Quote:
Originally Posted by MarchHare
What defines being "suitable for families"? I think it's a myth that so many people have themselves convinced that they need to buy a single family detached home in the suburbs once they have children. In my Beltline condo, there are two families each with one or more children. I'm good friends with a couple who live in Lower Mount Royal who are currently pregnant, and they have no plans to leave the downtown area once their child is born. There are two schools (each with a playground) and several other parks within a very short walking distance from my home.
I don't think that's true. My total monthly housing expenses (mortgage, property tax, condo fees, heat, water, and electricity) is about $2,200. I think that number compares very favourably to what I'd be paying for a typical $300-350k Calgary starter home in the suburbs.
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If you are raising a family with 2 or more kids you ideally need a 3 bedroom condo/townhouse which dramatically changes the housing costs and the selection available.
There are some areas that work but finding a place large enough within
And some other areas arent suitable because of problems with crime etc still (e.g. Bridgeland).
If there were more of these type of communities the cost to live in them would be lower. But in Calgary there is a very limited supply and high demand.
Your housing costs in your condo aren't really relevant - we need to look at apples to apples...what is a family of four paying to live inner-city v. the burbs.