tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66180867961139155222024-02-20T05:08:38.332-08:00Susan Paulsen's Edmonton Real Estate NewsI am hoping that this blog will assist you in making the right real estate choices and will have very valuable information on the Edmonton and area Real Estate News. If there is anything I can ever do for you let me know. I am with you every step of the way!Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-24399342646284744402012-11-15T08:36:00.001-08:002012-11-15T08:36:42.864-08:00Make your home smarter and more efficient this winter<br />
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Make your home smarter and more efficient this winter</h1>
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Published: <span class="timestamp">Thursday, November 15, 2012 4:26 AM CST</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">(BPT) - The coldest time of the year can also be the busiest. With holiday entertaining, overnight guests and winter getaways, it can be hard to ensure your home heating and other systems are performing for optimal comfort and efficiency. In addition, the Department of Energy reports that no matter what energy source you use, heating this winter will cost more, an important consideration since heating and cooling typically makes up about 54 percent of your utility bill.<br /><br />Now, thanks to new home automation technologies, you can run your home in a smarter and more cost-effective manner than ever before - from wherever life takes you - even from a smartphone, tablet or Web connection.<br /><br />For example, the Nexia(TM) Home Intelligence system from Trane(R) and Schlage(R) allows you to remotely manage multiple systems throughout your home, including heating and cooling, door locks, video surveillance, lights, shades and energy usage via any Web-enabled computer and most smartphones. Designed for today’s mobile lifestyles, it helps you make everything in your home speak one simple language. Visit <a href="http://www.nexiahome.com/" style="color: #660066;">www.nexiahome.com</a> for more information.<br /><br />Such technologies are growing rapidly in popularity as they become more affordable and easier to use. According to ABI Research, the number of home automation systems sold in North America is expected to grow to about 6 million by 2016, a six-fold increase since 2011.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><div id="instory" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right;">
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<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="background-color: white;">Smart temperature control for better comfort <br /><br />Comfort and efficiency starts with smart temperature control for many homeowners. Picking up relatives at the airport? Kick on the heat in the guest bedroom from your smartphone while waiting at the baggage claim. Does one of your guests have allergies? Activate your system’s allergy clean cycle to temporarily boost air filtration and clean air output. Need to adjust home temperatures from your office if a sudden cold snap is predicted? It's all possible with an automated system.<br /><br />For example, the Trane ComfortLink II Control works as an up-to-the-minute weather station inside your home. It can provide you with access to weather information, temperature control and air quality from afar via your smartphone, computer or tablet. In addition, you can create automated heating and cooling schedules to save energy while no one is home, an added advantage if you’re trying to better control winter utility costs. Visit <a href="http://www.trane.com/" style="color: #660066;">www.trane.com</a> for more information.<br /><br />Smart security for peace of mind<br /><br />With all of the family’s comings and goings this winter, home automation can help keep your property secure while you’re away. Planning a weekend at your second home during the holidays? Technology can help you monitor and manage security at your primary home while you’re gone. Need to let a pet sitter inside while you’re on vacation, or open a locked door for a family member who lost a key? Now you can.<br /><br />Schlage, for instance, offers indoor and outdoor cameras that let you view activity around the home or yard. It also offers keypad deadbolts and levers that let you grant access to your home via scheduled codes when you’re not there. You can even receive a text or email alert when there is activity around the home, for greater peace of mind.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Smart connectivity to fit your lifestyle<br /><br />When it comes to home automation systems, you can often pick and choose which devices you wish to control, for smart and efficient use of your budget, too. For example Nexia users pay a monthly subscription fee and then select from up to 200 different devices that can be purchased separately or bundled together, making it easy to expand the level of control as lifestyle needs change. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /></div>
Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-19993121006712692772012-11-06T12:36:00.001-08:002012-11-06T12:36:09.446-08:00Home safety is more than locked doors and alarmsHome safety is more than locked doors and alarms<br />When it comes to home security, most homeowners think about door locks<br />and alarms. These are, of course, very important. However, there is also a<br />lot you can do around your property to prevent the possibility of a break-in.<br />One important part of home security is outdoor lighting. Your home doesn't<br />need to be lit up like a baseball diamond at night, but your exterior lighting<br />should illuminate your yard enough to be a deterrent to burglars.<br />Some burglars hide around the property and wait for someone to arrive and<br />open the door so they can use that opportunity to force their way into your<br />home.<br />Security experts suggest that you walk around your property and look for<br />areas where someone could hide, such as behind tall shrubbery like a cedar<br />hedge or behind a tool shed. Make sure these areas are well lit.<br />Pay particular attention to lighting around exterior doors, especially the back<br />door.<br />Home security experts also recommend that exterior lighting be installed<br />with a timed dimmer. The lights can then be set to cast a bright light in the<br />early evening, and then a dimmer light throughout the rest of the night.<br />Lights installed with motion detectors can also be effective in certain areas.<br />The sensors will cause the light to turn on or brighten when someone comes<br />onto that part of your property. Generally, thieves will flee as soon as they<br />see a light turn on.<br />Do you hide a spare key under the front door mat or in a flower pot? No<br />matter how clever you think you are, experienced thieves know all the<br />common hiding places. So, if you need to have a spare key available, put it<br />in a small combination lock box and hide the box. That way, if a burglar<br />finds the box, he still won't be able to open it and access the key.Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-58524334394617274742012-06-29T13:22:00.004-07:002012-06-29T13:22:36.466-07:00Rate sheets for June 25, 2012<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="400" src="https://www.box.com/embed/s6dlva1mq1c00ma.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="466" wmode="opaque"></embed>Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-34988031366016618192012-06-29T13:18:00.002-07:002012-06-29T13:18:42.822-07:00Informed Buyers and Sellers<embed src="https://www.box.com/embed/5u7xxjc9eks47az.swf" width="466" height="400" wmode="opaque" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always">Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-72850074975965783982012-05-31T11:15:00.005-07:002012-05-31T11:15:54.712-07:00Rates are steady and strong right now. Check out my blog weekly for any changes to the rates, I also have the rate ticker on the front page of my website at<a href="http://www.paulsensells.com/" target="_blank"> www.paulsensells.com .</a><br />
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<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="400" src="https://www.box.com/embed/uxqo4izoyvs4ody.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" wmode="opaque"></embed>Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-32670544880918225562012-05-31T11:10:00.003-07:002012-05-31T11:10:39.631-07:00Do You Know the Basics of Home Security?<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Do You Know the Basics of Home Security?</span><br />
<br />Most people feel confident about the basics of home security. For example: <br />Keep all doors locked. Have a light on in the house while away. Never hide <br />a key outside in an obvious place, like under the mat.<br />
<br />•<span style="color: black;"> Yet, almost a million and a half properties get burglarized in </span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">North America each year. So how can you prevent that from </span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">happening to your home? Here are a few less known home </span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">security basics:</span><br />
<br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">• Actually, never hide a key outside. Thieves know all the hiding </span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">places. Instead, make sure all family members have a key. </span><br />
<br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">• Two-thirds of home burglaries occur during the day. So be </span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">extra vigilant about making sure doors and windows are </span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">locked while you're away during the day.</span><br />
<br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">• Surprisingly, most thieves are not daring. They are 2.7 times </span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">more likely to target a home without an alarm system.</span><br />
<br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">• Thieves will attempt to force entry through sliding-style doors </span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">and windows first. So make sure these have a locking bar or </span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">extra bolt lock.</span><br />
<br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">• Surprising, 40% of household burglaries do not involve forced </span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">entry. The thief is able to slip in through an unlocked window </span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">or door. </span><br />
<br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">• Don't show off possessions! An imported racing bike parked </span><br style="color: black;" />next to the garage, or expensive audio equipment clearly seen <br />through a window, is an invitation to burglars.<br />
<br />• Take a look at the lighting and landscaping around your <br />property. Are there spots where a thief could easily hide? If so, <br />make some changes.<br />
<br />• When planning a trip, have a trusted neighbor pick up <br />newspapers, flyers and anything else that may accumulate at <br />your door. <br />
<br />Your local police department may have more tips and special programs for <br />keeping your home secure. Give them a call.Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-59548175918488753592012-05-04T10:47:00.000-07:002012-05-04T10:47:58.993-07:00How to decide if you should replace your windows<b>How to decide if you should replace your windows</b><br />
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One of the most prominent features of any home is the windows. When they
are well maintained they have a positive impact on the impression people
(such as potential buyers) will have of your property. The opposite occurs,
of course, when your windows look old and worn.
So does that mean you should replace your windows?
That depends on a number of factors. Window replacement can be an
expensive renovation. Here are a few things to consider before making your
decision.<br />
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• Do your windows get frost or condensation build-up on the interior
side? This could be a sign that the windows are not keeping out the
cold as well as they should.<br />
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• Do you see water infiltration or mildew on the interior sides of any of
the window sills? This means that moisture is creeping in from the
outside, and you need to get those windows repaired or replaced as
soon as possible.<br />
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• If your windows are double-paned – (two panes of glass) – check for
any signs of moisture in between the glass panes. Moisture indicates
that the thermal seal is broken and at a minimum, the glass will need
to be replaced.<br />
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• Take a look at your windows from the outside. Is the trim rotted or
cracked anywhere? Are there dark spots or any signs of rotting on
the wood frames? Repairs or replacement may be required.<br />
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• Check the operation of your windows. Do they open and close
easily? This is important because some windows, such as those in
bedrooms, are often designed to be big enough to use as an exit in
case of a fire.
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• Finally, are you happy with how your windows look? Do you feel that
your property will look significantly better with new windows?
Although they are expensive, replacing windows has a lot of advantages.
Depending on the efficiency of your current windows, replacing them could
cut your energy costs by 10-20%. In addition, new windows block out more
exterior noise, making your home quieter.<br />
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Want more tips on increasing the value, and enjoyment, of your property?
Call today.Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-29758104594440579772012-05-01T14:43:00.000-07:002012-05-01T14:43:57.513-07:00Mortgage Rates for the week of May 1, 2012Hi everyone, here are this weeks best rates. Rates have not moved much from last week as far as I can tell. It is still a great time to buy or refinance and the housing market is really starting to pick up!<br />
<embed src="https://www.box.com/embed/dckm501hoq78cos.swf" width="500" height="400" wmode="opaque" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always">Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-64840624907131313792012-04-27T16:12:00.003-07:002012-04-27T16:12:44.064-07:00To use a REALTOR or not...<br />
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I found this very interesting Blog post from Don Campbell of the REIN Group and I wanted to share. There are all kinds of strategies for selling your home and now more than ever people will question if they need a Realtor or not, this is some food for thought.</div>
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To read this article in full <a data-mce-href="http://www.donrcampbell.com/whats-in-your-pocket" href="http://www.donrcampbell.com/whats-in-your-pocket">click Here</a></blockquote>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.donrcampbell.com/whats-in-your-pocket" href="http://www.donrcampbell.com/whats-in-your-pocket"></a><a data-mce-href="http://www.donrcampbell.com/whats-in-your-pocket" href="http://www.donrcampbell.com/whats-in-your-pocket">So you’ve decided to sell your home or investment property and you’re looking at different options and their related expenses for your exit strategy. With closing costs, marketing the property and everything in between, the additional cost of hiring a professional realtor seems like an unnecessary expense. And of course you’ve likely had this questions run through your mind: “How much is a realtor going to take out of my pocket?”</a><a data-mce-href="http://www.donrcampbell.com/whats-in-your-pocket" href="http://www.donrcampbell.com/whats-in-your-pocket">This is one of the biggest mistakes people make when deciding to sell their property and often is a decision that COSTS money rather than saves it. If you have the right realtor on your side, the chance to attract buyers willing to pay more for your property is much higher than if you chose to sell/list the property yourself. You might be paying a commission to your realtor in the end, but what if that saves you an extra $10,000 overall? Seems like something for serious consideration.</a></blockquote>
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I know having a full time, full service Realtor is a great benefit when selling a home! </div>Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-5905577883895975272012-04-20T13:53:00.001-07:002012-04-20T13:53:26.595-07:00Mortgage Rates for the week of April 16th<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="400" src="https://www.box.com/embed/fjsbqcpdzj2oyee.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" wmode="opaque"></embed>Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-59550835279508609372012-04-11T12:54:00.000-07:002012-04-11T12:54:17.043-07:00This weeks mortgage ratesHers are the latest mortgage rates for this week.<br />
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Here is the latest Rate sheet for the week of April 2-9th, 2012, rates have gone up slightly from last week but still very low! Now is a great time to mortgage a home who knows how long these rates will last but it seems lately that they rise then fall, but who knows if or when they will fall again. If you have questions please feel free to give me a call or <a href="http://www.paulsensells.com/contact_agent.php" target="_blank">Contact Me</a> for more information<br />
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Cheers SusanSusan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-55090134290187546512012-03-29T10:11:00.000-07:002012-03-29T10:17:07.856-07:00Mortgage News and RatesI was sent a very interesting article on Mortgages and lending rules. I often find that new home buyers are not sure how all of this works, So over the next couple of weeks I will be posting some information on how mortgages work and how the Mortgage brokers work with you.
There is a lot of varying opinions on whether to use a mortgage professional or a bank to mortgage your new purchase. I would say that it is personal preference.<br />
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There are a couple of things to consider though. If you are more comfortable with your bank then make sure that you research what the best rates are available and make sure that your bank can match these rates. I can help with this as I always have a current rate sheet with me and I will be posting a current rate sheet here and on my Facebook page for you to see. I will update these every week so that my followers can have a better idea of what is going on in the mortgage market.
This article in general caught my eye and it could mean changes to the lending rules in Canada.
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<a href="http://www.canadianmortgagetrends.com/canadian_mortgage_trends/2012/03/flaherty-tells-banks-do-your-jobs.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">March 22, 2012 Flaherty Tells Banks: Do Your Jobs</span></a></h2>
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Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, says it’s “a bit odd” that banks are asking the government to tighten mortgage rules.</div>
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Banks ultimately control who they lend to and shouldn’t require babysitting, or so one would think.</div>
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In comments made today, Flaherty hinted that we might not see further mortgage regulations in the near future.</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">These were his quotes from earlier, some of which were semi-amusing and certainly refreshing from a common sense standpoint:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.canadianmortgagetrends.com/canadian_mortgage_trends/2012/03/flaherty-tells-banks-do-your-jobs.html" target="_blank">read more here</a><br />
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I have also attached the latest rate sheet here. If you have any questions please contact me, I am always here to answer all of your questions.<br />
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Cheers<br />
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Susan!Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-51505105095040689232012-03-27T11:26:00.000-07:002012-03-27T11:26:55.147-07:00I thought I would put together some information on Understanding the Real Estate Market better if you are selling your home and a guide to feedback. This is all very valuable information when listing your home and how feedback and when and how many times it is being shown comes into play. I hope that you find this helpful. If you have any questions about this please let me know, I would be happy to answer all and any of them! <br />
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Cheers Susan<br />
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<embed src="http://www.box.com/embed/0734sxdddjvq896.swf" width="600" height="500" wmode="opaque" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always">Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-87525830769410751832012-03-15T14:09:00.001-07:002012-03-15T14:09:23.985-07:00RBC Housing Affordability Index March 2012Check out the latest housing affordability index for Canada. Edmonton is still one of the most reasonable and affordable places to live according to the March 2012 report. This is great to see and should mean that Edmonton should stay on top in Economic Growth and the housing market.<br />
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<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="500" src="http://www.box.com/embed/xl25qgv64j8xdzs.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="466" wmode="opaque"></embed>Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-40723846762863561132012-03-05T12:13:00.002-08:002012-03-05T12:13:16.105-08:00I found a great Garage Storage IdeaI was browsing the web and I came across a great Website with a wonderful idea for storage in thew garage.
<a href="http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Home-Organization/Garage-Storage/create-a-sliding-storage-system-on-the-garage-ceiling/Step-By-Step#.T1UdxekcebY.blogger">Create a Sliding Storage System On the Garage Ceiling | The Family Handyman</a><br />
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What a great idea to save space!Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-48419441593887088032012-03-05T11:32:00.002-08:002012-03-05T11:38:34.871-08:00Alberta Outlook from CMHC<a href="http://www.box.com/s/ecefqvi5b8xuu1z1zsgo" target="_blank">http://www.box.com/s/ecefqvi5b8xuu1z1zsgo</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="400" src="http://www.box.com/embed/k11kyplj5v8aqjt.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="466" wmode="opaque"></embed>Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-65936575886605075502012-03-02T11:54:00.002-08:002012-03-02T11:54:41.306-08:00February Housing Prices Rise with Sales - REALTORS®<div style="text-align: -webkit-left;">
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February Housing Prices Rise with Sales - REALTORS®</div>
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<span class="heading2" style="font-weight: bold;">Edmonton, March 2, 2012</span>: The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton reports that housing prices were up in all housing categories in February in the Edmonton area. The all-residential average1 price, at $329,911, was up 3.7% from January and up 5.7% when compared to the same month last year.</div>
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“Average prices in February were higher than the year-long average price for last year,” said REALTORS® Association of Edmonton President Doug Singleton. “Buyers seem to have confidence and REALTOR® offices are reporting solid traffic. This is lifting prices up and they are already higher than at the same time in the past two years.”</div>
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In February, the average price of a single family detached (SFD) home was $375,268, up 3.1% from the previous month. The average price of a condominium in February was $234,973, up 8.5% from the January price. This is higher than all months except May of last year. Duplex and rowhouse properties sold on average for $306,491; a 1.4% improvement from the previous month.</div>
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Year-over-year prices were also up in all categories. Single family properties were up 4.8%; condos were up 1.7% and duplex/rowhouses were up 0.2% from the same month last year.</div>
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Sales and listings by REALTORS® on the Multiple Listing Service® System in February were both up from January and the sales-to-listing ratio recovered from 36% in January to 46% in February. This indicates that less than half of the residential properties listed were sold and provides fresh property options for buyers who may have been looking for several months. Sellers should be pleased to see that the average days-on-market in February was 54; down from 65 in January.</div>
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There were 5,976 residential properties in the local MLS® System at the end of January. Although the inventory was up from last month, it is lower than a year ago when there were 6,389 properties available for sale on the MLS® System.</div>
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“Nationally the housing still appears to be soft,” said Singleton. “But the local market is much more robust. Consult your local REALTOR® for the most comprehensive local market information. REALTORS® are here when life happens.”</div>Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-77682821039821166042012-01-13T13:47:00.000-08:002012-01-13T13:49:54.280-08:00Edmonton Real Estate Stats for the Month of December<p style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="heading2" style="font-weight: bold; ">Edmonton, January 4, 2012</span>: The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton reported that the all-residential average price for real estate sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in December was up 1.7% ($316,415) from a year ago. The average price of a single family detached home was also up 2.0% to $364,803 from December 2010. Relative to last December housing prices were up overall as well. As typical for December when sales usually fall off, month over month sales were down 27% and prices dipped 1.5% as compared to the November figures.</p><p style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">“With economic uncertainty impacting Europe and depressed housing markets in parts of the United States, it is a relief to report on the stability and health of the local real estate market,” said REALTORS® Association of Edmonton President (2011) Chris Mooney. “With prices and sales varying within a small range there is a solid base going forward into the 2012 market.”</p><p style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">In November the average price of a single family detached home was $364,924 and dipped just 0.3% in December. A year ago the average price was $357,636. That stability was reflected in condo pricing as well. In November the average price of a condo was $228,689 and the December price of $227,679 was down just 0.4%. A year ago the average condo price was $225,641. Duplex and rowhouse properties sold on average for $282,620, a 9.7% drop from a year ago.</p><p style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The average residential price (including all SFD, condo, duplex, townhouse properties sold in the Greater Edmonton Area) was $316,415: down from November by 1.5%. There were 1,085 properties listed and 827 sold in December. There were 1,088 listings and 829 sales in December 2010. With slower sales the Days-on-market was 65 and the sales-to-listing ratio was a high for the year of 76.2%.</p><p style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Looking back over the year, Mooney was content. “Last January, I forecast a 3% increase in single family prices and no movement in condo prices when comparing December to December. We ended up with a change of about half that overall and condo prices up. Homeowners generally saw an equity increase in the value of their homes in 2011.”</p><p style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The all-residential average price for the entire year was $325,457 as compared to $329,019 in 2010. There were 10,962 SFD sales (up 5.5%) in 2011 and 4,638 (down 0.4%) condo sales. Total residential sales were 16,893 units (up 3.8%) on listings of 30,906 units (down 2.0%).<br /> <br />Total MLS® sales (including residential, rural, recreational and commercial properties) were valued at $6.29 billion and represented 39,350 listings and 18,986 sales transactions. “REALTORS® were involved in almost 60,000 real estate transactions in 2011 and advised on thousands more that never materialized. There were tens of thousands of business people, families and individuals who met with one of our 3,200 REALTOR® members this year, and I am proud of their service to the community and the local economy,” said Mooney.</p><p style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">REALTORS® also provided funding of $300,000 to 44 community groups this year through the REALTORS® Community Foundation and supported arts, heritage and community events through marketing and individual contributions. The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton printed over 2.5 million copies of the <em>Real Estate Weekly</em> in 51 issues and 1,061 members participated in professional development courses including 225 new members and 20 new broker/managers.</p><p style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></p><p style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">To see the latest Stats please<a href="http://www.ereb.com/pdf/MonthlyStats.pdf"> click link here</a></p><p style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></p><p style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></p>Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-62105166404295910212010-06-14T08:27:00.000-07:002010-06-14T08:42:48.233-07:00Hot Tips for a Cooler Kitchen<span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The warm kitchen that felt so snug when there was snow on the ground can rapidly become a sweltering oven in Edmonton's summer. The saving grace is that many of the tricks to keeping a kitchen comfortable in warm weather are also energy efficient and benefit the environment too. Sometimes you can kill two birds with one stone.</span> </span><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Energy saving kitchen appliances such as electric skillets, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">slo</span>-cookers, and toaster ovens can be used to make meals instead of firing up your large range top or broiler.</span></li><li><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Microwave ovens and pressure cookers can cook an item quickly, using less energy and saving a significant amount of time as well. Use them in place of your large oven. </span></li><li><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Foods cook more quickly when they are chopped into smaller pieces. Reduced cooking time results in less energy use and a more comfortable kitchen. </span></li><li><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Foods will cook in less time and save <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">energy</span> if you put lids on the pans and make sure that the burner size matches. </span></li><li><span style="color:#cc33cc;">The kitchen will remain cooler if you preheat the oven only when the recipe calls for it. </span></li><li><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Heating</span> a second item in the o<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">ven</span> at the same time also saves energy.</span></li><li><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Opening the oven door unnecessarily can cause an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">oven's</span> temperature to fall by 50F (25C) or more. It <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">is better</span> to look through the oven window. </span></li><li><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Use the dishwasher only when packed with a full load and allow the contents to air-dry the old-fashioned way. </span></li></ul>Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-60123379562701627932010-05-27T13:20:00.000-07:002010-05-27T13:53:52.757-07:00The Biggest First-Time Buying Errors<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#330099;">According to one advisor the six biggest mistakes made by many first time home buyers are:</span> </div><br /><ol><li><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#33cc00;">Not taking care of their credit score. This can make a very significant difference to the interest rate a borrower is charged.</span></div></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;">Making a big purchase just before or during a mortgage application. This will almost certainly be reflected in your credit score. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#33cc00;">Not having a proper inspection done before the purchase. Missing a serious problem with the house can cost thousands - if not now, then when you go to sell the house.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;">Not having an experienced real estate attorney on your side. An attorney is objective. Everyone else wants to push the deal through as quickly as possible.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#33cc00;">Not including the proper escape clauses in the initial contract. If you are not careful you could lose your deposit when things go wrong.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Not budgeting enough for insurance. In some cases special insurance such as flood insurance can cost thousands more than just basic insurance.</span> </span></li></ol><p>Source: CNNMoney.com</p>Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-82898380053906231462010-05-14T14:23:00.000-07:002010-05-14T14:29:15.315-07:00Uplifting & Encouraging Ideas<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;"><strong>"A lot of little things can make a big difference".</strong></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">- Think of this in every aspect of life and it will go a long way.</span>Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6618086796113915522.post-88380349646845863542010-04-21T13:59:00.000-07:002010-04-21T14:01:36.949-07:00Who is your favorite trades person or service?<span style="font-size:180%;color:#666600;">Share your favorite home trades person or service. Be apart of my home resource book, I will put their name out there!</span>Susan Paulsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07576437601953802548noreply@blogger.com0