Is your home exterior looking a little tired these days?

Published August 31, 2015

Freshen it up with a “siding” facelift!

Siding allows you to change both the colour and texture providing an instant and dramatic change that will take years off your home’s appearance while adding new personality to its exterior.

Vinyl siding offers a variety of benefits making it the perfect option for home exteriors:

it is available in a diverse selection of colours, textures and profiles, i.e. you can choose a grainy texture and colour to look just like wood
it is extremely flexible and durable and has the ability to withstand elements such as high winds, intense sunshine, rain and snow
it is lightweight and one of the easiest exterior claddings to install
it is cost effective – available in different styles designed to fit different budgets
it is very easy to maintain – in fact, almost maintenance free! – hose it down every now and again to keep it clean

If your home is looking a little weathered and worn these days, or you feel it just needs an updated look, consider revitalizing it with quality lifetime siding. It’s beauty and aesthetic benefits will breathe new life into your home while providing great curb appeal!

For more tips to improve your home’s market value, feel free to contact Bill Brandsma at 403-253-5678.

FREE Home & Property Evaluation

Published August 24, 2015

Bill Brandsma knows property values!

By utilizing the right tools, Bill can assess what your property is valued at today and provide you with the most accurate home evaluation.

Some of the issues that Bill will advise you on with your FREE Home & Property Evaluation are:

How to sell your home for maximum dollar in today’s market
Current financing options
About building inspections
Financing questions like whether you should refinance or get a new mortgage
Tips that will help you save thousands buying a home
Low cost repairs that could instantly increase the value of your home
Additional fees to keep in mind when selling

Now’s the perfect time to find out what your property’s worth. Save yourself time and money by using this FREE service!

Bill Brandsma Real Estate, specializing in Calgary and the surrounding area. Call 403-253-5678 today.

Struggling to understand today’s housing market?

Published August 17, 2015

As always in uncertain times there is much speculation about the economy, employment rates, and the housing market, to name a few. With oil prices taking a beating in 2015 this has certainly been the case in Alberta, and specifically the Calgary real estate market. Despite the many doomsayers during challenging times, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. The following excerpts from credible sources in their respective areas of expertise indicate that yes, we’re feeling the pinch, but prices still haven’t crashed and it’s not the end of times, as some would have you believe!

Of interest…

“Calgary’s housing market continues to withstand the slowdown in the oil patch, with home prices rising 0.14 per cent from last July. Calgary prices sit 0.7-per-cent lower than their peak in November, but have rebounded slightly after bottoming out in April.” Tamsin McMahon – Real Estate Reporter with Globe and Mail

According to the BMO Economics research note released yesterday (August 14, 2015) ”Calgary home prices “are effectively flat lining, not correcting more sharply as some feared.”

An RBC Economics Report states in a Monthly Housing Market Update for August 14, 2015 states:”A gradual recovery in oil sensitive markets became more evident in July with home resales rising relative to June in Calgary and Edmonton (after pausing in Calgary and taking a step back in Edmonton in the previous month). A jump in new listings in both regions accompanied the sales advance, helping to ease the demand-supply conditions, notably for Calgary, where market conditions remain tilted in favour of sellers. Down-ward price pressures still remained contained in Calgary with the MLS HPI remaining unchanged on a month-to-month basis; however, annual price growth slowed to only 0.1% from 0.5% in June.”

“Sales (demand) so far in August are below historical averages, but then again, so are new listings (inventory). It’s very much a subdued but balanced market.” Calgary Real Estate Review – Mike Fotiou, Associate Broker with First Place Realty

If you’re looking to buy or sell but are feeling confused an uncertain about the Calgary real estate market, call Bill Brandsma at 403-253-5678. He’s experienced, knowledgeable, committed, and ready to answer any questions you may have.

GlobalFest August 20 – 29, 2015 | Elliston Park | Calgary, AB

Published August 12, 2015

GlobalFest is an annual cultural celebration in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The festival has been held every August since 2003 and thousands of people, local and tourists of different cultures come together to celebrate the cultural diversity within Calgary’s communities.

Within GlobalFest is the OneWorld Festival, the Night Market and the Firework’s Festival.

The OneWorld Festival consists of cultural pavilions showcasing the heritage dress, cultural music and performances, as well as many ethnic food kiosks.

The Night Market features vendors who share and sell their authentic arts and keepsakes.

The International Fireworks Festival includes pyromusical shows produced by world-renowned pyromusical artists hailing from China, the Philippines, Spain and the USA – and of course, GlobalFest’s own spectacular Finale presentation.

2015 Fireworks Festival Dates:

CHINA
Thursday, August 20

PHILIPPINES
Saturday, August 22

SPAIN
Tuesday, August 25

USA
Thursday, August 27

FINALE
Saturday, August 29

Both the GlobalFest OneWorld and Trico Homes International Fireworks Festivals will be held at Elliston Park in Southeast Calgary located in the Forest Lawn district. The park is open from 6:00 pm – 11:30 pm each evening of the festival.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit GlobalFest’s official site. Come on out and join us in celebration of cultural diversity.

July 2015 Calgary Real Estate Stats

Published August 7, 2015

Stable inventories…market remains balanced

“…no change to the month-over-month price…”

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/CREBcomOld/Statistics_Package/2015/July_2015.pdf

For more information about the current market or for details about the July 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.

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!