I can't recall ever telling buyer clients that "now is the time to buy a home!" But, I have often counseled clients through the evaluative process of whether or not now could be the right time for them to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Question: Is not the right time to buy a home in Calgary?

Answer: Maybe. It depends.

These are some of the reasons to buy a home in Calgary this year... as told, unprompted, by some buyer clients in the last few months:

1. I'm tired of renting and paying off someone else's mortgage.
2. Interest rates are so low, it would be crazy to not at least consider buying now.
3. With where we are in our lives, buying is the right thing to do now.
4. We've lived in Calgary for a few years and feel settled enough to consider buying.
5. We're planning to be in Calgary for a while.
6. We were looking last year and couldn't find the right place because the selection of homes was so tight. And prices were climbing faster than our incomes.
7. While house prices may...

Calling the listing agent is the BIGGEST mistake a potential buyer can make!

The listing agent is legally working for the seller to get them the very highest price and best terms possible!

The listing agent is required, by law, to disclose three important facts to an unrepresented potential buyer:

1. They are working FOR the seller,
2. They are NOT working for you, and
3. The buyer will likely get a better deal with their own agent.

The listing agent is prohibited from sharing with the potential buyer knowledge they may have about a home or the seller – unless the seller gives them authorization to share the information ahead of time. And why would the seller offer to share negative information?

The listing agent is going to try to push a sale of the home – whether or not it meets the potential buyer's criteria. Keep in mind they work FOR the seller.

The seller has already agreed to pay a certain fee to sell their home through the listing agent. They pay no...