Making the decision to sell your existing home and move to a different one is a difficult decision. Many factors are at play, mainly financial and emotional. A home that was perfect for you as a first-time buyer may no longer fit your current lifestyle. Before calling your Realtor, it's a good idea to ask yourself the following questions to help you make your decision.

Is your lifestyle changing? Some of the most common triggers for moving are lifestyle change such as retiring, new job, new baby or growing family. Will your current home meet your requirements in the future?

What is the current real estate market? Is it a good time to sell your home? Typically, in a slow market if you sell low you will also buy low.  If it's a robust real estate market, you may net more on the sale of your home, but you will also pay more for your new one and may even find yourself in a competing offer situation, which could ultimately mean you're paying even more.

Would renovating be a better idea? If your home is dated, renovations could be costly depending on the level of updating you're looking for. Sometimes it's more cost-effective to buy a new home instead of trying to create it in your existing home.

What is your financial situation? Can you afford your current home? If not, downsizing may be the answer. 

Home sales in the city of Calgary were down month-over-month in October 2010, showing signs that buyers still remain cautious, despite signs of economic recovery..  Year-over-year sales continued to trend lower in the month of October, according to figures released by the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®).   
 
The number of single family home sales in the month of October 2010 shrank by 7 per cent at 888, compared with September 2010, when sales were 958.  The number of condominium sales for the month of October 2010 was 310. This was a decrease of 15 per cent from the 366 condominium transactions recorded in September 2010.

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