Canadians are choosing to invest in home renovations over new home purchases

Canadian renovation activity is on the rise as the economic lull in the real estate market has left some homeowners reluctant to move, instead opting to update.

In a recent report, Scotiabank senior economist Adrienne Warren found spending on home additions, new installations and replacement of equipment rose six per cent year-over-year through the first half of 2015, with renovation spending up in most provinces and outlays on track to total $53 billion this year.

Warren said current homeowners looking to upgrade are seeing renovations as an attractive option, as industrial price inflation for many renovation-related construction materials, equipment and household goods – such as kitchen cabinets, appliances and furniture – remain consistent.

The dish on real property reports

Lost in the lexicon of real estate transactions, a real property report can paint a picture that, in many cases, is worth much more than a thousand words.

An RPR, which is an essential part of real estate transactions, provides a visual and written assessment on the current state of affairs on a given property.

Performed by licensed land surveyors – and ranging in cost from $800 to $1,000 each – this report will disclose essential information such as the property line of a plot of land, recent improvements made to a property and details on any permanent structures (such as sheds, decks, houses, and garages) built on a property.

High rents, job losses contributing to lease breaks, defaults

As the torrential storm of job losses in the province escalates, Calgary's rental community is beginning to feel the fallout.

Rental management groups in the city are reporting a higher incidence of lease breaks and defaults on rent this year as energy sector woes reverberate throughout the economy.

"We've certainly had to do a lot more of this recently than in years' past," said Brett Turner, owner of Redline Real Estate Group Inc., which manages a multitude of rental properties from single-family homes to small apartment buildings.

"We've seen significantly more lease breaks and defaults on rents than ever before."

Development standard finds its way back into the Calgary region

When is a detached home still a condo? When it's a bare land condo, an under-utilized development standard that is once again sprouting up in the Calgary region.

Developers in new areas such as Watermark in Bearspaw and Shawnee Park are designating some or all of their respective developments as bare land condos as part of a more collective approach to building and maintaining communities.

Bare land condos have previously popped up in other area communities such as Tanglewood Estates, The Lake at Heritage Pointe, Okotoks Air Ranch, Elmont Green and Lott Creek Grove.

They say only two things are certain in life: death and taxes. But for once, the government is scaling back its share. With around nine million of Canadians set to see their tax burdens lessened in 2016 thanks to the Canadian government's newly introduced tax cuts, CREB®Now breaks down some of the small print included in the changes.

$3.4 billion
With around nine million Canadians making between $45,282 and $90,563 set to see their tax bills decrease in 2016, the total cost to the Canadian government will be $3.4 billion. Single individuals who benefit will see an average tax reduction of $330 every year, and couples who benefit will see an average tax reduction of
$540 every year. The maximum tax reduction will be $679 per individual and $1,358 per couple.

Overseas condo ownership ramps up in Calgary

Foreign ownership is picking up in Calgary's housing market, according to a new report from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp (CMHC).

Late last week, the federal housing agency noted foreign ownership in Calgary's condo apartment sector has increased from just 0.2 per cent of the total market in 2014 to 1.1 per cent in 2015.

While it's a far cry from the level of ownership seen in markets such as Vancouver and Toronto, the rise in Calgary still represents a five-fold increase.

Gravel-trained dogs are not a theory

After being pulled off my feet and dragged two metres, I was winded and dazed with a broken rib and scrapes on my knees. A stranger tried to help me up, but my dog, still tied firmly to my waist, was barking in my defence against the obedient pair of shelties sitting quietly beside their helpful owner.

I lay on the ground sore and sad and embarrassed.

The host of the dog obedience television show I watched before attaching the leash around my waist forgot to mention you should get to know your dog first before you tie him to your waist. Later, my hairdresser, Heather, confirmed the same thing. The leash-on-waist thing is all lies, especially with a big or bad dog.

When we agreed to take a "free" rescue dog, we were thinking about the house. After all, poodles don't shed. There would be no more hairy dust-balls on the hardwood.

Bright ideas this holiday season

December offers a banquet for the senses and many chances to lose ourselves in the deliciousness of all the sights and sounds of the season.

Stop dreading the repetitive Christmas music. Embrace it and create your own playlist. Treasure every moment as if you were eight years old, beginning the holidays with excitement, gratitude and thanks.

Christmas is not just a time of year. It is a state of mind. It is a delightful feeling within cherishing fond memories, filling your hearts with goodwill, home, help and hope. This is the time when you can create the warm and inviting dreamy holiday vignettes you've seen in magazines, layering faux fur blankets, tapestries and velvet pillows that all speak Christmas.

Regulation changes could make investment market more attractive

Recent changes to secondary suite regulations could spell good news for investors looking for opportunities in Calgary's detached housing sector.

In late November, city council voted to relax the regulations on lot size and increase the amount of floor space allowed in the suites.

Under the new rules, homes zoned R-C1Ls, R-C1s and R-1s will have the minimum lot width removed altogether, while homes zoned R-C1N, R-C2, R-1N and R-2 l will see the minimum lot width reduced to nine metres.

The changes will also increase the maximum size on basement suites from 75 to 100 square metres.

In the midst of a correction, experts identify silver-lining investment opportunity

Buy low. Sell high. It's the quintessential mantra of successful investors.

And for those who have long sought to execute this philosophy in Calgary's real estate market, a window of opportunity may be opening thanks to weak oil prices – particularly in the apartment-style condominium sector, which has seen inventory levels skyrocket in 2015.

According to CREB®'s recent monthly housing forecast, months of supply in the apartment sector increased to 6.9 per cent in November, causing benchmark prices to slide
0.5 per cent from October to $287,000. Meanwhile, year-over-year prices were off by 4.6 per cent.

By comparison, months of supply in the detached and attached sector sat at 3.4 and 4.8, respectively.