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        <title>Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>https://www.calgaryluxuryhomes.ca/blog/2017-03/</link>
        <description></description>
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    <guid>https://www.calgaryluxuryhomes.ca/blog/olympics-would-light-torch-under-calgary-real-estate.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.calgaryluxuryhomes.ca/blog/olympics-would-light-torch-under-calgary-real-estate.html</link>
        <title>Olympics Would Light Torch Under Calgary Real Estate   </title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
There is serious consideration being given to entering a bid for the Winter Olympics in 2026.  Calgary’s real estate industry would be one of the biggest benefactors of holding the games here again.


There’s a lot of buzz in our city right now after last month’s formal announcement that a committee has been struck to explore the possibility.  


While the City of Calgary has yet to decide whether they’d go through with a bid, even if the committee finds it beneficial, one only has to look at once happened in 1988 when we did host it.


Dr. Harry Hiller, a professor at the University of Calgary, has examined the impact of the Games on host cities and says he’s gathered evidence from the two occasions when the Olympics have been held in Canada. He says real estate prices, in 1988 and 2010, surged on both occasions.


In a recent article in the Calgary Real Estate Board’s CREB Now newsletter, Hiller said the basic premise of higher real estate prices is based on local improvements.  He cites an example of when an undesirable property in an area is improved.  It improves the value of the properties in the immediate vicinity.  The same holds true when a city is preparing to host the Olympics.  An event like this garners a lot of attention and public funding which goes towards improving facilities, rehabilitating areas of land that were previously unusable and infrastructure.  When new facilities such as sports venues are constructed, it provides long-lasting benefits to the community.  A very recent example is the construction of the Ice District and Rogers Place in Edmonton where the residential area in the downtown area has seen values increase.


In Vancouver, the Olympic Village was constructed on a site that was contaminated but suddenly, that area along the water front is suddenly made beautiful.  Everything within a block or two of that area is going to go up in value.  In fact, Vancouver home prices as a whole have soared in the years since 2010.   Lower interest rates have also contributed to the spike in average home prices in the Vancouver area.


Cracking open the archives from 1988, CREB reports that sales that year were at a record breaking $1.39 billion.  Sales volume increased from 1987 to 1988 by 16 and the following year, a further 33.   Prices increased 8 over 1987 and the year following, prices rose another 12.5 according to the article.  Prices in the 10-year period after 1988 inched up but the legacy of the 1988 Olympics is still felt in the market today reported the chairman of WinSport, Scott Hutcheson.


The facilities that are a legacy of those games have also attracted people, and home buyers, to Calgary.  Elite athletes and their coaches plus professionals from every country on the planet.  Hutcheson is also with Aspen Properties and in his role as executive chairman has seen the impact of real estate in the city’s core.


He said the construction of new facilities has a down side. For example, when the Saddledome was constructed many homes in Victoria Park were demolished and citizens were displaced. Land values around Stampede Park went up making some housing unaffordable for locals.  But overall, mega events, like the Olympics, are good for a city’s reputation and economy as a whole.  The 1988 Games were a pivotal point in Calgary’s history, precipitating the city’s rapid growth in the decades that followed.


Real estate prices aside, there were other legacies from the previous Olympics that were intangible and hard to put a value on.  Calgary’s remarkable volunteer spirit and the unification of communities – something Hutcheson said can’t be measured in dollars and cents.


Once the committee puts its findings in front of City Council, a decision as to whether we’ll put a bid in will be made in late summer 2017.  The bid will be awarded in 2019.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 29 Mar 2017 14:09:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.calgaryluxuryhomes.ca/blog/should-you-know-your-calgary-neighbours.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.calgaryluxuryhomes.ca/blog/should-you-know-your-calgary-neighbours.html</link>
        <title>Should you know your Calgary neighbours?</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Do you go in and out of your Calgary home without so much as a nod or a wave to your neighbours?  You might want to rethink that.


The Federation of Calgary Communities (FCC) has launched a campaign to encourage Calgarians to get to know each other.  Leslie Evans, executive director of the FCC says it’s important to be able to look out upon your street and know where John lives or who lives next door to him.


As an ice breaker, the FCC has made “Neighbour Cards” available that Calgary home owners can distribute and then collect so that they know who lives around them. There’s room on each card for up to eight neighbours to write their names and contact info on the card which can be kept on the fridge or close by the phone.


The card is a way for people to connect with each and is an excuse to approach a neighbour.  Knowing the names of your neighbours contributes to an innate sense of belong, creating community and at the same time, making neighbourhoods safer.


Evans emphasized that that Calgary is not an unsafe city but vigilance and watching out for each other helps.


The FCC’s Neighbour Card idea is part of Mayor Naheed Nenshi’s Neighbour Day initiative which was born of the 2013 floods where neighbours pitched it to help their fellow Calgarians.  This helps keep the spirit of this neighbourliness alive.


Here are some further reasons why it’s a good idea to know who lives around you.




Someone to watch your home while you’re on vacation:  A neighbour is the perfect person to bring in your newspaper, your mail and depending on how long you’ve known them, water your plants.


Someone to loan you baking ingredients:  Everyone knows the story of the neighbour who runs over to borrow a cup of sugar.  It’s more than urban legend, it’s a real fact.  Have you ever thought you have eggs onto to find in mid-cake that you don’t?  Good neighbours don’t mind loaning an egg here and there as long as they know they can count on you to return the favour.


Borrowing garden implements:  Tread lightly when it comes to borrowing garden implements.  This is a favour for really good neighbours.  There are times when your mower breaks down or the shovel breaks and you just need to finish the job.  Return the items immediately when you’re finished to keep the relationship with neighbours in good stead.  Really.  Same goes when you know they have a tool you don’t have.


Emotional support:  When there’s a death in the family, illness or a disaster it’s good to have the support of neighbours who might bring you food or take care of your yard for you while you get back on your feet.  It’s also a good feeling to know that you’re that type of neighbour as well.  Knowing you’re part of the block “family” is important to everyday life.


Neighbours who know you give you a break:   If you have a backyard barbecue and it goes late into the night or you have friends over in your apartment for an evening of cards, a good neighbour is likely to let you bit a bit loud as long as it doesn’t happen very often.  In fact, you can invite your neighbours over for the party  At the very least, a neighbour you know might call to ask that you tone it down rather than call the authorities.


They’ll buy stuff when you’re fundraising:  As any parent will tell you, there’s always something to fundraise for.  Hockey teams, school bands, church trips.  If you buy your neighbour’s kids’ frozen steaks, they’ll buy your chocolates.  It’s reciprocal and it’s always nice to know your neighbours are there to help you.


Repair and renovation recommendations:  Need a good plumber?  Looking for a reliable roofer?  Who better than to check with your neighbours who have probably had work done and can give you the name of someone to help.


Neighbourhood safety:  You don’t need to know the intimate details of your neighbour’s life.  But if you know they aren’t moving and a moving van pulls up, there’s cause for alarm.  If you know they’re away but you can see someone turning a light on in the house, you can do something about it.  Understanding they’re comings and goings can help determine when suspicious activity is going on.




 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 22 Mar 2017 12:27:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.calgaryluxuryhomes.ca/blog/luxury-retailer-simons-set-to-open-march-16.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.calgaryluxuryhomes.ca/blog/luxury-retailer-simons-set-to-open-march-16.html</link>
        <title>Luxury Retailer Simons Set to Open March 16 </title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
The Simons name has long been popular in Quebec, synonymous with quality, fashion, design and art.  Now as part of an aggressive nation-wide expansion, the retailer is set to open downtown on Stephen Avenue on March 16.  Simons only other western locations are in West Vancouver and West Edmonton Mall.


The store will be housed in Calgary’s venerable Lancaster Building which has been completely renovated by McKinley Burkart, an architectural firm based here in Calgary.  The building has been marvelously transformed to contain 95,000 square feet of shopping area, part of The Core Shopping Centre in the heart of downtown.   Simons, aka La Maison Simons, is noted for contemporary style but McKinley Burkart has ensured that the south façade of the Lancaster, facing Stephen Avenue, has been preserved.  The north end of the building opens into the mall.   When you enter into the building off Stephen Avenue, the street entrance has been revitalized and is very inviting.  The firm employed the talents of local Calgary artists, such as Maya Gohill who has a reputation of creating vibrant portraits and abstract figures.  She created large murals on three levels of the building.  Megan Jentsch and Chris Cran have also been commissioned to create art works for Simons, as one of the company’s tenants to promote Canadian arts &amp; culture.


The Simons Story


The origins of this famously-Canadian retailer go back to 1812 when Peter Simons arrived in Quebec from Scotland.  One of his sons moved into the city in 1840 where he opened a dry goods store and imported goods from Europe.  He was fastidious and legend has it that he made at least 70 steam ship crossings to Europe to source out the best of the best.  Quality goods and exceptional service were the basis of his success.  In 1870 John Simons moved the store to it’s present location in Quebec City where Simons head office remains to this day.  Expansion in Quebec, then into Ontario was slow and careful.   Two stores will open this year and online shopping has been added as a way to serve Canadian customers without retail options.


Simons offerings in home fashion reflect the retailer’s emphasis on quality. Bedroom, kitchen and bath are all covered with selected furnishings and accessories available online only. Le Germaine Hotels is a line of bed linen that is very popular with Simons customers.


Inside Simons


Hard to find designer labels for clothing and shoes is the hallmark of Simons.  Buyers source coveted designs from around the globe for men and women.  That includes home fashion as well.  Labels include DJAB, Le 31, and Twik.  Canadian designers play a vital role in all Simons stores.


Luxury Lines


Simons buyers are always scouting out new labels and are eager to add them to each season’s line up.  They are promising new additions to the store and new labels that have never before been offered in Calgary. Where you like sophisticated looks, minimalist lines or are into punk and edgy fashion from the U.K. you’ll find fresh new finds at Simons.  Vivienne Westwood plus Canadians designers like Elisa C-Rossow of Montreal – even Malorie Urbanovitch who hails from Edmonton.


Refreshments While You Shop


Simons “Eve Café” may not be ready for March 16 but is scheduled to open sometime this year.  It’s where Simons’ customers are invited to break for lunch or to enjoy a quick coffee or something as simple as a bottle of water.  The café will be on the second floor and true to the retailer’s Quebecois roots it promises to offer French Canadian treats such as almond croissants and of course, cappuccino.


The Core Shopping Centre


This indoor shopping mall in the heart of downtown Calgary takes up several city blocks.  It is comprised of TD Square and encompasses the former Eaton Centre where another luxury Canadian retailer, Holt Renfrew.  The mall has about 160 stores spread out over four shopping levels.  There are four large office buildings contained within the complex as well.  The Lancaster Building has been assimilated into The Core, and was built in 1919 as an office building.  One of the loveliest features about this indoor mall is the wonderful suspended skylight which brings natural light into the shopping area. Another highlight is The Devonian Gardens.  There is free underground parking after 6 pm on weeknights and on weekends.   It is also accessible by the LRT which stops along the north side of the mall along 7 Ave SW.   
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    <pubDate>Sun, 05 Mar 2017 14:34:00 -0700</pubDate>
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