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Edmonton Property Tax Notices On The Way

schmidt — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:34:41 +0000

Edmonton property tax notices on the way

By Candice So, edmontonjournal.com May 18, 2012

EDMONTON – The city mailed out more than 327,000 property tax notices Friday, giving residents a chance to see just how much they owe this year.

Homeowners are expected to pay an average of $149 more in property taxes than in 2011.

City officials estimate the average house is worth about $357,000, meaning a typical homeowner will pay a total of $2,742 in property taxes, compared to $2,593 last year. [continued...]

Women more likely to be first-time homebuyers

schmidt — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:31:38 +0000

Women more likely to be first-time homebuyers, Canadian poll finds
Down payment a top concern among women

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald May 14, 2012

CALGARY — Women are more likely than men to be first-time homebuyers among Canadians who plan to buy a home within the next two years, according to the 19th Annual RBC Homeownership Poll released Monday.

The poll said 49 per cent of women and 35 per cent of men plan to be first-time homebuyers.

“We are seeing more single women entering into the housing market, as income levels, changing demographics and lifestyle patterns shift purchasing habits,” said Marcia Moffat, head of home equity financing, RBC. “But women are being more cautious than men, weighing cost, affordability and job security before buying a home.” [continued...]

Central Bank Could Move on Rates

schmidt — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:15:49 +0000

Canadian dollar up, strong jobs data suggests central bank could move on rates

By Malcolm Morrison, Canadian Press May 11, 2012

TORONTO – The Canadian dollar was higher Friday morning as much better than expected job creation data for April raised hopes that the Bank of Canada could move on hiking interest rates sooner than thought.

The currency shook off early losses to move up 0.57 of a cent to 100.4 cents U.S. as Statistics Canada reported that the economy cranked out 58,200 jobs, much higher than the 10,000 that economists had expected. [continued...]

Alberta leads country in employment growth

schmidt — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:35:28 +0000

Alberta leads country in employment growth – 3.9% increase from a year ago

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald May 11, 2012

CALGARY — The bloom on the employment boom in Wildrose country has not come off as Alberta led the country in year-over-year job growth in April.

Statistics Canada reported Friday that employment in Alberta was up 3.9 per cent over the previous 12 months, the fastest growth of all provinces.

There were 10,700 new jobs created in Alberta, up 0.5 per cent on a monthly basis and on a year-over-year basis there were 79,900 new jobs.

The unemployment rate fell to 4.9 per cent from 5.3 per cent in March. [continued...]

Good… Better… Wow!

schmidt — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:00:01 +0000

In the first four months of 2012 our sellers sold 44.1% faster than the results posted by the Realtor Association of Edmonton!

That’s even faster than our results for 2011 of 42.5%! We’re pretty excited about these results… almost as excited as our sellers

Whahoo! And woof woof!

*Based on median days on market of 34 for the Realtor Association of Edmonton and just 19 days for Schmidt Realty Group for Jan-Apr 2012!

Contributed by Kathy Schmidt, Broker Owner of Schmidt Realty Group Inc.

New Edmonton suburbs will cost another $1.2 billion

schmidt — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:18:36 +0000

New Edmonton suburbs will cost another $1.2B: report

By Elise Stolte, edmontonjournal.com May 10, 2012

EDMONTON – New neighbourhoods already approved by Edmonton city council will cost the city an additional $1.2 billion for fire halls, parks, police stations and libraries, says a new report that gives the numbers for the first time.

“Oh my god, that’s not including the LRT,” said Coun. Linda Sloan, hearing the figures for the first time. “It just shows the city is not sustainable. We can’t continue to grow the way we are.”

City councillors have approved development in 44 new neighbourhoods on the fringes of the city without knowing how much services for these neighbourhoods would cost. The growth co-ordination strategy, released in draft form this week, quantifies the cost for the first time. [continued...]

Spring home construction hits a post-boom high

schmidt — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:12:34 +0000

Spring home construction hits a post-boom high

Starts up 27 per cent from a year ago in April and 36 per cent in the first four months

By Bill Mah, Edmonton Journal May 8, 2012

EDMONTON – Edmonton-region homebuilders are much busier than they were a year ago, with housing starts in April up 27.6 per cent from 2011.

April starts in the Edmonton census metropolitan area totalled 967 units, up from 758 units the previous year, the Canada Mortgage Housing Corp. said Tuesday.

In the single-detached market, which tends to be less volatile than the multi-family sector, builders started 493 units in April across the region. That’s up 13 per cent from 436 single starts a year earlier.

For Edmonton alone, builders broke ground on 313 singles in April, up nine per cent year-over-year. [continued...]

Calgary Market Gaining Strength

schmidt — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:49:08 +0000

ATB Daily Economic Comment: Calgary Home Price Gaining Ground
May 2, 2012

Click here to view the full article in PDF

Calgary was the epicentre of housing “bubble” chatter not too long ago. That talk was just over five years ago and after an initial sharp dip and slight rebound following the recession, average residential resale prices remained flat – with finally some signs of growth going into the spring selling season.

According to the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB) the MLS Home price index in April increased 5.5 per cent over this time last year, hitting an average benchmark price of $449,500. Given the strong economic growth in the region over the year, the slight bump in prices may even be considered moderate, given what’s occurring elsewhere in the country. [continued...]

Alberta Steals the Show in 2011

schmidt — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 22:30:48 +0000

ATB Financial Weekly Economic Bulletin:
Alberta Steals the Show in 2011

Click here to view the full bulletin

We expected it to be good, but not this good.

Alberta’s real GDP expanded by 5.2 per cent in 2011, beating the provincial government’s budget estimate of 3.5 per cent. That was the strongest growth among all provinces, with only Saskatchewan coming close with growth of 4.8 per cent. Nationally, Canada’s rate of growth was 2.6 per cent. [continued...]

April Market Report: Edmonton’s Spring Real Estate Market Looking Sunny

schmidt — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:46:56 +0000

“Listing activity is up when compared to last year but sales and inventory are down which could indicate that market ativity will pick up markedly as the summer progresses. Whatever your housing situation, you can trust the advice of your local REALTOR who is here when life happens.” Doug Singleton, REALTORS Association of Edmonton President.

Click here to read our MARKET REPORT for April 2012!

Click here to see the entire statistics report on the Realtor Association of Edmonton website.

Contributed by Kathy Schmidt, Broker Owner, Schmidt Realty Group Inc.

Your Source For Edmonton Real Estate Market News | Schmidt Realty Group » Market News

Edmonton Property Tax Notices On The Way

Edmonton property tax notices on the way

Women more likely to be first-time homebuyers

Women more likely to be first-time homebuyers, Canadian poll finds Down payment a top concern among women

Central Bank Could Move on Rates

Canadian dollar up, strong jobs data suggests central bank could move on rates

Alberta leads country in employment growth

Alberta leads country in employment growth – 3.9% increase from a year ago

Good… Better… Wow!

New Edmonton suburbs will cost another $1.2 billion

New Edmonton suburbs will cost another $1.2B: report

Spring home construction hits a post-boom high

Spring home construction hits a post-boom high

Calgary Market Gaining Strength

Alberta Steals the Show in 2011

April Market Report: Edmonton’s Spring Real Estate Market Looking Sunny

Women more likely to be first-time homebuyers, Canadian poll finds
Down payment a top concern among women