The Perfect Neighborhood

Paula Simons, of the Edmonton Journal, writes of the ideal neighborhood in her article from Monday, May 7. She asks questions which ultimately measure to “What makes the perfect neighborhood” and her answer is “For every person, the answer will be slightly different.”

This is true, as she goes on to explain. She, for example, like being near shops, restaurants and entertainment, whereas others prefer quiet, out-of-the-way neighborhoods. Yet, according to Simons, Edmonton city planners are “currently working on new official design guidelines for new neighbourhoods, on lands already designated for development in the rural northeast, southeast, and southwest parts of the city.” These guidelines will govern the engineering and stylistic designs of new Edmonton neighborhoods.

The questions is, then, will the middle ground work? For some people, yes, it will. But, for those who like being around lots of entertainment and an eclectic group of neighbors, it won’t work. It will also not work for those who seek solitude.

Really, the city cannot control the quality of a neighborhood because an area’s quality depends on the subjective opinion of the individual. So, if you seek an Edmonton home in a quiet neighborhood, find one. If you seek houses in Edmonton that are near entertainment, restaurants and a diverse group of neighbors… find one! Whatever you like, Edmonton has it already (including the middle ground). So, take advantage of Edmonton’s diversity and look into homes for sale in Edmonton today!

Real Estate Market Stays the Course

Susan Jones from the St. Albert Gazette is reporting that St. Albert realtors are optimistic that the stable market is starting to pick up.  From the Edmonton Realtors Association first quarter statistics show that this year 182 single-family dwellings sold in St. Albert.  That compares to 146 sales in the same three-month period in 2011 and 165 in 2010.  45 condos have been sold this year compared to 53 last year and 73 in 2010.  Projections point to more workers moving to the province and it is anticipated those residents will be searching for homes in the Edmonton, Alberta area.  Homes are beginning to sell slightly faster, with the average number of days on the market for March being 53.  The average selling process for a single-family home in St. Albert was listed at $430,035 in March, large year the average was $415,064.  That number may be a little skewed due to several higher-end homes sold.  “In the greater Edmonton area market year-to-date there were 8,328 listings compared to 7,619 the year before.”  In the metropolitan Edmonton market condominium prices were up 2.23% overall, which shows its overall increase.

Read Full Article Here

Edmonton Housing Project

Courtesy of ctv.ca

Tanara McLean from the Edmonton Sun highlights Mike Holmes, a reality TV handyman, who is heading an affordable Edmonton housing project into a $22-million reality.  Holmes broke ground on the second phase of the Boyle Renaissance project, which consists of a 90-unit complex that will house Metis seniors and the disabled.  “The 120,000-square foot complex-located at 95 Street between 104 and 105 Avenue – will stand seven storeys high and boast green design technologies including shared heat and power systems and mould-resistant wood.”  The rooftop will have solar energy panels, which will make the complex a net-zero living space.  The roof will also have gardens that act as thermal barriers in the summer that will save on heat regulating costs.  “Three of the suites will be equipped with a state-of-the-art communication technology that will allow disabled tenants to control numerous aspects, like answering the door from just one control pad.”  Certain suites will have specialized showers, adjustable counter space, and enlarged rooms to accommodate wheelchairs.  The occupancy date is expected to be November 2013 in downtown Edmonton, Alberta.

Read Full Article Here

Western prosperity boosts migration

Courtesy of Google Images

For many years young graduates have begun to move to larger cities to the east for bigger companies and better opportunities.  The Canadian press is reporting that provinces to the west of Ontario have been luring new residents with the promise of new job opportunities and economic strength.  Their rate of growth has outpaced Ontario, census figures shows that “Alberta grew at a rate of 10.8 per cent, British Columbia 7 per cent and Saskatchewan 6.7 per cent…”  This rate of growth has led to a shift in how western Canada is perceived, “observers say even as westward bound job-seekers are putting down roots and expanding their families, those who originally hail from Western Canada are choosing to stay put.”  This new positivity is the real reason for this growth, along with stronger guarantees for jobs.  Western provinces, Alberta in particular, is working hard to boost number.  Due to this new revitalization, now is the perfect time to look closely at moving to Alberta and an Edmonton home.

Read Full Article Here

Canada’s Best Places to Live 2011

Moneysense, Canada’s personal finance website, looks at Canada’s Best Places to Live list.  They look at empirical criteriasuch as “housing affordability, incomes, job prospects, crime rates and access to health care.”  The information is taken from the Census Metropolitan Areas, Census Agglomeration and Statistics Canada.  This list includes every community with a population of more than 10,000 people, 180 cities and towns in all.  Moneysense does not expect everyone to agree with their findings, one cities appeal for one person may not be the same for another.  This list provides a fact-based comparison from which people can make their own decisions on where people would like to live.  This year Alberta’s capital, Edmonton, makes the top 10, jumping 7 spots from 15^th to 8^th “thanks to low takes, high levels of discretionary income and an extensive public transit system.  Last year the temperature sank lower than 0 degrees 178 days a year, which may pose a problem for some.”  A couple reasons the score is not higher was due to higher than average housing prices and crime rates but slight precipitation, low pollution levels and high household incomes from the recent oil boom “balance this out to make Edmonton a great place to live.”

Canada Home Sales up from Previous Year

According to The Edmonton Sun, as of last month (Dec. 2011), nationwide home sales in Canada have increased by 2.2% since 2010. Furthermore, new homes on the market have increased.

In general, the housing market looks incredible across the country. Edmonton homes are truly a hot commodity, considering the life of the city, access to entertainment, food, jobs and more.

Mortgage rates seem to constantly fluctuate in just about every location. So, with the current Canadian housing market looking like it does, it seems to be a good time to buy. This is especially true if you seek a home in or around Edmonton. The houses are available, it’s just a matter of taking the plunge into the market.

In other words, take advantage of this good housing market and economy while you still can. Who knows how long housing availability will increase? It could start to decline next month for all we know!

Rural Alberta to Receive High-Speed Internet

It probably seems a little late for those of us who have had the luxury of high-speed internet since somewhere around 2003, so, for rural living citizens throughout Alberta, the arrival of something other than dial-up will be more than welcomed.

Alberta’s government has made a $5 million fund for rural areas around the province to use in order to finally have high-speed internet. Somewhere around 72,000 households, businesses and schools still operate without the advantages of fast internet. This push toward universal high-speed internet should help those areas expand economies, competing with other areas on a leveled-out economic playing field.

In general, Alberta will prosper from this. Furthermore, as far as the housing market and living conditions go, province-wide economic development from this internet push should make for the already comfortable and desirable Edmonton and surrounding areas to be even better for living.

Mortgage Rate at Record Low in United States

Freddie Mac released findings from its Primary Mortgage Market Survey today.  The survey showed record lows for mortgage rates.

A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.89% this week, which is a much lower rate than a year ago at this time. The rate during the second week of January last year averaged at 4.71%.

A 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.16% this week. This rate is much lower than that of last year, when a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged at 4.08%.

The 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage averaged 2.82% this week.  Last year, the 5-year adjustable rate mortgage averaged 3.72 percent. 

The below graphic was posted to the Christian Science Monitor just yesterday.

It shows the highest interest year as 2008.  Since then, the average interest rate has dropped by from 5-6 percent to 4-3 percent.

 Vice President and Chief Economist of Freddie Mac said, “Mortgage rates eased slightly this week to all-time record lows following mixed indicators in the labor market.”

Tips for Shopping for a Home in Edmonton

Things to remember when shopping for a home.

Take photos:

Your memory isn’t going to be 100%. No one’s memory is perfect. Therefore, bring a digital camera or smartphone with you to each Edmonton home you visit. Take a photo of the home from the front yard, so when you look back on the roll you’ll remember which pics were from which house. Then proceed to snap photos of the interior of the house. Not just the best aspects, either! If you fall in love with the house, you might not remember all the little things that were wrong with it.

Take notes:

Write down anything unusual about the house. Is there an original interior design in the dining room? Does the bathroom need to be completely gutted?  The things you write down are going to be things that stand out to you and things you care about.  The real estate agent might love the fireplace, but you might really be concerned with the size of the dining room.  Take notes of everything you can.

Compare and rate:

Immediately after each visit, rate the house against the other Edmonton houses you visited. Do it right away, like in the car on the way to the next house.  If you’ve got the energy, create a comparison sheet before you go house shopping. Rate each house on categories like “Exterior, Design, Price, Ammenities, Space,” etc.

Visit Twice:

Your scale might change a good deal after you’ve gotten through all the Edmonton homes on your list. Perhaps house #1 isn’t looking like an 8 now that you’ve seen how great #5 is. If the home is in your top 5, visit it twice.

Edmonton Christmas Bureau Serves Community

As families throughout Edmonton sit down to their holiday meal this December, it’s important to remember those very close to us who don’t have that luxury.

Since 1940, the Edmonton Christmas Bureau has been providing holiday cheer to locals by providing festive food. The

 Bureau is one of Edmonton’s largest non-profit organizations.

Low income families in Edmonton benefit yearly from the work of the Edmonton Christmas Bureau. The Bureau provides meals for approximately 70,000 individuals every year.

Interested in helping out this season? The Edmonton Christmas Bureau website has loads of information on how to get involved. Whether you’re interested in donating money, gifts, food, or your time, the city of Edmonton thank you.

If you’re a member of the Edmonton community and you are in need of a hot meal, contact the Christmas Bureau. The more the merrier!