Bryon Howard

Have you been to our most awesome outdoor pool yet this year? If not … why not? (It is at 3130 16 Street SW).

At a recent South Calgary Board Meeting someone had the audacity to raise the question:

“Should we close the pool? We lost $20,000 last year.”

Like many of you, I very much value our pool … but almost never use it! So I committed to using it and brought some of my triathlon training buddies to the facility. I loved our early morning swim. However, I noted some of my buddies were laughing and ‘complaining’ about the pool deck and scratching their fingers on the bottom of the pool. I took no notice – as they are just girly and wimpy.

Later in the day I suggested to my 12 year old we go swimming. He immediately said … ‘maybe’. I incredulously asked why he would not want to go to the pool. He spoke without hesitation about the facility … and all the things he did not like about it. My wife then spoke up about the things she did not like about it.

I was simply amazed … until I thought about it. Why is this wonderful facility so neglected? Why does the building have such poor curb appeal? Why did we have a wonderful facility built in the 1970’s (I presume), and why is it not currently a ‘world class’ facility? How come most of the city’s outdoor pools … seem shabby?

Like many of you … I probably will not take the time to find out the answers to these questions … and get involved in trying to make the facility world class. I know I probably should. Perhaps you are interested in stepping up and helping me find out the answers. Could we … make a difference?

The Pool Schedule: http://www.southcalgarycommunity.ca/pool/schedule.html

Pool Address: 3130 16 Street SW

Sunday, August 9, 2009 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Marda Loop BRZ and to celebrate this year’s Marda Gras Street Festival will bring about 30,000 people to the area to enjoy the culture and cuisine of New Orleans throughout our ten city blocks. This year's event promises another fun-filled and family-friendly day from 10 am – 5 pm with:

Entertainment featuring Zydeco Jazz, Rhythm and Blues

Kids Quarter

Outdoor street cafes and patios

About 200 vendors

Marda Gras Dog Contest

Beer Gardens & Volleyball at Original Joe’s

NEW - *Eco Centre

*This 2009 Festival launches our Going Green for Sustainability "Eco Centre", including information, education and activities for business and households on how to create a more sustainable community. Join Us!

Whether you can sponsor, volunteer or participate join the Masquerade! www.mardaloopbrz.ca

Bryon Howard of ReMax House of Real Estate has launched a new website called CalgaryHomeOwner.com. Bryon believes that it is the goal of all Calgarians to own their own home. However, many people are faced with financial setbacks and circumstances that prevent them from obtaining conventional financing. CalgaryHomeOwner.com specializes in helping people with less than perfect credit realize the dream of homeownership.

The goal of www.CalgaryHomeOwner.com is to Create Win-Win Real Estate Solutions. Essentially Investors will Rent to Own their homes to tenant/buyers. Investors have a long term tenant/buyer and the tenant/buyer is in a stable home and experiences all the pride of home ownership.

Essentially, renting to own is as easy as it sounds. The renter/buyer enters into an agreement with the seller to rent their home for a certain amount of time (3 years is a common length), and at the end of the agreed upon term, the renter/buyer will purchase the house.

How is this any different from a standard purchase agreement? Each month, a portion of the rent (called a credit) is put towards the eventual down payment on the house. Thus, when the buyer/tenant is ready to purchase the home, they already have a sizeable down payment saved up.

A Rent To Own your home program is basically a lease with an option to buy contract. Effectively, the option to buy contract is in favour of the buyer/tenant. The buyer/tenant gets to decide whether or not to buy the home during the option period.

When one signs a lease with an option to buy contract, they must pay the landlord/seller an option payment. This money is your vested interest in your home and will be fully credited (100%) to the down payment of the home when the buyer/tenant exercises the option (buy the home).

There is a minimum of cash out of pocket. With a lease and purchase option you pay only first month's rent and the option payment. The option payment amount is negotiable based on the price of the home and is usually between $3,000 and $20,000. However, please be aware that this money can only be used towards your purchase of your home and is not refundable.

Bryon Howard states, “With Rent to Own properties, Credit problems are okay as qualification restrictions are not as strict as conventional financing. Tenant/buyers will be approved at the discretion of the landlord/seller.”

Rent to Own tenant/buyers get peace of mind. They have full control of the home and can maintain it or improve because it will be the tenant/buyers when they exercise the option to buy.
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For more information on Rent To Own housing, please visit www.calgaryhomeowner.com

Blaine and Sandra Cameron have three children between 11 years and 4 years and have moved from six different rental properties in the past eleven years. Blaine opened a new business in summer 2008 and Sandra’s work has been sporadic as she has spent much time at home with her children. Eight months ago, they began investigating Rent to Own Housing. Their credit was poor; they could afford $2100 per month, and had saved a down payment of $3,000. They are currently enjoying their rent to own home in Taradale, NE, Calgary.

Essentially, renting to own is as easy as it sounds. You, the renter, enter into an agreement with the seller to rent their home for a certain amount of time (3 years is a common length), and at the end of the agreed upon term, you will purchase the house. How is this any different from a standard purchase agreement you ask? Simple. Each month, a portion of your rent (called a credit) is put towards the eventual down payment on the house. Thus, when you are ready to purchase the home, you already have a sizeable down payment saved up.

If you are unfamiliar with the term “rent to own housing”, perhaps you’ve heard of lease option or lease to buy. These are all terms for the same thing.

It is unfortunate that with the availability of rent to own housing, many people still live day to day not realizing the dream of home ownership. The sad fact of the matter is that many people haven’t heard of rent to own housing, and many others shy away from the thought based on the misguided belief that rent to own housing is a scam.

A Rent To Own your home program is basically a lease with an option to buy contract.
There are two main parts to this. First you have a lease and then an option to buy contract for your home (generally the option to buy is 3 years). The option to buy contract is a contract in your favour, you get to decide whether or not to buy the home during the option period.

When you sign a lease with an option to buy contract, you must pay the landlord/seller an option payment. This money is your vested interest in your home and will be fully credited (100%) to your down payment of the home when you exercise your option (buy the home).

There is a minimum of cash out of pocket. With a lease and purchase option you pay only first month's rent and the option payment. The option payment amount is negotiable based on the price of the home and is usually between $3,000 and $20,000. However, please be aware that this money can only be used towards your purchase of your home and is not refundable.

Your credit problems are okay as qualification restrictions are not as strict as conventional financing. You will be approved at the discretion of the landlord/seller. Time is now on your side. Before you actually buy the home, you will have time to repair your credit and find the very best financing available.

You get peace of mind. You will have full control of the home and can maintain it or improve because it will be yours when you exercise your option to buy.

When it is time to buy your home you just finance it for the price as determined by the purchase option agreement signed originally.

For more information on Rent To Own housing, please visit www.calgaryhomeowner.com