| Recent Blog Posts by Patrick Galesloot | ||
Thursday's Ask The BrokerWhat is an RPR and why do I need one?
An RPR first off is an abbreviation for "Real Property Report". Previously it may have been referred to as an Alberta Land Survey or Property Survey. The RPR shows the corners and dimensions of your lot as well as where your home sits on that lot in relation to the boundaries and the improvements that are also present (detached garage, deck, and fence). ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on April 12, 2012
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Running and Being a REALTOR®From the outside being a real estate agent seems easy.
I'm reminded of one of the poster boards set up near a drink station on the Drumheller Half Marathon which read "If it were easy, we would do it". That sign was at the 11 km mark of the 21 km run. Made me smile and added a little bit more of a spring in my step. Training for a fitness goal or weight loss goal is a lot like ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on September 13, 2011
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It's Always The Right Time To Buy"You always say now is the right time to buy, come on you're full of it"
I believe that real estate is a long term buy and hold investment so yes, buy now. The trick or "catch" if you're looking for one is the selling side of the equation. When should you sell or "cash in" is often of greater importnace than the buy.
Buying or selling real estate is also a personal decision. ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on August 5, 2011
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Name This DistrictThe downtown district currently known as the Railyards is searching for a new name.
Red Deer’s Greater Downtown Action Plan, calls for new street and pedestrian connections to the riverfront, and a new pedestrian bridge linking parks areas to the developed city centre. The area presently known (or referred to as) The Railyards will become a high density residential district, with ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on May 29, 2011
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Banff, Location, Location, LocationHow often have you heard that saying about real estate? Location, Location, Location.
The last few days I have been attending the Banff Western Connection Real Estate Conference and I've been thinking about "The Location". I just love Banff and coming here at all times of the year. I don't get to ski as near as often as I would like, but standing on top of the resorts here and ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on January 29, 2011
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Mortgage Changes, What They Mean To YouI've been a bit behind in blogging and getting the message out about the changes to real estate mortagge rules but here it is.
The summary of changes:
Amortization reduction from 35 years to 30
Ottawa would no longer guarantee insured mortgages with terms exceeding 30 years, compared to the present 35-year limit.
Home Equity Line of Credit capped at 85% and no longer insured by ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on January 21, 2011
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Record Pace For December MLS® SalesHappy New Year!
What a finish to 2010. Red Deer MLS® Sales finished on a strong high note to end the otherwise lacklustre year. 2010 was a year many sellers and REALTORS® would like to forget. Just when we seemed to be turning the proverbial real estate corner the following month was a downturn. That up down cycle was hard on the industry, and sellers. For those ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on January 5, 2011
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It's A Merry Christmas For Sellers This SeasonQuick Market update before we close the office for a few days for the Christmas break.
Sales in December have been heating up compared to the last two years. More buyers are taking advantage of their rate holds and the availability of quality Red Deer homes for sale. Sales of MLS® listings in the city of Red Deer are up 28% over 2009! Over the last couple of years 2010 is on ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on December 23, 2010
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Why You Should Add Home Buying To Your Christmas ListChristmas time may not seem like the ideal time to be hunting for a home. Many people will put there plans on hold because of the busy holiday season. However now more than ever maybe the ideal time to make your move.
Signs the Red Deer real estate market is changing:
Decrease in listing volume.
The number of listings available at any given time makes up "supply". ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on December 17, 2010
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Up and Down Real Estate MarketWhen you're up you're, and when you're down you're down.
2010 has been a year that looks like a roller coaster ride for MLS® sales volume in Red Deer. If you have been trying to sell your home it may not have been the fun ride you anticipated either. At the end of November the Red Deer real estate market for MLS® sales was a bright spot.
2010
100& ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on December 8, 2010
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Staying Warm, Benefits Your ResaleThis morning it was -31C and the windchill put that even colder in the the -40's!
Is your home handling the cold?
Whether or not you are moving or just want to improve the heat in your home this year or next, here are a few things you can do:
Upgrade your furnace to a high efficiency,
I personally like the variable speed fan models. Less of a blast of the cold air when you turn ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on November 24, 2010
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CREA & The Settlement AgreementWhat you need to know about the settlement agreement between CREA and the Competition Bureau.
It was ratified by the members of CREA on the weekend. Some of the headlines indicate that this has changed the face of real estate. Some of the media claims certainly seem like that is indeed the case. The reality is here in Red Deer Alberta the changes don't amount to a huge difference.
The ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on October 27, 2010
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This Week In Red Deer Real Estate, Have We Turned The Corner?With what finally seems like the first real sunny day in September we're gearing up for a busy weekend in real estate. The Red Deer real estate activity has turned around compared to August already and we have a week or so left in the month to go.
The story for most of 2010 has been that sales were down 30% from last year. That story is about to change and has been changing all month ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on September 24, 2010
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For Sale, Sold or Expired? The Choice Is YoursPreviously I blogged about sales and listings. What I didn't touch on in that post was expired. An Expired Listing or one that is now off market (not sold) is essentially an listing that was unsuccessful at well selling. Plain and simple they were for sale but never sold.
While sales numbers are significantly lower than last year and recent previous years, we are realizing ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on August 25, 2010
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Last Week in Red Deer Real Estate, August 22nd, 2010Last week the talk of the office was smoke from the BC forest fires that took over the air quality on Thursday.
This was the scene in Red Deer as published in the Red Deer Advocate.
Fortunately my family and I were on vacation in the Okanagan and missed the smoke. So like you I am getting caught up on Red Deer real estate.
What happened last week?
Well the Chart above some what ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on August 23, 2010
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100 Years of Red Deer Real Estate Part 1Century 21 Advantage is gearing up for a birthday celebration. We are fast approaching our 100th anniversary in real estate. Thank You Red Deer and Central Alberta!
A brief history of the company:
The Company was founded late in the year 1910 when local businessman, W.J. Botterill, decided to open a real estate office to take advantage of the impending real estate boom. By early 1911 ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on May 21, 2010
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Do You Have PDS?PDS is an acronym coined by David Knox for "Pricing Denial Syndrome".
This syndrome afflicts some sellers and possibly some agents and the signs are:
Denial (“It’s not the price.”)
Minimization (“It’s not that overpriced.”)
Blame (“You’re not marketing it enough.”)
Justification (“We need the money.”)
Bargaining (“What ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on April 15, 2010
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Mortgage Rates Are On The RiseIf you have been wondering when to lock in your interest rates or ensure you have a rate hold, it looks like now is the time.
The Globe and Mail posted this yesterday:
"Royal Bank of Canada, the country's largest bank, has raised mortgage rates again. The move, which will result in a 0.25 percentage point increase in the cost of a number of fixed-rate mortgage products that the bank offers, ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on April 14, 2010
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First Quarter 2010 Real Estate UpdateIt's not just the weather in Alberta that gets everyone talking it's also real estate. There seems to be some expectation that sales activity and listing turnover rates will return to the heated market activity of 2006 and 2007. That is not a normal market and not the market place for 2010 so far. The 2010 real estate market is looking a lot like 2009 right now.
Right about now ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on April 9, 2010
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This Week in Real EstateHow's the market? Prices going up?
I hear those questions and many like them quite often. The real estate market in Red Deer is reportedly different than Calgary or Edmonton. Last week the numbers were:
Weekly Stats
# Listings
# Sales
# Pending Sales
# Price Changes
# Off Market
Net loss/gain
Active Single Family Listings
Total Active
Dec.28/09-Jan. ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on February 11, 2010
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January 2010, The Beginning Of A Real Estate Odyssey In Red Deer?When I think of 2010, I think of the movie "2010: The Year We Make Contact". Which prompted me to look up "odyssey" as I don't often use that term, perhaps you do.
According to Wikipedia "the word odyssey has come to refer to an epic voyage". So will real estate in Red Deer 2010 be an "epic voyage"? Was January the beginning of our epic voyage of real estate?
Red Deer MLS® ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on February 3, 2010
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Red Deer Real Estate Last Week Ending January 31, 2010Last week marked the end of January 2010 and the end of another solid week in real estate for Red Deer in 2010.
Listing inventory climbed with more new listings coming on during that last week than the previous weeks however some of that was off set by sales and those that either expired or were cancelled. The data from the Central Alberta REALTORS® Association for the Red Deer MLS® ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on February 2, 2010
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Offer To Purchase, The Deposit, and YouCommon questions we get as REALTORS often surround the deposit. The deposit that accompanies an offer to purchase can be one of the most crucial pieces of the contract, as well as one of the most confusing for some buyers and sellers.
How much do I need for a deposit?
When it comes to an offer there are two competing sides, one that wants as big of a deposit as possible, and the other wants ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on January 29, 2010
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2009 Red Deer Real Estate Market Stats Slide ShowRecently reported to you Red Deer Real Estate 2009 Market Update and Beyond
As mentioned we captured more data and presented to our associates recently so that they could better meet your real estate needs. If you have any questions on the real estate market and how your home is affected please feel free to contact one of our Century 21 Advantage associates.
Enjoy The Slideshare Below,
Red ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on January 27, 2010
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Red Deer Real Estate 2009 Market Update and BeyondWe finished 2009, the end of the first decade of the "New Millennium". This month we've been busy returning to work focusing on new goals for the new Year. At Century 21 Advantage we have also been preparing for our kick off meeting. This is the meeting where we present tips, tools and information to our associates so that they can better serve your real estate needs. This year ...
Posted by Patrick Galesloot
on January 23, 2010
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