January 2013

Every day we see exceptional deals in the Calgary real estate market, but many go unnoticed by the average home buyer - until it's too late. In the following investor alert, you'll find a summary of Calgary's listing opportunities that may be worth a second look, and why we chose them. It could be anything from starter homes to investment properties to luxury estates - you never know what we'll find.

Here are our Calgary investor alerts for week ending February 3, 2013:

1. Auburn Bay Starter: $394,900

REDUCED: $5,000

Why we love this deal:

Impressive starter home with a luxurious flavour!!! From the cathedral ceiling and mocha coloured hardwood floors, to the gorgeous kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, you will

It didn't take long for this fabulous family home,  

listed by Calgary Home Team,

in the desirable Oakridge Estates - Calgary SW,  to get SOLD!!!

After only 12 days on the market, and for 99% of asking price.

103 OAKFERN WAY SW

will greet its new owners with tons of upgrades that include a dream kitchen renovated with custom maple cabinets, Brazilian Leather Finish granite countertops, Miele & Thermador Stainless Steel appliances, and a huge island that can easily accommodate 5 seating!!

Rich maple hardwood floors extend from the large living room to the dining room that has built-in china cabinets, adding extra charm to the main floor that also offers an office,  a laundry room, and three bedrooms!  All bathrooms have been

Calgary's Peace Bridge, designed by the award wining Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, has caught the attention of two architectural publications that placed the visually attracting structure on their lists for the best projects in 2012!  

The controversial bridge that occupied the third place on Azure Magazine's "top ten projects of 2012," was described as "a brilliant red on the exterior and white internally, the long, lean structure has a glass roof and integrated linear lighting for night-time illumination."
While Calgarians were not so thrilled with the high price tag of the project, it is reported that "6,000 people are now using the bridge daily, a much higher number than expected."

The Peace Bridge was not the only project from Calgary to

Every day we see exceptional deals in the Calgary real estate market, but many go unnoticed by the average home buyer - until it's too late. In the following investor alert, you'll find a summary of Calgary's listing opportunities that may be worth a second look, and why we chose them. It could be anything from starter homes to investment properties to luxury estates - you never know what we'll find.

Here are our Calgary investor alerts for week ending January 27, 2013:

1. 60+ Somerset Condo: $287,900

REDUCED: $10,000

Why we love this deal:

Looking to downsize? Here is your chance to live in the desirable community of Somerset in this excellent, and secured 60+ complex, with shopping, LRT, and YMCA all close by!

This second floor condo that

McKenzie Towne total residential sales reached 548 properties in 2012, a 22%  increase over the 427 sales recorded in 2011.

346 single family homes were sold in McKenzie Towne in 2012.
The average sold price was $395,728, compared to $387,332 in the previous year of 2011 that saw 290 sales.
The median sold price for the single family home was $365,000 , up 1.4 % from the median price of $360,000 in 2011.
The highest sold price paid in McKenzie Towne was $1,070,000 for a two storey home with over 5,000 sq ft in the three fully developed levels, triple garage, and a total of five bedrooms.
The average days on market for the single family homes in McKenzie Towne was 45 days in 2012.

The condo market in McKenzie Towne increased also its sales to 202 units

Calgary rental market is tightening as the apartment vacancy rate declined to a slim 1.3%  in October 2012, down from 1.9% in a previous year, according to the latest Fall Rental Market Report released by CMHC, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation!

Employment growth coupled with increase in population (Calgary gained 30,000 residents between April 2011 and April 2012), were behind the higher demand for rental units that, in turn,  led to an escalation in the leasing rates to reach an average of $1,039 in Calgary Census Metropolitan Area in October 2012, up 6% from October 2011average rent of $978!

The average rent for the two-bedroom apartment category in Calgary CMA was $1,150.  In Alberta the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment reached

New Brighton total residential sales reached 247 properties in 2012, a 34%  increase over the 164 sales recorded in 2011.

209 single family homes were sold in New Brighton in 2012.
The average sold price was $393,996, compared to $379,502 in the previous year of 2011 that saw 135 sales.
The median sold price for the single family home was $395,000 , up 2.5% from the median price of $385,000 in 2011.
The highest sold price paid in New Brighton was $590,000 for a 2,164 sq ft two storey home with a walkout basement, backing onto a pond with amazing mountain views!
The average days on market for the single family homes in New Brighton was 46 days in 2012.

The condo market in New Brighton increased also its sales to 38 units in 2012, compared to 29 in

Every day we see exceptional deals in the Calgary real estate market, but many go unnoticed by the average home buyer - until it's too late. In the following investor alert, you'll find a summary of Calgary's listing opportunities that may be worth a second look, and why we chose them. It could be anything from starter homes to investment properties to luxury estates - you never know what we'll find.

Here are our Calgary investor alerts for week ending January 20, 2013:

1. Copperfield Starter Townhouse: $273,000

REDUCED: $6,000

Why we love this deal:

Excellent opportunity for a first time buyer, an end unit townhouse that insists on style in every corner! This two storey home comes with many upgrades, and hosts a large great room on the main

Between January 14 and February 28, Calgarians will have a chance to take a closer look at Arthur, Asa, Ceasar, Diana, Grace, Hera, Solomon, and Tut; the eight king penguins at Calgary Zoo as they get out of their exhibit area to waddle on their loop route every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday between 11:00 and 11:15 am.

"Penguin Walk" is the name of the new interactive attraction that took the popular zoo birds two months of practice, and was mainly inspired by their ability to follow directions and stay together.  The program aims to give them the exercise they need, as they love to eat and tend to gain weight very quickly.  “A king penguin in the wild could be walking 30 kilometres until he gets to the open sea — and that’s the beginning of a fishing

A new service at South Health Campus in Seton - Calgary SE has opened its doors today morning to welcome new patients. The Emergency department  with its 30 beds, is staffed with 35 doctors who were hired during the last 18 months in what is considered an unprecedented effort "over that time period," as Dr. Del Castilho the ED  physician in charge told the CBC news.

With additional beds to be added in the future that will increase the total capacity to 60, the Emergency Department is anticipated to welcome about 60,000 patients this year. For now, and because the inpatients beds are not ready yet, most of the patients who have received the required treatment at  South Calgary Hospital,  will be transferred to another hospital in the city if there