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Feeling Good in Mission

Feeling Good in the Neighbourhood

If you plan on visiting Calgary in the near future or anytime really, be sure to check out one of the best-kept secrets around, the Mission District area of town. This historic quarter, quietly nestled within verdant foliage on the bank of the Elbow River, should be on everyone’smust-see list.

Moreover, if you are considering making a move to Calgary, you’ll find this former French Canadian Settlement a wonderful mixture of residential-community and classic shopping at its best. This unique and quiet area (consisting of about 10 blocks) is one of Calgary’s most treasured areas.

The Present Meets the Past

Since its settling in the early 1900’s, the Mission District has seen a century of changes. No longer the sleepy little French-Canadian neighborhood of old, the Mission District is bustling with its renovated old pre-war homes, many transformed into unique retail shops replete with antique stores, boutique shopping, bakeries, and even a local brewery specializing in their own flavorful brand.

A ten-minute walk finds you downtown where even more stores, businesses and shops, all serve to create a bustling and exciting environment. More than the shops, homes and businesses however, it is the people and the culture that make the Mission District the family friendly area it has become.

While the area is ever evolving, according to Marilyn Williams, the heritage director of Mission-Cliff Bungalow, “Some of the old, original buildings still exist, such as the convent and the St. Mary’s Parish Hall,” says Williams. “And the area is also a cradle of Francophone culture.”

Shops Galore!

Take a leisurely stroll of the District and you will discover a plethora of wonderful and one-of-a-kind shops including restaurants, bakeries, gift shops and more.

Here are but few eateries you may wish to check out while there.

Read the rest of the article at Mission

Buy, Sell, or Sit Tight?

Given the current state of the economy, it is little wonder that homeowners, as well as homebuyers, have questions about the present state of the Calgary housing market. Whether or not you like the answer depends on your position.

The Big Question

With a downward trend in home sales beginning last year and virtually guaranteed to continue through 2016, the proverbial big question relevant to all positions of the housing market are, “Should I buy, sell, or hold?” As with most things involving anything, it depends on whom you ask and through which side of the glass you are looking.

Don Campbell is senior analyst for the Real Estate Investment Network as well as renowned author and expert on the art of buying and selling property. When recently asked by CBC News about the state of the current Calgary housing market he stated, “If oil stays at these low rates, the housing market will suffer from a lack of buyers willing to pay at or near asking price, thus driving average sale prices down.”

In 2015, building permits on single and two-family homes fell a staggering 37% and all indications show 2016 hold little hope of a meaningful rebound.

Circumstance Dictates

Mr. Campbell went on to say, “2016 is slated to be a difficult year on many levels in the city but, like the many previous economic storms that have hit this city in the past, Calgarians have the ingenuity and strength to navigate through it.”

He continued; “That doesn’t mean much if a person must sell their home because of change of job situation, but for those who don’t have to sell and plan to stay in the city for many years, they should focus on what they can control and build a financial buffer.”

The High 5!

While the downward trend in housing prices continues for certain sectors of the Calgary market, the overall Canadian real estate market remains strong, robust even.

By the Numbers

Below are listed the top five Canadian cities whose real estate markets command the highest prices according to rentseeker.ca.

Number One: Vancouver. Experiencing a price increase of nearly 22 percent from 2014 to 2015, Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities in which to buy a home anywhere in the world. The average home in this City will set you back a cool 1.2 million dollars.

Number Two: Toronto In addition to record home sales for 2015, Toronto saw a 10 percent increase in price over 2014 and now sets the average cost of buying a home there of any type, at $622,000 and change.

Number 3: Montreal With housing prices hovering at around $100,000 less than the national average, Montreal is still considered one of the most expensive cities in the world in which to live. The average price of a home in the city however, will cost you only about $340,000 .

Number 4: Calgary Steep declines in home sales in 2015 (26 percent over 2014) and a continuing downward trend predicted for 2016, have hurt home sales and the real estate market overall. Calgary still hangs in the top 5 however with the average price of a single-family home holding at a respectable $434,744, although down some $28,000 from December of the previous year.

Number 5: Victoria Holding the title of The second least affordable city in Canada, Victoria still has a very strong real estate market. Homes in single-family neighborhoods account for the lion’s share of sales with an average list price of $421,000 .