This morning started with a frantic call from a man who wanted to see a home urgently. It’s been a long time since I’ve been inclined to pop tart out my chair to head at breakneck speeds across the city to meet such an unprepared buyer. His information was quickly sent to my partner who has a knack and the [...]
Archive | April, 2007
Will we boom, or will we bust?
"This [boom] is going to continue for a number of years.""There are storm clouds forming on the eastern horizon."These two quotes are taken from articles written by financial analysts from the Globe and Mail, and the Edmonton Sun published yesterday. Can you guess which one is which? One analyst suggests that investing in Alberta real estate income trusts is a [...]
Change to Mortgage Insurance Makes Buying a Home More Affordable
As anyone who has bought a home in Canada knows, if you don’t have a 25% (or more) down payment, you have to add the cost of mortgage insurance to your mortgage. Recently the Canadian government raised the threshold for mandatory mortgage insurance to 20%. That means you can now get "conventional financing" with a 20% down payment.What does this [...]
A Step Towards Rent Control in Alberta?
As we’ve noted on the blog before, there has been an "Affordable Housing Task Force" out and about in Alberta, trying to come up with recomendations to make housing more affordable. It appears as though they have given their recommendations to the government and the government has chosen to go ahead with just one of the recommendations – to allow [...]
Picture this
The other day Sara and I met with Brian Gavriloff of the Edmonton Journal. A Senior photographer with the Edmonton Journal who was assigned to take pictures of us measuring a house (except we use an electronic measurer). I wonder who Brian cheesed off to get this choice assignment. Okay the pictures were staged but it was perhaps the [...]
Real Estate Investments or Scams?
January of 2006 saw an influx of investors in to the Edmonton real estate market. Numerous investment groups who shall get no credence here gave all kinds of recommendations to buy in the market with formulas that were not successful for obtaining properties. One particular investor followed her formula religiously (12 times) – she would not pay more than list [...]
Winning the bidding war: It’s not always about money
This market has lasted over a year now, and except for a handful of occassions every purchase or sale of a home I’ve been involved with has had multiple offers. Going back to a buyer (not mine but another Realtor’s client) who was upset at our client and us for selling selling their property for close to $10,000 more [...]
Frustration grows! Seller’s market continues in Edmonton
Steady nerves are required in a market that is increasingly frustrating for buyers. Even if you find the home of your dreams you may stand a 1 in 6 shot at getting that home. Some buyers are finding this difficult and vent their frustration at their agents, or worse yet work with more than one agent, and on their [...]
How to Turn Buyers Off Your Home, Even in a Seller’s Market
As a Realtor, I like to think I can see past the clutter, ghastly paint colours and hideous decorations, I mean, it’s part of my job… to see the value in a home that goes beyond the cosmetic. We always try to tell our buyers to look past that dusty rose carpet and teal green patterned wallpaper because there is [...]
FYI Measurements and Square Footage
Alberta is one of the few places that still includes the size of the property as a main feature. I’m not going to debate the pro’s and cons of this but I have noticed a disturing trend in every single private sale I have been involved with, and that is the misreporting of the property’s total size. If the size [...]
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Edmonton Real Estate Market Weekly Update – April 27/12
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Edmonton Real Estate Market Weekly Update – Star Wars Day
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Edmonton Real Estate Market Weekly Update – May 11/12
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Edmonton: The epicenter of North America
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About Us
The Edmonton Real Estate Blog is written by Sheldon Johnston and Sara MacLennan of Coldwell Banker Johnston real estate; both are licensed real estate associates in the Province of Alberta.
Aside from blogging, Sheldon manages the brokerage and assists clients buying and selling real estate in the Edmonton area, while Sara focuses on marketing and business development. If you're thinking of buying or selling real estate, or if you're interested in a career with one of Edmonton's most successful teams, contact them at blog@teamjohnston.com.
The opinions contained herein are those of the authors and are just that - their opinions. For legal information, consult a lawyer. For mortgage information consult a mortgage professional. For tax information consult an accountant. This information is not intended to solicit clients already under contract.
For more information about us visit our website.
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