I just bought a house in airdrie this past summer after living just off 17th ave for about 4 years. My commute to work is about the same so I have no complaints.
While I enjoyed living near 17th it wasn't enough to keep me there. The options were to buy a house in a new community on the outskirts or stay in an apartment. I was tired of apartment life, and everything about it.
I bought the exact same house in Airdrie, by the same builder in south Calgary and saved approximately $30,000 - $40,000. I got my house for less than list price by the builder, but that's enough for me. I'm closer to work, and downtown than the same house in the south.
So I could live on the outskirts and actually have a longer drive and live in areas that have poor traffic, too many people and pay more. Didn't make sense to me. Airdrie has all the same amenities as these outskirt communities with way more traffic.
My drive to work is exactly 20 minutes, I timed it door to door this morning. Same time frame as when I lived in the beltline.
When I need to go shopping on a weekday I can go to several places all very close to each other and still be home in an hour. I simply couldn't do that in the beltline.
When I get home from work in the summer I can be on secondary highways on my bike in seconds. Previously I would have to battle with rush hour traffic for 25 minutes to get out on the road.
Nightlife is irrelevant for me since I've cut back my drinking. I prefer to go watch live music and try to avoid the chachi fake pubs of the beltline. My gf and I have no problem driving into Calgary to watch a band we like or go to a restaurant we like. Now I drive in to meet up with friends I get my gf to drive or I drive and don't drink.
If I were single it would likely be a different story but I'm completely happy in Airdrie so far.
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