A couple of weeks ago, we shared some advice on the professional people any real estate investor needs. Those professionals can help any real estate investor, no matter what point of their career they find themselves in, navigate the world of investment. But that isn’t the only thing first-time investors can do. Here are a few more tips on how to get started in real estate investment, and how to do it properly.

1. Set a Budget

Many investors start out overly ambitious. That’s the first way many fail and find themselves deep in debt with little relief. But you can avoid this by setting a responsible and informed budget and sticking to it. Mortgage brokers can be invaluable in this part of the investment process, and their advice could be the…

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Fall is officially upon us this week, and that means we’ve entered a new phase of home selling. The summer boom is officially over, but that doesn’t mean your home couldn’t sell before the snow flies. Here are just a few tips to help you in your fall home selling. They’re fairly simple and cost effective, but they could help your home move just a little faster.

1. Clean Up the Yard

Fall is so named because temperatures and leaves fall during the season. That may not be entirely true, but the overabundance of leaves on the ground make for a compelling argument. But those leaves also make your home look unkempt, and could potentially end a sale before it even begins. When you’re selling a home in the fall, yard upkeep is extremely important and should…

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While Toronto’s CN Tower is still holding on tight to the “Canada’s Tallest Building” title, Edmonton’s Arena Entertainment District will be reaching new heights with it’s newest development. And best of all, it’ll literally dwarf our neighbours to the south, beating Calgary’s tallest building, The Bow.

At an astounding 66 storeys, the proposed 251 metre building will be the lightning rod for Edmonton’s growing downtown. Called the Stantec Tower, after the Edmonton-based engineer and consulting company, the building will be more than a big, tall skyscraper in Edmonton’s generally shirt skyline, it’s poised to be a commercial and residential hub for the new district.

Among the planned features for the 66 storeys, besides serving as Stantec’s new…

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It was only earlier this year that Edmonton made National Geographic’s Top 10 Best Summer Trips list, and not that long ago that it was named one of the best places to live in North America. Now, the praise has continued, with Edmonton being declared the fifth wealthiest city in Canada for 2014. Even though the energy sector has caused some issues for residents starting midway through 2014, Edmonton’s positioning is, according to some, even better than being higher on the list.

In fact, Edmonton’s chief economist, John Rose, told Global News, “The fact we’re coming in at No. 5, I’m perfectly fine with that. Do you really want to be No. 1? Do you want to be Vancouver? I’m not so sure we do.”

It’s a good thing, too. Vancouver was named #1 on a survey…

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A fresh coat of paint. That seems like one of the easiest, and most inexpensive, ways to give your home a bit of a facelift. And truthfully, it’s a great way to make your home look a little more modern and less run down. Especially if you live in an older home, a fresh coat of paint can alleviate many a potential buyer’s hesitations, but it can also send them packing. We all get tempted to pick colours for our painting projects based on trends and styles, but truthfully, these can actually backfire. Here’s some colours to avoid, and some painting ideas that can give you the effect you’re looking for.

1. Bright Reds, Greens, and Blues

Extremely bright colours are imposing. They may work with your furniture and decor, but it’s highly unlikely that…

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When we start to think about selling a home, or when we first move into one, we often think about renovations. After all, there are changes that can be made to increase the livability, and asking price, of any home. While many different small-scale renovations can be done the do-it-yourself route, many of them need to be handled by professionals. But finding the right professional can be extremely tough, so here are three things to look for in any contractor before you get them to do work on your house, condo, or property.

1. Insurance

This is one of the most common ways that unlicensed and unprofessional people cut their costs and attract people who want cheap renovations. Insurance, after all, is expensive. But in the world of contracting, it’s…

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In today’s market, many home sellers are looking for anything that can give them a competitive price and increase their asking price, but many don’t understand the buyer’s mindset before they start renovations. There are many projects that can actually increase your home’s asking price, and see it sold faster, but these following projects will probably do the exact opposite.

1. A Pool or Hot Tub

Who doesn’t love having a pool in their backyard? Well, it turns out most people hate it. Pools and hot tubs are not only money vacuums, they also turn people off most houses. The reasons are diverse, but can include worrying about young kids’ safety and the costs involved with keeping a pool or hot tub operational every year. Many families also dislike their…

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Real estate investing is a great way to invest your money, letting you put your money to work through all kinds of different means that not only help you month to month, but act as long-term investments that can really be worth your while. But before you wade into the waters of real estate investment, you’ll want some people who can help you make good decisions. If you’re just starting out in the investment world, these are three professionals you’ll want on your team.

1. A Lawyer

Investing in real estate requires legal expertise that most people simply do not have. From transferring large amounts of money to securing your investments, a lawyer is someone you will need in your corner after setting out into investments. This is especially true if you…

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As a first-time home buyer, you probably noticed that purchasing a home is a lot different from buying anything else. Unlike regular products with fixed prices, home prices can vary wildly from one property to the next. And while buying a vehicle does require some knowledge and understanding of how cars and their features work, car shopping pales in comparison to the many different things you should know before settling on a home.

But despite knowing this, many first-time buyers think it’s particularly prudent to go ahead and buy a home on their own instead of getting some expert advice. It may be a confidence thing, but more likely the reason is financial. After all, buying a home is easily one of the most expensive purchases you’ll ever make, and…

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This week, we talked about how Edmonton’s Neighbourhood Renewal Plan is helping areas in the city get better sidewalks and roads, and how that can add to the curb appeal of your home. But waiting for the city to come by with new sidewalk panels isn’t the only way you can get your home looking its best. As we all know, curb appeal is becoming increasingly important to home buyers, especially first-time owners, so here’s a few ways you can increase your curb appeal and even sell you home a little faster.

1. Edge the Driveway

Driveways are one of the first things people see when they get to a home. A bad looking driveway can turn a lot of people off since replacement costs can be so astronomical. But you can give your driveway a little facelift without…

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Data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton. Copyright 2022 by the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton. All rights reserved.

Listing information last updated on May 27th, 2022 at 4:02pm CDT.