Calgary News, Events & Local Insights about Calgary - Blog Archive: April, 2021

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Types of MortgagesLooking to buy a new home? Buying a home is a big financial commitment. Potential homebuyers must understand what's involved with getting a mortgage. For example, there are different rates, amortization periods, and potential penalties to consider. Discussing options with a mortgage broker or bank is a good starting point. Which one is the best? Well, it all depends. Here's a brief overview of the different types of mortgages and how they differ from each other.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed mortgage or home loan professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Types of Mortgages

Open Mortgage

Lets buyers pay off debt whenever they want, without what's known as a prepayment penalty. This…

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Calgary's Cost of LivingThe cost of living in Canada is measured by Statistics Canadaʼs Consumer Price Index (CPI), or inflation rate, which indicates changes in consumer prices. The CPI is one of the most important indicators because it is used nationally and calculated monthly and annually. The CPI is calculated by many different indicators such as food, transportation, and housing. However, this overview will focus on household income, housing prices, and provincial income tax rates as indicators to determine Calgary's cost.

Calgary has just over 1.5 million people, making it the fourth-largest city in Canada, following Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. In relation to these cities, measured by the indicators mentioned above, Calgarians enjoy a lower cost of living. Read…

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Water in all the wrong places can be a horrible nightmare for any homeowner. Not only does it damage your home, but it can also cause a variety of health problems.

The bad news is that water seepage and dampness are impossible to avoid, especially during heavy rainfall and winter. No one can predict a storm or hurricane from happening. But what about other sources of moisture such as leaky pipes, cracks in the foundation, and malfunctioning appliances? The good news is that you can prevent the latter by waterproofing your home. 

Waterproofing means making a surface water-resistant or inaccessible by liquids. Without any water seeping through, your home will be much more durable. There are a lot of waterproofing techniques, but it all depends on your…

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House Viewing EtiquetteWhen looking for a new home, you can go on several open house sessions and tiresome viewings. The team at Calgary.com compiled the following fundamental tips to complement our first-time buyer strategies.

Communication between both sides is key to finding a property that makes you happy. Ongoing talks, negotiation, and working with real estate professionals and sellers all boils down to house viewing etiquette. 

People who list the property for an open house viewing are courteous and will make every effort to charm attendees. Hopefully, with the proper home that fills the prospective buyer's needs,  the customers to purchase real estate.

However, as the one to buy, you should also act appropriately. To build your positive image at an open…

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High-ROI Home ImprovementsWhen selling, every homeowner needs to know the current value of their home in the market if they intend to get top dollar. This can be achieved through extensive personal research or hiring a professional real estate appraiser or knowledgeable real estate agent. Investing money into a home can increase the value, but knowing which areas of the house to invest in for the biggest impact will help ensure that the money finds its way back into the seller's wallet.

Determining which improvements are the best to invest in depends on how long the seller plans to spend on the home before selling. Does it need to look good for current buyers? Will efficiency upgrades have long enough to benefit the current owner's bills? Or perhaps the improvements are…

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