Ten minutes south of Calgary in the town of Okotoks, homebuyers and builders continue to buck the regional trend of declining housing starts.
In fact, the growing town of just over 29,000 people (based on the 2018 civic census) saw an increase in housing starts in 2019 that is expected to continue into 2020, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
While some construction continues in a couple of established communities ? namely, Drake Landing, Rancher?s Rise and Cimarron ? ...
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The new southwest community of Hudson in Creekstone makes the most of its spectacular setting ? perched on a ridge overlooking the Pine Creek coulee with the Rocky Mountains in the distance.
Dennis Inglis, development manager with Highfield Land Management, says the community?s location alongside a protected reserve means its scenic surroundings are here to stay, unlike some new communities where development eventually encroaches on natural lands.
?What you see in Hudson when you look over the ...
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The lands that became northwest Calgary?s Mount Pleasant community were annexed by the City in 1910, making it one of Calgary?s older neighbourhoods. When development began in the area in 1912, Calgary?s population numbered fewer than 50,000 people.
As the city grew to 100,000 people by 1947 and 200,000 by 1955, then-suburban Mount Pleasant experienced an influx of new amenities into the area when North Hill Centre opened its doors in 1958. The opening of the Tran-Canada Highway came four years ...
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If you feel that stairs are overrated and basements are underused, a bungalow might be your ideal home style. Apart from the added convenience single-level living provides for those with mobility issues, bungalows offer flexible living arrangements and definite ?aging in place? potential.
?Remember that while a two-storey house with 2,000 square feet is comprised of two levels with 1,000 square feet each, the same-sized bungalow gives you twice the space, as both the main floor and basement are ...
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posted in home tips
at Sun, 24 May 2020 19:53:29 +0000
When the residential building La Pedrera was constructed on a prominent corner of Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona, it was immediately ridiculed by critics. Today it attracts thousands of people a year ? local citizens and visitors from around the world who regularly line up to pay admission for a peek inside. In 1984, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named it a World Heritage Site in recognition of its ?exceptional universal value.?
Sometimes it ...
Your tween has been complaining about that toddler-style bedroom . It?s the perfect time to revamp the space! If you don?t want to spend fistfuls of cash to gut the room, there are plenty of creative ways to swap out the kiddie look for a more grown-up, sophisticated vibe your child will love bringing friends to. Bonus: Your kid can help, too!
Start with art
Refreshing and updating your child?s bedroom doesn?t have to be complicated or expensive, says Melissa Barling, founder of Winter Daisy, a ...
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posted in home tips
at Fri, 22 May 2020 16:29:05 +0000
When it comes to modern window treatments, the selection is so vast that choosing the right ones for your home can be a challenge.
Lynn Hickey, owner of Lynne?s Window Treatments Inc., says people should first consider how they live in their home and use the various rooms.
For instance, Hickey says, if you like to sleep with windows open, then blinds might be a bad choice since wind can rattle them and disturb your sleep.
Similarly, curtains on a window over a kitchen sink can get wet or ...
After the dreary days of winter, the arrival of spring feels like a breath of fresh air, as snow melts and beautiful greenery takes its place. A change of scenery inside your home can be just as uplifting.
?Spring is a great time to think about changing up your space,? said Alykhan Velji, principal and senior designer for Alykhan Velji Designs. ?Out with the drab and dated and in with the new and fresh.?
Here are five of Velji?s top design trends for spring :
Glass partitions
?Open-plan living ...
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posted in home tips
at Tue, 19 May 2020 15:13:05 +0000
The impacts of the new coronavirus on Canadian real estate is expected to be ?modest and temporary at most,? says a report by the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN).
?It?s still premature to predict how the coronavirus outbreak will be resolved, but data suggests that panic will only worsen the country?s economic situation. There is reason to be alert, but there?s absolutely no reason to further raise alarm and cause more public fear,? says Jennifer Hunt, vice president, research for REIN. ...
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1.First Female Governor
Curaçao?s capital Willemstad is divided into four districts: Punda, Otrobanda, Scharloo and Pietermaai. Each district is equally beautiful with baroque style old Spanish colonial style buildings that are boasting with colour. To get there by foot, cross the floating Queen Emma Bridge (a three minute walk across) and you?re immediately at the King?s Palace, dating back to the late 1800s and home to all things politics. Curacao?s Governor, the first female in the island?s ...
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A type of Canmore real estate whose popularity and profitability had plateaued is reaching greater heights thanks to new economic trends.
Hotel-style condominium units in Canmore have seen their rental potential soar thanks to online listing websites like VRBO and Airbnb, providing another vacation-booking option for visitors to the increasingly popular region.
The old formula of a resort management company providing a hotel-like vacation rental experience, then sharing the revenue between ...
In 2019, Calgary experienced a purpose-built-rental ?boom? and 2020 is expected to be even hotter.
According to market research firm Urban Analytics, there are approximately 65 new purpose-built rental projects (totalling 19,225 apartment units) currently proceeding through the planning and construction processes.
That includes several traditional developers of ownership product who are moving into the purpose-built rental sphere, as oversupply continues to plague the condo market. This ...
Buying a new house should be exciting, but it can get pretty harrowing at times. You may worry you won?t qualify. You may feel unsure about house prices and worry about interest rates. If you?re considering renovating instead of purchasing, you may worry you won?t qualify for a refinance. As we head in to the Spring season, this is the ideal time for us to discuss your goals, including a review of your financial goals, your credit profile, and find the best solution for your personal ...
posted in home tips
at Wed, 13 May 2020 16:39:44 +0000
We?re making our favourite member of the family a priority in the home this year and designing for pets. While dogs are content to curl up wherever you are and cats will sooner claim a cardboard box as their new favourite spot than the elaborate cat condo that came inside it, incorporating their needs into your home design solidifies their place in the family.
Let?s look at a few ways we can make your home pet-friendly without sacrificing a drop of style.
Keep them close
Your furry best friend ...
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posted in home tips
at Mon, 11 May 2020 16:09:17 +0000
Buying a house can be an exciting, but complex process. So when you embark on your journey, one of your first stops should be familiarizing yourself with the lingo.
We?ve curated helpful information from our Homebuyers? Road Map and Tips for Buyers, to share with you some of the most important terminology a new buyer needs to know?from pre-purchase to post-purchase.
Before you buy
First things first, you need to find yourself a REALTOR®. A REALTOR® can bring you peace of mind thanks to their ...
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posted in General
at Sun, 10 May 2020 22:17:29 +0000
Taking the DIY route with a home renovation is always tempting when trying to update a space while spending less. However, while TV and magazine experts make it look easy, successful and safe execution of these projects requires a lot of legwork before putting hammer to nail.
?Not understanding exactly what?s involved in a renovation project is where the DIY can really come into peril,? said Barry Johnson, co-owner of Dependable Renovations.
For the determined and prepared, Johnson broke down ...
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New research by Attainable Homes Calgary, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation and the Calgary Real Estate Board says that most moderate-income Calgary residents want to own a home and many may not realize that they could afford one.
?Recent media reports and social media communication across the country suggest a shift away from the desire of Canadians to own a home,? say the organizations in a news release. ?This newly released research counters this assumption; the dream remains firmly in ...
posted in home tips
at Tue, 05 May 2020 20:30:01 +0000