ESPRESSOLD

Every July, Calgary transforms. The boots come out, pancake breakfasts pop up on every corner, and thousands of visitors experience our city for the very first time. But here's the question we couldn't stop thinking about… Does Stampede actually sell houses? Not exactly. But it  does  sell something even more important: the lifestyle. In this episode of  Espressold! , Annie and Paula chat...

What happens if you buy a house before your lease is up? How much home can an $80,000 salary actually buy? Should you break your mortgage if rates have dropped? And who really "owns" the street parking in front of your house? This week on Espresso'd, we're diving into some of the most common (and most debated) questions from the Calgary Ask Facebook community. Whether you're...

Halfway through 2026 already? Somehow January feels like yesterday and three years ago at the same time. This week on Espressold, Paula and Annie sit down for a mid-year pulse check on Calgary real estate, business, family life, and everything in between. We dive into the biggest surprises of the year so far, what buyers and sellers are getting wrong about today's market, and the lessons we&#3...

What happens to your assets when a relationship ends? Does it matter whose name is on title? And are common-law couples really treated differently than married couples in Alberta? In this episode, we sit down with family lawyer and mediator Carey Leishman to discuss one of the most overlooked aspects of financial planning: protecting your assets before life-changing events occur. Carey breaks down...

Most Canadians spend decades building equity in their homes… but what if that equity could actually work for you during retirement instead of sitting untouched? In this episode, Annie and Paula break down reverse mortgages in Canada — what they are, who qualifies, how they work, and why they’re becoming part of bigger conversations around retirement planning, aging in place, and generational wealt...

This week on Espressold, Annie and Paula unpack a REAL behind-the-scenes Calgary real estate deal that quickly turned into a nightmare negotiation. From the very first interaction, tensions were high. What should have been a collaborative transaction became adversarial almost immediately — with ghosted counter offers, poor communication during conditional periods, escalating demands, and eventuall...

In this episode, Annie and Paula unpack one of the biggest real estate questions families are asking right now: Should we sell our current home to buy the next one… or keep it as a rental and build long-term wealth? With Calgary homeowners sitting on significant equity gains over the past several years, many families are debating: keeping their current home as an investment property waiting a few...

Most people think if they’re working with an agent… they’re represented. But in real estate, that’s not always the case. In this episode of  Espres-sold , we break down one of the most misunderstood — and most important — concepts in buying and selling property:  agency . Because who represents you directly impacts: The advice you receive The protection you have And the outcome of your transaction...

Waiting for the “right time” to buy can feel like the smart move. But what if waiting is actually costing you more than acting? In this episode of  Espres-sold , we break down one of the most common buyer mindsets in today’s market — waiting for interest rates to drop — and unpack the real financial trade-offs behind that decision. Because while buyers are focused on saving small amounts in intere...

The Calgary spring market is here—and it’s not what it used to be. In this episode of  Espressold , Annie and Paula break down what’s actually happening in the 2026 spring market, using real data and on-the-ground insights. From rising inventory to shifting buyer behaviour, this episode explains why the market feels different—and what both buyers and sellers need to do over the next 60–90 days to...

Writing an offer in today’s Calgary market is no longer about simply choosing a price—it’s about strategy, timing, and understanding the situation you’re walking into. In this episode of  Espressold , Annie and Paula break down what actually determines whether an offer wins (or loses), and how buyers can position themselves confidently without overpaying or taking unnecessary risks. This is your g...

Selling a rental property isn’t as simple as listing it and waiting for offers. When tenants are involved, the process changes — from how the home is shown, to how buyers perceive it, to how contracts need to be written. In this episode of  Espres-sold , we break down the realities of selling a tenant-occupied property in Alberta, including the risks, the legal considerations, and the strategies t...

What if your next real estate investment wasn’t in Calgary… but in Costa Rica?  In this episode of  Espressold , Annie and Paula sit down with Dan — a Calgary realtor who made the leap into international real estate — to unpack what it  really  looks like to buy, invest, and live in Costa Rica as a Canadian. Whether you’re dreaming of escaping winter, diversifying your portfolio, or simply curious...

Hiring a realtor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when buying or selling — but most people are asking the wrong questions. In this episode of  Espressold , Paula and Annie break down what actually happens  after  you sign with an agent. From team structures and communication layers to high-volume businesses and execution gaps, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how real...

If you’re thinking about selling your home, you’ve probably wondered— is staging really worth it? In this episode, we sits down with Grant, co-owner of Dekora Staging, to break down the real impact of staging in today’s Calgary market. They cover: Does staging help homes sell faster? Can it actually increase your sale price? What staging costs (and who pays for it) The full staging process—from co...

In this episode, Annie and Paula zoom out before zooming in — because you cannot understand what’s happening in Calgary real estate without understanding what’s happening globally. With renewed US–Iran tensions, instability in the Middle East, and oil volatility making headlines, many Canadians feel removed from the impact. But in Alberta, global energy movements are not distant — they directly in...

Real estate decisions are often presented as purely logical — price, location, timing, and market data. But in reality, buying and selling homes is deeply emotional. In this episode of  Espres-sold , Annie and Paula explore how belief systems, rituals, and energetic practices can influence how people experience space and make real estate decisions. From numerology and Feng Shui to sage’ing and sim...

A balanced market is something buyers have been asking for — more inventory, less competition, and the ability to move thoughtfully instead of reactively. But with increased choice often comes a new challenge:  indecision . In this episode, Paula and Annie shift the conversation from seller strategy to buyer psychology, unpacking what it  actually  means to purchase in a balanced market — and why...

We’re no longer in a frenzy market — but we’re not in a crash either. In this episode, we’re breaking down the three biggest concerns sellers are quietly carrying in today’s balanced market: • Are we leaving money on the table if we price right from the start? • Should we buy first or sell first? • What will our new mortgage payment look like at today’s rates? We unpack real client scenarios, buye...

Pricing a home in today’s Calgary market requires far more than looking at last year’s sale prices or following generic advice. In this episode of  Espressold , Paula Kahr and Annie Demello break down how pricing strategies need to evolve as the market shifts away from momentum-driven sales and toward a more balanced, buyer-aware environment. The conversation walks listeners through current Calgar...

Renovating can be overwhelming. How do you know what’s worth the money? Annie and Paula sit down with  Chad Holland , a home renovation expert, to break down: Which renovations give the best ROI when selling What investors look for first in a flip Common red flags, timeline delays, and budgeting tips How to spend smartly and avoid costly mistakes Whether you’re selling, flipping, or just curious,...

he Calgary real estate market has officially shifted — and that’s not a bad thing. In this episode of  Espressold , hosts  Annie and Paula  break down the  CREB® 2026 Calgary & Region Forecast  and translate what it  actually  means for real people making real decisions this year. Whether you’re  upsizing ,  investing , renewing your mortgage, or simply trying to understand where the market is...

Guest:  Felice Corcione, Mortgage Broker & Real Estate Investor Thinking about buying a rental property — or growing an existing portfolio — but feeling overwhelmed by the financial side of it? This episode is your reality check. Paula and Annie sit down with  Felice Corcione , a local mortgage broker with over  14 years in the industry , a  University of Lethbridge graduate , and an investor...

Summary In this episode, Paula and Annie kick off Season Three by reflecting on their holiday experiences and how family dynamics have shifted over the years. They discuss the importance of work-life balance, especially during the holiday season, and how it affects their approach to real estate. The conversation transitions into market insights, focusing on buyer and seller mindsets as they prepar...

Episode Overview In our final episode of the year, Annie and Paula break down Calgary’s  blanket rezoning , the impact of  CMHC funding on multi-family development , and what the  2026 real estate market  might look like. Plus, actionable tips for buyers and sellers to prepare this December and start January strong. 1. Blanket Rezoning Effective  August 6, 2024 , making many low-density areas more...