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Heritage Day in Alberta

Published July 30, 2015

Heritage Day is celebrated in Alberta on the first Monday of August each year. In 2015, Heritage Day falls on Monday August 3. Perfect, another summer long weekend ; )

Although it is not a statutory holiday, and businesses can choose whether or not to recognize the day as a general holiday, many Calgarians use this day as an optional holiday to celebrate the province’s heritage.

There are plenty of fun things to do with your family and friends.

If you love the outdoors, you may want to use the long weekend to go on a camping trip, a hiking tour, an afternoon stroll on our city’s fantastic pathways, a trip to the zoo, or even just a quiet retreat.

Many families visit Heritage Park and take a trip back through time, while others take in the festivities at Prince’s Island Park. A visit to the local museums, such as Fort Calgary, won’t disappoint. It celebrates Alberta’s Heritage Day with interpretive tours, movies, crafts, face paintings, a treasure hunt and genealogy presentations. Something for everyone!

Or maybe you prefer the indoors and that’s OK too! There are tons of things from which to choose. You can play board games at home, catch a movie, walk the mall, enjoy a concert, or even have a blast learning at the Science Centre.

For those who just love to kick back you could share a chat over a special coffee, or enjoy a leisurely meal at your favourite hangout. Whatever you do, celebrate in style…

We wish everyone a safe & enjoyable Heritage Day long weekend.

Understanding Your Local Housing Market

Published July 12, 2015

It’s true that 2015 has been a challenging year for the Calgary housing market due to the economic shifts, but the Calgary Housing Market Outlook forecast says the market is showing signs of stability and is not as bad as some believed it would be.

By understanding the housing market, you’ll have a better sense of what, where and when to buy.

Buying a home is an important lifestyle and investment decision. You want to buy at the best price possible. You want your monthly payments to be as affordable as possible. You want your home to increase in value as much as possible.

To make sure all that happens, it’s important to look beyond your individual purchase before you buy. You need to look at larger market conditions. What’s happening around you (house price trends, mortgage rate movements, new home construction) will have an influence on your purchase. The more you know the more control you have.

In a buyer’s market, the number of homes available for sale exceeds the demand, so prices will either stabilize or drop. With fewer buyers and more homes, you not only have more options to choose from, you also have greater negotiating leverage. You have more time to look for the right home and you can evaluate the choices without feeling pressure to act too quickly.

Another major influence on your decision to buy is the mortgage interest rate. What rates are available now? Will they drop in the immediate future? Will they rise? If so, by how much?

So many questions and things to consider!

If you’re struggling to understand today’s housing market or having difficulty moving forward because the details of buying or selling a home seem overwhelming, give Bill Brandsma a call at 403-253-5678 or email bill@billbrandsma.com.

Bill Brandsma Real Estate — experienced, knowledgeable, committed, and ready to guide you smoothly through any and all real estate processes.

June 2015 Calgary Real Estate Stats

Published July 6, 2015

Conditions remain relatively stable

“…minimal pressure on home prices…”

If you like to stay up to date on what’s going on in the Calgary real estate market so that you can make informed decisions, click the link below for an excellent overview of CREB’s summary of Calgary’s residential monthly statistics:

http://www.creb.com/~/media/Public/Statistics%20Package/2015/June%202015.pdf

For more information about the current market or for details about the June Calgary Real Estate Monthly Statistics, get in touch with Bill Brandsma at 403-253-5678.

Bill Brandsma Real Estate – specializing in Calgary and the surrounding area.

Calgary Stampede July 3-12, 2015

Published July 1, 2015
Celebrating 103 years of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth!

Join us at the parade Friday July 3, 2015 with this year’s Stampede Parade Marshal – Kaillie Humphries. The parade is the annual kick-off to the Calgary Stampede. It begins at 7:30 am with the Parade Prelude, but head down to the parade route early to ensure you get a great spot!

For 10 days it’s a citywide celebration of true western hospitality in a party atmosphere!

So much to see and do…

The Stampede attracts over one million visitors each year and features the world-famous rodeo, the chuckwagon races, concerts with country legends, rock royalty, and rising stars, high-energy entertainment shows that run daily, nightly evening shows, constant Midway action, First Nations exhibitions and much, much more…

Don’t miss out! Grab your cowboy boots and hats and head downtown to the parade Friday morning and on to the Stampede grounds for some foot-stomping, heart-pounding action and a truly memorable experience.

For event information visit http://www.calgarystampede.com/stampede/attractions/parade

Celebrate Canada Day 2015

Published June 29, 2015

It’s hard to believe that Canada Day is this coming Wednesday July 1, virtually right around the corner!

Since it falls on a Wednesday this year, it means you’ll have to take two days off (Mon & Tues or Thurs & Fri) to make Canada Day a long weekend. But hey, a 5 day weekend sounds pretty good right about now, right?! Especially given the beautiful weather forecast for the week ; )

What are we celebrating anyway?

Canada Day celebrates the birthday of Canada. On July 1, 1867 Canada became a new federation with its own constitution by signing the Constitution Act – formerly known as the British North America Act.

Come out & celebrate Canada’s birthday with thousands of other Calgarians!

There will be free activities for the entire family on Prince’s Island including a First Nations Powwow and a Living Flag activity. And Canada Day wouldn’t be Canada Day in Calgary without music and festivities along the Riverfront. Join the fun at the Festival Market with a fantastic line-up of Canadian Bands on the Riverfront Stage, a Food Truck Roundup, and to wind up the evening, an amazing fireworks display.

For more information visit: http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Recreation/Pages/Events/Canada-Day-events-listing.aspx

Happy Birthday Canada!

Ready to start home hunting this summer?

Published June 22, 2015

For most Canadians, owning their own home is a life-long dream. It brings with it pride of ownership, security and the feeling of control over which improvements are made and how much they cost. There’s also the chance your home will increase in value, making it a sound financial, as well as a lifestyle investment.

When buying a home, you have to juggle three important factors — your prospective home’s location, style and cost.
  • Location – your choice of location depends primarily on where you work and whether you want to commute, and also on your family lifestyle. Some real estate representatives suggest that, if you’re considering the future resale value of your home, it’s wiser to buy a modest home in the best neighborhood you can afford than the most expensive home in a modest neighborhood.
  • Style – when trying to decide what style of home to buy, it’s a good idea to draw up a master list of all the features you want your new home to have. Try to be honest about what you’re looking for. Your vision will likely change based on what’s available in your price range.
  • Cost – your goal may be to buy a single family detached home in an urban neighborhood for $400,000, but you may have to settle for two out of three. An urban semi-detached home may be available for your price, or you may need to look in the suburbs for the price and style you want.

If you are thinking of making a move, or just curious about the real estate trends in a specific area, please feel free to contact us any time at 403-253-5678 or email bill@billbrandsma.com. It is our pleasure to help you.

Bill Brandsma Real Estate – specializing in Calgary and the surrounding area.

Don’t forget Dad’s Day!

Published June 20, 2015

Happy Father’s day to all you Dads, Step-Dads, Big Brothers & positive role models…
enjoy your special day!

Maximize Your Exposure

Published June 15, 2015

The key to selling quickly and getting top dollar is exposure. The more people who see your home, the sooner you will find a willing buyer.

How do you get the most exposure?

If you sell the home yourself, you will get some exposure by putting up a sign, running some ads, and telling your friends. On the other hand, if you work with a REALTOR you will get instant and mass exposure to a large number of prospective home buyers.

A REALTOR has access to the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®). This service, a computerized system operated by the local real estate board, compiles information about listed properties in the area and makes it accessible to member companies. As a result, when a REALTOR lists your home, REALTORS from other companies learn about your home and try to match it with buyers with whom they are working. These buyers may include people from out-of-town who are trying to relocate to your area.

It’s exciting to put your home on the market, but getting it sold can be a challenge. As stated above, you want to make sure as many potential buyers as possible are aware of your property. Once you’ve made the commitment to sell your home contact Bill Brandsma Real Estate at 403-253-5678.

“You will get unmatched commitment to turning your dreams into reality.”
– Bill Brandsma

Does your home have curb appeal?

Published June 8, 2015
It’s not necessary to shell out a lot of money to boost your home’s marketability. On the outside (curb appeal), it may be as simple as mowing the lawn or moving a car out of the driveway.

Since your home’s exterior is the first thing potential buyers will see, take a hard look at the house from all angles.

  • What’s good about it? How can you make the most of these features?
  • What’s not so good about it? What can you do to correct the problems?

Some suggestions:

  • Overall landscaping – don’t let untrimmed hedges, overgrown grass, or clutter in the front yard detract from your home.
  • Siding – unless there is damage, usually a good washing will spruce up the look of siding.
  • Shutters, screens, windows, and doors have the effect of drawing you into the house. They should be clean, well fitted, and in good repair.

If you’re getting ready to sell your home and are looking for current Calgary Real Estate information or tips and tricks to boost your home’s marketability, contact Bill Brandsma Real Estate at 403-253-5678.

Bill Brandsma Real Estate, specializing in Calgary and the surrounding area.

May 2015 Calgary Real Estate Stats

Published June 2, 2015

Market being pushed to more balanced conditions

“…more stability for both buyers and sellers…”

If you like to stay up to date on what’s going on in the Calgary real estate market so that you can make informed decisions, click the link below for an excellent overview of CREB’s summary of Calgary’s residential monthly statistics:

http://www.creb.com/~/media/Public/Statistics%20Package/2015/May%202015.pdf

For more information about the current market or for details about the May Calgary Real Estate Monthly Statistics, get in touch with Bill Brandsma at 403-253-5678.

Bill Brandsma Real Estate – specializing in Calgary and the surrounding area.

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