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VOSTNER-BELL
Realty Team
Jason Bell, Tess Vostner-Bell & Associates (403) 278-8899 (24 hours)
Welcome to www.RealtyCalgary.com and www.VostnerBell.com. The VOSTNER-BELL Real Estate Group is one of Calgary's most recommended realty teams.
Top producers and award winners year after year, their professional services are well known and their reputation speaks for itself. Trust Tess, Jason and their associates to provide you with an unmatched level of service, solid advice, creative ideas and the personal attention you deserve.
Tess Vostner-Bell, Jason Bell & Associates
MaxWell Canyon Creek
3205-380 Canyon Meadows Drive SE Calgary, AB T2J 7C3
Tess's cell: (403) 689-1199
Jason's cell: (403) 830-5800
Office: (403) 278-8899
Fax: (403) 278-8953
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The Vostner-Bell Real Estate Group with MaxWell Realty, Canyon Creek Calgary, Alberta. Jason Bell and Tess Vostner-Bell. Get full access to all Calgary Real Estate Listings with Calgary Realtors Tess Vostner-Bell and Jason Bell and their realty team. Receive automated updates on Calgary MLS listings and Calgary Homes for Sale by e-mail. Sign-up as a guest member or client on our Calgary and area MLS site and have complete access to the same MLS that REALTORS use! The Vostner-Bell Real Estate Team is excited to launch our new Calgary MLS site with Google Earth and Google Maps!
If you are looking for Calgary houses or condos, assumables (homes with assumable mortgages), foreclosures, investment properties, rural properties, acreages, estate and luxury homes,Calgary relocation services, or simply are looking for qualified advice and helpful hints regarding the current Calgary Real Estate market, we eoncourage you to give us a call or e-mail, 24 hours a day, seven days a week!
CALGARY REAL ESTATE TIDBITS
Ten Home Improvement Projects That Add Value
Can't stand your scary, cobwebby basement one more minute? Is it past time to replace the pink-and-aqua tiles and porcelain in the master bath? Maybe you're sick of the curling, chipped vinyl floor, the tacky cabinets, and cramped layout of your kitchen. Perhaps you're trying to convince your partner that the siding is sad and stucco would be stupendous. But your partner wants to build a deck…
What are the best home improvement projects to undertake? It depends on your goals and plans. If you're trying to sell your property soon for the highest possible price, your priorities are likely somewhat different than if you're planning to stay for a few years and want to improve your family's quality of life.
If you're selling, focus on the renovations a buyer would be most likely to undertake, not those you're most itching to do. You might dream of putting French doors and a Juliet balcony in the master bedroom, but if your kitchen is twenty-five years old—or even fifteen—you're better off directing your home improvement dollars there. Buyers generally focus on kitchen and bathroom quality, along with overall living and storage space. Kitchen and bathroom remodelling projects are among the most disruptive undertakings, so buyers especially appreciate upgraded fixtures, appliances and décor in these rooms.
Here are ten worthwhile home improvement projects and the percentage of cost typically recouped at resale (in a seller's market):
1. Painting
If you're only going to do one thing, paint. Interior/exterior painting is one of the very few improvements on which you are likely to realize a profit—as long as you choose tasteful, current, neutral colours and the work is very professional. Payback: As much as 300%
2. Kitchen remodelling
Typically one of the most expensive improvement projects, and you can quickly run up a huge bill. Careful planning and shopping will help minimize costs here. When remodelling the kitchen, remember to keep the project in line with the style and quality of the rest of the house and neighbourhood. Just as there's no point in putting a pricey granite countertop on dated-looking 1970s cabinets, there's no point in installing a $50,000 kitchen in a $200,000 house. Payback: 68-120%.
3. Bathroom addition
If your home has only one bathroom and is meant to house more than two people, a bathroom addition should be one of your top priorities. If most homes in your neighbourhood have two, three or more bathrooms, and yours has just one or one-and-a-half, you will definitely increase your property value by adding a bath. Payback: 80-130%.
4. Bathroom remodelling
Upgrading a pokey bathroom will enhance the value of your home and add to your daily comfort and enjoyment. White porcelain is the safe, timeless choice here. Payback: 65-120%.
5. Finishing unfinished space
Whether it's an attic or a basement, by finishing these spaces you add significant value to your home, increasing square footage without having to build. Payback: 50-90%.
6. Window/door replacement
If your windows or doors are wasting energy or simply decrepit-looking, replacements can be an excellent use of your home improvement dollars. Stick to standard styles; odd shapes and highly customized arrangements do little for resale value. Payback: 50-90%.
7. Deck addition/improvement/expansion
Decks are one of the few exterior improvements with any significant return, apart from painting. Payback: 65-90%.
8. Additions of bedrooms, family rooms, sunrooms, conservatories, garages, etc.
Increasing square footage is almost always an excellent use of remodelling dollars, but don't expand your home so much that there's little outdoor space left. Payback: 50-83%.
9. Home office remodelling
This project is becoming increasingly popular. Be sure to plan for plenty of electrical and cable outlets to accommodate all the required machines and gadgets. Payback: 60-73%.
10. Energy efficiency retrofits
If your primary concern is return on investment, proceed with caution. Some retrofits, like better insulation and high-efficiency furnaces, pay for themselves relatively quickly. Others, like solar panels, heat recovery ventilators, and tankless water heaters, may take years to pay for themselves. Payback: Highly variable.
Two projects that are unlikely to pay off at resale: swimming pools (which may even adversely affect your property value) and excessive landscaping (buyers may admire it but few will pay extra tens of thousands even if that's what you spent to improve the grounds). And remember that badly done remodelling/renovation projects will cost you in two ways. You won't pay just for labour and materials; you'll pay when buyers see a project that has to be redone.
Courtesy of Home & Garden Television ( www.hgtv.ca )
Understanding Your Credit Score Is Essential
When you are planning to purchase or refinance a home, your personal credit history factors heavily on the lender’s decision to approve your mortgage, and at what interest rate. While it is true that they also take into account the applicant’s strength of income and overall debt load, ability to manage the current debt speaks volumes to mortgage lenders and could influence the lender’s decision, so it is beneficial to understand the process before getting started.
In Canada there are two main companies, Equifax Canada and Trans Union, which collect credit information and generate a report, known as a credit bureau. Equifax is predominantly used by mortgage lenders so we will focus on their scoring criteria.
Equifax analyzes each bureau and awards the individual an overall score, known as a beacon score or FICO score. In Canada the score can range from 300 up to 900, with the highest score being the goal.
The beacon score itself is derived from five distinct characteristics of your credit history, each playing an important part. Clearly understanding these components will show you how to make your credit score work in your favour and correct any old patterns that could be dragging your rating down.
The most important component to consider is that 35% of your beacon score is determined by your previous credit patterns. This is the largest consideration when generating your beacon score and therefore should be treated as sacred. It is extremely important to make at least your minimum payment on any loan or credit card by the required due date. The size of the minimum payment does not matter, only the fact that you are on time. There is no discretion here so don’t lose points on this one!
The second most important component used to determine your beacon score is how much debt you currently have. Equifax allocates 30% of your score here. Carrying a balance of more than 75% of your total limit is a big no-no. Even more damaging to your score is exceeding your credit limit, so be wary of getting into that habit.
If your credit balances are over the 75% marker and you are unable to pay them down quickly, consider requesting an increase in your credit limit. This will improve your beacon score and look better to potential mortgage lenders, providing you don’t rack it back up again.
The third determination, weighing in at 15%, is the length of time your accounts have been active. Opening and closing credit accounts every couple of months does not score high with Equifax. They are looking to see a long-term trend of strong borrowing history here, not constant re-arranging.
The final two components, both worth 10% of your beacon score, are determined by your eagerness to apply for credit and the types of credit you have. Continually allowing companies to check your credit does not earn you any points so be cautious of that habit.
The more inquiries you have, the lower your score will be dragged down. Mortgage lenders will be watchful as well, because to a lender this could be considered a lack of control with your credit and you may end up over your head in debt… not a ride they are willing to go on with you.
The last consideration refers to the type of trade lines or accounts you have. Credit cards and lines of credit are called revolving, meaning they can be used, paid down, and used again. There is no specific end to this type of debt. An alternative to this is installment debt, which is set up with the end in mind. Car loans and student loans are an example of installment debt. Having a mix of both revolving and installment debt will earn you points in this category.
Equifax also believes having more than five active trade lines is excessive. If you find yourself with ten credit cards in your wallet, consider consolidating the balance onto one or two cards and cancelling the others.
As mortgage brokers only have to check your credit bureau once to find a good fit with over forty lenders, this is just one more reason why an experienced broker is an invaluable ally when you’re looking to arrange a mortgage and keep your credit score high.
Written by Sharon Essington. Article courtesy of the Calgary Real Estate Board. Sharon Essington is an Accredited Mortgage Professional with Verico Canada Mortgage Direct. Sharon specializes in providing a creative approach to mortgage financing for individuals looking to take advantage of the current opportunity market. For more information on this topic, or to discuss your individual mortgage needs, please call 403.239.8250.
Helpful Hints When Selling
FIRST IMPRESSIONS LAST
Ever noticed how other people's mess always looks worse than your own. From the moment prospective buyers arrive, everything they see makes an impact on their assessment of your home. Gardens and lawns should be well presented; rubbish should be disposed of, paths kept clean, toys and garden tools stored away.
MAXIMIZING SPACE
Remove all clutter and watch your house expand in size. Neat, well ordered cupboards, wardrobes and pantry show that space is ample.
DON'T WASTE MONEY
If you spend a lot of money painting, carpeting or adding a patio, you will want to add this to the price. Buyers, on the other hand, may not share your taste, even though what they are getting is like new. Be guided by your agent as to what is necessary and what is not.
LITTLE THINGS - BIG DIFFERENCE
On the other hand, complete all minor repairs. Sticking doors and windows, loose door knobs, dripping taps, dated colors or peeling paint may affect the speed and value of your sale.
HIGHLIGHT YOUR HOME
Nothing improves the atmosphere of a home more than brightness. Open all the curtains and switch on strategic lights to brighten up gloomy spots prior to the arrival of prospective purchasers.
WORKING WITH KIDS & ANIMALS
When buyers are there, keep children and pets right out of the way. Taking them for a walk is often a great idea.
THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS
Smokers and dog owners beware: nothing makes a buyer want to get out of a property quicker than stale air. Room deodorisers, a bowl of pot pourri and open windows will all help. Any home will be enhanced by the smell of a cake baking, or freshly brewed coffee. Often the effect is subliminal; days later purchasers don't always realise exactly why they got such good vibes from your home.
A WARM WELCOME
A warm, comfortably heated home has a real feeling of cosiness on a cold day. Alternatively, make sure your home is well ventilated on hot days.
TAKE A BACK SEAT
Try not to be present during any showings and avoid trying to "help the agent out". Your sales consultant knows the buyer's requirements and knows which features of your home to emphasise to different purchasers. Never apologize for the condition or appearance of your home. This only emphasises the faults. Never discuss the details of the transaction such as price or terms. Leave this to your agent. Remember, their experience and training enables them to better qualify purchasers and negotiate the best price. Furthermore, negotiations can be kept on a businesslike level when emotions are not involved.
PRICE
It is often a mistake to list your home with the agent who suggests the highest price, as they may be simply trying to "buy" your business. While it is true that you can always "come down", there are many factors to consider. Firstly, the market is always looking for new listings. This means that the first few weeks your home is on the market can often bring more inspections than any other time. Many of the buyers in the price range will rush to see your home. Those who have been looking for some time are often the ones who have done their homework and are ready to buy. But they will also be the most aware of the market value of your property. If your home is correctly priced it will make buyers feel they need to snap it up before someone else does. If the price is too high, they feel no such sense of urgency. Just as vendors take the attitude "we can always come down", buyers think they will wait until the price drops. It is often the case that a property which could have achieved $450,000 when first placed on the market may achieve only $400,000 or less after being on the market for a number of months and becoming "stale". The longer your property is on the market, the more buyers feel they have the negotiating power.
Courtesy of www.philipwebb.com.au
Homebuyers rush to pay down mortgages
Courtesy of www.reportonbusiness.com
Written by Lori McLeod
Canadians who have recently bought a home intend to pay off their mortgages as quickly as possible, with many already taking steps towards that goal, according to an annual mortgage consumer survey released Wednesday by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.
One-third of recent buyers said they have already made a lump sum payment to help pay down the principal on their mortgage, and 84 per cent said they are making payments on an accelerated basis, which shortens the original amortization period, according to CMHC.
A more conservative attitude towards debt has often been cited for helping buffet Canadian homeowners from the mortgage mess in the United States. The CMHC study shows this caution remains, said Pierre Serré, vice president, insurance products and development, at CMHC.
“The fact that new homeowners are working to pay down principal early and are accelerating payments is a good indication that this responsible behaviour will continue throughout the life of their mortgage,” Mr. Serré said in a statement.
The survey also indicated 84 per cent of respondents felt they had access to suitable housing options, and 88 per cent felt confident they could manage their debt.
The survey is conducted each fall, and based on a sample of more than 1,400 recent active mortgage consumers, including first time and repeat buyers, along with customers renewing and refinancing their mortgages. Results are considered accurate within 2.6 percentage points 19 times out of 20.
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Plumbing's Grey Area
Courtesy of www.theglobeandmail.com
Written by Mike Holmes
If your home could save you money every month, reduce the strain on your city's water supply and sewage treatment and help save the environment — wouldn't you want it to? It can, if you incorporate grey-water recycling into your renovation or new home building plans.
What is grey-water?
Grey-water is used water that comes from sinks and drains, as well as reclaimed rainwater, that has been treated and filtered. It is reused to flush toilets and water lawns and do laundry. It is non-potable — not for drinking — or for showering or bathing.
There are different types of grey-water, the difference being the original source of the water and what it was used for. Light grey-water comes from bathroom sinks, tubs, showers, laundry and can include rainwater.
Dark grey-water will include water from kitchen sinks and dishwashers. It contains food waste, grease and bacteria, as well as possible chemicals from household cleaners. There's also black water — water that has come in contact with toilet wastes. Black water has to be chemically treated and disinfected before it can be reused.
In every standard house's plumbing, all wastewater is combined at the main sewer, and all grey and black water is drained away together. Many local building codes consider any and all water that has exited any plumbing fixture to be black water and require it to be sent through the municipal water treatment system.
But not all wastewater is the same. And maybe some of it can be diverted and filtered for alternate uses.
Is it against code?
Recycling grey-water is still not legal in many North American municipalities and it's not a part of most municipal building codes. There aren't provincial or federal governmental guidelines for using grey-water systems. Each individual municipality accepts or rejects proposed grey-water systems that homeowners might want to install. But it can be done, and is being done, in many cities across North America.
You and your builder or contractor will have to work with your local building authority and plumbing inspector if you are interested in going the grey-water route. You'll need a special permit and inspection.
And, you'll need to install dual plumbing, to make sure there are separate lines running to keep the potable and non-potable water apart.
How is it filtered?
Different grey-waters need different treatment processes to make sure they are safe, for people and for the environment. Even though the final use for grey-water is not as potable water, it still needs to be treated. Don't forget, it may just be used to flush toilets in the house, but pets could drink the toilet water. And, if you used untreated grey-water directly for irrigation it could affect the garden's health and the local water table.
The grey-water is diverted into a holding tank, where it is filtered and treated before being sent back into the house for re-use. On a recent project, we buried the cistern under the front lawn. The cistern is made of concrete. It's very strong and stable, it's water-tight and lasts a long time. Plastic is another option.
On that project, we only use reclaimed rainwater, collected from the house's roofs, for flushing toilets, exterior irrigation and for laundry. The system is energy-efficient and greatly reduces the impact on the city's water system, especially during dry summer months. Not to mention it can greatly reduce the monthly water bill.
Save the environment
According to Environment Canada, toilets use one-third of a household's total water consumption. That's 33 per cent of your water bill, and it adds up to a lot of money. Only around 10 per cent of the clean water from your tap is used for drinking or cooking. The rest gets used for showers, baths, laundry and everything else.
A grey-water system in a house, used to flush toilets and water lawns, could save about 150 litres of drinking water per day, per household. Don't forget, that also saves that same amount of water from being sent out to the sewer system and reduces the strain on municipal sewer systems and treatment plants.
Recycling water and using grey-water is sustainable, environmentally friendly and saves you money. I think it makes sense.
Mike Holmes is the host of Holmes on Homes on HGTV. E-mail Mike at mikeholmes@holmesonhomes.com or go to www.holmesonhomes.com
The information on this web site is intended to help you get top dollar when selling your Calgary and area home, or assist you in negotiating the best price when purchasing your next Calgary and area house or condominium. We offer full real estate services for all communities in and around Calgary, including Heritage Pointe, Elbow Valley, Stonepine, Springbank, Bearspaw, Dewinton, Red Deer Lake, Okotoks, Priddis & Priddis Greens, as well as homes in the Bragg Creek area. Calgary communities we service: Abbeydale Acadia Albert Park Altadore Applewood Park Arbour Lake, Aspen Woods, Banff Trail, Balmoral Bankview Bayview, Beddington Heights, Bel-Aire, Bonavista Downs, Bowness Braeside, Briar Hill, Brentwood Bridgeland Bridlewood Britannia, Calgary Marlborough, Cambrian Heights, Canyon Meadows, Capitol Hill, Castleridge Cedarbrae, CFB Lands (West), Lake Chaparral Charleswood, Chinatown, Chinook Park, Christie Park, Cinnamon Hills, Citadel, Cliff Bungalow, Coach Hill, Collingwood, Confederation Park, Connaught, Copperfield, Coral Springs, Cougar Ridge, Country Hills, Coventry Hills, Cranston. Crescent Heights, Crestmont, Crossroads, Dalhousie, Deer Ridge Deer Run, Diamond Cove, Discovery Ridge, Douglasdale Estates, Downtown West, Downtown East, Downtown Central. Dover, Eagle Ridge, East Village, Eau Claire, Edgemont, Elbow Park, Elboya, Erin Woods, Erlton, Evergreen Estates, Fairview, Falconridge, Fonda, Foothills Estates, Forest Heights, Forest Lawn. Garrison Woods, Glamorgan Glencoe Glengarry Glenbrook Glendale, Glendale Meadows, Grandview Greenview Greenwood Greenbriar Hamptons, Hanson Ranch, Harvest Hills, Hawkwood Haysboro, Hidden Valley, Highland Park Highwood Hillhurst Hounsfield Heights Huntington Hills Inglewood Kelvin Grove Killarney Kingsland, Knob Hill, Lake Bonavista, Lake Sundance, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Lower Mount Royal, Lynwood Macewan, Maple Ridge, Marlborough Park, Martindale. Manchester Mayfair, Mayland Heights, McKenzie Lake, McKenzie Town, Meadowlark Park, Midnapore Millrise Estates, Mission, Monteray Park, Montgomery, Mountain Park, Mount Pleasant, Mount Royal, Mountview ,New Brighton, North Glenmore Park, North Haven, Oakridge Ogden. Palliser, Panorama Hills, Parkdale Parkhill Parkland, Patterson Heights, Penbrooke Meadows Pineridge, Pleasant Heights, Point McKay, Prominence Point, Pump Hill, Queensland. Radisson Heights, Ramsay Ranchlands, Mountview, Regal Terrace, Renfrew, Richmond Hills, Richmond / Knob Hill, Rideau Park, Riverdale Park. Riverbend Riverside, Rocky Ridge, Rosedale Rosemont Rosscarrock Royal Oak Roxboro Rundle Rutland Park Saddle Ridge Sandstone Scarboro Scenic Acres Shaganappi Shawnee Slopes Shawnessy Sienna Hills Signal Hill Signature Park Silver Springs Simons Valley Somerset South Calgary, Southview, Southwood, Springbank Hill, Spruce Cliff St. Andrew's Heights Stanley Park St. George's Heights Strathcona Park Stonegate Sunalta Sundance Sunnyside Taradale Temple Thorncliffe Triwood Tuscany Tuxedo Park University Heights Upper Hillhurst Upper North Haven Valley Ridge Varsity Victoria Park, Vista Heights, Westgate West Hills West Hillhurst Westmount, West Springs, Whitehorn Wildwood, Willow Park, Windsor Park, Winston Heights, Woodbine and last but not least, Woodlands.
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