Considerations Before You Buy
The first thing you'll need to determine is what your long-term goals are and then how home ownership fits in with those plans. It could be that you're simply looking to transform all those "wasted" rent payments into mortgage payments that actually give you something tangible. Others see home ownership as a sign of their independence and enjoy the idea of being their own landlord. Narrowing down your big-picture homeownership goals will point you in the right direction. Here are five questions to ask yourself:

1. What type of home best suits your needs?
   You have several options when purchasing a residential property: a traditional single-family home, a townhouse, a condo, or a multi-family building with two to four units. Each option has its pros and cons, depending on your homeownership goals, so you need to decide which type of property will help you reach those goals. You can also save on the purchase price in any category by choosing a fixer-upper, although the amount of time, sweat equity and money involved to turn a fixer-upper into your dream home might be much more than you bargained for. (To examine your options, check out Does Condo Life Suit You? and Is A Housing Co-op Right For You?)
   
   
2. What specific features will your ideal home have?
   While it's good to retain some flexibility in this list, you're making perhaps the biggest purchase of your life, and you deserve to have that purchase fit both your needs and wants as closely as possible. Your list should include basic desires, like neighborhood and size, all the way down to smaller details like bathroom layout and a kitchen that comes with trust-worthy appliances.
   
   
3. How much mortgage do you qualify for?
   Before you start shopping, it's important to get an idea of how much a lender will actually be willing to give you to purchase your first home. You may think you can afford a $300,000 home, but lendersmay think you're only good for $200,000 depending on factors like how much other debt you have, your monthly income and how long you've been at your current job.
4. How much home can you actually afford?
   On the other hand, sometimes a bank will give you a loan for more house than you really want to pay for. Just like with the purchase of a new car, you'll want to look at the house's total cost, not just the monthly payment. Of course, looking at the monthly payment is also important, along with how much down payment you can afford, how high the property taxes are in your chosen neighborhood, how much insurance will cost, how much you anticipate spending to maintain or improve the house, and how much your closing costs will be.                
5. Who will help you find a home and guide you through the purchase?
   A real estate agent will help you locate homes that meet your needs and are in your price range, then meet with you to view those homes. Once you've chosen a home to buy, these professionals can assist you in negotiating the entire purchase process, including making an offer, getting a loan, and completing paperwork. A good real estate agent's expertise can protect you from any pitfalls you might encounter during the process

Read more: http://www.investopedia.com/articles/mortgages-real-estate/08/first-time-homebuyer-guide.asp#ixzz1rrVAN1xC

Varsity is an established neighbourhood in the Northwest quadrant of Calgary, Alberta. It was developed in the 1960s and early 1970s on a plateau to the north of the Bow River valley, and is primarily composed of Single-detached dwellings on wide lots. The neighbourhood comprises three major areas: Varsity Acres, Varsity Village, and Varsity Estates.

There are many amenties in this area and one is Market Mall, one of Calgary's major regional interior malls is located in Varsity Village, along with most of the neighbourhood's multi-family dwellings.

Varsity Estates is Varsity's most upscale area. It is almost entirely made up of single-detached dwellings without rear lanes, and much of it lies adjacent to the Bowmont Natural Park or the Silver Springs Golf and Country Club.

The community is served by F. E. Osborne Junior High School, Jerry Potts Elementary School, Marion Carson Elementary and Varsity Acres Bilingual Elementary public schools, as well a by St. Vincent de Paul Elementary & Junior High (Catholic).

Varsity is very active on a community level. Its Community Centre offers an out of school program and a playschool for local children. The Centre also houses a community kitchen which is used for more than 40 special events each year. In addition, twenty-five different users groups make use of the centre for a variety of activities, including the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, University of Calgary ball room dance, bridge clubs, seniors fitness classes and sports activities. The Varsity Community also offers two innovative programs, the Good Samaritans and Youth Scholarship Programs. The Good Samaritans aid the community’s seniors by providing help with tasks ranging from gardening to changing light bulbs. The Youth Scholarship Program rewards outstanding leadership and volunteerism in youth by providing scholarships for use in post-secondary school. All of these programs help to contribute to Varsity’s outstanding sense of community.

 

This community association also offer summer camps which run for 9 weeks -Registration is May 2, 2012 5:00-6:00 pm call the association for more details.

 

 

 

 

Spring Home Tune Up Checklist

 

After consulting your hot water tank owner’s manual, carefully test the temperature and pressure relief valve to ensure it is not stuck.

 

Caution: This test may release hot water that can cause burns.

 

Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season.

 

Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters should be checked every two months.

 

Have fireplace or wood stove and chimney cleaned and serviced as needed.

 

Shut down, drain and clean furnace humidifier, and close the furnace humidifier damper on units with central air conditioning.

 

Switch on power to air conditioning and check system. Have it serviced every two or three years.

 

Clean or replace air-conditioning filter, if applicable.

 

Check dehumidifier and drain — clean if necessary.

 

Turn OFF gas furnace and fireplace pilot lights where possible.

 

Have well water tested for quality. It is recommended that you test for bacteria every six months.

 

Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms, and replace batteries.

 

Clean windows, screens and hardware, and replace storm windows with screens.

 

Check screens first and repair or replace if needed.

 

Open valve to outside hose connection after all danger of frost has passed.

 

Examine the foundation walls for cracks, leaks or signs of moisture, and repair as required.

 

Ensure sump pump is operating properly before the spring thaw sets in. Ensure

 

discharge pipe is connected and allows water to drain away from the foundation.

 

Re-level any exterior steps or decks that moved as a result of frost or settling.

 

Check for and seal off any holes in exterior cladding that could be an entry point for small pests, such as bats and squirrels.

 

Check eavestroughs and downspouts for loose joints and secure attachment to your home, clear any obstructions, and ensure water flows away from your foundation.

 

Clear all drainage ditches and culverts of debris.

 

Repair and paint fences as necessary — allow wood fences to dry adequately before tackling this task.

 

Undertake spring landscape maintenance and, if necessary, fertilize young trees.

 

 

inspections@greenlighthi.ca

 

 

 

 

If you've been thinking about selling your home, you might be waiting until the "market is right". After all, if the local market suddenly booms, your property will likely sell for a higher price.

That may be true. However, there are other factors to consider in your decision to list.

For example, will you be buying a new home as well? If so, then the higher selling price will probably be offset by the higher cost of the new property.

In addition, there may be characteristics of your home that will help sell it quickly and for a good price – today – regardless of the market conditions.

A good REALTOR® will help you make the right decision. Call today.

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.

·         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.

·         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.

·         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.

·         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.

·         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.

·         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.

Want more tips on increasing the value, and enjoyment, of your property? Call today.

Mortgage Wars On

 

 

John Greenwood, Financial Post · Mar. 10, 20 Last Updated: Mar. 13, 2012

 

After a string of warnings from policymakers about the perilous state of household debt in this country, it hardly seemed like a good idea.

But this week the big banks launched the latest round in the mortgage wars, with Bank of Montreal rolling out its rock-bottom 2.99% five-year home loan, one of the lowest rates on such a product. BMO's peers quickly followed suit, breathlessly unveiling their cutprice mortgages, available for a limited time.

 

In public comments the banks wrapped themselves in the maple leaf, claiming the special rates are aimed at bolstering the finances of consumers, since the new products come with fixed rates and shorter amortizations designed to allow borrowers to pay down debt faster. "We think this is totally consistent with the debate about stability of [household finances]," said Frank Techar, head of BMO's domestic retail bank.

 

"Canadians have identified effective debt management as their primary focus this year, and these special offers will help new homebuyers and exist-ing mortgage holders reduce interest costs and pay down their mortgage sooner," said Colette Delaney, executive vice-president at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce's retail bank.

 

But here's the thing. Canadian household debt has been steadily rising for more than a decade and it's now sitting about same the level it was in the United States just before the housing collapse, precursor to one of the biggest waves of consumer defaults since the Depression.

 

Thanks to low interest rates and a stable economy, Canadians are managing their burden. But Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney has warned repeatedly that elevated borrowing is the biggest domestic threat to health of the financial system.

 

 

 

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Townhouse+sales+increase/6282099/story.html#ixzz1psMrd3Fk

Monthly	Jan-11	Jan-12	% change	Feb-11	Feb-12†	% change
Total Sales	782	764	-2.30%	826	865	4.72%
New Listings	1,949	1,716	-11.95%	1,722	1,479	-14.11%
Average Price	453,765	440,638	-2.89%	459,062	462,456	0.74%
Active Listings	N/A	3,026	N/A	N/A	3,162	N/A
Pending Sales	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	285	N/A
Days on Market	56	59	5.36%	46	48	4.35%

This year's Home & garden show will be from Feb 23-26 and there will be lots to look at and one particular area that you may not be thinking about now but soon enough as it will be spring and gardening time. So come get some ideas. See below for the garden area of the show and its schedule.

Happy planning and planting !

The 2012 Garden Stage presented by Golden Acre and Country 105
 

Want to be the next best thing in gardening? Greenthumbs and regular thumbs alike will each find their nursery niche at the Garden Stage presented by Golden Acre and Country 105. You will get your hands dirty and take part in a number of interactive seminars on everything from presenting fresh flower arrangements to planting perennials. As the remnants of winter melt away, prepare yourself for a blooming spring by joining our team of gurus. Don't forget your gardening gloves!

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Thursday, February 23rd

1:00pm	Grow Your Own Food - Amateur to Professional in 5 Easy Steps! Sheldon Gessell
2:00pm	Meryl Coombs of Spruce it up Garden Centre
3:00pm	What's Trending in the Garden? Joanne Dafoe
4:00pm	Calgary Clematis Kaleidoscope Pavlina Krivy
5:00pm	Treasured Textures Weston Christensen
6:00pm	Meryl Coombs of Spruce it Up Garden Centre
7:00pm	Tropical Influences for the Prairie Garden Annelise Doolaege

Friday, February 24

1:00pm	What's Trending in the Garden? Joanne Dafoe
2:00pm	Calgary Clematis Kaleidoscope Pavlina Krivy
3:00pm	Meryl Coombs of Spruce it up Garden Centre
4:00pm	Grow Your Own Food - Amateur to Professional in 5 Easy Steps! Sheldon Gessell
5:00pm	Tropical Influences for the Prairie Garden Annelise Doolaege
6:00pm	Treasured Textures Weston Christensen
7:00pm	Meryl Coombs of Spruce it up Garden Centre

Saturday, February 25

11:00am	Grow Your Own Food - Amateur to Professional in 5 Easy Steps Sheldon Gessell
12:00pm	Meryl Coombs of Spruce it up Garden Centre
1:00pm	Treasured Textures Weston Christensen
2:00pm	Tropical Influences for the Prairie Garden Annelise Doolaege
3:00pm	Calgary Clematis Kaleidoscope Pavlina Krivy
4:00pm	Meryl Coombs of Spruce it up Garden Centre
5:00pm	Grow Your Own Food - Amateur to Professional in 5 Easy Steps! Sheldon Gessell
7:00pm	What's Trending in the Garden? Joanne Dafoe

Sunday, February 26

11:00am	Tropical Influences for the Prairie Garden Annelise Doolaege
12:00pm	Calgary Clematis Kaleidoscope Pavlina Krivy
1:00pm	Meryl Coombs of Spruce it up Garden Centre
2:00pm	What's Trending in the Garden? Joanne Dafoe
3:00pm	Treasured Textures Weston Christensen