DON’T DELAY
Condo Living Feature
Brand new! Ready to move in!
Plant bulbs today, not tomorrow
403-863-(SOLD)7653 www.DarrrenCameron.ca
DONNA BALZER A7
Builders bullish on Calgary
ROYAL LEPAGE FOOTHILLS
See the latest Quick Possession Brand New Homes by Darren Cameron on Page 3
A9 – A11
FREE sept 25 to oct 1 2015 issue 05-37 editorial 403-781-1324 advertising 403-263-4940 crebnow@creb.ca
real estate news from industry experts
BLOCK BY BLOCK Shipping containers gaining popularity as construction option CODY STUART
managing editor
O
nce perceived as a childhood plaything, building blocks have gone big time. Modular homes built out of shipping containers have blossomed into fullfledged housing options, with several Western Canadian-based companies making inroads into local markets and beyond. “There’s definitely a lot of interest in it now. I think people are starting to look at alternate techniques,” said Charles Lemieux, co-founder of Alberta-based Blocks Modular Corp., which markets containers for residential, commercial and industrial purposes. “I think the legwork is actually starting to do something. The city is understanding that we can meet architectural guidelines. It’s just getting a product that is competitive – not cheap like what
A3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 ................................
1643
1995
2184
2190 1782
1779
1957
2145
2146
1217
AUG13 SEP13 OCT13 NOV13 DEC13 JAN14 FEB14 MAR14 APR14 MAY14 JUN14 JUL14 AUG14 SEP14 OCT14 NOV14 DEC14 JAN15 FEB15 MAR15 APR15 MAY15 JUN15 JUL15 AUG15
880
1082
1172
1439
1724
2263
2328
2664
2539
2481
2016 economic outlook
1850
1948
1918
2190
BUILDING BLOCKS A3
CONTENTS CAR-FREE NEWS BRIEFS CONDO NEARLY FIVE THINGS SOLD OUT MUNICIPAL
MLS® TOTAL SALES* AUG ‘13 – AUG ‘15
2945
CITY OF CALGARY
you see on TV where they cut a whole [in the container] and call it a home.” Blocks Modular’s containers can be used as single- and multi-family homes, as well as work camps and hotel/motel developments. Using one or several of the eight-foot wide containers, which come in 20- or 40-foot versions both, the company is able to create floor plans ranging from simple bachelor suites to two-bedroom, two bathroom models. Since first gaining popularity as an affordable and adaptable option for vacation homes, Lemieux says he is even now hearing from homeowners looking at the containers as a way of adding a revenue property to their primary residence. Units needing little or no customization from the company’s standard models can be ready as quickly as a few days, while custom models can take a few weeks. Once completed, homes are shipped using rail, sea or truck. The company uses helicopters or cargo planes to access more remote areas. “Timelines are way faster. That’s one of the big selling points right,” said Lemieux of container homes. “One thing is it’s competitive pricing.
*All statistics based on monthly data compiled by CREB® via MLS® activity. Includes detached, attached and apartment.
.....................................
A5
CREB® STAFF
Green infrastructure
I
INDUSTRY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6
t appears there are more than few Calgarians willing to cast aside their vehicles. N3 – Knightsbridge Homes’ condo tower in Calgary East Village with no parking – sold 90 per cent of its 167 units in just the first few days of the units being offered up to the public, according to the developer. In fitting with the project’s vehiclefree focus, each buyer in the project will receive a $500 credit for Car2Go, $500 gift card for Enterprise Rent-ACar as well as a bicycle.
Open houses
EVENT LISTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 WEEKLY FEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A8 Science of neutral colours
MORTGAGE RATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A8 MAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1 OPEN HOUSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B23
MARKET A3
@crebnow
/crebnow
crebnow.com
HAS THE HIGH PRICE OF VACATION HOMES GOT YOU DOWN? COMBINE YOUR EVERYDAY HOME AND YOUR VACATION HOME IN ONE. 5800 sq. ft. (developed) lakefront home on a 60’ wide lot. 5 bedrooms and 5 baths. 2 storey vault in great room with floor to ceiling windows for spectacular lake views. 600 sq. ft. master suite with 3 sided fireplace & ensuite with jetted tub & steam shower with waterfall. Walk out has media room, large family & games room, solarium, 2nd kitchen & huge wet-bar. Good sized side storage with basement access, paved ramp for RV, boat lift, great dock & oversized garage. $1,250,000.
Carefree, lakefront living for not much more than the cost of a bare lot. 3,000 sq ft of contemporary, elegant (developed) space in this lakefront condo. Double attached garage, 3 bdrms, den & 3.5 baths. Developed walk out basement, hardwood floors, granite counters, steam shower & more. No snow shoveling or grass cutting means more time spent enjoying the lake. There is room for your boat! $780,000.
WWW.CHESTERMEREREALESTATE.COM
Plenty of room inside & out. Spacious kitchen with maple cabinets & stainless appliances & door opening out to covered deck. 3 bdrms up including an extra large master with private patio. Walkout basement has fireplace, wet bar & great family room with access to the patio & yard. The double detached garage is oversized, heated & insulated. RV parking, private dock & boathouse round out the list giving you every-thing you want in a lakefront home. $914,000.
Call Doug or Marjorie McKay RE/MAX Advocates at 403-207-1776 to view
RE/MAX Real Estate Advocates Each Office Independently Owned and operated