Edmonton Real Estate Blog

Consider some more intriguing facts about our capital city:

1.  It is thought that, in 1754, Anthony Henday, an explorer working for the Hudson’s Bay Company, was the first European to visit the Edmonton area.  Appropriately, the long sought-after ring road around Edmonton which is currently under construction, bears his name.

2.  Ron Hayter, from Ward 2, is the longest serving councillor in Edmonton’s history.  He has served continuously since 1971.

3.  Matthew McCauley was the first mayor of Edmonton when it was incorporated as a town in 1892.  He was instrumental in establishing the first school board and the first municipal police force.  There is a neighbourhood in Edmonton between the Royal Alexandra Hospital and Commonwealth Stadium named after him.

4.  In the 2006 census, people with European roots formed the largest cluster of ethnicity in Edmonton.  They were mostly of English, Scottish, German, Irish, Ukrainian and French origins.

5.  If Mill Woods, a community in SE Edmonton, were a separate municipality, it would be Edmonton’s third largest city.

6.  Edmonton has a semi-arid continental climate with extreme seasonal temperatures, milder though than either Winnipeg or Regina which are both situated further south.  Average daily temperatures range from -11.7 degrees Centigrade in January to 17.5 degrees Centigrade in July.  However temperatures exceed 30 degrees C for at least 4 days each year and plummet to -20 degrees C or less for an average of 28 days each year.

7.  Edmonton averages 140 frost-free days a year [May 24-Sept. 23].

8.  The Edmonton tornado in 1987 touched down 6 times, killing 27 people and causing more than $250 million in property damage.

9.  Edmonton is one of Canada’s premier research and education centers.  The University of Alberta, the Alberta Research Council, the Edmonton Research Park and the National Institute for Nanotechnology are part of this exciting leading edge development.

10.  The Francis Winspear Center for Music is one of the most acoustically perfect concert halls in Canada and is home to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

11.  Fort Edmonton Park, nestled in the river valley along the North Saskatchewan River, is Canada’s largest living history museum.  If you want to take a step back in time, beginning with a steam locomotive ride, this is the place to be during the spring and summer.

There is a certain charm about older homes that captivates the interest of many people. Perhaps it is because of the ‘nostalgia’ factor–’Look Jim, this is just like the home my grandparents use to live in!’ In fact, the first home for many young people might, in fact, be their grandparent’s home! As well, there are people who seek out these older homes as a ‘renovate and restore’ project. Still others are drawn to them because of their dislike of the ‘burbs.’

Whatever the reason, there are certain questions that must be asked in advance of a purchase that will avoid a lot of heartache down the road. First, does the home have lead water pipes leading into it? Edmonton has recently noted that a certain percentage of older homes are displaying a significant level of lead in their water. They have suggested getting the water tested to determine the levels of lead, running the water before usage to flush the lead out and, perhaps best of all, replace the lead pipes altogether [with the homeowners portion ringing in at about $5,000.

Second, does the home have asbestos insulation [including vermiculite] or floor tiles or siding or heating tape? Left undisturbed, the problem may not be particularly dangerous. But once asbestos is disturbed and becomes airborne fibres, the risk is significant. If renovations are probable, a professional company should be hired to safely remove all asbestos from the home?

Third, is there significant carbon monoxide leakage coming from cracked insulation in the existing furnace? Even if the levels are insignificant, a carbon monoxide detector should be properly installed and an annual furnace check scheduled to offset this serious problem.

Fourth, has the electrical service been upgraded to 100 amps? It is difficult to get home insurance on a home with a 60 amp service, for example. Upgrading this to acceptable levels can be costly.

Fifth, if renovations or additions have been done by a previous owner, have all of the necessary permits been secured and were they followed up by a proper inspection by the City of Edmonton? If not, why not?

Finally, does the home come complete with a current Real Property Report with a City of Edmonton compliance stamp attached? This document is absolutely critical to the peace of mind of the new owner to say nothing about the financing company that will require it! If the new homeowner has to supply it and problems are identified by the survey company or the city compliance branch, the costs to remedy the situation can be substantial.

It is better do your due diligence in advance than face the surprises that may surface after the deal has closed!

There has been a resurgence of interest among young couples in residing in more mature neighbourhoods in the city. Affordability is one drawing factor. Where once the school populations were declining with the aging population, now with the arrival of young families the school populations have mushroomed once again.

When considering a move into a mature neighbourhood, there are some important factors to keep in mind. What are the crime statistics in the area? What are the long-range city development plans for the neighbourhood? Future roadways, Light Rapid Transit and the like that may influence your decision! What amenities are readily available–schools, churches, doctors, dentists, fire and police stations, recreation facilities, shopping malls, bus transportation? What is the re-sale record of homes in the area? How well are the adjacent yards and homes maintained? Is there an active community league operating in the area? What positive and negative factors about the neighbourhood can you compile?

Some of these questions can be answered by referring to the Edmonton City Police website, or calling the City of Edmonton Development Branch. Others can be ascertained by talking to potential neighbours or having your realtor do a community real estate analysis of comparable homes.

Doing some constructive due diligence in advance can lead to some wise decision-making and long-term satisfaction!

One of the most exciting dimensions of being a Realtor in Edmonton is the wide diversity of product available for sale. There is something for everyone in the marketplace, from the most affordable to the highly luxurious, from the entry level to the investment opportunity, from the city-dweller to the acreage resident, from the condo buyer to the single detached family home. Whether someone is starting again, moving up, moving down, retiring or investing, there is sure to be numerous possibilities available here.

For example, in Edmonton proper, on Nov. 24, 2009 there are 1569 single family detached homes listed for sale ranging in price from $69,900 to $18,000,000! As well, there are 1457 condos for sale which range in price from $59,900 to $2.9 million.

If you are seeking an acreage within a 40 minute drive of the city, there are possibilities in every direction. Typically, the closer the property is to the city, the most pricey it will be. Some acreages are serviced by city water; others rely on a cistern or a drilled well.

Investment properties are normally located close to one of the educational institutions–for instance, the University of Alberta, Grant MacEwan College or the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. With a shortage of student housing, well-placed investment properties usually give a great return!

There is something for everyone [barring an oceanfront or tropical property!] in Edmonton!

Did you know that: 1. Edmonton sits on 670 square kilometers [264 sq. mi] of land, making it larger in area than Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit and , as well, one of the lowest urban population densities in North America? 2. Edmonton’s population, according to the Apr. 2009 census, now numbers 782,439–an increase of 30,000 over the previous year? 3. Edmonton’s metropolitan area comprises 36 municipalities–the likes of St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, Beaumont, Leduc, Fort Saskatchewan with a combined population [2006] of 1.034 million? 4. Edmonton shares the same latitude as Hamburg, Germany and Liverpool, England? 5. Edmonton is known as Canada’s ‘Festival City’ because it promotes more than 30 festivals each year-including The Festival of Trees [Dec], Canadian Birkebeiner [Feb], International Children’s Festival [June], Taste of Edmonton [July],the Rexall Edmonton Indy [July] and the Edmonton International Fringe Festival [Aug]? 6. Edmonton was incorporated as a city in 1904 when the population was 8,350 and became the capital of Alberta when the province joined Confederation on Sept. 1, 1905? 7. Edmonton boasted the first licensed airfield in Canada in 1929 — named Blatchford Field which was used by notable pioneer pilots like ‘Wop’ May and Max ward to distribute mail, food and medicine to Northern Alberta? 8. The North Saskatchewan River, which divides Edmonton into two parts originates in the Columbia IceField in Jasper National Park and ultimately empities into Hudson’s Bay? 9. Edmonton’s River Valley constitutes the longest stretch of connected urban parkland in North America which is 22 times as large as New York’s Central Park? 10. Edmonton was judged to have the ‘best economic potential’ of any North American city by ‘FDi Magazine’ in 2006?

Edmonton, whose motto is ‘Industry, Integrity, Progress’ is a thriving city that one can be proud to call ‘home’!