Editor’s Note

KUNG HEI FAT CHOI, CALGARY!

PEPPER RODRIGUEZ

EDITOR

New Home + Condo Guide

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Calgary welcomes the Year of the Tiger with a roar, as the new home industry picks up where it left off with the opening of a bunch of new showhomes and communities. Leading the charge is Excel Homes with four new showhomes just in the Airdrie community of Chinook Gate.

Chinook Gate, developed by Brookfield Residential, will actually open eight new showhomes this month – and half of them will be from Excel Homes. The well-respected homebuilder shows off its diversity with one front-drive garage, one laned and two duplex showhomes that underline the family-friendly appeal of this amenity-rich community. Check out our cover feature to see just exactly what Excel offers.

We also talk about the challenges facing first-time homebuyers today and how new homebuilders are helping by offering new designs that cater to their lifestyle and budget needs, as well as offering creative financing assistance to help alleviate the down payment burden. We interviewed Carson and Kat, a couple building their first home in Homestead in the northeast, and we just want to wish them good luck in the new life together!

The Chinese New Year is also seeing a slew of fresh activity in the new home market. University District is welcoming exciting new retailers, Jayman BUILT is introducing new Net Zero initiatives, and Homes by Avi is continuing their student program with Jack James High School. Check out our Inside Calgary for these stories and more.

We also see the return of the Calgary Home + Garden Show with HGTV star Bryan Baeumler headlining the event, it marks the return of the popular home improvement show after it was cancelled by the lockdown last year. We hope to see you there.

+Find out what appeals to today’s first-time homebuyers. Page 14

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