Edmonton Real Estate - Kasia Lancucka

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - Canada's Economy Lesson

While Canada’s economy is closely linked to that of its southern neighbor, it has considerable relative strengths. Its banking system is more tightly regulated, so indulged less intensively in the subprime mortgage and derivatives shenanigans that brought the U.S. system to its knees. The Canadian government was also more disciplined in terms of fiscal stimulus at the bottom of the recession. As a result, the 2010 budget deficit projected by the Economist panel of forecasters is only 4.5 ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:44:39 -0600

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - Beware of improvements that reduce a home's value

Although this is an article is from "Los Angeles Times", this subject is very universal. So befor you will start your renovation please read this first. Every real estate agent has seen them: home “improvements” that turn out to be anything but, at least down the road when it comes time to sell. Instead of deal sealers, they are deal killers. We’re not talking about swimming pools or turning spare bedrooms into home offices, which are perhaps two of the worst investments th ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:36:38 -0600

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - Edmonton Real Estate Market - Buyers Act Now

The current state of the Edmonton Real Estate market reminds me of the mid to late 90’s! We are seeing major price reductions on homes making it an incredible time to buy a fantastic home at a great price! There is an overabundance of inventory! Something that has not been seen since the early 2000’s. Buyers - this is great news! Presently, there is an amazing opportunity for Edmonton homebuyers to get homes at unbelievable prices. Investors or first time buyers, I recommend getting ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:24:46 -0600

Monday, June 7, 2010 - REALTORS face relaxed housing market with stable pricing

The housing market was relaxed in May with slightly lower sales than last year and prices generally stable. Despite the sales drop, the current sales figures compare favourably with levels set in 2008. “Financial incentives, changes to mortgage qualifying rules and the threat of increasing mortgage rates caused the local market to peak a little earlier this year,” said Larry Westergard, president of the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton. “Many buyers exercised their options ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:45:05 -0600

Friday, May 28, 2010 - Should You Buy a New or Old House?

One of the biggest decisions that a prospective home buyer must make is the decision of whether to buy a new home or an old home. Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages, and the decision will be affected by the buyer's personal circumstances. Here are some of the advantages of an older home: Size is not important, but it sure helps. One of the big pluses in buying an old house is the property size. They used to build houses on larger lots. If you have a large family, the o ... Full Article...

posted in General at Fri, 28 May 2010 15:00:23 -0600

Thursday, May 20, 2010 - Interest rate hikes only weeks away: analysts

OTTAWA - Canadians likely have only two weeks left to enjoy historically low interest rates. With global markets beginning to stabilize following the recent fears over a Greek debt default, economists say the pieces are falling into place for the Bank of Canada to move off its emergency 0.25 per cent rate on June 1. Economists — and markets — have already pencilled in a doubling of the policy rate in two weeks. But that is only a beginning say analysts who believe governor Mark C ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 20 May 2010 23:21:07 -0600

Thursday, May 20, 2010 - Canada`s hot real estate market starting to cool

Home sales activity in Canada came up short of the record for the month of April and new listings continued to climb, according to statistics released by CREA. Some 99,901 homes were newly listed for sale on Canadian MLS® Systems in April 2010, surpassing the previous record for the month of April set in 2008 by 0.6%. A total of 236,397 residential properties were listed for sale on Boards’ MLS® Systems at the end of April 2010, down 1.9% from levels one year earlier. As for the nation ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 20 May 2010 23:10:29 -0600

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - Canadians Paying off Mortgages Quickly

A new study by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) shows that Canadians are well informed about mortgage options and intend to pay down their mortgages quickly. A recent survey polled 2500 active mortgage users in Canada and turned up some interesting results: 89% looked online for mortgage info 84% researched mortgage terms and conditions before deciding on a mortgage option 69% of first time buyers used a mortgage calculator and 85% said they had a good understanding of th ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:49:44 -0600

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - Three Things You Should See Before Making an Offer

So you've found your dream home and you're ready to write an offer. Hopefully you're already familiar with things like agency representation, the purchase contract, mortgage pre-approvals, inspections, conditions, deposits, down payment etc. These are all topics we typically discuss with our clients before we step foot in a home for sale. So, assuming none of that is a surprise, here are three things you should see before making an offer on a home: The title. The title has loads of information, ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 21 Apr 2010 22:34:44 -0600

Wednesday, April 7, 2010 - Edmonton buyers and sellers remain optimistic

Housing figures released by the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton for March and the first quarter of 2010 show that resale housing prices are up; listings and sales are up. Single family residences in the Edmonton area sold on average for $388,473 in March which is up 4.7% from February and 11% from a year ago. Condominium prices rose by 8.4% month-over-month and 10.5% year-over-year. The average condominium sold for $252,416 in March. Duplex and rowhouse prices (at $313,836) dropped a third of ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 07 Apr 2010 22:22:32 -0600

Friday, April 2, 2010 - Get the Edge

Spring is peak home-buying time. You might be in the market for a new home this season - but so are a lot of other people. To get a jump on your competition, here are a few things you can do before beginning the home-hunting process: Obtain a copy of your credit report. It's likely accurate, but in the event it contains any errors or omissions (e.g., closed charge accounts that appear as available credit or repaid loans that show up as outstanding), you'll want to get those mistakes cleared up ... Full Article...

posted in General at Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:13:16 -0600

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - Never Fall in Love with the House You Buy (Until You have Bought It)

It is undeniably exciting to be touring properties for the first time – the acquisition of one’s first piece of real estate is definitely a milestone in one’s life. However, falling in love with a particular property is extremely dangerous for your wallet and your future prospects. So, just don’t! Falling in love with a home means financial mistakes. While you’re figuring out the best spot for your television set, you’re not noticing the faulty duct work or t ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:10:14 -0600

Sunday, March 7, 2010 - Don't wait for the weekend to make your offer!

In real estate timing is extremely important. I constantly get asked when is the best time to buy or sell a home: "do you think now is the best time or should I wait a month or two or until next year?" No one ever asks what day of the week to make an offer or bring a home on the market. In general, the hottest days of the week in the Edmonton real estate market are Saturday and Sunday. Sometimes the weekend effect is more exaggerated than others, and currently it seems quite extreme. I thin ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:28:28 -0700

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - Stability in Edmonton Housing Market continues through February

Here is new realise from REALTORS® Association of Edmonton: Edmonton, March 2, 2010: Prices for residential property sold through the Edmonton MLS® changed marginally through February. Sales activity, however, was up dramatically when compared to last month or the same month last year. The average single family dwelling price was $369,573 for February up just 1.4% from January; 5.6% from a year ago. Condominium prices dipped 3.8% in the month from $240,686 to $231,530. Duplex and rowhou ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:59:58 -0700

Saturday, February 20, 2010 - What you need to know about Real Property Reports (RPR)

What is a Real Property Report? A Real Property Report (RPR) is a document that illustrates the location of visible improvements (for example, a house, garage, shed, deck, or fence) located on a property relative to the property boundaries. RPRs are not prepared for condominium units. An RPR includes the following: The legal description of the property; Dimensions and directions of all property boundaries; Designation of adjacent properties, roads, lanes; Location and description of all relevan ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:52:03 -0700

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 - New Mortgage Rules to Prevent Bubble

Fears of a housing bubble in some areas of the country have moved the Canadian government to tighten up lending rules in Canada. We applaud the changes, although we're not sure the fears of a bubble were completely warranted. That said, the changes make a lot of sense and probably always should have been in place. The changes are: When applying for a mortgage you must qualify for a 5-year fixed rate mortgage -- as opposed to the three-year standard in place right now, even if you are going to t ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:41:52 -0700

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - Before you put your house on the market

Wallets strapped homeowners these days are looking to cut expenses. Sometimes, that means deferring maintenance that should be done– things like fixing leaking pipes or getting a new water heater. But putting off repairs is a losing proposition for homeowners, especially in today’s housing market. That’s because many home buyers are as low on cash as today’s home sellers. House hunters don’t want to inherit another homeowner's problems. They want a home that will ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:49:37 -0700

Monday, February 8, 2010 - A Checklist for Energy Efficiency

Think about these important tips when you start planning your renovations, and visit CO2RE at the show or online www.edmonton.ca/co2refor more information. High Efficiency Heating Systems With ever increasing energy costs, a high efficiency heating system (90% or higher) will provide substantial long-term savings. Ask for Energy Star rated furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, appliances and programmable thermostats for maximum energy efficiency. Air Sealing Air leaks can increase heating costs an ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:03:22 -0700

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 - Housing prices remain stable in January: listing activity doubles

Here is new realise from REALTORS® Association of Edmonton: Single family homes sold through the Edmonton MLS® System sold on average for the same amount in January as at year-end while condominium prices dipped 2%. Month-to-month sales slowed by 6.8% as compared to December but the number of new listings in January doubled the December numbers. The average residential price was $314,783 for January, down 1.4% from last month and down just 0.7% from a year ago. Single family home prices on a ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:54:28 -0700

Thursday, January 28, 2010 - Basic question

Over the years I`ve been ask many different questions, but seems like all the basic information are still in demand. So let`s review one of them. Question: “I want to buy a house. I know the property and the seller has a REALTOR®. Do I need my own REALTOR® or can I negotiate a lower fee if I act on my own?” The seller pays the real estate commission, not the buyer, and real estate commissions are already set in the listing contract. It doesn't cost you anything extra to have yo ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:37:03 -0700

Monday, January 11, 2010 - Save money tips

So what kind of resolution you have for 2010: work out more, lose some weight, eat healthier, yes there are great goals. How about one more resolution – save yourself some money and be more eco friendly. Here is a guide that include essential tips for conserving energy from Epcor http://www.epcor.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/Customer%20Service/pdfs/Efficiency%20Brochures/Tips.pdf

posted in General at Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:23:56 -0700

Wednesday, January 6, 2010 - Vancouver real estate rebounds also.

We already heard the Edmonton Real Estate market ended up better than we had anticipate. And according to CBC News: “The Vancouver housing market showed a sharp rebound in 2009 after starting the year with near record low sales. More than 35,600 homes were sold – a 44.8-per-cent jump from 2008, but a 6.3 per cent dip from 2007, the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver said in a news release Tuesday. Low interest rates and a recovering economy helped push home sales near or past m ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:39:15 -0700

Tuesday, January 5, 2010 - December Results Create Positive Year-end

Here is new realise from REALTORS® Association of Edmonton: Residential sales through the Edmonton Multiple Listing Service® were at the second highest level ever for December (after a record number of sales in 2006 of 1,074). The price of residential property remained stable in December with single family homes dropping just one third of a percent and condos increasing 5.4% to reverse the 2.5% drop in November. An average priced single family property in the Edmonton area sold for $366,76 ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:11:07 -0700

Sunday, December 6, 2009 - Year-to-date sales in November surpass 2008 year end sales

Here are some good news from REALTORS® Association in Edmonton: “Both sales and the value of sales have exceeded our expectations this year,” said Charlie Ponde, president of the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton. “We anticipated sales levels would be the same as last year but REALTORS® have already sold more property than last year with a month to go. This is a good indicator of the strength of our local market.” In November, the average price of a single family dwe ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:44:26 -0700

Monday, November 23, 2009 - Realty Reality

Real estate is one of those professions people have a lot of preconceived notions about. Below are some commonly held myths - and their realities - about working with real-estate sales representatives. • "I shouldn't tell my representative how much I dislike this property; I might offend them." Actually, your honest feedback about the homes you and your representative view - even if it's negative - is not only welcome, it's valued. The more honest you are, the more time and energy you ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:18:06 -0700

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 - Stronger Home Sales Lift National Forecast

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) increased their 2009 national home sales forecast to 432,600 units, just 0.4 percent less than levels set in 2008, and a significant upward revision from the previously forecast decline of 14.7 percent from last year. The national MLS® home sales activity is projected to continue rising, with an expected 5.3 percent increase to 455,400 units next year. CREA previously forecast a decline in the national average price of 5.2 percent for 2009, when in f ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:45:42 -0700

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 - After devastating quarter, a slow recovery seen

Canada's recession has been deep and painful, but the worst may be over. Because Canada lagged other countries falling into the economic slump, it averted the earlier pain and did not begin the slide in earnest until last fall, which worsened through the winter. Yesterday, Statistics Canada put a number on the suffering, saying the economy contracted at an annualized rate of 5.4 per cent, the worst showing since the heart of the recession of the early 1990s. But the federal agency noted that th ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:59:34 -0600

Friday, May 22, 2009 - The New Website!

Today marks the first day of the new website. The new site offers a wealth of fresh industry information that's constantly being updated. Have a great time checking it out!

posted in General at Fri, 22 May 2009 10:19:08 -0600

Friday, May 22, 2009 - Default Listing

Just added listing