Calgary Real Estate Market - 2021 and beyond

adamtheman wrote: ↑ That's a really small garage. Like, really small. Not even a tandem garage. Wouldn't even have room to get out of the doors if you had a big SUV. Unfortunately there's a reason why there's not much inventory for double garages - because that's what everyone wants. If there's one thing people want in Alberta it's big garages for their toys and cars. There's no such thing as too big of a garage. Ask any realtor and they will tell you the top request they get from basically everyone is "big garage" followed probably by "big yard". If you're fine with a single garage then that's okay but for resale value it will be harder to sell. I personally hate single garages mostly because of what I call the "shuffle". Families with more than 1 car have to constantly shuffle the cars. We did it in my household, we had 2 cars and had to always plan ahead and if my car was parked in the garage and I wanted to go out I had to move the car in the driveway, then back my car out, then pull the other car in. You try and plan but it doesn't always work out. Doing "the shuffle" in minus 30 gets old real quick. And if you park in that garage then there's zero room for storage. Which is fine if you don't plan to finish the basement, but finishing the basement is where you'd get equity. I personally will never own a home with a single car garage again. But that's just me (well, and a lot of other people). I think it really boils down to... are you buying this to live in for a long time, or is this an investment property? If it's an investment property, I would go with something that will have the largest potential clients to market it to when selling and that would mean double garage and large yard, but with an unfinished basement (so you can extract value). That's the gem.

nathand wrote: ↑ Thanks for the input, originally from Ontario and one of the first things that I’ve noticed is Albertans and their toys. Just bought last year in Leduc but will rent it out in a few months. First time having a garage and it’s a double, and I love it. The purchase in Calgary will hopefully be the last house I get.

adamtheman wrote: ↑ Yeah it's a very albertan thing to see people with a double garage and no cars parked inside. Even with frigid weather, you will see them park cars outside because a lot of people use their garages as extensions of their house, or storage, or for toys, etc. In fact there's a ton of people around me who run extension cords out to the street, where they park their cars, even though they have double garages. No they don't have 5 cars, it's just their garage is full. I had a neighbour like that. Their family had 4 cars. Two parked in the driveway and 2 on the street, zero in the garage. Very common.

my_sir wrote: ↑ This talk about garage priority in Alberta is very interesting. Wife and I are toying wth the idea of moving west and noticed that most houses in Calgary are front garage style which we almost never see in Toronto. The house is all garage which to me as an outsider is pretty damn ugly.

my_sir wrote: ↑ This talk about garage priority in Alberta is very interesting. Wife and I are toying wth the idea of moving west and noticed that most houses in Calgary are front garage style which we almost never see in Toronto. The house is all garage which to me as an outsider is pretty damn ugly.

Hp4041 wrote: ↑ Really? I live in GTA and it’s more of an anomaly to have a garage behind the house in the suburbs. And a garage within the the city of Toronto? That’s even more of an anomaly.

In fact, what’s very interesting, and a rarity in Toronto, is that in Calgary core, there is very commonly a laneway behind the house and you access the garage and often big ones, behind the house. The laneway itself is unfortunately mostly gravel, which is somewhat of an eyesore, but it massively improves curb appeal on the Main Street.

my_sir wrote: ↑ No, I am referring to the front garage house design, NOT having a garage in the front. In a front garage design, the house is DOMINATED by a garage and then a front door tucked to side. Please see link below for an example.

https://www.arbourlakewest.com/home-typ ... age/296009

Also, laneway detached garage is a bit of a dealbreaker in such a frigid area. Yeah, I agree that they do make the house look better from the front.

Hp4041 wrote: ↑ Depends on the size of the house. This for example is the very very common design in suburbs of Toronto. Let’s not even start on the price differential.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/2392 ... evonsleigh

Not sure what you mean by frigid - the garage would be insulated and likely heated. I would love it if I could have a laneway detached garage in GTA. Won’t ever happen because that’s so much land squandered.

Gaurav21069 wrote: ↑ Particularly interested in pre con in Seton area ( SE Calgary) . Would like to hear comments or advice from this forum about investing in that area.

My eyes are set on a duplex with legal suit which should make this property ( in ideal conditions ) cash positive.

my_sir wrote: ↑ This talk about garage priority in Alberta is very interesting. Wife and I are toying wth the idea of moving west and noticed that most houses in Calgary are front garage style which we almost never see in Toronto. The house is all garage which to me as an outsider is pretty damn ugly.

my_sir wrote: ↑ Dude, that is not a front garage house. It is just a house with a garage in the front. Did you even click on my link??? This is a front garage design. Notice that there is a garage and a door and nothing else on the main floor…no windows.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/2392 ... nolan-hill

And garages in the lane are usually NOT heated. Most garages are not insulated as well. It is just a detach garage where you have to trek through your backyard to get to the house. Just another area you need to shovel to get to. I used to live across from woodbine park in the Beaches and they are all laneway garages.

SLee wrote: ↑ Seton seems to be a favored child of governments and a showcase of Calgary politicians desire for mixed-use, mixed-residential neighborhoods. It has the south Calgary hospital nearby, the giant YMCA recreation center and city facilities, good road access and the eventual south terminal of the Green Line LRT when (if) it gets fully built out.

sunnyb7 wrote: ↑ Why do you have an "if" in your statement? Did the project not get a green signal last year by Federal government? Do you have a doubt that it might get scrapped at all? That will be disaster for Seton.

SLee wrote: ↑ Even with the significant funding in place from all levels of government, the budget overruns means that they can only afford about half (20km) of the Green Line and still had to cancel some tunnel sections. The currently funded sections are:



And that's only assuming things go well; there's still a good chance the Bow River crossing section will be canceled. These changes plus management changes means that the Green Line also isn't expected to begin construction until 2024.

SLee wrote: ↑ Agreed, but it's pretty much mandatory these days due to density requirements in new developments resulting in most SFH lots in the 24-26 feet width range. Even wider lots just in the 35 feet range have become rare and almost always reserved for estate level houses with a triple garage and located with water views or on a ridge.

LoveDealios wrote: ↑ Anyone have any recommendations for agents in Camrose, Alberta? Any specific areas to look at / to avoid? Would it be relatively easy to find a renter if I were to get a house with a basement apartment? New builds coming/recommended? The prices there look amazing compared to GTA which is where I am renting now.
Thanks