As someone who was used to living in BIG cities like New York and Calgary, and who works in Calgary currently, I’m a huge advocate for living there. It’s a stunning city and the people are absolutely inspiring. The fast pace is perfect for my work and daily environment, but when I thought about moving to Airdrie, it was because I wanted a tighter community for my family to evolve. I moved from Calgary to Airdrie 13 years ago and to be honest, it’s been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I want to share with you my experience of moving to a smaller city with you because I never thought I would. It’s an interesting thing that life does, as you get older the truth of what you want for your lifestyle just appears and BAM! You’re getting ready for a big move.

Family

Raising a family in a smaller city has been incredible. The tight-knit community of friends we have is something not normally experienced in a bigger city. The neighbourhood and community feeling has been great for my kids and their self-esteem. They have more space to move around and the freedom and safety of a smaller city as a mother is reassuring for me.

Working in Calgary, Living in Airdrie

You might be thinking what about work? As an Airdrie Real Estate Agent, I am happy to be working and thriving in this community. I move back and forth between Calgary and Airdrie everyday for work, as many people who live in Airdrie do. This commute for me is an essential decompression. Coming home to a sizeable backyard and a big blue sky definitely lifts the spirits after a long day!

The fast pace of Calgary is something I love, and living in Airdrie gives me the best of both worlds. It’s a happy life!

Space, Skies, Sanctuary

I love living in Airdrie most of all because it’s home to me. When we first made the move it took a couple weeks to get used to the change of pace but the friendliness and community of Airdrie inspires my positive attitude everyday.

Did I mention the skies? That’s reason enough to think about moving to Airdrie!

Are you curious about moving to Airdrie? Chat with someone who has been there, done that! I’m happy to help you navigate the waters.

Explore the possibilties of living in Airdrie! View my current listings and ask me any questions. As someone who has been through the exact process and is an Airdrie Real Estate Agent, I can guaruntee a positive real estate experience.

As an Airdrie REALTOR ® and a landlord myself, I can tell you being a landlord isn’t always a walk in the park. You’re always on call, your tenants and the home are your complete responsibility. However, if you’re well prepared for becoming a landlord it will be a rewarding and positive experience! Purchasing an investment property is an activity that I encourage, as Mark Twain said:

Let’s dive into the 6 major factors that I have learned in my experience to not just becoming a landlord, but also to be successful at it!

Live Nearby

As the owner of the home, you will need to care for all the yard work, the plumbing, any mishaps, etc. When your tenants are locked out, you will need to head over and let them in. Living in close proximity to your rental property will ease a lot of these nuisances. You’ll be able to whip over and complete whatever it is your tenant needs. It’s also possible to hire a property manager to care for the property if you’re not able to be on call. Living close to the property also means that you can check on it from time to time to ensure everything is in order.

Know The Law

It’s incredibly important to know tenant-landlord laws. From provincial security deposit laws to federal anti-discriminatory laws, you should know them all. As a landlord, you need to know how much notice is needed for tenants to move out, for you to show the property, etc. These laws are great general knowledge, and they’re quite straight forward. If you have questions please contact me so I can advise you!

Enforce Rent To be Paid On Time

This seems an obvious step, but it’s important not to get too friendly with your tenants. If you do, you might just let a late payment slide which can turn into another, and then before you know it you’re a full month’s rent behind. Being too friendly isn’t a great idea, but you should still have a solid relationship with your tenant built on respect. You are trusting someone to live in your property, therefore you should trust them to get the rent paid on time. The next tip ties into this one…

Screen Potential Tenants

When choosing someone to become your tenant, you MUST choose someone you are comfortable with. It’s standard for a potential tenant to apply for the property by answering personal questions. These questions will ask about the applicant’s employment, yearly salary, pets, relationship status etc. It’s also common to perform a background or credit check. When showing the property, ask the potential tenant questions and get to know them a little bit. You will feel much better about a stranger moving into your property if you can have a pleasant conversation with them.

Customize Your Lease

Your lease should be customized to fit your unique requirements. These requirements will include details such as if you allow pets and how many. Other aspects include details on the utilities, for example if the tenant will have to pay any of them separately. A common utility for the tenant to pay in Airdrie is electricity. Another example of something to specify is repairs. If a window breaks, what is the process of getting it fixed? As a landlord it’s important to ensure your tenant knows all the details of living there, so customize the lease with everything you think is relevant.

Inspect The Property Regularly

A huge part of being a landlord is trusting your tenants. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t inspect the property from time to time. It can be daunting having someone else live in your property – especially in the first few months. Do a drive-by to make yourself feel better. Remember though that you can’t just show up unannounced and waltz into someone else’s home. Because yes, your property is now someone’s home – remember that!

There you have it, 6 tips to becoming a successful landlord! As your preferred Airdrie REALTOR ® and a landlord myself, I can give you unique advice from both perspectives. If you have any questions, please fill out the form below.

When you’re about to start a family, people say “your life will change forever.” But what they don’t say is how incredible that change will be. Starting a family is one of the greatest joys in life, and when it comes time for your youngest to move out all those feelings of “your life will change forever” come rushing back.

All of a sudden your schedule and lifestyle change completely. You’re used to having dinner with your kids, spending lazy evening together, and it seems that suddenly those moments you have cherished for years are suddenly out of reach.

Again, what no one tells you about your kids leaving home is that it’s just another adventure – and it can be a GREAT one!

Something that every empty nester thinks about is when should you start thinking about downsizing your home. Your home is most likely larger than you need it, filled with belongings that haven’t been touched in years. So how do you cope with finding a new place to live? Your memories in your current home are precious and can be very difficult to leave behind. It’s important to remember that you’re not leaving these memories behind! You’re going to be creating new ones. You’re not disappointing your kids for leaving their childhood home, you’re liberating yourself from space and items that you no longer need.

Downsizing your home may seem like an evil that you don’t want to entertain, but it could be a necessity. A large home for one or two people is challenging.

Moving on is just a new chapter in your book!

Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re downsizing:

Downsizing is not downgrading

Moving from a family home into a town home, apartment, or just a smaller house doesn’t mean you need to give up the luxuries you are used to. It’s possible to still have a large kitchen for your family to visit or a large backyard for pets to play in. Your appliances and amenities can still be top of the line, you might even be able to afford higher quality amenities than you had in the past! It’s not sounding so bad, is it?

Downsizing is simply reducing the space you no longer need – not the quality of the home. Extra bedrooms for example, or a large storage space are no longer necessities. Having a beautiful patio and the best kitchen appliances can be your compromise

You Can Move Wherever You Want!

When we have kids we need to live by schools, playgrounds, parks, everything that they need. With your newfound situation, you can relocate to wherever you want! Whether that’s a trendy downtown area, or a quiet and peaceful neighbourhood the choice is completely yours. Even moving from Calgary to Airdrie is a move that could be just what you need to jumpstart your new maturing lifestyle.

When we have kids we need to live by schools, playgrounds, parks, everything that they need. With your newfound situation, you can relocate to wherever you want! Whether that’s a trendy downtown area, or a quiet and peaceful neighbourhood the choice is completely yours. Even moving from Calgary to Airdrie is a move that could be just what you need to jumpstart your new maturing lifestyle.

You Have The Luxury To Design Your Own Lifestyle

When we have kids we’re so wrapped up in their lives that sometimes it results in neglecting our own. With the house to yourself you can start those yoga classes you’ve always wanted to try, host dinner parties with your friends, spend quality alone time with your partner in your home, anything you want!

Now, does downsizing your home still seem scary? Maybe… But that’s why you have Tara in your corner. Tara experienced a very difficult downsizing process with her grandmother and is now on a mission to make sure that people looking to downsize have a positive experience. From personal experiences and a genuine concern for people’s well being Tara is your best bet for having a real estate experience that will make you excited about the next steps of your life.

As your preferred Airdrie REALTOR ® and someone who has been a First Time Home Buyer, these are some tips that I have created out of my personal experience. There are so many more tips I have, so read through these and then let’s chat about how you can line yourself up for success. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call!

Start Saving Right Away

Buying a home is a big investment. When you’re thinking about purchasing your first home, it’s so important to make sure that you’re financially able to support yourself in your new lifestyle. Because yes, becoming a homeowner is a lifestyle change. Saving money seems like the most evident first step, but there’s an aspect to saving that First Time Home Buyers should always keep in mind.  You will want to save up for a down payment, but you will also have to save up for an emergency fund.

An emergency fund should be enough to pay for your expenses for 3 months if something unexpected were to happen. Whether it’s a physical injury or a loss of employment, you will need enough funds to support yourself.

Pay Attention During Showings

When you’re inspecting a home, it’s so very important to pay attention and really look at the home. You need to pick it apart. If you know someone who is a contractor, or home builder take them with you. They will be able to spot things that you won’t even think about.

Get Second Opinions

This lumps in with taking someone with you to view homes. It’s not just about viewing homes, it’s also getting second opinions on your mortgage, on your home owners insurance, etc. Don’t go through this process on your own! For one, you have me as your Airdrie REALTOR ® and I’ll be with you to support you every step of the way. It’s always nice to have someone close to you with you throughout the journey. Ask a family member or trusted friend for their insight as well.

Help Others Move

It’s no secret that people don’t like to help others move. Moving is sweaty, it’s hard, and it’s not very fun. It’s pretty common for friends to disappear when you need help moving, so this is a tip to get them to help. Always, always, always offer to help your friends move. First, it’s just a nice thing to do. Second, you won’t have to hit the gym that day. Third, when it comes time for your move they will be much more likely to lend a hand.

Don’t Rush – have fun with it!

Slow down and enjoy the process! You’re only a First Time Home Buyer once, so make sure you take the time to relax. It can be a stressful journey, but with the right team behind you you’ll truly have a positive real estate experience… You might even get addicted to it.

As your chosen Airdrie REALTOR ®, I look forward to learning about your needs. Let’s find the home you’re dreaming of together.