Renting Vs. Buying


There are many pros and cons to both renting and buying a home, and both need to be weighed equally depending on your current life and financial situation. Ultimately, you will have to determine what is in your best interest.

Renting:

Pros:
You are not responsible for fixing or replacing anything associated with the home, like the furnace, water heater, appliances, or roof.

You are not responsible for paying the property taxes.

You may find that your living expenses are lower because you do not have to worry about the extra costs that come with owning a home.

You don’t have to worry about the housing market taking a downturn.

Cons:
Renting an apartment or sharing a home means dealing with people living below, above,…

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Sean Furlong - MaxWell Canyon Creek

Clarissa Morales - MaxWell Capital Realty

Francis  Fan - MaxWell Polaris

Tammie Savage - MaxWell Progressive

Michael Caputo - MaxWell Progressive 

Shawn Blanchard - MaxWell Devonshire Realty (Lethbridge)

Jen Haukedal - MaxWell Polaris

Jay Love - MaxWell Polaris 

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Outdoor Living


When summer comes around, there is nothing like being outdoors. Make your outdoor living space more enjoyable with the following tips:

Plan Ahead: Before designing your outdoor area, have a plan and a vision for what you want out of your outdoor space.

What do you want it to look like?

What is the purpose of creating the outdoor space?

What can you afford?

 

Furnishings: Choose proper furnishings for their function and for the space you want to use. Is it meant solely for entertaining? Is it a peaceful retreat? Is it both?

Landscaping: Consider installing a deck or extend the one you already have. Maybe a stone patio is more to your liking. Think about what plants, shrubs, and potted flowers you want to complete…

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Sorry to hear that another business is closing down in Calgary. Buon Giorno was one of my favorite restaurants and I'm sure that it was an iconic Italian restaurant in Calgary, loved by many others. It was opened in 1987 and later the restaurant was owned by Gabriele Battistessa for decades. The renowned Italian chef Gabriele Battistessa established the restaurant very well and brought it up to its finest and he retired in June 2016 but sadly only a few months later passed away after battle with cancer. The property was sold to Arlington Street Investments, and they found another person to continue the restaurant for nearly four years until now. Beginning of last year, the City granted the application for change of use for a Cannabis Store for this…

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Housing Types


When searching for a new home, you need to determine what type of home you would like. There are many types out there and all have different benefits. Below is a list of the numerous styles to assist you with your house-hunting process.

Bi-Level: A bi-level is when the home is split into two levels. A good indicator of a bi-level is when, walking through the front door, you are immediately greeted by stairs going up or stairs going down.

Bungalow: A bungalow is a home with a main floor and no upper level.

Split Level: This type of home is split into 3 or 4 levels. A good indicator is when you walk in the front door and there are stairs going up or down. The upper level will have further stairs going to another upper level, while…

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Saving Money for a New Home

Buying a new home takes some planning and some strategic saving; but, with a little forethought coupled with action, you can make home buying a reality.

Be aware that you will need at least a 20% down payment of the purchase price of the house to avoid having to use Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) for default insurance. However, using default insurance through CMHC allows you to place a down payment of only 5% of the purchase price of the home. Keep in mind that you will pay more on your mortgage by obtaining default insurance. Below are some tips to help you save money for a down payment on a house:

Take a look at your monthly expenses. Determine what you can realistically afford to put away per month. Once you have determined…

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Whether you're painting your home to prepare it for sale, or simply to make it more attractive for your own enjoyment, choosing the right colour is important. A colour isn't just a matter of taste, it's also, to a large extent, about the emotions it elicits. 

If you're painting your foyer, for example, you may want it to seem bright and welcoming. So, light orange tones might be appropriate as that colour is often interpreted as friendly. 

In your living room, you may want to create an atmosphere of comfort and relaxation. In that case, consider shades of greens or grays as those colours communicate peacefulness and calm. 

Want the rec room to look vibrant and energetic? Purples and reds communicate those emotions. 

Where do you find more…

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Feng Shui Your Home

What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is a 3000 year old ancient art that was first established in China, and has been integrated into many Western homes. Feng Shui is about balancing the energies of any given space. To have good Feng Shui in a home means that good energy will flow throughout the house, and, ultimately, bring good fortune.

There a few basic ways that you can change your home so that harmony and good energy can flow throughout the house.

Check the outside of your home. You want to have a clear passage way to your front door. A tree blocking the path to the front door, or anything else that might impede the flow of chi, or energy, might create energy blockages. Good energy will have a hard time getting through your…

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Buying an Acreage


Buying in a rural area comes with a whole new set of factors than when buying in urban areas. Below are a number of things to take into consideration when looking at purchasing an acreage.
Find a real estate agent who is knowledgeable about acreages so the decision making process is a little bit easier.
Bylaws and Restrictions: Each county and zone has certain bylaws and restrictions. Determine what they are to avoid encountering any future problems.

GST: Determine if the applicable GST is part of the purchase price or if the seller will be responsible for it.

Land and Surrounding Areas: Determine what the area is like for soil, if it will cause problems if flooding should occur, and if the soil and rock formations are…

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