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Jack & Matthew Wiebe
Phone:  (403) 585-1171
Email:  wiebegroup@shaw.ca
Website:  wiebegroup.net
  
 
 

Dear Clients,

Just about everyone can relate to this scenario.

You set an ambitious goal for the new year. You feel motivated and determined. But, later that year, you realize you’ve barely moved the needle toward achieving that objective. 

Ouch!

How do you avoid that from happening?

Social scientists who study goal achievement say that getting momentum early in the game is key. That means taking some measurable action now, even if the goal is months away.

For example, if you’re thinking of getting your kitchen renovated this spring, do something about it this week. Talk to some contractors. Get estimates. That early momentum will help ensure the renovation gets done on time and to your liking.

The same holds true if you’re thinking about moving. Of course, moving may be the furthest thing from your mind at the moment. But if you were to consider selling later in 2024, now would be the best time to make initial plans. 

We hope all your goals for 2024 cross the finish line and are successful. If we can help you with any real estate-related goals, give us a call.

At this time we would like to thank you for your continued support of our business!

We want to Wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We look forward to hearing for you in 2024!


 

Matthew Wiebe, Broker
Beacon Real Estate
wiebegroup@shaw.ca
403-585-1171

Certified Condo Specialist and Seniors Real Estate Specialist®

 

Jack Wiebe, REALTOR®
Beacon Real Estate
jackwiebegroup@shaw.ca
403-680-6220


Seniors Real Estate Specialist®


wiebegroup.net


Easy-to-Miss Home Security Tips for your Vacation

 
 
 
If you’re relaxing on a Caribbean beach, or enjoying a bus tour through historic Paris, the last thing you want to worry about is your home. Most people know the basics of keeping a home secure while away. Here are some additional tips that are easy to miss:

• Tell your kids not to boast about your fabulous vacation plans, especially on social media. The fewer who know that the house is empty, the better.

• Ask a neighbour to pick up any mail dropped at your doorstep. But, don’t rely on that alone. Call the post office to temporarily halt delivery.

• Set-up timers to automatically turn lights on and off. However, most will stop working if the power goes out and they’ll restart with the incorrect time when the power comes back on. That’s why you should keep at least a couple of lights turned on continuously.

• Open the blinds. If you’re leaving in the evening, or before dawn, this can be easy to forget. Closed blinds during the day are a dead giveaway that the owners are away.

Finally, experts recommend creating a home security checklist, so you don’t forget anything. That alone will give you peace-of-mind.

 

Start the Home Selling Process this Month

 
 
 
If you’re thinking about selling in the spring, don’t wait until the new year to start planning. In fact, you’ll save yourself a lot of work and get ahead of the game if you start planning now.

What’s that old saying? The early bird gets the worm! In this case, by starting the process this month, you’ll be in excellent shape when you’re ready to list in the spring.

Here are just a few examples of what you can do in December to get the process started:

• Walk your property and note any maintenance issues that need attention.

• Decide which items to stow or sell to declutter your home.

• Determine what improvements you’ll need to make in order for your home to look great to buyers.

• Find out approximately how much your property will likely sell for in the spring market.

• Clarify the kind of new home you’d like to move into, including ideal neighbourhoods.

• Look into your financing options, so you’ll know the price range you can afford.

• Connect with any professionals you may need, such as contractors, a mover, and a real estate lawyer.

• Take advantage of any December shopping deals for products you may need, such as home improvement project materials, packing supplies, etc.

As you can see, the more prepared you are this month, the more stress-free and successful the home selling process will be in the spring.
 

Protecting your Home Gadgets from Hacking

 
 
 
Imagine your coffee maker switching on by itself, staying on for hours, overheating and becoming a fire hazard. That’s not science fiction. As more and more appliances incorporate Wi-Fi, the opportunities for hackers to play havoc with your home gadgets increase.
How do you prevent that from happening? Here are some safety tips:

If your gadget uses a password to access the settings, change that password frequently. Ideally, change it once every 3 months.

Some gadgets, such as alarm systems, come with their own connection to the internet. Learn how to turn that connection off if it becomes necessary to do so.

Don’t leave an internet-connected appliance or other gadget on constantly unless it’s required. For example, you don’t need your home speaker system connected to your digital music providers all the time.

Baby monitors with video are a common target for hackers. Use a password unique to that device and change it often. Never leave the monitor on when not in use.

Never share passwords with anyone unless it is absolutely necessary. Most home Wi-Fi systems have a “guest” feature with a separate password and limited access. Use it.

In this age of internet connectivity — from coffee makers to stereos and even washing machines — it’s smart to play it safe. Know what’s connected and protect yourself.
 

Notable, Quotable, Quotes!

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
Henry David Thoreau

“Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.” 
Bill Bradley

“Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.” 
Gloria Steinem

 

Not intended to solicit buyers or sel

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NOVEMBER 2023 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

December 1, 2023

Increased listings, strong sales, and price growth

New listings in November reached 2,227 units, nearly 40 per cent higher than the exceptionally low levels reported last year at this time. Gains in new listings occurred across most price ranges, but the most significant gains occurred from homes priced over $600,000.

Despite the year-over-year jump in new listings, inventory levels remained low thanks to relatively strong sales. With 1,787 sales in November, the sales to new listings ratio remained high at 80 per cent, and the months of supply remained below two months.

“Like other large cities, new listings have been increasing,” said CREB® Chief Economist Ann-Marie Lurie. “However, in Calgary, the gains have not been enough to change the low inventory situation thanks to strong demand. Our market continues to favour the seller, driving further price growth.”

As of November, the benchmark price was $572,700, up over last month and nearly 11 per cent higher than November 2022. Year-to-date, the average benchmark price has risen by over five per cent.

Detached

Limited supply choice for homes priced below $700,000 has been the primary cause of the decline in detached home sales. While November reported a marginal gain over last year, year-to-date sales have declined by 20 per cent. November saw a rise in new listings compared to the previous year, but higher-priced homes drove most gains. This has left the detached market with exceptionally tight conditions for prices below $700,000 and more balanced conditions for higher-priced homes. Overall, the month of supply remains exceptionally low at under two months.

Persistently tight conditions continue to cause further price gains in the detached market. As of November, the unadjusted benchmark price reached $699,500, a slight increase over last month and over 13 per cent higher than last November. While detached home prices are much higher than last year's levels in every district, year-to-date gains are the highest in the most affordable districts of the North East and East. 
 

Semi-Detached

November saw a boost in new listings compared to last year, helping to prevent a year-over-year decline in inventory levels. However, inventory levels are still over 40 per cent below typical levels seen in November. With a sales-to-new-listings ratio of 77 per cent and a month-of-supply below two months, conditions remain exceptionally tight, especially for homes priced below $700,000. 

Despite tight conditions, benchmark prices remained stable compared to last month. However, at an unadjusted benchmark price of $628,700, prices are still over 12 per cent higher than last year. The year-to-date average benchmark price has risen by nearly seven per cent, with the largest gains occurring in the North East and East districts.
 

Row

New listings rose again this month compared to last year. The 370 new listings were met with 267 sales, and for the first time since 2021, the sales-to-new-listings ratio fell below 75 per cent. The jump in new listings was enough to support a gain in inventory levels compared to last month and last year. While inventories are still nearly half the levels we traditionally see, this did help cause the months of supply to push up to 1.6 months, a significant improvement from the less than one month of supply that has persisted over the past seven months. While conditions are much more balanced in the higher price ranges, there is less than one month of supply for homes priced below $500,000.

Despite the shift away from exceptionally tight conditions, prices still rose over the last month and last year. As of November, the unadjusted benchmark price reached $429,100, 21 per cent higher than last November and an average year-to-date gain of nearly 13 per cent.
 

Apartment Condominium

Thanks to the relative affordability of the apartment-style homes, sales continued to reach record highs in November, contributing to year-to-date sales of 7,487. With one month left in the year, sales have already surpassed last year’s record high. This, in part, was possible thanks to the growth in new listings. While inventory levels are similar to levels reported last year, with less than two months of supply, conditions still favour the seller, placing further upward pressure on prices. 

The unadjusted November benchmark price reached $320,100 in November, a monthly gain of over one per cent and a year-over-year increase of 18 per cent. Year-to-date price gains have occurred across every district in the city, with some of the largest gains arising in the lower-priced North East and East districts.
 


REGIONAL MARKET FACTS


Airdrie

Gains in November sales were not enough to offset earlier pullbacks, leaving year-to-date sales down by over 26 per cent over last year's record levels. Much of the decline has been driven by the detached market, which has struggled with supply, especially in the lower price ranges. New listings in November did improve over last year's levels. Still, thanks to the gain in sales, the sales-to-new listings ratio rose to 96 per cent, preventing any significant shift from the low inventory levels. 

With less than two months of supply, we continue to see upward pressure on home prices. In November, the unadjusted benchmark price rose over last month, reaching $524,500, a year-over-year gain of 11 per cent. Year-to-date price gains have been the highest in the apartment sector at 17 per cent, with detached and semi-detached prices rising by nearly six per cent.
 

Cochrane

With 87 new listings and 51 sales, the sales-to-new listings ratio fell to 59 per cent in November, the first time it fell below 60 per cent since 2020. Higher-priced properties have primarily driven the recent gain in new listings. Improved new listings compared to sales did help support increases in inventory levels. However, November inventory levels remain over 30 per cent below long-term trends.
 
Tight market conditions have supported further price growth in Cochrane. As of November, the unadjusted benchmark price reached $548,600, a monthly gain of over one per cent and a year-over-year increase of 11 per cent. On average, year-to-date benchmark prices have increased across all property types, with the most significant gains occurring in the apartment condominium sector at over seven per cent. 


Okotoks

November saw a boost in new listings, helping support some of the year-over-year gain in sales. The rise in new listings compared to sales also helped support gains in inventory levels. However, inventory levels are nearly half what we would typically see in the market in November. Nonetheless, the shift this month did help push the months of supply up to nearly two months. 

While the months of supply did improve, conditions remained exceptionally tight, and prices continued to trend up this month. As of November, the unadjusted benchmark price was $590,200, a one per cent gain over last month and over eight per cent higher than last November.
 

Click here to view the full City of Calgary monthly stats package.

Click here to view the full Calgary region monthly stats package.

 

For more information, please contact: 

Economic Analysis
Email: stats@creb.ca
Phone: 403-263-0530

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Data is supplied by Pillar 9™ MLS® System. Pillar 9™ is the owner of the copyright in its MLS®System. Data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by Pillar 9™.
The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license.