Bryon Howard's Blog Posts

As 2021 comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on the future.A tradition since my kids were very young, each New Years we go around the circle, sharing 3 things:- A goal or hope for yourself in

I look forward to the Wednesday Night Jam, a ‘unofficial bicycle’ race – which consists of many guys in Cat 1/2, and lots of guys with good fitness from Cat 3 to 5. I begin

The decision to downsize to a new living arrangement may be one of the best decisions you ever make. The advantages are numerous and you do not have to wait for years to reap the benefits. As a

The home buying process can be very exciting…choosing the neighbourhood you want to live in, scouring through listings and checking out weekend open houses to find the home of your dreams. I

When buying or selling a home, one of the most important documents you will have is the Agreement of Purchase and Sale, also commonly referred to as the “Offer”. This legally binding

Sunday, July 3, 2016 was my first triathlon of this year – The Great White North in Edmonton – a half distance Iron Man. This is the year I age group “up” … so it is

When it comes to preparing a home to list for sale, successful Realtors and sellers understand that it is all about the details. There is more to selling a home for top dollar than simply staking a

Calgary 70.3 Pre-Race Meal at my house w my wife Shirley & professional triathletes Liz Lyles & Jarod Shoemaker – So fun.It’s Tuesday – but I’m still hoping the

Too many novice homebuyers and investors still make the rookie mistake of buying the right house in the wrong neighbourhood.  While most people are familiar with the real estate mantra –

International publications such as The New York Times and The Economist are increasingly aware of what the residents of Calgary have known for a very long time – Calgary is

Finding the right Realtor to work with is a key component of success in the real estate world. Whether you are looking to purchase your first home or expand an investment portfolio, you need to find

Real estate investing can be a highly-rewarding enterprise for those who are willing to hang in through the inevitable ups and downs of the market.  As in any investment, there are certain

First-time homebuyers face a myriad of choices when it comes to narrowing the search for their first home.  How much money to spend?  Which neighbourhood?  Downtown or suburbs? 

Real estate investors and homeowners share a common goal when it comes to the value of their home or portfolio. Everyone is looking to build equity. In real estate jargon, equity refers to the

Marathon in Bordeaux, Sept 2017All in the support of The Vintage Fund 2016 (Mental Health is This Years Charity), we are auctioning off a Marathon week in Bordeaux. On Saturday, Nov,

My Pro Panel … friend, Mom & Wife two days prior to Ironman Arizona.I’ve been active all my life.  As a kid my brother and I built go-karts, and used them to salvage junk

Spend some time in Calgary this holiday season and you may find yourself wishing you lived here year-round.  Christmas time in Calgary is an experience to cherish – a magical feast to

Home staging is a powerful tool in pulling in buyers and selling a home for the highest possible price.  It is all about creating a memorable first impression that will stay with homebuyers

As an increasingly influential centre in world social and economic markets, Calgary can boast of a strong and growing multicultural base.  Thousands of immigrants continue to relocate to

Forget what you think you may have learned from watching HGTV.  There is nothing simple or routine about most real estate transactions.  Almost every home sale or purchase is accompanied

For many Calgary home buyers and sellers, the prospect of packing up to move is the least enjoyable part of the process. While it certainly does involve a good deal of hard work, moving does not

Successful Realtors are skilled at wearing multiple hats.  The “best of the best” are not only knowledgeable and experienced in the nuances of their market, but they also have good

Even the best real estate investment strategy is doomed to failure without the presence of the most critical ingredient – qualified, reliable tenants.  Ask any landlord who has learned

Do not make the mistake of placing your real estate affairs in the hands of an inexperienced agent. In red hot real estate markets, it seems that everyone wants to be a Realtor. After one rainy day

It is never easy to watch loved ones grow old – especially when it is your own parents. The aging process invariably calls for one or more lifestyle changes and moves along the way. These

Photo by Ian GrahamI’ve been interested in kite boarding for a few years. In September of 2015, I took a lesson in Malpeque Bay, Prince Edward Island … with a fierce determination that

Success in real estate investment is totally dependent on the property owner’s ability to find and lease space to qualified, dependable tenants.  Good tenants are building blocks for a

Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia, is famous for its thriving real estate market, magnificent scenery and stately Victoria architecture. The city and the surrounding landscapes present

So, how are you getting along with RECA’s Residential Measurement Standards (RMS)?It’s been nearly a year since RECA launched the new standards, so the ins and outs of applying it must

Victoria’s restaurant scene is an intoxicating mix of urban charm and rural sensibility. The city is home to a growing number of farm-to-table restaurants specializing in their own brand of

Natural beauty, good weather and a highly-coveted lifestyle are just a few of the reasons Victoria is a great place to live. The city manages to combine old world charm and ambience with ultra

A visit to Victoria is incomplete if it does not include time spent enjoying the city’s majestic Inner Harbour. Take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront promenade and you will discover the

Nestled in an old-growth forest less than 17 kilometers from downtown Victoria is Goldstream Provincial Park, a crown jewel in the British Columbia park system.  Goldstream is home to dozens of

Welcome to Calgary, the largest city in Alberta located in the south-western part of the province. Downtown can be recognized by its numerous skyscrapers. Some of these structures, such as the

What happened with me?  Age is just a number – but be careful.20 years ago in 1997 I was playing squash at the Charlottetown YMCA. In the change room, three friends arrived in their

With so much conflict and uncertainty in the world this year, it is not hard to understand how some people may be having trouble summoning the Christmas spirit.  If you find yourself cringing

Winter is a wonderful time to plan a visit to Calgary.  The locals here do not hide from Mother Nature’s fierce chill.  They embrace it and extract every bit of snow and ice related

You have made the big decision to sell your home and you are overflowing with excitement and anticipation; may be feeling just a little bit nervous too. It does not really matter if it’s your

Over the past few years, Calgary has witnessed an ongoing, and sometimes fierce, public debate on the topic of secondary suites in single-family homes.  The debate is fueled by a number of

Perhaps as much as any neighbourhood in Calgary, Marda Loop epitomizes the urban lifestyle mixed with small town vibe that Calgary’s residents love.  It is the kind of place where people

The thing about Calgary is that once people come here for a short visit – they often end up extending their stay.In fact, many never leave!As a result, Calgary city continues to have a growing

Bathrooms, like kitchens, are a huge selling point in your home. They’re also the most personal of spaces. Here are 11 ways you can add value to yours through quick updates that make a

No matter how many times you comb through your bedroom closet, carefully pulling dresses to donate and tossing mismatched socks, there never seems to be enough room. Our dreams of neatly arranged

(click image to view video)You can do better than the obvious under-the-doormat method—here are 4 brilliant ideas for where to hide a spare key.It’s always a good idea to stash a

Bursting with blooms in coral red, gold, pale green and purple, this year’s new flowering plant introductions offer a rainbow of options for adding color to gardens. Plus, the standout blooms

Color preferences vary as much as personalities, with some folks loving the bright and the bold, while others feeling most secure surrounded by neutrals. The good news is that when it comes to,

Urban Institute recently released a report entitled, “Barriers to Accessing Homeownership,” which revealed that “eighty percent of consumers either are unaware

The laundry room has finally come into its own as a bright and organized cleanup command center, whether in a tidy corner of the basement or a nook next to the kitchen. For help updating yours, 

See ideas for updating this sometimes-neglected space, whether you have $100 or $10

<!doctype html>*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* August Market SnapshotTotal Sales 528 ↑ 53.94%New Listings 820 ↑ 15.82%Active Listings 6,680 ↓ -1.52%Average Price 491,530 ↑ 7.76%Days

Dining Room ReduxThis mirrored console table was beautiful as a dining room accent, but it’s absolutely stunning when recycled for the bath. The top was sealed with polyurethane — an

Explore where and why one of these popular tile choices makes more sense than the other…All tile is created equal, right? Not quite. Porcelain and ceramic may belong to the same family, but

Whether its Summer, Autumn, Winter or Spring, you’re bound to go on vacation at some point – but what about those beautiful houseplants?…Let me introduce you to some indoor

Don’t Want To Retire Yet?…Phased Retirement Might Just Be Your Next Best Thing.One day you’re a full time employee and the next day you’re not. That’s what retirement

See how this trending finish holds up to a variety of cabinet colors and styles1. Brass on BlueDesigners: Marty Buckenmeyer of Buckenmeyer Architecture (architect) and Charlotte

With the transition from summer travels to the beginning of a new school year (and maybe some back-to-work blues), August can feel like a sudden downshift from the fun of vacation. Stretch out these

Some Highlights:The National Association of Realtors surveyed their members & released the findings of their Annual Profile of Home Staging.50% of staged homes saw a 1-10%

Transform your dreary, unfinished basement into a space everyone can enjoy with these 10 inspiring basement ideas. Pretty and PlayfulTransform your unfinished basement into a dream

Watch VideoLearn how to install your own backsplash!Lighting Steps1. Go to the main electrical panel and turn off the power to the existing under cabinet lights and outlets.2. Unscrew the old light

A lot of attention goes into selecting the right storage for an island’s main base cabinetry. But don’t forget about the ends of the island. Depending on which way your island faces and

There’s no need to buy a new house or take on an extensive remodel to get the curb appeal you want. There are many ways to approach your exterior to give it a serious update without a serious

Many of us aren’t able to change the sizes and layouts of our patios or decks. We’re left to choose furniture and its arrangement, decide what to plant, and select other outdoor elements

Warm summer evenings are meant for porch swings. Hanging one from a porch or an arbor is a fairly easy weekend project.There’s hardly anything more relaxing on a warm evening than swaying

As homeowners put not-so-big-house principles into practice, downsize into smaller homes and plan more efficient uses of space, we often see the formal living room and casual family room

Take a sneak a peek at next year’s color trends — they’re all about peace and relaxation. The 2019 Color of the Year, Reflecting Pool, brings a sense of calm to almost any space,

The typical kitchen cabinet has a lot of wasted space. You can’t see or get to what’s in the back, so things get forgotten and food items can get outdated, especially in lower cabinets.

So, you recently moved into a new place, and you finally have your furniture arranged exactly how you want it. You placed your decorative accents and hung the few pieces of art you own. But every

If you’re entertaining family and friends during the holidays and could use a bit more space, we’ve got easy, festive ideas on getting everyone outdoors and into the&

The City of Calgary economists estimate that from 2009 to 2069, Calgary will add 1.3 million people. That’s a doubling. So where will we put everyone? Read this interesting article penned

The living room’s predominantly neutral color scheme is injected with splashes of bold color such as the citron side chair and the orange grasscloth wall covering inside the media bookcase.

Get inspired to tackle your laundry room with re-purposed storage tricks. Glass drink decanters are not just for backyard parties anymore! Use a beautiful drink decanter with a spout to hold

Eating healthier, getting in shape and finding a creative outlet are among the common resolutions you can tackle at home.Some New Year’s resolutions, such as climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro or

Clever ways to declutter your home! Create the perfect places to stash all of your stuff. Whether you own a tiny home lacking closet storage, or you are trying to organize the space you

No matter how many times you comb through your bedroom closet, carefully pulling dresses to donate and tossing mismatched socks, there never seems to be enough room. Our dreams of neatly arranged

There’s no need to buy a new house or take on an extensive remodel to get the curb appeal you want. There are many ways to approach your exterior to give it a serious update without a serious

February is a time of year to indulge in home comforts like cooking big-batch meals, reading in the afternoon and watching movies with the family. Here are a dozen ideas to add to your to

The laundry room has finally come into its own as a bright and organized cleanup command center, whether in a tidy corner of the basement or a nook next to the kitchen. For help updating yours, 

How a couple of hands-on homeowners took a bungalow from dilapidated to delightful, using home-center finds.Beautiful BungalowIt takes a certain eye to see a smart little cottage where others

Color preferences vary as much as personalities, with some folks loving the bright and the bold, while others feeling most secure surrounded by neutrals. The good news is that when it comes to,

See ideas for updating this sometimes-neglected space, whether you have $100 or $10.

Did you know your home’s design can affect your bank account and love life? Try these feng shui tips based on the ancient art of balancing energy.Put Furniture Legs on Rugs&ldquo

Dining Room ReduxThis mirrored console table was beautiful as a dining room accent, but it’s absolutely stunning when recycled for the bath. The top was sealed with polyurethane — an

Always wanted a brick pathway?…Never sure how to get it quite right?… Well, now you do! Here’s a step by step guide showing you just how to lay your own beautiful brick

Ever feel as though something’s not quite right about your entryway? Maybe it’s hard to see your front door, or your foyer feels bland and uninviting. Whether you’ve recently moved

Homeowners who haven’t prepared their homes to list now, should implement some of the following these go-to styling tips if they want to get their listing noticed and sold

Wow. It was a Cold February, not only in temperature – but also in Real Estate Sales!The mean (or average) temperature for February was -18.7 C, making this the third-coldest February on,

Every homeowner wants to make sure they get the best price when selling their home. But how do you guarantee that you receive maximum value for your house? Here are two keys to ensuring you get the

Westlake Project: Build a Moat!Mark Biechler of Pearson Landscape in Austin, Texas created a solution for a homeowner in Westlake, Texas whose home tended to flood during heavy rainfall. To solve

Wow and Thank you! Thanks to your help, we had an amazing first quarter 2019 having just sold 445 Skyview Ranch today! We had 11 showings and sold it $6,000 over List price. Laurie and Lauire (can

If you’re considering working with a landscape designer, finding the right fit — and avoiding surprises midway through the project — is largely about knowing which questions to ask

Calgary – Sales were down 9% compared to the same 1st quarter last year, and 28% below trending levels.At the same time, this price decline and relatively slow sales activity are impacting

There have been no significant changes occurring in sales activity, but the number of new listings coming onto the market continues to ease relative to 2018 levels.The decline in new listings was

I recently had Julie on the podcast, Calgary Living: Real Estate and Lifestyle.Julie is an award-winning real estate and events photographer, and an exhibiting artist. She has just completed her

I recently had Peter Estabrooks on my podcast – Calgary Living: Real Estate and Lifestyle. I, like many, got to know Pete from the covers & pages of Impact Magazine. Pete has

Meet Paula Schmidt of Life Massage.Wholistic medicine is the art and science of healing that addresses the whole person –mind, body and energy. As a practitioner of wholistic medicine, Paulla

I recently had Pablo Galvez on my podcast, Calgary Living: Real Estate and Lifestyle. Pablo has been in Calgary for 43 years and has been selling real estate at a high level since 2010. In addition

As top Calgary real estate agents, I recently had a good friend who wants to sell his house but has legitimate concerns with the Coronavirus, and the homeowner really wants to sell the property to

Fun chat with my enginerd friend Ben Eadie. Most recently, Ben is fresh off the set of Ghost Busters Afterlife where he was doing special effects. Currently, Ben and some of the other prop makers

It’s Earth Day. Actually, it’s the day after Earth Day. We just celebrated our 50th Earth Day.  Have you noticed? Is Earth Day something you notice? Has there been a time when

Every Tuesday, we show our appreciation to our clients’ feedback by showcasing their testimonies. #TestimonialTuesday helps us improve our ability to serve our clients better.This weeks

Earlier this month, I received a good news from our good friends from www.thebestcalgary.com. I am honored to be among their list of The Best Calgary Real Estate Agents!If you want to

Last weekend, along with a few training friends from Critical Speed Racing in Calgary, I started and completed an Ironman Distance Triathlon Challenge. We set out to swim 3800 meters (or do 3800

While it is more fun to be an optimist, one must consider the time we are in, and one’s individual circumstances and plan appropriately.What do you think is hurting YYC real estate numbers,

I remember the first time I saw someone traveling by bicycle with all his stuff attached to his bike. I was giddy with excitement, my eyes were open to the possibilities. It was 1985, I was 18 years

Because encroachment agreements take time.Do you see the white retaining wall?The retaining wall extends out toward the street and stops 0.65m from the back of the city sidewalk. Most people

A long long long time ago, my girl friend (now wife) were in Tofino training to be sea kayaking guides. I heard about Hot Springs Cove, and how some people kayak there. Recently, as a mid 50’s

Searching for a honest man Bryon Howard REMAX Realtor on Retirement It is a common belief that after one has worked most of their life, there is a time to slow down and enjoy relaxed, carefree

Hope you are enjoying Calgary Life this summer. The market has been quite busy the past couple of months, and at the same time, we have been able to get out enjoy our beautiful Canadian Summer with

When checking email this morning, I choose to first open this one: “Congrats, you just won a challenge prize: Specialized Biking Socks”. I’m excited.1985 was the International Year

Last night while running with my training group, Ryan asked, “Did you register”? Register for what? “Ironman Canada, general registration opened yesterday.” (As a result of

Yesterday at the park I met Christy and was telling her a little about Roo.   On September 5 I dropped my wife at the airport to go to Prince Edward Island to visit her Dad. She was

On Friday I was casually speaking with friend Greg when he told me that he was doing an Ultra Run on Sat, Oct 24 in Crowsnest Pass.I asked a little about it, he didn’t know much. He thought it

Meet Dr. Jeff Wakeford, Dentist and Owner of Odeon Dental in Marda LoopEnjoyed my recent check-up and cleaning with Dr. Jeff Wakefield in his new Marda Loop Dental Office, and thought that he had to

Mosquito Creek – Quartzite and Ramp PeaksOne of the great things about living in Calgary is access to incredible adventures in any season.On Saturday morning Patrice I met on the SW end of the