Calgary is full of great communities and selecting which one to live in is not an easy task for Calgary home buyers!

When you are picking a community to live in, it largely depends on work and family. Where do you work? Downtown? Do you have a home office? If not, is a short commute important to you? Do you have children? What activities do you like to do in your spare time?

Living in a community which matches your lifestyle can make all the difference in how happy you are in your new home. If you are new to Calgary, the first tip you need to know is that Calgary is divided into four quadrants: NW, SW, SE, or NE. Here’s a quick look at the various areas and some of their characteristics:

The NW quadrant might be best for:
•Families with university-aged children since it includes the University of Calgary.
•Families that want access to Kensington which offers a great mix of cafes, pubs, bistros, and craft shops.
•People who love to escape to the foothills or the Rocky Mountains.
•People who want to live in a lake community and a family-oriented community.
•People who want lots of green space.

The SW quadrant might be best for:
•If families with university-aged children since it contains the Mount Royal University.
•If you are able and want to pay a higher price, which means dwellings that are worth more and are considered upscale.
•Singles and couples since it is close to the downtown core with bars, restaurants, and shops.
•People who want easy access to the Rockies.

The SE quadrant might be best for:
•Lower priced housing and newer suburbs.
•People who work in the industrial sector so they have easy access.
•Families who want to be near some of the best recreational parks and natural reserves.
•People who want to live in a lake community and a family-oriented community.

The NE quadrant might be best for:
•People who want to be centrally located in the city and have easy access to downtown.
•Lower prices for people just starting with their first home purchase.
•People who need access to the airport on a consistent basis for frequent trips out of town.
•People who want newer homes and many of the older homes are being replaced.
•People who have small children and want easy access to the zoo.

If you have questions about which community in Calgary might be the best fit for your family, please contact Coldwell Banker Complete Real Estate and let us help you find the perfect combination of home and community!

For many first-time homebuyers, saving the 5 per cent downpayment is one of the big obstacles to home ownership, especially if you’re paying rent, paying down student loans, and trying to live a life. Here are some programs and tips that can give your downpayment a boost – to get you into your home faster:

1.The federal Home Buyers’ Program (HBP) lets first-time homebuyers withdraw up to $25,000 each (or $50,000 for a couple) tax-free from their RRSPs. You’ll need to pay those funds back, of course, on repayment plan.

2.A financial gift from a parent or blood relative can be used as a downpayment. You’ll need to document in writing that the funds are a gift and that you are not required to pay the money back at any time.

3.A parent or grandparent could also provide a loan with a modest interest rate and reasonable expectations for loan repayment. Or you could look at borrowing the downpayment through a loan or unsecured line of credit.

If your dream home is out of reach, look for a starter home. Use today’s low interest rates to start hammering down your mortgage, then watch for the opportunity to get the home of your dreams – using the equity and credit rating you’ve been building!

Article courtesy of:

Cam Brown
Accredited Mortgage Professional
(403) 650-5509
INVIS “Canada’s Mortgage Experts”
www.mortgagealberta.ca
cambrown@invis.ca