When you think about prime real estate times to buy or sell a home – wisdom would have you thinking spring or summer might be the best seasons.

If you’re a seller - the grass is greener, the flowers are blooming and your curb appeal is at an all-time high!

If you’re buying - you get to see the home and yard in all its glory, looking its best!

But there are a lot of real estate advantages in the winter for both buyers and sellers if you’re willing to step outside the seasonal box!

Here’s some of the advantages to entering into the real estate market in winter if you’re a buyer or seller!

BUYERS

  • Low Inventory- Less Competition

It’s the law of supply and demand. If sellers believe spring and fall are the hot real estate…

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Photo: Des Isles Photography


Guest post by Kari Skelton | Lifestylist + Blogger at KariSkelton.com

I love shopping local, and it’s so easy to do so in Edmonton. There are so many talented makers here doing incredible work, and an impressive selection of shops focusing on locally-made ethical fashion and sustainability.

I love promoting Edmonton’s local shopping and culinary scenes. In fact, I’m so passionate about it, I present a weekly feature, the Local Love List, at KariSkelton.com, showcasing what our city offers up.

When we were searching for our first home, my husband Ryan and I knew we wanted to be central, right in the heart of the action, within walkable distance of shops and restaurants.

It makes me SO happy to see an…

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Photo Credits: Strathcona Business Association

Strathcona Neighbourhood:  Where Rustic Charm meets Modern Living

Historic Character Homes – Check!

Cool Eats & Boutiques –Check!

Stunning River Valley Views – Check!

If a stroll through the neighbourhood of Strathcona has you thinking, “This place seems to have it all.” You’re right.  It does! Each summer, Edmontonians and tourists flock to the real heart of the city: Old Strathcona - to take part in engaging, entertaining activities like the Strathcona Farmer’s Market, the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, the Whyte Avenue Arts & Shopping District, or the numerous music, theatre and entertainment venues.  

As well, more and more people are also joining the nearly 10,000…

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In an ever competitive Edmonton real estate market and with a record number of options for buyers to choose from, it’s the little things that make the difference when selling a house. Now that the kids are back to school and the holidays aren’t quite yet upon us, if you’ve been considering listing your home, now is a great time. But if you’re looking to attract a homebuyer – there are a few things you can do to make your home appealing in the fall!

Straighten Up the Yard

If you haven’t already, clean up the leaves and yard debris. Trim up dead and dying flowers, perennials and bushes and cut back the vines and any tree limbs that need pruning.  Add some colour! Just because summer is over doesn’t mean your flower pots need to sit empty and…

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Thanks to our guest contributor Linda Hoang for writing this blog post. 

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When you’re looking for a new home, there’s a lot of factors to consider. Does the master bathroom have two sinks? Is the basement finished? Is it close to work? But maybe more importantly, is the neighbourhood right for you and your family? What about the neighbourhood matters to you? It might be parks, walkability, nearby grocery stores. It could also be proximity to good, neighbourhood restaurants.

There are some great options for neighbourhood eats in Edmonton, and over the last few years, the number of local restaurants popping up in all corners of the city have been on the rise. While downtown or Whyte Ave are certainly popular centres for delicious food,…

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If you're looking to buy a new home in 2018 you'll want to make sure you're familiar with the new mortgage rules. A new minimum qualifying rate has been set, also known as the "stress test" which impacts uninsured mortgages ( mortgage buyers with a down payment that is 20% of more of their home price ). 

Potential home buyers wondering how their buying power has been affected by these changes can reference our mortgage infographic below to help get a sense of what what their affordability will be based on income. If you have any questions about the new Canadian mortgage rules you can contact us and we'll be happy to help. 

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Starting in the new year those individuals applying for uninsured mortgages will face tougher rules when it comes to qualifying for a mortgage.

THE NEW MORTGAGE STRESS TEST 

 As of January 1st, 2018 the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation has released a new stress test that home buyers will need to qualify for before receiving an approval.  Currently those buyers with down payments of 20% or more do not require mortgage insurance through CMHC.  According to the Financial Post, This market will now need to   “Qualify based on either the Bank of Canada posted rate for the five-year fixed rate product or two percentage points above their contracted mortgage rate, whichever is higher.” Currently uninsured buyers can qualify…

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