Calgary Real Estate Blog

With technology as ubiquitous as it is, it has never been easier to stay in touch with friends and family, no matter how far apart they are spread. Indeed, a little time on Facebook can catch you up on the adventures of 50 or more acquaintances in a matter of minutes, and lets you share pictures and commentary on your life’s highlights just as easily. Of course, there’s still a great deal of value in face-to-face interaction, which requires a whole different skill set than does navigating the online world. One area where we all could probably put this into practice a little more is in our relations with our neighbours.

Despite shrinking lot sizes forcing suburban homeowners together, most of us make only passing acknowledgement of our neighbours; sure, we’ll say hi if we’re both on our decks at the same time, but usually that’s as far as the relationship goes.

Nothing wrong with that, and, indeed, it’s human nature for most of us to want to stick to our own business. However, fostering a healthy relationship with those living on either side of us can have a multitude of benefits. We might strike up a long-lasting friendship after discovering a neighbour with similar interests, or our kids might more often have playmates on short notice. A familiar neighbour will watch out for your house when you’re on vacation, maybe even cutting the lawn and watering your flowers. They might be able to watch your children in the event of an emergency. If nothing else, a neighbour is someone you can chat with on the front porch over a six-pack.

But how do you develop such a neighbourly relationship? If you’re not a naturally extroverted people person, it’s going to take some effort, but the benefits can be worth it. A good day to start would be Saturday, June 18 – officially decreed as Neighbour Day by the City of Calgary. Began in 2014 to celebrate Calgary’s unprecedented community spirit after the floods touched so many communities, Neighbour Day has become an annual tradition. The City lists some ideas for celebrating Neighbour Day, including block parties and neighbourhood clean-ups, right here. They even waive permit fees for hosting those block parties.

But really, any day can be Neighbour Day with just a bit of effort. If you’re grilling up some burgers on a sunny afternoon, and you notice a neighbour is home, why not invite them over for an easy supper on the deck? If you have a big ladder, offer to help the guy across the street who’s struggling with his Christmas lights. Put the sprinkler on the front lawn and have your girls go knock on the door of the neighbour with kids around the same age. Bake some cookies and deliver them to the family who just moved in last week. These are all small, easy gestures that can go a long way to developing lasting bonds that benefit everyone. Go ahead, be a good neighbour.

Looking to move somewhere you can practice these skills? Contact me today!

When you think of Calgary, you don’t often think of sandy beaches, paddleboating, or fishing, especially within the city limits. But residents of the city’s upscale Lake Bonavista community get to enjoy these activities at their leisure (at least, when the weather cooperates).

This nearly fifty year-old neighbourhood was one of our country’s first to be built around a man-made lake (others followed suit, including in Calgary). Beginning as a trailer park, it has grown to house more than 10,000 residents with a median income over $100,000. Served by four local elementary schools and three junior highs, Lake Bonavista is a great place for young families.

With stores and restaurants (including the renowned Newport Grill), easy access to major thoroughfares, and a well appointed community centre, offering two skating rinks, a gym, and multipurpose rooms, Lake Bonavista is rich with amenities, but it’s most prominent feature is the lake itself and its associated benefits.

To see homes available in Lake Bonavista, do a Quick Search.

To get a complete market report on Lake Bonavista, or any other neighbourhood you are interested in, use our quick and easy market report request.

For this installment, let’s look at another wonderful community on the city’s edge, Woodbine. Bordering on the Tsuu T’ina First Nation in Calgary’s Southwest, Woodbine is a 33 year-old community 10,000 people strong, that’s become popular with higher income earners (median income is in the mid-$80,000s) and those appreciating quick access to mountain getaways.

The Woodcreek Community Association recently completed an addition to its popular community centre, making it even more versatile for the varied groups using the facility; Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, a Lions club, seniors groups, and the Bulldogs football club are just some taking advantage of the centre’s playing fields, tennis courts, skating rinks, halls, boardrooms, and other amenities.

Within Woodbine’s 3.5 square kilometres is also a karate studio, a dance studio, and a fitness centre, along with both public and separate elementary schools. Fish Creek Park and Glenmore Park are both in close proximity.

One attractive feature of Woodbine is it’s low crime rate compared to the rest of Calgary: in 2006 and 2007, the community recorded the lowest person and property crime rates in the city, according to the Calgary Police Service.

To see homes available in Woodbine, do a Quick Search.

To get a complete market report on Woodbine, or any other neighbourhood you are interested in, use our quick and easy market report request.

Another of the city’s more populous neighbourhoods, the 22 year-old community of Coventry Hills is home to nearly 16,000 people, with a well above-average median income and a large number of families (almost a third of all residents are under the age of 19). Located in Calgary’s north-east, Coventry Hills is near the northernmost limit of the city. However, having Deerfoot Trail, Sarcee Trail, and Country Hills Boulevard on its borders, commuting time is less than you might expect, which somewhat explains the popularity of this suburban community.

Children in Coventry Hills attend one of five elementary schools, four junior highs, and three high schools in the public, separate, and private systems. Represented by the Northern Hills Community Association, residents have access to community garden plots, inspirational speaker events, and other activities. The northern location also has easy access to Crossiron Mills shopping centre, including restaurants and a state-of-the-art movie theatre.

Calgary’s oldest neighbourhood, Inglewood was established along the Bow River in 1875. Its obviously central location means its in the heart of everything: while Fort Calgary was, you know, a fort when Inglewood was first established, now it’s a perennial tourist attraction; Inglewood is also near the Zoo, plenty of shopping, the downtown core, natural walking areas, and Spolumbo’s!

Home to nearly 3500 people, Inglewood is a bustling community with a lively arts and culture scene. The Inglewood BRZ – slogan: Calgary’s Original Main Street – runs an up-to-date website listing all the happenings and opportunities in the area. The Inglewood Community Association features a three-room hall available for rental to residents.

Median income is close to the city’s average, around $60,000 per year, and nearly half of all residents are in the 25-44 age range.

To see homes available in Inglewood, do a Quick Search.

To get a complete market report on Inglewood, or any other neighbourhood you are interested in, use our quick and easy market report request.

The growing community of Glenbrook, part of Calgary for nearly 60 years, offers both a glorious mountain view and a mere 8 kilometre commute downtown. Residents enjoy the facilities offered by nearby Optimist Park, a rustic community hall with an outdoor hockey rink, and close access to a variety of stores and services.

Within the boundaries of Glenbrook, there is a full array of public and private school options for kids up to the junior high level; older children must travel a short distance to neighbouring communities.

Median incomes in Glenbrook is a bit below the city’s average, which makes sense given that the majority of its residents are young (a full third are between 25-44) and unmarried. Most of Glenbrook’s real estate offerings is made up of single family dwellings, with an active rental market.

To see our Glenbrook listings, view our Featured Listings.  To see homes available in Glenbrook, do a Quick Search.

To get a complete market report on Glenbrook, or any other neighbourhood you are interested in, use our quick and easy market report request. 

North Glenmore Park is one of Calgary’s older neighbourhoods, having been established in the city’s southwest in 1959. It is home to about 2400 people, in just over a square kilometre of area. The majority of residents are in the 45-54 age range, making a median income of about $65,000.

North Glenmore Park is both well-connected and well-serviced. With quick access to both Crowchild Trail and Glenmore Trail, commuting to nearly any part of the city is relatively easy. Residents have close access to both Chinook and Westhills shopping centres, Heritage Park, the Rockyview hospital, and Mount Royal University. Also a plus is the busy community centre run by the North Glenmore Park Community Association, housing a dance studio, gymnasium, offices, and a boardroom; some residents of the nearby community of Lakeview are also permitted to join North Glenmore’s community association and use the facilities.

The neighbourhood is served by a full array of schools, and counts about 22 percent of its population as being under the age of 19.

To see our North Glenmore Park listings, view our Featured Listings.  To see homes available in North Glenmore Park, do a Quick Search.

To get a complete market report on North Glenmore Park, or any other neighbourhood you are interested in, use our quick and easy market report request.

In the second of my ongoing Focus On series, lets look at Tuscany, Calgary’s largest community with more than 19,000 residents in a little under seven square kilometres. Tuscany is known for its vast ravine system that offers ample walking and cycling opportunities, as well as its impressive mountain views. In good weather and bad, the sidewalks are nearly always busy with stroller-pushing moms and dads, dog walkers, and lycra-clad runners. The Tuscany Club, housed in the centre of the community, acts as a hub for all kinds of activities including yoga and dance classes, a highly-regarded preschool, and popular events to mark every major occasion of the calendar year including a massive Stampede breakfast in July.

Having only been around since 1994, Tuscany is one of the city’s newer communities, however it is firmly established and well planned. A C-train extension is planned for a 2014 opening, which should help commuters cut down on travel times, but many residents are as likely to go to Cochrane for services as downtown Calgary as Tuscany sits on the city’s westernmost boundary.

Tuscany median household income is a little over $92,000, with homes averaging $456,000 and condos $302,000 in 2012.

To see our Tuscany listings, view our Featured Listings.  To see homes available in Tuscany, do a Quick Search.

To get a complete market report on Tuscany, or any other neighbourhood you are interested in, use our quick and easy market report request.