Cranston Calgary Real Estate 

Nestled next to the stunning Bow River Valley and Fish Creek Park, Cranston is  an inspiring backdrop for outdoor lifestyles. Hike, bike, rollerblade or jog along year-round pathways that unwind among acres of lush park space. Relax near the Bow River with a picnic or a fishing rod. Or spend time with the kids in one of the many parks and playgrounds.

Cranston Access.

Every area of the city is easily accessible from Cranston’s location at Highway 22X (Marquis of Lorne Trail). Deerfoot Trail takes you directly downtown or to the Calgary International Airport and puts Foothills Industrial Park within easy reach. Follow Highway 22X west for direct access to Kananaskis Country and the Rocky Mountains, as well as the retail business corridor on Macleod Trail. http://calgary.livebrookfield.ca/livebrookfield/index.php/communities/cranston/experience-the-community.

Century Hall (Cranston) is your very own private resident's facility complete with a gymnasium, banquet facilities, ice rink, splash park and toboggan run — plus the opening of Cranston Market and two new schools in 2010, Cranston has everything your family needs right in your own backyard.

Century Hall Is At The Heart Of The community
Located on a spacious 7–acre gated park site is Century Hall – a striking 22,000 sq. ft. private facility for the residents of Cranston. Complete with meeting and banquet rooms, a gymnasium, multi-function rooms, a skate change area and more, Century Hall is the central gathering place for the community. Recreational programs, summer camps, workshops and community events all take place here.

Membership in the Cranston Residents Association is automatic and mandatory with the purchase of a home in Cranston. The payment of dues, which is reviewed and established annually, is secured by an Encumbrance (subject to upward adjustment for inflation) registered on the title of each member’s property. The Association, including the operation of Century Hall, is administered by a Board of Directors made up of Brookfield Residential and resident representatives.

Annual fees for 2012-13 are:
Standard - $146.15 (including GST)

*Annual fees are subject to annual compounded inflation increases and GST.
Interest will only be applied to all outstanding accounts beginning on May 1st of each year.

http://www.cranston-connect.com/index.php/residents-association/membership-information/

 Cranston Home Builders

• Albi Homes
• Baywest Homes
• Brookfield Homes
• Cardel Homes
• Cardel Lifestyles
• Cedarglen Homes
• Discovery Homes
• Landmark
• Shane Homes
• Trico Homes

Calgary Home for Sale in Cranston SE Calgary

Cranston SE Homes for Sale Calgary Click Here! 3 or More Bedrooms

Calgary Homes for Sale in Cranston Bungalows Click Here!

Calgary Board of Education interactive map of Schools for the Community of Cranston

Cranston Real Estate Statistics more statistics here

There were 33 Cranston Single Family Homes Sold in July of 2012, with an average sale price of $468,257 and a median sale price of $415,000. The average days on market (DOM) for these 33 sales was 60 days.

Cranston Community profile pdf Download

    Diane Richardson 403.397.3706

Calgary housing market among Canada’s most affordable: RBC  
Stronger home resales and new construction

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD AUGUST 27, 2012
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Calgary+housing+market+among+Canada+most+affordable/7149520/story.html 
http://www.rbc.com/economics/market/pdf/house.pdf 

CALGARY — The Calgary-area housing market remains one of the most affordable in Canada, according to a report released today by RBC Economics Research.

The latest Housing Trends and Affordability Report said the local market has enjoyed the best of all worlds recently: stronger home resales and home building, moderately rising prices, and attractive and improving affordability.

“Such a combination is a rare feat, but it follows years of sluggish performance in the aftermath of the area’s mid-2000s boom,” said the report. “In the second quarter of 2012, a sharp drop in the costs of utilities provided unusual help to affordability in the area. Utilities and property taxes—two small components of home ownership costs—typically do not sway affordability, but the sudden reversal of earlier electricity rate increases led to a substantial 17 per cent quarterly decline in utilities, which was more than enough to move the affordability needle.”

In the second quarter, the RBC measures edged lower for condominium apartments and two-storey homes by 0.6 percentage points and 0.4 percentage points, respectively, while the measure for detached bungalows was unchanged in Calgary.

“Such general amelioration kept housing affordability in check at some of the better levels among Canada’s largest cities,” said the report.

The RBC Housing Affordability Measure, which has been compiled since 1985, shows the proportion of median pre-tax household income that would be required to service the cost of mortgage payments (principal and interest), property taxes, and utilities.

In the second quarter, RBC measures for Calgary edged lower for condominium apartments by 0.6 percentage points to 21.6 per cent and for two-storey homes by 0.4 percentage points to 37.2 per cent. The measure for detached bungalows remained unchanged at 36.7 per cent.

RBC said significant drops in the prices for electricity and natural gas in the second quarter of 2012 in Alberta “further solidified this province’s position as the market with the lowest home ownership costs as a share of household income in Canada.”

The RBC measures eased by 0.6 percentage points for both two-storey homes and condominium apartments, while the measure for detached bungalows edged lower by 0.3 percentage points, it said.

“Alberta experienced a 17 per cent decline in utility costs, which was the largest contributor to across-the-board improvements in housing affordability in the most recent quarter,” said Robert Hogue, senior economist, RBC. “Attractive affordability and a vibrant provincial economy are providing powerful incentives for Alberta homebuyers – second quarter home resales were at the best level in five years, surging 18 per cent over the same period last year.”

The affordablity measures in Alberta were: 32.0 per cent for detached bungalows; 34.8 per cent for two-storey homes; and 19.7 per cent for condominiums.

In Canada, they were: 43.4 per cent for bungalows, up 0.2 per cent; 49.4 per cent for two-storeys, up 0.6 per cent; and 28.8 per cent for condominiums, unchanged.

How the RBC Housing Affordability Measures work 

The RBC Housing Affordability Measures show the proportion of median pre-tax household income that would be required to service the cost of mortgage payments (principal and interest), property taxes, and utilities on a detached bungalow, a standard twostorey home and a standard condo (excluding maintenance fees) at the going market prices.
http://www.rbc.com/economics/market/pdf/house.pdf 

SE Calgary Real Estate for Sale

SOUTHEAST CALGARY NEIGHBOURHOODS

There are many SE communities to choose from in Southeast Calgary, offering houses and condo in all price ranges. Southeast Calgary is home to neighbourhoods such as Auburn Bay, Chaparral & McKenzie Towne, Midnapore & New Brighton & Cranston.

Search SE Calgary Neighborhoods for Homes for Sale

Search by price

SE Calgary Homes for Sale

Search SE Calgary Homes for sale by price starting at $200,000

Okotoks is nestled in the Sheep River Valley of the Alberta Foothills, 20 kms south of Calgary on Highway 2/2A. Okotoks has centrally located access to a number of destinations, including downtown Calgary or the Calgary International Airport (40 minutes), Banff National Park (2 hours), Lethbridge (2 hours), Radium/Invermere (3 hours), and Waterton National Park (2.5 hours).

• Future South Calgary Hospital under construction - 10 minutes north.

Homes for sale In Okotoks: Search by Neighborhood

Homes for Sale in Okotoks: 3 or More Bedrooms Click Here!

Bungalows for Sale in Okotoks Click Here!

It’s taking less time these days to sell a home in Calgary compared with last year.

According to the Calgary Real Estate Board, so far this month from August 1 to August 20, the average days on market to sell an MLS residential property in the city is 43. That’s a drop of 12.24 per cent from the same period a year ago when it took an average of 49 days to sell.

Each housing category has seen a decline in average days on market.

For single-family homes, it’s dropped by 12.77 per cent from 47 days to 41 this month.

The condo apartment category has seen a drop of 11.32 per cent to 47 days from 53 last year.

And the condo townhouse sector has seen a slight decline of 3.77 per cent from 53 days last year to 51 so far this month.

http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2012/08/21/calgary-homes-taking-less-time-to-sell/#print

http://diane-richardson.com/buying.html  Calgary Real Estate Resources & Statistics

Welcome to my Website.

Whether you are a first time home buyer looking for the most up-to-date Calgary real estate listings or you are an empty nester looking to downsize, you have come to the right Calgary Real Estate Website.

Access properties that are listed on the Calgary Real Estate Board's MLS System. Listings are updated daily. 24 hours a day.

Find all MLS Listings active on the Calgary Real Estate Board MLS by using our Calgary Home Search. You can search Calgary Homes for Sale by Price, or search Calgary Homes for Sale by Community.

You can locate any Calgary area house or condo currently listed for sale on the Calgary Real Estate Board's MLS with street addresses and even driving directions.

Also, search Okotoks Homes for Sale Communities such as Cimarron homes for sale or Air Ranch, just to name two. And, search Airdrie Homes for Sale by price or community.

If you are looking for a house or condo in Calgary or a surrounding community register for free and I will send you a comprehensive search according to your criteria. Or, if you don't want to register go to our Home Finder and enter your wants and wishes for your new home there.

The City of Calgary is divided into 4 quadrants, to make your home search easier I've used these quadrants to divide the Calgary Market:  SW Calgary Homes for Sale, SE Calgary Homes for Sale, NW Calgary Homes for Sale. To view any of these quadrants click on the area of choice.

On my website you will find Calgary Housing Statistics and detailed listing photos, Google maps, community profiles and several tools that can help with your next home purchase.

I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about any property or Calgary Home for Sale. And, if you're thinking of selling I can provide a no-obligation evaluation and information you'll need to make an informed decision. 

Diane Richardson 403.397.3706

Four new schools ready to open doors

CALGARY HERALD AUGUST 14, 2012

Alex Frazer-Harrison

For Back to School

It’s not every day you get to be part of history in the making, but in a few weeks students and staff at four brand-new public schools will be doing just that.

Nose Creek School in Coventry Hills will soon open to 455 students in grades 4 to 8, allowing kids who previously had to be bused to Colonel Macleod school way down on 16th Avenue N.E. a chance to learn and play in their own neighbourhood.

“This has been a labour of love, and an opportunity that seldom comes along in a career,” says incoming principal Carol A. Hall, who comes to the new school from Colonel Macleod, so she won’t be a stranger to many of the kids.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to build something from the ground up.”

The school was constructed, like the other new schools built for the Calgary Board of Education this year, under a P3 (public-private partnership) initiative. Hall says all four schools use the same basic two-storey “batwing” design, with a core school connected to wings of modular classrooms, adding her school is set up to ultimately accommodate 800 students.

Although classes have yet to start, future Nose Creek students have already been involved in establishing new traditions, including picking the sports team name (Kodiaks). “The student voice will be a huge part of what we do here,” says Hall.

Hall says the school will incorporate up-to-date technology, such as smartboards, and the Learning Commons (formerly called the library) will feature innovations such as a Wall Talker — a whiteboard students can use to plan projects — and a 55-inch flat screen connected to a Mac Mini that will allow students to share projects from their iPads using AirServer.

Hall says the new schools have also partnered with Alberta College of Art + Design to base artists at the schools for several months.

Nose Creek is one of four new public schools opening this fall. The others — like Nose Creek, also middle schools in the north part of Calgary — are Captain Nichola Goddard School (grades 4-9) in Panorama Hills, Twelve Mile Coulee School (4-9) in Tuscany, and Ted Harrison School (5-9) in Taradale.

The only new school under construction is Robert Thirsk High School, a 10-12 in Arbour Lake set to open during the 2013-2014 school year. The CBE also has modernization projects underway at Western Canada and Lord Shaughnessy high schools.

Calgary ranked as fifth most liveable city in the     world amid strong showing for Canada

Three Canadian cities have again cracked the top five on a ranking of the world’s most liveable places.

In the latest report from the Economist Intelligence Unit released Tuesday, Vancouver ranked third, followed by Toronto and Calgary in fourth and fifth respectively.

The Canadian cities were bested only by Vienna in second and Melbourne, which topped The Economist’s Liveability Ranking.

The annual survey of 140 cities uses more than 30 factors to gauge the state of healthcare, education, infrastructure, stability, culture and environment — rendering a score out of 100.

Vancouver lost marks only for petty crime rates, availability of quality housing and congested road networks, with report authors citing a series of infrastructure projects such as the new Evergreen transit line “that will no doubt have a long-term benefit, but in the short-term they can be disruptive.”

Toronto received a “Tolerable” rating (as opposed to Acceptable) for roads, public transit and housing while Calgary waned in temperature ratings.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi mused that his city’s spot on the ranking proves a “thriving business community, and a vibrant cultural scene that is attracting people from around the world” ­— echoing comments from Stephen Harper’s speech at the Stampede last month when the Prime Minister declared the Alberta metropolis as the greatest city in Canada.

The only other Canadian city to make the Economist list was Montreal in the 16th position.

Australia was the only country to outperform Canada, posting four cities in the top 10. The authors say the trend among the most liveable cities shows a preference for “mid-sized cities in wealthier countries with a relatively low population density.” Canada’s density is 3.40 people per square kilometre, while Australia’s is 2.88.

The results vary little from the last ranking released six months ago, with Vancouver maintaining the third spot after slipping from first place in 2011.

Most of the top-tier countries are separated by fractions of a percentage — the first-ranked Melbourne is scored 97.5, only 1.8 points higher than 10th-place Auckland, N.Z. The Economist Information Unit uses the ranking to provide suggestions on how businesses should compensate employees working abroad in cities “where living conditions are particularly difficult.”

It’s one of several studies of its kind, but economic development experts in the listed Canadian cities say The Economist report’s catering to business communities could lead to tangible benefits.

“It’s certainly circulated to an audience of potential investors and investors that may be interested in relocating to our city,” said Randy McLean, a strategy director at the City of Toronto, adding good scores in categories like education will help attract top management talent and their families.

“Certainly it’s encouraging,” he said.

National Post
jedmiston@nationalpost.com
Jake Edmiston | Aug 15, 2012 12:42 AM ET | Last Updated: Aug 15, 2012 12:06 PM ET 

Calgary Rental Market Forecast
Average rent to rise as vacancies move lower

Along with other areas in Calgary’s housing market, the purpose-built
rental market has experienced an up-tick in demand. The apartment vacancy rate in October 2011 declined to 1.9 per cent from 3.6 per cent in October 2010. The apartment vacancy rate is forecast to average 1.7 per cent in October 2012, and decline to 1.5 per cent in 2013. With people taking advantage of the growing employment opportunities in the region, migration flows to Calgary will continue to be among the strongest contributors to rental demand.
With vacancies declining, fewer incentives will be offered while rental rates are forecast to increase this year.
The average two-bedroom rent is forecast to reach $1,150 per month in October 2012, up from $1,084 in
October 2011. Pressure on rental rates will remain steady as people migrate to the region and no large net additions to supply are expected in the near term. Landlords and property owners may also see more demand from younger renters as youth employment has improved with Calgary’s expanding economy. As such, the upward pressure on rental
rates is not expected to ease in 2013. In October 2013, the average two bedroom rent is forecast to rise to $1,200 per month, up $50 from a year earlier.The number of apartment rental units under construction, not including units
for social housing, has increased from the previous year. There were 404 apartment rental units underway in March, up 41 per cent from 287 units a year earlier. Despite the increase, apartment rental starts have only contributed to a portion of the rental units under construction. Many of the apartment rental units underway were originally intended to be sold as condominium units. However, as market conditions changed, some property owners and developers
decided to re-position their projects to take advantage of the growing demand in the rental market. The completion of the rental units under construction will likely not have a large impact on vacancy rates as an expanding population absorbs the new supply. Some older rental units are also anticipated to be converted into condominiums.

Average house prices in Calgary region to jump by $20,000 in next two years

AUGUST 14, 2012 9:01 AM
CALGARY — The average MLS residential sale price in the Calgary region will climb by more than $20,000 over the next two years, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.(http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/odpub/esub/64339/64339_2012_B01.pdf?fr=1344960776770)

In its third quarter 2012 Housing Market Outlook, released Tuesday, the CMHC said the average MLS sale price in the Calgary census metropolitan area will jump from $402,851 in 2011 to $413,000 this year and then to $424,000 in 2013.

The report also said MLS sales in the Calgary CMA will increase from 22,466 in 2011 to 25,200 this year and 25,800 next year.

And housing starts in the region will rise from 9,292 in 2011 to 12,000 this year but fall back to 11,700 in 2013.

“The economy in Calgary has improved compared to the previous year and the trends that we have seen thus far are expected to continue in the months ahead,” said Richard Cho, senior market analyst in Calgary for the CMHC. “Job growth, relatively low mortgage rates and higher average earnings will all contribute to housing demand. Net migration will also be a key contributor and we have already seen some encouraging numbers at the provincial and city levels.

“Whenever we have an influx of people move to a region, naturally they are going to look for a place to live. Some will look to the rental market while others may choose to buy an existing home or build a new one. Housing demand this year will be supported by a number of different fronts.”

Cho said the resale market has moved into more balanced levels this year and that is supporting price growth.

“Supply in the existing home market has declined from the previous year while sales have increased,” he added.

In Alberta, economic growth and job creation are supporting housing demand, said the CMHC. By year-end, single-detached starts are projected to reach 17,600 units, up over 15 per cent from 2011. In 2013, single-detached starts will rise five per cent to 18,400 units.

“Existing homeowners will see the value of their property rise and this will help with move-up buying,” said the agency.

Multi-family starts will increase by 35 per cent in 2012 to 14,200 units. To reduce the risk of rising inventory in the next few years, developers will moderate multi-family starts in 2013 to 13,800 units, it said.

“In Alberta’s resale market, MLS sales will increase by 11 per cent to 59,800 units in 2012. In 2013, resale transactions in Alberta are forecast to increase to 61,000 units. MLS sales in Alberta will rise this year and next year, as employment and income growth provide the means to purchase,” said the report.

“With a transition to balanced market conditions unfolding, expect price growth to increase over the forecast period. The average resale price in Alberta is projected to rise by 2.5 per cent in 2012 to $362,200, and nearly three per cent to $372,300 in 2013. Both of Alberta’s largest markets, Calgary and Edmonton, have experienced improved market balance this year.”

mtoneguzzi@calgaryherald.com