Seriously considering moving to and buying a house in Okotoks... advice wanted.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Ahuch

Cranston kind of has the worst of everything right now though. It's far from downtown (commute for me), lots aren't huge (on average), lots of people and traffic, and no useful public transit whatsoever.

I think I'd choose Silverado over Cranston at this point which I never would have thought when it was first going up.

Agreed. I don't have any issues commuting since I don't work downtown, but I really don't like it anymore. People seem rude, it's getting way too crowded, the infrastructure is ridiculous with the goofy way they made access to Stoney Trail really irks me.

Cranston sucks.

[Mongo]

Thanks a ton for the insights folks...much appreciated!

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Good question. Not sure right now. I guess it depends on the kind of house and its location in Calgary, that we can get if we move. Would prefer someplace within walking distance to Fish Creek and fairly equidistant to both my wife's and my work places.

Dude, you're refreshingly honest about living in a bedroom community. Careful, they might run you out of town for that kind of talk, though.

[Ahuch]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Dude, you're refreshingly honest about living in a bedroom community. Careful, they might run you out of town for that kind of talk, though.

I think the real problem is that the bedroom communities bordering Calgary don't even carry the traditional advantages of a bedroom community. They're not noticeably cheaper, we don't have american style freeways, and you don't get a bunch of land.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Ahuch

I think the real problem is that the bedroom communities bordering Calgary don't even carry the traditional advantages of a bedroom community. They're not noticeably cheaper, we don't have american style freeways, and you don't get a bunch of land.

Yeah, most of the new communities in Airdire and Okotoks look exactly like Calgary's new communities, except you're further away from the city.

I don't know, I find it a little odd when people cite that small town feel, and the fact that they're away from the busy city on the weekends, as the main reason to move to these bedroom communities.

Personally, having spent a significant amount of time in Okotoks for work a few years ago, it didn't seem to have a small town vibe going on. It was more of a "bunch of big city people living outside the big city, but still acting like big city people" vibe.

Also, I'd rather spend a bit of time and money on gas on the weekend to drive to a place like Okotoks, than spend a lot of time and money on gas to get to Calgary five times a week, so that I can already be in Okotoks on the weekend.

[Northendzone]

Personally, I'd rather be close to someplace I go five times per week (work)........it just makes sense.

Most of the merchants I need are a 10 minute drive away, so reallyto me, it feels like a small city anyways....

[bossy22]

I think it depends on your lifestyle too. I live in Cochrane, work in downtown Calgary. Can't say I love the commute or the community, but in the summer I spend probably 4+ days/week either in Bragg Creek or Canmore. In the winter I spend a lot of my time at COP or in the mountains watching my kids compete. So being west was important. When we movedto Cochrane, Valley Ridge was in existence, but my kids would've had to have been bused quite a ways to school. Now, if I were looking, Valley Ridge makes the most sense for us.

[keratosis]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Sorry I must ask, from what price to what price.

That seems a huge jump.

Bought for $240 in 2005. Realtor wanted to list it for $450 this spring.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Ahuch

I think the real problem is that the bedroom communities bordering Calgary don't even carry the traditional advantages of a bedroom community. They're not noticeably cheaper, we don't have american style freeways, and you don't get a bunch of land.

Suppose it depends on the area. When my parents decided to build and move to Okotoks it was noticeably cheaper AND much bigger lots.

Neither of them work downtown though, their commutes are about the same length as they were before. I don't work downtown either, that's why I'm considering it as well.