Warren Buffett on Homeownership

Calgary real estate may not be the riskiest housing market, but that doesn’t change the fact that homeownership is a significant milestone in one’s life. In addition, acquiring one’s home is a monumental investment—the biggest one that most of us will probably enter in our lifetimes. Unfortunately, as has been evidenced by the not-so-distant US housing bubble, some consumers simply do not view homeownership as a form of long-term investment, or at least a commitment.

If you’re a first-time homebuyer interested in making a smart purchase, you should try to understand how to put your assets into good use in conjunction with purchasing and maintaining a house. While a house may not be a surefire investment as history tells us, it will probably be…

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Home Energy Conservation Tips for Calgary Residents

Calgary is a great city to live and work in. But it is not just great for the residents, it is also great for the environment. Calgary homes reflect the city's commitment to help mitigate the effects of climate change. The City is committed to protecting our precious land, air and water resources. These efforts include implementing a sustainable building policy; using renewable electricity; reducing energy use; capturing greenhouse gases; using  energy efficient street lights; and ensuring clean air among others.

But if you plan to buy any of the Calgary houses for sale, it might be better for you to brush up on some tips to help you save energy, save money and do your part for the environment.

1. Save on Your Outdoor Lighting

For Calgary homes,…

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Condo Living: How Much Space Do You Need?

Say you’re in the market for Calgary condos, but you’re just not sure if a condo will suit your needs. After all, condos tend to offer less square footage than low-rise homes—won’t you feel cramped in such limited space? This is a valid concern for any home buyer shopping for Calgary real estate, but it doesn’t have to turn into an agonizing topic. You just have to come to terms with the idea that there are two types of condo buyers: one that can cope with the limited living space, and one that can’t.

If you’re on the fence, it might help to consider the advantages of condo living. For starters, a cozy condo unit can potentially cost less, so that helps enormously if you have a tight budget. Moreover, the reduced living space often leads to a…

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Can You Afford Your House?

Before you start looking at Calgary homes for sale, practicality asks you to conduct preliminary number crunching to see how much you can afford on a new house.

Of course, you don’t head straight for a real estate agent or mortgage broker headfirst. Even if you do not have any formal training in real estate or in finance, it falls on you to conduct at least a bit of rudimentary research on the outlook of the housing industry as well as on the entire process of buying Calgary real estate.

Fortunately, tons of websites provide home affordability calculators; so coming up with a fairly reliable ballpark figure shouldn’t be too difficult. That said, you should still do your homework and figure out how these calculators work, as there may be times when…

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Trends in Condo Living in Calgary

Condominiums are among the most popular real estate choices in Calgary. Buyers have the option to own a downtown high-rise or a condo in a lakeside property. Calgary condos are all about the value and lifestyle:  some condos let you enjoy Eau Claire Park while those in Victoria Park or Connought  make you part of the  trendy 17th avenue. A more serene option is a condo in McKenzie town, or newer areas like Auburn Bay.  

The trend these days is about style and décor. So, what is considered trendy in 2011?

Minimalism

It is all about clutter-free living spaces, which is what condo living should be about.  Because of limitations in space and storage, condo owners stick to what is essential.  Minimalism as  a movement has an almost Zen-like quality to…

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