Advice needed from Calgary MC'ers

[UK PONY]

If I decided to move to Calgary which areas should I consider moving to?

I want somewhere that I don't need to have won the 649 to be able to afford it & where I can go to work & feel that my vert is safe in the garage.

It's all very tentative right now but I'd like to have some idea of where to look.

[RD2008]

A move up I hope.

[klaw]

Would you be working downtown? Generally, I'd recommend the west side and the NW more particularly. The deep south is OK too if you're working down there somewhere. Try to avoid having to use Deerfoot Trail. There's good (at least as good as LRT gets here) LRT access from the far NW and the new NW quadrant of the ring road is nearing completion. I might even allow you into our Cul-de-sac for an annual detailing of my car's chassis. LOL

[Matthew]

Originally Posted by UK PONY

If I decided to move to Calgary which areas should I consider moving to?

Klaw and I both live in the NW for a reason. In my opinoin that's the best part of town - least gangs, least problems overall. SW would be second in my books. I would generally try to avoid the whole east side, though once you are as far south as McKenzie, even SE is OK, but that's a long way off the beaten path if you work downtown.

I want somewhere that I don't need to have won the 649 to be able to afford it & where I can go to work & feel that my vert is safe in the garage.

This is the hard part Steve. At least Saskatoon's housing market has had a big jump, so the house you have now should be worth good money, and Calgary's housing market has declined significantly from its all time highs a year or more ago. If you are looking for a 1000-1300 sq ft place fairly far NW like Tuscany or Arbour Lake, look for prices in the $375000 range, closer in like Charleswood or Varsity look for places like that to be at least $500000. 1700 sq ft in the far NW lists around $450000+. Over 2000 sq ft up there is more like $650000. In closer to downtown and over 2000 sq ft look for $750000 and up. Obviously the nicer the house and the better the view or yard, the more its going to cost.

One problem with neighborhoods like Tuscany is that they built the houses too close together and with vinyl siding, so when one house catches fire, invariably several are destroyed or significantly damaged. Some of those neighborhoods have an annual community association fee, like a condo fee, which is mandatory as well, so you need to check into that before you buy a place. I have some friends in Tuscany, and our Prime Minister has a house up there too, but unless you have parking downtown it's a bitch to get to work. Downtown parking will cost you at least $300 a month and you will probably be on a waiting list for a year to get that. Figure on $500 a month for parking if you are going to drive downtown initially, or a lot of aggravation if you live further NW than Dalhousie Station, which is the current end of the line for the C-Train.

There is no train service in the SW - it goes straight south - so if you live down there figure on a bus ride to downtown or a train station, or parking at a park 'n ride where you take a real chance of a break in on your car.

Take a look at the Calgary listings for yourself:

mls.ca -

-Matthew

[ronburgundy]

nw is nice. anywhere within a few minutes of the kensington wine market is good (best scotch collection around)

[UK PONY]

Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated. The potential move would put my workplace in the NE - I had scanned MLS & seen affordable housing in an area called Marlborough (sp?), however I've heard mixed reviews of that area.

If that area is no good what neighbourhoods are decent without being too pricey (<$350k). I don't need anything too big so long as it has a decent sized (preferably double) garage.

Also whilst I'm picking your collective brains what other things should I be taking into account? I had heard car insurance costs more but not sure by how much (the vert costs around $1000/year here for example). If I do make the move I'll probably sell the 2 '90's (or at least 1 of them) & buy a modern DD (Fusion or similar).

What is the cost of living like?

Thanks in advance.

edit - I put the NW but meant NE, sorry just tired right now.

[smellslikewetdog]

Marlbourough is in the NE,so you have a bit of a drive in rush hour.Also,that area has a reputation for both crime and general undesirerables.You may want to consider maybe commuting from a community nearer the NW,like Airdrie for instance.Its a short drive into Calgary,and Im thinking the housing costs are marginally lower compared to Calgary.

[UK PONY]

Originally Posted by smellslikewetdog

.Also,that area has a reputation for both crime and general undesirerables.

That's good to know Patrick - I had heard that from one person but the opposite from another

[klaw]

I would give Marlborough a pass. If you're going to be working in the NE, you might want to consider Mayland Heights. It's just east of Deerfoot but west of Barlow Trail and I think misses most of the poorer reputation of the other (bigger) east side communities. You could check out MLS listing C3337113 for an idea of what's available.

[UK PONY]

Thanks Kevin - is there a list of areas I shouldn't even look at?

[smellslikewetdog]

I would stay away from anywhere east of the deerfoot 500.Also,depending on how old/new a home you want.Stay outta Bowness to the west.I do like Bridgeland/renfrew/mayland heights in the NE.They are just north of the city center but are older neighbourhoods with alot of seniors so fewer rodents..err..I mean teens around to mess with the Stang.I grew up in Bridgeland so if its anything like 'the old days' ,youll be ok.North...hmm.I like varsity ,thorncliff and Charleswood but again,older homes now.Newer modest homes in the north may include edgemont,and some nearer John Laurier Blvd

[UK PONY]

^^^thanks Patrick - I don't mind older houses (mine was built in 1929) so long as they're not falling apart.

[klaw]

If you want to live in the NW, Dalhousie probably has something that would work.

In the NE the list of areas to avoid would start with Forest Lawn.

[UK PONY]

^^ good to know - there are a ton of houses in Forest Grove, Fonda and so on.... are they any good or no?

[smellslikewetdog]

Originally Posted by UK PONY

^^ good to know - there are a ton of houses in Forest Grove, Fonda and so on.... are they any good or no?

heheh Thats Forest Lawn...stay away!