Backing on to a green space and walking path with outstanding city, mountain and downtown views with an impressive and expansive full renovation.   This house is a MUST SEE…call 403 452 7227 today!

Corner lot cul-de-sac location beside a center green space and over 700 m2 of land. A remarkable location and lot with mature trees, plenty of garden space with room to add, develop and grow. Open design main floor with original hardwood flooring in the living room, stairs and upper hall. An Entertainment style front family room with dining area offering access to the yard and cedar deck. The kitchen has maple cabinets with upper moldings, tile flooring, a full appliance package and center island. 3 bedrooms all upstairs with a linen closet and 4pc bath showcased by newly renovated floors, re-finished vanity and tub. The lower third level has a 2pc bath and oversized rec room with built in 7.1 surround sound, laminate flooring, utility/laundry room and of course a massive amount of storage space. New water softener in 07, water heater 06, high efficency furnace 07, rebuilt fence and added attic insulation. Location, style, design add up to a must see!  Call 403 452 7227 for more information.

While financing for a particular transaction can be arranged, it is always much more effective to finance the transaction at hand within the context of the rest of your portfolio.  It is important to clarify your investment goals with your lending advisor and keeping him or her apprised of the changes in your investment career.  This way, your lending advisor can arrange financing that is in line with your plan and provide advice on how to structure overall financing.

Here are the top 9 things you need to discuss with your lending advisor:

1. Your investment goals: Are you are looking for cash flow, equity upside or both?

2. The investment time horizon over which you would like to achieve your investment goals;

3. The number of doors that will help you achieve your cash flow, equity goal or both;

4. Your investment style, which refers to the strategies you will use and specialize in to invest in real estate. Are you considering fixer-uppers, rent to own, buy and hold and/or new construction? Selecting a strategy goes hand in hand with your risk appetite. Some strategies are riskier than others;

5. The target property types that you plan to focus on. Single-family homes, condos, commercial and/or multi residential? Consider how each of these properties is impacted by economic cycles and the local economy of the city you are investing;

6. The markets you plan to focus on;

7. Your risk appetite, which is about understanding your sensitivity, as well as that of your portfolio to interest rate changes;

8. Your financial situation, which is about assessing your income, down payment options, credit score, assets and liabilities;

9. The investment structure, which is about the form under which you plan to setup your Investment, including investing personally, with joint-venture partners, using a corporation, limited partnerships ,bare trustee corporations or syndications

Without taking into consideration the above factors when financing your deals (especially if you plan to buy more than one property), you run the following risks:

• Hitting a wall when it comes to qualifying for financing. This could happen when your overall income (including the cash flow from your existing portfolio) doesn’t cover your overall debt or when your financing has been arranged through a lender that happens to have a limit on how much they are willing to lend by individual or within a certain region

• Solving a short-term financing need while unintentionally creating a longer-term financing problem. An example is an investor with an existing healthy real estate portfolio, looking to finance his next purchase through re-financing or his current portfolio. While this addresses the shortfall in down payment cash, it can weaken the overall cash flow position from the existing portfolio; potentially weaken the investor’s ability to qualify for financing down the road.

It’s only one week into May but Calgary’s housing market is showing signs of being on a positive trend.

Sales and prices in all categories are up compared with the first week in May a year ago.

According to the Calgary Real Estate Board, total MLS residential sales in the city of 515 from May 1-7 are a 20.61 per cent hike from the same period last year while the average sale price has risen by 3.60 per cent to $464,824.

In the single-family category, month-to-date has seen 370 MLS sales, up 22.52 per cent from last year and the average sale price has increased by 3.14 per cent to $526,119.

The condo apartment sector has experienced 74 sales for an average price of $287,722. Sales are up 2.78 per cent from a year ago while average sale prices have increased 0.43 per cent.

And the condo townhouse market has seen 71 sales in the first week of May for an average price of $329,989. Sales have increased by 33.96 per cent from the same period a year ago while prices have risen by 3.38 per cent.

Outstanding location with mountain and city views from both levels set amongst mature trees, fenced on over 4 acres of land. Custom built walkout bungalow with a paved drive, triple attached garage insulated, drywalled and heated and indoor pool. Recent kitchen/family room renovation includes travertine facing wood f/p, knock down ceilings, Chinz and Company lighting, granite counters and island, hand scraped engineered hardwood flooring, maple cabinets with a cherry island constructed with heart shaped mortis intenin, travertine backsplash, Viking fridge and freezer, Fisher & Paykel 5 burner gas stove and dual drawer dishwasher. The main floor also offers a side den with views and a master retreat with corner windows, 4pc ensuite and walk in closet. Wrapped in windows and cedar the center pool welcomes everyone. 3 additional lower level bedrooms, 2 full baths, dry sauna and access to the paved patio for summer time fun. Impressive landscaping and a garden pond. Character home minutes to Calgary. Call 403 452 7227 to view this magnificent property!!!

In the single-family home category, CREB said sales of 1,582 were up 30.64 per cent from last year and the average sale price rose by 0.88 per cent to $483,518.

In the condo apartment category, there were 351 MLS sales, up 13.23 per cent from last year but the average sale price dipped by 5.76 per cent to $267,931.

And in the condo townhouse category, sales rose by 19.20 per cent to 267 with the average sale price increasing by 8.31 per cent to $320,911.

“What we saw in April was strong demand coupled with less good inventory. We also saw lots of multiple offers,” said Cody Battershill, a realtor in Calgary with RE/MAX House of Real Estate.

“I think that everyone’s realizing the world didn’t end and in fact on most metrics we are back to or stronger than most of the previous peaks achieved in the last cycle. Some people think we could be at the beginning of another strong positive economic cycle while others would still encourage cautious optimism. Regardless, living in Calgary means enjoying high economic growth, job growth, income growth and migration.”

He said the economic fundamentals in Calgary are strong and will be for the foreseeable future.

This is truly a fantastic condo with excellent condo fees tucked away in a quiet location within the complex. The condo has been completely renovated with contemporary finishes and located in the desirable residential community of Glenbrook. Featuring a brand new kitchen including cabinets, countertops, backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a cutout that opens the space up to the family room. Other features include ceramic tile in the kitchen, hallway and completely renovated bathroom and laminate flooring that stretches throughout the large family room and into the oversized master with walk in closet and through the second bedroom. Nothing left to do but move in. The unit has both east and west exposure, with a green belt to the east and a park with playground to the west. Sit on your balcony and enjoy the quiet setting. A short drive to downtown or to the new LRT extension, this turn key property is a must see! Call 403 452 7227 for more information.

Renovated end unit with a massive SW facing balcony, close to parks, transit and visitor parking. Two entrance ways, one from the covered parking stall into your storage and part basement, the other off the main floor level. Open stair risers, new carpet, railing, lighting, flooring, paint and kitchen. Main floor entry features tiled floors, which run into the newly renovated and designed kitchen. Stylish cabinets, counter tops, backsplash with s/s fridge and accent lighting bring this dated space to life. Open concept and over-sized dining and lifestyle room offers room to entertain with a focal wood f/p and sliding patio doors to the SW facing balcony. Laminate flooring and modern paint complete this impressive space. The upper floor begins with a artistic chandelier, new tub surround and vanity in the 4pc bath along with the homes insuite washer and dryer. Two great size rooms, one master retreat and the other the perfect guest or kids room. New siding, stairs and walkways within a well run complex.  Call 403 452 7227 for more information.

Calgary’s real estate market has seen a tightening of supply in the first quarter of this year, with sales increasing and new listings declining.

According to the Calgary Real Estate Board, the first quarter of this year has seen 4,970 MLS residential sales in the city, up 7.32 per cent from the same period last year. New listings have dropped by 7.24 per cent to 8,765 and the average sale price for the first three months increased by 1.79 per cent to $416,679.

The sales-to-new listings ratio of 0.57 per cent in the first quarter was up 15.7 per cent from last year.

“While the number of listings for the first quarter of 2012 remains low compared to last year, the level of decline has lessened, therefore pointing to the fact that those people who have been on the fence are starting to list their homes, and this trend is expected to continue,” said Bob Jablonski, CREB’s president.

CREB said the year-over-year decline in new listings, combined with improving sales, has pushed down inventory levels to 5,092 units from 5,866 last year, as well as months of supply.  Read More…

Corner lot with stunning added architectural controls, steps to dinosaur park in the family community of McKenzie Towne. Fully fenced and landscaped with Colorado Aspens, BBQ gas line, underground sprinklers, a paved back ally and central A/C. 9′ main floor ceilings, gorgeous Tiger hardwood floors and roman blinds throughout. Outstanding floor plan with a corner den accessed from the front foyer and walk through into the kitchen. Oversized family room with a focal gas f/p and art niche. The kitchen offers a center island, corner pantry, under cabinet lighting maple cabinets, pot lighting, OTR, s/s appliances, tile bk/sp and miles of cabinets and counter space. The nook is wrapped in windows and has a garden door to the yard and double detached garage. Up stairs you will find 2 guest bedrooms, a 4pc bath, linen closet and back master retreat with a walk in closet and 5pc ensuite showcased by a separate shower, deep tub and his and her sinks. The lower level has a great footprint for future development. Call 403 452 7227 for more information.