Living in Okotoks

[Ruttiger]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

But that seems like it's a lie. Because Okotoks is growing. More people are moving in everyday!

Maybe yes, maybe no: http://www.westernwheel.com/article/...rowth-decision

http://www.okotoks.ca/default.aspx?cid=46

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Madman

A lot of it is what? Pictures taken from a crane to specifically show a successful solar panel system?

You're right, without the crane, all you would be seeing out your window is plastic siding. I thought I would be generous and show the photo that has a sliver of mountain in it.

[troutman]

Couldn't developers get around the population cap, by incorporating a new town, ex. West Okotoks?

[Madman]

Originally Posted by Table 5

You're right, without the crane, all you would be seeing out your window is plastic siding. I thought I would be generous and show the photo that has a sliver of mountain in it.

Yeah, forgot the great open wonderland that Calgary is.

[Bigtime]

Happy to see this thread has gone exactly where we all knew it would.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Madman

Yeah, forgot the great open wonderland that Calgary is.

Yikes! that looks pretty damn disgusting too. Time for Nenshi to increase property taxes the further away you are from downtown. Time to build up people!!

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Madman

Yeah, forgot the great open wonderland that Calgary is.

But nobody has ever used that as a reason to live in Calgary, so I'm not sure what your point is.

What I'm saying is that to me it's puzzling to want to live in a small town, but live in the exact same type of neighborhood as you could live in a lot of communities that are within city limits. Both of these types of neighborhoods are hell in my books, but at least the one in Calgary makes a modicum of sense.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

We currently live in New Brighton so my bus commute is 1 hour door to door downtown and her drive is 40 mins to Northland business centre. Cochrane makes her drive 20 mins and my commute will stay roughly the same but I will drive into the city and take the train. I will carpool with a co-worker most days to cut the extra car maintenance costs down.

Must be nice to have a big city where you don't have to pay the taxes but still enjoy the infrastructure!

[Rerun]

I've been an Okotoker for 3 years now and just love it! Would never consider moving back to the city.

Its way quieter out here compared to most places in Calgary and you can actually even see the stars at night. Traffic is way less too. I work in SE Calgary (near the Flying J truck stop and it takes 20-25 minutes to drive to work... almost the same amount of time it took when I lived in Woodbine in SW Calgary.

Rarely a day goes by that I don't see deer or hawks or even a coyote of two (I can hear them howling most nights when it gets dark). If peace and quiet are what you are looking for and you like being closer to nature, Okotoks is the place for you.

I live about a 15 minute walk from the Sheep River and I frequently take my dog there for a swim. He loves it.

Okotoks has lots of green spaces and a very extensive bike/walking path system that meanders through most of the different neighborhoods.

I personally can't think of a single neighborhood in Okotoks where a person out for a walk would feel unsafe.

As for shopping, there really is no need to go to Calgary unless you want to go to a mall. We have Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Home Hardware, Costco, Safeway, Sobeys, SuperWalmart, Winners, Marks Workwearhouse, and a good selection of restaurants (fast food and better dining spots).

We have a small cinema here with two theaters. There's a 5 pin bowling alley, a great athletic centre with a pool, a hockey arena which is home to the AJHL Okotoks Oilers, and terrific baseball stadium which is home to the Okotoks Dawgs (Western Major Baseball League champions in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009).

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Madman

That's what I take every day and it's best thing there is. (There are actually 3 buses)

No stress from traffic or weather, no gas costs or wear and tear on my truck and I have a guaranteed seat in a pretty nice bus.

How much does that service cost? Just curious.

When I was 17, it was an hour and a half and three bus transfers to go one way to college. Then repeat in the evening. Back when the city was about half the size it is now. Never again.

Cowperson

[troutman]

Have it all! A condo downtown, and an acreage in the country.

[Jbo]

Hey Jiri,


Okotoks has some very good pros and some very big negatives. So just some thoughts from my experience.

• Houses that are outside of the city tend to be a much longer investment. You will get more bang for your buck, but if there is changes in the market, you could end up holding property much longer to see the value increase. I know many people that moved to outlying communities during the boom, and are now nearly underwater as value has plunged. This may be a great time to buy, but just be aware it will take much longer to see the value increase.
• To your comment of "an extra ten minutes". As a guy who lived in Bridlewood, we tend to underestimate our commutes. I would bet dollars to donuts that you will actually be looking at extending the commute by 15-20 minutes...each way. I know that after living in the deep south and commuting 30-45 mins each way per day, that my soul slowly drained out. Calgary South has the worst roads in the city and you are forced to deal with them. Add on an extra 10-15 mins in the winter too. To some people this does not bother them, but it can be the difference between getting home at 5:30 and getting home at 6:15 or 6:30...a big difference... and one most people don't account for.
• You will see your social activites drop. I know I did. Most people I know are put off by a drive out of the city. We have family in Airdrie and I dread going out there. You will be expected to be doing the driving in, trust me.
• Now for the positives: Okotoks has great golf, close to the mountains, close to camping, all the amenities you need, The Dawgs for baseball in the summer, small town feel, etc.

End of the day, you will love living there on the weekends, but don't make the mistake of thinking its "just on the border" of Calgary.


Just my two cents.

[Jbo]

Originally Posted by Rerun

I've been an Okotoker for 3 years now and just love it! Would never consider moving back to the city.

Its way quieter out here compared to most places in Calgary and you can actually even see the stars at night. Traffic is way less too. I work in SE Calgary (near the Flying J truck stop and it takes 20-25 minutes to drive to work... almost the same amount of time it took when I lived in Woodbine in SW Calgary.

Rarely a day goes by that I don't see deer or hawks or even a coyote of two (I can hear them howling most nights when it gets dark). If peace and quiet are what you are looking for and you like being closer to nature, Okotoks is the place for you.

I live about a 15 minute walk from the Sheep River and I frequently take my dog there for a swim. He loves it.

Okotoks has lots of green spaces and a very extensive bike/walking path system that meanders through most of the different neighborhoods.

I personally can't think of a single neighborhood in Okotoks where a person out for a walk would feel unsafe.

As for shopping, there really is no need to go to Calgary unless you want to go to a mall. We have Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Home Hardware, Costco, Safeway, Sobeys, SuperWalmart, Winners, Marks Workwearhouse, and a good selection of restaurants (fast food and better dining spots).

We have a small cinema here with two theaters. There's a 5 pin bowling alley, a great athletic centre with a pool, a hockey arena which is home to the AJHL Okotoks Oilers, and terrific baseball stadium which is home to the Okotoks Dawgs (Western Major Baseball League champions in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009).

I don't want to turn this into a match between Inner-City versus out of city, but I just found it intresting that all your points could be used for the Mission area where I live.

-Commute time is 5 mins (although you do win on the noise department)
- Pathways along the river, numerous parks, coulee like areas.
-Lot's of wildlife, Deer, Rabbits, Coyotes etc.
- Tons of people walking around, never feel unsafe day or night
- Live on the river, dog loves to go swimming in it.
-Shopping is all within walking distance. Safeway down the block, Chinook mall 2 mins away.
- Outdoor pool in Stanley Park, more river, parks and paths
-Nearby the saddledome, Corral, bowling, movie theatres etc.

Anyway, not going to turn this into an argument, just want to point out that many of the things people use to justify moving out of the city, can be found right here. After living in Bridlewood, you could never pull me out of Mission. . However, I do understand the appeal. If you don't work in Calgary, I would say find the neighbourhood best suited for you.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by J-bo09

I don't want to turn this into a match between Inner-City versus out of city, but I just found it intresting that all your points could be used for the Mission area where I live.

-Commute time is 5 mins (although you do win on the noise department)
- Pathways along the river, numerous parks, coulee like areas.
-Lot's of wildlife, Deer, Rabbits, Coyotes etc.
- Tons of people walking around, never feel unsafe day or night
- Live on the river, dog loves to go swimming in it.
-Shopping is all within walking distance. Safeway down the block, Chinook mall 2 mins away.
- Outdoor pool in Stanley Park, more river, parks and paths
-Nearby the saddledome, Corral, bowling, movie theatres etc.

Anyway, not going to turn this into an argument, just want to point out that many of the things people use to justify moving out of the city, can be found right here. After living in Bridlewood, you could never pull me out of Mission. . However, I do understand the appeal. If you don't work in Calgary, I would say find the neighbourhood best suited for you.

Would love to live in mission - but not an option based on $$$.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Rarely a day goes by that I don't see deer or hawks or even a coyote of two (I can hear them howling most nights when it gets dark). If peace and quiet are what you are looking for and you like being closer to nature, Okotoks is the place for you.

If you turned a city upside down and shook it all sorts of interesting animals would fall out.

[Jbo]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Would love to live in mission - but not an option based on $$$.

I know! I have been saving to buy a place there, but that is the trade-off. I have actually rented my more "affordable" place, and now rent based on lifestyle. I could be waiting for a long time, as prices are very slowly creeping up. However, it is basically a guarantee that prices inner-city will rebound quicker.

Again setting a realistic budget is key. I just want to point out that saving some money for more space, does not matter if you are trading off some of your life.

Anyway, it comes down to decisions. Do you need to buy now? Can you save a bit more? Prices have dropped significantly in the city, and will likely only start to creep up from here. However, if it makes sense to be out there, you will know it.

***Disclaimer*** A long commute is probably my biggest pet-peeve, gear grinder, and as such, is placed very highly on my list. (5 years of deerfoot and McLeod may do the same to you)

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Happy to see this thread has gone exactly where we all knew it would.

Please allow me this opportunity to point out that the conditions, variables and timing that lead to my housing decision yielded a better end result than any of the conditions, variables and timing surrounding your housing decision.

Furthermore the many surrounding elements and variables in my area of the city are more numerous and of superior quality when compared to similar elements within your neighbourhood. I also believe the residents of my area to be more physically attractive than those who reside in your area.

[chemgear]

^ "I'm just better than you."

[WCan_Kid]

Originally Posted by J-bo09

I know! I have been saving to buy a place there, but that is the trade-off. I have actually rented my more "affordable" place, and now rent based on lifestyle. I could be waiting for a long time, as prices are very slowly creeping up. However, it is basically a guarantee that prices inner-city will rebound quicker.

Again setting a realistic budget is key. I just want to point out that saving some money for more space, does not matter if you are trading off some of your life.

Anyway, it comes down to decisions. Do you need to buy now? Can you save a bit more? Prices have dropped significantly in the city, and will likely only start to creep up from here. However, if it makes sense to be out there, you will know it.

***Disclaimer*** A long commute is probably my biggest pet-peeve, gear grinder, and as such, is placed very highly on my list. (5 years of deerfoot and McLeod may do the same to you)

It so totally depends on your personal taste. For me, after living in Vancouver and dealing with similar commute times while living right in the city, driving to Okotoks in the same sort of time frame isn't a big issue.

It is a different lifestyle and mindset out there, although that is changing with the growth, some like it and some don't.

Definitely not a decision that should be made solely based on bang for your buck housing prices, for sure.

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by J-bo09

Hey Jiri,


Okotoks has some very good pros and some very big negatives. So just some thoughts from my experience.

• Houses that are outside of the city tend to be a much longer investment. You will get more bang for your buck, but if there is changes in the market, you could end up holding property much longer to see the value increase. I know many people that moved to outlying communities during the boom, and are now nearly underwater as value has plunged. This may be a great time to buy, but just be aware it will take much longer to see the value increase.
• To your comment of "an extra ten minutes". As a guy who lived in Bridlewood, we tend to underestimate our commutes. I would bet dollars to donuts that you will actually be looking at extending the commute by 15-20 minutes...each way. I know that after living in the deep south and commuting 30-45 mins each way per day, that my soul slowly drained out. Calgary South has the worst roads in the city and you are forced to deal with them. Add on an extra 10-15 mins in the winter too. To some people this does not bother them, but it can be the difference between getting home at 5:30 and getting home at 6:15 or 6:30...a big difference... and one most people don't account for.
• You will see your social activites drop. I know I did. Most people I know are put off by a drive out of the city. We have family in Airdrie and I dread going out there. You will be expected to be doing the driving in, trust me.
• Now for the positives: Airdrie has great golf, close to the mountains, close to camping, all the amenities you need, The Dawgs for baseball in the summer, small town feel, etc.

End of the day, you will love living there on the weekends, but don't make the mistake of thinking its "just on the border" of Calgary.


Just my two cents.

If you love Airdrie so much why not just move there