GARDENING TALK
Foreign buyers feature
Mushrooms play a vital role in fall lawn care
Housing officials believe Calgary is still loaded with potential
DONNA BALZER A6
Joyce Travis
2002 CREB® President
A7 – A8
A4
FREE oct 14 to oct 20 2016 issue 06-40 editorial 403-781-1324 advertising 403-263-4940 crebnow@creb.ca
real estate news from industry experts
CHARTING A NEW COURSE Homebuilding officials warn proposed governmental power shift could impact homebuyers in a big way BARB LIVINGSTONE for creb®now
B
efore Calgarians step into a voting booth to elect a new city council a year from now, there could be a whole new ball game of city governance over everything from land assessments to affordable housing and even new taxing powers. New city charters originally proposed in 2014, and only recently made available for public feedback, are intended to give new powers and responsibilities to Alberta’s two largest municipalities. They may affect Calgarians on everything from residential speed limits and fines, environmental protection, integration of land-use and transportation strategies and investment to civic administrative efficiencies that stretch from council roles to establishment of bylaw tribunals. And there will almost certainly be changes that impact the homebuilding industry, and ultimately homebuyers. In the charter overview package, the cities have proposed changes on supplementary property assessments on land that goes from farmland to another, requiring developers to contribute to new affordable housing while also allowing tax exemptions for affordable housing providers and civic regulation of land-use bylaws and processes related to decisions on development permits, among other changes. C a n a d i a n Ho m e B u i l d e r s Association – Alberta external relations manager T.J. Keil said his organization’s main concern is whether home affordability and choice are going to be affected by the proposed charters, as well as further changes expected in the Municipal Government Act (MGA). And while feedback on the first
phase of the charters is important, the crucial piece is the fiscal framework that will be developed around any changes, he said. “Especially in economic hard times, it is important to not increase the burden on first-time homebuyers and seniors on fixed incomes, with increased costs,” said Keil, whose organization, which represents more than 1,500 members in the province, and was one of the groups invited to overview the proposed charters earlier this month. Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi has stressed that while the new charter proposals embrace more than just revenue issues, new taxing powers for Alberta’s two largest cities have to be addressed. For the homebuilding industry, however, that raises the fears of additional levies — on top of the ones it already pays, the cost of which would almost certainly be passed onto new homebuyers. Homebuilding officials are also concerned the three-and-a-half years it has spent collaborating with the province on changes to the MGA — changes that are expected to also come into effect next fall — not go unheeded. “The province through the (Municipal Affairs) ministry and administration, has done a good job involving everyone in what has been a very transparent process,” said CHBA-UDI Calgary Region Association CEO Guy Huntingford, whose newly amalgamated organization includes nearly 700 member companies. “Do we like everything? No. But at least we have been at the table. With collaboration, at least we feel the process has been reasonable and fair.”
CHARTERS A3
C HBA - UDI Calgary Region Association CEO Guy Huntingford is concerned new city charters could potential undo more than three years worth of existing work put into a new Municipal Government Act.
1483
1567
1923
2028 1746
1588 763
879
SEP14 OCT14 NOV14 DEC14 JAN15 FEB15 MAR15 APR15 MAY15 JUN15 JUL15 AUG15 SEP15 OCT15 NOV15 DEC15 JAN16 FEB16 MAR16 APR16 MAY16 JUN16 JUL16 AUG16 SEP16
hallenges from oil and gas, made worse by the effects of May’s wildfire, have left Alberta in the back of the provincial pack, but by next year should return Alberta’s economy to subdued growth levels, according to latest Blue Book report released by BMO. According to Robert Kavcic, senior economist with BMO Capital Markets, BMO’s forecast for 2017 presumes a gradual upward grind for oil prices, but will still be a stark change from the rampant outperformance of years’ past.
*All statistics based on monthly data compiled by CREB® via MLS® activity. Includes detached, attached and apartment.
Real Experience Real Results
BRAGG CREEK REAL ESTATE
ST EEK WE CR G AG R B
$849,000 |
MLS®C4059088
195 MOUNTAIN LION DRIVE WEST
W NE ING C I PR
Lee Edwards 403.540.0540
CONTENTS NEWS BRIEFS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 MUNICIPAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 Retail
MORTGAGE RATES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5
C
1127
1263
1421
1448
1643
1764
1995
2184
2190 1217 880
1082
ALBERTA ECONOMY TO RETURN TO ‘SUBDUED’ GROWTH LEVELS IN 2017: BMO
MLS® TOTAL SALES* SEP ‘14 – SEP ‘16
CREB® STAFF
1782
1779
1957
2145
2146
CITY OF CALGARY
PHOTO BY ADRIAN SHELLARD/FOR CREB®NOW
MARKET A3
WEEKLY FEED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 EVENT LISTING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 MAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1 OPEN HOUSES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B15 @crebnow
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CHECK OUT THE VIRTUAL TOUR AT REALTOR.CA
OPEN HOUSE: SATURDAY, OCT 14, 1-5 PM
Nestled in the trees in Wintergreen Woods, a community built around the golf course, with a south facing backyard that is open to a natural reserve, this beautiful home has a wonderful sense of privacy. Features include spacious rooms, top-quality finishing materials, such as the Brazilian cherry with maple inset flooring used extensively throughout the house; or the granite countertops in the kitchen; vaulted ceilings; 4 fireplaces, two of which have rock-facing; sauna and hot tub; 7 skylights; and a fully-finished basement. Extensive renovations include new windows in 2005; a new master ensuite in 2010 with a step-up soaker tub, huge shower with 2 heads, and a double vanity; new decks front and back; new basement bathroom; new garage door and exterior paint in 2011; new hardwood laminate flooring in the basement in 2015; and a new asphalt driveway & RV parking. Many other features and upgrades are showcased. Enjoy a peaceful country setting in a luxurious home.
CANYON CREEK
braggcreekrealestate.com lee@braggcreekrealestate.com