Let's Talk Real Estate

Distributed weekly to Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass and surrounding communities

June 8, 2016

Shootin’ the Breeze

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Let’s Talk REAL ESTATE Buying or selling a home is one of life’s largest transactions.

Learn how local businesses can help you with all steps along the way in this special supplement that runs from page 9 to page 17.

Established in 1977

Let our 39 years of experience benefit you!

* New houses for sale * General contracting * Build with confidence

Protect Your Biggest Investment –

YOUR HOME Mountain View Heights Subdivision – Lots for Sale Builders Welcome

Geroconstruction.com albertaportablebuildings.com 403-339-5356 – Sheldon Boese 403-627-9256 – Darren Boese 403-627-5356 – Office – 1375 Hunter Street, Pincher Creek

Talk to our brokers about the best home insurance coverage for your family 403-562-8822 1-800-361-8658 12731 20th Avenue Blairmore info@crowsnestinsurance.com

www.crowsnestinsurance.com

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IF YOU COULD PAY LESS FOR BETTER QUALITY, WOULD YOU? At Rivers End Construction Inc. we strive to offer just that, quality workmanship for a fair price Before

Before and After Bathroom Reno

After

After

We can help to make your plans a reality or help you design from scratch

Call Chad 403-892-9586 Seniors Discount Available!

Shed/Garage Packages Farm Buildings Complete Interior/Exterior Renovations New Construction Windows/Doors

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How much can you afford to spend?

A step-by-step guide to home buying 1. Get a pre-approved mortgage.

2. Determine which type of dwelling suits your lifestyle, taste and budget (condo, detached or semi-detached).

3. Inquire about any affordable-home-ownership programs in your community.

in­spection, transfer tax and a notary or lawyer’s You’d like to set a budget in order to purfees. Cal­cul­ate how much of a down payment chase a condominium, house or any other type you can come up with. of home, but you don’t know where to start?

The maximum purchase price you can pay Keep in mind the federal guideline that says depends on several factors. you shouldn’t let your monthly housing costs Here are some guidelines (mortgage, interest, taxes to help you. and heating) exceed 28 per First, calculate all cent of your average gross your monthly housemonthly income. Generhold expenses, including ally, your debt-to-income housing, communi­cations, ratio (the total amount you entertainment, savings, insurance, health care and spend each month to repay all your debts, including transportation. The more housing) shouldn’t exceed real­istically you record 36 per cent of your average your expenses, the better Start saving early for your first down gross monthly income. your idea of what you can payment.

If you would like to pay towards a house. have more information Next, you need to about your mortgage eligibility or about your det­er­mine the exact amount of all your debts.

Mort­gage len­ders will ask you for this informaability to pay, visit the website of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Cor­p. tion, so be prepared. Now note all the costs of buying and owning a property, such as a home

4. Select a real estate agent with good references and who you know you can trust.

5. Begin your search for the home of your dreams and start visiting. Your real estate agent will help set that up for you.

6. Make an offer to purchase when you find the home you want to buy and establish any purchase conditions.

7. Have the home inspected by a professional home inspector.

8. Buy home insurance.

9. Finalize the transaction.

10. Move in and make this house your home.

What is the Home Buyers' Plan?

Are you thinking about becoming a homeowner for the very first time but concerned about financing this major investment? The Home Buyers’ Plan could be the perfect solution.

HBP 101

The federal government’s HBP allows you to withdraw up to $25,000 from your registered retirement savings plan to finance the purchase or construction of a home. You can withdraw a single amount or make a series of withdrawals during the same calendar year, pro­vided that the total of your withdrawals does not exceed $25,000. In either case, you won’t pay tax on the amount withdrawn from your RRSP. However,

take note that contributions must have been held in your RRSP at least 90 days before they can be withdrawn under the HBP. Typically, you have up to 15 years to repay to your RRSPs the amounts you withdrew from them under the HBP. You must begin re­paying them in the second year following the year of the withdrawal, according to a determined amount that you will pay an­nually. You don’t want to stretch your payments over 15 years?

You can repay the full amount of your withdrawal at any time.

See HOME BUYERS' PLAN, continued on page 12

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June 8, 2016

Distributed weekly to Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass and surrounding communities

Real Estate Centre is growing Submitted by Real Estate Centre We are your locally owned real estate company and, since opening last year, we have expanded our team to provide you with extra resources to buy or sell your home.

We are your source for real estate in Crowsnest Pass and the surrounding area.

If you are looking to buy or sell your home and want to avoid feeling overwhelmed, we have the tools to help you.

Our team of experienced Realtors are happy to lead you through the process of buying the home that’s right for you and your family.

Thinking of selling? Then let our team use their experience and marketing tools to turn For Sale into Sold.

Call us today, at 403-562-2844, to speak to one of our team. We’re here to help!

403-562-2844 13013 - 20 Ave Blairmore

crowsnestrealestatecentre.com REALESTATECEN MLS®

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NE

$

LYNNETTE MELOM 00 403-563-0222

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245

• Attractively renovated 3 bed, 2 bath • Beautifully landscaped 75x115 lot • Prime location, 1.5 blocks from river • Room for RV parking • Double car garage

CLIFF MELOM 403-583-5565

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• Be a resident of Canada at the time of the withdrawal.

• Be considered a first-time home buyer; that is to say, you must not have owned a home over the previous four years. You should also not have lived in a property owned by your spouse or your common-law partner.

• Have a written agreement to buy or build a qualifying home.

A pre-approved mortgage is not enough.

• Have the intention of using the qualifying home as your main residence during the year following

There’s more to see online

0 $

20609 - 25 AVENUE, BELLEVUE MLS®

• • • •

LYNNETTE MELOM 403-563-0222

000

49,

26 W - 1 AVE N, LOT 9, HILL SPRING

MLS®

110’x120’ residential lots Serviced for sewer and water 20 min. to Waterton Park and U.S. border Three other lots available MARTHA PARIDAEN 403-628-2355

ING

MLS®

ND

PE

$

www.shootinthebreeze.ca

MLS®

,00

345

• Three bed, 2 bath character home • On desired Dairy Road • Completely renovated and re-insulated • 32’ x 28’ insulated/heated garage

For more information, visit www.cra-arc.gc.ca.

Is your property eligible for the HBP? Naturally, your home has to be in Ca­nada in order to be eligible.

Qua­li­fying ho­mes include single family, semi-detached, row or mobile; apartments in duplexes, triplexes, qua­drap­lexes or apartment buildings; condos and, in some cases, shares in a hou­sing co-operative.

• Log home with panoramic view on 1.59 acres • Wrap around deck and walkout basement • New furnace & filtration system • 24’ x 12’ garage with water supply LYNNETTE MELOM 403-563-0222

NE

$

• • • •

0

,50

242

20525 - 25 AVENUE, BELLEVUE

$

MLS®

3 bed, 2 bath character home Recent upgrades Newly finished walkout basement Single car garage and extra parking LYNNETTE MELOM 403-563-0222

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0

,00

299

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the purchase or construction. You need to build or buy your home before Oc­t. 1 of the year following the year of the withdrawal. If you build a home, the government considers the date it becomes habitable as the date of construction.

$

5265 - 20 AVENUE, COLEMAN

2121 - 130 STREET, BLAIRMORE

HOME BUYERS' PLAN, The HBP To participate in the HBP, you must meet the following conditions:

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NE

,0

149

13209 - 18 AVENUE, BLAIRMORE

Charming 3 bed, 1 bath home Upgraded kitchen with oak cabinets Oak closet in porch for storage Close to all amenities

CLIFF MELOM 403-583-5565

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,00

219

6970 - 17 AVENUE, COLEMAN

1.5 storey 1035 sq. ft. home, 4 bed, 2 bath Fully-developed basement with large family room Large 24’x12’ screen sun room Oversized 28’x30’ garage, finished & heated Fully fenced yard LYNNETTE MELOM 403-563-0222

LYNNETTE MELOM 00 403-563-0222

MLS®

$

• • • • •

2809 - 80 STREET, COLEMAN

4 bed, 3 bath in Pineview Subdivision Large wrap around deck Scenic mountain views Includes wood-burning fireplace Numerous upgrades LYNNETTE MELOM 403-563-0222

0

,00

305

MLS®

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Real estate agents are a great solution for home buyers Research, visits, negotiations and paperwork: buying a property can be complex, especially for first-time buyers. To avoid making mistakes, you’re much better off using the ser­ vices of a real estate agent who will protect your interests. After all, this is a major in­vestment you’re about to make.

Doing business with real estate agents has many advantages. They handle all legal as­pects of the complex real estate transaction and accompany you through each step of the buying process. In addition to receiving expert advice, you will be able to take ad­vantage of their wide network of contacts in order to find the other professio­nals whose services you need, such as a building inspector, a no­tary or lawyer or a mortgage broker.

It also makes finding the perfect home easier. Realtors have access to

numerous tools for finding the property that best meets your needs.

They ensure that you have all the documents necessary to evaluate the property, including the complete listing, the property survey or certificate of location and tax bill. Their neutral perspective could also be valuable when you fall in love with a property that isn’t really what you’re looking for. They’ll help you think twice before you make a decision.

Because of their experience and market knowledge, real estate agents can help buyers determine the right price to offer for the property they are inte­rested in. Depending on the province you live in, you may also be protected by law if you use the

services of an agent.

In short, working with a real estate agent to buy a property is a smart move. So why de­prive yourself?

ONLY 10 MORE PAYMENTS ...

Let’s do some mortgage planning before your house falls down.

John Redekopp 403-651-4142

Each office independently owned and operated

Affordable luxury can be found in this terrific bungalow townhome. Built with attention to detail, this show home offers 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, vaulted ceilings, granite countertops and beautiful hardwood floors throughout the main floor. Open kitchen with stainless steel appliances including a gas range and island with breakfast bar. The fully-developed basement has a huge family room roughed-in for a gas fireplace, 2 $350,000 bedrooms and 4 piece bath.

www.loangoddess.ca 1-877-303-7237

Rae Steil, B.ED, AMP Mortgage Planner

info@loangoddess.ca 12707 - 20 Ave Blairmore

Terrific mountain townhouse in convenient Blairmore location, walking distance to all services. Extensive use of fir creates a warm, inviting mountain feel throughout this home. Maple hardwood adorns the main floor. The living room has a cozy gas fireplace and walks out to the NW-facing balcony. Huge kitchen with cherry cabinets and granite counter tops.

Upstairs has 3 bedrooms and a laundry room. Wake up to the great mountain view in the large master bedroom with a walk-in closet and 4-piece ensuite.

In the lower level can be found the 4th bedroom and access to the heated double garage. $385,000

Great building lot in unique Bellevue Location. Utility services are located at the lot line. This very large protected lot is steps away from Fireman’s Park and the community trail. Fantastic spot for the avid outdoor enthusiast to build that mountain getaway. $60,000

www.crowsnestpassrecproperties.ca

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Do you have enough home insurance?

Perhaps your aunt has recently left you some jewelry in her will, or maybe your CD collection has grown to an impressive size. Or, it might be that you’ve finally decided to purchase the ultimate in road bikes. The question is, are the contents of your house worth more than they used to be? If so, you should check your home in­surance cove­rage. It’s possible that the value of your assets is more than the amount your insurance company would give you in case of a fire, theft or other disaster.

There are set limits in all home insurance policies. A limit is the maximum amount of money you would receive if you were the victim of theft, fire or other type of da­mage. While certain assets are only subject to limits if stolen (jewelry, furs, collectibles, bicycles, CDs, DVDs), ot­her pos-

sessions have limited coverage no matter what type of claim you file, such as animals, software and banknotes. If you don’t know what limits are stipula­ted in your home in­surance policy, be sure to contact your insurer. You can in­crease your coverage to an ap­propriate level if you believe that an asset is worth more than the va­lue indica­ ted in your policy.

Whether you rent or own your home, you should always take the time to make an inventory of your as­sets be­fore taking out Take the time to draw up an inventory of assets before taka home in­surance po­licy. At the same time, ing out a home insurance policy. you could also take photographs or make a vi­deo of the objects you va­lue. Not only will this assets that need to have their value in­creased in inventory simplify the process if you have to file your insurance policy. Think about it! a claim, but you’ll also be able to identify all the

Three tips for selling in a buyer's market Longer selling times, fierce competition and low prices: things are tough for sellers in a buyer’s market. The homes for sale outnumber the potential buyers, who have plenty of properties to choose from and all the time in the world to do it. How can you, a seller, stand out in this type of environment?

Here are some tips to help you sell your property in a buyer’s market.

1. Set a competitive selling price

For a real estate transaction to succeed, you have to adapt to the market. When buyers are few and far between, you might choose to lower the selling price a bit or keep a smaller negotiating margin. In other words, you have to advertise an asking price that is more likely to attract potential buyers. You may also have to accept the fact that you’ll get less money than you’d hoped for your property.

However, that might be better than being stuck with your house, especially if you have already bought another home and you can’t pay for them both simultaneously.

2. Offer an attractive product

It’s no big secret: to attract potential buyers you need to offer a product that can compete

with other similar pro­perties available in your area. It’s in your best interest to compete in terms of price and in how you differentiate yourself from other homes in your neighbourhood. Look for what sets your property apart from the others (lo­cation, view, pool or fireplace) and emphasize it.

You can also put the odds in your favour by making your property as attractive and welco­ming as possible. Do some fix-up work if ne­­cessary, and follow home staging guidelines: put extraneous things away, declutter and de­perso­nalize the rooms. Make sure the photos of your home show it off to advantage. Work with a real estate agent to make sure the marketing strategy is satisfactory and that your home has good visibility.

3. Stay tuned to any changes The real estate market is constantly chan­ ging, so you need to monitor the activity in your area on an ongoing basis. If you’ve taken into account the selling price of recently sold properties in your neighbourhood, you now have to make sure your asking price remains competitive over time. That means keeping track of new homes on the market, as well as their selling prices, so you can adjust your price accordingly.

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Five advantages to organizing an open house Are you undecided about organizing an open house to stir up interest in the sale of your home? Here are five good reasons to convince you.

CALL US!

1. You’ll save valuable time by meeting lots of visitors on the same day.

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We Buy Houses

if you’re facing any of these problems:

2. You’ll attract potential buyers who would not necessarily have visited your property under different circumstances.

• • • •

3. You’ll show potential buyers that your home generates interest.

4. You’ll increase the visibility of your home in the neighbourhood.

5. You can get a feel for the market by asking for the views of the various visitors. This will allow you to make adjustments as needed.

So, when is your open house?

Tips for a successful open house • Put away any valuables.

Have you decided to sell your home and want to organize an open house to launch its appearance on the market? These tips may come in useful.

• Make sure your property looks its best inside and outside. Put any pets outdoors and air out the house.

• Advertise the event as much as possible with newspaper ads, posters, bulletin boards and online social networks.

• Greet visitors upon arrival and be available to answer their questions, but avoid putting pressure on them in any way.

• Prepare relevant documents ahead of time, including fact sheets, photos, evaluation and municipal taxes, inspection reports and certificate of location.

• Take note of visitors’ contact information in order to follow up after the visit.

• Be prepared to answer any questions. What year was the roof redone? How much are the property taxes? Have you done any renovations lately? How many previous owners have there been?

Want to invest in real estate without the hassle?

June 8, 2016

Don’t hesitate to ask visitors for their impressions. One advantage of an open house is the possibility of knowing the visitors’ opinions.

That way you’ll be able to make any necessary adjustments.

Foreclosure Can’t sell your house Listing expired Going through a divorce • Behind on payments

• Job relocation/transfer • Estate sale • Tired of being a landlord • House needs major repairs

here’s what we can do for you!

• Buy your house ‘as is’ • Pay cash for your house • Help you avoid foreclosure • Help you avoid bankruptcy

• We can close quickly • Handle the paperwork • We charge no commissions • You choose when to move

$500 cash reward

Do you know someone who needs to sell their house quickly and could use our service?

We can help by providing creative solutions unique to solving their problem. Best of all, when you refer a seller to us, and we buy their property, we will pay you $500 CASH!

It’s a win-win situation when we do business

Hot Property Investments.ca

David & Danielle Tetachuk

403-627-8353

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Homeowners find happiness in Crowsnest Pass pany Burrows Building Corp. Other projects include custom home-builds Submitted by Burrows Building Corp. and residential and commercial renovations.

The decision to call Crowsnest Pass home for Brenda and Greg Lach was Andrew Fairhurst, managing director with Burrows, says, “One of our a simple one. “Our grandkids are here!” laughs Brenda, a retired registered favourite things about building homes is building the relationship with the nurse. client that enables you to deliver goals and vision for their home.”

Indeed, a framed collage of the Lach’s three young grandchildren is “We’re happy with our decision to go this on prominent display in the entryway of their route,” says Greg. “We had a good experience with recently completed Ironstone home in Coleman. the process and we’re very happy with the locaLike many prospective homeowners, Brenda tion.” and Greg weighed their options before setting down roots in Crowsnest Pass. The retired couple In fact, the Lachs are enjoying Ironstone’s “maintenance-free mountain living” so much that moved from Ontario to be closer to family but Greg no longer has a use for his snowblower or still wanted to make sure they had a space to call lawnmower. their own.

“I’ve got them both for sale!” he says with a “At our age,” says Greg, retired from IBM, “we laugh. “It’s nice not having to worry about snow felt it could be too costly and difficult to build on removal.” our own.”

Brenda and Greg say they are enjoying CrowsBy purchasing a home at Ironstone Lookout in nest Pass and looking forward to volunteering Coleman, the Lachs were able to customize their within the community, hiking, and enjoying two-storey townhouse to suit their tastes. sleepovers and camping trips with their grandWith two bedrooms upstairs and two bedBrenda and Greg Lach are proud homeowners at Ironkids. rooms downstairs, they’ve got plenty of space stone Lookout in Coleman. Here, they are shown with “The grandkids were the biggest reason we when their grandkids come over to visit.

Koral Lazzarotto of Burrows Building, whose office is conveniently located on-site. According to the Lachs, came, but it’s not hard to look at the mountains, Ironstone Lookout is just one of the many having the builder so accessible was “a nice perk.” either,” says Greg. projects spearheaded by local construction com-

GET A HOME INSURANCE QUOTE NOW!

Inspired Mountain Living

See how affordable great coverage can be Proud Builders of Ironstone Lookout 403-627-4211 1300 Hewetson Avenue Ranchland Mall Pincher Creek

In Crowsnest Pass and Area We Offer: • Custom Mountain Homes • Renovations (Residential & Commercial) • All your building and project needs

403-564-0007

info@burrowsbuilding.ca

Open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

59 Ironstone Dr. Coleman

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Why you should inspect before you buy Paul Cummings – Alberta Home Inspector Crowsnest Pass – Pincher Creek

403-459-9494

info@cnphomeinspections.com www.cnphomeinspections.com LET ME DO YOUR HOME WORK

Whether you’re buying or selling, WE CAN HELP! Put our weekly distribution of 2,400+ print copies to work for you!

Pincher Creek JESSICA JENSEN 403-904-2227

Crowsnest Pass ERIN FAIRHURST 403-563-8673

done in the foreseeable future. If the house will You’ve found a house you’d like to buy? What require some urgent and expensive work, such as is the condition of its roof, foundation, heating re-roofing, you can use the report as leverage in and air conditioning systems, electrics, plumbdemanding that the necessary repairs be done or ing, insulation, ventilation, in­terior and exterior in negotiating a lower selling price. walls and ceilings? That is what a home inspecIf you made an offer conditional to a satisfaction is for. It tells you what kind of shape the tory inspection which physical structure is in then reveals a de­fect, as well as the condition you can withdraw from of the systems installed the transaction without in it. The most importa problem. In the case ant thing is to detect of a hidden defect, the major flaws that could inspection report will reduce the building’s show that you took all value or pose a risk of the necessary precaudanger in the future. tions at the time of Consequently, when purchase. the inspector gives you In short, having the this report, you’ll know property of your dreams the exact state of the inspected before you home you’ve set your buy it is the best way to heart on and you can avoid unpleasant surpredict the cost of any Have the home of your dreams inspected before prises and unexpec­ted necessary maintenance buying it so your dream doesn't turn into a nightmare. expenses. work that needs to be

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Book your inspection through our website and see which package is right for you!

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Cheri Bobyk 403-627-4782 www.nakedwindows.ca