Buy a $500,000 home in Toronto and you will pay over $15,000 in combined provincial and city land transfer tax — before you even get the keys. Buy the same home in Edmonton and the land transfer tax is zero. Alberta does not charge one at all. That same money in Edmonton can cover moving costs, furniture, or a bigger down payment instead. It is one of the core reasons families are relocating to Edmonton, and Travis has helped families make that move for 10 years.

If you are thinking about the move, start with a free Home Evaluation, or get in touch through the Contact page. Thinking of making the move? Call Travis Bannert at 780-720-8240.

Winter selling in Edmonton is not about waiting for a busier market. It is about meeting buyers who are already motivated. With fewer homes listed, a well-prepared home can stand out more clearly, and pricing and presentation matter even more when the buyer pool is smaller and more serious.

Before you list, focus on the details that show best in winter: clear walkways, warm lighting, a clean and uncluttered interior, and honest pricing based on recent comparable sales. Timing is a strategy, not a season to fear. The right launch, marketing, and negotiation plan can turn a quieter market into an advantage.

If you are thinking about selling, start with a free Home Evaluation to see what your Edmonton home could be worth in today's market. Then let's talk about timing, preparation, and the best plan for your move. Thinking of selling? Call Travis Bannert at 780-720-8240, or reach me through the Contact page.

Buying a condo in Edmonton is about much more than the unit itself. You are also buying into a building, a reserve fund, and a set of monthly costs that can change over time. That is why the documents matter so much before you remove conditions.

Start with the reserve fund, then ask about any special assessments on the horizon, and look closely at what the condo fees cover and how they have moved in recent years. A careful review now can save thousands later and help you buy with confidence.

If you are thinking about buying a condo, search Edmonton homes and register for property search alerts to save your favourites and get new listings. Want help reading the fine print? Call Travis Bannert at 780-720-8240, or reach me through the Contact page.

About 1 in 16 Canadian homes — 6.1% of the housing stock, more than one million households — needs major repairs, according to a CMHC assessment released October 22, 2026. In Edmonton, where much of the housing stock in mature neighbourhoods is 50 to 100 years old, that statistic shows up at showings every week: roofs at end of life, aging furnaces, tired plumbing and electrical. If you are buying, the job is to spot major-repair homes early and price the risk into your offer. If you are selling one, the job is to disclose honestly and decide — with sold data — whether to repair, credit, or price for the work.

What counts as a "major" repair when you are buying?

Think systems, not cosmetics: roof covering, furnace and water heater, foundation and grading, main plumbing lines and sewer, electrical service and panel, and windows. Paint and flooring change how a home feels; systems change what it costs to own in the first five years. On a showing, note furnace and water-heater ages, look for water staining in the basement, and ask about the roof's age. Then use your inspection condition properly — my guide to what a home inspection covers in Edmonton explains the scope, and a sewer scope is worth adding on older homes with mature trees.

How should buyers price a home that needs work?

Start from what a repaired comparable actually sold for, subtract the real cost of the work, then subtract a margin for the surprises older systems hide. Get quotes where you can instead of guessing, and keep your financing in the conversation: some repairs can be rolled into the purchase with a purchase-plus-improvements structure, which I can walk through on the mortgage side as well. Create a free account to see new Edmonton listings the day they hit the market and I will flag the listings where the price already reflects the work — those are often the best value in a balanced market.

Selling a home that needs major repairs? Your three honest options

Repair before listing when the item blocks financing or insurance — a failed roof or unsafe electrical can shrink your buyer pool to cash buyers. Credit or price in when the work is real but financeable, and let buyers choose their own contractor. Disclose always: Alberta sellers who hide a known material defect invite deals to collapse at inspection or legal trouble after possession. A free home evaluation grounded in sold data shows what your home is worth as it sits, so the repair-versus-price decision is arithmetic, not anxiety.

"His negotiation skills secured the best deal, and he made the whole process stress-free. I'm now happily settled in my dream home." — Shahab Ghorbani, Google review

The balanced-market reality in Edmonton right now

September's REALTORS® Association of Edmonton numbers — 1,959 sales, average price $466,080, 44 average days on market — describe a market where buyers have choice and time. In that market, a major-repair home priced like a renovated one simply sits, while the same home priced for its condition sells to a buyer who planned for the work. Condition is not a verdict; unpriced condition is.

Buying or selling a home with real repair needs in Edmonton? Call 780-720-8240 — I will try to call you this week, or reply with a good time and we will set a phone appointment to price the work before you commit.

By Travis Bannert, Realtor and Mortgage Broker

Travis Bannert, Realtor® | Bridge Realty Group, Maxwell Progressive Realty | 780-720-8240 | bridgerealtygroup.ca