Central Alberta Real Estate Blog

There isn’t a bigger reward than a thank you from wonderful clients – so thanks to you guys for taking the time to send us a note!

Darren and I would like to say a huge thank you to Carl, Karen, Joel Stepp and to Remax for the outstanding job that they did for the sale of our acreage and to the purchase of our new home.

The Stepp’s went above and beyond what we expected, a thank you doesn’t seem like enough.

Darren and I would both agree that if you are buying or selling your home Remax and the Stepp’s are who you should deal with.

Thank you again for being there for us and making our move possible and stress-free!!

Trish and Darren

Click on the link and read all about it.  Call Carl Stepp if you would like a free market evaluation, get the right price and get it sold.

http://hubs.ly/H0gBdVX0

4 BEDS, 4 BATHS, BACKS A LARGE GREEN SPACE – FULLY FINISHED AND IMMACULATELY KEPT. CROSS EVERYTHING OFF YOUR LIST, BECAUSE THIS ONE IS THE ONE YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR @4403 RYDERS RIDGE BOULEVARD, CALL CARL STEPP 403 358 9300 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE CARLSTEPP.CA FOR MORE INFORMATION. CARL STEPP CAN SHOW YOU ALL PROPERTIES FOR SALE BY ALL COMPANIES. BUYING OR SELLING YOUR HOME? CALL TOP REALTOR, CARL STEPP AT RE/MAX REAL ESTATE CENTRAL ALBERTA.

PRICE REDUCTION

It’s human nature to want to start the new year off full of hope and optimism and we believe 2019 certainly has the potential to be better than 2018 in many ways.  Alberta’s economy has been struggling since January 2015 when oil prices crashed, finally recovered, and then crashed again because of the crippling price differential we experienced this past year.

What can change in 2019?  No one can argue that Alberta’s economy is energy based and any energy-related improvements are good for our economy.  The Line 9 pipeline to the U.S. should be completed.  The Trans Mountain pipeline could be approved.  And, there will be provincial and federal elections that could have an impact on a number of energy projects.  Any of these events will have a positive impact on our economy and more importantly on consumer confidence which is the precursor to a better economy.

Finally, the punishing mortgage rules inflicted on all of Canada as a solution for heated housing markets in Toronto and Vancouver have piled on top of the energy crisis to create a perfect storm for our housing market.  Alberta homebuyers have lost tens of thousands of dollars of borrowing power as a result.  The federal government could easily create regional policies that apply only to the markets that need them.  A move like that would immediately have a positive impact on our housing market.  Here’s hoping!  www.carlstepp.ca

Here is what is happening in the homes for sale in central Alberta

wow – you wanted to live lakefront but thought it was too expensive? Well, here is your chance – deals like this won’t last long so call to view and start living a whole new way of life.  This apartment unit is one bed, one bath, there is underground parking, a gym and rooftop deck for you to enjoy. Your deck will face the water and you can sit and enjoy the good decision you made to live lakefront.  Call Carl Stepp to view 403 358 9300.

go to carlstepp.ca for more info and photos.

Sylvan Lakers enjoy high quality of life and connection to community

This fall, the Town of Sylvan Lake performed a community survey to measure the quality of municipal services and resident satisfaction levels with those services. Results are compared to those of a previous 2015 initiative and provide a performance-based report for Council, Administration, and the public.

“Knowing that Sylvan Lakers are satisfied with the delivery of municipal services and that our residents enjoy a high overall quality of life here, is so encouraging. We love this town, and results like this are what we are always working towards. As a Council, we couldn’t be more grateful for the efforts of Town Staff to lead to these kinds of outcomes. We will always have challenges to overcome as a municipality, but when we work together as a community are capable of great things.” – Mayor Sean McIntyre, Town of Sylvan Lake

“We are an organization that strives continuously to improve the manner in which the municipality serves the public so that Sylvan Lakers are informed, and active contributors to the progression of our community. These [survey] results help to understand the needs and wants of Sylvan Lakers, and identify areas for improvement.”– Wally Ferris, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Sylvan Lake

Result highlights include:

• 97% of respondents indicated that quality of life in the Town of Sylvan Lake was either good or very good; this result is up slightly from 92%, recorded in a 2015 study;
• 82% of respondents agreed/strongly agreed that they feel a sense of connection in the community;
• 85% of respondents indicated that they were either satisfied or strongly satisfied with the services offered by the municipal government;
• 85% of respondents were either satisfied/very satisfied with the quality of customer service provided by Town service staff;
• Top priorities among residents included:
  • Water infrastructure and access,
  • Roads, sidewalks, and traffic control,
  • Recreation facilities, and
  • Parks and trails;
• Satisfaction levels with the municipal library (97%), and the Town’s Youth Centre (97%) were among the highest of various discrete services offered by the Town.

The Town of Sylvan Lake will use this data to identify areas for improvement and set targets and goals to achieve within the next two/three years.

Full 2018 Satisfaction Survey Report

CHECK OUT MORE DETAILS AT CARLSTEPP.CA

CA0132300

Consumer confidence is one of the most important ingredients in a healthy real estate market and it’s been mostly missing since oil prices collapsed in January 2015.  There has been some good news in the last year… oil prices back up to +$70US along with government assurances that the economy is on the mend, but every piece of good news has been negated by ongoing delays in pipeline development (that would reduce the discount on the price of Alberta oil) and the federal government’s inability to finalize a new North American Trade Agreement.

Those issues don’t directly impact every central Albertan, but they have been nagging issues in the backs of our minds and quite likely contributed to slower sales this year.  The September market didn’t get any help from the weather either, which moved directly from summer to winter.

Good news!  We have a new North American Free Trade Agreement as of Oct. 1^st and we almost certainly have a massive new Liquefied Natural Gas project for Kitimat, B.C. that will put $40 Billion into the Alberta and B.C. economies.  Those are huge confidence boosters that we believe can make a long term, positive impact on consumer confidence and the housing market.  It won’t happen tomorrow, but maybe we’ve finally turned the corner.