With the COVID-19 pandemic keeping buyers close to home, video tours of seller’s homes are in greater demand than ever. If you are selling your house, it’s vital to make it look its very best in a video home tour. Here’s how to get your place ready for showtime!

The camera sees all

It’s always been important to stage a home before shooting a video tour. But today’s buyers may make offers without ever setting foot in your home. That means the tour needs to peek inside closets, pantries, cabinets, refrigerators and even drawers to allow would-be buyers to see everything they would check out if they toured your home in person. Since you can’t rely on keeping undesirable elements out of sight, off-site storage is your friend when you are prepping for a video home tour.

The first step is decluttering

Cluttered houses are a turnoff under any circumstances, causing buyers to think your space is too small for them. But clutter looks doubly bad on screen. Give your home a clean, minimalist look by focusing on these areas as you prepare for your video home tour.

• In the kitchen, clear counters of small appliances such as toasters, mixers, and coffee makers.  Declutter and organize your cabinets and drawers, moving unnecessary cookware, dishes, serving pieces, glassware and the like to storage. Organize your pantry and refrigerator.
• In bathrooms, clear the counters as you did in the kitchen. Pare down stacks of towels in the linen closet so the storage doesn’t look cramped, and declutter vanity drawers and medicine cabinets. (It’s a good idea to hide any medications before shooting a video home tour, not to mention valuables and other items you don’t want the public to see.)
• Drastically reduce the contents of your closets, then hang clothing with equal spacing between each piece. Make sure all hangers match and face the same direction.
• If rooms are crowded, remove some furniture. Arrange what’s left with sufficient space in between, as a room looks small if the furnishings are too close to each other. In the living room, for example, seating should be 36 inches apart, and the space between sofa and coffee table should be about 18 inches. Area rugs should be a foot or two from walls.
• Throughout the house, remove knickknacks, sports trophies and family photographs from shelves and walls. Tuck the cords of audiovisual equipment out of sight.
• Clean out the garage and neatly organize the yard implements and tools you need to keep there.

Cleaning before a video home tour

Your home needs a good, deep cleaning before a video home tour, just as it would if you were showing it in person. Consider hiring a professional maid service to make your house sparkle. But if you want to handle this job yourself, focus on the following.

• Since the tour will begin at your front entry, make sure that area is swept and dusted. Retouch paint as needed.
• Sweep, dust and/or vacuum floors, and mop where possible. Remove all spots from carpeting.
• Remove all smudges from painted walls. Touch up paint where needed.
• In the kitchen, clean counters thoroughly with warm, soapy water. Rinse, then buff with cooking oil on a microfiber rag to make them gleam.
• Thoroughly clean the inside of your refrigerator. If your refrigerator and other appliances are stainless steel, use a special cleaner to shine them, making sure not to leave streaks.
• Clean all windows inside and out to let in as much natural light as possible.

Lighting

To ensure your video home tour looks its best, bring as much light as possible into your house.

• Turn on every light, even if you are shooting the video in the daytime.
• Open or take down blinds and curtains to admit the maximum amount of natural light.
• Make sure all light bulbs work. Decide on one type of bulb, such as LED or fluorescent, and use it consistently in all outlets to create even lighting.
• Eliminate shadows and dim areas as much as possible.

Spring and summer bring fresh air, lightness, and a sense of rebirth as the world comes alive again after hibernating. Check out these easy home design tips for the warmer months.

Warm Month Colors

Spring and summer traditionally mean pastels, but don’t let that stop you from using bold, vibrant colors. Yellows, golds, greens – you’ll find all of these reflected in nature, and they’re good choices for freshening your home design for the warmer months. Also watch for blue/green hues and softer, more muted versions of some primary colors to lead the way in 2021. Consider painting a focal point wall in a bathroom or living room in a trendy color to change up your interior, then coordinate with throw pillows and accessories.

Wreaths

Wreaths for your front door or inside the house make a simple and easy element to switch out as the seasons change. Use ribbons and other materials in bright colors along with other season-appropriate materials. Wildflowers, bird nests and eggs, tulips, daffodils – pick the elements that say spring to you and incorporate them into your décor.

Table décor

Linens should be swapped out and washed regularly, especially if they’re used frequently, and a change of season makes the perfect time to switch. Put away those fall- and winter-themed centerpieces and opt for fresh flowers instead. Keeping the blooms changed out with new ones will bring a sense of life and lightness to the room, as well as some color. Use a spring- or summer-based theme and create table arrangements around it for both casual and formal dining areas. Also add glasses appropriate for cold mixed drinks like margaritas to your table settings or bar area for easy access.

Bedrooms and bathrooms

You can put away those heavy down or down-alternative comforters in exchange for lighter-weight quilts. Likewise, swap out the flannel or jersey sheet sets for cotton ones, which breathe more easily during warmer months. For your bathroom, think about towels and rugs in brighter colors. Botanical artwork featuring seasonal plants and colors can quickly update your rooms and coordinate with bedding and towels.

Living rooms

Unless your home stays cold, you can probably put the heavy throws away in a blanket chest or closet. Clean them first before storing inside bags to keep dust mites from collecting. Replace them with a lightweight throw in a soft texture like chenille, which will make your seating area appear more inviting, even if it isn’t used much. Use season-appropriate plants in living rooms and choose airy window treatments like sheers to open up the space and let light in.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. The article was revised from HOUSEOPEDIA'S original article.

LED lights have revolutionized lighting, replacing old incandescent and fluorescent bulbs and saving energy. Understanding the various LED light colors, however, can be confusing. Let’s illuminate the differences.

LED savings

Lighting is measured by two metrics: lumens and watts. Lumens measure a bulb’s light output, and watts are the measure of electricity needed to generate that output. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulb uses only 20 percent of the electricity that an incandescent bulb does to produce the same lumens — a big cost and energy savings.

Warm to cool

LED light bulbs come in warm white, natural white and cool white. What do these names mean, and how are the various colors best used in your home?

Lighting power is described on LED bulb packages with a number shown in thousands followed by the letter “K,” which stands for kelvins, the unit used for measuring light temperature. The tone of the light from a bulb covers a temperature scale from “warm” light, with a slight amber tint, to “cool,” with a brighter white tint. The higher the number before the K, the brighter and cooler the light.

A 2700K bulb, for example, will cast a warm look, making for a more relaxing setting. A kelvin range at or above 5000K means light from the bulb will be bright, cool and possibly harsh. At the midrange of the kelvin spectrum is natural lighting, with a kelvin rating of around 3500K.

Location determines light temperature

Bulbs in the lower-kelvin range work best in most of the house, from living areas to bedrooms. Lighting can affect your mood, so a warm look invites relaxing in these rooms. Lower-kelvin bulbs are closest to the old incandescent “soft white” lighting.

Higher-kelvin cool lighting is best for work areas such as the laundry room, garage and workrooms. This lighting brings out detail and color in a room. Most commercial offices use cool lighting, so it also makes sense for task-oriented residential rooms.

The décor of a room can also play a role in your lighting selection. Areas with rich wood floors and furniture benefit from warm lighting. Rooms with lots of white might look best with midrange natural lighting. The highest cool white bulbs, however, could make mostly white rooms look stark or even harsh.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.

With homes trending smaller, today’s houses are being built with cleaner lines and styles to emphasize the open concept. Detailed trim work and dark stains are out; light colors and simpler styles are in.  Let’s look at six of the latest trends.

Cabinets. Painted cabinets in bright colors with straight, simple lines are in vogue.  The cabinets may be white from top to bottom, or have the “tuxedo look,” with one color of cabinets above and a complimenting color for the lower set. Detailed router work on cabinets and ornate handles have given way to straight lines and simple pulls. Also gaining in popularity is the open-shelving concept rather than cabinetry. This look is usually coupled with white subway tile.

Counters.  After a long, popular run, dark patterned granite is giving way to lighter, brighter quartz surfaces in both kitchens and baths. Edges are straight, simple and clean.  Decorations on the counter are minimal. Small appliance garages keep the mixer and toaster out of sight for a cleaner and less cluttered effect.

Floors. Hardwood is still in fashion, but the trend is toward wider planks, darker stains and a slightly roughed-up look. Laminates and engineered floor materials are stronger and in some cases less expensive than hardwoods. Having a continuous floor from kitchen to dining to living room ties the entire living space together. In carpeted areas, new advances in fibers make carpet silky soft.

Walls. Some version of beige has been the “play it safe” builder standard for decades because it is neutral, but today’s homes are being painted in varying shades of gray or a blend of beige and gray. Call it “greige.”

Appliances.  Smart phone technology has influenced appliance designs. Stove tops using touch screen technology allow you to turn on and set heat levels with a finger swipe. Having no knobs furthers the uncluttered look. Refrigerator surfaces have matte finishes, even in white, that resemble your cell phone’s back cover. Also in matted finishes are stainless steel stove and oven fronts. Swinging French doors on the oven eliminate the old single door that cuts off walking space.

Bathrooms simplified. Little-used garden tubs are out, along with the ornate trim flourishes. Instead, consumers want bigger showers with seating, large custom tile, multiple shower heads and frameless doors. Cabinets and counters follow the trend of kitchens with brighter looks and simple lines.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.

Most people know about the more obvious home safety measures, such as having working smoke detectors. But there are plenty of safety issues you may have overlooked. Here’s a handy guide for you.

• Have your heating system serviced annually. With age, the heat exchanger in your furnace may crack, allowing carbon monoxide, a deadly odorless gas, into your home.

• Add carbon monoxide detectors. On top of smoke detectors, every home should have carbon monoxide detectors as well. (See above.)

• Fire escape ladders for upstairs bedrooms. For about $70 CAD/$40 USD each, buy roll up fire escape ladders for the upstairs bedrooms. Some models are meant to be stored in bedroom closets while others can be mounted in cases underneath windows. When needed, hook ladders onto window frames, unroll and climb safely to the ground.

• Window treatment cords. If you have young children, consider cordless window treatments or at least have the cords raised high enough so youngsters cannot reach them and potentially wrap them around their necks.

• Rugs on hard surface floors.  Small rugs on hard surface floors can slide easily so place rubber mats underneath.

• Water heater temperature.  To avoid scalding incidents, adjust the temperature on the water heater thermostat to no more than 50 degrees celsius/120 degrees fahrenheit.

• Nice doggie!  One of the most common liability claims against homeowners insurance is dog bites. If you have a high-strung dog, take extra precautions when guests are in your home. There are some breeds for which insurance companies will decline coverage.

• Cooking fires. The No. 1 source of fire in the home is from cooking accidents. Keep a small fire extinguisher in a cabinet for emergencies. Use timers to remind you when you have something simmering on the stove. If you have little ones, cook on the back burners and always turn pot handles toward the back wall where little hands can’t reach up and grab them.

• Don’t overload power strips. Do you have those inexpensive plastic power strips? Don’t trust them. They could overheat.  Most likely this would trip a circuit breaker before a fire could start, but it’s not worth the risk.

• Tripping hazards. Tripping accidents are another leading cause of home injuries. Keep hoses rolled up and put away. The same goes for yard tools. Keep stairs clear of clutter.

With more people working from home than ever before, office workspaces are now must-haves in many homes. Whether you have a dedicated office or a flexible work area in another room, stylish and ergonomic furniture along with smart storage solutions will help create an attractive, functional space.

Desks. Current desktop computers feature integrated hard drives and thin screens, and many people also use laptops, tablets, smartphones, and wireless printers to conduct their business. Because of this, a large desk isn’t always necessary but correct setup is a must. According to ergonomic experts, you should be able to look straight ahead at your computer screen and reach your keyboard and mouse without having to bend your wrists. An even better option is a standing desk. It allows you to keep moving throughout the day and avoid the health problems associated with too much sitting. Just be sure to adjust your standing desk to the correct height and pair it with a mat designed to protect your feet and joints from fatigue and pressure.

Storage options. One of the biggest downsides of home offices is the clutter they can bring. Hidden storage and organization is critical to keeping a neat space. Filing cabinets are the old standby if you need easy access to paperwork. Freestanding bookshelves and consoles provide more attractive, multipurpose storage, which is particularly great if you don’t have a dedicated office space. Another option: Use a scanner (or your mobile device) to capture digital versions of important documents and cut down on excess paper.

Chairs. After the desk, an office chair is the most important purchase you’ll make. Because sitting takes a toll on your body, find a chair that offers comfort and support, while allowing you to maintain proper posture. Today, lots of office chairs provide great aesthetics along with adjustable armrests and seat heights, lumbar support, and breathable materials. The right chair type depends on your size, posture, and comfort preferences.

Accessories. Once you’ve got a desk, chair, and storage, focus on the smaller items that will finish your space. If you use a laptop, consider purchasing a laptop stand. It will raise the screen to the correct height to prevent neck strain, lessen glare, and reduce heat buildup. Cord management systems keep your workspace tidy. Finally, make sure you select lighting that will prevent eye strain and look beautiful. Experts recommend “layered light.” In other words, you need task lighting as well ambient lighting. Look for adjustable/dimmable light fixtures and lamps.

Above all, remember that your home office should be a place you want to go. Comfortable, functional furniture is important, but don’t neglect the colors, accent pieces, and other style elements that make you feel energized and creative.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.

Reduce plastic use at the grocery store

Grocery shopping accounts for much of the plastic that ends up in our homes and then in landfills. Here’s how to reduce plastic use when you shop.

• Buy reusable cloth bags for bringing home groceries. Some cities have banned stores from using disposable plastic grocery bags.
• Buy reusable cloth bags to sack your produce and bulk foods. Reusable canvas or net bags are cheap,  washable and reusable for a long time.
• Buy foods, soaps and other grocery items in cardboard packages rather than plastic. Cardboard biodegrades much faster than plastic.
• Buy beverages in glass bottles to reduce plastic use.
• Buy fresh foods from farmers markets and reuse containers like egg cartons over and over.

Restaurant food and drink consumption

So much of the food we consume comes in plastic containers meant for one-time use.  Reusable containers, even if they have some plastic, are better than disposable ones that end up in the landfill or ocean.

• To reduce plastic use, purchase a personal, reusable water bottle and beverage cup instead of cases of water or soda in plastic bottles. Even restaurant paper cups have a plastic inner coating, so ask to have your drink served in your own reusable container.
• Decline drinking straws at restaurants and sip from the glass itself. Purchase reusable straws or paper ones for home use.
• Use reusable silicone or glass containers with airtight lids in lieu of plastic sandwich and food storage bags to reduce plastic use.
• When dining out, bring along a reusable container for toting leftovers home instead of relying on the disposable plastic or Styrofoam container the restaurant provides.
• Use natural cleaners like baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar rather than chemicals in plastic bottles.
• Buy powdered laundry detergent in cardboard boxes to reduce plastic use.
• Where possible, line trash cans with paper bags instead of plastic.
• Use cloth diapers instead of disposable ones.

Around the house

• Use natural cleaners like baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar rather than chemicals in plastic bottles.
• Buy powdered laundry detergent in cardboard boxes to reduce plastic use.
• Where possible, line trash cans with paper bags instead of plastic.
• Use cloth diapers instead of disposable ones.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.

Stay warm and keep busy with February’s handy to-do list of in-door chores. It’s guaranteed to make you fall in love with your living space all over again.

1. Inventory your cold-weather wardrobe, looking for things that you haven’t worn this winter. Donate them before the season is over so someone else can enjoy them.

2. Start assembling tax documents and place them in a designated file folder.

3. Clean shower heads with a 50-50 mixture of vinegar and water. Soak overnight for best results. While you’re at it, clear the bathroom sink drains of hair and soap buildup. Do this by first removing the drain cover and using a drain snake to remove hair. Next, pour a half cup of baking soda down the drain followed by a half cup of vinegar. Allow the mixture to fizz for five to 10 minutes. Then flush with boiling water.

4.Take stock of bathroom vanity drawers and cupboards. Remove everything, wipe down and replace with new drawer liners. Toss old makeup and out-of-date supplies.

5. Next, move on to the linen closet. A good rule of thumb is to have one set of sheets and a spare for each bed in the house. Consider donating worn sheets and towels to a no-kill animal shelter.

6. Deep clean the microwave. Start by filling a shallow bowl with water and baking soda and microwaving it for five minutes. This works wonders, making it quick and easy to wipe down caked-on food splatters.

7. Pick a sunny day and clean the blinds. (It will be easier to see the dust and dirt!) Start by vacuuming each slat, then go back with a damp cloth.

8. If you haven’t already, schedule maintenance on your heating unit. Annual checks on your heating and cooling systems (once in the winter and once in the spring or summer) can lengthen the life of your equipment.

9. While you’re at it, clean your dryer vent. If that’s above your DIY pay grade, hire someone to do it.

10. Turn and rotate your mattresses. You may need to enlist a helping hand for this one, especially if you have a queen or king mattress. You’ll sleep better and your mattress will last longer.

11. Lastly, curl up with your favorite warm beverage, and start going through those boxes or bags (we won’t judge) of old photos. Toss the blurry images, share the duplicates with family members and pledge to do something with the rest. Go the old-fashioned route and protect them in albums or scrapbooks. Or go digital by scanning the images and putting them on a USB drive. Don’t forget to have a backup copy or, better yet, store them in the cloud.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.

The latest trend in kitchen cabinets? Surprise! It’s no cabinets at all. Rather than traditional cupboards, kitchen designers are now frequently suggesting open shelving. A second option growing in popularity is glass-front cabinets. Check out the pros and cons of each before deciding on your new kitchen.

Trends in open shelves

Forgoing cabinets and installing open shelving creates additional space and an open feeling, while still offering good storage. A big bonus is that shelves cost significantly less than cabinets. Choose from a variety of different finishes, including wood, glass, and metal. Now for the downsides. Organization is a must. To keep your shelves looking stylish and neat, display different items in a single color or group items using a common type of container. Using one color or material will unify your items to create a more attractive look. Another drawback is the dust and kitchen grime that will settle on your kitchen items and shelving.

Glass-front cabinets

If you want your kitchen to feel light and open, but don’t want to deal with dusty and dirty items, glass fronts may be a good choice. Clear, frosted, or patterned glass are all options. Adding lights inside the cabinets will enhance your kitchen’s brightness. Add pops of color by displaying brightly colored dishes inside them. Glass fronts do come with drawbacks, however. First and foremost, they won’t hide a mess. And second, they will show fingerprints and smudges more than traditional doors. Also, they’re breakable, so they may not be a great choice for families with young children. A single row of glass cabinet doors above traditional cabinets is a great compromise.

Traditional cabinets

While this classic option may seem like a predictable (if not slightly boring) choice for your kitchen, it does offer some key benefits. The solid doors do a great job at hiding messes. Traditional cabinetry takes up a lot of visual space, which may make your kitchen feel smaller and darker. Overcome this by mixing traditional cabinets with a few strategically placed open shelves and glass-front cupboards, breaking up the space and adding interest.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers who are currently under contract. 

For many of us, a house wouldn’t be a home without a pet — or two — or several. But even the most ardent pet lover will admit that cat towers and giant dog beds do little for the decor of a home. Fortunately, there’s a plethora of products on the market that will keep your pet happy and your home looking good. Here are a few top picks.

1. Food and water stations. Pets need clean water and food throughout the day, but all that eating and drinking can make quite a mess. Try a raised feeding station to keep bowls off the floor but still accessible. Choose from a variety of styles to match your décor — sleek modern, traditional designs, or even models painted to match your walls or woodwork. Not only are they easier on the eye, they reduce strain on your pet’s neck. A win-win.

2. Hidden storage. Take control of the bowls, beds, litter boxes, and toys cluttering your home by creating hidden storage areas. Options include alcoves for pets beneath existing furniture such as end tables. Or take it a step further and create dedicated spaces beneath counters or benches. This can be a great option for hiding a pet bed or litter box.

3. Beds. If your pet’s bed is out in the open, you may want to consider models and designs that coordinate with the style and décor of your home. Go neutral with a bed the same color as your pet’s fur. It will conceal dirt and shedding in between cleanings. Want a coordinating look but can’t find the right fabric? Make a custom cover using upholstery fabric. Tip: an added zipper will make washing a breeze. If you want something really special, look for pet beds made to look like miniature versions of sofas or chairs.

4. Gates and crates. Many of us need to keep our pets out of certain areas of our homes from time to time. Buy how do you do that without turning the space into a mini prison? Fortunately, gates are now available in a variety of materials. Look for gates made of similar woods and metals to your home furnishings. Crates can be more difficult to hide. For smaller pets, crates that are integrated into furniture (like a side table) are a good choice. For larger pets, try a crate that can be folded up when not in use.

5. Treats and toys. Providing your pets with toys isn’t just pampering, it’s practical too. If you don’t give them something to scratch or chew on, they might go after your favorite chair. Trouble is, these treats can be messy, and — let’s face it — a little gross. Try indestructible rubber chew toys for dogs. For felines, try a cat tree that you can attach to an out-of-the-way wall, a nice upgrade from the traditional carpet/cardboard combo.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.

Vaccination efforts key to economic recovery, Bank of Canada says as it keeps rate on hold

Workers in high-contact service industries will carry the burden of a new round of lockdowns, which the central bank warned will exacerbate the pandemic's uneven effects on the labour market.

The longer restrictions remain in place, the more difficult it may be for these workers to find new jobs since the majority move to a new job but in the same industry.

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said in his opening remarks at a late-morning news conference that the first-quarter decline could be worse than expected if restrictions are tightened or extended.

The central bank kept its key rate on hold at 0.25 per cent on Wednesday, citing near-term weakness and the "protracted nature of the recovery" in its reasoning.

The short-term pain is expected to give way to a brighter outlook for the medium-term with vaccines rolling out sooner than the central bank expected.

Still, the bank said in its updated economic outlook, a full recovery from COVID-19 will take some time. Nor does the Bank of Canada see inflation returning to its two per cent target until 2023, one year longer than previously forecast, and the bank's key rate is likely to stay low until then.

Overall, there is reason to be more optimistic about the economy in the medium-term, but it will still need extraordinary help from governments and the central bank to get there, Macklem said.

The bank's latest monetary policy report, which lays out its expectations for economic growth and inflation, forecast that COVID-19 caused the economy to contract by 5.5 per cent last year.

Despite an upswing over the summer and fall that may have spared the country from a worst-case economic scenario, the drive to a recovery will hit a pothole over the first three months of 2021.

The bank forecasts real gross domestic product to contract at an annual pace of 2.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2021, before improving thereafter if severe restrictions start easing in February.

The bank expects growth of four per cent overall for 2021, then 4.8 per cent next year, and 2.5 per cent in 2023.

Trevin Stratton, chief economist at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, was more dour on lockdowns, saying the group doesn't expect them to ease until well into March.

"During this period, we need to provide the right kind of support to individual Canadians and to businesses to get them through the lockdowns, recognizing that neither group is in the same financial position as it was in March 2020," he said in a statement.

For the central bank, that help could come through ramping up its bond-buying to force down interest rates, or a small cut to its key policy rate among options Macklem mentioned Wednesday.

Keeping the door open to such a "micro" rate change is a shift in tone, as Macklem has previously said the current 0.25 rate is as low as it would go.

The bank said the path for the economy will be like riding a roller-coaster as resurgence in COVID-19, or new, more virulent strains, weigh down a recovery in one quarter before leading to strong upswing in the next.

Inflation may be equally rocky.

Gasoline prices, which have weighed down the consumer price index during the pandemic, will by March be "well above their lows of a year earlier," the bank's report said. That should significantly bump inflation, the report said, possibly to two per cent in the second quarter.

The bump will even out over the rest of the year. The bank forecasts inflation for 2021 at 1.6 per cent, then 1.7 per cent in 2022 and 2.1 per cent in 2023.

Statistics Canada reported Wednesday the annual pace of inflation cooled in December to 0.7 per cent compared with 1.0 per cent in November.

The agency also reported that the average last month of Canada's three measures for core inflation, which are considered better gauges of underlying price pressures and closely tracked by the Bank of Canada, was 1.57 per cent.

The central bank's lookahead rests on efforts to vaccinate Canadians by the end of the year without any hiccups in that timeline, which would mean broad immunity six months sooner than the bank previously assumed.

"It's going to be very important that Canada get the vaccines, we get them distributed to Canadians and that Canadians take the vaccine," Macklem said.

A shorter timeline for vaccinations should mean less scarring overall for the economy in the form of fewer bankruptcies and fewer workers out of jobs for long stretches, which makes it more difficult for them to get back into the labour force.

Jordan Press

The Canadian Press

Published Wednesday, January 20, 2021 4:40AM EST

Last Updated Wednesday, January 20, 2021 3:14PM EST

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 20, 2021.

Image courtesy of Calgary - Power Platform World Tour

Jan. 04, 2021

City of Calgary

With December sales of 1,199, this is the highest December total since 2007.

"Housing demand over the second-half of 2020 was far stronger than anticipated and nearly offset the initial impact caused by the shutdowns in spring. Even with the further restrictions imposed in December, it did not have the same negative impact on housing activity like we saw in the earlier part of the year," said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

Attractive interest rates along with prices that remain lower than several years ago have likely supported some of the recovery in the second half of the year. However, it is important to note that annual sales activity declined by one per cent compared to last year and remain well below long-term averages.

New listings in December increased by 11 per cent. However, the number of sales exceeded the number of new listings in December contributing to further declines in inventory.

Reductions in supply and improving demand in the second half of the year have contributed to some of the recent price improvements in the market. However, the recent gain in the benchmark price was not enough to offset earlier pullbacks as the annual residential benchmark price in Calgary declined by one per cent over last year.

The pandemic has resulted in a significant shift in economic conditions, yet the housing market is entering 2021 in far more balanced conditions than we have seen in over five years. This will help provide some cushion for the market moving into 2021, but conditions will continue to vary depending on price range, location, and product type.

HOUSING MARKET FACTS

Detached

Stronger sales in the second half of the year were enough to offset earlier pullbacks as detached sales totalled 9,950, just slightly higher than last years' levels. Despite the modest gain, detached sales activity remains at the lower levels recorded since the more stringent stress test was introduced in 2018.

Supply adjustments is causing sellers' market conditions for detached homes across all districts except the West and City Centre. This has helped support some price recovery in the market over the past several months.

Annual city-wide price remains relatively flat compared to last year, but there were notable annual gains in both the South and South East districts which both recorded price gains of nearly two per cent. Despite some of the annual shifts seen, prices remain well below previous highs in all districts of the city.

Semi-Detached

Sales growth in the North East, North, West and South East district were offset by declines in the City Centre, North West, South and East districts. Sales this year of 1,663 were similar to levels recorded last year.

While sales did not improve across each district, there were reductions in supply across all districts and is helping to reduce the months of supply.

These reductions are starting to impact prices, but it was not enough to offset earlier pullbacks. City wide semi-detached prices eased by over one per cent in 2020, with the largest declines occurring in the City Centre, North West and West areas.

Row

Slower sales in the west district were not enough to offset the gains recorded in the rest of the city. Row sales totalled 2,145 in 2020, nearly two per cent higher than last years' levels. Despite the gains, levels continue to remain below long-term averages for the city.

Rising sales were generally met with a reduction in supply. This is causing the months of supply to trend down, especially over the second half of the year.

The decline in the months of supply was enough to help support some stability in prices. However, the adjustment did not occur soon enough and annual prices eased by nearly two per cent compared to the previous year and remain nearly 14 per cent below previous highs.

Price adjustments did vary depending on location. The steepest decline occurred in the North East with a year-over-year decline of five per cent. The strongest gain occurred in the West district with a two per cent rise.

Apartment Condominium

Sales this month were the best December since 2014. However, it was not enough to offset earlier pullbacks as apartment condominium sales eased by ten per cent in 2020. This is the slowest year for apartment condo sales since 2001 and the only property type to record a significant annual decline in sales.

Unlike other property types, supply levels have not adjusted in the same way and this segment remains oversupplied. Prices have trended down over the past two months due to excess supply. On an annual basis, the benchmark price declined by over two per cent this year and is over 16 per cent below the highs set in 2015.

REGIONAL MARKET FACTS

Airdrie

December sales reached a new record high for the month. Improving sales throughout the second half of the year contributed to the annual sales of 1,407, a year-over-year gain of 18 per cent. 

New listings also rose in December and is likely contributing to some of the monthly gains in sales. Overall, new listings have remained well below last year. Along with improving sales, this is causing inventories to decline.

Months of supply has remained below three months since June and prices have trended up. By December, the benchmark price had risen by nearly five per cent compared to last year.

On an annual basis, the gains in price were enough to offset the earlier pullbacks and is creating stability in prices. However, this was not the case for all product types. Detached prices rose by nearly two per cent on an annual basis. Benchmark prices for row and apartment style product eased by a respective seven and one per cent compared to last year.

Cochrane

Record sales in December contributed to the annual gain of 16 per cent, making it the best year of sales compared to the past five years. New listings in 2020 also eased compared to last year. Rising sales and less new listings on the market caused inventories to ease to the lowest levels recorded since 2014.

With months of supply of only two months, prices continued to trend up. December benchmark price was $419,900 and is a 5 per cent gain over last year. Prices have trended up over that past six months but remain relatively stable compared to last year. This is due to easing prices for higher density products offsetting gains in the detached sector.

Okotoks

Despite further declines in new listings, December sales improved. Year-to-date sales increased by nearly eight per cent. The lack of new listings and stronger sales caused inventories to drop to 63 homes in December, the lowest level for any month seen since 2006.

The lack of inventory and high demand has supported increasing prices for the second half of the year. As of December, the benchmark price was $434,700, nearly two per cent above last years' levels. Despite the recent gains, 2020 benchmark prices remain over one per cent below last years' levels.

However, this could be due to steeper price declines for semi, row and apartment style product.

CREB Media Release

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Article By Barb Livingstone - Dec 16, 2020

Calgary’s downtown office vacancy rate is going nowhere but up.

By the end of this year, that rate is projected to jump to 29.5 per cent, and it will climb even higher moving into 2021, says Greg Kwong, regional managing director with commercial real estate company CBRE.

The year-end number is an increase from the 28.7 per cent vacancy rate in the third quarter of 2020 and represents nearly 13 million square feet of office accommodation that is currently empty.

The future, Kwong says, continues to be clouded by low oil prices and the ongoing effects of COVID-19.

“Companies are delaying decisions on office space because they don’t know who is going to be working from where,” he said, adding that in a normal market, downtown office vacancy rates are around eight per cent, so “there’s a long way to go.”

Next year, Kwong says the merger between Cenovus Energy and Husky Energy will result in a lot of additional sublease space, which could push the vacancy rate past 30 per cent, especially when other mergers are expected.

CBRE’s assessment is echoed by Calgary Economic Development CEO Mary Moran, who says to fill the current vacant space there would have to be another 130,000 employees moved into downtown (at 100 to 110 square feet per person).

“IT UNDERSCORES WHY WE HAVE TO PURSUE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. THERE IS NO ONE SILVER BULLET; IT’S A LONG, DECADE-OR-TWO PROJECT.” – MARY MORAN, CALGARY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CEO

Even a minor rebound in the energy industry – whether it came from, green energy, pipelines or another sector – is not expected to be the mega job creator of past booms.

“It underscores why we have to pursue other opportunities,” said Moran, including agriculture, aerospace, logistics, life-sciences, finance, insurance and tech industries. “There is no one silver bullet; it’s a long, decade-or-two project.”

She does, however, point to one bright spot in the form of four “unicorn” deals (when a company reaches a $1-billion valuation) done in Calgary in the last 22 months. The latest was tech company Benevity, which recently announced a $1.1-billion deal with a U.K. investor.

People currently working downtown are utilizing 25 to 30 per cent of the core’s office capacity, says Kwong, with the rest working from home or no longer working. That figure could drop even further, given the latest round of pandemic restrictions.

This all raises the difficult question of whether, and when, people will be comfortable going back to offices.

At the beginning of the shutdown, many experts predicted corporations would give up or shrink their office space and continue to have staff work from home even after the pandemic was over. However, Kwong thinks CEOs are going to recognize employees working from home isn’t an efficient solution long-term – except, perhaps, for small parts of their businesses.

Post-pandemic, he expects any new full-time work-from-home contingent will only result in a reduction of less than 10 per cent when it comes to the office space needs of an average company.

Kwong’s prediction is supported by a recent employer survey conducted by real estate firm Colliers, which estimates work-from-home employee productivity dropped by more than 23 per cent in November. This was attributed to a variety of causes, including potential erosion of workplace culture and “Zoom fatigue.”

The survey also found 54 per cent of businesses across Canada expect 100 per cent of employees to return to the office once a vaccine is available.

However, Kwong anticipates Calgary’s downtown won’t return to normal levels of office occupancy until the end of 2021.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.

Photo by Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design 

By Lauren Sieben | Sep 24, 2020

If you imagined 2020 was the year you would finally list your house for sale, you may have hit the brakes on those plans when the coronavirus pandemic arrived.

But now, we’re more than six months into the COVID-19 era with no clear end in sight. As many people continue working and logging in to school from home, the real estate market is again heating up with buyers eager to upgrade to a new home.

So stop putting it off: Now is the time to step on the gas in preparing your home to sell. We talked with experts to learn which home improvements will hit the right note with buyers during the pandemic (and beyond).

1. Upgrade your outdoor space

2. Create a functional home office or classroom

Many workers aren’t heading back to the office until 2021 or even later, which means home office space is at a premium, along with space for kids to log in to their virtual classrooms.

“People need a dedicated space for multiple people to be able to be on calls at the same time,” says Walker, who currently works at home alongside his wife, and his kids attending school virtually. “It definitely creates challenges when we all need to be on calls and need space to work.

Even if you don’t need two home offices or a remote learning station for your own family, consider staging your home to show the possibilities for buyers.

“Staging a guest bedroom as a home office or classroom is a good idea,” Walker says. “The potential buyer can see the room being used in a versatile way and visualize it for themselves.”

Plus, most of us host guests in our guest rooms for less than a month per year, Walker says—and probably even less during the pandemic.

3. Add separation of space

Open floor plans are so 2019.

“Open floor plans are losing a bit of luster,” Malina says. “Homeowners are looking for distinct spaces for family members to work or study.”

If your space isn’t well-segmented, you may want to create separate spaces by adding barn doors or pocket doors—or even room dividers for a quick and easy solution.

Having distinct rooms helps to minimize volume from other people’s activities, and can also create a different feeling in each part of the house.

“As people are spending more time at home, they want room and different environments to not feel stuck inside,” Walker says.

4. Add space for a home gym

Many people are forgoing the gym during the pandemic, preferring to work up a sweat from home to minimize risks of coronavirus transmission. That means people are looking for space to house gym equipment, from yoga mats to treadmills and stationary bikes.

Your home may not have the space for a fully equipped home gym, but you can still carve out a corner where home buyers will be able to picture their future at-home HIIT workouts or yoga flows.

5. Give your in-law suite a makeover

If you have a guest house, this can be an attractive feature for buyers right now—especially those with multigenerational households, or people looking for a potential source of rental income.

“With people bringing elderly family members home, [additional dwelling units] are a good option, especially if there is a kitchen and bathroom,” Walker says. “Even if this space isn't used for personal reasons, it can be an investment property.”

6. Spruce up the laundry room

Concerns about cleanliness and hygiene have been at an all-time high during the pandemic, which means “laundry rooms are more important than pre-COVID,” Malina says.

People are doing laundry more often after running errands, and many of us have become more diligent about washing our bed linens. Plus, who couldn’t use more room for ironing, folding, and hang-drying clothes?

“Having a dedicated space to do laundry is a wonderful luxury, and buyers often want the space to be beautiful like the rest of their homes,” Malina says.

Information courtesy of Realtor.com

CREB®Now By Cody Stuart  -  Jun 12, 2020

Home > Feature > Calgary > Community > My Neighborhood: Mount Royal

The communities of Upper and Lower Mount Royal have long been home to an eclectic mix of everything Calgary’s real estate scene has to offer.

Promoted in Calgary’s early days as an exclusive neighbourhood by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), Mount Royal was originally known as American Hill, due to the large number of Americans who settled in the area. Its current name is an homage to the Montreal community that was home to CPR president William Cornelius Van Horne.

The community was annexed by the City of Calgary in 1907 and many of the existing homes in Upper Mount Royal date back to that era, when Calgary saw its first building boom. Upper Mount Royal remained an almost exclusively single-detached community, but Lower Mount Royal was subdivided into smaller lots, making way for the mixed-density community it is today.

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a real estate veteran looking for something a little more exclusive, Mount Royal has something for everyone. In fact, it was the obvious choice for 31-year-old Mario DeMarco when he chose to buy his first home in the community in 2014.

CREB^®Now: Why is Mount Royal a great place to live?

Lower Mount Royal resident Mario DeMarco. Cody Stuart / CREB®Now

DeMarco: Mount Royal – in my case, Lower Mount Royal – is a great place to live because of the walkability of the community. There are numerous amenities all within walking distance.  Additionally, you are close to both the Bow and Elbow rivers. The small shops along 17^th Avenue, as well as the bars and restaurants, create a vibrant nightlife. It is especially cool during Stampede when there is a ton of out of town folks in the area. Additionally, as someone who has started to take up running again, there is not much better views to be had than the top of the hill behind the Glencoe Club.

CREB^®Now: What are your favourite spots or attractions from the community?

DeMarco: The Calgary Stampede is one of my favourite events. I personally am not a huge fan of Lilac Festival, but the energy it brings is great. As for businesses, I like the Ship and Anchor, and some of the restaurants like Market, Cleaver and Gringo Street are very good. For parks, the field behind Earl Grey school has a great view, and because it’s quite large, it’s a great place to chill out.

CREB^®Now: What is the biggest challenge facing Mount Royal?

DeMarco: One of the big challenges is the never-ending roadwork all along 17^th Avenue. This project is over a year behind schedule and they are not doing any roadwork or closures this year to give businesses a fighting chance.

CREB^®Now: What is the biggest opportunity for Mount Royal going forward?

DeMarco: I think we should also look to make things like 17th Avenue from 14th Street to 4th Street pedestrian only on Friday and Saturday nights. Many other cities do this, and the increased foot traffic would be great. We also need to have fewer bylaws. We have so many rules for things like having a can of beer walking on the street, or just anything fun seems to be against the rules. Calgary needs to chill out. We need to get people to come to areas like Mount Royal and the surrounding communities and make them a great place to live, work and play in again.

CREB^®Now: What’s one thing people might not know about Mount Royal?

DeMarco: Mount Royal can actually be very affordable if you look at some of the properties in Lower Mount Royal, and you can get a yard if you want it.

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.

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