Like many, I am now working from home a lot more than normal.  As a Realtor, I have technically worked from home over the past five years but most of my day was usually spent meeting clients, showing homes, hunkering down at Starbucks to do my emails and reports - not really that much time actually in my house!  Like many of you, it has definitely been an adjustment!  I have figured out however that if I really want to be productive, there are a few things that must be done...

  1. Get out of the jammies!  While very comfortable, I know that if I don't change into real clothes, I don't have the right mindset to get stuff done.  Right now, the way you think dictates how productive you are.  A 'real' pair of pants sets the tone for your work day and…

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Rahana Sarif - MaxWell Elite

VernonSamaroo - MaxWell Challenge Realty

Brendan Rost - MaxWell Polaris

Mark Cocks - MaxWell Challenge Realty

Deena Caputo - MaxWell Excel Realty

Donia Panesar - MaxWell Polaris

Shi Chang - MaxWell Polaris

Gillian Sutherland - MaxWell Devonshire Realty

Glenda Sutherland - MaxWell Canyon Creek

Brad Lyons - MaxWell Devonshire Realty

Tracy Vipond - MaxWell Progressive Realty

Okezi Okpei-Ohioze - MaxWell Polaris

Tom Lackner - MaxWell Devonshire Realty (Lethbridge)

Jamal Al-Ghabari - MaxWell Central

 

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ATB Economics

April 29, 2020

 
 
 
Interest rates around the world
 

One of the ways central banks* have tried to mitigate the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is by lowering interest rates. The basic idea is that lower interest rates stimulate the economy by making it less costly to borrow money which, in turn, leads to more investment, spending and jobs. 
 

When an economy is heating up, interest rates are typically raised as a way to “tap the breaks” and keep inflation in check.
 

With the pandemic causing economies around the world to ice over, a…

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 How to Stand Out in the Spring Home buying Market 

When it comes to buying a house, it doesn't get more competitive than springtime.  Want to make sure you stand out from the pack? Here are three ways to do it:

  1. Include a personal letter to the sellers with your offer. Tell them why you love the home and just how much it means to you.
  2. Get pre-approved for your mortgage loan first. This shows sellers you have the financial resources to follow through on your offer.
  3. Avoid low-ball offers. Bid at least the listing price (and be ready to go higher if there's a bidding war).

All-cash bids can also be a great way to secure the home of your dreams.

 

Easy Ways to Add More Storage Space

Tired of crowded closets and cluttered drawers?…

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There's a reason why there are "kitchen and bath" stores, and even design magazines devoted to these rooms. A well-staged kitchen and bathroom can make the entire home look better. So, it's no surprise that professional home stagers pay particular attention to these spaces. 

What do these pros have to say about bathrooms? 

Professional stagers advise that you start by taking a picture of the room. Looking at that picture will give you a better sense of how others see your bathroom and reveal what needs to be changed. 

Then, de-personalize it. When you’re showing your home to buyers, you want the bathroom to resemble a guest bathroom. So, no shaving kits, toothbrushes, sticky notes to self on the mirror, etc. 

Stagers also recommend that…

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People use the equity in their homes for many different reasons. Home equity is often used to pay off other debt, fund home renovations and upgrade projects as well as help purchase other necessities. It’s important to know these few facts when obtaining a Home Equity Line of Credit or HELOC to ensure that this is something you can manage.

  1.        HELOCs do not have fixed rates. This means your monthly payments can fluctuate. The interest rate is determined by the prime rate plus the percentage rate that the bank has set.  Let’s say the interest rate at the bank is prime + 1.5%. If the prime rate is 2%, then take 2% and add 1.5%. This gives you a total interest rate of 3.5%.
  2.        You might be paying way more than expected if the interest…

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If you're thinking of listing your property, one thing that might be holding you back is concern about preparing your home for sale. You may be wondering how much work there will be. Is it going to take a couple of months? A couple of weeks? A few days?

That, of course, depends on the state of your property. 

However, regardless of how close your home is to “show time” ready, there is plenty you can do to reduce how long that preparation takes. Consider these ideas: 

  •    Sell stuff online. The less cluttered your home seems to buyers, the better it will show. So, make a list of items you want to sell, and then list them on one of the many local online market websites. Price items fairly and, chances are, you'll get rid of everything in a…

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