How often has someone asked you about a particular professional or a service company? For example, they may have asked, “Do you know a good tree trimming service?” or “Can you recommend a great accountant?”
Chances are you’ve been asked plenty of times over the years.
The reason is obvious. Most people would prefer to work with a professional or company that a friend or neighbour has endorsed. That’s why they ask for recommendations!
With that in mind, when you get asked, “Do you know a great real estate agent?” I hope you’ll offer my name. If you do, I promise to provide that person with my very best service — as I do for all my clients.
Detached:
Calgary recorded 1,268 sales this month, a significant gain relative to last year and 30 per cent higher than longer-term trends. Sales this month improved across all price ranges except homes priced under $400,000. However, the decline in sales in the lower price range is likely related to limited supply choice. On a year-to-date basis, prices have improved across all districts, with gains that range from a low of five per cent in the City Centre to nearly twelve per cent in the South East. The City Centre is the only district where prices remain below previous highs. The September detached benchmark price of $537,500 has trended down slightly from the record high set in July, but this has not erased earlier gains, as it remains nearly 10 per cent higher than last year.
Semi-Detached:
With less supply choice in the lower price ranges of the detached market, many consumers have turned to the semi-detached sector. With 2,005 sales so far this year, year-to-date sales are over 45 per cent higher than long-term trends and have reached new record highs. The improvement in sales was, in part, related to the improvements in new listings. The sales-to-new listings ratio in this sector has averaged below 70 per cent over the past several months. This is nowhere near as tight as the detached sector, which has averaged 80 per cent. While conditions have not been as tight in the semi-detached sector, there have still been substantial price gains this year. As of September, the benchmark price was $424,900, slightly lower than last month, but over eight per cent higher than last year’s levels. Like the detached sector, the semidetached sector’s slowest price growth has occurred in the City Centre. On a year-to-date basis, prices remained below previous highs in the City Centre, North East and South districts.
Row:
With 318 sales this month, year-to-date sales pushed up to 3,057 units, which is 62 per cent above long-term trends and on pace to hit record levels this year. Sales have risen across every district, with the largest growth recorded in the South East district. While new listings did improve this month, it was not enough to prevent further declines in Inventory levels. The months of supply remained relatively low at less than three months, which is well below traditional levels for this time of year. Tighter conditions have supported price growth across all districts so far in 2021. However, unlike the detached and semi-detached sectors, row prices remain below previous highs across all districts in the city.
Apartment:
A boost in new listings this month translated into some gains in sales activity. However, with a sales-to new-listings ratio of 58 per cent, inventories still trended up relative to the previous month and last year’s levels. The months of supply remained just below five months in September, far lower than levels recorded last year and over the past five years. Conditions have generally been more balanced for this property type compared with other sectors, preventing strong price gains. On a year-to date basis, citywide benchmark prices improved by nearly three per cent, but they remain over 14 per cent lower than previous highs.
Quick Stats:
Sep. 2020 |
Sep. 2021 |
Y/Y% change |
|
Detached |
|||
Total sales |
1,055 |
1,268 |
20.19% |
Inventory |
3,065 |
2,496 |
-18.56% |
Months of supply* |
2.91 |
1.97 |
-32.24% |
Benchmark price** |
$488,800 |
$537,500 |
9.96% |
Semi-Detached |
|||
Total sales |
153 |
210 |
37.25% |
Inventory |
596 |
517 |
-13.26% |
Months of supply* |
3.90 |
2.46 |
-36.80% |
Benchmark price** |
$391,900 |
$424,900 |
8.42% |
Row |
|||
Total sales |
256 |
318 |
24.22% |
Inventory |
949 |
876 |
-7.69% |
Months of supply* |
3.71 |
2.75 |
-25.69% |
Benchmark price** |
$279,400 |
$299,600 |
7.23% |
Apartment |
|||
Total sales |
242 |
366 |
51.24% |
Inventory |
1,638 |
1,718 |
4.88% |
Months of supply* |
6.77 |
4.69 |
-30.65% |
Benchmark price** |
$250,100 |
$253,200 |
1.24% |
*Months of supply: The ratio between inventory and sales which represents the current pace of sales and how long it would take to clear existing inventory.
**Benchmark price: The monthly price of the typical home based on its attributes, providing the best measure of price trends.
DIY Friendly Bathroom Makeovers
- Update the sink. If you have some basic plumbing knowledge, this is a project you should be able to do on your own. A new sink can make the entire vanity look like new.
- Buy new decor. New shower curtains, towels, window coverings, mats, etc. can transform the look of a bathroom.
- Install new hardware. Replacing cabinet hardware may not seem like much of a change. However, it can have a surprisingly big impact. Shiny new hardware is like jewelry. It stands out.
- Replace the vanity mirror. Even if there are no scratches, an older mirror is like an old pair of glasses. It can become foggy. No amount of cleaning will make it any clearer. When ordering a replacement mirror, be sure that your measurements are exact.
- Paint. There’s no doubt about it. A fresh coat of paint makes any room look better.
These bathroom improvement projects can make a huge impact on the look of your bathroom. And, they can all be done affordably and in just a day or two.