Archive for the ‘Tips and Advice’ Category

Community Profile: Mount Pleasant

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Mount Pleasant

A neighbourhood bordered by 16th Avenue NW, Confederation Park and Rosedale.

Ward: 7

Quadrant: NW

Established: 1912

Population: 4,803 +

Average Income: $48,334

Schools:

King George Elementary School: a public French immersion school serving students from kindergarten to grade six.

http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b221/

2108 – 10 Street NW

St. Joseph School: a Catholic school serving students from kindergarten to grade nine.

http://www.cssd.ab.ca/stjoseph

2512 – 5 Street NW

Parks:

Confederation Park: a City of Calgary park offering pathways, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, playgrounds, picnic areas and more. It is also home to Confederation Park Golf Course and the Lions Festival of Lights.

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/NW-parks/Confederation-Park.aspx

24 Avenue NW to 10 Street NW

Good Eats & Good Drinks:

4th Spot Kitchen and Bar: a cozy spot offering beautiful decor featuring accents of the neighbourhood. A great selection of wine and beer and live acoustic entertainment on Tuesday evenings.

http://www.facebook.com/4thSpot

2620 – 4th Street NW

Thinking of moving to Mount Pleasant? Check out our listings at www.calgaryluxuryhomesearch.com

Calgary Real Estate Forecast: 2012

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

According to CREB®’s 2012 Forecast, steady growth in Calgary’s real estate market is expected for this year. Real estate professionals got an in-depth look at the city’s housing market for 2012, at the annual CREB® Forecast Conference and Tradeshow, on January 18th.

Highlights of the forecast:

• Amount of growth in the Canadian economy seems dependant upon the performance of Europe and US markets.

• Bank of Canada expected to leave interest rates unchanged at 1.0 per cent

• Consumer confidence in 2012 should benefit the resale housing market

• Housing demand supported by mortgage rates, wage growth and lower interest rates

• Moderate improvement in single family sales is expected

• A predicted rise in demand for condominiums

To see the full CREB® 2012 Forecast, visit their website: http://www.creb.com/public/media-resources/press-kits.php

Community Profile: Inglewood

Friday, January 13th, 2012

Inglewood

A neighbourhood centred at 9th Avenue SE; the community extends east of the Elbow River and Downtown.

Ward: 9
Quadrant:
SE
Established:
1875
Population
: 3,286
Average Income:
$47,040

Schools:

Colonel Walker School: a public school serving students from kindergarten to grade six.

http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b244/
1921 – 9 Avenue SE

Bow Valley College: a post-secondary institution specializing in health and business career training.

http://bowvalleycollege.ca
332 – 6 Avenue SE

Parks:

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary: a City of Calgary park open from sunrise to sunset every day. It is a wildlife reserve with numerous trails and over 270 species of birds.

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/SE-parks/Inglewood-Bird-Sanctuary.aspx
2425 – 9 Avenue SE

Recreation:

OMbiance Yoga: a yoga centre offering traditional yoga practice and workshops, as well as Thai massage and reflexology.

http://ombianceyoga.com
2318 – 17 Street SE

Good Eats:

Rouge: this restaurant offers delicious cuisine, and prides itself on using local growers and home-grown produce. To top it off this restaurant is located in one of Inglewood’s historic buildings, and has quite an interesting past.

http://www.rougecalgary.com
1240 – 8 Avenue SE

Good Drinks:

The Blues Can: an intimate atmosphere focused on live blues music, great service and Southern cuisine.

http://www.thebluescan.com
1429 – 9 Avenue SE

Thinking of moving to Inglewood? Check out our listings at www.calgaryluxuryhomesearch.com

2011 Year-end Housing Statistics for Calgary

Friday, January 6th, 2012

According to figures released by the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®) earlier this week, 2011 overall was a year of improvement and steady growth in the housing market in Calgary.

Residential sales in our city increased eight per cent from 2010, with a total of 18,568 sales. Improvements in employment and migration in Calgary resulted in a pick-up in sales from the slower start we saw at the beginning of 2011.

For a detailed look at the figures, please see the CREB® website at this link: http://www.creb.com/public/media-resources/monthly-housing-summary.php

Community Profile: Evergreen

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Evergreen
A neighbourhood located between Fish Creek Provincial Park and the Tsuu T’ina First Nation Reserve.

Ward: 13
Quadrant: SW
Established: 1980
Population: 18,148
Average Income: $105,640

Schools:
Evergreen School: a public school serving students from kindergarten to grade four.

http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b401/

367 Everstone Drive SW

Our Lady of the Evergreens: a Catholic elementary school serving students from kindergarten to grade six.

http://69.77.188.225/ourladyevergreen/About.php

322 Everridge Drive SW

Parks:
Fish Creek Provincial Park: a provincial park with amenities such as trails, firepits, boat launch, Sikome Lake (swimming), and public washrooms.
www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/fishcreek

Recreation:
Bounce Life Systems: a fitness centre offering exercise classes, boot camps, personal training, weight loss and nutrition clinics.
bouncelife.ca
Evergreen Close SW
Calgary Fitness and Yoga: a fitness facility offering yoga classes, boot camps, fitness assessments, personal training and more.
integralfitness.ca
88 Evergreen Square SW

Good Eats:
Brother’s Taste of Asia: this popular local joint serves up the best Asian cuisine in the neighbourhood.
2335 – 162 Avenue SW

The British Chippy Ltd.: this venue serves up traditional British fare, vowing to bring homestyle fish and chips to the community.
thebritishchippy.com
2335 – 162 Avenue SW

Good Drinks:
Bull and Finch Pub: A casual and great atmosphere; they vow to provide great service and great food.
www.bullandfinch.com
2335 – 162 Avenue SW

Thinking of moving to Evergreen? Check out our listings at www.calgaryluxuryhomesearch.com

Indoor Mould Prevention

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

How does mould produce in a home?

The reproduction of mould occurs through tiny spores, that are present in outdoor and indoor air. The growth of mould indoors occurs when mould spores land on wet surfaces.

Can mould cause health problems?

moulds can potentially be harmful to humans. moulds produce allergens, irritants and in rare cases, toxic substances. Depending on the sensitivity of the person, and the allergies they may have, mould and mould spores can cause a reaction.

What do I do if I have mould in my home?

If your home has mould present indoors, contact a professional to deal with the issue. Although there may be home remedies and do-it-yourself solutions out there, when you are dealing with an issue that can spread, you want to ensure you completely remove the problem. If you do not fix the problem accurately, chances are the mould will return.

How do I prevent mould growth in my home?

mould growth indoors can be prevented by controlling the amount of moisture in your home. The mould will grow as a result of a water problem. Here are some tips to preventing indoor mould growth:

• When you notice a water leak or spill, act quickly. If damp areas are dried within 24-48 hours, likely mould will not form.

• Clean and repair your gutters regularly.

• Keep indoor humidity levels low; relative humidity should be below 60 per cent. You can measure the level of humidity in your home with a moisture or humidity metre. Tip: condensation on windows can be a sign of high humidity.

• Make sure the fan in your bathroom is on when showering.

• Use exhaust fans or open windows when cooking or dishwashing.

Community Profile: Signal Hill

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

Signal Hill
A neighbourhood located between Sarcee Trail and Springbank Hill, and bordered by 17th Avenue to the north, and Glenmore Trail to the south.

Ward: 6
Quadrant: SW
Established: 1987
Population: 13,972
Average Income: $100,844

Schools:
Battalion Park School: a public elementary school serving students from kindergarten to grade six.

http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b144/

369 Sienna Park Drive SW

Menno Simons Christian School: a Christian elementary/junior high school serving students from kindergarten to grade nine.

http://www.mennosimonschristianschool.ca/

7000 Elkton Drive SW

Recreation:
Westside Recreation Centre: Focused on health and wellness for all ages and ability levels. Offering facilities, activities, programs and services.
www.westsiderec.com
2000, 69 Street SW

Good Eats:
Sorrentino’s: Southwest and Italian cuisine, with rave reviews on local websites from fans of this restaurant.
1759 Sirocco Drive SW

Good Drinks:
Seanachie Irish Pub: A casual atmosphere with great Irish cuisine and a variety of liquor/beer choices. Try the fish & chips!
www.calgarysbestpubs.com
5909 Signal Hill Centre SW

Thinking of moving to Signal Hill? Check out our listings at www.calgaryluxuryhomesearch.com

Home Sales Increase in Canada for October

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

Recently released numbers from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), on the increase of home sales in Canada last month.

http://www.realtor.ca/StaticPage.aspx?f=News

Calgary Housing Stats for October

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

According to numbers released by CREB® earlier this week, residential home sales in Calgary are up eight per cent from last year. Most of the established communities in the city saw an increase in sales over last year; and it appears the Calgary housing market is set to outpace 2010.

Here is a link to the full report:

http://www.creb.com/public/documents/statistics/2011/package/res-stats-2011_October.pdf

If you’d like more information about the residential market in Calgary, or have any real estate related questions, please feel free to contact us at 403-287-4888.

Featured Community: Arbour Lake

Friday, October 28th, 2011

Arbour Lake

A neighbourhood located between Country Hills Boulevard to the north, Crowchild Trail to the south, Nose Hill Drive to the east and Stoney Trail to the west.

Ward: 2

Quadrant: NW

Established: 1992

Population: 10,592

Average Income: $70,590

Schools:

Arbour Lake School: a public middle school serving students grades five to nine.

http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b694

27 Arbour Crest Drive NW

St. Ambrose School: a Catholic elementary/junior high school serving students from kindergarten to grade nine.

www.cssd.ab.ca/ambrose

1500 Arbour Lake Road NW

Recreation:

Crowfoot YMCA: this multi-purpose facility offers a weight room, pool, hot tub, gymnasium, babysitting, camps and more.

ymcacalgary.org

8100 John Laurie Boulevard NW

Good Eats:

Sushi Boat: an affordable place for great traditional Japanese cuisine. If the food doesn’t bring you back, the staff will.

www.sushiboat.ca

806 Crowfoot Crescent NW

Good Drinks:

Schanks Sports Bar: a huge bar for watching all of your favourite sports. If you’re not enjoying the selection of brews or taking in a game, try some mini golf, bowling or one of their many arcade games.

www.schanks.com

103 Crowfoot Terrace NW

Thinking of moving to Arbour Lake? Check out our listings at www.calgaryluxuryhomesearch.com