Dig's n Things Blog - Calgary Real Estate and More

April 2013 Calgary Real Estate Board Statistics

Thu, 02 May 2013 16:11:00 GMT

April 2013 was another solid month in Calgary's Real Estate market. The market has slowed slightly from back in February when there was a lot of talk of our 'insane real estate market' in the media.

We are up just over 5% from the same period in 2012, and with the number of sales being almost the same we can sit comfortably knowing we are not heading down the same path as 2006/07.

You can see in the graph below, the slow increase in the Home Price Index (HPI) over the past few years, a sign of a strong, healthy and balanced market.

HPI for Calgary Real Estate Statistics April 2013

We have hear a lot of talk of our average price in the city has also increased significantly. There is no denying this. Calgary has seen a record number of luxury home sales this year driving the average sale price upwards.

An important statistic we must pay close attention to are Days on Market, as well as what are first time buyers doing. First time buyers are the catalyst to a healthy market, if they are buying homes, it spills out to the rest of the market like a domino effect.

Market Snapshot	Single Family			Condo/Apartment			Condo/Townhouse
Monthly	Apr/12	Apr/13	%Chg	Apr/12	Apr/13	%Chg	Apr/12	Apr/13	%Chg
Total Sales	1580	1611	1.96	351	429	22.22	268	341	27.24
New Listings	2284	2408	5.43	595	614	3.19	360	454	26.11
Average Price	483,045	510,834	5.75	267,931	291,345	8.74	320,607	337,119	5.15
Active Listings	3501	2977	-14.97	1157	871	-24.72	612	518	-15.36
Days on Market	38	31	-19.41	50	41	-18.62	49	36	-26.64

MLS HPI

April 2013

% of Changes

	Benchmark $	HPI	Jan/13	Oct/12	Apr/12	Apr/10	Apr/08
Single Family	452,900	190	1.4%	4.5%	7.3%	9.9%	5.3%
Condo/TH	288,900	181	0.7%	3.6%	4.5%	1.9%	-7.1%
Condo/Apt	261,300	183	1.4%	5.8%	7.4%	4.0%	6.2%

In April, we saw a 22.22% increase in Condo Apartments as well as a 27.24% increase for townhomes over the same period last year. Single family homes on the other hand only increased 1.96%. With this, I would anticipate a continued show of strength and stability in Calgary's housing market.

Download this month's full Calgary Real Estate Board Statistical Package

What are your thoughts on Calgary's real estate market?

View previous month statistic's.

You may be curious to know what your home or condo is worth with some of the increases in market values. I can provide quick and easy (no obligation of course) online home evaluations. Just a click away...

Got Rain Barrel?

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:44:00 GMT

You know you want one...I know I do!

Green Calgary along with the City of Calgary and Enmax have organized a rain barrel and composter sale again this year.

What is it?

Where is it? Various locations around Calgary.

What exactly are they selling?

Rain barrels and composters are great additions to your Calgary home and yard.

Reasons why you should water your garden and plants using rain water

You save money since rain water is free
The plants benefit because rain water is chlorine free
Rain water has natural elements that are removed by the city from tap water
Helps take a little pressure off of the storm water system

Composting is another great way to boost your planter boxes or garden.

Calgary is known for not having the best soil, by adding compost to it regularly really helps give it nutrients plants need. Also helps hold moisture and keep oxygen with the roots.

When composting, you do not necessarily need a composting box. I use a box, as well as an old wheel barrel that is not being used anymore. As long as you turn it on a regular basis, it will decompose. Another trick, when you find worms in your yard, toss them into the composter!

Home Made Composter

Spring Clean Up - what to do with all the large yard waste?

Yay! Spring Clean up...but what do I do with all this yard waste?

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 01:00:00 GMT

Spring is finally here in Calgary! We finally had a beautiful weekend and there are more to come.

This means it is time to get the yard in order, clean up all the old leaves, branches and other organic puke that has fallen from the trees and shrubs over the past several months.

Spring Clean Up - Before

But what do you do with it? Putting it out for city of Calgary curb side collection is not the best option because when it goes to the landfill it actually does not decompose and turn into soil like compost.

When it goes to one of Calgary's landfills, it actually turns into liquid leachate and methane gas (not good)

All Loaded up with Spring Yard Waste

Composting is the best answer to this, but how do you compost large branches or heaps of bags full of leaves and pinecones?

The City of Calgary offers a composting program where you can drop off spring yard waste for free.

Between April 19^th and June 2^nd, you can drop off your yard waste at City of Calgary landfills for their composting program. Your yard waste goes into the composting area of the landfil which is great.

Gaining Good Karma by Braving 100km/h Winds to Compost Yard Waste

Though this may be a little more inconvenient than bagging and tossing into the back alley, you will be helping the environment and gaining a little good earth karma :)

After all the hard work - end result - and of course it snows.

Have you stared your yard clean up yet?

Need a Rain Barrel or a Home Composter?

I'd rather quit smoking...again...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:41:00 GMT

Breaking my addiction to food has been more difficult than quitting smoking.

I quit smoking 15 years ago this month. After trying to quit many times, it was not until after reading an article about heart disease and realizing I probably will not survive to see my newborn son graduate high school unless I quit. That mentally pushed me over the edge. I quit and never smoked another cigarette.

Smoker's have tools though. They can chew nicotine gum. They can wear a patch. They can have little plastic thingy-ma-bob's to mimic a cigarette. Ultimately, they eventually lose the craving/habit and it's pretty much over.

Whereas breaking a food addiction is not the same.

Artwork by Oscar Ramos

Yes, I am mentally in the same spot - do or die - but there is no patch for this. I am unable to just stop eating like I just stopped smoking. I must look in my cupboards and fridge daily and consciously say 'no' a multitude number of times every day to all the foods I love(d).

We are bombarded with every tool imaginable to work against our plan, every time we turn on the TV, see billboards, food chains and grocery stores and we are expected to simply turn the addiction off with only peer support, mental willingness and perhaps an iph app. Nothing simple about it.

This has been the most difficult willpower challenge I have ever come across in my entire life and it is not easy at all. It's getting easier, but far from 'easy'. I keep looking for tomorrow, next week or next month knowing one day at a time, one week at a time - my addiction will be over.

(Follow my Journey)

Assume you're being watched...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:26:00 GMT

A recent discussion took place between Realtors and Lawyers regarding home surveillance systems such as web cams and/or nanny cams in homes for sale.

Topics discussed were breaching privacy of prospective buyer’s while they discussed confidential information about pricing or motivation and the legality of a home seller being able to do this.

*Nanny and Web Cams in Homes for Sale

Taken from the Alberta Real Estate Association’s AREAHUB

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms defines the fundamental question to be asked in any situation where an individual’s privacy may be at risk: “Should there be a reasonable expectation of privacy?”

This question has been formalized federally by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Document Act (PIPEDA) and provincially by Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). While these pieces of legislation do not apply to individuals, they codify the factors to be analyzed in a breach scenario. This involves a balancing of necessity, effectiveness, proportionality and minimalism.

The Canadian Criminal Code states that breach on an individual level is only acceptable via explicit or implied consent, judicial authorization or good faith belief of acting in accordance with someone with consent or authorization.

Finally, the common law has recently recognized the right to pursue an action for the recovery of damages for invasion of privacy between individuals. This is the most effective way in which to address privacy infractions between individuals.

From the seller’s perspective, the principles to be derived from the foregoing can be summarized as follows:

The use of recording equipment must be reasonable in terms of its objectives, location and scope.
The equipment must represent the most appropriate means to achieve the desired end, with minimal intrusion upon privacy.
The use of recording equipment must be disclosed to the individuals being monitored.

The AREA has made recommendations for listing realtors and homeowners - listing realtors MUST post - preferably on the front door or somewhere clearly visible prior to entering, a notice/warning stating use of such equipment.

As for buyer’s, I have always felt and typically forewarned prospective home buyer’s to assume you are being watched, because you never know.

The most important part of this topic is there are now some guidelines in place that hopefully are going to be followed as it would be nice to know if you’re being watched and/or recorded while viewing a home.

What are your thoughts?

What have I gotten myself into?

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:24:00 GMT

Weighing in for this challenge was humiliating. To strip down to my shorts in front of Michelle (my good friend and trainer) was a humbling experience. She measured me, took some pictures and of course I jumped on the scale. 240 pounds. This is awful.

Right after, we worked out with our regular group at ParksBootCamp and it was one of the most challenging classes I've had in a long time. I was slow, lathargic and weezing. Pathetic for someone my age. I'm not happy.

But here I am, I will make this change.

I'm not doing this with any fancy group or eating pre-prepared meals - or anything like that. I'm tracking my calories. Using an app called MyNetDiary - which is pretty cool - thus far, I quite like it.

This isn't easy though. Carrots are not the same as potato chips.

(follow my journey)

6 Weeks. A Challenge. Changing My Life - Forever.

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:24:00 GMT

I started a challenge to get my health on track. I did this because I’m now 40 years old and have had my ups and downs with weight but over all, generally in poor health for the majority of my life.

Last year I found myself in the best physical condition since I was a teenager. Then (once again), over a 2 month period over Christmas, I gained 25 pounds. Fast and unhealthy.

Carrying this extra weight was causing me many issues - it was time to make a change. A serious change. I’ve already had one minor heart attack, I’m not going live my life a walking time bomb.

I thought I loved food. The reality, I’m addicted to food. Junk Food.

Yes, I’m addicted to food. The only way I’m going to be able to do this is break free from my addiction. Cold Turkey. My friend Michelle said “You cannot even eat one chocolate Dan, it will sabotage you”. Her words stuck in my head.

I’ve been down this road before. Many times - eat healthy, exercise - but in the end, I always fall back to my addiction. This time, I’m ready - I will do this.

The challenge. 6 weeks. 20 pound goal. Eat right and exercise.

(follow my journey)

Pure Evil I Say...It's Pure Evil. And Lazy is Evil.

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 03:56:00 GMT

About a 1.5 years ago I wrote a blog about my garage…or “crapage” I had called it…I don’t know how else to describe this thing aside from a pure evil junk staging point that never ends.

No matter what I do, I can’t keep this place clean.

Back when I wrote the original rant it was probably at it’s worst. And I’m not kidding - it was really bad.

2nd time now...the crapage...

I hired a junk removal bin so I could load up all the crap and clear it out. Well - it took two bins because I walked into my unfinished basement and realized it too became the landing point for about 6 years of unwanted but needed and will not throw away things.

Firstly - let me forewarn husbands here…don’t do this with your wife at home if she’s the one who placed most of the stuff down there. That can be dangerous to you. I learned the hard way as usual. Best to do this when she’s not around. Or…vise-versa for the couples who have the opposite spousal issues.

Anyway…two friggin bins were filled from my house. TWO.

What’s my point you may ask?

Well - today I’ve had enough. I can’t even walk through my garage anymore from end to end…again. I swear we have a recycling program in Calgary and 100% positive it’s my son’s job to do the recycling. Well hot dog - somehow there is a pile of flattened boxes in the middle of the garage floor with other recyclable junk strewn all over it.

That’s just the start of it…old computer boxes, printer boxes with dead printers, horse supplies for the horse that is non existent, two set’s of summer tires blocking the entrance…what the heck?

I must take the brunt of the blame here. Certainly unable to blame everyone else when it’s my tires, my old computer equipment, my idea to place bags full of unwanted books?

Though I’d love to say it’s my wife’s consumerism practices perfected…yes she contributes…but I’m the one to blame.

Yikes…somebody help me please?

February 2013 Calgary Real Estate Board Statistics

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:30:00 GMT

February was a strong month again for Calgary's real estate market. Inventory levels are still lower than I'd personally like to see, the increase over January's listings is about 400 homes - and approximately 100 new listings over the same period in 2012. Buyer's are acting quick for the homes they want, but not beng unreasonable.

For home sellers, this has meant sales very close to list price and shorter days on market - with the average DOM down to 38 days, down over 21% from the same time last year. This does not necessarily mean it's a crazy market as we saw in 2006/07 - we are also seeing homes sit on the market if the seller's are priced too high.

Calgary Year to Date YTD Sales for February 2013

I have to caution, we still are not seeing the signs of a boom as we saw a few years ago so don't get all excited and think our market is going nuts. It isn't. It is strong - it is healthy. Yes, inventory levels are low and we can certainly expect prices to creep up, but buyers are still not making hasty decisions without educating themselves. Buyer's know what they want and are acting accordingly.

The portion of the market that I am paying close attention to is the condominium sector. First time buyers. The increase in condo sales we saw and are continuing to see will send more people into the townhome and single family detached sectors. If this trend continues for the next quarter of 2013, I would expect the single family market to tighten up a little more and we will see the sales and prices increase slightly over this reporting period.

Market Snapshot:

Market Snapshot	Single Family			Condo/Apartment			Condo/Townhouse
Monthly	Feb/12	Feb/13	%Chg	Feb/12	Feb/13	%Chg	Feb/12	Feb/13	%Chg
Total Sales	1281	1209	-5.62	246	279	13.41	205	223	8.78
New Listings	1999	1879	-6.00	509	451	-11.39	375	341	-9.07
Average Price	470,033	518,452	10.30	288,991	287,830	-0.40	310,047	336,406	8.50
Active Listings	3093	2408	-22.15	1031	704	-31.72	612	427	-30.23
Days on Market	48	37	-23.84	51	45	-11.76	51	38	-25.61

MLS HPI

January 2013

% of Changes

	Benchmark $	HPI	Jan/13	Aug/12	Feb/12	Feb/10	Feb/08
Single Family	428,800	186	1.3	2.0	8.8	7.9	2.6
Condo/TH	281,500	177	-0.2	1.8	4.7	0.6	-9.6
Condo/Apt	252,000	176	1.0	1.7	5.9	1.7	-9.7

Is Calgary still affordable? What are your thoughts when comparing our housing and income markets to the other major metro centers in Canada?

Download the full statistical package here.

Are you curious to know what the value of your home is? Get a rough estimate with an online evaluation - 24 hour turn around - usually less - gives you a rough idea of where your home will fit in today's market.

Thanks for reading!

Getting burned by moving companies

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 23:04:00 GMT

Recently a client of mine had a horrible experience with a moving company and it's a serious reminder to be very careful with who you choose.

Despite being careful, you can still run into nightmare experiences as she did.

Ingrid wrote me to explain..."Just so you know....tell anyone who asks to stay away from Metropolitan Movers in Calgary"

Metropolitan Mover's are based in Ontario and have a legitimate looking website which was the draw for Ingrid but she found out the hard way, front end appearance means nothing.

"They started off badly by forgetting my appointment, I had to call the office and then wait for them to round up a crew. The guys that arrived have clearly never done this kind of work before. They didn't even take off their shoes or put down mats.

They managed to drop the leaf out of my dining room table and smash all of the glass in my dining room hutch before I called their manager to come to my home. He promised to go and buy a broom for me to use in cleaning up the mess they had made but he actually never came back."

Ingrid went on to explain when her furniture arrived at her new home, many items were scratched, dented or broken. She addressed the concerns and because of the lack of remorse and accountability, she refused to pay Metropolitan Movers. That's when things escalated and the manager showed up with two other men and made her feel so uncomfortable and intimidated she ended up needing to call the police.

Ingrid later learned after calling the Better Business Bureau that this moving company has an "F" rating. What is interesting, when I searched for the Better Business Bureau's website in Calgary, Metropolitan Mover's have a paid advertising spot.

Since this negative experience, Ingrid explained to me the company told her they were going to send someone to her home to assess the damages yet they actually never showed up. They also charged her credit card they had on file to secure the move despite her not authorizing them to do so.

Picking mover's is definitely a challenge. Definitely ask around with your friends and family for a referral to a reputable moving company. If you are not satisfied, contact the BBB to see what mover's have strong and positive reputations.

Have you had a negative experience with a mover? Feel free to share your story in the comments below.