Liz Toles, REALTOR® - Lethbridge Real Estate

Energy efficiency is a topic that any smart homeowner should take an interest in. So, what's in if for a homeowner to increase their home's efficiency?

A. Save $$

B. Save the planet

C. Increased enjoyment and comfort

D. Any combination of the three!

While newer homes tend to be built with energy efficiency in mind, not everyone wants a new home. I personally love my older home for it's unique features, larger lot size and mature landscaping. So, where is your money best spent as the owner of an older home with regards to increasing the home's efficiency? Here are three of my faves:

1. Quit flushing money down the toilet...install a low flush or dual flush toilet. Or better yet, install a dual flush toilet retrofit kit to your existing toilet. Dual flush toilets were found to save an average of 26% more water than the single-flush 6-litre (1.5 gallon) toilet when used to replace non-efficient toilets. The added bonus is that you may be eligible to recoup up to $50 of your cost with the Natural Resources Canada's ecoENERGY retrofit for homes program. They have licensed AmeriSpec of Canada to perform their residential energy evaluations and there is a maximum grant amount of $5000 available for each home.

2. Upgrade your insulation. There's usually room for improvement here, so don't pay to heat the great outdoors. You know what your utility company charges and their rates are not likely to decrease... so keep that heat inside! Your ideal insulation levels will depend on your roof and attic type, but you are looking to hear numbers like R-28 for a flat roof and between R-40 and R-50 for others.

3. Heat and cool your home efficiently. As much as half your homes energy is used by the heating and cooling systems, so pretend these two systems are cars. Change the filters regularly and treat the units and their systems (ducts) to regular tune ups... it's money well spent.

More good news... if you are purchasing an older home and want to make these upgrades before you move in, talk to your mortgage specialist to find out how the costs can be included in your mortgage!

Check us out for more information on Lethbridge Real Estate!

Spring has sprung, the grass has ris, and here's how the state of the market is:

Total # of Listings (Month) 615 (Up 54% from 2007)

Total # of Listings (YTD) 2089 (Up 40% from 2007)

Total # of Expired Listings (Month) 106 (Up 203% from 2007)

Total # Expired Listings (YTD) 373 (Up 213% from 2007)

Total # of Sales (Month) 276 (Down 14% from 2007)

Total # Sales (YTD) 881 (Down 18% from 2007)

So what can we interpret from these stats as a REALTOR® or a home seller? Well, it appears that there are both more listings for buyers to choose from and also less buyers looking at this time, so if you are selling a home, you have your work cut out for you!

As a seller what are some things you can do to make your home stand out from the other 568 homes for sale in the City of Lethbridge at this time?

1. Set a selling price that is realistic and will make your home's perceived value appear the highest to buyers.

2. Make your home sparkle. Clean, de-clutter and stage your home to give it that extra edge against the competition.

3. Choose a qualified REALTOR to represent you. They will have the knowledge to help you set the right price, the expertise to market your home to it's full potential with the help of the MLS® and the knowledge to guide you through the steps to selling your home from start to finish.

Check us out for more information on Lethbridge Real Estate

I attended a Coldwell Banker International Business Conference in March of 2007 in Las Vegas, NV and I remember the speaker in one of the presentations talking about the "soft market" and the "hard times" that many parts of the US real estate market were facing. I remember thinking "What is this guy talking about? This is one of our best years ever in real estate in Southern Alberta!" I also remember thinking back to when I was a teenager and in comparison to the US, we were always slow to get new music, technology, economic changes, etc...

Well, the real estate market has definitely changed here in Southern Alberta, but we have yet to see the devastating effects of sub-prime lending and I personally don't think that we will see them to that extent. The latest stats published by my real estate board (the Lethbridge and District Association of REALTORS®) as of March 2008 read as follows:

Total # of Listings (Month) 531 (up 23% from 2007)

Total # of Listings YTD 1474 (up 34% from 2007)

Total # of Expired Listings (Month) 96 (up 159% from 2007)

Total # of Expired Listings YTD 267 (up 218% from 2007)

Total# of Sales (Month) 243 (Down 28% from 2007)

Total # of Sales YTD 604 (Down 21% from 2007)

The number that sticks out quite clearly to me is the increase in expired listings. It seems to me that there are a couple of reasons why this number is through the roof:

1. Sellers are having a hard time letting go of "what might have been" and are continuing to overprice properties.

2. REALTORS® are not doing a proper job of educating sellers that this is a different market and that a different set of rules now apply and we are allowing sellers to overprice their properties.

What can we as REALTORS® do to help ourselves and our clients?

Say's law says, "No good or service will remain chronically unsold, as long as prices remain flexible."

So, all we really need to do is get real about prices. We are not powerless to effect changes within our industry. We are not at the mercy of interest rates, government policy, the weather (insert whatever outside force you want to here). We are the ones who have direct contact with buyers and sellers. We have the power to educate them about the type of market we are in and how each and every one of them can benefit from it as long as they are realistic about it. We have the influence and market expertise to help our motivated sellers be at the correct price when the right buyer walks through.

The market has changed and so must we and the more quickly we can adapt, the faster our market can level off to where it needs to be and then continue on it's ever changing cycle!

Check us out for more information on Lethbridge Real Estate

This is officially my first blog.... ever. I wasn't a big fan of blogging, but after doing some research on the subject, I may be coming around. I figure that if my blog posts will give some insight as to what I am all about and the quality of person to which you will either be working with or sending a referral to, then I am all for that. So here goes!

I have been active in real estate for 3 years this coming May. I entered the real estate market at the onset of the upward swing in Southern Alberta, so needless to say, I have yet to see a soft market. I am lucky enough to have a mother/mentor who has been in the industry for 11 years now, so I have greatly benefited from her knowledge and experience. I love the real estate industry and all the challenges that go with it. It is a profession that changes daily and if you don't stay on top of things, you will definitely get lost in the shuffle. I have been on maternity leave for the past 6 months and have very much enjoyed being at home with my little girl Peyton and my little man (3 yrs.) Zach. As much as I have enjoyed being at home, I am ready to enter the world of the working as being at home with small children truly is the hardest job in the world! Even being out for just six months, I feel as though the industry has changed so much!

The things I love about real estate are that every client/customer is different, therefore every transaction is different. You almost have to have a degree in psychology to be able to read each person and interpret their different needs, wants, communication styles, etc...and you can never do enough to keep up with the steady stream of new information, marketing techniques, market trends and other information that is crucial to succeeding in this business. My hat goes off to anyone who has been in this business for a long period of time.... you have earned your place on my honour wall!

So on that note, I am back. I am not quite in the trenches yet as I am working hard on my new website (and at finding quality child care that will cater to the working hours of a REALTOR®!) You can visit my website at Lethbridge Real Estate and I am always happy to receive feedback (even if it's just to tell me I have a typo on there!) Thanks to all of you who have survived this business at the worst of times and the best of times... you are an inspiration!