Ben Knopps’ Real Estate Update September 2023

Hey friends!  It’s been a couple months since we checked in and we thought it was a great time for an update! We hope everyone had a great summer and spirits are high as we roll along through September. For a lot of us, we are in the season of getting the structure back in our schedules, back to the weekly routines, kiddo’s going back to school, and of course trying to soak up every last drop of the sunshine!

As far as the Real Estate market goes, we continue to see Calgary home values trend up overall and sales numbers following the same path. August stats boasted another month with record high sales, and even with the inventory creeping up slightly, the high demand continues to swallow up any inventory that comes on the market. This includes a much stronger townhouse and condo market than we’ve seen in some time.

Thousands of people continue to move into the province which gives me a lot of optimism towards the values of Calgary Real Estate over the next few years.

As always, if you have any questions about where you are positioned within the market or are thinking about making a move in the coming months, don’t hesitate to reach out!

All the best as we approach the fall market which looks to be strong as ever!


A huge gap of 3.5-million homes remains between the number Canada is on pace to build and the number needed to restore housing affordability by 2030, but changing economic and demographic projections have narrowed the shortfall in some provinces while widening it in others. The outlook was contained in a Sept. 13 report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., which has been tracking housing affordability in Canada through a series of reports since June 2022.

“Last year, we projected that, by 2030, there would be 18.6 million housing units in Canada. Now, we project 18.2 million units,” the report said. “Materials have gotten more expensive, labour is in short supply, and it’s hard to get financing for construction.
” With home ownership out of reach for many Canadians as prices have soared, particularly in cities such as Vancouver and Toronto, Canada’s housing agency has been studying what it would take to return affordability to 2004 levels in a series of reports released since June 2022.
“What we’re looking for are policy solutions to increase supply by all levels of government but also whether the private sector can improve how they produce: are there productivity gains, are there more efficiencies, better technologies that can be used, better materials?” said Aled ab Iorwerth, deputy chief economist at CMHC. “We’re seeing action in the province of Ontario with legislative changes on the supply side, but I’m not sure that the scale of the challenge has yet gotten through.”
The housing supply slowdown caused by factors including higher financing costs and labour issues has so far been less of an issue in Ontario compared to other provinces, according to the CMHC. At the same time, demand for housing is expected to decrease as a result of lower projected growth in income per household in the province. Article source here.


Looking to zhuzh up your space and lacking inspiration and help? Grab your tickets to the Calgary Fall Home Show hosted at the BMO Centre from Sept 29-Oct 1, 2023. ⁠ ⁠ 🏡🔨 HGTV Canada superstar Bryan Baeumler will be on the Sleep Country Main Stage on Saturday, September 30th at 6 pm to chat about how to build real value in your home.⁠ ⁠ The amazing Staged by Tara will be speaking on both Friday, Sept. 29 and Saturday, Sept. 30 as well as Go Simplified and David Scott from Charles Real Estate in a panel presentation!⁠


Welcome to this gorgeously designed 2 storey in the heart of Nolan Hill! The 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom residence offers the perfect blend of modern luxury and comfortable living. With its sunny west-facing backyard, custom kitchen, and numerous upgrades, this property is a true gem. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by a beautifully landscaped front yard and a charming façade that exudes curb appeal. Step inside, and you’ll immediately notice the meticulous attention to detail and high-end finishes that define this home. The open-concept main floor boasts engineered hardwood flooring, elegant lighting fixtures, and large windows that flood the space with natural light. The heart of this home is undoubtedly the custom kitchen, a chef’s paradise. Featuring granite countertops, a stylish backsplash, and high end stainless steel appliances including a gas range. Perfect for preparing gourmet meals or hosting friends and family. The island provides ample counter space and/or a breakfast bar for casual dining. The spacious living room, with its cozy gas fireplace, is an inviting space to relax and unwind. A dining area adjacent to the kitchen offers a seamless flow for entertaining. Upstairs, you’ll find three generously sized bedrooms, including a master suite that’s a true retreat. The master bedroom features a walk-in closet and an ensuite bathroom with dual sinks, a luxurious soaking tub, and a separate shower. Two additional bedrooms share a well-appointed 4pce bathroom. The west-facing backyard is a private oasis, perfect for enjoying sunsets and outdoor gatherings. A deck provides the ideal spot for summer barbecues (with natural gas hoo up) while the yard offers ample space for gardening or play. This home comes with a list of upgrades that includes a high-efficiency furnace, central air conditioning, and a double attached garage. Also features an upgraded media system including ceiling mounted speakers, central receiver in the basement and touch control screen on the main floor. The full basement is ready for your personal touch, whether you dream of a home gym, a media room, or a guest suite. Nolan Hill is a family-friendly community with parks, schools, and all the amenities you need just a short drive away. Don’t miss the opportunity to make this stunning property your forever home. Schedule a showing today and experience the perfect blend of comfort, style, and functionality in this Nolan Hill beauty.

For more information, contact me directly!


This immaculate residence truly had it all- and was noticed in the blink of an eye by the future buyers.Just after 4 days, we are a firm sale! Pride of ownership speaks volumes, and this home was pristine. ⁠
#BlueSold #SorrySold


Serving coastal Italian cuisine, Barbarella Bar is an escape from the everyday. Inspired by the chic mid-century yacht culture of Southern Italy and the fresh flavour of the pacific Northwest, Barbarella Bar brings sun-drenched flavours to Calgary.
We love the expansive outdoor patio, the striped black and white umbrellas, the orange suspended fireplaces in the spacious lounge and the open air kitchen that emits enticing aromas of delectable eats like ricotta crostini with chili honey, tomato and hazelnut dip with basil, olive oil and focaccia, spaghetti limone with parmesan and parsley and so much more.

Barbarella Bar is conveniently located between 1st and 3rd St LRT stations in the downtown “free fare” zone.
View their menu here.


Ingredients

Filling
1 cup potatoes, cubed small
1 cup small cauliflower florets
1 cup carrots, cubed
2–3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped small
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 teaspoons fresh sage, minced
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced
2 chicken breasts, cut into 1″ chunks
1/2 cup white wine
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup peas
1/2 cup cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Biscuits 
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, minced
5 tablespoons butter, frozen and grated
1 cup cold buttermilk

Instructions:
1. Make the filling: Put diced potatoes, cauliflower and carrots in a pot with an inch or two of water cover and bring to a simmer for 8-10 minutes until just tender, drain water off.
2. Meanwhile, sauté onions with olive oil over medium-low heat in a large (10 inch round) oven-safe pan (enamel or cast iron) 15 min. or until they start to caramelize.  Add celery and garlic, sautéing 5 minutes more.
3. Move veggies to one side and saute chicken, rosemary and sage in the same pan about 8-10 minutes.  Add the wine in and deglaze the pan, scraping off all the crusty bits.  Push everything to the outer edges and melt butter in the center and whisk in flour.
4. Stir in broth, salt, potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, pepper and nutmeg. Bring to a simmer. Remove from heat.
5. Stir in peas, cream, and lemon juice just before scooping biscuits onto the filling.
6. Make the biscuits: Preheat oven to 425F.
7. Add flour to a bowl, stir together with baking powder, salt, minced rosemary.
8. Toss in the grated frozen butter.  Add cold buttermilk, stir until just combined.
9. Using a 1/4 cup scoop 10 biscuits on top of the filling and bake at 425F degrees for 10 minutes. Turn oven down to 375 degrees and bake 20 minutes more.