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Donna balzer A15
varsity FEATURE a11
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FREE aug 2 to aug 8 2013 issue 03-30 www.crebnow.com facebook.com/crebnow twitter.com/crebnow
real estate news from industry experts
home sweet home With rental vacancy dropping, Attainable Homes program sees growing interest Cody Stuart
managing editor
W
ith flooding putting pressure on an already tight rental market, the head of one Calgary housing agency said demand has grown exponentially David Watson, director of Attainable Homes Calgary Corporation (AHCC) – the non-profit organization that works to deliver entry-level homes for Calgarians – said over the last year, interest has increased substantially. “Before I started here, for awhile there they had units and they were getting quite nervous that they weren’t finding any buyers,” said Watson. “I would say over the last year, and it has increased to the middle of this year, the demand has been growing exponentially.”
Attainable Homes recently announced the acquisition of 42 units in Skyview Ranch. Available for quick possession and starting at $170,000, the homes will help alleviate some of the need for affordable housing in the city. Under the Attainable Homes model, clients who meet AHCC’s criteria are “gifted” a down payment to help purchase one of the company’s affordable housing units. But despite the recent acquisition, Watson, who previously spent 35 years as general manager of Calgary’s Planning, Development and Assessment Department, said demand for affordable housing in the city is only bound to increase.
attainable A3
Population growth minus housing stock growth, 3 quarter moving averages
Alberta Population Growth vs. Housing Stock Growth 1.5%
1.0% population growth GREATER THAN housing stock growth 0.5%
0.0%
-0.5% housing stock growth GREATER THAN population growth -1.0%
-1.5% Q1 1992
Q1 1995
Q1 1998
Q1 2001 Q1 2004 Q1 2007 Q1 2010
Q1 2013
Source: Statistics Canada CANSIM tables 027-0001 and 051-0005
$510,834
$527,162
$518,392
$518,452 $496,579
$496,636
$488,311
$492,777 $468,360
$475,272
$478,528
$489,271
$483,519
$472,465
H
$438,683
JUN11 JUL11 AUG11 SEP11 OCT11 NOV11 DEC11 JAN12 FEB12 MAR12 APR12 MAY12 JUN12 JUL12 AUG12 SEP12 OCT12 NOV12 DEC12 JAN13 FEB13 MAR13 APR13 MAY13 JUN13 *All statistics based on monthly data compiled by CREB® via MLS® activity.
TUSCANY
$429,900
High River council implementing flood-recovery initiatives CREB® STAFF
$453,629
$469,726
$470,655 $455,399
$466,167 $453,969
$455,849
$479,580
$502,065
SINGLE FAMILY
MLS® AVERAGE PRICE* JUN ‘11 – JUN ‘13
$521,887
cody stuart, Managing Editor
Attainable Homes recently announced the acquisition of 42 units in Skyview Ranch, the community Francis Crow, left, now calls home. While the homes will help alleviate some of the need for affordable housing in the city, demand for the units is rising.
igh River’s council and staff are focusing their efforts on getting the community back into shape weeks after devastating floods. “We will do all that is within our power to lead and support the actions needed to not only get High River back to what it was before June 20 but to make it an event better place to live, work and conduct business,” said Mayor Emile Blokland.
COMMUNITY A3
contents news briefs municipal 2013 Civic Census
community
MLS C3576991 26 Tuscany Hills Terrace NW Gorgeous location backing onto greenspace. Great value!!
$569,800
MLS C3578873 98 Rockborough Pa NW Fully developed walkout overlooking the ponds! ®
A10
Initiatives awarded
mortgage rates municipal
A10 A12
Provincial announcement
commercial
A14
Brookfield Place
map open houses
RoCkY Ridge RANCh
®
A3 A6
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