Coldwell Banker Northern Bestsellers wants to thank everyone who is working hard to keep our community safe and healthy. Special kudos go out to our health care workers, first responders and those working in essential services. Thank you!

Amateur/Professional photographers get your cameras ready, to win some Christmas money and some exposure for your art.

Coldwell Banker is having our annual photo contest.

We are looking for new and exciting pictures of our Beautiful City, Northern Lights or any other representation of the North. We will be using these photos in future ad campaigns.

Coldwell Banker will select 3 winning entries and the prizes are as follows:

1st Place $300.00

2nd Place $200.00

3rd Place $100.00

Simply email your photo along with your name & contact info to dellaf@cbyk.ca

The contest will run until December 1, 2022

**Only Hi-Resolution entries will be considered. Please note that these photos will be used by our office for advertising and a photo credit will be given to the photographer.**

Institutional memory is the collective knowledge and learned experiences of a group. While some knowledge and capability reside within systems, procedures and policies, much of it exists in the heads and hearts of those working within an organization. 

At Coldwell Banker, we leverage this institutional memory to help our clients whether they are buying or selling a property. Our realtor team has a combined experience of over 130 years with most of realtors being long-time Yellowknifers. Many of our realtors have sold a property multiple times over the years and they know the history. And, our realtors also have access to over 7,500 records on Yellowknife properties that are available and at their fingertips.

This can be a real advantage to our clients – it allows them to make the most informed decisions, it can make the process much easier, and it helps avoid surprises. 

As long-time Yellowknifers, our Realtors^® have seen a lot of change over the years with new housing options, developments, neighbourhoods and facilities. The City of Yellowknife has grown to over 21,000 people and more and more tourists are discovering this unique place every year.

There are many exciting initiatives and opportunities being advanced that have strong potential to have a positive impact on our community, including:

• A new Aquatic Centre is being proposed to better meet the needs of the community. Timelines are tentative but residents could vote on plans in early 2021 with the pool opening in 2023.
• A Downtown Revitalization Strategy has the potential for positive spinoff effects.
• The Giant Mine Remediation Project is expected to contribute significantly to Yellowknife’s economy over the next decade.
• A new polytechnic university has the potential to transform post-secondary education in the NWT.
• There is strong potential growth in the tourism industry with a hotel accommodation levy and a destination marketing organization planned to promote Yellowknife.
• Various mining exploration projects with Fortune Minerals, Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (formerly Avalon Rare Metals Inc.), TerraX, GoldMining Inc., and Osisko Metals at Pine Point.

We look forward to further development of these opportunities and others, and to supporting our community.

The federal budget 2019 introduces a First-Time Home Buyer Incentive, a new program that will make it easier for more Canadians to buy their first home.

Under the new program, eligible first-time home buyers could share a part of the cost of buying a home with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC); it could reduce the size of their insured mortgage and lower monthly mortgage payments.

The program helps eligible Canadians with a household income under $120,000 per year afford to buy their first home. CMHC would offer qualified first-time home buyers a 10 per cent shared equity mortgage for a newly constructed home or a 5 per cent shared equity mortgage for an existing home.

Budget 2019 also proposes to increase the Home Buyers’ Plan withdrawal limit from $25,000 to $35,000, providing first-time home buyers with greater access to their Registered Retirement Savings Plan savings to buy a home.

Want to find out more?  Additional information about the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive will be released by CMHC later this year. Visit https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/media-newsroom/making-housing-more-affordable-first-time-home-buyer-incentive.

Congratulations to Sheena Gagnon! Winner of the Coldwell Banker Trade Show prize a Google Home & Mini.

Coldwell Banker Northern Bestsellers prides itself on being a full-service real estate company.

So what does full-service mean (to us and to you)? 

It means that all of our REALTORS® work full-time as real-estate agents so they are available 24/7.  Real estate is their only job and they are fully dedicated to their work and committed to their clients. Our REALTORS® have on average 22 years of experience in real estate which is put to work for our clients.

It also means we offer services to both buyers and sellers. We want to ensure that you have the best real estate experience possible, which is why we provide all forms of agency based on your needs.

Understanding your relationship with a REALTOR® is the first step in ensuring your real estate transaction is the best one you can make. There are basically 3 forms of agency that you may encounter when working with a REALTOR®:

1. Designated agency
2. Limited dual agency
3. No agency

Designated Agency

This is probably the one that most people are familiar with. When a brokerage designates a REALTOR® to work solely on your behalf in real estate transactions, the REALTOR® and brokerage are bound by ethics and the law to be honest and thorough in representing you. When a REALTOR® is a buyer’s agent, he or she must do their best for the buyer. When a REALTOR® is a seller’s agent, he or she must do their best for the seller of the property. For either type, the REALTOR® will explain and provide a written contract explaining the services to be provided and any fees and/or obligations.  

Limited Dual Agency

Limited dual agency occurs when the designated agent represents both the buyer and seller in the same transaction or two buyers competing for the same property. In this arrangement, the REALTOR® cannot be concerned exclusively with one person’s interests in the transaction, since they are acting on behalf of the other party as well. This arrangement is common in the U.S. and in many parts of Canada.

If this situation does happen, your Coldwell Banker REALTOR® will present and explain the different options available to you. This includes the option of having a different Coldwell Banker REALTOR® represent you. We have a number of experienced REALTORS® who are able to easily step in and lend their expertise. If a limited dual agency arrangement is chosen then all parties provide written consent. 

No Agency

Finally, you may choose to use the services of a REALTOR® without having any kind of agency relationship. This might occur, for example, when the seller’s agent who is a REALTOR® is showing you a property. The REALTOR® you choose to work with in this situation has a legal and ethical duty to provide you with accurate and honest answers to your questions and can assist you in your search for a home, however, they cannot recommend or suggest a price, negotiate on your behalf, or disclose any confidential information.

At Coldwell Banker Northern Bestsellers, we pride ourselves on understanding and putting the needs of our clients first. We keep our clients informed and involved throughout the entire process. Regardless of the type of relationship, all of our REALTORS® demonstrate our shared values of professionalism, transparency and integrity, and they are ready to serve you.

Shane Clark brings over two decades of experience with HomeLife YK to the Coldwell Banker Yellowknife team

[Yellowknife, NT, April 1, 2019] – Coldwell Banker Yellowknife is proud to announce and welcome Shane Clark. Shane brings a wealth of knowledge and over 20-years of experience with a family real estate business called HomeLife YK that was started by his father James.

Shane has extensive experience in commercial sales and leasing, residential and investment sales and property management. Shane is fully licensed as both a real estate salesperson and broker. His knowledge is enhanced by time spent in the tourism and construction industries and his strong business acumen developed from operating his own business and a business diploma from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

“We are thrilled to have Shane join us in helping Northerners with all of their real estate needs,” said Della Fraser, Co-owner and Salesperson of Coldwell Banker Yellowknife. “He will be a great fit at Coldwell Banker with his dedication to clients, strong professionalism and personable nature.”

As a long-time resident of Yellowknife, Shane is very involved in the community and has served on various boards and committees at the City of Yellowknife, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), AVENS, the YK Real Estate Board, the Yellowknife Ski Club, and he has provided tremendous support as a dedicated volunteer for the Yellowknife Speed Skating Club for many years. He demonstrates this same commitment and dedication in everyday dealings with all of his real estate clients.

Coldwell Banker Yellowknife has been serving Northerners since 1984 and is known for their extensive market knowledge, remarkable client service and strong community support. All of their REALTORS® work full-time and have combined experience of over 130 years. With innovative tools and technologies, Coldwell Banker Yellowknife maximizes exposure of real estate properties and enhances the real estate experience.

The 5-year fixed mortgage rate is the most popular rate in Canada. And, some good news for buyers: the Royal Bank of Canada cut its interest rate for 5-year fixed-term mortgages in January 2019 to 3.74 per cent from 3.89 per cent. Experts in the market are anticipating the major banks will probably settle their featured 5-year fixed rates lower to about 3.64 per cent.

While fixed mortgage rates are getting cheaper, variable-rate mortgages have been getting more expensive, narrowing the gap between them.

This is a vast departure from the sky-high rates from the 1980s. In March 1982, the average 5-year fixed mortgage rate was 19.4%! In fact, 5-year fixed mortgage rates never fell below ten per cent for a full 18 years – from 1973 to 1991. 

Thankfully, rates are unlikely to climb again to those levels for many reasons including globalization, a shift in demographics, and lower wage pressures, all of which helps to control inflation. 

With springtime comes warmer weather (even in Yellowknife), longer days of sunshine and more new listings. With the 5-year fixed term interest rates recently cut, there may be even more buyers looking to make a move.

If you are thinking of putting your home on the market, you’ll want to be ready. Here’s our top 5 tips to get you started:

1. Take care of any repairs – you will want to take a critical look throughout your home for any issues and do any necessary repairs. Do you have any cracks or marks on the wall, paint that is peeling, stains in the carpet, a cracked tile, or moldy grout around the sink? These are all things that you’ll want to fix.  
2. Make some updates – small, inexpensive updates can go a long way.  Some that you might consider include: a fresh coat of paint; new fixtures, kitchen hardware or lighting; new moulding; visible storage; and/or new outlet and light-switch plates. You might also consider upgrading your thermostat to a NEST, a smart home product that optimizes energy and can lower your future heating bills. 
3. Do a deep clean – with spring, comes spring cleaning! And this is even more important if you are going to sell. Be sure to clean all bathrooms, the kitchen, the garage and don’t forget to wash the windows which has the added benefit of maximizing the amount of light that comes into your home.
4. Declutter – many experts say that decluttering your home is one of the least expensive ways to make a big impact to your home. Donate items that you no longer use and organize closets and cabinets.
5. Don’t forget the exterior – when a buyer walks up to your home, you’ll want to make a great first impression. Consider painting the front door, cleaning the exterior siding/walkways, putting in a new outdoor light fixture and/or making upgrades to your landscaping.

We are also happy to do a walk through of your home and provide you with more ideas and tips that will win over spring-time home buyers and help you maximize your investment.

Finally, we can prepare a free market analysis for you so that you have an idea of home values in your area and the value of your home. With over 35 years serving Northerners with their real estate needs and over 10,000 property records at our fingertips, our realtors are equipped to share relevant information and insights on the real estate market in Yellowknife including pricing, neighbourhoods and specific properties.