Real Estate in Calgary

November, 2009

In this issue:  

• CREB Update - The lastest information about the market from the Calgary Real Estate Board.
• Green Do-It-Yourself Projects - Making your house more environmentally friendly can help save money.
• Internet Safety - Have you considered doing your Christmas shopping online? The Government of Canada has a website that offers information and resources about internet safety.
• AREA and U of C Push for Grow Op Remediation Standards  - If you have considered buying a property that was formerly a marijuana grow operation, you may want to read this report.

Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®) Update

CALGARY HOUSING MARKET REBOUND CONTINUES

Home prices edge upwards as demand holds steady
Calgary, November 2, 2009 – The Calgary housing market continued to rebound in October, according to figures released by the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®).

“Calgary’s housing market has clearly turned a corner,” says Bonnie Wegerich, president of CREB®. “We expect there to be a few bumps on this road to recovery but we believe the worst is over. Home prices have held firm and edged upwards in some markets over the past months....   [Read More]

Making your house more environmentally friendly can help save money, save the environment, and save your health at the same time. Here are some popular “green” projects that you can do yourself:

Lighting
More than 90 percent of the energy produced by incandescent lights is heat, not light, so replace fixtures with more efficient bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs fit into an incandescent socket and operate on a quarter of the energy used by incandescents, lasting 10 times longer.

Plumbing
When replacing your toilet, conserve water by purchasing a low-flow toilet, which can save around 4 gallons/15 litres of water per flush. And while you’re at it, add an aerator to your faucets. Inexpensive low-flow aerators are easy to install and can cut water use by half or more.

Painting
Many paints contain chemicals called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and other toxic components which evaporate and can hurt your indoor air quality and aggravate asthma and allergies. Many major paint manufacturers offer low- or no-VOC paints to help you avoid those potential health hazards.

Flooring
Bamboo is an environmentally friendly substitute for hardwood that provides much of the hardness and convenience of traditional wood flooring at about the same price. Look for a formaldehyde-free pre-finish and low formaldehyde-adhesive emissions. For carpets choose wool—it’s renewable, biodegradable, and often more durable than synthetics.

In addition, take a close look at your appliances. If your washing machine is more than 10 years old, you can save up to $100 a year by switching to a new, efficient model.

Given the continuing popularity of “green” homes, these improvements may increase your home’s appeal when it comes time to sell.

Internet Safety

Shopping Online is Easy, But is it Safe?

The Government of Canada has provided SafeCanada.ca as an internet safety resource for Canadians. There is a lot of great information here about online transactions, including an On-Line Shopping Assistant to help you make good choices in choosing internet vendors.

AREA and U of C push for grow Op Remediation Standards

The Alberta Real Estate Association, with support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, has funded a study by a renowned University of Calgary professor to help create province-wide standards for cleaning up properties formerly used as illegal drug and marijuana grow ops in Alberta. Click here to read the full report.

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