Calgary Real Estate - Stewart Chyz

Home
Condo Tips
Marketing Plan
Role of a Realtor
Bio
Search Properties
- MLS® System Search
- My Listings
Selling
- Home Evalulation
- Selling Guides
Buying
- Property Finder
- Buying Guides
Blogs
Contact
Refer a Client
Info
- Links

Stewart Chyz
Axiom Realty Inc.
1627 Robson Crescent SE, Calgary, Alberta
P: 403-680-5560
F: 403-592-7598
Email

Share |

All the opinions below are mine and though I do not want to offend anyone, I just might. If you have any comments or want to let me know your opinion, you can email me at info@stewartchyz.com.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 - #12: Video Blog about Calgary's Buyers Market

Today I am going to talk about a buyers market. As most people are aware the Calgary real estate market right now favours buyers. The reason for is, there seems to be very few of them out there. There can be several things that cause a buyers market; I think a few of the things causing this one is a general uncertainty people are having about their economic future. It also seems to be harder for people to borrow money; it recently took 18 days for one of my buyers to get approved for a mort ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:30:25 -0600

Tuesday, September 28, 2010 - #11 Video Blog about open houses and why I do them

Today I am going to talk about open houses, and the reasons why I do them and why I will continue to do them. Some people think open houses are just a way for realtors to look for leads and do not do anything to sell the property. While I will admit, when I first started in the business, I worked open houses every weekend and I did it just to be able to find leads for myself. But I was able to sell the occasional house I was sitting, so I continued to do them. I still sell the occasional ho ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 28 Sep 2010 16:41:08 -0600

Thursday, September 9, 2010 - Video Blog about Calgary's Current Rental Market

Today I am going to talk about the current rental market in Calgary. If you listen to the news or read the papers it is hard to get an accurate take on what the market is like. The newspapers and news programs have been saying that the vacancy rate is up and that the rental market is not good. I think if you want to get an accurate idea for what is actually happening you need to talk to someone who has rental properties. I personally own a few rental properties as do several of my friends. ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:45:16 -0600

Monday, August 9, 2010 - Video Blog on the July Real Estate Statistics in Calgary

Today I am going to give you my take on the July real estate stats that were released by Calgary real estate board last week. Sales are still down; this July was 40 % down from a year ago and the buyers market we are in continues. What the papers are not reporting though is inventory is leveling off and we actually have 500 less listings right now then 2 weeks ago. Properties are starting to come on the market at the right price and those that do, are selling quite quickly. If you are a buy ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:13:30 -0600

Thursday, July 8, 2010 - Video Blog on The Calgary Stampede and Real Estate

Today I am going to talk about the Calgary Stampede and the effect it will have on Real Estate. Today is Thursday July 8th and the Stampede is under way, yes I know, officially it does not start until tomorrow. But anyone who has lived in Calgary for a while knows it is already underway everywhere but down on the grounds and that starts tonight. How does the stampede effect the market? It brings it pretty much brings it to a stand still. There is still business being done of course, but no ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:33:23 -0600

Wednesday, July 7, 2010 - Video Blog about Condominium Doors and Windows. Who is Responsible?

Today I am going to do the video edition of a blog that I wrote several months ago. It is over Condominium Doors and Windows and who is responsible for them? One of the most common questions I am asked by clients who are looking to buy an older condo, is who is responsible to replace the doors and windows? In Alberta, you can find the answer to this question by reviewing the Condo Plan. If the Condo Plan does not specify, then the doors and windows are a reserve fund expense and the Condo A ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:56:27 -0600

Monday, July 5, 2010 - Video Blog on Calgary's June Real Estate Statistics

The Calgary Real Estate Board released the June statistics last week. They can be described with one word, brutal. House sales were down 42% over June 2009 and Condo sales were down 40%. It is a buyers market out there, if you are a selling your home, you have got to price it properly right from the beginning. If you want to start high and come down slowly, your home is not going to sell. It is just going to one of the many properties on the market. If you are a buyer, I got one thing to ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:42:15 -0600

Tuesday, June 29, 2010 - Video Blog on What to do in Calgary on Canada Day

Today I am going to talk about Canada Day. I am a volunteer on The City of Calgary’s Canada Day Planning Committee. With Canada Day being tomorrow, I am about to get very busy. This afternoon from 1 – 5, I will be at Prince’s Island Park decorating and helping get the Island ready for tomorrow. Prince’s Island is the site of The City’s afternoon festivities. I am going to be there at 7 AM on July 1st, but the opening ceremonies do not start until noon. It will b ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:12:39 -0600

Monday, June 28, 2010 - Video Blog on Foreclosures, Are They a Good Deal?

Today I am going to talk about foreclosures. Are they really a good deal? Over the past two years I have listed and sold more then a dozen foreclosures and with rare exceptions I do not find them to be a good deal at all. Here is why. When the bank starts to foreclose an appraisal is done. Often this is done with out having access to the inside of home, as the owner or tenants are not cooperating. For some reason, the appraisers come to a value based on the inside of the home being in good ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:18:01 -0600

Friday, June 25, 2010 - Video Blog on Getting Good Tenants

Today I am going to talk about tenants and the things I do to get good ones, ones that will stay. The first thing I do is check to see what comparable units are renting for in the area, then I then price my units a little less. I am not greedy, I know people who ask for the maximum they can get and their units are usually vacant for one or more months every year. I would rather make a little less and have mine rented all the time. If your tenants think they are getting a deal they will n ... Full Article...

posted in General at Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:27:50 -0600

Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - Video Blog on Condo Boards

Today’s blog is about condominium boards and the work they do. I lived in condos for 20 years; I still own two condos and have sat on many boards. Most condo boards are under appreciated, the majority of owners do not realize how much time the board puts in or how much work the actually do. Too often the only time other owners think about them is when their condo fees have been raised or there has been a special assessment is levied. Believe me, when that happens most of the comments ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 23 Jun 2010 10:19:52 -0600

Monday, June 14, 2010 - Bad Real Estate Pictures

I am constantly amazed at the amount of listings that are entered into the MLS system with, bad pictures, not enough pictures or no pictures at all. The majority of all buyers start the information gathering process online; they want to see as many pictures as possible if the property falls into their search criteria. If the pictures are of poor quality or not enough of them; or none at all, they usually will just move to the next listing, they do not even stop to look at the rest of the inform ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:38:58 -0600

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 - Renovate Your Bathroom the Easy and Cheap Way

I found this article by Muhammad Siddique when I was reading the Red Carpet Blog Renovate Your Bathroom the Easy and Cheap Way When it comes to renovations and home improvements, the easiest way to cut down on costs is to do-it-yourself. But what if you're not a regular Bob Vila? Don't worry! There are plenty of easy, do-it-yourself projects that can effectively update your bathroom and not break your wallet. Check out some of these projects and tips to help you easily update your bathroom: ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:07:58 -0600

Monday, June 7, 2010 - Calgary tops Canada for real estate investment

Calgary tops Canada for real estate investment I came across this article by Mario Toneguzzi in the Calgary Herald. I agree whole heartedly with it. Calgary is the best place in Canada to invest in the residential real estate market, according to a new report released Friday. The city experienced one of its best economic and real estate periods in Canadian history a couple of years ago, but then entered a strong, and needed, correction, stated the Real Estate Investment Network's report. ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:35:56 -0600

Thursday, June 3, 2010 - Qualifying for a Mortgage

Qualifying for a Mortgage As we all know in April there were some changes made to qualify for a mortgage. The biggest change affecting a person, who is buying a home to live in, is that you must qualify for a 5 year closed mortgage. The interest rate that is used for this rate is the Bank of Canada’s posted rate, which is currently at 5.9%. What most people do not realize is; you only have to qualify at this rate if you want a mortgage other then a 5 year closed. In other words, if you w ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:22:22 -0600

Tuesday, June 1, 2010 - 5 Cheap Ways to Improve Your Rental Property

5 Cheap Ways to Improve Your Rental Property I found this article by Muhammad Siddique on a website Obviously if you had thousands of dollars and unlimited amounts of time it would be easy to fix up a property. However, most of us don't have that luxury. If you own rental property or are rehabbing a property, you know what it's like to run on a tight schedule with an even tighter budget. Often times, the basic home improvements, like paint and carpet, can cost you thousands of dollars alone ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 01 Jun 2010 09:10:04 -0600

Monday, May 31, 2010 - Do not Underestimate the Importance of Condo Documents

Do not Underestimate the Importance of Condo Documents Are you planning to sell your condo? One of the first things you need to do is assemble an up to date condo document package. Even if you have all the documents from when you purchased the property and have saved all the updates that have been sent to you, the documents you have will be out of date. This is why you need to start gathering them before you put the property on the market. The simplest way to do this is to contact your propert ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 31 May 2010 08:51:43 -0600

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 - Condominium Pet Policies

Condominium Pet Policies If you have pets and are considering buying a condominium, make sure you check on the pet policy of the condo complex before you waive your conditions. Most condo complexes do allow pets; however, there are usually some restrictions and they normally must be registered with the complex. If you have a cat or rabbit, something small and quiet there is usually not a problem, problems do start to occur with dogs. Most condo complexes will have size and weight restrictions f ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 26 May 2010 11:19:54 -0600

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - The 10 Best Renovations to Improve Home Values

I found this article on Mike Holmes web site. If you are thinking of doing some improvements before you sell, read this first. 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 part ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 25 May 2010 13:16:30 -0600

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 - 5 Tips For Getting Started in Property Investment

5 Tips For Getting Started in Property Investment Property investment is a proven investment strategy for millions of people around the world. Real estate offers a variety of options for potential investors, including flipping undervalued properties, fixing properties up and then selling, becoming a landlord or considering the foreclosure market. While there are a tremendous amount of options to consider for real estate investment, there are tips that should be considered to improve the oppo ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 19 May 2010 08:56:34 -0600

Thursday, May 6, 2010 - Condos are Popular Investments in Calgary

I read a good article in today’s Calgary Herald written by Mario Toneguzzi. Condos are Popular Investments in Calgary A TD Canada Trust condo poll released Wednesday shows 40 per cent of condo buyers in Calgary are purchasing their real estate as an investment property -- among the most likely in Canada to do that. Of those, 41 per cent who bought or would consider buying a condo see a condo as a long-term source of rental income, compared to 35 per cent nationally. The poll also sa ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 06 May 2010 09:46:32 -0600

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 - Do Your Homework before Buying a Condo

Do Your Homework before Buying a Condo Knowledge is your best friend when it comes to buying a condo, and the more you know, the fewer surprises there are after you are given the keys. Anyone buying a condo needs to understand their role in the maintenance and operation of the condominium association. They are becoming a shareholder in a corporation, that corporation has liabilities and they are responsible for their part. You need to know what the rules and regulations are, as well as what ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 05 May 2010 14:03:03 -0600

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - What Calgary Housing Bubble?

What Calgary Housing Bubble? There was another article in the Calgary Herald this morning, investment firm Edward Jones is warning all Canadian investors to prepare for the possible impact of a housing down turn on the economy. The investment firm in its report said a bubble usually has three conditions - prices rising sharply and are too high based on historical data; credit is too easy to obtain; and lax regulation or innovations make regulation less effective. What world do these people live ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:42:52 -0600

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - Condominium Reserve Funds

Condominium Reserve Funds Every condominium corporation in Alberta must have a reserve fund. The reserve fund is money set aside to repair and replace the common property and any real or personal property owned by the condominium corporation, where the repair or replacement does not occur annually. The fund is not to be used for the day to day expenses of the corporation. I often get asked how much money should be in the reserve fund. Each condominium complex is different and the amount that sh ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:41:48 -0600

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - Working with Today's Buyers

I was reading a blog by Teresa Boardman, a realtor in St Paul. Minnesota. As I read it I was amazed on how much her writing paralleled my career and thoughts. Parts of this blog are her words and I have put my words in for the parts that apply to me. It is easy for most homebuyers to find a home today. All they need is Internet access and some imagination. In 1999 when I started selling real estate, it was much harder to find a home and buyers relied on Realtors to let them know about homes o ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:16:18 -0600

Monday, April 12, 2010 - Condominium Doors and Windows. Who is responsible?

One of the most common questions I am asked by clients who are looking to buy an older condo is, who is responsible to replace the doors and windows. In Alberta, you can find the answer to this question by reviewing the Condo Plan. If the Condo Plan does not specify, then the doors and units are common property and the Condo Association must repair and maintain them. Please note; if the Condo Corporations bylaws state the doors and windows are the responsibility of the unit owners and the Condo ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:37:12 -0600

Wednesday, April 7, 2010 - Don't fear higher interest rates

This article was send to me by Peter Drake, Peter is vice-president, retirement & economic research, for Fidelity Investments Canada. The article is a bit long but it is a good read. Interest rates are on everyones mind these days and this does help explain what is going on. Continued economic strengthening, concerns that inflation might rise in the future and a large amount of government debt are among the factors translating into increases in interest rates, with more likely to come. Here ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:56:49 -0600

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - Can you Trust Real Estate Statistics?

I am getting a little tired of how the media and some people twist statistics to create a so called housing bubble. They say that because of March sales of single family homes in Calgary being 28% above last year, we must be in a bubble. Garth Turner rolls through town and tells people not to buy a home because this level of activity can not last. They never tell you that this increase in sales is being compared to a bad year. In fact, other then March 2009, the sales in March of 2010 is the le ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:41:18 -0600

Monday, March 29, 2010 - Bad Real Estate Pictures

posted in General at Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:03:38 -0600

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - Real Estate Investing: 5 Myths You Must Vanquish

I found this article on The Red Carpet Blog site, good information if you are considering purchasing real estate for an investment Real Estate Investing – 5 Myths You Must Vanquish Real estate investing is a very profitable business and many people have earned their fair share. However, many people think real estate investing is all about having loads of money and with that money, they can earn more money. That is not the case. Consider 5 great myths that surround the real estate invest ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:35:11 -0600

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - Do not Under Estimate Your Insurance Needs

After the March 18th fire in Millrise; which left over 300 people homeless I thought it would be a good idea to talk about insurance. After a disaster like this, they always interview people who either have not enough insurance or none at all. When you buy a home, the lender will insist you have fire insurance. When you buy a condo, the condo structure and common area are covered for fire loss by a policy paid for by the condo association. But the interior of your unit is not covered except the ... Full Article...

posted in General at Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:46:08 -0600

Friday, March 19, 2010 - Fire Safety in Condos

There was a terrible tragedy in Millrise yesterday, a fire started in a condo complex and 300 people are now homeless. If you are buying a condo or currently live in one, please read the fire safety tips below. CONDOMINIUM FIRE SAFETY TIPS Responsibility for the fire safety of your building lies with each and every resident. That's why it is so important that you plan together to keep your building as fire safe as possible and learn the right thing to do should fire break out. The first place ... Full Article...

posted in General at Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:44:22 -0600

Thursday, March 18, 2010 - Top First Time Home Buyer Mistakes

I found this great article on The Red Carpet Blog, if you are a first time buyer it is a must read. Buying your first home involves a lot of research and effort. In spite of all the resources available to help First home buyers, people tend to make mistakes when they buy a house for the first time. Here are few of common mistakes that you can keep away when you go out to buy a house. Not collecting adequate information: A lot of homework needs to be done before one commits to buy a house and ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:07:30 -0600

Monday, March 15, 2010 - Competition Bureau

Competition Bureau There is a lot of talk in Real Estate circles about the dispute between the Canadian Real Estate Association and The Competition Bureau. The talk is about the rule changes that CREA is going to implement and if they will satisfy the bureau and how it will affect realtors and members of the public. I attended an information meeting put on by the Calgary Real Estate Board recently, I was left with the impression that a lot of realtors are not happy about the changes these r ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:02:17 -0600

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - The Importance of Condo Documents

posted in General at Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:01:05 -0700

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 -

The Bank of Canada day announces no change to the prime rate. No surprise there, the change is going to come this summer.

posted in General at Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:19:21 -0700

Monday, March 1, 2010 -

The Importance of getting Mortgage Pre-approval This past Friday I received an email from a person who was viewing one of my listings on Realtor.ca. The question was five words long; I answered it and received another email asking when he could see it. I then asked if he has been pre-approved for a mortgage. The response to my question was that he did not need to worry about a mortgage until put an offer in on a property. He could not have been more wrong. If you are seriously considering p ... Full Article...

posted in General at Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:22:56 -0700

Thursday, February 25, 2010 -

Is asking an individual realtor really the best way to determine what is happening in the market place? An article in today’s Calgary Herald reports the market is “about ready to go crazy”. I think if you asked six different realtors you would get six different answers to that question, but The Herald has asked one and then comes up with that headline. I think it is great they are willing to give a realtor the promotional value of the article, but I don’t think the hype ... Full Article...

posted in General at Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:55:31 -0700

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 -

The C. D. Howe Institute has issued a statement calling for The Bank of Canada to uphold its policy to keep the prime rate at 0.25 per cent until July. But at that time they should embark on sharp rates hikes of 50 basis points at every announcement date until mid-2011. The report states that recent data indicates inflation is now closer to the banks two per cent preferred target then it previously envisaged. The bank is not under any obligation to listen to the C. D. Institute, but rates are ... Full Article...

posted in General at Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:12:41 -0700

Blog Home