Just because the summer is over and we're still a couple months away from the holiday season does not mean that we have to retreat to our homes quite yet, or at all. The town of Okotoks is ripe with community events that will keep you, your family, and visitors entertained without the slightest hint of post-summer depression settling in. Each month our Okotoks real estate team makes recommendations to prospective home buyers (potentially soon be new to town) that happen upon our blog. Today, we present to you some "something for everyone" events worth checking out over the first official month of autumn.

October Events in Okotoks:

1. Live Music & Silent Film Night @ Rotary Performing Arts Centre (October 19, 8-10PM)

This event is an absolute can't miss for fans of the roaring 20's and the silent films that graced the screen of its time. Critically acclaimed silent films will be presented amidst a backdrop of original live scores courtesy of famed composer/pianist Robert Bruce. To learn more about this exquisite ode of music, art, and film visit the event site.

2. Yuk Yuk's Stand-Up Comedy @ Rotary Performing Arts Centre (October 5, 8PM)

Once again we send you to the RPAC as the famed Yuk Yuk's Comedy Tour makes its way into Okotoks to make our bellies hurt from laughter. Up to bat on stage will be Jasen Fredrickson who is known for his happy-go-lucky act that wonderfully borders on absurd. The show also features Ian Wallace, a pop culture comedian that comes armed with decades of wisecracks and sarcastic quips. What better way to join the community than by laughing together in unison?

3. Okotoks Garden Club @ Okotoks Public Library (October 7, 6:30-8:15 PM)

Come meet and greet the gardening enthusiasts of the community by checking out the Okotoks Garden Club's harvest themed evening. Topics addressed at this month's event not only include the usual recipe sharing (which families back at home love to taste test!) it will also dive into the specifics of optimum canning, fermentation, blanching, herb drying.

4. Ghost Walk @ Okotoks Museum (October 28, 6-9:30 PM)

While we plan on writing an entire Okotoks Halloween Events article midway thought the month of October we thought we'd include this one eerie fun event for those that want to get the traditionally-on-the-31st activities started a little early. Beginning on the 28th of October will be the 3rd annual Okotoks Ghost Walk tour. The tour is hosted by the Okotoks Museum & Archives in conjunction with the District Historical Society. This is a great way to meet the town, learn about its history, while being served a healthy dose of goosebumps along with it.

If you happened to come across this article and you are considering a move to the Okotoks region we welcome you to contact our Okotoks real estate team anytime. We look forward to having you join us, and the rest of the community, at one of these October events.

This weekend our Remax Real Estate Team will be taking in the sights and wonder in High River.

High River will playing host to the 2013 Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championships, seeing 15 hot air balloon pilots from across Canada completing for a coveted spot at the World Championships in Brazil in 2014. Not to be missed is the iconic REMAX hot air balloon!!! 

There will be competition flights every morning & evening coinciding with sunrise and sunset - with additional `Fiesta Balloon Flights`by some impressive balloons including a Darth Vader balloon from Belgium. Also a sight to see is the `Night Glow` (shown above) where all of the balloons line up and inflate, illuminate by their flame againsty the night sky, but do not take flight. This gives spectators a uniue opportunity to see the balloons close up! 

The competition as well as Fiesta balloon flights (non-competing balloons) will be flying through the High River skies from Sept 25-29. CLICK HERE to view a schedule of events, some amazing hot air balloon photos & more.

Or you can following along on Facebook by liking the 2013 Hot Air Balloon Championships fan page.  

Also worth a read is this interesting article featured in the Calgary Herlad about the upcoming hot air balloon event.  

Simultanesouly, the 10th Annual River City (High River) Show & Shine will be held on Saturday, September 29. Consistently being deemed the biggest & best show & shine car show in Alberta, you can see classic, antiques, motorcycles & more.  

CLICK HERE to visit the River City Classic`s Car Club website for more inforation on the Annual Show n Shine or if you`re interested in becoming a member. 

Purchasing real estate in Calgary or pruchasing a home in Okotoks has been a profitable option for investors for a very long time.

Many southern Alberta investors have made hundreds of thousands of dollars (in some cases millions) by purchasing properties, building equity, and then selling for a profit.  

If you have questions about how to start building your real estate portfolio just ask Okotoks Realtor Jay Magnussen - an expert on the local rental market and a real estate investor himself! 

Here are four key considerations when deciding to invest in housing in Calgary or Okotoks:

1) Affordability

Purchasing a property and renting it out to cover the mortgage may seem like an attractive opportunity, but as the old saying goes "don't bite off more than you can chew."  One of the most common ways to lose money in an investment property is to fail to rent the property out and then not being able to afford the monthly payments. Try to budget so you can afford to pay the mortgage on a monthly basis even if you can't rent it out (due to some unforeseen circumstance).

2) Location

Location is one of the most important points to consider when purchasing a property for investment purposes. Look for nearby rent-drivers, such as colleges/universities (MRU, SAIT, UofC), public transportation, highways and other attractions. Of course, the better the location is, the more expensive the property will be, but the easier it will be to rent.

3) Condition of the property

Don't let the cosmetics of a prospective property put you off. Put on your investor hat and look at everything with a dollars-and-cents point of view. Ask yourself, "What can I do to improve this place?" or, "How will adding this or fixing that impact the value of the property?" Plus, if a property meets most of your criteria but isn't the prettiest looking home on the street, you may be able to get it for a lower price.

4) Do your research

Study the local market or ask our team of Okotoks Realtors for advice, consistently review the stats and look at the properties available in your target area. You never know when the right property at the right price will present itself. Our Remax real estate team can set up an automated search will will send you homes for sale as soon as they are listed to keep you in the know about the cost of property.

Our Okotoks Real Estate Team wants you and your family to enjoy the Spruce Meadows Masters with these FREE tickets! 

Elizabeth Street will be closed and the smell of chili will be hanging in the air on August 31 in Okotoks. The annual chili cook off known as Chili Fest will take place from 10 am - 3 pm, along with an Artisan Market, live music, bouncy houses for kids, face painting & more family fun.

A taste of chili will cost $5.00 with all proceeds from the Okotoks based event will go to the Foothills Humane Society. Chili will be served from 11 am - 1 pm. There will be prizes for the judge's choice and people's choice as well as for the best theme display and most enthusiastic team. 

"This has long been a favorite event for the community" said Jay Magnussen, a long time OKotoks resident and local Realtor with RE/MAX. Our Okotoks real estate team including Jay Magnussen & Savannah Magnussen will be in attendance and are eager to cast our vote for BEST CHILI!  

Competitors still have time to sign up for the cook off, and can do so online here, or can phone Barnes at 403-305-2286. Entry is $20 and includes 20lbs of ground beef from Hirsche Fraser Meats.

For more info visit the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1394167667475030/ 

With less than two weeks until the kids are back to school the dog days of summer have arrived here in Okotoks. But even though the days are getting a little shorter our Okotoks Realtors want to remind everyone that summer is still in full swing so let's not give in quite yet.

Many of you have recently moved to our charming nook of south central Alberta and are just now getting to know the lay of the land. There's no better way to get to know both the area and the community within it than by getting out there and attending some of the events that bring everyone together in late August and into the Labor Day long weekend. As a local real estate team we consider it our duty to act as a Welcoming Wagon for our new residents and so this week's blog entry details a few event recommendations where you and your family can join the town in celebrating, well, everything.

Dog Days of Summer Events in Okotoks:

1. Films @ Rotary Performing Arts Centre (August 22 through September)

The Rotary Performing Arts Centre is playing Tinseltown host to a variety of Hollywood blockbusters, free for the whole family. This coming weekend (August 22) presents Tim Burton's Corpse Bride. View the complete schedule of films to come through the remaining summer weeks. http://okotoks.ca/culture/Default.aspx?cid=3052&lang=1

2. Western Chic @ Okotoks Art Gallery (August 23, 7-9 PM)

This yearly Okotoks Art Gallery event is a grand mix of old west meeting contemporary flare. Continuously blessed by beng held in warm summer evenings this event is starred by cocktails, entertainment and of course art displayed on the lawn fronting the Gallery. This year CPO cellist Rafael Hoekman will pour sweet honey in your ears, while glasses will be filled at the wine bar & saloon, bellies will be contented with scrumptious hors d'oeuvres, and treasures secured at the silent auction, all the while taking in the gallery's exhibits. http://okotoks.ca/culture/Default.aspx?cid=2742&lang=1

3. Foothills Highland Games @ Foothills Composite High (August 24, 7AM-5PM)

This fun community event incorporates Highland piping & drumming, Irish & Scottish dance competitions, feats of strength "heavy" events, food and craft vendors, beer garden (of course), musical entertainment, a dog talent show, children’s actuvities, and is highlighted by a friendly grudge match of Tug of War. For more information you can visit www.foothillshighlandgames.com

4. High Ride Charity Motorcycle Ride @ Cycle Works Foothills Okotoks (August 24, 9AM-3PM)

In support of the High River flood recovery motorcycle enthusiasts are gathering beginning at Cycle Works Foothills for a charity ride this weekend. This important community event is concluded by a BBQ, creating a great atmosphere to do some good while meeting members of your community with similar tastes in recreation. Registration is from 9-10 am the date of the event or online at xperiencelife.ca where you can learn more about the affair.

5. Okotoks Chili Fest & Cook Off @ Olde Towne Okotoks (August 31, 10AM-3PM)

There's no better way to bring an Albertan town together in the summer than by holding an old Western-themed chili cook off while packing the strip full of family activities to complement the affair. Come down to quaint Olde Towne Okotoks to meet the community while tasting the best chili creations the Province has to offer.

If you happened to come across our blog/website and are considering a move to the Okotoks area we welcome you to contact our Okotoks real estate team anytime. We look forward to having you join us and our families at these very events next year, if not next week.

CMA, or Comparative Market Analysis, is a term heard often in real estate but for some it's nothing more than industry jargon. Well let us clear that up for you...

One of the benefits of working with a professional Real Estate team (such as The Jay Magnussen RE/MAX Team) when selling your home is our ability to provide you with a ‘Comparative Market Analysis’ (CMA). Completing a CMA allows us to ensure that we are pricing your home for the highest price that the market will bear.

What is a CMA?

The estimated value of your property is appraised by a method known as a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA).
This approach assumes that the market value of the subject property is equal to the price recently paid for similar properties.

A CMA is comprised of two areas with homes comparable to yours. (1) Homes that are currently for sale & (2) Homes that have recently sold. Upon reviewing homes in these categories we will see trends that will help us properly price your home.

(1) Homes that are currently for sale, or pending a sale, which are similar to yours will give us an idea of what buyers will be seeing and comparing your home and its price against. 

(2) Homes that have recently sold will give us a good indication of what the market will bear, and allows us to see trends in increasing or decreasing house prices.

With this information we can provide you with the best possible chance of selling your home for the highest price possible, in the shortest time frame possible.

It is also important to note that a buyer and their Realtor have access to the same information and will use this same process to determine the price they are willing to pay for home. Moreover, bank appraisers and financial institutions that will be lending a considerable amount of money against a property will use this process to determine if the lending risk is worthwhile for them; properties that are overpriced most often do not get financing due to the unnecessary risk.   

If you would like us to complete a CMA on your home contact us today.