Pricey parking Calgary second only to New York City
See Our Ad On Pg A3
commercial A18
cochrane feature a16 – A17
Real Estate (Central)
joelsemmens.com 403-283-4700
FREE oct 12 to oct 18 2012 issue 02-40 www.crebnow.com facebook.com/crebnow twitter.com/crebnow
more house for your money
kelsey hipkin, Reporter/Photographer
Affordability prompts doubledigit sales growth in surrounding towns
cody stuart
managing editor
W
hile they may trail their metropolitan neighbor in stature, Calgary’s surrounding communities are no slouch when it comes to sales. Buoyed by affordability, Airdrie, Cochrane and Okotoks all recorded double-digit sales growth in the third quarter and represent nearly half of the sales activity surrounding Calgary.
SINGLE FAMILY
“We chose Airdrie over Calgary because our money went a lot further when buying a house as far as size and yard,” said Jody Paterson, who recently purchased a single-family home in Airdrie with her fiance after living in an apartment in Calgary. “Airdrie has all the things a city has without the hassle of traffic or crime. And if you really need something that you can’t find here, it’s only a short drive to CrossIron Mills or Calgary.” According to the latest numbers from CREB®, there were plenty of
September housing starts increase year-over-year $468,360
$475,272
$478,528
$489,271
$483,519
$472,465
$438,683
$453,629
$469,726
$470,655 $455,399
$453,969
$466,167
$479,580
$489,482
$455,849
$462,947
$461,786
$441,341
$454,163
$455,460
CREB® STAFF
SEP10 OCT10 NOV10 DEC10 JAN11 FEB11 MAR11 APR11 MAY11 JUN11 JUL11 AUG11 SEP11 OCT11 NOV11 DEC11 JAN12 FEB12 MAR12 APR12 MAY12 JUN12 JUL12 AUG12 SEP12
$444,744
$460,278
$479,575
$502,065
MLS® AVERAGE PRICE* SEP ‘10 – SEP ‘12
*All statistics based on monthly data compiled by CREB® via MLS® activity.
people following in Paterson’s footsteps, as town sales hit double-digit growth in the third quarter, continuing the brisk pace set in the first half of the year. “We keep seeing strong sales growth in the surrounding municipalities because, when it comes to singlefamily homes, the supply is down in Calgary proper,” said Bob Jablonski, CREB® president. “Plus, generally speaking, you can find more house at a more affordable price in these areas and other areas outside the city.”
A
ccording to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) housing starts for Calgary for the month of September hit 13,067 units. “New home construction in Calgary remained elevated in September with gains reported in both the singledetached and multi-family sectors,” said Richard Cho, CMHC’s senior market analyst for Calgary. “Multi-family starts have reported the strongest increase to date, due largely to gains in apartment construction.”
industry A3
URBAN LIVING Beautiful brand new townhome boasts architectural design. Spacious 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom floor plan complete w/ gourmet kitchen, dining area, & great room. The main floor accommodates an open concept featuring mahogany hardwood floor throughout. Gorgeous kitchen w/large cabinet style pantry, full maple cabinets, and elegant quartz counters complemented w/ stainless steel appliances. Each bedroom on the 2nd floor is equipped with a private ensuite. Nestled in the heart of the city, a fantastic location that embodies both the charm of an established community and all the conveniences of urban living.
$525,000 www.sanostante.com
re / ma x re al estate ( centr al )
403.289.3435
MLS®C3520890
Buoyed by affordability, Airdrie, Cochrane and Okotoks all recorded doubledigit sales growth in the third quarter and represent nearly half of the sales activity surrounding Calgary.
towns A3
contents news briefs
A3
industry mortgage rates market home safety commercial pop the question community map open houses
A6 A10 A10 A12 A18 A19 A19 B1 B19