On October 13, 2012 @ 10:30 AM, The Jay Magnussen Real Estate Team will be participating in the 1st Annual Wishmaker Walk for Wishes in support of The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.

Every year, thousands of individuals come together in communities across Canada to walk and raise funds to create the magic of a wish for Canadian children living with life threatening illnesses.

 The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada has never refused an eligible child and has granted over 18,000 wishes!  Wish requests continue to increase and they are currently providing 3 wishes a day! So every time you have breakfast, lunch or dinner a wish is being granted to a child.

Your support will help grant wishes to thousands of Canadian children.

I hope you will join us and help to create the magic of a wish by supporting my efforts in the Wishmaker Walk for Wishes.

To sponsor our team online, just follow this link to our secure donations page:

http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=3526850&langPref=en-CA

You can help The Foundation even more by spreading the word about this exciting event and also by encouraging others to sponsor our team.  

Thanks for your generous support!

Kayben Farms and Olde Towne Okotoks present the 4th Annual Pumpkin & Scarecrow Festival. Fall is a wonderful time of year to spend with family & friends - and enjoy some fresh air! Visit Kayben Farms & Olde Towne Okotoks for some fall activities and entertainment. 

The Scarecrows entered into the contest will be on display throughout Olde Towne Okotoks for exhibit and voting. While you are in Olde Towne Okotoks you can enmjoy many of the boutique shops, cafe's and more.

To enter a scarecrow into the contest - click here for more info. 

Each Saturday in October Kayben Farms will be open from 10 am - 5 pm for fun, family-friendly fall activities like live music, hay rides, pumpkin patch, pumpkin crafts, corn maze & other children's activities. 

If you are going to be in the Okotoks area, and have also been considering a move to this lovely town - why not check out some real estate for sale while you're here. Email us if you have any questions about the Okotoks area or if you would like to see some homes for sale!

Check out our 'Explore Okotoks' page for information about the Town of Okotoks, schools in Okotoks, communities or neighbourhoods in Okotoks and more.  

Do you know a grade 12 student, living in Western Canada, who could benefit from a $1000 scholarship?

What is the Quest for Excellence? The Quest for Excellence Program is a bursary program for grade 12 students in Western Canada. It was established by RE/MAX of Western Canada to recognize the success and ongoing pursuits of Western Canadian students in regards to leadership and community contribution initiatives. Scroll down to enter.

RE/MAX of Western Canada will award 16 bursaries of $1,000 each to qualifying Grade 12 students. In addition, the 16 bursary winners will be entered into a draw and one lucky recipient will receive a RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon ride for two. Bursary winners will be notified in May, 2013. 

The Quest for Excellence is open to all Grade 12 students attending high school from September, 2012 - June, 2013. Grade 12 students may not have participated in graduation commencement ceremonies in the past. Applicants must be a resident of one of the following provinces/territories.
 

• British Columbia
• Alberta
• Saskatchewan
• Manitoba
• Yukon Territory

Students are to convey the contributions they have made to their communities in a short online essay, maximum 1,250 words. Key qualities students should demonstrate are leadership, motivation and communication skills. Other attributes may include volunteering, participation in charitable events or fundraising, and contributions that enrich the lives of others and their communities.

Note: All entries become the property of RE/MAX of Western Canada and photos and names of winners may be used in print publications and media.

Complete the following on-line application form. Deadline for entry is midnight of March 11th, 2013. A maximum of one on-line essay per student.
 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION 

Okotoks Realtor Jay Magnussen and his Okotoks real estate team including Kim Daniel, Savannah Magnussen-Afonso and Derek Stuart, along with KidSport Okotoks leader Nick Ruigrock were serving up world famous Nathan's Hot Dogs at the Okotoks Jr. A Oilers Home Opener hockey game on Friday night at the Centennial Arena. 

We are thrilled to announce that we raised $900 which will go a long way within the KidSport Okotoks organization. 

KidSport believes that no kid should be left on the sidelines and all should be given the opportunity to experience the positive benefits of organized sports. KidSport Okotoks provides support to children in the Foothills area in order to remove financial barriers that prevent them from playing organized sport.

If you would like to make a donation or find out how you can donate your gently used sports equiptment, visit: http://www.kidsport.ab.ca/index.php?page=okotoks_home

Special thanks to Nathan's Hot Dogs, Sobeys, ATCO Gas, Okotoks Jr. A Oilers and The Western Wheel! 

Calgary, Sept. 4, 2012 – Following several months of higher than expected sales growth, Calgary residential sales in August totaled 1,725 units, a 10-per-cent increase over last year.

“While the sales grow remains strong, it is slower than previous five months in part due to the lack of new listings in the City’s single family market,” said Bob Jablonski, CREB® President.  “With fewer products to choose from, many consumers are holding off on transacting or turning to surrounding towns, the new home market and condominiums.”

New listings within the City of Calgary total 2,585 units in August, down 13 per cent from one year ago and down more than four per cent on a year-to-date basis.  Meanwhile, new listings in the surrounding towns have improved by nearly 10 per cent after the first eight months of this year.

“Improving choice, affordable prices, combined with lifestyle factors and the lack of choice in the single family market within city limits, have driven sales growth in towns surrounding the city,” said Jabslonski.  “In general, the area has witnessed sales activity that is comparable to peak sales activity.”

Single family sales totaled 1,169 in August 2012, six per cent above levels recorded in 2011.  Meanwhile, new listings declined by 14 per cent on a year-over-year basis over the same time frame.  This year, demand has far outpaced new additions to supply in the single-family market, causing a significant depletion of standing inventories.  However, the recent decline in sales growth helped ease the pressure on the market, as months of supply have risen to levels more consistent with balanced territory. 

While sales growth activity did cool, the upward price pressure on single family homes will not likely ease until the fall.  As of August, the benchmark price for a single family home was $432,600, an eight-per-cent increase over August 2011 levels.  The increase may seem significant, but the prices have leveled off compared to the previous month and remain nearly $20,000 below peak levels recorded in July 2007.

August sales in both condominium apartment and townhouse units recorded year-over-year growth that outpaced the single family market.  Year-to-date apartment sales have improved by nearly 10 per cent over 2011, while the level of new listings remained at levels similar to last year.  The improvement in sales relative to new listings has helped reduce the elevated inventory levels, keeping this market in balanced territory. 

The benchmark price of a condominium apartment for the month of August was $248,700, a 3.6-per-cent increase over the previous year.  Meanwhile townhouse style condominiums had a monthly benchmark price of $278,200, only a 2.5-per-cent increase.  While the upward momentum is a signal of continued recovery in the condominium market, the benchmark price for condominiums remains nearly 16 per cent below peak levels.

“Some continue to foresee a scenario where price declines are looming in the local housing market, especially given national trends,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, CREB® Chief Economist.  “There is no question economic concerns can threaten our housing recovery. However, to date Calgary housing market consumers are exhibiting confidence evidenced through the pick-up in sales activity across all housing types. 

“The rapid sales growth caused supply levels to drop, particularly in the single family market, resulting in price gains.  While we anticipate recent movements in the single family resale market will take some pressure off the higher-than-expected price growth, another city wide price correction is not expected given current economic growth expectations combined with one of the best affordability climates in the country." 

Support KidSport Okotoks by joining us on Friday, September 14 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm @ the Okotoks Oilers Jr. A Home Opener!

Donations will be accepted with all proceeds benefitting KidSport Okotoks! See you there! 

The Okotoks Visitor Info Centre is located at the Okotoks Art Gallery (OAG) at 53 North Railway Street, formerly known as "The Station". 

Here's a thought - If you're thinking of hosting a private function you can rent a space at the OAG for your party or event! 

For more info CLICK HERE! 

Hours are Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. 

The Rotary Performing Arts Centre (RPAC) reflects the town's dynamic, creative energy. After undergoing a $1,000,000 renovation funded by Municipal, Provincial and Federal governments, the RPAC re-opened in 2011.

For more info CLICK HERE!  

The Okotoks Pro Rodeo is held annually and in 2012 will be celebrating it's 21st year.  This non-profit Rodeo is produced entirely by volunteers, hosting contestants and visitors from all over Canada, USA, Europe, Asia, New Zealand & Australia. It will 'take over' the Town of Okotoks with western themed events and activities for the whole family.

FUN FACT: Jay Magnussen was one of the founders of the Okotoks Pro Rodeo back in 1991! 

The Okotoks Pro Rodeo brings an element of competition, skill and excitement to our guests for you to see how a part of the west was won. 

It is an event sanctioned by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association - CPRA, with co-sanctioning by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association - PRCA. This rodeo is one of the last qualifying and important stops for contestants vying to qualify for the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) - held in the late fall of each year. 

Volunteers put on the greatest indoor rodeo on the professional circuit with nine (9) exciting events:

• Bare Back
• Barrel Racing
• Bull Riding
• Tie Down Roping
• Saddle Bronc
• Steer Wrestling
• Team Roping
• Wild Horse Race
• And of course the perennial crowd favorite - Mutton Bustin'

Please visit the Okotoks Pro Rodeo events page for more details. 

Tickets are available through the Okotoks Pro Ticket Hotline - 403-938-1518 (after July 1st, 2012), or in person at our Rodeo Ticket Office starting in August 2012. The ticket office is located across from the Information Desk of the Okotoks Recreation Centre (111 Milligan Drive). Visit the tickets page for more information on ticket prices and the hours of service of our ticket window.

Enjoy the show... YAHOO!!! 

Use this e-ticket, compliments of The Jay Magnussen Real Estate Team, for FREE admission to the Spruce Meadows Masters from September 5 - 9, 2012 at the world renowned Spruce Meadows in Calgary, AB.  

For more information on the Spruce Meadows Masters visit: www.sprucemeadows.com

The Drake Landing Solar Community (DLSC) is a master planned neighbourhood in the Town of Okotoks, Alberta that has successfully integrated Canadian energy efficient technologies with a renewable, unlimited energy source - the sun.

The first of its kind in North America, DLSC is heated by a district system designed to store abundant solar energy underground during the summer months and distribute the energy to each home for space heating needs during winter months.

The system is unprecedented in the World, fulfilling ninety percent of each home’s space heating requirements from solar energy and resulting in less dependency on limited fossil fuels.

The Government of Canada and its Canadian industry partners are proud to showcase Canadian solar thermal and energy efficient technologies in this one-of-a-kind community.

For more information and statistics on the DLSC visit www.dlsc.ca or contact us with your questions. 

CLICK HERE to view all property for sale in Drake Landing in Okotoks

Drake Landing Solar Community Highlights:

• The largest subdivision of R-2000 single family homes in Canada, each 30% more efficient than conventionally built homes.
• A first in the world, 90% of residential space heating needs will be met by solar thermal energy.
• A reduction of approximately 5 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per home per year.

Want to know HOW IT WORKS?

From OverseaPropertyMall.com: The world’s most expensive home is complete. The $1 billion, 27 storey tower block in Mumbai is the home of Mukesh Ambani — the richest man in India and the fourth richest man in the world –, his wife and their 3 children.

It is difficult to know what to call it. It is far too big and grand to call it a house, the fact that it has more floor space than the palace of Versailles and 600 staff would ordinarily make it a castle, or Mansion, but can you call a sky scraper a mansion?

Whatever you call it, the building is a physical representation of emerging markets taking over the world in terms of money and power, which is also what it screams (money and power) from the top of its 173 meter high walls: an asymmetric stack of glass, steel and tiles with a four-storey hanging garden and solid gold chandeliers hanging from the ball room ceiling.

As well as having a health club with a gym and dance studio, at least one swimming pool, a ballroom, guestrooms, 9 elevators, a variety of lounges and a 50-seater cinema, the tower also has 3 helipads on the roof, and a parking garage with capacity for 160 cars in the lower floors.

The family quarters are understandably on the top floors, where they enjoy an incredible view across Mumbai and the Arabian Sea. Experts say there is no other private property of comparable size and prominence in the world.

Read more: http://www.overseaspropertymall.com/property-type/billionaire-homes/1-billion-antilia-mumbai-the-worlds-most-expensive-house-completed/ 

ATTENTION Canadians

New mortgage rules go into effect today! Changes to amortization, debt ratio, HELOC's and more....

"Starting Monday, lenders can only issue home equity loans up to a maximum of 80% of a property’s value — down from 85%.

The maximum amortization period also drops to 25 years from 30 years — giving borrowers less time to repay the debt in full.

In addition, the federal government is capping the maximum debt ratios for households and limiting government insurance to mortgages on homes with a purchase price of less than $1-million."

Read more: 

http://www.canada.com/business/Mortgage+rules+change+today+about+half+Canadians+know/6904887/story.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/07/06/bc-mortgage-deadline.html

Is there a perfect time to sell your house? The short answer is: yes - whenever you're ready!

Market "timing" isn't the only factor that influences how quickly your house will sell or for how much. The preparations you make before listing your house on the market will also have a big impact on your success.

Consider these questions: How well is your house staged? Is it in a good state of repair? Is it priced correctly based on local market conditions? Is it listed and promoted so that all other realtors and their clients understand the advantages your house and neighbourhood have to offer?

Sure, there are peaks and slower cycles throughout the year. In addition, there are economic periods when the real estate market is either heating up or cooling down. But you don't have any control over those factors. Plus, you can never accurately predict exactly where the market is within each cycle.

What you can control is how well you prepare your house for sale and how well you position it's price against the competition so that it's desirable to as many potential buyers as possible.

So when is the best time to sell your house? When you want or need to sell it.

Want to find out how much your house will sell for in today's market? Call The Jay Magnussen Real Estate Team at 403-650-7332, email us, or tweet us your questions.

Come one, come all. Join us for a Stampede Breakfast plus kids activities, live music, prizes & more! 

WHAT: Remax First Stampede Breakfast

WHEN: Thursday, July 12 from 8 am - 11 am

WHERE: Remax First office (9625 McLeod Trail South)

Hope to see you there!!!