Edmonton’s BEST Real Estate Tip.
September 22, 2010
Marc McMahon video blogs about Edmonton real estate including the areas of Rutherford, Macewan, Southbrook, and TwinBrooks. If you want to voice your opinion or if you don’t care for Marc’s comments please email your feedback to marc@talktowalker.com and visit www.TalktoWalker.com for all the TalktoWalkerteam’s Real Estate Video Blogs.
Edmonton Real Estate: Great Time to Buy
May 21, 2010
According to the experts there c
ouldn’t be a better time to purchase Edmonton real estate. The Canadian Housing and Mortgage Commission expects home prices to rise as we climb out of the recession, right alongside mortgage interest rates. A recent press release touts the stabilization of the Canadian real estate market as well as its growth. Alberta in particular is expected to grow economically due to its natural gas resources, which will also spur its labor market.
Edmonton real estate should include more new home construction as well as an increase in re-sale housing. The low mortgage rates that have been available have done the job of stimulating real estate sales and stabilizing home prices. In a nutshell there is a lot to look forward to in Edmonton. If you would like to learn more about the Edmonton real estate market do not hesitate to call me today.
Click here to read a full report from the Canadian Housing and Mortgage Commission regarding market conditions in Alberta as well as Canada as a whole.
Contact me for an informed education on Edmonton real estate. Whether you want to buy or sell I can help get the deal done. I have access to all available Edmonton real estate listings.
This would have people rolling over in their Grave.
April 12, 2010
Greedy Banker
What do you know about Mortgage insurance?
A few years ago, I met an great Insurance agent named Dan Creighton. One day we were discussing what I knew about mortgage insurance. I quickly found out that what I knew was ALL wrong. The only thing I had right was that it was easy.
In the procedeing two hours I received a first class education from Dan on how it REALLY was. I was devastated to learn that most Banks EXPECT you to know how it works.
The most important thing I learned was that your policy is APPROVED at the time of CLAIM, not when you apply for the insurance.
The forms used are very easy to misunderstand and fill out wrong. I say misunderstand, the Bank says Fraud. When you defraud the bank on your mortgage insurance aplication YOU get declined when you need it. Do you think they tell you thins before you submit a claim? No, they take all your payments letting you think you’re insured.
Another great point was that when you sell, your insurance is canceled. So you better hope you don’t get sick before you sell, because you wont get insurance ever again. This could force you to say in your house for the rest of your life.
This video really does a great job explaining this. http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/in_denial/
This is a BIG deal! Please pass the video on to the people you love and care about.
Talk to your life insurance provider and PROTECT YOURSELF. If you dont have one I’d be happy to pass on Dan’s number.
What Just Happened to Interest Rates?
April 1, 2010
As I mentioned in a previous post titled, I hope Your Mortgage Rate is LOCKED in? , interest rates just took a MAJOR JUMP.
By the time you read this, most if not all lenders, will have raised there FIXED term interest rates. I saw TD’s rate this morning and it was a whopping 4.55% up from 3.89%. That’s a staggering 0.66% or $115 per MONTH on a 300k loan, using 30 years amortization. It will be interesting to see how the Edmonton home market responds in the coming months.
I know what I’d do with an extra $1380 per year and it wouldn’t have anything to do with the Bank.
As always I’d LOVE to hear what you think, shoot me an email or comment below.
Selling Your Home? Get in Spring Cleaning Mode
March 23, 2010
We are rapidly ap
proaching Spring and if you are selling your home or thinking about selling your home, you might want to get into the Spring cleaning mode. There is no doubt about it, across the board clean homes sell better than messy or dirty homes do. It is an unwritten, yet openly discussed, rule in real estate.
The main areas to focus on when cleaning, or examining your already cleaned home, are windows, walls, baseboards, bathrooms, closets and cabinets.
- Windows should be clear inside and out. Large picture windows should offer a clear, smudge-free view.
- Walls should be clean, free of holes and have a fresh coat of paint if needed.
- Baseboards should be free of dust and clean as well.
- Bathrooms should sparkle. Tile and grout should be clean, any cracked tiles should be replaced. Toilets, tubs and showers should be stain-free.
- Closets and cabinets should be cleared of clutter, organized and neat. If there is a door or drawer the chances are good that a prospective buyer will open it.
The important thing to remember is that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. The better condition your home is in and the cleaner it appears the more likely it is to make a good impression.
Want to know What Your Home Would Sell For?
7 simple steps greening up your Edmonton Home
March 22, 2010
Going green in Alberta is a debate that has been growing in popularity. One of the questions that people continue to ask is how they can improve the efficiency of there home with out spending big bucks on expensive renovations. Through regular maintenance and a few simple improvements to your home you can greatly improve the efficiency and save yourself $$$!
Computers, printers, scanners, fax machines, t.v’s, surround sounds are all examples of today’s modern technologies found in our homes. Many of these are plugged in 24hours a day and are continuously using energy. To help reduce the energy we are using we can;
A- Form a habit of turning off the tv’s, computers and all of our other modern thechnologies before heading to bed for the night.
B- Install an energy saving smart strip for your computer and accessories. Smart bands know when to turn off your computer and then activate all the other devices automatically.
Fridges and freezers are other appliances that we keep plugged in 24 hours a day. By reguarly cleaning the dirt and dust off the coils we can help reduce the energy it uses. Also keeping the refrigerator and freezer full will help with the energy being used. With a combination of tupperware containers, ziplock bags, storing extra ice, frozen vegetables anything to reduce the amount of open space which needs to be cooled.
Windows and doors are another area of the home where we can greatly increase our efficiency without spending the big bucks required to replace them.
A- With older doors you want to install weather stripping at the bottom of the door to seal the crack when the door is closed. You’ll also want to install proper weather stripping around the sides and top of the all doors to ensure no air is leaking out.
B- Seal the cracks around all the windows and doors with a leakproof caulking.
C- Install heat shrinkable plastic on the inside of your windows.
If you follow the guidance needed to be water-tight doors and windows, you are guaranteed to save energy!
If your Edmonton Home is failing in the grenn department.
Maybe it’s time for a New Home.
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Who needs Oil any way!
WOW! I just had to take a Picture.
March 15, 2010
ComFree Using A Realtor? What's up with that!
I thought I was going CRAZY!!! …….While driving , in South Edmonton , I came across something I thought was very controversial. Anyone that knows me knows I passionately market and sell Edmonton residential homes (there ‘s my disclosure). So this post is sure to make you think???
There are basically three ways to Sell Your Edmonton Home or Business
- Use a Realtor (this is where I can help)
- Sell it yourself (also called FSBO)
- Use a FSBO marketing company
So a realtor would use a realtor to do this. Most home owners use Realtors as well. Suprisingly!!! YOU GUESSED IT… so do FSBO marketing companies.
The fact is that Realtors have Buyers, period. It’s not a seceret, even FSBO companies know this.
What’s Your Home Worth? Find out HERE.
Who needs Oil any way!
March 11, 2010
The discussion on the use of Solar panels in our Edmonton homes is one that has been growing in popularity over the last few years. In Alberta we are starting to see the damage done by our current fuel sources and people have begun to look for safe alternative renewable energy. In discussing with fellow edmontonians a popular question that has come up is what are solar panels? and what exactly is solar energy? and more importantly how can it benefit me in my home and my everyday life?
To begin with Solar panels are arrays of photovoltaic cells which make use of renewable energy from the sun, and are a clean and environmentally friendly way of collecting solar energy. There are several small photovoltaic systems in our area already.
Solar energy is helping power residential homes, cabins at the lake, and some industrial equipment. Solar electric systems offer many advantages; they are quiet, virtually maintenance free and unobtrusive. Solar power comes from the solar energy which originates in the depths of our sun. The sun endures a continuous stream of thermonuclear explosions as hydrogen atoms are fused into helium atoms. We encounter the resultant energy as radiation that strikes the surface of the earth. Solar panels are then able to convert this solar radiation into useful electrical energy and store them in batteries.
Enough solar radiation strikes the earth every day to meet earth’s energy needs for an entire year. Solar panels help us harvest this energy and convert it into usable energy to meet the everyday needs of modern life. The advantage to using solar energy is not only in the huge benefits it brings to our environment but also to our pocket books.
One of the biggest benefits is it’s low cost! The sun is well known for providing it’s energy for free. Solar power is a renewable ressource and it has zero emissions so it does no contribute to global warming in any way. With solar lighting there is no risk of electrocution and the lights are cool to the touch, making them safe for children and pets. You can use solar lights at your cabing, lake lodge, or remote rv destination. Running power out to these locations can be quite expensive. Setting up a solar power system can be cheaper and a much more practical alternative.
Solar panels are very easy to install and require very little maintenance as they have few movable parts which means fewer parts exist that could break. Lastly the versatility of the solar lights makes it useful in almost any home. You can power many different lighting needs, including walkway lights, indoor lights, security lights, portable spotlight stands, and handheld lanterns and flashlights. These advantages extend to not only to our wallet but to the environment. In addition to all of these benefits solar energy is destined to increase as solar technology advances.
What’s Your Edmonton Home Worth? Here’s the ANSWER!
Must read Edmonton Renovation Info
March 10, 2010
Remodeling and renovating homes should be evaluated more closely than in the past, with an eye on what kind of return your investment will give to you. If your remodel/renovation is strictly for you, you plan on staying in your home for many years to come and you have the money to make your improvements, by all means go ahead and knock yourself out. If, however, you are looking at your home improvements as a way to maintain or improve your home’s value, do some research and evaluate whether you will get the return you need or expect to get when you sell.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Stay on par with your neighbors. Having the best house on the block might be nice if you are the type of person who likes to one-up everyone but it certainly won’t give you the most bang for your buck. Your home is typically as valuable as other comparably sized homes around you.
- Ascertain your home’s condition. Today’s home buyer does not want to spend a lot of money fixing up needed repairs like a leaky roof and broken windows. Keep on top of the shape that your home is in and make it clear that the home is well taken care of.
- If you are making upgrades to your home see if they can be energy efficient upgrades. Not only will you get a tax break but you will probably save money in the long run as well.
There are many remodeling and renovating items that you can choose to do that are cost-effective and attractive to future home buyers. Here is a detailed guide on Cost and Returns of common Canadian Renovations.
Click Here for a FREE LIST of homes that have been Renovated
Stupid Questions?
March 8, 2010
I was surfing the web, and came across a blog that I thought was pretty interesting. In one of the posts, Stupid Real Estate Questions , he is telling his clients he is devoting a site to their STUPID QUESTIONS. Is he calling his clients stupid?
Let me know your thoughts, and whether or not you would be offended if you were one of his “clients”.
As always we would love for you to become one of our VALUED clients and Find The Perfect Home for Your Family
