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CREB Now
By Marty Hope
LOVE OF THE LAND
Silverhorn acreage development focuses on conservation and enhancement of nature
For 25 years, Mark Kwasnicki has not only been living in the Bearspaw area on the doorstep of Calgary's northern boundary, he has also been building large, custom homes for some who would become his neighbours.
He knows what people want when it comes to acreage homes - including the high-end construction specs, impressive designs, and all the bells and whistles - but he also knows what they want from the development itself.
That knowledge is reflected in the fact that his company, McKinley Masters, has received several Calgary housing industry awards for $1-million-plus homes.
Now, Kwasnicki has drawn from what he has learned over years of building acreage and estate homes to create an 87-home "conservation" development called Silverhorn.
"In our conservation development, we pay as much attention to preserving and enhancing the natural surroundings as we to do the design and construction of the homes being built," said Kwasnicki.
Kwasnicki recruited the services of the Calgary office of IBI Group, a globally integrated architecture, planning, engineering and technology firm, to assist with his vision.
The conservation -planning considerations the partnership introduced included how to create the most value with natural open space and how to preserve the largest amount of open space possible, while ensuring there was an appropriate amount of space to build houses, roads and required utilities.
"Areas where trees had to be removed for roads and utilities, for instance, will be harvested and replanted elsewhere on the property," said Kwasnicki.
In the end, as much as 50 per cent of the 280-acre, exclusive community will be left in its natural state.
Each home site measures between 1.3 and 2.1 acres, and is priced from $475,000 to $630,000.
"A lot of time and effort has gone into preserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the land, and into reducing the footprint of the homes," said Kwasnicki.
What the final Silverhorn plan includes, for those people considering an acreage lifestyle, is a sense of stewardship of the land, a strong blend of tree stands and open space, natural wetlands, and a pathway system meandering over 12 kilometres. On top of that, the community offers a treated septic system, connection to the Rocky View Water Co-op, lighted roads, high-speed internet, and fast access to Calgary and Cochrane.
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Better Homes & Gardens
Natural Ways to Make Your Home Smell Amazing
Try these natural remedies to banish household odors and refresh with natural finds!
Lemon and Rosemary
DIY STOVE TOP HOME FRAGRANCE
INGREDIENTS:
- Pint sized mason jar
- 2 small lemons
- 2-3 sprigs of rosemary
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Water
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Cut lemons into thin slices
- Put sliced lemons, rosemary and vanilla into pint sized mason jar
- Fill jar with water and cover with lid
- Jar can be refrigerated for 1-2 weeks
- When ready to use, pour contents of jar into a sauce pan along with an extra cup of water
Bring water to a boil on the stove and then reduce to a low simmer
See 7 other natural fragrances by clicking on the article.
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BORED PANDA
33 Amazing Ideas That Will Make Your House Awesome
We've all got some sort of idea of how our dream home might look. Some of us have just got to have a pool, while others want clever modern design, sustainability, or integration with natural elements. No matter what it is that makes your dream home unique, here are a few examples of homes where people have been able to realize some of their greatest home design fantasies.
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VARIOUS WEBSITES
CALGARY FACTS
DID YOU KNOW?
1. Calgary, traditionally known as Moh'kinsstis, is situated on the traditional territory of the Treaty 7 Nations. On March 23rd, Traditional Knowledge Keepers, Treaty 7 Chiefs, members of City Council and the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee, raised the Treaty 7 Flag for the first time at City Hall.
2.
The city is as diverse as any city can get. A whopping 120 languages are spoken in the city.
3. In 1974, ginger beef was invented by a chef at the Silver Inn.
4.
Calgary receives an average of 2600 hours of sun per year. This makes it the sunniest city in Canada.
5. Nearly 100 Years Ago, the Stampede Was Interrupted by a Plane Crash.
During the 1919 Stampede, the revellers of Calgary had their midway fun suddenly interrupted by the expected emergency landing of a Curtis Jenny biplane on top of the midway carousel.
6. There is over 7,000 hectares of park land within Calgary.
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METRO News
Alberta College of Art and Design receives university status
The Government of Alberta announced on Thursday that the only post-secondary arts institution in the Prairies will be shedding their title as a college
While working toward her Bachelor's Degree for the past five years at Alberta College of Art + Design (ACAD), Camille Porcheron was often faced with the same confused question from others: "Five years? You mean it's not a diploma?"
"It's pretty common when you tell people you're going to an art college to not really understand what we do," she said.
But, as a student and member of the ACAD Students' Association, Porcheron said she felt validated as the Alberta government announced that ACAD was officially being given university status on Thursday.
ACAD has been offering full degrees for years, and is the only post-secondary exclusively dedicated to arts education in the Prairies. Marlin Schmidt, Alberta Minister of Advanced Education, said it was "well-past time" that the province acknowledged the school's role.
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CREB
SURVEY SAYS
CMHC report includes interesting findings on prospective homebuyers
"THE SURVEY DID REALLY GIVE US SOME INTERESTING FINDINGS ON SOME OF THE DIFFERENT THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIOURS OF THESE GROUPS FOR WHEN THEY ARE ABOUT TO BUY A HOME." - PICHU KALYNIUK, CMHC ACCOUNT MANAGER IN CALGARY
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HUFFINGTON POST
How To Tackle Spring Cleaning Without Losing Your Mind
Experts share their tips for even the most cleaning-averse.
As a new, warmer season inches closer, you might get the itch to start purging, cleaning and organizing.
Spring cleaning is a popular task to tackle, but sometimes it's hard to figure out where to start. We chatted with organization and home decor experts to learn how to make the most of your time while giving your home a nice, fresh redo for spring.
1. Start small
2. Make sure you have the right tools ahead of time
3. Parents, get the kids involved
4. Don't be afraid to get creative
Click on the link to go to the article. Here's what they want you to know...
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IDEAL HOME
Home decor trends 2018 - we predict the key looks for interiors
Home decor trends to look out for to help you stay ahead of the curve in 2018
Click on the link below to go to the article which shows so much more...
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'More than ever, now is the time to be realistic and strategic pricing your home!'
The Calgary real estate market was a little slower this February than last year. According to statistics gathered by CREB*, there were 1747 sales in February 2017, and 1509 sales in February 2018. This trend is continuing into March where we are seeing less sales in the first 15 days, compared with last year. March 1- 15, 2017, there were 1149 sales, and in the first 15 days of March 2018, there have only been 780 sales.
There are a number of factors contributing to the slower market, including buyers adjusting to higher mortgage rates, more stringent rules to qualify for insured mortgages and an economy in Calgary that is steadily recovering but not yet in full swing. In addition, the winter deep freeze Calgarians have been experiencing is likely not helping, by keeping many of us indoors.
Each morning, I check the CREB stats and have noticed that for every one sale, there are two new listings that have come on the market in the past 24 hours. This morning, there were 203 sales posted and 442 new listings. The new listings would include properties that had expired and re-listed, so technically not a brand new listing. As well, there were 281 price reductions recorded over the past 24 hours.
What does this tell us as we head into the Spring Market?
1. Buyers will have more choice and time to comparison shop
2. Sellers will have more competition
3. Sellers, if not priced correctly for the market, can likely expect more days on the
market, and more showings before selling
4. Homes that show well and offer the best value will sell the fastest
Homes are selling, and we are selling lots of them, but the competition is stiffer. The listings getting the offers are the ones that offer the best product, for the best value, and they sell in the shortest period of time. More than ever, now is the time to be realistic and strategic when pricing your home and preparing to sell.
Let us help you sell your home! We offer free home evaluations and look forward to meeting with you to discuss how to best position your home to sell for all it is worth in today's market. Call any time, we are here for you!
* CREB is the Calgary Real Estate Board
Best regards,
Kelly and Team
Kelly McKelvie
403-247-9988
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Condos & Townhomes For Sale
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CREB
A BUMPY ROAD TO RECOVERY
Calgary housing market prices hold, but sales fall
Feb. 2018 City of Calgary, March 1, 2018 - Residential home sales declined in February, but a decline in new listings helped keep prices steady this month. Sales totaled 1,094 units in February, 18 per cent below last year's activity. Easing sales occurred across all property types this month, which outpaced the sales growth that occurred in January. After the first two months of the year, sales activity remains well below longerterm averages. "Housing market conditions are still adjusting to rising lending rates and changes in lending requirements. This process is expected to be bumpy, with demand adjustments leading the changes," said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie. "However, it is important to remember that it is early in the process and the impact on prices will ultimately be dependent on the supply response." A decline in new listings was not enough to prevent further gains in inventory levels, but it offset some of the impact of slower sales activity. In the detached sector, activity in the $600,000 - $999,999 range recorded the largest gains in supply relative to sales. "This is a market where the fundamentals of a sound pricing strategy need to be understood by sellers. At the same time, savvy buyers typically have a clear understanding of how much of a mortgage they can get," said CREB® president Tom Westcott. "With all the recent changes, potential purchasers should be obtaining pre-approvals so they understand exactly what they can afford prior to making an offer on a home. It also provides them flexibility in this market." Citywide benchmark prices totaled $434,300 in February, which is just above levels recorded last month, but comparable to last years levels. While year-over-year price growth remained relatively stable in both the detached and attached markets, apartment prices remained three per cent below last year's levels.
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HOUSING MARKET FACTS
* Year-to-date sales activity remained below long-term norms for all districts within the city, but year-over-year price adjustments ranged from over six per cent declines to four per cent gains, depending on district and property type.
* After the first two months of the year, detached sales totaled 1,240 units. This is 12 per cent below last year and 22 per cent below long-term averages. When considering supply levels in the market, conditions have remained relatively unchanged, as months of supply continues to sit just below four months. Detached benchmark prices this year have averaged $501,100, similar to levels recorded last year.
* The apartment condominium market continues to remain oversupplied, with months of supply averaging nearly eight months so far this year, which is higher than the average of seven months recorded over the same time last year. Elevated supply levels are preventing any price recovery, as the benchmark price has averaged $256,300 this year, three per cent below last year.
* Semi-detached and row product continue to demonstrate different levels of oversupply, impacting price recovery. Semi-detached prices have averaged $417,300 so far this year, over one per cent higher than levels recorded last year. Meanwhile, row prices continue to ease and are averaging $296,050 over the same time frame.
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CALGARY HERALD
By Josh Skapin
Calgary's real estate market expected to hold steady in 2018
While the city's economy is recovering, when it comes to resale housing activity in Calgary this year, an economist is expecting conditions to go "relatively unchanged."
Calgary Real Estate Board chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie delivered her annual forecast for the city's resale home market to a crowd at the BMO Centre this week.
"What we expect for this year is much more of the same of what we saw last year," said Lurie. "Improving economic conditions are helping our market, but what's offsetting it is that we have higher rates now and different mortgage qualifications.
"What we're looking at is a lot more stability in our market and not a lot of changes," she says. "But obviously it depends on the sector you're dealing with."
The Conference Board of Canada projects 2.13 per cent employment growth and 2.46 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the Calgary census metropolitan area in 2018.
"Economically, we are seeing a recovery," Lurie said. "It is a slow-paced recovery. But in housing, it's more than just that the economics are improving, but because we have that increase in rates and more qualifications, it's almost creating some of those obstacles or challenges that slow recovery. It doesn't mean we're not covering, it's just slowing that path of recovery."
The change in mortgage qualifications came through the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions starting Jan. 1 of this year.
A new "stress test" is now needed for uninsured mortgages that requires the borrower to qualify at the higher figure between the five-year benchmark rate published by the Bank of Canada and two per cent above the contracted mortgage rate.
CREB expects resale activity in home styles of all kinds to record a modest decline in 2018, easing to 18,853 deals from 18,882 in 2017.
Sales in 2015 and 2016 were 18,839 and 17,796, respectively.
The only individual segment expected to see slower sales this year is single-family homes. It's forecasted to slip to 11,680 transactions from 11,831 last year, says CREB.
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Here are some useful links to great websites that feature...
THINGS TO DO AROUND CALGARY
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CREB Now
By Gerald Vander Pyl
RED CARPET MOMENT
Calgary region has rich history and bright future on film
You're watching a movie or TV show when something catches your eye.
"I know that place!" you exclaim, as a character enters a pizza place on a city street, or rides a horse through a wheat field with a majestic mountain backdrop.
Calgary and its surrounding areas are becoming increasingly popular as filming locations for major movie and television productions - making famous places that Calgarians know well.
"We have 100 years of history here," said Luke Azevedo, Calgary film commissioner and CEO of the Calgary Film Centre. "We're one of the oldest locations outside of Hollywood for production."
Azevedo says Alberta had the first film commission in Canada and was the first province to have an incentive program. "We have been attracting film and television production for a long time," he said.
"The Revenant, Interstellar, Inception, The Bourne Legacy. Fargo season one, two and three. Tin Star season one and two. The longest-running Canadian dramatic series, Heartland, has been here for 12 years. Millions of dollars of commercial production and activity in the region on a consistent basis yearly."
He says of the $308 million in production activity last year in Alberta, 82 per cent was in the Calgary region.
The local industry was given a boost in 2016 when the provincial government and the City teamed up to develop the $28-million Calgary Film Centre, which offers 50,000 square feet of studio space along with workshops and warehouses.
"It has hosted Fargo, Tin Star, multiple commercials and some small productions over the last two years," said Azevedo. "And we want to see it continuously grow and develop."
Last year, the Alberta government updated its incentive program by replacing the previous Alberta Production Grant with the new Screen-Based Production Grant, which allows companies to claim back up to 30 per cent of eligible production expenses made in Alberta, up to a maximum of $7.5 million per project.
"Any production looking to go anywhere looks at the (local) incentive and how it works for them," said Greg Ball, executive director and commissioner with the Government of Alberta's cultural industries branch, which includes Alberta Film.
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The Huffington Post
By Daniel Tencer
Canadian Housing Affordability Is Now Improving, After Years Of Deterioration
National Bank forecasts falling house prices in Toronto, Vancouver this year.
Good news, stressed-out, would-be homebuyers: You may not have to give up on your dream of owning a home in one of Canada's pricey cities just yet.
For the first time in nearly three years, housing affordability in Canada is actually improving.
The National Bank of Canada's home affordability measure fell 0.2 points in the fourth quarter of 2017, meaning that an average mortgage on a representative home was slightly cheaper than it was a quarter earlier.
That's the first time that has happened since the second quarter of 2015, the bank said in a client note Thursday.
It's largely thanks to two phenomena:
"The countrywide fourth-quarter wage growth of 5.7 per cent annualized was the strongest in more than three years," National Bank economists Matthieu Arseneau and Kyle Dahms wrote.
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INTERESTING HOMES FOR SALE
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HOMESANDMONEY.com
By Craig Donofrio
Strange Homes: 25 Oddities of the Real Estate Market
If price were no option, what would you buy?
You could go for the more traditional luxury home with all the normal bells and whistles. Or you could have the most peculiar property in town.
From a ranch where aliens visit to a Hobbit house to a gigantic nuclear missile silo, these houses will have you scratching your head and imagining what life there might be like.
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VARIOUS WEBSITES
STRANGE ALBERTA LAWS
Alberta laws that are currently in place.
1. An old law in Calgary prohibits throwing snowballs unless authorized by the mayor or city council.
2. You cannot paint a wooden ladder in Alberta, according to 2009's
Occupational Health and Safety Code. This is apparently to ensure you can tell the condition of such a ladder, since "a wooden ladder may be preserved with a transparent protective coating," according to the code.
3. Its illegal for someone under the age of 15 to be outside without a guardian between the hours of 12am and 6am in St. Paul, Alberta.
4. Rails to tie horses must be provided by businesses in Alberta.
5. In Alberta it's illegal to set fire to the leg of a wooden-legged man.
6. In Calgary it is illegal to buy or sell non prescription contact lenses at costume shops.
7.
Province-wide, Alberta: It is illegal to own a pet rat.
8. In Calgary, if released from prison, it is required that you are given a handgun with bullets and a horse, so you can ride out of town.
9.
Hunting by flashlight is against the law in Alberta.
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Good Housekeeping
22 Cleaning Problems You Can Solve With Baking Soda
Store a box of this stuff in every room of your house.
 1. Remove stains from plastic food containers.
2. Refresh a foul-smelling fridge.
3. Clean store-bought fruits and veggies.
4. Scrub down kitchen surfaces.
5. Deep-clean extra greasy dishes and pans.
6. Revive stale-smelling sponges.
7. Deodorize musty upholstery.
8. De-stink pet beds.
9. Give new life to old toys.
10. Scrub a crayon-covered wall.
11. Banish mildew from bathrooms.
12. Dust stuffed animals.
13. Brighten dingy laundry.
14. De-clog a drain.
15. Refresh smelly sneakers.
16. Eliminate garbage can odors.
17. Clean up a garage oil spill.
18. Scrub a messy grill.
19. Wipe down dirty patio furniture.
20. Fight linen closet smells.
21. Buff out white water rings.
22. Brighten dull jewelry.
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CALGARY SECONDARY SUITE UPDATES
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METRO
By Brodie Thomas
What Calgary's secondary suite reforms mean for your neighbourhood
Owners of illegal suites will have an amnesty period so owners can get them up to code
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You may have heard that city council made some changes to Calgary's secondary suite bylaws on Monday, but wondering what the changes actually mean for you.
The changes brought forward make secondary suites a discretionary use in homes zoned R-1, R-C1, and R-C1L.
That means most homeowners can apply to have a suite by filing a development permit with the city's planning department instead of presenting their applications before council.
Planning staff will review all applications going forward and make decisions based on a proposed suite's planning merits, and whether it meets all the requirements.
Neighbours and community associations will still be able to provide comments during the review process, and decisions can still be appealed.
Registering your suite on the city's public registry is now mandatory, and the city said there will be a two-year amnesty period until June 2020 for owners of existing illegal suites to bring them up to code.
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Until that time, fees for the development permit and for the registry will be waived.
"With these changes, we anticipate more owners of illegal suites coming forward with applications to upgrade their suites, to make them safer," said Lisa Kahn, growth strategies coordinator with the City of Calgary.
"The proposed changes mean that property owners have the ability to develop a suite without having to go through the lengthy City Council approval process, but will work with Planning and Development staff at The City of Calgary to ensure that all the requirements - like off-street parking, window sizes and safety codes - are met."
She added the changes will make it easier for owners of illegal suites to apply for the proper permits required to bring the units up to safety standards.
Backyard suites are not yet included in all this - although they have been approved as discretionary, city administration is working on guidelines for backyard suites and hopes to have those ready before the end of this year.
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More information can be found online at www.calgary.ca/suitereform.
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Sincerely,
