Face it, buying real estate is a very big step. Many people put up their life savings as a down payment for that dream home, considering it an investment in the future. It is that, but it would be more of a sound investment if those buying property would take the time for a thorough home inspection. It’s easy to fall in love with that flower decked façade and red brick entry, but it’s what is underneath that fresh paint that is most important. Some of the following areas need special scrutiny.

You spruce up the inside and outside of your home, getting it ready for the market. The paint is fresh, the lawn manicured and flowers grace the walkway leading to your front door. But, even with all this, there is the possibility that one look at the neighbourhood will dissuade potential buyers. This could be because of one neighbour with an unsightly curb appeal or a number of less than stellar homes on the block.

We use computer, iPads, iPhones and a number of electronic devices in transactions everyday. One Calgary realtor, Cliff Stevenson, has been using his iPad for real estate transactions since 2011. He lets his clients sign papers electronically rather than put a pen to the real thing. The practice is convenient and decidedly eco-friendly. The fact that the clients love it, at least most of them, is a big bonus.

A general rule of thumb, at least with Canada’s Big Five banks, is that the maximum number of properties that you can hold a mortgage on at the same time is four. This is a relatively new missive, in place for the last several months.

So far the city of Calgary is having a very good March, as far as the real estate market goes. The Calgary Real Estate Board just released their report for the first ten days of the month and already 657 MLS homes have changed hands. That is a 3.46 percent increase over the same time period in 2012. The average price is also up by 9.80 percent, with that average home price being $456,814 per home.