Blog - Matthew Dekort

Chelsea, Chestermere. Who is building? What are they building? Prices?

Wouldn't it be great if someone compiled all of needed, required, information on a new community, so you could easily consider if that area is right for you? Well, here is the video for Chelsea's, one of Chestermere new communities. You'll learn the builders.  What they are building (townhomes, duplexes, laned, double front garage).  And the prices.

The next video will answer if schools are planned. The parks.  Transit.  And shopping. And more .

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Here is the video for Chestermere transit: YouTube

Link to Chelsea's Landing Area Structure Plan (the planning document for the area):…

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Dawson's Landing, Chestermere

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Wouldn't it be great if someone compiled all of needed, required, information on a new community, so you could easily consider if that area is right for you? Well, here is the video for Dawson's Landing, one of Chestermere new communities. We'll review what is being built, who is building, are school planned, the parks, shopping, transit and more 

Click here to open up on YouTube:

Here is the video for Chestermere transit: YouTube

Link to Dawson's Landing Area Structure Plan (the planning document for the area): https://chestermere.ca/DocumentCenter/View/10187/1987---Dawsons-Landing---Outline-Plan-Supporting-Doc---Internal-Circulation-Version---2017_06_22

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Easy Stucco Repairs

I think agents should do more than just open doors.  Be able to explain the home, from the shingles to the foundation.  To do more than just show where to sign a purchase contract.

 Part of job should be helping clients, and a big part of home ownership, is maintenance and repair.  In this short video, I'll show how easy stucco is to repair.

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Stucco is:

1. durable
2. fire resistant
3. paintable, and
4. easily repaired

With only a few materials and tools, you can repair 20 years of hail damage, instead of having to replace the entire exterior. 

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Covid Safety & Real Estate: Calgary Alberta

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 Alberta introduced new regulations on November 25, with the biggest change was a further restriction of social gatherings. Covid is a serious threat.

As an agent, can I show safely? YES. Is it safe to sell your home? YES. Safe to buy? YES.

Watch this short 5 minute video to learn the protocols and safety steps that we, as Alberta Real Estate agents, members of the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB), and MaxWell, take to keep you safe.

Here is the newest Alberta Covid announcements:

https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx Alberta Real Estate Association's (AREA) practice tips for agents:…

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Credit: Secrets to Unlock the Bank's Vault

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As an agent, I have helped MANY clients purchase their first home, and have learned what the banks want. If you think you have ANY issues getting approved to purchase your next home, watching this credit video (and my other videos) will help tremendously towards your future purchase. When your normal banks won't grant you credit, I suggest:

1. A SECURED card: https://www.capitalone.ca/credit-cards/guaranteed-mastercard/  or https://www.hometrust.ca/credit-cards/secured-visa-card/ 
2. After this, I suggest cards from a variety of retailers. Retailers are keen to help you shop in THEIR stores; store specific cards are generally easier to get than "main stream" cards. Many retailers offer co-branded…

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Builder RIP-OFF. How innocuous choices impact YOU.

When you are buying your new home, you are faced with a bewildering array of specs, guidelines, options, and pricing. Some builders take advantage of this, and put in something that LOOKS like what you've come to expect.  One of the substitutions COSTS the builder less, but COSTS you much more in the long run.  Hot water heaters:

Notice any differences?  Let's eliminate the tankless and the small units (more for offices), and show just 2 options:

They LOOK almost identical.  The biggest difference is one is ELECTRIC and the other is NATURAL GAS.  If you aren't paying attention, you won't notice the lack of exhaust or the missing gas line on the electric.

The electric one is cheaper to buy (Rheem 40 Gal electric is $448 @ Home…

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Chestermere Lakeside Greens Price Plunge? Slokker Redevelopment = $39 000 Loss per home

I wanted to explore a little more the FINANCIAL ramifications that Slokker's redevelopment of Lakeside Greens COULD have on the people living in the area.  Short answer, likely a $39 000 price plunge; could be as high as $61 000.  OUCH.

Lakeside Greens golf course in Chestermere is partnering with Slokker to redevelop the course. Essentially fairways to townhomes. IF the city agrees, the price plunge could cost families an average of $39 000 per house (or MORE).

I want to emphasize that the redevelopment is NOT approved by Chestermere, and active community involvement will help craft the guidelines under which council approves any redevelopment, and the final plans.  I encourage anyone in the area to become active in this matter.  Too much…

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Slokker condos coming to your favorite golf course next? Lakeside Greens (Chestermere)

It turns out that some common advice that almost all agents, including me, have been wrong about over the decades is the wisdom of purchasing on a golf course WITHOUT examining how financially solvent that course is. Every year it seems another course in the Calgary area fails; a whole host of reasons.

 Join me as we explore the recent past of some course, and the most recent golf course announcement (fall 2020).

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Moving To Small Town Rural Alberta

 Clients have asked me if I've seen an uptick in people wanting to move to rural, small town Alberta. It might make sense for some people, either as they've realized they might not NEEDED at their desk, are worried about Covid, want a slower pace of life, or simply the savings that come with leaving the big city.

 I explore the various options, how I'd choose which towns to live in, and what you could get buy for a LOT less than your current home is likely worth.

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Is Solar Worth It?

JayMan is the first major builder in Alberta that has fully endorsed solar. Kudos to them for taking a big step. And it's gotten lots of press coverage, along with all the sales people in the showhomes pushing it as a feature.

But is it worth it?  And, how do we measure what something is worth?

1. Is it just financial returns
2. Are you willing to buy for the environment alone (ignoring the disposal and manufacturing of the panels)
3. Or is it the self sufficiency aspect of knowing that you are WHOLLY reliant on the grid / others?

In terms of the last point, the self sufficiency, I like being self sufficient.  But in Alberta, even the biggest installation that could fit on my roof is NOT going to enable me to go off-grid in December. …

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