Warren Shouldice

Cell: 403-461-8103 |

January News and Stats

Spring is just around the corner and that is traditionally the time of year when the housing market starts to heat up.

If you have any plans to move, or are just curious about what’s available on the market, now is a great time to inquire.

I’d be happy to help you with any information you want. Please give me a call anytime.

 

MARKET UPDATE:

For the fourth straight month, year over year inventory levels have declined across the Calgary market. This decreased supply has helped ease further price declines. While conditions have certainly improved over this time last year, 2016 was one of the weakest years on record so this relative improvement should be taken with a grain of salt. Additionally, while many factors have improved over last year (total sales, inventory, months of supply) benchmark prices still remain below levels recorded at this time last year. While certain areas of the market are expected to improve modestly in 2017, this transition will likely be a slow process.

 

QUICK STATS:

 

  Jan. 16 Jan. 17 Y/Y % change
Detached      
Total sales 466 584 25.32%
Inventory 2537 1849 -27.12%
Months of supply* 5.44 3.17 -41.84%
Average DOM 49 days 46 days -6.19%
Benchmark price** $510,700 $500,400 -2.02%
       
Attached      
Total sales 170 212 24.71%
Inventory 1234 994 -19.45%
Months of supply* 7.26 4.69 -35.41%
Average DOM 48 days 62 days 27.76%
Benchmark price** $342,900 $330,300 -3.67%
       
Condo      
Total sales 129 151 17.05%
Inventory 1252 1269 1.36%
Months of supply* 9.71 8.4 -13.41%
Average DOM 59 days 68 days 14.85%
Benchmark price** $284,000 $269,900 -4.96%


*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. 

 

Making the Home Selling and Moving Process Easier
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There’s no doubt that things change in a home when it’s put on the market. Those changes can cause stress for the entire family.

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce that stress considerably. With a little bit of planning, you can even make the home selling process a relatively pleasant experience for everyone.

The first step is to talk candidly with your family, especially kids, about their feelings and concerns regarding selling your home and moving. Their worries may include:

  • Losing connections with friends.
  • Finding a new job.
  • Starting a new school.
  • Disruptions in the home during viewings.
  • Work involved in preparing the home for sale.
  • Keeping the home clean and tidy for viewings.

The more you’re aware of how your family feels about the process, the better you can deal with those issues.

Keeping the home clean for viewings and open houses is usually one of the major stressors. It may feel like you’re tidying up for a special guest several times a week! A solution worth considering is hiring a maid service on a short-term basis. That help can save you a lot of time and stress, especially if you’re also searching for a new home.

During viewings, it’s best for you and your family to be out of the home. So, consider planning little adventures. You can visit a museum, eat at a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try for months, or take the gang to a recreation centre. These ideas will go a long way toward alleviating the sense of being “kicked out” of your own home!

 

Neighbourhood Open House
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While shopping for a new home, you will likely view a lot of properties and may even attend a few open houses. That’s part of the process of finding your next dream home.

But there is another type of open house you should also attend. It’s one for which you need no invitation – the “neighbourhood open house.”

Of course, this isn’t an actual advertised open house. The term simply means that you’re able to view any neighbourhood you’d like to live in and try it on for size.

So when viewing a home or attending an open house, take some time to explore the neighbourhood. Get a sense of what it’s going to be like to live there. You can:

  • Take a walk around the block.
  • Visit the local park and playground.
  • Have a coffee at a local cafe.
  • Visit the local school.
  • Test access to commuting routes to work.
  • Check out daycare facilities.
  • Drive to the local shopping centre.
  • Investigate local features, such as theatres, restaurants and golf courses.

The neighbourhood you live in is just as important as the home itself. Before you buy, make sure you get to see your neighbourhood too.

 

Diffusing Disputes with Neighbours
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Even if you live in a beautiful home in a great neighbourhood, a dispute with a neighbour can make living there a miserable experience. That’s why it makes sense to settle such disputes quickly and amicably.

How do you do that? Here are some tips:

  1. Deal with the issue quickly. It’s tempting to avoid facing an unpleasant dispute with a neighbour and hope the problem just goes away. That rarely happens. To settle a dispute, you need to act quickly.
  2. Avoid displays of anger. Acting angrily typically only gets the other party on the defensive. It can escalate the situation and rarely, if ever, leads to a resolution.
  3. Isolate the problem. Never generalize a dispute with a neighbour. Be specific.
  4. Don’t complain; propose. Rather than complaining about loud music at night, propose a solution. For example, “When our front lights have been turned off, that means we’ve gone to bed. Would it be possible to turn down the music at that time? Thanks!”
  5. Say thanks when there’s a resolution. You may never be close friends, but being cordial will go a long way toward easing the tension.

 

notable, quotable... quotes!

 

“Congratulations. Today is the day. You’re off to great places. You're on your way!”

Dr. Seuss

 

“Don't mistake activity with achievement.”

John Wooden

 

“Doing the best in the moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.”

Oprah Winfrey

 

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.
©IXACT Contact Solutions Inc.

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