Calgary's new communities

[Amethyst]

I bought a house that was 5 years old, because I wanted the fence, grass,etc. to already be dealt with. It was still new and a newer community, but I didn't have to deal with the building headaches.

As for garage parties, doesn't really sound like my thing. If I invite someone over, I invite them to my house. If I didn't want them in my house, I just wouldn't invite them.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Scrambler

I was also going to look at Sage Hill, but then when I checked the website I saw: "SAGE HILL IS NOW SOLD OUT."

So you can be very glad you found what you were looking for!

Not sure what year you you were looking, but apparently things have gotten cheaper (as they probably have in every part of the city in recent times). A comparative home build that we are looking at now is about $15,000 less now than a couple phases ago. Building seems cheaper than buying existing now too, not sure if that makes any sense but I am quite OK with that.

Make sure your are pricing in upgrades when comparing new build to current as there is a lot of hidden upgrades that you might end up doing that escalate the price. Slightly nicer appliances, slightly nicer fixtures, it just keeps coming at you each time you make a decision about how to finish your house.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

?.....10 mins to Airdrie.....

10 minutes to airdrie, then, you must only be 5 minutes from downtown...sweet

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

10 minutes to airdrie, then, you must only be 5 minutes from downtown...sweet

No, if he's ten away from Airdrie he IS in downtown. Duh.

[Scrambler]

What's it like getting to Banff from Airdrie, is the fastest route pretty much going via Calgary/Stoney Trail?

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Scrambler

What's it like getting to Banff from Airdrie, is the fastest route pretty much going via Calgary/Stoney Trail?

Pretty much, but not via HWY 2. Take Yankee Valley Blvd west to "Centre ST N" (Meets up with Harvest Hills Blvd) and hit Stoney from there. About an hour and a half from my house to Banff.

If it's rush hour or something though it's best to take Yankee Valley west all the way to Highway 22, then go south to Cochrane, West on the 1A past Ghost Lake then down through Morley to the Trans Can. About an hour and 45 that way

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by GGG

Make sure your are pricing in upgrades when comparing new build to current as there is a lot of hidden upgrades that you might end up doing that escalate the price. Slightly nicer appliances, slightly nicer fixtures, it just keeps coming at you each time you make a decision about how to finish your house.

I have asked builders to include (in no particular order):

- Knockdown ceilings
- Vinyl Plank flooring on main
- Granite kitchen counters and island (pretty much standard now for kitchens)
- Granite counters in the ensuite and 'kids bathrooms' upstairs
- Upgraded ensuite with double vanity, tiled shower with glass door
- Chimney hood fan in kitchen
- Gas range
- Pot lights for main floor
- Landscaping gift cards (as much as the builder is willing to give)
- Blinds package
- Backyard deck (12x10) with stairs, railing and gas line
- 2 car garage

Was contemplating a gas fireplace, but in the models I have seen it sticks out and takes up too much space in the great room and also eliminates a logical place for a TV (not a fan of mounting a tv over a fireplace). So take out fireplace to save about $2500 and maybe get a smaller mobile ethanol fireplace if we can find the appropriate creative space for it.

If there is anything missing you can suggest I'm all ears!

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Pretty much, but not via HWY 2. Take Yankee Valley Blvd west to "Centre ST N" (Meets up with Harvest Hills Blvd) and hit Stoney from there. About an hour and a half from my house to Banff.

If it's rush hour or something though it's best to take Yankee Valley west all the way to Highway 22, then go south to Cochrane, West on the 1A past Ghost Lake then down through Morley to the Trans Can. About an hour and 45 that way

Cool, makes sense.

[calgarygeologist]

I don't know if it is a big deal but I find that the northern communities in the NW (Sherwood, Kincora, Evanston, Nolan Hill, etc) are really windy and it makes it pretty unpleasant to be outside there. We go shopping a far bit up at Beacon Hill, that new Walmart/Market City area off Shaganappi and that shopping centre east of Kincora and it almost always is significantly more windy than at our place in Varsity. If you don't like wind you might want to consider somewhere else.

Coincidentally, when I was in junior high school my parents were looking to build a house and I drove all around the city with them looking at show homes. I actually really liked the Hamptons area and I was trying to get them to build there but they actually used the excuse that it was too windy up on top of the hill. I thought they were crazy but now I realize that they were probably right. They ended up building in Evergreen Estate.

[Amethyst]

I don't know about the wind, but I lived in an area on the edge of the city for quite awhile and there was a big open field to the north of us. For awhile there, every winter there would be one storm that would blow the snow in so bad, the roads would be impassable (drifts as high as car bumpers) and it often took a week or more to get it dug out. Two winters in a row, my street was on the news for how bad it was. :-(

Now that the area around us is getting built up more and the road which used to get buried in snow connects to Stoney Trail, it hasn't been as bad.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Scrambler

I have asked builders to include (in no particular order):

- Knockdown ceilings
- Vinyl Plank flooring on main
- Granite kitchen counters and island (pretty much standard now for kitchens)
- Granite counters in the ensuite and 'kids bathrooms' upstairs
- Upgraded ensuite with double vanity, tiled shower with glass door
- Chimney hood fan in kitchen
- Gas range
- Pot lights for main floor
- Landscaping gift cards (as much as the builder is willing to give)
- Blinds package
- Backyard deck (12x10) with stairs, railing and gas line
- 2 car garage

Was contemplating a gas fireplace, but in the models I have seen it sticks out and takes up too much space in the great room and also eliminates a logical place for a TV (not a fan of mounting a tv over a fireplace). So take out fireplace to save about $2500 and maybe get a smaller mobile ethanol fireplace if we can find the appropriate creative space for it.

If there is anything missing you can suggest I'm all ears!

Make sure your good with the default kitchen cabinet material and finishing options. Things like solid wood, extra drawers, handles instead of knobs, soft closures, pantry shelving can add up quick.

The other is faucet design. If you want all matching faucets throughout your house and the default ones are ugly you can spend $1000 or more switching them.