Courtesy of Lori Loewen

2025 | ISSUE 4

When you hear the phrase “outdoor kitchen” what comes to mind? A portable barbecue and a comfy patio set or a lavish area that rivals the functionality of your indoor kitchen? Either way, having a designated cooking, eating and entertaining area in your yard or on your patio is one way many homeowners are looking to expand their homes this spring and summer. Start by planning the layout and functionality of the space before considering style and budget. Design the kitchen area based on traffic flow and ease of access and proximity to other areas. For instance having the preparation and cooking area on a high deck but the seating on a lower deck may make transporting food difficult. Will your grill and sink use existing gas, water and electrical lines or will you need to have new ones run? Imagine yourself using the space and see what may cause issues and what would work best. Once you know what will go where, consider design elements – do you want to use stone, metal or wood? Will you have a professional team come in and build the area or will you attempt to do it yourself? Your budget will dictate a lot as well, as creating an outdoor kitchen isn’t necessarily a low cost endeavor. DESIGNING YOUR IDEAL OUTDOOR KITCHEN

Kale & Quinoa Salad

WITH LEMON DRESSING

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

• 1 bunch kale, stemmed and chopped • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • 3 tablespoons lemon juice • 2 tablespoons chopped shallot

1. Place kale in a large serving bowl. Whisk together oil, lemon juice, shallot, honey, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of the dressing over the kale; lightly massage until slightly wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. 2. Top the kale with tomatoes, quinoa, cucumber, peppers, chickpeas, feta and almonds. Drizzle with the remaining dressing and toss before serving.

• 1 teaspoon honey • ½ teaspoon salt • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper • 2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved • 2 cups cooked quinoa

• 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced • 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced • 1 medium yellow bell pepper, sliced • 1 (15 ounce) can unsalted chickpeas, rinsed • ¾ cup feta cheese, crumbled • ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted

REAL COURAGE IS WHEN YOU KNOW YOU’RE LICKED BEFORE YOU BEGIN, BUT YOU BEGIN ANYWAY AND SEE IT THROUGH NO MATTER WHAT”

HARPER LEE (AMERICAN NOVELIST 1926 – 2016)

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR VINYL SIDING Keeping the vinyl siding on your home or garage clean helps prolong its lifespan, prevents grime (or mould/ mildew) from building up and overall enhances the appearance of your property. First use a broom or soft bristle brush to dust off any dirt or debris that has accumulated over the winter. Treat stains with a solution made for vinyl siding and follow the directions on the package. Once any stains are removed, go ahead and use a large, soft brush to apply soapy water (dish soap works well) and rinse it off with a garden hose. Pressure washing is an option, just be sure the water pressure isn’t too high so you don’t accidentally damage the siding. If you see signs of mould or mildew (black spots that don’t easily wash away) you’ll want to treat the area with hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and water solution, or a cleaner made specifically for removing mildew from siding.

Did you know?

• April is from the Latin word aperio which means “to open [bud]”

• April 22 is Earth Day

• The birth flowers for April are the daisy and the sweat pea

• The birthstone of April is the diamond

• In the northern hemisphere, April is the first full month of spring

WORD LADDER

Change one word into another by changing one letter at a time. Hints are in brackets.

CUP

(young dog)

(dad)

It’s likely that you’ve seen solar panels on the roof of a home nearby and have wondered if it would be right for you. There are a lot of factors to consider and you should investigate thoroughly before having panels installed, but essentially, solar panels can help harness the sun’s energy and convert it into the power needed to run your home. This, in turn, generates fewer carbon emissions which is great for the environment. Ideally, solar panels are installed on a sloped, south-facing roof that has access to full sunlight and isn’t shaded by trees or other buildings. That’s not to say north, west or east facing roofs can’t utilize solar panels, just south-facing tends to be exposed to the most sunlight each day. Other options for placing solar panels are available, such as on the ground if your roof doesn’t meet the needed criteria. Alberta and Ontario have both seen surges of solar panel installations over the past few years, however it seems to be a growing trend across the country. If solar energy is something you’re thinking about, you can also look into The Canada Greener Homes Loan which can help finance your endeavor by providing an interest-free loan. SOLAR PANELS AND SOLAR ENERGY

(plant holder)

(place to sleep)

CAT

STORY

(boutique)

(fixed look)

(kick off)

SMART

SOLUTION: CUP, PUP, POP, POT, COT, CAT SOLUTION: STORY, STORE, STARE, START, SMART

Uncertainty weighing on housing market

$336,100 apartment

$769,800 detached

UP 2.6% year-to-year

UP 4.1% year-to-year

BENCHMARK PRICES

$454,000 rowhouse

4,019 NEW LISTINGS 2,159 SOLD LISTINGS

detached 1,895 1,092 apartment detached 1,035 540 apartment

UP 2.1% year-to-year

53.7% SALES TO NEW LISTING RATIO

29 DAYS ON MARKET

2.4 MONTHS OF INVENTORY

5,154 ACTIVE LISTINGS

Calgary, April 1, 2025: Ongoing economic uncertainty, driven by tariff threats, has weighed on consumer confidence and impacted housing activity in March. Sales declined by 19 per cent year-over-year, totaling 2,159 units. Sales slowed across all property types, with the steepest declines seen in higher density segments. “It is not a surprise to see a pullback in sales given the uncertainty,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist at CREB ® . “However, it is important to note that sales still remain stronger than anything reported throughout 2015 to 2020, where our economy faced significant economic challenges and job loss.

Nonetheless, easing demand has been met with gains in new listings and rising inventories, helping our market shift back toward balanced conditions, following four consecutive years where the market favoured the seller.” March reported over 4,000 new listings, causing the sales-to new-listing ratio to drop to 54 per cent, low enough to support further inventory gains. Total residential inventory levels reached 5,154 units, and the months of supply pushed up to 2.4 months. Statistics reflect market activity in March 2025 | Source: CREB ® Calgary Real Estate Board. Market values stated are of the benchmark of the city of Calgary. Individual home market values will vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to-date evaluation of your home.

Real Estate is not just about selling or buying a home. It’s about representing YOUR greatest asset! The referral of your family and friends is the greatest compliment you can give me . . . Thank you for Your Trust and Confidence!

Privacy Disclosure: We respect your privacy. The sponsor indicated on the front panel provides a complimentary subscription of this publication to you, a valued client. If at any time or for any reason you do not want to receive this publication, please contact the sponsor using any of the contact info on the front panel, and your personal information will be removed from the mailing list immediately. Without response to this cancellation offer, we assume your implied consent and permission to continue provision. Disclaimer: This publication is distributed for the purpose of information only. It is not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract by a real estate firm or under contract with another Broker or Mortgage Specialist, nor is it intended to cause or induce breach of any existing agreement. Distributed by: dmsmarketing.ca Copyright© 2025 All Rights Reserved / Printed on recyclable material. The trademarks REALTOR ® , REALTORS ® and the REALTOR ® logo are controlled by CREA and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA.