The Foothills AIM Society (FAIMS), established under a different name in 1980, has grown to accommodate the needs of citizens with developmental disabilities and now service Okotoks, High River and Strathmore. With a vision of a community that freely accepts and includes all person regardless of ability. AIM = Advocacy in Motion! 

Mission: To ensure all people with developmental disabilities are contributing members in their community.

This dedicated and compassionate staff at AIM, including employees & volunteers, coordinates & offers services for residential care, in-home & out-of-home respite care, outreach support, employment coordination & much more. For more information on FAIMS, or if you know someone who requires their services, visit www.FAIMS.org. 

The FAIMS hosted their 12th annual charity golf tournament yesterday, June 13, at the Highwood Golf & Country Club. The Jay Magnussen Real Estate Team had proudly been supporting FAIMS for several years, and sponsoring their annual golf tournament is one of the ways we choose to help.

"We enjoy giving back to the Okotoks and High River community and appreciate the importance of community support to these organizations" said Okotoks Realtor Jay Magnussen.

Between the golf tournament, silent auction, live auction and generous donations FAIMS was able to raise much needed revenue to help their programming. With recent government cutbacks to organizations like FAIMS province wide, this group is going to need our community support more than ever.

If you are interested in donating or volunteering to help FAIMS, please click here!  

June 15 is Parade Day & Children’s Festival in Okotoks!

A full day of family fun, and so many free activities to choose from!

8:00 am - FREE Pancake breakfast hosted by the Lions Club (27 McRae Street - parking lot) 

11:00 am - Annual Okotoks Parade - Past, Present & Future (downtown district - McRae Street / Elizabeth Street)

12:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Annual Children’s Festival featuring Zumbatomic, Norman Foote and Tasha Platt (Ethel Tucker Park) FREE admission for all. Live entertainment, face painting, music, games, bouncy house, food for sale, bubble blowing,  

7:00 pm - Okotoks Oilers Stampede Party featuring Tanya Ryan concert (Centennial Arena) tickets are $20 

For more information on the Okotoks Parade Day activities, visit www.Okotoks.ca. For more information on the Okotoks Oilers Stampede Party visit www.OkotoksOilers.com. 

When you bought your home, you most likely signed a mortgage agreement - still the most common form of lending for the purchase of a home - which remains in effect for a certain period (this is called the term).

When your mortgage term comes to an end, you have 3 options:

1. Pay off your mortgage
2. Renew for another term 
3. Switch your mortgage to another lender

The end of your term is a good opportunity to reassess what you need in a mortgage and to look for mortgage options that better fit your needs today. In some cases, you might want to renegotiate your mortgage before the term ends.

You might want to renegotiate your mortgage if your financial situation has changed. Or perhaps you might want to take advantage of changes in the interest rates that are available from mortgage lenders.

Renegotiating generally involves breaking your mortgage contract and may result in some significant costs. Before taking this step, it’s important to consider carefully the costs and benefits.

Whether you plan to renew or renegotiate, knowing what questions to ask can help you get the best mortgage for your needs.

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada has prepared and provided some helpful information on how the process works, what to expect and possible outcomes of either renewing or renegotiating your mortgage.

If you are currently searching for a new institution to switch your mortgage to, please allow us to refer you one of The Jay Magnussen Real Estate Team's most trusted mortgage professionals.  

The Jay Magnussen Real Estate Team is pleased to offer, for another year, FREE TICKETS to the Spruce Meadows National running June 5 - 9 at Spruce Meadows. 

Print this ticket to gain free access to one of Canada's premier show jumping events. Also enjoy shopping and entertainment, bands, pony rides, wagon rides and more! Fun for the whole family courtesy of Re/Max! 

You have decided to take that first step toward purchasing a home and with excitement, you start visiting some open houses. Don't get too far ahead of yourself...

Your first call should be to The Jay Magnussen Real Estate Team. We can devise a strategy how it's best going to suite your unique situation to move forward and accommodate your lifestyle and needs. Buying a home is likely the biggest investment you will make in your lifetime and should not be taken lightly.    

While aesthetics are important, it's crucial to look beyond the window-dressings and staged furniture, look for yourself before you hire a qualified home inspector. While 

Here are some common problem areas to look for while touring an open house:

General Up-keep 

Is it clean or cleaned up? With many years of experience under our real estate belts, the difference between someone who keeps a clean house regularly and someone who has cleaned it up only to sell it is that the latter has likely not maintained the home and doesn't take as much pride in the home as the former.

Also look for cracks, especially above door frames. This may indicate that the foundation is shifting, which is a much larger issue than a quick patch-up.

Water Leaks 
Check the ceilings for brown stains and paint bubbling. This may indicate water infiltration that can be a costly fix. This will often be seen on the main floor ceiling, below an upstairs bathroom. 

Does Everything Work? 
The buyer may be including appliances but check if they are in good working order. This goes for the air conditioner and heating system as well.

Floors 
Observe if the floors are straight or if they are dipping in the corners. Be sure that laminate floors are not lifting. Depending on the floor type, it could be an easy or expensive fix.

Doors & Windows 
In winter, check for drafts and frosted window panes. This might indicate that the windows are not installed or insulated properly and will impact heating expenses. Look for water damage around windows from lingering condensation. 

Poor Drainage 
Make sure to ask about the age of rain gutters and check to see that they empty far away from the house to prevent water leaking into basements.

Grout & Caulking 
Check for deterioration and discoloration that may indicate mold.

Does it Meet Your Size Needs? 
The home may be beautiful and in good condition, but remember to be aware of cupboard and storage space.

With these things in mind, you can visit an open house with open eyes. For a more personal approach contact our Okotoks ReMax Realtors or contact our Calgary ReMax Realtors to have a private viewing of homes that match your needs. Our experienced and diligent real estate pros can help guide you through the process to find a home that is a perfect match!  

Nestled in the foothills of the Eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, Priddis boasts stunning views of rolling hills and spectacular scenery.

Neighbouring the Bragg Creek area, it is primarily ranch country, but due to its proximity to the City of Calgary, the Priddis area is becoming increasingly popular for city commuters to live and enjoy the glorious vistas, quiet lifestyle and a friendly and active community atmosphere. Perfect for folks who have a passion for horses and other animals. 

A short 15 minute drive to Calgary, Priddis and the Bragg Creek area is the perfect location to enjoy the peace of country living with the convenience of being close to city ammenities. 

If you have been contemplating a move to the Priddis or Bragg Creek area, then consider this well kept and charming 2066 square foot, 2 story, 4 bedroom property with 4.22 acres which is currently established to accomodate horses and bosts a small pond. 

Click here for full details, more photos and a virtual tour of this home for sale in Priddis, Alberta.

To find Priddis, head west on Highway 22X from Macleod Trail. There you will find the Priddis General Store and the Priddis View & Brew for excellent homemade food and specialty coffees. Priddis Greens Golf Course is also a popular draw for lovers of the game. 

Many events have taken place over the years in Priddis and surrounding communities, most often they are based on sports events, such as polo and racing, hunting, and fishing, tennis, hockey and curling, cricket and golf.

Today's home buyers are more savvy and educated than ever before. When buyers are shopping around for a home they know what they are looking for. They will also be working with a real estate agent who is looking out for their best interest and will have educated them on the value and price of type home they are looking for.

Pricing at Market Value

Pricing your home at ‘market value’ from the outset of the listing is one of the most critical actions you can take to sell your home faster.

Market Value: Home listing prices are based on the current ‘market value’ of the properties. The market value of a property depends on many factors, such as its location, size, proximity, size of lot, design, quality of construction, age, condition, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, garage, etc. The two biggest factors that determines fair market value is the SOLD price of similar homes that have sold in the recent past as well as supply and demand of similar homes. 

What to Base Your Price On

1. Current Market Conditions
2. Comparable Properties Active on the MLS
3. Comparable Properties Sold on the MLS
4. Neighborhood & Product Categories
5. Home Improvements & Upgrades

It must be noted that the value of a property does fluctuate over time. The change in zoning bylaws, economic status, mortgage interest rate, supply and demand conditions in the market will have a major and immediate impact on the value of properties.

Pitfalls of Overpricing

Don’t wait to price it right. Many sellers like to believe that they can test a higher price and reduce the price later if there isn’t sufficient interest or if they don’t receive an offer in a predetermined time frame. After 30 or 60 days of your home being overpriced you have lost valuable time and the attention of potential buyers. The longer your home is on the market at an incorrect price the longer it will take to sell.

Overpricing your home can cost you more than just money. While you are waiting for the “right buyer” who is willing to pay the inflated price you are continuing to pay for carrying costs such as mortgage payments, utilities, etc. Depending on your personal situation this cost can be compounded by carrying 2 properties. It is also costing you time and effort (often times stress) with the task of preparing your home for showings, vacating your home for showing and putting off moving onto the next phase of your life.

Your home can become ‘stale’ on the market. The longer a home sits on the market, buyers will ask questions like “what is wrong with this home?” or make assumptions like “if it hasn’t sold after this long there must be something wrong with it.”

The price of a home is the most important factor in gauging if a home has a chance of selling.  An objective analysis of your property and current market conditions will determine how to set a fair market value. To help you understand where to strategically position your home on the market our Okotoks & Calgary Real Estate Team will walk you through a full Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to help determine the best price for your home.

Contact our Re/Max Real Estate Team now to request your free,
no obligation CMA on your property. 

Timing the Market Doesn’t Work