UBER has transformed how many Edmontonians get around the city. No matter your position on the controversial personal taxi company, the convenience of the service is indisputable. We wanted to see how UBER has transformed one of the least loved commutes in Edmonton: the long trek to the Edmontion International Airport.


If you're a frequent traveller, trips to the airport can eat up a lot of time and cash. Next time you're looking for a new home, use this handy graphic to learn the easiest and cheapest Edmonton neighbourhoods from which to UBER to the airport. We used a free tool, uberestimate.com, to determine our estimated times and prices. Many factors go into your transit time and price: proximity to the Anthony Henday Ring Road, how north you are,…

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Different mortgages are available depending on your situation. It’s important that both current and prospective homeowners realize the advantages and disadvantages of each type of loan. Today, we’ve outlined some of the major differences between two loans, open and closed.


Open Mortgage


This type of mortgage allows you to pay off the principal amount on your own schedule without facing any penalties.

For those who are self employed, own a business, or get paid at irregular intervals, this type of mortgage is the more appealing option. If you had a profitable year, you can choose to put that extra money towards the mortgage; it also allows you to use any funds you earn from your liquid assets (investments such as stocks and bonds) or non liquid…

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For many people, buying a home is the most important purchase they’ll ever make. Whether you’re looking for a cozy condo or you want to settle down in the suburbs, it signals a new chapter in your life. Going through the buying process and paperwork takes time, but seeing a first-time buyer walk through their new home is one of the best parts about my job.


I’ve worked with people from all walks of life who have different ideas of what their first home looks like. Over the years, I’ve learned that if you work with your realtor, do a little bit of homework, and follow these 5 tips, you'll avoid the stress that comes with buying their first home.

 

#1 Know Your Budget 


Before you go home hunting, it's important that you're aware of the…

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A few weeks back we talked about the 5 renovations that pay off but these week we are discussing the opposite: which renovations don’t add value to your home? Depending on your personal taste and interests, you might be surprised to see some of the items on this list.

To be clear, if you already have a home that has one of these things, that’s not automatically a bad thing – just realize that each of the mentioned points below make it a bit harder to sell. The key theme here is trying to cater your home to the largest group of people so it has a much easier time selling.  

1. Deck

I know what you’re thinking…who doesn’t love a deck? While it’s true that a deck usually increases desirability of a particular home, it doesn’t necessarily mean the …

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Even the best properties in the most booming economies can struggle to sell when something is “off” about it. Whether you are buying or selling, there are a few common real estate deal breakers that put up red flags and ruin what could otherwise be a successful sale.

Make sure you avoid making these mistakes when buying (and selling) or risk letting your dream home slip through your fingers!

1. Unrealistic price

It should come as no surprise that the most common real estate deal breaker is due to unrealistic expectations from the seller on price. In other words, it’s too expensive!

SOLUTION: Sellers need to be sensitive to what the market demands and sometimes this can be difficult depending on the price you purchased your home for and the…

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The latest Edmonton real estate market stats for February 2014 are in and showing quite a bit of promise. With an amazing 24% increase in home sold, buying season is getting an early (and strong) start this year.

There is no question that February was a busy month for realtors in the Edmonton area. Greg Steele, President of the REATLORS Association of Edmonton, echoed these sentiments while noting that spring is only beginning and we should look forward to higher sales this month and moving forward into 2014. This is great news if you are selling but also if you are buying as a slight increase in listings will provide some balance to the market and give buyers more options.

Check out some of the highlights from the Edmonton real estate stats for…

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You can tell spring is around the corner because this month is stacked with exciting Edmonton events and great concerts across the city. It’s a good time to start getting outside of the house and absorbing yourself into one (or several) activities.

Despite our cold weather, you’ll have no trouble finding something to do this month whether it’s tasting fine cuisine from an Icelandic chef, checking out some “art-in-motion” at the Expanse Festival or enjoying some rum and whiskey tastings at Wine & Beyond. Concert season also seems to be ramping up with Edmonton concert listings featuring Lady Antebellum, ZZ Top, Yes, T-Pain and even famous up and coming comedian Bill Burr.

Edmonton Events For March 2014

Harry Potter: The Exhibition

March 4 –…

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Is your neighbourhood experiencing gentrification? What are some of the tell-tale signs of gentrification to look for?

Knowing the answer to this question can either save you lots of money or make you even more if you're in the market for a home. Buy low and sell high didn't become the most repeated saying in the investment world for no reason - that's how you get a real return on your investment and, in this case, potentially wind up in the hottest up and coming neighbourhoods before they become too expensive.

It's not always easy to tell when an area is about to explode in value but there are definitely some long term indications that you can look for. Whether you are thinking about selling your home or buying one to build equity, here are some of…

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Whether you are selling your first home or looking to increase the value of an investment property, most homeowners are curious about renovations that increase value to your home. The fact is, not all renovations are created equal, nor do they all give you the ROI you are likely looking for when sinking extra cash into your property.

In my experience, these are a few of the best renovations that increase value on your home and are sure to impress prospective buyers when they come to check it out!

5 Home Renovations That Increase Value

1. A Fresh Coat of Paint

Nothing freshens up a home like a fresh coat of paint! Just make sure you don’t go too wild, stick to neutral colours.

2. Finish The Basement

If you have an incomplete basement,…

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Not too much is out of the ordinary for the Edmonton real estate market update for January 2014. With a 10% increase in sales from the previous month, it seems that we are breaking the post-Christmas sales slump tradition.

Price stability and more property available for sale this month has resulted in a more balanced market with buyers and sellers being given more time to consider all of their options for housing needs. The average days on market dropped nearly two weeks to 61 days (down from 73), which is even more impressive when you consider the fact that there have already been four property sales over $1 million this year already.  

Check out some of the highlights from the Edmonton real estate stats for January 2014 in the infographic below.

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Testimonials

Chris was awesome in helping us buy our first home. Prompt, responsive, diligent, thorough; all the best qualities. He made he process smooth and stress free.

- Matt Hewson

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