Net migration figures point to housing market bounce back

It’s been a challenging year for Calgary’s resale housing market, which is still feeling the effects of two recession years in 2015 and 2016.

While the economy has rebounded, it has been at a slow pace, and this has been evident in the real estate industry. As of the end of June, year-to-date MLS® System sales in the resale market totalled 8,553 units, down 17.1 per cent in the city compared with the same period a year ago.

“We went through a tough period,” said Lai Sing Louie, a regional economist in Calgary with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC). “Migration numbers dropped quite dramatically.”

Net migration has always been a pillar of the housing market. When an economy is…

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Six tips for a stress-free moving day

As exciting as it is to buy a home, it also brings with it the reality of moving day, and the hassles that come along with that process.

To take the guess work out of the big move, we talked to the experts to get their tips for planning a stress-free move: Barry Byman, sales manager and partner with AMJ Campbell International in Calgary, and Vince Kirton, regional manager with Sentinel Storage.

  1. Choose a reliable mover
    “The selection of a mover is probably the most important thing,” said Byman. It’s important to consider the reputation of a mover, since they will be going into your house and handling all your most precious possessions. Byman says membership in an organization like the Canadian Association of…

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How building a garage can dramatically increase your home value

Driving has always been a way of life for Calgarians, and given the ubiquity of cars in in the city, garages are a must for almost every home.

Whether looking to build a home for the first time or renovating an old one, detached or attached garages are the options most builders choose. However, special builds also exist and can even include underground parking or tunnels, at costs upwards of $35,000 for a triple-detached unit.

According to appraisers, a garage of any kind added to a home will increase its value. With the average garage cost in Calgary sitting around $23,000, adding a garage to a property at any point in a home’s life will increase property value, since the return…

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Stunning custom family home situated on 4 acres of land in Yankee Valley Estates, Airdrie. 2553 sq ft bungalow has hardwood flooring, 8ft doors, 9 & 10 ft ceilings+vaulted ceiling in great room & striking grand rock gas fireplace. Gourmet kitchen including high end cabinets/pot drawers, premium SS appliance package, granite countertops & large island+spacious eating area. Main floor has 3 generous sized bedrooms & a den. Beautiful master w/ walk-in closet & luxurious ensuite including steam shower. 2 other bedrooms have walk-in closets & a Jack/Jill bathroom. Huge mud room w/ lockers from floor to ceiling, large laundry room, walk thru pantry & 1/2 bath complete the main floor. 2229 sq ft of developed space in the basement- family rm, rec area, theatre rm,…

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Online shopping is growing by an average of 20 million new shoppers each year. That's a lot of people clicking and buying! You may be one of them. However, there's a cost to online shopping that's all too easy to overlook. Shipping fees. Imagine saving $10 on a luxury cookware set, only to be hit with a $15 delivery charge. Ouch. So how do you avoid those fees? First of all, always check the fine print on the checkout screen. Notice what the shipping cost (if any) will be before you click the final purchase button. Keep in mind that the base shipping fee shown may update — and become higher — once you've typed in your address. Some e-tailers offer free delivery for orders over a certain threshold amount; for example, $50. If there's more you can add to an…

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When it comes to design, throwing money at a project never hurts. But I'm far more impressed when people actually don't spend a small fortune on a room. I love hearing when high-end decorators have used IKEA and you'd never know it. Or where they found a piece on the side of a road and rehabbed it. I mean, you can't buy a storied past for a designer piece, am I right? But don't get me wrong—I'm all for a splurge. But lately I've found myself wondering what designers really don't find it at all worthwhile spending dough on, even if they or their clients have it by the boatload. And so I bring you a designer-approved laundry list of stuff not to go for broke on, because, well, there's no reason to.

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