Tell me about your SE community.

[blueski]

Originally Posted by Property Manager DB

There is one community that allows motorized boating. You can see boats out there if you have ever golfed at Springbank Links. Link below

http://calgaryherald.com/health/diet-fitness/calgary-water-ski-lake-making-a-splash

Are they using cable winches too on that lake? Pretty nice setup.

[blueski]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Drink!

Well its not all roses, got woken up at 4:00am this morning when the sprinkler's came on and shot through my roof vent. But most days its pretty good.

[puffnstuff]

Originally Posted by blueski

Are they using cable winches too on that lake? Pretty nice setup.

They use boats. Predator Bay is a world class, man made, purpose built waterski facility. Its not comparable to any lake community in town, at all.

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Some neighbourhoods in the south that have big lots and smaller homes, and where reasonably priced homes can be found:

Haysboro
Southwood
Acadia
Willow Park
Braeside
Cedarbrae

The problem is they're all 1000 square foot bungalows that require extensive renovations. I do sometimes wish we were willing to reno but it would still have to be 2 story.

[taco.vidal]

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

The problem is they're all 1000 square foot bungalows that require extensive renovations. I do sometimes wish we were willing to reno but it would still have to be 2 story.

Why two story? People raised families in these homes for decades. And 1000 sq ft is a smaller bungalow. Develop the basement and youve increased your space signifincantly.

But I do get that people value things differently.
For us, we chose less house and prioritized location and the size and details of the lot. I can see that some people prefer shinier finishings and more sq ft over shorter commutes and private yards. Different strokes for different folks.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

Why two story? People raised families in these homes for decades. And 1000 sq ft is a smaller bungalow. Develop the basement and youve increased your space signifincantly.

But I do get that people value things differently.
For us, we chose less house and prioritized location and the size and details of the lot. I can see that some people prefer shinier finishings and more sq ft over shorter commutes and private yards. Different strokes for different folks.

I lived in a two-story new build with big awesome bathrooms, big walk-in closets, high ceilings, beautiful finishings, sweet bonus room, and on and on. Now I live in a 1400 sf 1969 bungalow. The newer bigger house was infinitely better in every single way and people who say these old small bungalows are just fine either have never lived in the relative palatial luxury of newer larger homes or are completely deluding themselves.

The neighbourhood I'm in now is way better and the location of the home is worth the trade-off, but it is a big trade-off that can't be ignored. If you're thinking of leaving your awesome new build for an older bungalow, you will miss the bigger home, I guarantee it.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

The problem is they're all 1000 square foot bungalows that require extensive renovations. I do sometimes wish we were willing to reno but it would still have to be 2 story.

Plenty of split-levels and 2-story homes in those neighbourhoods. Including the developed basement, my place is 2,200 sq ft. We got it in 2010 for somewhat less than average Calgary house price.

As for renos, that's discretionary. If a place has wall-to-wall carpet, do you have to tear it out right away and replace it with hardwood? If the kitchen has linoleum and older cupboards, do you need to replace them? Can you make do with circa 1980 bathrooms?

It's all about tradeoffs. If you want a 2000 sq ft house with new hardwood, a modern kitchen with granite countertops and a breakfast bar, and bathrooms with all new fixtures, you're either moving to the far burbs or you're paying through the nose. If you're willing to sacrifice on some of those things you can live in a more mature neighbourhood with trees and a private yard, a much shorter commute, and schools within walking distance.

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Plenty of split-levels and 2-story homes in those neighbourhoods. Including the developed basement, my place is 2,200 sq ft. We got it in 2010 for somewhat less than average Calgary house price.

As for renos, that's discretionary. If a place has wall-to-wall carpet, do you have to tear it out right away and replace it with hardwood? If the kitchen has linoleum and older cupboards, do you need to replace them? Can you make do with circa 1980 bathrooms?

It's all about tradeoffs. If you want a 2000 sq ft house with new hardwood, a modern kitchen with granite countertops and a breakfast bar, and bathrooms with all new fixtures, you're either moving to the far burbs or you're paying through the nose. If you're willing to sacrifice on some of those things you can live in a more mature neighbourhood with trees and a private yard, a much shorter commute, and schools within walking distance.

The problem we're finding is that it's all or none.

There are almost boundary lines. If you want to live East of Sarcee, it's almost all 1000-1200 square foot bungalows that need a lot of work. If you want anything close to modern it's a duplex.

Then you go West of Sarcee. All 1800 - 2200 square foot two story houses with generally small yards and not a lot of privacy.

We're looking somewhere in the middle. I understand that's a niche which is why we're being patient. Just kind of curious the difference between the building years (ie west of Sarcee was around ~2002 where houses were being thrown up cookie cutter, probably cheaping out on a lot of things).

[heep223]

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

The problem we're finding is that it's all or none.

There are almost boundary lines. If you want to live East of Sarcee, it's almost all 1000-1200 square foot bungalows that need a lot of work. If you want anything close to modern it's a duplex.

Then you go West of Sarcee. All 1800 - 2200 square foot two story houses with generally small yards and not a lot of privacy.

We're looking somewhere in the middle. I understand that's a niche which is why we're being patient. Just kind of curious the difference between the building years (ie west of Sarcee was around ~2002 where houses were being thrown up cookie cutter, probably cheaping out on a lot of things).

Have you looked in Lakeview?

[Nufy]

One of the better areas in my neighborhood.

https://www.realtor.ca/Residential/S...2J6Y9-Deer-Run

[Thor]

I grew up in Parkland, loved it back then but if I had to move to the area again, I would have a hard time not choosing Lake Bonavista. I had many awesome summers there.

[JiriHrdina]

I'm in Chapparal. Lots to like about it.
- The lake is great and we get a lot of use of it, at least my wife and kid do
- It is pretty safe neighborhood
- We have great neighbours
- We were able to get a house that really met our needs

But the distance from everything is probably going to push us back inner city - we are just now exploring what that looks like and how we do it.

[Tyler]

Anyone live in Auburn Bay? Thinking of making the trek from inner city out there. I like that it's mostly developed, has schools and the lake is nicer IMO than Mahogany

[Maccalus]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Anyone live in Auburn Bay? Thinking of making the trek from inner city out there. I like that it's mostly developed, has schools and the lake is nicer IMO than Mahogany

I live in Auburn Bay. It is reaching it's end of development, so not very many fresh lots left if you are looking for a new build. The community is nice, plenty of shopping in walking distance to my place (Seton is a 15 min walk and the new auburn station shopping will be ~10min walk). Access to deerfoot and Stoney are Excellent and there are multiple bus options because of the hospital, but getting downtown is still a long process in rush hour.

For Schools, it currently has a K-4 public and K-9 Catholic under construction, but that is it. Due to the large number of kids in the community, expect lotteries to get into them. Some of the other communities around have more levels of schools in the community itself. I believe you are busing to acadia area if you don't get into these schools.

If you need to know anything more, let me know.

[FlamesKickAss]

Originally Posted by Maccalus

I live in Auburn Bay. It is reaching it's end of development, so not very many fresh lots left if you are looking for a new build. The community is nice, plenty of shopping in walking distance to my place (Seton is a 15 min walk and the new auburn station shopping will be ~10min walk). Access to deerfoot and Stoney are Excellent and there are multiple bus options because of the hospital, but getting downtown is still a long process in rush hour.

For Schools, it currently has a K-4 public and K-9 Catholic under construction, but that is it. Due to the large number of kids in the community, expect lotteries to get into them. Some of the other communities around have more levels of schools in the community itself. I believe you are busing to acadia area if you don't get into these schools.

If you need to know anything more, let me know.

When we looked there bussing is to Bonavista, (Andrew Sibbald and Nickle)

..... found this http://www.calgaryjournal.ca/index.p...ride-to-school

[Disco_Stu]

Originally Posted by Maccalus

I live in Auburn Bay. It is reaching it's end of development, so not very many fresh lots left if you are looking for a new build. The community is nice, plenty of shopping in walking distance to my place (Seton is a 15 min walk and the new auburn station shopping will be ~10min walk). Access to deerfoot and Stoney are Excellent and there are multiple bus options because of the hospital, but getting downtown is still a long process in rush hour.

For Schools, it currently has a K-4 public and K-9 Catholic under construction, but that is it. Due to the large number of kids in the community, expect lotteries to get into them. Some of the other communities around have more levels of schools in the community itself. I believe you are busing to acadia area if you don't get into these schools.

If you need to know anything more, let me know.

Auburn Bay resident here. Both Public and Catholic K-6 and K-9 respectively are planned to open Fall 2016 so bussing out of community shouldn't be an issue right away. I can't speak to the public school but I do know the Catholic K-9 is a community school so the boundaries are Auburn Bay only. Capacity isn't expected to be reached until 2018- 2019 and there is already a K-6 school part of the 3 year plan for school builds (funding dependent....) so there shouldn't be an issue with getting into a school in the community. *Fingers crossed*