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Dec 18
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QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE INVESTING IN A RENTAL PROPERTY

Questions to Ask Before Investing in a Rental Property

By | NEW

Hey, you know what would be great as a long term investment and would generate an awesome monthly income? A rental property! But let’s pump the breaks for a second before we dive in. Before you make a big investment (such as this one) lets weigh the good and the bad, as well as ask ourselves these questions to put us on the right track and properly prepare for what’s ahead.

Looking to buy a rental property in St. Alberta?

Check out our current listings!

QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE INVESTING IN A RENTAL PROPERTY

Financially, is this a good time for you to buy an income property?

Before pursuing any big investment opportunities, it’s best to be comfortable in your current financial situation. Comfortable enough to make a big purchase and still cover your existing financial obligations. Be prepared for the unexpected by planning ahead. Ask yourself, do you have the minimum down payment for an income property? Are you prepared to make repairs before the property is rentable? Its better to be too prepared than not prepared at all.

What type of property do you want to invest in?

You may think the bigger the property, the better. But that’s not always the case. A bigger property comes with higher taxes. It’ll also be more space to maintain and the rent you receive may not be enough for upkeep. If it’s your first time as an investment property buyer, note that many like to start out by purchasing condos or single-family homes. However, multiplex units bring in the most income.

Where is the highest demand for rental properties?

You want to invest in a property that is located in a high demand place and will remain high in demand in the future. You want to keep your eyes out for properties that are close to hospitals, schools, public transportation, etc. Whatever makes your rental property desirable! Make sure you establish what kind of renters you want to attract. Is it students? Is it people who need access to public transportation or businesses downtown? Being able to answer these questions will aid you in picking the location of your new rental property.

Make sure to seek advice from professionals if you’re overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. Investing in real estate is a big commitment and should be considered from every angle. Contact your realtor and ask them what’s currently on the market and explore numerous options before you settle on one. Receiving financial advice can not only save you money in the future but can also give you a better idea on what kind of property you’d like to purchase, how much your comfortable investing and if this is the right investment for you.

 

Interested to learn more about rental properties and what’s on the market in St. Albert? We’d love to help! Visit our listings page here to find out more.

Nov 13
0
Downtown Community Post

Downtown – Community Spotlight

By | NEW, St Albert Community and Events, Uncategorized

Located in the southern section of St. Albert along St. Albert Trail

 
 
 
 
 
 
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History

  • Originally, the main street in St. Albert was named Piron Street after Rene Alexandre Piron, a canon in France who donated a large bell to the Mission in 1874
  • In 1862, Father Lacombe arranged a wooden bridge over the Sturgeon River – first permanent bridge west of the Great Lakes
  • In 1885, St. Albert Hotel opened on the south side of the river
  • In 1899, hotel burned down and was rebuilt with a larger footprint
  • In 1892, Edmond Brosseau opened the first general store on the north side of the river
  • In 1906, Dawson Block was constructed across from the St. Albert Hotel: Hosted bank, bakery, post office, drug store and dance hall
  • The main street was soon changed to Perron after Fleuri Perron who was a successful business man and served as the second Mayor of St. Albert in 1908
  • In 1913, wooden bridge across the Sturgeon River was replaced with a steel bridge
  • In 1910’s general store was destroyed by a fire and was rebuilt
  • In 1920, Banque d’Hochelaga relocated across the street to 19 Perron.
    • In 1940’s building was occupied by the Rainbow Café
    • In 1956, the Bank of Montreal took over the building
    • Currently, the building still remains and is now occupied by Art Gallery of St. Albert
  • In 1939, the community hall was build beside the bank – largest dance hall west of Winnipeg and is still used today
  • In 1958, the street was paved
  • In 1995, the Perron Street Clock Tower was built
  • In 2000, the aging Bruin Inn was torn down and now a commercial space stands where it once was
  • Now Perron Street is still a busy district with shopping, restaurants and many events throughout the year

Demographics

  • Population: 580
  • Average Age: 7 years – adults
  • Number of homes: 429
  • Styles of homes: Apartments: 426

Amenities/Unique Features

  • Nearby Schools: Ecole Father Jan Community School
  • Hosts the St. Albert Farmers Market every Saturday from June – October – largest in Western Canada
  • Hosts the International Children’s Festival every year during the first week in June
  • Arden Theatre, St. Albert Library, Musee Heritage Museum, City Hall
  • Downtown district has a large variety of shopping and restaurants to explore, including: Jacks Burger Shack, Privada, Rock Salon and Spa, The Cajun House and much more
  • Art Gallery of St. Albert, visual arts studio
  • Near St. Albert Curling Club, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 271, St. Albert Provincial Court House
  • Variety of walking paths and trails that link to Red Willow Trail along the Sturgeon River
  • Parks including: Millennium Park, and Lions Park
  • Across the river from Little White School House and Mission Park
  • Home to nearly 50 independent shops and restaurants

Check out the downtown condo we have listed: 411, 50 St. Thomas

Nov 05
1
Ikea Smart Blinds

Home Technology Gadgets You Never Knew You Needed in Your Life

By | NEW

Not to scare you, but technology is advancing at a pretty fast rate. From the face reader on your phone to the self check out at the drug store, technology is everywhere around us. While some advancements have left us physically and verbally assaulting machines (like that stupid vending machine that ate your three dollars), we do find ourselves incredibly happy when the Tech Gods from above bestow gadgets upon us that make our lives easier rather than harder. These are the top gadgets that we can’t get enough of.

The Samsung Flex with Family Hub

The Samsung Flex with Family Hub

This fridge is reinventing the term “fridge”. This fridge no longer just stores your food items. No, this fridge basically manages and organizes your life. Now this appliance does a lot but we’ll give you a rough overview of the best parts about this beauty. With the use of this fridge you can create shopping lists, see inside using the three built-in cameras, set expiration date notifications, search yummy recipes, view inside your fridge from your phone anywhere, sync calendars, send notes, share family photos, stream Spotify or mirror your Samsung SmartTV and that’s not even ALL of it. Who knew we needed a fridge to get our lives together.

Check this fridge out for yourself here!

The Roomba

The Roomba

Remember those old clunky 30 pound vacuums that had you sweating by the time you were done cleaning your carpets? Ah, those were the days. Luckily we now have Roombas. Could you imagine never having to unplug your vacuum and find another outlet ever again? Or never having to endure that screeching sound of your bobby pin getting sucked up through the rollers? Roombas have an AeroForce Performance Cleaning system that is safe to use on all floor types and cleans up dust, debris, and harmful allergens. It’s also short enough to fit under most furniture. For this awesome design we can’t help but give the Roomba a standing ovation. Heck yeah!

Shop the entire Roomba family here.

Orro Intelligent Light Switch

Orro Intelligent Light Switch

This isn’t the gadget that you clap twice to turn off the lights. This technology is so much better than that. Orro is a wifi-enabled lighting system that actually learns how you like to have your home lit. It can sense when people enter and exit a room and anticipates your lighting preferences while taking into account the natural light that enters your home. You’ll never hear “you forgot to turn off the light” ever again!

Check out Orro here.

The Google Nest Learning Thermostat

The Google Nest Learning Thermostat

No one really says it better than Google when they say “for too long, the smart home hasn’t been very smart.”  Google Nest has a whole LINE of gizmos and gadgets from Nest Wifi, Nest Hub, Nest Hello Doorbell and more. But the gadget we think is worth mentioning today is the Nest Smart Thermostat. This bad boy, although it’s been around for a hot minute, is extremely popular among millions of homes. Nest claims their thermostat has saved 8 BILLION KW of energy since 2011. How it works is by understanding how your home is heated and adjusting the temperature to match your lifestyle. By adjusting the temperature to what makes you the most comfortable, the thermostat remembers the time of day and the temperature you set it at and learns your schedule by doing so. It can also tell when you have left or entered your home by tracking your phone. Therefore, avoiding wasted energy. Yay to saving the environment one smart thermostat at a time!

Buy a Nest for yourself.

Ikea Smart Blinds

Ikea Smart Blinds

We know exactly what you’re saying: “We live in Canada where it’s a dark abyss 8 months out of the year.” We hear you loud and clear. But what about those 4 months where the sun rudely blinds you in the morning and you can’t enjoy your slumber? The Ikea Smart Blinds do exactly what you think they do, BUT instead of having to angrily whip your blankets off your bed and drag yourself to the window, you can simply lower and raise the blinds with the use of your smartphone or remote. You can even set a timer to be consistent with your routine. They come in two models (The Kadrilj and Fytur) and run on a battery pack so you don’t have to do any wiring (because we would rather be sleeping.)

Learn more about Ikea Smart Blinds.

We can’t help but be amazed by all these gadgets that simply just make our lives a little easier. It’s understandable when our lives get busy and all we want to do is sit down after work and enjoy time with our families. So don’t be afraid to invest in a gadget that frees up your time!

Oct 30
0
Deer-Ridge-Community-Post

Deer Ridge – Community Spotlight

By | NEW

Deer Ridge – Family Focused Community

Located on the north-west side of St. Albert

History

  • Construction first began in 1982
  • Bellerose Composite High School was complete in 1988
  • The original plan for Deer Ridge was much smaller than what it is now
  • In 2000, construction ceased
  • Due to its proximity to schools and amenities, it was always a family focused neighbourhood
  • Deer Ridge is home to the largest populations of high school and young-adult populations in St. Albert

Fun Fact

  • Normally, residential developments are built in a few phases over a few years, but Deer Ridge was spaced out and experienced 25 phases of development

Demographics

  • Population was 6,004 people
  • Average Age 38.6 years – lowest in St. Albert
  • Number of homes: 1,964
  • Styles of homes: Apartment: 5, Duplex/townhome: 56, single detached: 2004, Mobile homes, basement suites and unspecified: 7

Amenities

  • Nearby Schools: Muriel Martin, William D. Cuts, Bellerose Composite High School, JJ Nearing, Sturgeon Heights
  • Located near Original Joes, M&M Meat Shop, Starbucks, Booster Juice, Bella Mas and More
  • Conveniently located near St. Albert Trail and many restaurants and commercial centers

Unique Features

  • Deer Ridge Park, Dorchester Park and many more throughout the community
  • Outdoor rink, greenspace and walking trails to all the parks
  • Tennis courts, play structures
  • Close community with over 15 block parties planned in 2017
  • Family oriented and focused community
  • Easy access to Edmonton via Ray Gibbon Drive
Sep 10
0
Working File

First Time Home Buyer’s Incentive

By | NEW, Uncategorized

A New Incentive For First Time Home Buyers

What is First-Time Home Buyer Incentive and is it the best option for me?

Buying your first home is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your life and to say the price tag that comes with it is a tad horrifying is an understatement. Well everyone, the Canadian people have spoken and the Canadian Government has responded… with the introduction of the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive program! What a time to be alive! If this is the first time you’ve heard of the program and you’re looking to purchase your own home for the first time, listen up.

The First-Time Home Buyer Incentive focuses on helping middle-class Canadians purchase their first home. The Government of Canada wants to take part in the investment of your new home, providing five per cent towards your purchase. As a result, decreasing your mortgage amount, your monthly payments AND the stress on your wallet (Yay! More Skip The Dishes.) However, every great thing comes with conditions (sorry to be a downer.) The Canadian Government acts as a silent investor, sharing the losses and gains of the constantly changing market.  The article “Determine if the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive makes sense for you” published in the Edmonton Journal states that the Government “holds a second mortgage on your home, which will require payout when you sell, or in 25 years, whichever comes first.” Now we’ll hit you with some good news again. The article written by Heather Faulkner goes on to explain that if you choose to purchase a new home, “that five per cent can be increased to a whopping 10 per cent.” She goes on to write that “it doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you think the average home is still more than $400,000, the dollars add up!”

The Edmonton Journal put together a perfect example of how the First-Time Home Buyers Incentive works. ­

“Jane Doe is a first-time home buyer. She meets the qualification requirements for income and down payment. She makes less than $120,000 a year, has been saving money for years and has a nest egg of $17,500, which is a five per cent down payment ready to go on a $350,000 home. She purchases a new build home and applies for the incentive of 10 per cent.”

First Time Homes Buyers Incentive Chart

According to the example, Jane Doe saves $200 in monthly savings and a reduction on her CHMC mortgage insurance premiums of approximately $5,000.

The qualifications for the program are pretty straight forward. Whether you’re divorced and a first time home buyer or even if you haven’t owned your own home is four years, you can still qualify. Some of the qualifications are:

-Mortgage must be insured and be less than 20 per cent down payment from traditional sources

-Can be one to four residential units

-At least one person on the title who has never owned a home

Buying your first home is a HUGE step in life, but the price tag shouldn’t stop you from doing so. If you’d like more information on the First Time Home Buyer’s Incentive, check out our podcast https://sarasotarealty.ca/podcast/episode-2-8-listed-season-2-a-new-incentive-for-first-time-home-buyers/ or head to https://www.placetocallhome.ca/fthbi/first-time-homebuyer-incentive

 

Sources:

https://edmontonjournal.com/life/homes/determine-if-the-first-time-home-buyer-incentive-makes-sense-for-you

Sep 03
0
Sturgeon-Community-Post

Sturgeon Heights – Community Spotlight

By | NEW

Sturgeon Heights – one of the original neighbourhoods

Located in the center of St. Albert

Sturgeon Heights

History

  • One of the first 4 neighbourhoods planned with a focus on residential community, easy access to schools, plenty of greenspace and local amenities
  • In 1860, Father Albert Lacombe proposed Sturgeon Heights be the place of a new neighbourhood
  • In 1936, the first home was constructed on what is now called Sunnyside Crescent
  • In 1957, plans were launched to create lots for new homes in the four new developments: Grandin, Mission, Braeside and Sturgeon Heights
  • By 1950’s more than half of the lots in Sturgeon Heights were registered
  • In 1963, 250 of the 435 lots had owners
  • In 1963, 150 new building permits were approved and another 140 permits were in progress
  • In 1970’s, all construction of the originally zoned homes in Sturgeon were complete
  • Currently, renovations are happening on a lot of the homes in Sturgeon and strict guidelines for infills are in place to preserve the character of the neighbourhood
  • Sturgeon is still considered one of the neighbourhoods with the best location and area

Fun Fact

  • In the 1960’s, the City of St. Albert acted as its own developer, renting equipment as required to built the neighbourhood infrastructure. The resulting lots were sold about $2,500 less than Edmonton lots, which is about $20,000 today.

Demographics

  • Population was 1,800 people
  • Average Age 39.8 years – adults
  • Number of homes: 724
  • Styles of homes: Apartment: 16, Duplex/townhome: 22, single detached: 664, Mobile homes, basement suites and unspecified: 22

Amenities/Unique Features

  • Nearby Schools: Vital Grandin, Leo Nickerson, Lorne Akins, Elmer S. Gish, Paul Kane High School
  • Near Gateway Village Landing: Safeway, Tim Hortons and much more
  • Close to Perron District/Downtown: many shops, cafes and restaurants
  • Many walking trails that lead to Salisbury Park and other parks and greenspace
  • Outdoor skating rink, baseball diamonds, play structures
  • Close to Fountain Park Recreation Centre and the Tennis Courts
  • Peters Lutheran Church and St. Albert United Church
  • Down the street from Akinsdale and Kinex Arena
  • Easy access to Edmonton Via St. Albert Trail
  • Mature trees, spacious lots and wide city streets

Properties For Sale:

Aug 13
0

Erin Ridge – Community Spotlight

By | NEW

Erin Ridge – One of St. Albert’s largest communities that continues to grow

Located on the Northern side of St. Albert

History

  • Around the 1980’s development began in what is now Erin Ridge
  • In 1992, Sturgeon Hospital opened its doors
  • Planners were able to experiment with styles of neighbourhoods and wanted to create sprawling parks and interconnected walking trails
  • The new phase “Erin Ridge North” is expanding the neighbourhood north and offering a variety of housing options
  • In 2007, the development of Erin Ridge North began
  • In 2013, St. Albert’s Costco opened as a part of the commercial development of Erin Ridge
  • In 2016, Ecole Alexandre Tache opened its doors

Fun Fact

  • Every December, residents on Elliot Place come together to set up an elaborate Christmas light display and encourage others to come check it out and bring food bank items for donation

Demographics

  • Population: 7,993
  • Average Age: 5 Years
  • Number of homes: 2,900
  • Styles of homes: Apartments: 500, Duplex/townhome: 290, Single Detached: 1,977, Mobile homes/basement suite or unspecified: 6, Institution: 126

Amenities/Unique Features

  • Nearby Schools: Lois E. Hole, Ecole Alexandre-Tache
  • Near the Shops of Boudreau: Mercato, XIX, Deluxe Burgers and much more
  • Close to Costco, Walmart, Home Depot and more
  • Right along St. Albert Trail with easy access to Edmonton
  • Eldorado Park, Erin Ridge Park, Ted Hole Park, Estate Park, Erin Ridge Ball Park, Edgewater Park
  • Lots of greenspace with treed areas and storm ponds along the trails and parks
  • Basket ball court, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and play structures
  • Close to Christ Community Church
  • Close to Sturgeon Community Hospital
  • Trails in Erin Ridge lead from one side of the community to the other without having to come in contact with a city street

Properties for Sale:

Aug 02
0

Home Staging – What’s The Process Like?

By | NEW

Home staging can be a major game changer when it comes to selling your home, but not many home owners know the process of staging and how significant it can be. Is it worth the time and investment? Luckily with us, all we ask for is a little bit of your time. When you sell with Sarasota, staging is free. Yes, you read that right. FREE. STAGING. So what exactly happens from the time you list to the time you sell? How does it improve your chances of selling and why is it important? Today we lay out our home staging process and answer all your burning questions.

 

TAKING A PEEK

Once you’ve signed a listing contract with us, we then get down to the nitty gritty of the home staging process.  We like to start from the outside in and view your home from a buyer’s perspective. Our main question is if the home is as inviting from the outside as it is on the inside. Is your house still decorated with those pretty Christmas lights in the middle of the summer? Are there any safety hazards we need to address? Could the yard use some pops of colour? Its easy to assume that the inside would be more important than the outside, but don’t forget that the first place a potential buyer will see your home is online and when they drive past your house to check it out. Once we’ve taken a good look from the street, we move into the interior. Trust us when we say, we’ve got an eye for detail. Everything is observed, photographed, or noted; from bedrooms, closets, and even ovens. Crazy, we know. But all these features, though they may seem small, matter to a buyer.

 

LESS IS MORE

Our main goal when staging a house is to appeal to everyone. We want anyone and everyone to be able to visualize their future in your home. This can be difficult if family photos are still showcased or toothbrushes are still hanging out in the bathroom. At this point in the game, your home still only tells your story and the history you’ve made while living there. We like to live by the rule “less is more,” and believe that depersonalizing is the best starting point when it comes to the staging process. With a blank canvas to work with, our professional staging team can incorporate décor that is functional enough  to reside in your house until it sells, but also intriguing and neutral to catch the buyer’s eye. Not only does staging a house create that “wow” factor, but it makes for great photography for when your home is listed online. It’s likely that the first place a potential buyer will come across your listing is when they’re scrolling the internet for houses on the market.

 

WE GOT ALL THE GOODS

That headline isn’t lying. We have a whole warehouse of staging inventory from show home furniture and décor, and more. But don’t worry; you don’t have to completely empty your house. We’re not monsters. We understand that you’re probably still living in your home until it sells and your house still needs to work for you until that time comes. With this in mind, we will incorporate some of the items you already have with the staging elements so your home is still fully functional. A common misconception about staging is that we take all the staging elements back once your house has been photographed. We wouldn’t do you dirty like that, so we let the staging elements stay until the moment your house sells. Although we take pride in understanding the buyer’s mentality, we also look out for our clients and make sure the seller’s journey is as easy and stress-free as possible.

 

With all that being said, we hope you gained some insight into our staging process, and see the importance of staging and how it can increase your likelihood of selling. Our staging team is some of the best in the biz and creates amazing work. If you’re interested in listing with us and staging your home, head over to our staging page where we answer frequently asked questions, publish testimonials from past clients, and discuss the various staging services we offer.

Jul 30
0

Akinsdale – Community Spotlight

By | NEW

Akinsdale – St. Albert’s Statement of Independence from Edmonton

Located on the south-eastern edge of St. Albert

 
 
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History

  • Originally, Akinsdale was referred to as neighbourhood 10
  • In 1973, construction began
  • Akinsdale was strategically built to act as a border for St. Albert to stop Edmonton from taking it over during their rapid expansion
  • Due to demand and impatient residences, many were allowed to move into houses before proper infrastructure was completed – many houses lacked telephone lines, street lights, side walks and paved roads – some residence would even wake up with livestock from local farms in their front yard
  • In 1982, Elmer S. Gish was built
  • In 1983, Akinsdale and Kinex Twin Arenas were completed and opened

Fun Fact

  • When Akinsdale was constructed, Edmonton and St. Albert were separated by a four kilometre wide patch of farmland. Now they are only separated by a single ring road

Demographics

  • Population: 4,844
  • Average Age: 7 years – adults
  • Number of homes: 2,017
  • Styles of homes: Apartments: 294, Duplex/townhome: 172, Institution: 231, Single Detached: 1,288, Mobile homes/basement suite or unspecified: 32

Amenities/Unique Features

  • Nearby Schools: Elmer S. Gish, Lorne Akins, Paul Kane High School
  • Akinsdale and  Kinex  Arena
  • The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints
  • Attwood Park, Arbor Park, Alpine Park Rink and outdoor baseball diamonds
  • Many parks, play structures and greenspace throughout the neighbourhood
  • Near Gateway Village Shopping Centre: Safeway, Superstore, Tim Hortons and more
  • In the center of Akinsdale, there is a small commercial center that has an arts studio, child care, 7- eleven, Lb’s Pub
  • Easy access to Edmonton via St. Albert Trail and Campbell Road
  • Outdoor rink, tennis courts, small commercial area

 

Properties for Sale:

Jul 17
0

Braeside – Community Spotlight

By | NEW
Braeside – A Beautiful Neighbourhood by the Sturgeon River
Located centrally in St. Albert

History

  • Established in 1903
  • Takes up 129 Hectares
  • One of the few neighbourhoods in St. Albert that has a back lanes/alley way features
  • In 1958, Sir Alexander Mackenzie school was opened
  • Fowler track opened in 1979 as part of the Alberta Summer Games
  • By 1970, majority of lots were completely developed and more estate homes were being constructed
  • In 1980’s, city of St. Albert implemented a motion to maintain single family homes and stop construction of new estate homes
  • To this day, many estate homes still remain in the community, however majority of the homes are single detached

Fun Fact

  • Brae – means hillside – which is suitable due to Braeside’s slope towards the Sturgeon River

Demographics

  • Population was 2,791 people
  • Average Age 40.4 years – adults
  • Number of homes: 1,142
  • Styles of homes: Apartments: 113, Duplex/townhome: 168, Single detached: 836, Mobile homes/basement suite or unspecified: 25

Amenities/Unique Features

  • Nearby Schools: Leo Nickerson, Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Lorne Akins, Paul Kane, Fowler
  • Located near Downtown St. Albert – the Perron District
  • Footbridge leads right to St. Albert Centre
  • Close access to Edmonton via St. Albert Trail
  • Close to Fowler Athletic Park, Fountain Park Recreation Center, and tennis courts
  • Many walking trails that lead to Red Willow Park and Trail, Braeside Ravine and the Sturgeon River
  • Mature community with large trees for privacy and a picturesque landscape
  • Outdoor rink and plenty of greenspace
  • Braeside Presbyterian Church

Properties for Sale:

SARASOTA REALTY p. (780) 460 2222 f. (780) 458 4821 25 Carleton Drive St. Albert, Alberta T8N 7K9