKOTOKS:

A CALVANNA VILLAGE: By Calvanna Developments. Maintenance-free living for 50-plus lifestyle. Located on Woodgate Road, behind Safeway.

DRAKE’S COVE: By Rockford Ventures. From$280,000s.At 105 Drake Landing Common in Okotoks.

HARVEST GATE: By Trico Homes at 27 and 29 Cimarron Vista Gardens in Okotoks. Three-bedroom units from 1,235 to 1,499 square feet. From$310,000 to $344,00, plus GST.

PENNCROSS: By Streetside Development Corp.Apartment condos starting at $212,000s. At 129 1stCrystalGreen Ln., Okotoks.

VILLAS OF CIMARRON ESTATES, THE: By Crossley Homes. Executive villa bungalows from 1,200 to 1,600 square feet. From$395,000.At 10 Cimarron Estates Gn.,Okotoks.

TUCKER HILL: By Streetside Development Corp. Bungalow villa duplexes and triplexes, From the $290,000s.At 200 and 202 Tucker Blvd., in Westmount, Okotoks.

WILLOW: By Developments 2 Inc. Urban village mixed-use residential/commercial development with 37 two-bedroom-two-bathroom units and 31 one-bedroom-one-bathroom units. At 71 Riverside Dr. (next to the Community Savings Bank). From the $220,000s.

OLDS:

CORNERSTONE VILLAGE: ByLeaside Development Corp. One-and two-bedroom condominium apartments from 856 to 1,310 square feet. From$217,900 to $332,900.At 4403 67A Ave. in Olds. Sales centre on site.

STRATHMORE:

A RANCH ESTATES : Gated, land-lease community for manufactured homes. From$75,000 to$200,000. Sales office at 100 Ranchwood Lane.

New Condos in SE & NE Calgary – Updated for Jan ‘09

ARRIVA: By Torode Residential. One-bedroom units from 828 square feet and two-bedroom units from 1,162 square feet. At corner of 3rd Street and 11th Avenue.

ASCENT IN VALLEY VIEW: By Jayman. Starting from $195,900.Visit show home at 2727 28th Ave. S. E.

BELLA CASA CONDOS: By Prism Developments. This four-storey building with units from$188,500 to $338,500.At 5430 17th Ave. S. E.

BORDEAUX OF CRANSTON: By Avalon Master Builder. Threebedroom townhomes. Information centre at 70 Cranleigh Dr. S. E.

A CHAPARRAL, THE: Pointe of View Developments.Mature, adult-living with suites from 821 to 1,302 square feet. Presentation centre at 428 Chaparral Ravine Vw. S. E.

GALA IN APPLEWOOD: By Luxe Developments. At 1720 68th St. S. E. On-site sales centres/show suite for Phase 1 opening soon.

KEYNOTE: Keynote Development Corp.One-and two-bedroom units. Sales centre at 1119 1st St. S. E.

MOSIAC MONTAGE IN AUBURN BAY: By Hawthorne Homes. From mid-$200,000s.At 625 Auburn Bay Blvd. S. E. Presentation centre open.

MOTIF NEW BRIGHTON: By Hawthorne Homes. From the low $200,000s.At 55 New Brighton Gardens. S. E.

PRESTWICK PLACE: By Cardel Lifestyles. Sales centre at 114 Prestwick Villas S. E. Prices from low$200,000s.

RIVERSIDE QUAYS: By Statesman. Apartment condo and townhome village in Inglewood. Sales centre at 1640 17A St. S. E.

SOLEA : By Luxe Developments. At 15304 Bannister Rd. S. E. in Lake Midnapore. Two-bedroom suites.

NORTHEAST Calgary

ADORA, THE: By Sokol Developments. Starting at $339,900. At 725 4th St. N. E.

A CALVANNA VILLAGE WHITEHORN: By Calvanna Developments. Apartment-style condos at 52nd Street and 44th Avenue N. E.

CRESCENT MANOR: By Rainbow Homes Ltd.At 110 12th Ave.N. E., in Crescent Heights. This three-storey building has executive condos from$399,900. Show suite open.

CROSSINGS AT THE BRIDGES: By Apex City Homes. Presentation centre at 825 1st Ave. N. E. Units from mid-$300,000s to $600,000s.

GREENVIEW ON THE PARK: One-, two-and three-bedroom condos in four refurbished buildings from 700 to 1,200 square feet. From$220,888. Sales centre at 4455 Grenview Dr. N. E.

LIGHTHOUSE LANDING OF COUNTRY HILLS: By Cardel Lifestyle. Sales centre at 12025 Coventry Hills Blvd. N. E. From low$200,000s.

MEREDITH PLACE: Condo conversion in Bridgeland. At 644 Meredith Rd. N. E.

RED WILLOW: By Rockford Ventures. Townhomes from the mid-$200,000s at 504 Saddlecrest Blvd. N. E.

REFLECTIONS: By Rockford Ventures. One-and two-bedroom apartments from the $250,000s. Sales centre at 161 Country Village Ld. N. E.

SIENNA, THE: By Sokol Developments. From$499,000.At 41 6th St. N. E.

VERANA, THE : By Sokol Developments. From$429,900.At 41 6A St.N. E. Sales centre at 20, 4th St. N. E.

VU: By Luxe Developments. Two-bedroom suites from 1,086 to 1,253 square feet. Show suite open at 414 Meredith Rd. N. E.

New Condos in NW Calgary – Updated for Jan ‘09

BLUE SKY: By Streetside Development Corp. Townhouses with mountain views starting at $299,000. At 2 164th Rockyledge Vw.N. W.

EDGE ON 17TH, THE: By Strathridge Apartments Inc. At 1231 17 Ave. N. W. One-bedroom and two-bedroom units from $239,900 to $369,900. Show suite open.

KENSINGTON, THE OXFORD: Townhouses on 12th Street. From$599,900. ORCHID, THE IN TUXEDO: Three-storey condominium building has one-bedroom-plus-den and two-bedroom units available. Starting at $319,900. At 2012 1 St. N. W.

PANORAMA POINTE: By Pointe of View Developments. From 579 to 1,243 square feet. Presentation centre at 60 Panatella St. N. W.

PANORAMA HEIGHTS: By Rockford Ventures. From the low $300,000s. Show home at 398 Panatella Blvd. N. W.

PANTELLA LANDING: By Carolina Homes Inc. Two-storey village-style homes, each with own private entrance. From 813 to 1,168 square feet; starting at $215,900.At 55 Panatella St. N. W.

PLAZA AT ROYAL OAK: By Streetside Development Corp. Townhouses starting in the $320,000s. At 118 30 Royal Oak Pz. N. W. Show suite open.

PROVIDENCE AT KENSINGTON: By Providence Development Corp. From 1,024 to 1,101 square feet. From$487,900. Twostorey townhomes from about 1,600 square feet. Presentation centre at 1321 Kensington Cl. N. W.

RANCHVIEW VISTAS: By Cardel Lifestyles. At 6315 Ranchview Dr. N. W. One-and two-bedroom apartment-style condos from the low$240,000s.

RED HAUS: By Streetside Development Corp.Apartment condos from$199,000.At 118-30 Royal Oak Plaza N.W.

SWAN LANDING AT ROCKY RIDGE : By The Swan Group.At 525 Rocky Vista Gardens N. W. Bungalow-style villas from $449,900 to $599,900. Apartment condos from$269,900. Show suite open.

TUSCANY POINTE: By Cedarglen. At 104 Tuscany Ravine Heights N. W.

URBAN VIEW BY THE RIVER: Urban View Projects. $408,000–$512,000. Presentation centre at 204 8 Parkdale Cres. N. W.

VIDA: By Luxe Developments. At the corner of 17th Avenue and 3rd Street N.W.

VILLAGE AT WEST SPRINGS: By Landstar Development Corp. Terrace townhomes and patio homes. At 73rd Street and Old Banff Coach Road.

VILLA D’ESTE: By Knightsbridge. Apartment-style condos south of Tuscany Boulevard. Show home open.

THE VUE: Two-bedroom apartment-style condos in Hillhurst from$332,900.At 429 14th St. N. W.

WEST BY STONECROFT: Luxury condos from$275,000.At 88 Arbour Lake Rd. N. W., near Crowfoot Crossing and a short walk to the future C-Train station. Furnished show suites open for viewing.

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