Fort McMurray Real Estate Blog

Christmas on a Budget: Celebrate the holidays without breaking the bank!

Christmas might seem expensive, but with a few adjustments you won’t have to go into credit card debt to make it a memorable and fun holiday season.

Here are some ways to have an enjoyable Christmas on a budget.

Have a potluck

Even if you love hosting Christmas dinner, you don’t have to pay for the entire meal. Ask your guests to bring a dish - maybe exchange some recipe cards with them too.

Secret Santa

Many families now play games like Secret Santa, White Elephant and Favorite Things where they only have to buy one gift for the adults in their family. Suggesting this can save hundreds of dollars a year. Plus, it’s a fun way to spend time as a family!

Thoughtful gifts

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Why fall might be the best time to buy a house

House hunting during fall months might sound crazy to most people. Colder months often mean opting to stay at home, reading a good book, or doing whatever fall activities that you can enjoy at home - really anything at all as long as it means that you get to stay warm and toasty indoors. But this season could actually play to your advantage and here are some of the reasons why.

Motivated Sellers

By fall, sellers who were “testing the waters” with listing their home in spring are either eliminated or are now serious sellers. These motivated sellers often want to get their house sold before the end of the year so they can complete their own move before the holidays. The longer a house has been on the market, the more likely a seller is willing to negotiate on everything from price, to closing costs, to move-in...

How to Build an Emergency Fund: Tips and tricks to get you started

One of the most important things that you need to have when planning to buy a home is an emergency fund. What is an emergency fund? It's money that you have set aside to use for unexpected events and circumstances that life throws at you so you won't take a big hit for it and you can still maintain your normal lifestyle. Here are some tips on how you can get started on building your emergency fund.

Don't Get Overwhelmed: Start low on your initial target amount

Setting too high of a goal can easily make you disheartened to continue saving up. Start on a more reasonable amount of just $500 or $1000. That’s a goal that you can reach in just a few months (or even less if you’re in a good income situation) and yet it’s an amount that can make a huge difference when you...

Get your space back with these garage organization ideas!

Most people don't really have their car parked inside the garage, or if they do, there's barely little wiggle room left. The reason? There's too much stuff in it! Leaving your car out makes it vulnerable to sun damage, rain water damage and exposure to bird droppings and tree sap. So it looks like there's no arguing that your car will be much safer when it's stored inside the garage. Let us help you out with that. Get back your garage space with these garage organization ideas! Your car will thank you for this.

Getting Started: Clean it all out

It might look like quite a tall order to get started with the hardest part, but everything has to start somewhere right? The key here is to be organized, decisive and rational.

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Fall Events All Around Alberta

When leaves have turned and the cold weather sets in, you might think about what activities you can do around Alberta. Here are some of the events that you can enjoy to bask in all the fall vibes this season brings!

Fall Trade Show

 

September 20-22, 2019 paves the way for the largest general consumer trade show in Fort McMurray with over 300 exhibits and over 12,000 consumers. Head to MacDonald Island Park in Fort McMurray and discover new products, innovative sellers and so much more! Click here for the...

Start saving money by making these small changes!

Saving money for your down payment seems like a very challenging step. This is especially true if you’re not keen on saving money or planning your finances at all. But sometimes, all it takes to get started is making small changes to get things moving in your favor financially. Learn self-control, make wise decisions and start saving money today to reach your goal of owning your dream home the soonest! Here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Don't give in to the power of marketing

One big way to save money is to drastically cut down on the amount of television and YouTube videos that you watch. You'll notice that when you constantly expose yourself to ads and sponsored content, you're in high risk of eventually giving in to the temptation of making more unwanted and unnecessary purchases. That's the power of marketing. Less exposure to these will result in a lower electric bill (and perhaps a lower cable or internet...

Foreclosure Homes in Fort McMurray

When purchasing a foreclosure in Fort McMurray there are a lot of key things that you need to know. Due to the economic downturn happening in Fort McMurray, there have been a substantial amount of bank foreclosures coming on the market. But just because these properties are on the menu, it doesn’t mean that they go through the same home purchasing process that other properties do. That’s why it’s important to be well-informed about what you need to know about buying a foreclosure home.

There are different types and categories of foreclosures that you need to know about. Bank Foreclosure (through the bank), Insurer Foreclosure (through CMHC or Genworth), Court-Ordered Sale, and Estate Sale. These four categories are typically the more frequent types of foreclosure...

Energy Saving Tips

Making simple changes in how you utilize energy in your household will not only help you save money by lowering your bills, you will also get to do your part in helping the environment. Check out these energy saving tips and start making these changes today.

Unplug

Most electronics and appliances continue to draw electricity even when they're turned off. Make it a habit to unplug electronics and appliances when they are not in use, not just when you're leaving the house.

Use Power Strips

It's easy to forget to turn off electronics when leaving the house, never mind unplug them. Plug similar appliances and chargers into a power strip so you can shut off several devices at once.

Use LED Light Bulbs

This is not a drill! Incandescent bulbs really are a thing of the past. And yes LED light bulbs really...

Search for Homes close to work in Fort McMurray

Learning about the neighborhood where you’re planning to move to is an important part of relocating. What kind of community should you expect? What sort of recreational activities can you enjoy with your family around your new location? Which schools are in that area and so on. Checking out homes around Fort McMurray? That’s where our neighborhood search comes in handy! Here’s a sneak peek of our lovely neighborhoods.

Dickinsfield

Dickinsfield set a real estate theme as the first community to have executive style homes. It’s now popular for it’s smaller size and community feel, as well as its easy trail access and close proximity to the two Elementary Schools. Dickinsfield is a superb choice with great access uptown or downtown.

Schools:

Buying vs Renting in Fort McMurray

To buy or not to buy? That’s really an intimidating question, isn’t it? With homeownership comes responsibility, while renting may be relatively carefree. Let’s look deeper into the benefits of buying a home versus renting.

Pros of Renting a Property

  • The lack of responsibility and maintenance

  • Fewer expenses that might be paid by the landlord (including utilities)

  • Fewer (if any) maintenance costs

  • No down payment when necessary

  • No commitment

Cons of Renting a Property

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