Murder Scene – Home for Sale

Murder Scene – Home for Sale

That particular headline on a Real Estate listing is something you will likely never see. Have you ever wondered after a widely publicized crime scene what happens to the house? Well it depends. Residents of many quiet, middle class suburbs find themselves grappling with that question across the country. Some wonder how the family could even sell the home, let alone who’d buy it.

Stigma of Crime Scene

This is a problem that Realtors often face. It's called 'Crime Scene Stigma'. The homes that have been tainted by murder rampage, mass suicide or even grow-ops can scare buyers off. It can stall the sale of homes and property. Often you see prices far below their market worth.

No Legal Obligation to Disclose it in Alberta

Unlike some U.S. states, Canadian real estate agents are not required by guidelines to disclose a home’s traumatic history. Instead, home sellers are expected to share details of violent crime or suicide just as they would structural defects.

Murder Attracts Bus Tours

Homes where notorious murders and suicides happened are often magnets for attention. In St. Catharines, Ontario the 'House of Horrors' where Paul Bernardo tortured, raped and killed two schoolgirls was constantly pictured on the news. It was eventually bulldozed. In the United States, some suburban crime scenes attract bus tours like the infamous 'Clutter Family Home' in Kansas written up in the book 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote.

Realtors are Stuck Between Buyer and Seller.

There has been a horrid murder recently. The photos of the little blue house in Calgary's Brentwood district have been widely spread across news channels. Five brutal stabbings in the long-time rental property leave one man charged with the murders. Realtors of the Brentwood home have omitted the details in the real-estate listing. The asking price is $489,900.

Property Record Searches

What kind of information can you find out from a property record search? Recent divorce? Times the home has been on and off the market? Is the home in foreclosure? These facts can be located and Real Estate Agents can find them. There is also a new website launched where 'Walls Talk' at HouseCreep.com. The site lists more than 20,000 properties in North America. The Brentwood house has not yet been added.

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5 Best Ways to Ensure Your Home Sells Fast

5 Best Ways to Ensure Your Home Sells Fast

Pick a Tech Savvy Realtor

Today your realtor not only has to be reputable (belong to an accountable organization of realtors) but also tech savvy. They must take good digital photos and may even prepare a virtual tour video that they then post on a website. They must be available at a moment's notice by cell phone or instant text email.

Best Bang for the Buck - Pro Stagers

There are now Pro Real Estate Stagers. Your Real Estate Agent may be able to recommend one. He or she will advise on the best ways and even cheapest ways to improve the look of your home and property for showing. Have you ever seen the caption under an ad for a home, "A pleasure to show"? These words are not for the agent's pleasure but to catch the eye of the buyer.

Get a Home Inspection

Why wait for the potential buyer to get a home inspection? Get one first. He or she can point out unforeseen issues that you never would have thought about on your own. Issues like plumbing, roofing, heating/air conditioning, drainage, basement mould and any electrical concerns need to be addressed before an offer is made on your home. Get the jump start and have the documentation ready and proof of work done to avoid delays.

Make Your Kitchen Really Cook

It's an old saying but the kitchen is still the heart of the home. Here is where you want to spend your money for home improvements. If updating old lighting fixtures with brighter, more energy-efficient ones, replacing a kitchen faucet or adding new cabinet door handles is within your budget then by all means do it. Many people opt for re-facing old doors or giving them a fresh coat of paint. Also many dishwasher panels can be switched around simply by removing a couple of screws. Sliding the panel out and flipping it over gets rid of the old scratched, dented or stained panel in a jiffy.

The Bathroom is Next

Buff up the Bath. Next to kitchens bathrooms are important rooms to update. Think of simple things like a new toilet seat and a new vanity or pedestal sink, easy for any handy homeowner to install. If you've installed a new sink, surely you can use easy-to-stick vinyl tiles to cover up the old bathroom floor. Consider re-grouting or re-tiling the tired-looking tub area. If it's within your budget a prefabricated tub and shower surround will give the bathroom a shiny, new fresh look that appeals to potential buyers.

Need more tips?  Call me, Chris 403-680-4479

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Why Choose Calgary Downtown?

Why Choose Calgary Downtown?

In the recent past, Calgary downtown didn't offer much in the way of entertainment as a reason to stay after work. That is changing. In fact people are choosing to stay downtown after five to dine and then maybe go to a show instead of fighting the traffic home. Public transportation runs through downtown Calgary and you can ride the C-train to take you to your destination.

Everything You Can Imagine

The downtown core offers almost everything you can imagine with some of the best fine dining, pubs and lounges and unique high end stores such as Holt Renfrew at 510 8th Ave SW. Calgary has many parks like the Elbow River and various pathways for an outdoor experience that you may be missing. Many residents choose to park their cars and then take a walk.

Attractions

There's plenty to see: Fort Calgary at 750 9 Ave SE is a Historic Site complete with a Museum, The Glenbow Museum at 130 9 Ave SE is Western Canada’s largest museum. Olympic Plaza at 801 Macleod Trail SE is an Urban Park, site of open air festivals. The Bow, at 124 7^th Ave. is Canada’s tallest skyscraper outside of Toronto. The Epcor Centre at 205 8 Ave. SE is a wonderful arts venue for performing arts. It is the home of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. There's also the Dragon City Mall at 100 3 Ave SE which is considered an attraction with its Asian theme.

Why Not Live Downtown? Buy, Lease or Rent

For maintenance free living and close to all the hotspots there are plenty of condos, lofts and townhouses to choose from. There are many construction projects on the go and planned for the near future throughout downtown Calgary. You can see how desirable the downtown core will eventually become. Why not buy now rather than later?

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Great Time at the Stampede

Great Time at the Stampede

There is so much to do. My niece is visiting from Quebec and she has been 3 times so far. With the price of admission to Stampede Park, the entertainment at the Coca-Cola Stage is free and showcases many of today's hottest artists. Hurry, only a few days left.

Believe it or Not - Out of Scorpion Pizza!

I thought I would try the Scorpion Pizza but they were all sold out. Who would have thought but the Scorpion Pizza slices at $10 per piece were more popular than expected.  The only vendor Percsilla Laraue, owner of 'Pizza on a Stick', says that there should be some later this week.

Whaahoo!

My daughter takes an imaginary ride on the famous bronze horses. Not for long though since the fireworks were about to start. They were great! My kids like the fireworks although my youngest didn't like the noise so much.

Calgary - Great Place to Live

I love to look at homes, so whether it takes 1 or 300 I will work with you to find the best home at the best price. I like to meet first and take you to look at a few homes. That not only helps me better understand what it is you are really looking for but will also let you get a feel for my personality; I believes it is far easier to do business with someone you like!

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New Flow for Bow River

New Flow for Bow River

First Significant Alteration

The very famous Bow River (meaning 'river where bow reeds grow' in Makhabn) that runs through the city of Calgary begins in the Rocky Mountains. It first winds around the foothills and onto the prairies. The Bow takes in the Elbow River at the historic site of Fort Calgary near downtown. Between 1910 and 1960 The Bow was engineered to provide hydroelectric power for Calgary which significantly altered the river's flow and certain ecosystems. It is now considered an important source for irrigation and drinking water.

Flood Alteration Horror Story

For the fishing guides in Calgary the floods last year were a horror story. These fishing guides take thousands of visitors from all over the world floating down the Bow River each summer. They know the Alberta river system better than most and count on them to make a living. They watched as the severe flooding changed the Bow River and put their livelihoods in jeopardy.

This Year Different

As another spring approaches the city's largest river, it means the start of another fly-fishing season for Kevin Peterson. He has been floating the waters for over 20 years but this year will be different. Peterson says, "There is a lot of it that has changed, you know, a tremendous amount since the flood."

Boat Launch Moved 60 Metres

As an example of the extreme change, one local boat launch is at least 60 metres farther east. Now gravel sits where water once flowed. "The day that the flood happened, looking at the river, we had no idea what to expect…whether we would get a guide season last year [and] what the river would look like afterwards," said Peterson.

Huge Changes to Economic Spinoff

Damages from the rushing floodwaters of the Bow River can still be seen along the banks today. Peterson says, "It's amazing the volume of earth that has been moved." There have been some attempts to repair it. When fishing is how you make your living, change and overcoming obstacles isn't easy. The 'steady stream' of tourists who come to fish the river also buy gas, food and stay in hotels. Questions regarding the economy of fishing remain as Peterson dropped his boat into the water for the first time this season, the once familiar waters now uncharted.

Do you have questions about where and where not to buy property?

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Demolish Century-old Cecil Hotel?

Demolish Century-old Cecil Hotel?

Recent news reports have stated that a notorious downtown Cecil Hotel at the eastern edge of downtown Calgary, abandoned for years, might soon be demolished. The Cecil is one of only six pre-First World War hotels that are still standing now for over 100 years.

Said to be a Dark and Evil Place

The Cecil has had more than its share of fires, bad paint jobs, poor renovations and more homicides than anyone’s bothered to count. It has been described as a place brimming with evil, darkness and death. In its final year of operation, police were called 1,700 times. The city shut the hotel down and purchased the land for $10.9-million in 2009.

Not Many Interested in Saving it. Hold on!

The structure has been described as being in tolerable good shape. The heritage authority has declared the building salvageable. It retains much of its turn-of-the-century brick, wood and sandstone infrastructure. The site has been used for an Indie Film produced by Ritika Anand who enthused that it was a pretty cool place to shoot a film.

Thought to be Haunted!

Those involved in the filming of the movie thought it was interesting albeit creepy. “My crew thought it was haunted,” said Shailender Vyas, the Calgary-based director of Three Colours and A Canvas. “We were hearing sounds…footsteps from other floors.”

The Cecil Not Notorious Enough Says Wikipedia

Wikipedia's page for the Cecil Hotel (Calgary) has been deleted! "[The] concern was: No indication of notability. It appears that the place had a certain level of ''notoriety'', but it doesn't meet Wikipedia's notability requirements."

Hotel's Future Uncertain

The hotel area is soon be surrounded by modern monuments such as shops and restaurants slated as part of a 49-hectare condo development. The hotel is being used as a staging area for nearby construction work. When that’s done next year, the city’s attention will turn to the hotel’s future.

Damaged from Flood

Since the building was damaged in last year’s flood Mayor Naheed Nenshi says, “So this is a really good opportunity for us…looking forward to the ideas.”

Has the Mayor Heard of the Gladstone in Toronto?

A similar situation occurred in downtown Toronto with the historic Gladstone Hotel. A group of developers rescued it and now it's a thriving creative artist space with live music, a restaurant and 37 unique artist-designed rooms to choose from. You’ll find art everywhere. Rooms book for $179 per night.

Interested in buying a historic building? Call Chris for more info 403-680-4479

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What? Scorpion Pizza! Yes

What? Scorpion Pizza! Yes

Officials of the Calgary Stampede have announced that there will be new food options for patrons to try and Scorpion Pizza is one of them.

The Greatest!

Dubbed, "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth," Calgary's Stampede which takes place July 4-13 this year has new and exciting food dishes. You can try Crocodile Burgers or Deep Fried Sushi.

There's 32 New Foods to Try

The Stampede Media Relations Coordinator Daniela Patino says, "Sometimes we have an idea and seek out a particular vendor or ask if anyone can do it, sometimes the vendor will come up with the new idea and present it to us."

It's All About the Fun

Patino anticipates the crocodile sliders, the scorpion pizza, and the deep-fried Reese's Pieces to be the Stampede's biggest sellers. Organizers are encouraging visitors to "have fun" and let loose. He added that the scorpions on the pizza are food-grade, salted and from a distributor in the United States.

The Craziest!

James Radke, midway operations manager, says, “This year, food vendors have stepped it up a notch, inventing some of the craziest and tastiest foods we’ve ever had. There will be some fair classics making their first appearance and exciting new combinations to create the ultimate food experience for our visitors.”

Motto for the Exotic

In fact there will be more artery-clogging deep fried food exotica. This year you can try deep-fried Cheezies and Bacon-Wrapped Corn. How about a deep fried donut bacon cheeseburger? These are just some of the gut-busting food items on the menu at this year's Calgary Stampede.

The Buzz. It's all about the Food

Other outlandish items include the whopping 2-foot long sausage, chocolate-dipped cookie dough on a stick and a must-try, Polish poutine.

Want to Live in Calgary? Why not give me a call at 403-680-4479

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Landscaping? Warning! Scams by Contractors in Calgary

photo courtesy of BBB

Landscaping? Warning! Scams by Contractors in Calgary

Caution, Advises the Better Business Bureau

According to the Better Business Bureau there have been as many as 197 reports of complaints against landscaping companies. This was just in the last year and this figure was only the number of the ones that were reported.

Do Your Homework

Before you hire a landscaper, do your homework. Since complaints by landscaping contractors top the list of complaints with the BBB, potential home renovators need to take care before they take a leap and spend hard-earned dollars.

Take Your Time

Sandra Crozier-McKee, president and CEO of BBB Serving Southern Alberta and East Kootenay, says, "Making changes to your home or property means investing your time and hard-earned money." She states, "Taking the time to seek out legitimate, trustworthy businesses beforehand will make for a worth-while investment."

Get it in Writing 

Decide on the type of work needed for the project. What do you intend to do? What will you expect from the contractor? When you have a clear picture of what you need and who does what then get the cost estimate, get an approximate time-line, get all the details and then get it all in writing.

Shop Around Your Neighbourhood

Chances are that you have noticed work being done in your neighbourhood. Ask them who did the work. Was their experience positive? Was their general satisfaction? Then, shop around for a few quotes.

For General reviews on Contractors check out:

http://homestars.com/ab/calgary/general-contractors

http://trustedpros.ca/ab/calgary

http://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractor/calgary

Before you buy into any renovation project, don't forget to check out the Better Business Reviews. It's a good way to begin your search before you make a major financial commitment. They have 100819 businesses listed by order of relevance. They have landscape companies listed that are BBB accredited and those listed that are not. Some of the reasons for the lack of accreditation are the numbers of years that they have been in business or government actions against the business.

http://www.bbb.org/council/

Why not give me a call? I may already know of some reputable contractors in your neighbourhood. Call 403-680-4479

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Building in a Flood Zone! No Worries



Logo Courtesy of Concord Pacific

Building in a Flood Zone! No Worries

There is a new condo development coming to Calgary and it will be right next to the banks of the Bow River. Why? According to the company, Concord Pacific Inc., Vancouver-based, the Concord will have the latest and best engineered flood and emergency preparedness. It will be designed in Canada, according to Concord spokespeople.

Record-breaking Prices

Concord plans to sell the residential units at record-breaking prices. People want luxury and the company' history proves that it is behind some of North America's largest urban real-estate projects. With its first foray into the booming Calgary market it hopes to attract the wealthy.

City's Wealthy Residents

The complex, on the edge of downtown Calgary, will include just under 200 luxury homes anchored around a 105-suite, 14-storey tower. The president and chief executive of Concord Pacific, Terry Hui, said that the Eau Claire project will offer the city's wealthy businesspeople that special high-end, superior type of residency that the downtown core has yet to see.

Most Luxurious

Mr. Terry Hui speaks proudly of the project. "We're lucky," he said. "We're going to probably launch the most luxurious and the best site in Calgary." He added, "When we launch it, it's probably going to be the most high-end building the city has ever seen."

Start at $1 Million

According to a Concord press release, the prices will effectively start at $1 million. The penthouses will fetch close to $13 million. There will be a “limited selection” of two-bedroom condominiums prices starting at only $700,000. The current average price of a Calgary condominium is $341,000, according to the Calgary Real Estate Board

City of Calgary Endorsement

The infrastructure, created by Associated Engineering has been designed to be Canada’s top flood and emergency-prepared residential development. It is said to include a perimeter system engineered to withstand an episode twice as significant as the 2013 flood;

Deputy Mayor, Druh Farrell has said, “The Concord’s location next the Bow River overlooking the Peace Bridge is one of the most beautiful in Calgary and the Arthur Erickson-inspired design will add a global flavor to our downtown.”

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Residents of Midfield Torn Apart

Residents of Midfield Torn Apart

Tenants Just Been Told

The residents (173 homes) of the controversial mobile home park, Midfield, in Calgary NE have just been told by city officials that they will need to find another place to live. That means that the roughly 250 people who are tenants of 954 16 Avenue (notified by letter) will have until September 30^th of 2017 to vacate.

Midfield Has Been a Home to Many

Midfield has overlooked the picturesque Nose Creek valley for almost half a century. Many transient and local Calgarians have lived in Midfield. These run the gamut from oil patch workers to young families to snowbirds needing a place to live for the summer.

Infrastructure at the End of Life Cycle

Officials say that due to the age of infrastructure such as the water and sewer lines, their life cycle is at an end. The aging utility lines (underground) have been explained as a headache to fix because they sit directly below the trailers instead of along city streets.

Mayor Says Residents Will Get Help

Naheed Nenshi has stated that residents in the park will be given an easement package to help with the transition. The City is, at the moment, offering $10,000 towards the cost of moving the mobile homes. They are also offering an additional $10,000 lump sum payment. Residents are also being offered counselling services. These sevices will be provided by Homewood Human Solutions.

Difficult Decision

Mayor Naheed Nenshi described the decision as a “difficult” one. He explained that it weighed heavily on city council. He said in a statement, “We know it’s never easy to go through change like this, but we will make sure that the city provides the services and support tenants need.”

Still Torn Apart

Midfield resident Norma Crump is feeling the same as many, torn apart. “They don’t care,” Crump said. “When it comes election time maybe I won’t care.” Crump has stated that she has no idea where she, with her little dog, will go.

For more information about Midfield or real estate solutions, call Chris 403-680-4479

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Hey Calgary. You Pay Top Dollar! Why?

Hey Calgary. You Pay Top Dollar! Why?

Experts in the booming Real Estate Market agree that future home buyers in the Calgary market will be paying top dollar at least in the near future. Many homes and properties are only on the market for a short time before they sell.

Many Homes Selling in a Matter of Hours

Homes are not only selling quickly as in the past, when listed on the market for a few days, but now selling within a few hours. I sold one such home on Windstone Rd. within 18 hours of it being on the market. It didn't even have a chance to hit the public MLS.

Selling for More than the Asking Price

As the housing market heats up, multiple offers are the norm. This pushes many properties to sell for more than the asking price. About 30 per cent of sales seen by real estate agents are at or above the listing price. I heard about a townhouse in Rundle that sold recently for 38 per cent over the list price.

Going Up Again

According to numbers from the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB) the trend is increasing. In April of 2013, it was reported that out of 2,544 properties sold in Calgary, 265 went for more than their listed price. In April of 2014, the 2,377 properties that sold, 529 of them sold at more than list price.

Migration and Employment Up

A new report by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, states that a record net migration and the gains in employment in recent years have influenced the increase in sales and prices for Calgary. Rising incomes and employment growth are the key contributors to the upwards tick in housing demand.

More Homes on the Market This Summer

CREB President Bill Kirk has stated that as more homes go on the market in the summer, things will calm down. There has been a shortage in single family homes for sale but the market as usual will self-correct.

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What? Only 1.99 Percent Financing. Wow!

What? Only 1.99 Percent Financing. Wow!

The news is all abuzz about the latest rate offered by the Investors Group. They are now offering a 36-month closed, variable-rate mortgage at 1.99 per cent, well below the current standard of around three per cent.

Against the advice of the Jim Flaherty

The late Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty opposed the rate when in the past, the Bank of Montreal first tried it. He criticized the mortgage rate as possibly destabilizing the economy by triggering a drop in the housing bubble.

What Does Joe Oliver Think?

Earlier this year, Joe Oliver took over as finance minister from Jim Flaherty and as he has stated in the past, the government has no plans to intervene in a private market setting. According to him, a mortgage rate set by a ‘private’ business is a ‘private’' decision.

But, Investors Group is Getting a lot of Press

Kerri-Lynn McAllister of RateHub.ca, a company that tracks mortgage rates has stated, "When somebody comes out with a rate like this it gets people talking about mortgages…it heats up the market.”

Don’t Get into Financial Situations that You Shouldn't Be In

Peter Veselinovich, vice-president of banking and mortgage operations at Investors Group, said, Like with any other product, when it comes to the three-year mortgages, Investors Group will "make sure that it's the right product for the people and that they can afford it and have the appropriate cushion." He cautioned that the one condition attached to this low rate is that you can't break the mortgage unless you sell the property for the three-year period.

Check Out the Other Guys

Royal Bank has lowered its rates on several fixed-rate mortgages this January. This brought its five-year closed rate to 3.69 per cent. It now sits at 4.94 per cent, while the variable five-year rate is at three per cent. The next lowest rate for a variable three-year rate from one of the banks came from Laurentian Bank at three per cent. The latest figures are Scotiabank’s five-year variable rate at 2.60 per cent. BMO, TD, CIBC, Laurentian and National Bank are all at about three per cent, according to RateHub.

Is it the right time for you to buy a house? Have questions? Why not give Chris a call?

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Best Ones Go Fast!

Just listed a house and it sold in 18 hrs. This is before it hit the public MLS. The best ones go fast! To be the first one in the game just ask me. You too can have your own personal auto-notification. Contact me at 403-680-4479 or email chris@yourhomeinalberta.com

Airdrie Beauty Sold Fast!

Mike Holmes Advice for Calgary



Mike Holmes - photo courtesy holmesspot.blog

Mike Holmes Advice for Calgary

This year’s flooding in Calgary could be less than last year. That’s good. In 2012, mountain snow was a lot thicker than it is now. Plus last year there was the torrential dump of rain from mid-May to mid-July. This caused much flooding. There’s now way to predict the rain but last year’s advice from Mike Holmes was to, “Have patience.”

Wait until You Have all the Information

People don't realize, Mike Holmes cautioned back then, closing up their houses when they are soaking wet is not a good plan. If people come back later and suck all that water out then rip everything down there they may be forgetting about hydronic pressure. If this pressure leans against the foundation of your home, saturated with water, the foundation could cave in. “So, again, moving too fast is a really bad thing,” he stated.

People Begged for Help

Last year, Mike Holmes and his crew were filming the Calgary flood. He advised people that had water above the first floor to have patience. He said that he understood how devastated they were. “They don't know what to do. They've got mortgage payments, they've got rental payments…they’re moving to somewhere else.” He quipped that there may be a storm after the storm.

Everyone's Running in the Wrong Direction

After the aftermath of all that, and people moving in the wrong direction for example closing up their houses, they soon came to realize that they had nothing but problems. They couldn’t sell their homes. And again, why? Mike Holmes advice again was, “If you don't have patience, you're going to have a problem.” It’s best to get good advice from the experts and follow the plan. That’s how to make it right.

The Latest News on Calgary Flooding

City Officials, this year are keeping a closer eye on all the factors that could lead to overland flooding. In a briefing recently they stated that there are areas of potential concern especially if spring runoff occurs too quickly. They did stop short of sounding alarm bells at this point in time.

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