Market Updates

Dear Friends,

Last month, we published 10 Tips for an Awesome Home Office and our predictions for real estate activity during 2021. I hope you found those articles informative and helpful. 

This month, we want to make it easier for you to work-from-home and upgrade your home office by writing off the expenses on your taxes, whether you’re self-employed or working remotely as an employee. 

We’re here for you every month with an open line of communication to discuss your real estate market and we urge you to stay up-to-date on the stats we cover in these newsletters and on social media. 

We’re in this together and I want to keep your real estate dreams alive, providing support as you list, stage, show, sell, find, finance and buy properties, whichever activity you’re working on. Please check out the Neighbourhood Profile for your marketplace. We update them monthly. 

Enjoy the Photo Feature and please give me a shout to talk about real estate as we keep moving forward into 2021. 

And, of course, Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Dear Friends,

Happy New Year!

Give yourselves, and each other, a pat on the back for entering 2021 ready to take on new opportunities! Despite some challenges with showing properties, Canadian real estate activity remained very strong through 2020. Now that we’re moving toward a new era of optimism, 2021 looks like it could be a fun and productive year for real estate. 

Whether you plan to stay put and work from your current home or look for a new one with more square footage (so you can add an even more serious workspace), read on! You’ll love our 10 Tips for an Awesome Home Office. Some of the advice -- lots of light, good storage and some style and personality -- is just as relevant for a personal gym or workout zone. 

If you’re planning to sell or buy soon, check out the 2021 predictions for real estate activity, with percentage price increase expectations for your market. Let’s talk!

I can ensure your property gets strong exposure online and off… and I know what’s out there right now in terms of places that might be a perfect fit for you as you move toward new chapters in your lives. 

Let’s make it happen!

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Dear Friends,

Wow. There goes 2020. In times like this, it’s sometimes easy to forget that we still have much to be grateful about. If you and your loved ones are safe and well, that’s reason to celebrate! Many people across the planet have been less fortunate. 

This year, our homes became the most important places in the world. Many of us transformed them, adding home offices, personal gyms and comfy zones where we could retreat to relax. In the process of re-imagining the spaces in which we live, many of us have realized how lucky we are. We’ve deep-cleaned, re-organized and re-connected with our homes and the people with whom we share them. Some of you decided this year that it’s time for a change. Despite the difficult circumstances, you started looking for a new home with more space and privacy, somewhere even safer. You’re not alone. 

As real estate agents, we’ve talked to many of you in recent months about your plans for the future. We’ve heard a lot of uncertainty. You asked us to help answer tough questions such as whether you should postpone plans to move… or get out there and go online to keep looking for a new home. You wondered when it would be a good time to list. My response to these questions was that “only you can answer them.” I’m here to help, though! 

As we move toward 2021, I pledge to do that by continuing to listen. I’ll give you my best advice regarding the market, available properties and pricing. And I’ll connect you with the best support professionals to help you buy and sell. 

Please reach out to me for a conversation this holiday season and tell me about your vision for the New Year. 

Happy Holidays!

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Dear Friends,

As 2020 begins to wind down and winter closes in, many people this year are re-thinking their work and their day-to-day lives. This was bound to happen right about now. There are so many baby boomers exiting the workforce and settling into retirement (early or otherwise), but the trend has certainly been accelerated by this global pandemic we’re in. 

As your agent, I can tell you that many people are re-considering their primary homes and their real estate portfolios at the moment. Because almost everyone has been forced to work from home, you’ve all been spending far more time there than usual and, now, many of you are wondering if this is the way it’s going to stay. As a result, you’re asking: “Is now a good time for us to sell our current property and search for a new one – with more space and more privacy… for health and safety's sake?” You’re not alone. 

This last summer and into the fall, luxury properties (distanced, and with more square footage for home offices and gyms) have been selling extremely well. Check out our first feature article for more details. 

As your agent, it’s my job to help you get the timing right and list your home when there’s a good chance it’ll sell quickly at a decent price. I also see it as my responsibility to help you keep your dreams alive… including finding that perfect property for the next phase of your life. 

I’m here for you -- even (or especially) during these unprecedented times – to help you make the right decisions for you and your family when it comes to one of the biggest investments in your lives: your real estate. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me this fall.

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Dear Friends,

As Fall 2020 continues, people are staying close-to-home. You can smell the wood fires burning and we’re looking forward to Halloween (however it looks this year), Thanksgiving and other cozy gatherings with family & friends. 

October can be a great month to search for your dream home. That’s because in Canada we’re blessed with beautiful changes of season. The transition from late summer to the ski & snowboard season can be dramatic. October lets you see what your future property will be like in different weather. We get four seasons in one month, sometimes! 

We hope you enjoy our story about the skyrocketing sales in July (during a pandemic) and how that is even possible! The “Summer of Record Sales” (with a 40-year spike in July) might be over, but you can still expect plenty of real estate activity. Families are looking to improve the stay-at-home lifestyle. They’re in the market for larger homes and renos to accommodate work studios and home gyms. 

As always, I’m here for you with tips, contacts and action to get your home sold or find that new abode.

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Dear Friends,

As this summer winds down and the beautiful fall colours begin, I hope you’ve had an opportunity to find some enjoyment and relaxation. 

It’s been a busy season for real estate, with many buyers and sellers keeping their dreams alive and moving forward into new phases of their lives. That said, there are many new listings continuing to appear daily. If you’re planning to sell, check out our feature article: Hot Market Sales Tips. In order to sell quickly at a good price, be prepared to out-prep the competition. 

Here’s what I mean by that: Deep clean it, stage it and optimize the curb appeal. Paint it, polish the kitchen countertops and appliances, pay attention to the bathrooms and make the master bedroom a showcase sanctuary. Then, with all due respect, please go out for coffee while your agent sells your property! 

If you’re feeling adventurous while we’re busy showing your real estate, you’ll love our Urban Hike planner. We’ve picked a great city hike in each of our markets to motivate and inspire you! 

As always, I’m here to answer any questions you might have regarding how to sell, how to buy, what’s happening in terms of trends and the most recent statistics available. 

In short, I’m here for you and we’re still in this together, so how can I help?

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Dear Friends,

Hopefully you’re enjoying the midsummer heat and maybe some lazier-than-usual days at home! 

Regardless of exactly what happens in Fall 2020, it’s certain that school of some form will be part of the picture. If you have kids, that means it’s time to start thinking about school again. If you’re moving to a new neighbourhood with kids, we’ve got four tips on how to research schools so you can make good decisions about your kids’ educations. 

Also, this month we review the July 1 changes to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) qualifying rules for mortgage insurance. If you’re looking to buy a property with less than 20 percent down, you’ll need mortgage insurance and you’ll want to read this update! Then you might want to consider talking to CMHC’s two major competitors. It’s looking like business-as-usual for them, with no changes in eligibility for insurance. 

Finally, this month our Edmonton neighbourhood profile is The Garneau, a near-university neighbourhood that’s full of diversity and life! 

I hope you enjoy the issue and I look forward to hearing from you regarding your real estate needs! 

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Dear Friends,

Some industry watchers are saying the Spring 2020 real estate season was postponed to the summer months, with a mini-boom now expected during July and August. If so, that’s very good news! 

This month’s content should motivate you if you’re thinking about a home search or sale. It begins with The Home Buying Process, a quick-reference guide to getting the deal done! My point of view is that the fast track to great deals involves getting the help of a qualified realtor. I’ll go out of my way to help you find what you’re looking for… even if, when you begin, you’re not sure what that is! 

If you’re selling, the next article is a reminder that an agent can do all of the following: Help you price your property; list it for optimal awareness; attract buyers; show it to them and help you close the deal. 

Finally this month, our Edmonton neighbourhood profile is Queen Mary Park, a near-downtown neighbourhood that’s been undergoing revitalization! I hope you enjoy the issue and I look forward to hearing from you regarding your real estate needs!

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Dear Friends,

Real estate is changing fast. In some ways, it’s getting more exciting. We hope you’re still excited about finding your dream home or closing the perfect sale. More than ever, we’re here to help. 

This month, we begin a series of articles about staging your home. Staging often leads to faster sales at higher prices. Does it still make sense to stage your property right now, with fewer showings? Absolutely. 

And that brings us to the next article for the month: Live Virtual Open Houses. These are scheduled online events with real estate agents presenting properties for sale via live, streaming video on platforms like ZOOM. They’re doing guided walk-throughs for potential buyers, online, in real time. Stage your home for optimal online appeal! 

Finally, this month, we get you thinking about those hot summer days when you hit the beach… and do absolutely nothing. You can have a lot more of those days if you buy a property in a lake community. Check out our Neighbourhood Profile below! 

As always, we look forward to talking to you about buying, staging, listing, selling, live virtual open houses, hot weather… or anything you’d like to chat about! 

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