Pa
a few good bugs
AnIbAl
Lady beetles, lacewings and midges, oh my
Phone 403.512.1930
donna balzer A15
Calgary Parks Feature A7
Ge
a3
roDriGUeS
RUI
Torneiro Phone 403.510.3358
Sutton Group Canwest (Vista)
www.calgarybuysellhomes.ca
FREE aug 1 to aug 7 2014 issue 04-30
real estate news from industry experts
balancing act kelsey hipkin
reporter/photographer
M
ario DeMarco thought he was prepared for anything after deciding to become a first-time homeowner. The 25-year-old Calgarian has spent the past two years saving for a down payment, and was recently promoted at work, giving him the financial stability to purchase his own place – Also See: ideally a condo in luxury the Beltline. A6 “I had also & decided to condos enter the marA9 ket because the cost of a monthly mortgage payment now is very similar to rent, except with a mortgage I am building equity,” said DeMarco, who is still looking for a place to call home. Yet in searching for that first home, DeMarco came face to face with something he never thought he would in Calgary: choice. “I feared that I would not find much selection in my range, but I have been happily mistaken,” he said.
editorial 403-781-1324 advertising 403-263-4940 crebnow@creb.ca
Mid-year forecast calling for more supply, added choices DeMarco’s experience reflects a recent shift by Calgary’s hot resale housing market into more balanced conditions, according to CREB’s® recently released Mid-Year Forecast Update. “The current housing market has recorded double-digit sales growth which has outpaced the growth in new listings, keeping the overall market in sellers’ conditions,” said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie. “However, there is a notable shift in the trend as some markets, including the condominium apartment sector have already moved toward more balanced conditions.” CREB® president Bill Kirk said forecasting a more balanced market should not be a surprise given a number of condo projects have come on stream as of late. “We usually have a sales bump in February, March, April, May,” he said. “With lead times for home possessions being two months or so, most buyers want to be in the house before the summer vacation so their kids start September in a new school.”
forecast update A3
Calgary CMA Housing Starts Single Family 12,000 10,000
Y/Y % Change
8,000 6,000 4,000
FORECAST
13% 7%
2,000 ‘01
‘02 ‘03 ‘04 ‘05 ‘06 ‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10
‘11
‘12
‘13
‘14
Source: CMHC, Conference Board of Canada Forecast
kelsey hipkin, Reporter/Photographer
SINGLE FAMILY
3817 JUN12 JUL12 3646 AUG12 3535 SEP12 3486 OCT12 3114 2586 NOV12 1859 DEC12 2075 JAN13 2048 FEB13 2727 MAR13 2977 APR13 3311 MAY13 3199 JUN13 2917 JUL13 2791 AUG13 2789 SEP13 2705 OCT13 2171 NOV13 DEC13 1515 JAN14 1671 1894 FEB14 2052 MAR14 2445 APR14 2919 MAY14 3128 JUN14
MLS® MONTH END INVENTORY* JUN ‘12 – JUN ‘14
*All statistics based on monthly data compiled by CREB® via MLS® activity.
Mario DeMarco, who is in the market for his first home, said he’s been happy with the range of selection he’s found in Calgary.
LED lighting contents up five Calgary communities
news briefs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3
event listing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6
weekly feed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 municipal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A8 Calgary architecture
CREB® STAFF
F
ive Calgary communities are going to be a lot more energy efficient starting this summer. The City is installing 2,500 LED streetlights in Altadore, Douglasdale, Marlborough, Tuxedo Park and Brentwood in the first phase of an initiative focused on making existing lights more sustainable.
green living A3
how to. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A10 Build a treehouse
mortgage rates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A11 pop the question. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A13 Parham Mahboubi, Qualex-Landmark
commercial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A13 map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1 open houses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B23 @crebnow
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