B U Y E R S P R E S E N TAT I O N
ABOUT KEN RICHTER Top Selling Calgary REALTOR® A native Calgarian, Ken has witnessed Calgary grow to a population of over one million people and develop into a prosperous and dynamic city. In 1985 Ken launched his real estate career and over the years has consistently proven to be among the top 2% of Calgary’s MLS® Real Estate Agents. In 1997 he joined RE/MAX Real Estate (Central), the #1 RE/MAX Office Worldwide for the last 16 consecutive years, and since 1998 continues to be one of the top agents in this high producing office. In recent years Ken has been awarded the prestigious RE/MAX Chairman’s Club award (top 1% of all RE/MAX REALTORS®) and the Lifetime Achievement Award. Recognized as a respected leader in the real estate industry, Ken is known for his excellent negotiating skills along with honesty and integrity. A proven professional for 30 years and a real estate investor himself, Ken brings valuable experience and results to the table on every transaction. His vast and widespread database includes a full range of clients from 1st time buyers to serious investors with many of them repeat customers and referrals. Early in life, Ken developed a true love for the game of hockey leading him to being a most valuable player for Mount Royal College’s hockey team. A dedicated real estate professional and family man, Ken believes in giving back and supporting his community. As a proud father and sporting enthusiast he volunteered for 9 years as a minor hockey coach guiding young athletes to experience numerous team championships and learning important life skills. Ken’s extensive knowledge, professionalism and strong commitment to his real estate career and team have established him as a top selling REALTOR®!
Ken Richter Office: 403.630.6363 Email: ken@kenrichter.com www.kenrichter.com
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VIVAN RICHTER Office Manager
Vivian was born and raised north of Edmonton, Alberta and moved to Calgary in 1978. A Mount Royal College graduate in Leisure Education, she pursued her career as a recreation program coordinator working with all age groups including senior citizens. Dedicated to her family, she also volunteered countless hours over the years to various organizations, community schools and her children’s competitive sport teams and clubs. Vivian’s accomplished leadership skills and keen interest in real estate prompted her to join RE/MAX as a licensed REALTOR® assistant from 2000-2008. Presently, she continues to be an integral part of their successful family real estate business providing office management and marketing and program development. Known for her enthusiasm and genuine interest in assisting people, Vivian also brings the personal touch to the client-oriented service that Team Ken Richter strives to maintain. Today, Vivian also enjoys the adventure of travel with family and friends. A wife, mother and now grandmother, Vivian’s true passion for family reflect on all her endeavours! Email: vivian@kenrichter.com
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ABOUT NICOLE SLUSAR Office Administrator
Nicole is originally from the province of Saskatchewan now enjoys living in Calgary. Over the last 6 years, working for Team Ken Richter as a Real Estate Office Administrator, Nicole continues to provide excellent administrative services. Nicole’s advanced computer skills and technology, strong work ethic and high level of commitment allows her to learn and adapt quickly to the daily demands in the real estate industry. Continuing to advance her education, Nicole strives on assisting with business strategies, program development and research. Her work experience, self-confidence and team spirit are truly revealed in all her accomplishments. An outdoor and sporting enthusiast, Nicole also enjoys spending valued time with family and friends. Email: team@kenrichter.com
ALEXANDRA WOLFE (HOLDEN) Office Assistant
Alexandra grew up in Calgary, Alberta. She has worked off-site for Team Ken Richter as their Social Media Coordinator for three years and, as of Spring 2017, has taken on the role of Office Assistant. Alexandra recently graduated university with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, giving her a keen eye for editing, branding, and clear and creative communication. Alexandra’s fresh take on things and her desire to learn are evident in the work she produces. Now she contributes her expertise to Team Ken Richter full-time. When Alexandra isn’t writing her next book, she enjoys going to the movies with her husband and dreaming about Nashville—her favourite city. Email: team@kenrichter.com 07
ARE YOU READY FOR HOME OWNERSHIP? Some people have a notion that home ownership is like renting, but with the power to have pets and paint the walls whatever colour they like. While these privileges are available to homeowners, they come with the responsibilities of a mortgage, taxes and home maintenance. Owning a home is a serious investment.
MORTGAGE INFORMATION
QUESTIONS FOR PROSPECTIVE HOME OWNERS ARE YOU READY TO BUY? Owning a home is a huge responsibility. When you buy a property, you are committing to making it your home. You aren’t just investing in a house; you are investing in a neighbourhood, a city, a lifestyle and your future. Make sure you are ready to commit. HOW MUCH CAN YOU AFFORD? It can be discouraging to find that your salary won’t stretch as far as the home you want to own. However, sacrificing a huge part of your income just to pay the mortgage can very quickly make home ownership a burden rather than a point of pride. Remember: a home is what you make it, not what the price tag says. WHAT IS YOUR DEBT-TO-INCOME RATIO? Your overall debt should not be more than 40% of your income, and your housing debt should not be more than 32%. What 32% of your income will buy depends on where you want to live. For example, what you can afford in a rural area may be drastically different than what you can afford in a highly sought-after urban area.
A R E Y OU D E AL I N G W I T H A N E XP E R T? Did you know that the average agent sells or helps their client buy only 8 homes per year? Did you know that 45% of real estate agents spend less than $500 per year on training and professional development. These are the facts, so how do you know if your agent is an expert when it comes to helping you buy a home?
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M ORTGAG E I N F O R MAT IO N Your overall debt should not be more than 40% of your income, and your housing debt should not be more than 32%. What 32% of your income will buy depends on where you want to live. For example, what you can afford in a rural area may be drastically different than what you can afford in a highly sought-after urban area.
MOVING CHECKLIST IMPORTANT INFORMATION It is important that you use this checklist in order to be well-prepared when buying a home. The last thing you would want to happen is to move into a home without the necessities in life such as electricity, gas, water, or work/school related services such as Internet/phone, etc. Be sure everything is in order to keep things running smoothly during the buying process. If you need assistance, we are always here to lend a helping hand. It`s what we do! BUSINESS ACCOUNTS • Banking Institutions • Cell Phone Provider • Department Stores • Financial Companies • Credit Card Companies
UTILITY PROVIDERS • Electricity Providers • Telephone Providers • Water & Sewage • Cable & Internet Providers • Gas Providers
CLUBS & MISCELLANEOUS • Country Club • Health & Fitness Club • Recreation Club • Book Club • Other Club
GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS • CRA • Post Office • Schools • Provincial Licensing • Library • Veterans Administration
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES • Broker • Accountant • Doctor • Dentist • Lawyer SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES • Magazine Subscription • Newspaper Subscription
INSURANCE COMPANIES • Accidental Insurance • Auto Insurance • Health Insurance • Benefits Provider • Home Insurance • Life Insurance
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ken’s guarantee For most of us, our home is our biggest investment. When it’s time to sell, get the Your home will likely be the greatest financial investment you’ll ever make. Give yourself every opportunity to come out on top by partnering with Ken Richter.
OUR GUARANTEE GET ALL THE LISTINGS Team Ken Richter will be in regular contact with sellers and other real estate agents to ensure you see all the newest listings right away. Ken Richter will save you valuable time by making sure you only see properties that meet your needs. Your home-buying journey will be completely personalized. INSIDE INFORMATION As you compare the best deals, Ken will provide you with important information about the home, its neighbourhood, zoning, utilities, nearby plans for development and more. Ken has been a life-long resident of Calgary, so you can be confident in his advice. PROFESSIONALS ON YOUR SIDE Many real estate transactions include an extensive negotiating process. Ken Richter will represent you and get you the best deal possible. His team will attend property inspections, make sure any and all agreed-upon repair work is carried out and handle the paperwork related to the sale.
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BUYER’S TIMELINE Starting the journey to home-ownership can be overwhelming and stressful. But with a little planning, you’ll get the home that’s right for you. A home that strikes a balance between your “wish list” items and the practical realities of the property, location and the housing market. Before you know it, you’ll have a place to call your very own. A place to entertain. A place to decorate. A place to raise a family. It really is an exciting time! To help keep you on track, below is a step-by-step guide to buying your next home.
BUILD A BUDGET This helps to determine what you can afford
START ENJOY YOUR HOME! The process may be stressful at times, but the final result is always exciting!
INVESTIGATE MORTGAGE OPTIONS Get pre-approved first!
CHOOSE A REALTOR® Your agent will play a vital role during the process.
CLOSING DAY The day you legally get possession of your home.
CONSIDER YOUR LIFESTYLE CHOICE Consider where & how you want to live
MOVING PREPARATIONS Utilities moved, landlord notified & moving company chosen (if necessary)
START SEARCHING Go house hunting, create a wishlist and checksheet.
FINALIZE THE DEAL Mortgage is approved & contingencies removed
MAKE THE OFFER Your agent will present the offer to the seller. HOME INSPECTION Get an inspection from a qualified home inspector to avoid costly surprises.
C REATE A C H EC K L I S T O F Y O U R WA NTS & NE E D S Don’t forget to include things that aren’t actually a part of the house but are still important, such as the neighbourhood, commute, school system and even proximity to entertainment.
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T OUR HOM ES I N P ERS O N & O NL I NE Some people look at several homes before finding just the right one. And others find “the one” immediately. Thanks to the Internet, you can view homes with your agent and streamline your search process significantly by checking out homes for sale online. You can visit open houses and preview everything that’s for sale in your market.
WRITING THE OFFER WHAT TO DO TO PREPARE: You found the perfect home and now it’s time to write an offer. We will call the listing agent to: • Verify availability. • Determine if there are any other anticipated offers being written on the home. • Ask general questions about timing or special circumstances of the seller that need factored into the offer. This information is used to determine the appropriate price. This is a critical part of the process and the reason why it is always a good idea to use us, as an experienced real estate team you can trust. DON’T INSULT THE SELLERS It is always good to understand that the seller is not going to give away their home for an unrealistic price and unfavourable terms. By recognizing this as a mutually acceptable transaction, the sellers should not be insulted by your offer.
HOME INSPECTION THE INSPECTION PROCESS Hiring an experienced home inspector will help you discover it’s true condition and help you discover what may lie behind close doors that you can not see. Our team works with a group of trusted inspectors that can assist you in making sure your potential purchase is a safe one. The inspection is vitally important if you want to learn about your new home and determine the condition the home is in. Being an informed buyer means you should always be aware of the potential pitfalls of the buying process and understanding what to expect throughout the process. Home inspections can give you informed details of the home that help you make an informed decision. Having a professional home inspector is the way to gain peace of mind. A proper inspection will cover all areas of the house both structurally and mechanically and give you an objective view of the property. A qualified home inspector will also provide you with a written report indicating areas of concern and the estimated cost of repairs.
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TESTIMONIALS “We chose you for our real estate agent because you were a neighbour and a contributor to the Bowness Community. But when I called to tell you I was locked out one day or the rainy night that we were broken into...you were there, right away, to help. We now consider you a friend.” - Vance & Susan R “Ken Richter has been my realtor for many years, with buying and selling... referrals for other properties... I can honestly say that Ken has always had my best interest at heart. He makes sure you stage your home for a seller and I can say, it works. His expertise is bar none, spot on with efficient staff to help. He is one of the best and his record shows it. Go Team Richter” - Madeleine C “Team Richter really delivered! From the moment we started our journey to sell our home and purchase another property, Ken was there to guide us through the processes. He listened to our needs and provided exceptional service. Ken’s knowledge and experience were evident and helped make selling our home a positive experience. On a personal note, we found Ken to be a genuinely nice person and it was easy to like him. We enjoyed doing business with him and would highly recommend him to anyone who is looking for a real estate agent. We will certainly use him again when we are ready to make another leap!” - Jim & Sheryl T “I had a property that was difficult to sell. The team did their best to present it in its best light. Team also ensured an appropriate time frame for me to move to my new living quarters.” - Yvonne H “I was very happy working with Team Ken Richter. They were attentive and very supportive. There were a couple extra matters needing attending to and they went the extra mile for us on both of them. Thanks Team Ken Richter!” - Colin R & Cindy U “I would rarely compliment or write a testimonial for a realtor—but in this case Ken is much more than a realtor—he is now a neighbor and a friend all because I can trust him and the information he gives me. He and his team are true professionals. They never engage in using high pressure tactics—just timely and frequent communications when appropriate. I will continue to use Ken for any future real estate purchases.” - Dr David Chalack, DVM
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PHONE: 403.630.6363 I FAX: 403.776.4797 #206 - 2411 4TH STREET NW, CALGARY AB, T2M 2Z8