Courtesy of Lori Loewen

Volume 16 | Number 4

HIGH-TECH FURNITURE

There is a new layer to shopping for furniture these days – a technological layer that is. Many pieces of furniture have tech built in to be even more functional for you. Consider these options the next time you’re looking to replace a piece of living room furniture.

Some couches, loveseats and chairs are now equipped with built in USB ports or even charging stations for your phone or tablet so you’ll never have to search for your charging block again. Add in heated seats and electronic reclining modes and you have the ideal lounging space. Pair your new seat with a high-tech coffee or end table that is complete with power outlets, more charging station options and even cold storage inside to keep your beverages and snacks chilled. Choose a coffee table with LED lights to set the mood to a movie night or just enhance the décor of the room. Not nearly as high tech, but still neat and really functional, are adjustable height coffee tables that can double as a working or eating space if you’re confined to the couch. Search online or at your favourite furniture store for these options and more. The future is now.

Courtesy of www.spendwithpennies.com CREAMY CROCKPOT TORTELLINI

INGREDIENTS : 1 pound Italian Sausage ½ small onion diced 3 ounces frozen spinach 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juice 8 ounces cream cheese cubed

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 16 ounces frozen tortellini

3 cups chicken broth ¼ cup tomato paste ¼ cup parmesan cheese, optional

DIRECTIONS: 1. Brown sausage and onion until no pink remains. Drain fat. 2. Place all ingredients in a 6 qt slow cooker. 3. Cook 2 ½ to 3 ½ hours on low. Once cooked through, stir until sauce is smooth. 4. Top with parmesan cheese if desired and serve.

THE WAY I SEE IT, IF YOU WANT THE RAINBOW, YOU GOTTA PUT UP WITH THE RAIN. - Dolly Parton

American singer-songwriter who has sold over 100 million records worldwide, which makes her one of the best-selling female artists of all time. Her impressive career also includes acting, philanthropy, and owing a number of businesses including the Dollywood theme park.

MATTRESS SHOPPING A good night’s sleep is paramount to our wellbeing. One way to ensure you get a solid, restorative sleep is to invest in the proper mattress. But with so many options on the market, where do you begin? One of the first things you should do is learn about the different types of mattresses: coil, memory foam, water, gel, to name a few. Each type of mattress has pros and cons and may work better for one person than another. Some are recommended for certain people – those who need added support, those who are hot sleepers, etc. While others simply offer a more economical choice. Next, when you are purchasing a mattress, be sure to test it out. Spend at least 10 minutes on it in the store – on your side, on your back and in your usual sleeping position. Also lie on the edge, in the middle and across it to ensure it doesn’t sag in one spot or have varying levels of firmness overall. Furthermore, see if there is an option to take the mattress home and sleep on it for a few nights to determine if it meets your needs. If that’s not possible, check out the company’s return policy

to determine what will happen if you do need a different type of mattress. Bonus tip: unless you’re in a pinch, most mattresses go on sale regularly so choosing the one you want and then paying attention to sales in the future can help ease the financial crunch of a new mattress.

CEILINGS – THE FIFTH WALL

Look up. What do you see? A plain white popcorn ceiling? Chances are you’re one of millions of Canadians who haven’t explored the option of ceiling décor. Designers are calling it the fifth wall in a room and have started to become more and more vocal about sprucing ceilings up. Here are some décor options to consider for your ceiling: Wall paper, or ceiling paper to be more accurate. Apply textured wallpaper to your smooth ceiling in much the same way you would a wall. It can be left its original colour, or painted for a more stunning effect. Or opt for a wallpaper that features a bold pattern or bright colour to enhance an otherwise serene room. Wood planks. These can be applied over a textured ceiling and can be painted or stained to match, or contrast, other woodwork in the room. Choose a lightweight plank and be sure to nail them to

joists. For added interest, angle the planks across the room, make a herringbone pattern or even add a few rows around the room before switching to a typical strip design. Corrugated tin . Using adhesive and screws, you can cover your ceiling with elegant tin ceiling tiles. Use them throughout a room or as a focal point above a dining room table or kitchen island, for example. Fabric . Think of a tent, but in elegant, gauzy fabrics that drape from the center of a room to the walls. Alternatively drape fabric across the ceiling adhering it every few feet with a wooden beam to create a cloud like look. Be sure to choose fabrics that are lightweight and can be stapled to the ceiling.

JOKES Courtesy of www.thinkablepuzzles.com

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Canoe. Canoe who? Canoe help me with my homework?

Knock, knock Who’s there? Iva. Iva who? I’ve a sore hand from knocking!

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Adore. Adore who? Adore is between us. Open up!

MUMBO JUMBO

Unscramble each of the clue words. Take the letters that appear in boxes and unscramble them for the final message. Hint:

RETWEAH

ROSTM

NIRA

DANTOOR

HIAL

MDU

Answers: weather storm rain tornado hail mud Final Message: SUMMER

FINAL MESSAGE:

Courtesy of www.thinkablepuzzles.com

Prices rise as conditions favour the seller

$293,500 apartment UP 10.59% year-to-year

$649,800 detached UP 1.80% year-to-year

BENCHMARK PRICES

3,318 NEW LISTINGS 2,432 SOLD LISTINGS

$378,100 rowhouse UP 7.54% year-to-year

detached 1,612 detached 1,145 682 apartment 919 apartment

3,233 ACTIVE LISTINGS

73% SALES TO NEW LISTING RATIO

27 DAYS ON MARKET

1.33 MONTHS OF INVENTORY

Calgary, April 3, 2023 - Sales and new listings have improved over the levels reported at the beginning of the year. As a result, the spread between sales and new listings supported some expected monthly inventory level gains. However, the 3,233 available units reflected the lowest March inventory levels since 2006 and left the months of supply just above one month, firmly in the seller’s territory. While conditions are not as tight as last March, low inventory levels leave purchasers with limited choice, once again driving up home prices. Total unadjusted residential home prices reached $541,800 in March, a two percent gain over last month and nearly one percent higher than prices reported last year. While prices remain below the May 2022 high of $546,000, the pace of price growth over the first quarter has been stronger than expected due to the persistent seller’s market conditions.

“As expected, sales have eased from record levels while remaining stronger than they were before the pandemic thanks to recent gains in migration supporting demand,” said CREB ® Chief Economist Ann-Marie Lurie. “The challenge has been centered around supply. As a result, existing homeowners may be reluctant to list as they struggle to find an acceptable housing alternative in this market. At the same time, higher lending rates can also reduce the incentives for existing homeowners to list their home.” March recorded 3,318 new listings compared to the 2,432 sales, leaving the sales-to-new listings ratio relatively high at 73 percent. However, both sales and new listings have eased by 40 percent compared to levels reported last March. Statistics reflect market activity in March 2023 | 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.

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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© 2023 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. 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© 2023 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.