PROrealty Real Estate Blog - Professional Real Estate Services

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 - HOA Impose Restrictions on Your Private Property

In recent years, community designers have added features to the community that will not be maintained by the municipality. To pay for these, each homeowner is required to belong to a Home Owners Association (HOA) and pay an annual membership fee. The HOA has no ownership stake in your property, although is an encumbrance on your property title. It specifies the annual fees, special neighborhood restrictions and architectural controls. The details of your HOA are in the Bylaws of the Associa ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 16 May 2012 16:16:26 -0600

Sunday, May 6, 2012 - Automatic Weath

Acquiring a high net worth is possible for anyone willing to put in the time and follow seven simple rules: (1) Wake up earlier (2) Spend an hour a day on your most important wealth-building objective (3) Educate Yourself (4) Increase your equity in real estate or a business (5) Develop wealth building partners (6) Save more (7) Incresae your income. If you do make a commitment to follow these simpel steps, your net worth will indeed be significantly larger within 12 months!

posted in General at Sun, 06 May 2012 10:17:44 -0600

Tuesday, May 1, 2012 - April Statistics

According to figures released by the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton, single family prices have risen slightly every month thiin 2012. Compared to 2011, single family homes are up 0.4% (to $382,384), condominium’s up 1.1% (to $235,036) and duplex/row houses up 8.9%, (to $329,025) for an average overall increase of 2.99%. The average days-on-market in April were slightly down to 50 days, an indicator of increased market activity.

posted in General at Tue, 01 May 2012 18:17:31 -0600

Sunday, April 15, 2012 - Better Physical & Financial Health

We are excited to announce our relationship with one of North America's fastest growing companies, advocating better physical and financial health. Contact BETTERHEALTH@NAPIER.CA for details. Who doesn't want extra income and to be physically healthier?

posted in General at Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:07:21 -0600

Saturday, April 14, 2012 - MLS NEW LISTINGS

Our MLS search engine is now updated hourly for hot new listings, foreclosures and estate sales. Use our automatic email notification or view addresses, days onmarket, mapping and much more. www.prorealty.ca

posted in General at Sat, 14 Apr 2012 12:55:48 -0600

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - PROrealty Post - Daily E-Newspaper

PROrealty is pleased to announce the "PROREALTY POST", a custom electronic newspaper keeping you abreast of the latest in world news and weather. Visit " http://www.crayon.net/read.cgi?bnapier@prorealty.ca " to read your copy now. Let us know if you would like other areas of reporting in cluded in this paper. We would be happy to oblige!

posted in General at Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:47:21 -0600

Sunday, April 8, 2012 - Open Minds September 22, 2012

SUPPORT Sept 22, 2012 Open Minds Walk//schizophrenia.r-esourcecenter.com/event/FundraisingPage.asp?Participant_ID=1235&Event_ID=75 1 in every 100 Canadians suffers from schizophrenia. Many more suffer with severe mental illnesses like bipolar disorder or severe depression. Most experience psychosis, social withdrawal and loss of self-awareness. Be a part of the solution and support our chosen charity! Remember, we are donating part of every completed real estate transaction betweren now and S ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sun, 08 Apr 2012 12:11:53 -0600

Saturday, April 7, 2012 - HAPPY EASTER

Stay healthy – eat chocolate! According to Elaine Sherman, Chocolate causes certain endocrine glands to secrete hormones that affect your feelings and behavior by making you happy. This counteracts depression, in turn reducing the stress of depression. Your stress-free life helps you maintain a youthful disposition, both physically and mentally.

posted in General at Sat, 07 Apr 2012 11:34:47 -0600

Tuesday, April 3, 2012 - February Market Statistics

The Edmonton area average residential housing prices increased 3.7% this past month to $329,911. This is comprised of a 3.1% gain for single family detached homes ($375,268), 8.5% gain for condominiums ($234,973) and 1.4% gain for duplex/rowhouses. Year-over-year prices were also up 4.8% for single family properties, 1.7% for condominiums and 0.2% for duplex/rowhouses. With 5,976 MLS listed properties, the average time on market declined by 17% to 54 days.

posted in General at Tue, 03 Apr 2012 08:46:09 -0600

Thursday, March 29, 2012 - Urban Suburban

The hit television show Urban: Suburban is coming to Edmonton! If you are buying a home and can't decide if you wish to live in the suburbs or in the city proper, AND you would like an opportunity to be on television, then give me a call!

posted in General at Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:39:23 -0600

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - Commercial Property

WOW... .we have just listed a fully renovated business studio close to Ray Gibbon Drive in St. Albert. Great access, great exposure, great renovations. A perfect training hall for yoga, dance, martial arts, meetings, call centres - the open design makes this property extremely versatile and move-in ready. e1016475

posted in General at Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:49:02 -0600

Friday, March 16, 2012 - New Agent

A hearty welcome to Cynthia Rousseau - PROrealty's newest Associate/ Realtor (R) . With her extensive experience in the property management industry, Cynthia brings a wealth of diverse knowledge to our Clients and our Team. This knowledge will give YOU a competitive edge in your real estate transactions.

posted in General at Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:26:07 -0600

Saturday, March 3, 2012 - Baseline Event Services

We are pleased to welcome Baseline Event Services to our growing team of prequalified service providers. Check them out at www.baselineservices.ca and when you do, be sure to mention PROrealty to obtain your promotional discount!

posted in General at Sat, 03 Mar 2012 13:59:26 -0700

Thursday, February 16, 2012 - Mortgage Insurance

Often, if the down payment on your new home is less than 20 % of the purchase price, insurance is required to mitigate risk. As an estimation guide only (please verify actual amounts and logistics with a licenced Mortgage Broker), the cost of this insurance ranges from about 2.75% for 5% down, 2.00% for 10% down and 1.95% for 15% down. Insurance is typically waived for down payments above 20 %. Remember to include these costs when looking to buy your next house!

posted in General at Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:56:01 -0700

Saturday, January 28, 2012 - Open Minds Walk

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT for the OPEN MINDS wak & run on September 22, 2012. http://schizophrenia.r-esourcecenter.com/event/FundraisingPage.asp?Participant_ID=1235&Event_ID=75 1 in every 100 Canadians suffers from schizophrenia. Many others have severe mental illnesses like bipolar disorder or severe depression that can cause symptoms similar to schizophrenia, including psychosis, social withdrawal and loss of self-awareness. With proper treatment and a lot of understanding and support, mos ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:00:08 -0700

Sunday, January 22, 2012 - Lunar New Year

On this eve of the Year of the Dragon, the PROrealty team wishes all - health, happiness and Prosperity.

posted in General at Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:22:49 -0700

Sunday, January 8, 2012 - Edmonton Airport Parking

We are pleased to now offer to our clients, discounted parking at the Edmonton International Airport! Contact your Agent for details on how to save money on your next trip.

posted in General at Sun, 08 Jan 2012 10:55:41 -0700

Tuesday, December 27, 2011 - Jubilations

It's been a wonderful year for PROrealty and CustomVows, but we couldn't have done it without you, those we have had the privilege of serving. Thank you. We are excited to announce that as of mid-January 2012, we will be featured in the Edmonton Jubilations Dinner Theatre playbill and promotional material as an exclusive in both the Real Estate and Marriage Officiant markets!

posted in General at Tue, 27 Dec 2011 07:09:21 -0700

Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - Diwali 2011

On behalf of the entire PROrealty team, we extend our very best wishes to all for a very Happy and Prosperous Diwali and New Year ahead.

posted in General at Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:33:33 -0600

Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - Home Inspections Regulation

Alberta’s Home Inspection Business Regulation came into force on September 1, 2011, requiring all home inspection businesses and inspectors to be provincially licensed. Licenced Inspectors must have successfully completed accredited training and/or hold a Certified Master Inspector or Registered Home Inspector designation. Contract clauses that limit the liability of the business and inspectors are now prohibited, and security deposits/ errors and omissions insurance now mandatory for the ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:47:31 -0600

Saturday, September 10, 2011 - Distracted Driving Law

Alberta’s Distracted Driving Law is now in effect. This Law applies to all vehicles as defined by the Traffic Safety Act. The fine is $172 per offence, but there are no associated demerit points. What activities are not allowed while driving? * talking on a hand-held cell phone * texting/e-mailing * using electronic devices like laptop computers, video games, cameras, * video entertainment displays and programming portable audio or MP3 players * manually enter ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 10 Sep 2011 09:28:00 -0600

Monday, August 15, 2011 - Restrictive Covenants

While restrictive covenants can be an issue on any real estate transaction, the problems are more typically found in inner city and infill properties. It is critical that any restrictive covenants on title be reviewed to verify that the structures or their intended use are permitted. This will help to avoid unexpected complications.

posted in General at Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:23:51 -0600

Wednesday, August 3, 2011 - July Statistics

All indications are that the housing market is continuing its slow recovery. The average price of housing increased through July as compared to June. Single family home prices increased 1.3% while condo prices rose 4.3% during the month. Duplex and rowhouse prices rose on average 4.3%. The average price of a single family detached home in July was ~$385,000. Condo average price was ~$244,000. The inventory of homes on the Multiple Listing Service® is quickly approaching par from last year at 8 ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:49:56 -0600

Friday, July 1, 2011 - Net Proceeds from a Sale

Happy Canada Day! Many times people are left wondering how much money they will make on the sale of their property after accounting for all expenses. In some cases, it is a challenge to even identify what all of the associated costs can be. We have now developed a simple, active spreadsheet that will do these calculations for you. Due to the variables involved, no standard form can yield an exact dollar amount, but our spreadsheet will give you a close approximation to your yield. And best ... Full Article...

posted in General at Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:56:47 -0600

Sunday, June 5, 2011 - Mayan Riviera

I am pleased to extend a personal invitation to you to attend the TM Group's Open House on June 9th at the Mayfield Inn and Suites. This is a drop in event, from 2pm - 9pm inclusive. For invited guests who do register, there will also be refreshemnts and eligibility for a fantastic door prize. The purpose of the open house is to offer a preview of the newest condominium complex on the Mayan Riviera - the AZUL FIVES. Only 7 months old, this secure condominium complex is 8 minutes (during rush ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sun, 05 Jun 2011 16:15:42 -0600

Thursday, June 2, 2011 - New Agent

We are pleased to welcome Ruchika Chopra to our team. Ruchika brings a wealth of knowledge and experience coupled with fierce Customer Service.

posted in General at Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:07:22 -0600

Thursday, June 2, 2011 - Changing Market

The local real estate market is up. The average price of a single family detached home in May was up ~1/4% over the previous month and condo’s up ~3.65% from April. Duplex and row house prices declined ~2.96%. Offers at list price are becoming common place.

posted in General at Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:06:04 -0600

Sunday, May 15, 2011 - Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates remain reasonably stable, with most major banks and Trust companies offering 5.69% for a 5 year closed term. This rate drops to a low of 3.7% for a 1 year closed term.

posted in General at Sun, 15 May 2011 11:35:41 -0600

Saturday, May 14, 2011 - Market Alert

Over the last two weeks we have seen a shift in market conditions. Homes that have been listed for 90-120 days with little or no activity are now experiencing multiple showings per week. Offer letters for townhouses and single family homes are close to or at list prices and multiple offers are being received. It is too early to determine if this is an anomaly or trend.

posted in General at Sat, 14 May 2011 06:53:55 -0600

Thursday, May 5, 2011 - April Market Stats

The average price of housing has remained relatively flat this past month with less than 1% variance for single family and condominium properties. Duplexes and row houses experienced slight gains at 2.1%. The overall inventory of homes increased about 5%. The average days-on-market in April was 49 days, with a residential sales-to-listing ratio of 45%.

posted in General at Thu, 05 May 2011 20:09:26 -0600

Sunday, April 24, 2011 - Happy Easter

Happy Easter from your PROrealty Team! The prices of single family homes have risen ~5.8% - (condominiums ~0.8%) over the last 60 days. We now represent the TM Group's latest development: www.thefives.com.mx . Check this out!

posted in General at Sun, 24 Apr 2011 07:38:14 -0600

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 - First Quarter Market Analysis

This year there appear to be no external influences on the market and it is operating normally again. According to the REALTORS® Association, there were 3,479 residential sales in the first quarter, down from 3,890 last year. At the end of March, the average overall residential price was down 4.6% from a year ago at $327,725. The average price of a single family detached home was down to $378,912 compared to 2010 and condos were priced down 7.5% year-over-year at $232,706. So - it truly is a gr ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 06 Apr 2011 21:01:30 -0600

Sunday, February 27, 2011 - Growth

We are excited to announce the addition of Sarah Tiet to our team. A multilingual, seasoned Professional, Sarah is the epitome of customer service!

posted in General at Sun, 27 Feb 2011 12:23:22 -0700

Wednesday, February 2, 2011 - January Market Statistics

According to the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton, the average price of housing increased slightly in January as compared to the previous month. The all-residential average price rose three quarters of a percent to $310,766; up from $308,497 in December. The average price of single family dwellings rose a quarter of a percent to $356,276 with a median price of $349,900. The Condo average price was $220,993, dropping just over one percent during the month. Duplex and rowhouse prices also droppe ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:22:56 -0700

Thursday, January 13, 2011 - Market Update

The average price for a single family detached home in December was $355,270, down about $10,000 as compared to the price in November. The average condo price dropped less than $6,000 to $223,454. The marginal price reduction in single family detached homes continued a slide that started in June. Average condo prices peaked at $252,700 in April and have continued a relentless downward slide since then.

posted in General at Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:02:04 -0700

Sunday, December 12, 2010 - Holiday Season

While the holiday season is indeed festive, it is importand to remember a few key items relative to selling your property. If you are away, ensure someone checks on your home to ensure the heat remains on and no flyers are scattered outside. Keep your walkways and driveway clear of snow. Keep extra boot mats close to the entrance. Remember that wet clothing emits a musty odor - so try and hang such in your garage until dry. Keep your dryer vents clean of lint and obstruction. If possible, ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sun, 12 Dec 2010 15:04:56 -0700

Sunday, December 5, 2010 - Emotional Quotient

Never underestimate the emotional quotient. When showing homes, many times it is the little things that raise the biggest flags. In our last showing, the rooms appeared unkept and disorderly. My couple were concerned that this apearance would also manifest itself in hidden mechanical probels weithin the home. Their rational was that if the owner didn't take the time to look after their living area, they wouldn't take the time to look after the rest of the property. With their emotions on al ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sun, 05 Dec 2010 12:49:37 -0700

Thursday, December 2, 2010 - November Statistics

The average price of a single family detached property in the Edmonton area continued to soften in November. According to the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton, at $362,657, the average* SFD price was half a percent lower in November than it was in October. Compared to a year ago the price was down by 2.5%. November condo prices saw average price down 2% to $229,603 month-over-month and just under 3% year-over-year. Average duplex/rowhouse prices of $318,605 went up over the previous month (6%) ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:40:59 -0700

Saturday, November 20, 2010 - Timing to Sell

I just returned from having breakfast with a couple whose friend just removed their property from a Commfree listing as it was the "wrong season" to sell. It had been listed for 90 days with no activity. Amazing how myths are taken as truth. Priced correctly with correct marketing and occasionally some patience, any property will sell at any time of the year. Consumers are doing an increasing amount of due diligence prior to purchasing, increasingly relying upon proven databases and competitive ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 20 Nov 2010 10:33:09 -0700

Thursday, November 18, 2010 - Perspective

I recently placed a couple in a very nice house that had been on the market for an extended time. Apparently the combination of pine covered lower walls and orange colored upper walls turned prospective buyers away. My couple realized what could be simply achieved using relatively inexpensive paint and a few hours of labor. The place looks great - and they got a super deal!

posted in General at Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:49:14 -0700

Wednesday, November 17, 2010 - Market Trend

Is the market shifting? In October, St. Albert saw a month/month increase in the median price of single family detached homes of ~12.8%. Compared to the market of October of 2009, the year/year increase was still a respectful ~5.6%.

posted in General at Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:29:17 -0700

Tuesday, November 16, 2010 - Market Pricing

The value of a property is directly related to both the Buyer's desire and the market conditions. So, a property either sells quickly when the desire, the market and the asking price are close -- or a property sits when they are not. While many factors influence the asking price, it is the percieved value that will set the purchase price.

posted in General at Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:45:07 -0700

Monday, November 15, 2010 - Winter

Whilst we have had a reprieve from winter for the past month, it is due to arrive iwth a vengence. Take a moment and do a final check on your furnace, ensuring all is in good working order and the filter is clear. Also, do a quick inspectino on all of your windows and doors for air leaks, empy all outdoor hoses and put your snowshovels where they are easily found! Finally -- mice are looking for warm winter nests, so keep an eye out in your garage for any signs, taking immediate action if th ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 15 Nov 2010 21:03:34 -0700

Sunday, November 14, 2010 - Competition Bureau

The Competition Bureau and the Canadian Real Estate Association have recently agreed on a position which enhances consumer choice, encourages innovation in the market for residential real estate brokerage services to home sellers in Canada. While in essence little has changed, the key points in the agreements are that REALTOR®s now have (1) formal approval to offer flat-fee pricing to put sellers’ listings on the www.realtor.ca and (2) formal approval to put the sellers’ contact inf ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sun, 14 Nov 2010 15:29:22 -0700

Saturday, November 13, 2010 - Market Conditions

Today's market conditions are indeed varied. Entry level single family homes appear to be increasing in value -- high rise condo's in a holding pattern - and many townhouse complexes still reducing slightly. So what to do? One can never state we are at the bottom or top of a cycle -- and making purchase decision based on this finite point is a quesstimate at best. However if you view the market in quartiles, you should be reasaonablyu accurate with your result. Purchasing while in the bot ... Full Article...

posted in General at Sat, 13 Nov 2010 17:26:40 -0700

Friday, November 12, 2010 - Social Media

PROrealty is now active on Twitter, Facebook and LInkedin. We look forward to using this media to keep you informed on all your real estate needs.

posted in General at Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:25:22 -0700

Friday, November 12, 2010 - New Services

I am excited to announce that we now have two Commissioners for Oaths on-Board...myslef and Mr. Kumar. We are now easily able to conveniently serve the Greater Edmonton area.

posted in General at Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:48:05 -0700

Thursday, November 11, 2010 - Welcome to PROrealty

PROrealty is a Brokerage based upon ideals and values. Our motto, "Higher Standards. Higher Results" is more than a tag-line, it reflects a personal commitment from each of our team members. All within our team have perfection as a goal - however may accept excellance in their service fulfillment. THe foundation of our name is simple, "PRO" illustrative of our on-staff Professionals, and "realtyh" illustrative of our ablity to cooperatively serve you in the fulfillment of all of your real e ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 11 Nov 2010 14:18:59 -0700

Thursday, November 11, 2010 - November 11, 2010

PROrealty takes this moment to reflect on and honour those Canadian Champions who have served our country. In many ways they have made sacrifices, from that of personal hardship, family seperation, personal injury to the ultimate sacrifice of their life. All in the order of service, compassion and freedom. We, the PROrealty team, thank you.

posted in General at Thu, 11 Nov 2010 14:14:16 -0700