Calgary Real Estate predictions?

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by fotze

I just looked at your assessment. I'll buy it right now for that price!

Unmarked, non-sequential bills please.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by fotze

I thought you would be wrong, but you are right. Just searched 600-650k two+ bedroom single house and there is virtually nothing in that sq ft but tear downs.

The biggest difference in shopping for an inner city home shopping is that it requires more effort. It's easy for someone to roll up to burb's showhome row and pick one out like cars at a showroom. You and an agent actually have to work hard in finding a place in the innercity but they are there.

As someone said, the good ones priced well go fast, hence why it never seems like it's there.

Just a few pickings from the West Hillhurst / Sunnyside area

C3605914 Townhouse 1,300sq ft AG, undeveloped bsmt. $565K
C3611379 Attached 1,474 sq ft AG + dev bsmt, 3 bedroom $549K
C3598040 Attached 1,781 sq ft AG + Dev bsmt, 3 bed $699K

$550K - $750K gets you a decent place in the inner city, not just tear down shacks... The myth is exactly what Darklord says that you have to be a millionaire to be down here but the reality is that you don't.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

$550K - $750K gets you a decent place in the inner city, not just tear down shacks... The myth is exactly what Darklord says that you have to be a millionaire to be down here but the reality is that you don't.

You can get livable space in inner city. But the unmitigated fact is that you almost always get more house in the burb for the same amount of money.

If you want to exchange living space, yards etc. for commute time, that's your decision. Just don't pretend the previlege of short commute time costs you nothing.

I live in the burb, Edgemont, even that location costs me some house. I can buy a lot more house in a further area like Rocky Ridge, or Airdre, or Okotoks. But that's the concession I make by living in Edgemont and not those areas. Everything is relative, for the same amount of money, you gain location but give up on houses.

You buy the house that suites you need. I don't understand why the hip downtown living crowd has to gloat about their abiility to ditch cars.

[2ArmBands]

I understand the downtown crowd for the most part. However I do have an issue with families that try to justify that inner city living is a better family decision. Especially when it comes to young families. I live in the burbs and there is
Not only a large amount of parks and facilities but there is also other kids their age! My wife can walk the kids to a sand beach for crying out loud... It's easy for me to say given that myself nor my wife commute downtown but if I'm not working downtown and don't need to be there I don't waste my time.

[nik-]

There are a lot of parks in the inner city and I see young kids in my neighbourhood all the time.

[2ArmBands]

Originally Posted by nik-

There are a lot of parks in the inner city and I see young kids in my neighbourhood all the time.

Some areas are better than others. And there are many areas that I am not familiar with to boot. The point I'm trying to make I guess is that I firmly believe raising kids ( and growing up ) is better in the burbs

[nik-]

Well you've sold yourself on that, and that's fine.

People aren't trying to raise their kids in the CBD you know.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by 2ArmBands

Some areas are better than others. And there are many areas that I am not familiar with to boot. The point I'm trying to make I guess is that I firmly believe raising kids ( and growing up ) is better in the burbs

That really depends on what your definition of "better" is.

We lived for many years in the inner city with two young kids and it was a great experience. We moved out of the inner city into a fringing community because I couldn't find a reasonable house in the inner city. Raising kids and growing up in the inner city is certainly a different experience but it is difficult to quantify which is better or worse. Inner city probably offers a lot more diversity to growing children. They experience more cultures and more socio-economic classes than suburban kids. They experience more festivals and street life than suburban kids. We always took our kids to pretty much any festival that was happening (lilac festival, Marda Gras, Latino, Sun and Salsa, etc.) whereas if we lived in the suburbs we probably won't spend the time to drive downtown/inner city for the events.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by fotze

I don't think my kids have ever been to any of those festivals. I don't think they would even like them.

What is inner city now anyway. I wouldn't want to raise kids in Bankview, Lower Mount Royal. Sunnyside, Bridgeland, Hillhurst are good. Mission, Inglewood, Ramsay might be alright. Then you go out another level that I wouldn't call 'inner city'. What is Marda loop? I wouldn't call that inner city? Outer inner city?

I consider inner city to be north of 50 Ave SW, east of Crowchild, south of 16th and west of Deerfoot.

Bankview and Lower Mount Royal have been emerging communities in the inner city for the last 10 years. They have really changed a lot and are family friendly now. Sunalta, Inglewood, Ramsay and Erlton are areas that aren't as family friendly. I actually really like the area in Erlton on top of Cemetery Hill and the prices were quite reasonable but there are no playgrounds nearby in that area which was a big disappointment.

[2ArmBands]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

That really depends on what your definition of "better" is.

We lived for many years in the inner city with two young kids and it was a great experience. We moved out of the inner city into a fringing community because I couldn't find a reasonable house in the inner city. Raising kids and growing up in the inner city is certainly a different experience but it is difficult to quantify which is better or worse. Inner city probably offers a lot more diversity to growing children. They experience more cultures and more socio-economic classes than suburban kids. They experience more festivals and street life than suburban kids. We always took our kids to pretty much any festival that was happening (lilac festival, Marda Gras, Latino, Sun and Salsa, etc.) whereas if we lived in the suburbs we probably won't spend the time to drive downtown/inner city for the events.

I think it's a bit of a stretch to say inner city kids are more exposed to diversity. As a kid that was lucky to grow up in various parts of the world I can acknowledge the benefit to cultural immersion. Personally, I think having your children simply growing up with kids of other cultures fits the bill, which is certainly offered in both burbs and inner city.

With that being said... I do like chips and salsa.

[Bill Bumface]

When I shove a kid in my wife and she shoves it back out, it will be walking distance from the Science Centre, the Zoo, St. Patrick's Island if they ever finish the damn thing, and the river pathways. It doesn't seem that horrible to me.

Plus, imagine being a teenager a short bus ride or bike ride out of downtown. When you want to start experimenting with drugs, you can be the hookup for all your friends and make some spending money on the side.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I consider inner city to be north of 50 Ave SW, east of Crowchild, south of 16th and west of Deerfoot.

Bankview and Lower Mount Royal have been emerging communities in the inner city for the last 10 years. They have really changed a lot and are family friendly now. Sunalta, Inglewood, Ramsay and Erlton are areas that aren't as family friendly. I actually really like the area in Erlton on top of Cemetery Hill and the prices were quite reasonable but there are no playgrounds nearby in that area which was a big disappointment.

So the south end of the city gets 50 blocks to be considered inner city but the north gets only 16?
Can I guess you live in the south?

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

So the south end of the city gets 50 blocks to be considered inner city but the north gets only 16?
Can I guess you live in the south?

It is more of a 40 to 25 split when you consider the downtown core is south of the river.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by nik-

There are a lot of parks in the inner city and I see young kids in my neighbourhood all the time.

We moved to Bridgeland about a month ago, and I'm pretty sure I've already seen more kids using the local playground than I did in 10 years of growing up in Signal Hill. There seem to be plently of kids here, and there's more coming... seems like half the people on the street are moms pushing strollers.

I go to play street hockey with a few guys from CP in Signal Hill, and despite them having a soccer field/hockey rink/and basketball pad...you almost never see kids there. It's pretty sad actually...they have a pretty sweet setup. But maybe kids aren't really allowed to play anymore without their moms supervising from their RDX.

Originally Posted by fotze

The science centre is worst thing ever. What a pile of crap. Did the designers not visit any other similar thing on earth before designing the things in there? I think the designer is really an artist and the message is to get kids to hate science.

To me it doesn't feel like a science centre, but more like a recruitment drive for the next oil and gas workers of Calgary.

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by fotze

Always found the bank is hypocritical in this. They do all these 'tests' for financial readiness, employment letter, banking records, assets, liabilities, then turn right around and offer up things that indicate financial foolishness.

They will offer an absolutely terrible rate assuming you haven't shopped around. Right there it indicates you are a naïve jackass.

They will offer a 'cash-back' mortgage that indicates being terrible at math.

They offer 'mortgage insurance' readily known as one of the most terrible insurance products around.

They offer crippling mortgages.

As a mortgage broker, this is something I deal with literally every day. People think that their bank has their best interests in mind. It's almost a comfort blanket to them.

They offer, as you say, these astronomical rates hoping you don't do your research...yet they have no problem doing a rate match when you do find something better elsewhere. Why didn't they offer that reduced rate in the first place?

Where's that gear grinder thread anyways?

[Table 5]

MillerTime is a great broker btw. The man gets things done!

[calgarywinning]

Inglewood has huge upside. Some amazing streets in there that are just begging for re-development. I've been spending a lot of time in the area for a project and there's just so much going on.

[MillerTime GFG]

Thanks for the shout-out Table 5. Your cheque is in the mail.

[calgarywinning]

MillerTime GFG will get you the best rate.

[AMG_G]

Everyone says they got the best rate but what is that rate?