Cochrane to Airdrie
Oct 17th, 2006 | 03:24 AM
#1
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Joined: Oct 2006
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Cochrane to Airdrie
I am planning to move to Calgary area but i will be working in Airdrie and i was wondering where the lower, middle and upper class areas of Calgary are for property buying ? Using the MLS website i notice that Calgary is split into 4 areas , A,B, C and D .I know that prices in the City will be at a premium , so i am considering Airdrie itself and also Cochrane . I would like an idea of the commuting time between Cochrane and Airdrie as well as what kind of property pricing and standards to expect . Would you reccommend staying in the outskirts of the City limits apposed to within ? Is there more desire to stay in Cochrane rather than Airdrie ? I will be visiting Calgary early next year for 5 days to do some 'sightseeing' and speak with a Realtor . Can you offer any advice please ?
Oct 17th, 2006 | 10:24 AM
#2
Joined: Dec 2003
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>>>>>>I am planning to move to Calgary area but i will be working in Airdrie and i was wondering where the lower, middle and upper class areas of Calgary are for property buying ?<<<<<<
Middle and upper middle class areas are scattered throughout the city. For example, Varisty Acres and Varsity Village are midle class, but nearby Varsity Estates is upper middle class. The same is true of Oakridge and Oakridge Estates, and so on. Any time you see the term "Estates," assume it is an upscale neighbourhood.
Mount Royal is Calgary's "snob district." It is located close-in, outside of the downtown core but near the downtown core.
Because Calgary is growing so fast and commuting becomes ever less comfortable, other close-in neighbourhoods are becoming increasingly desirable and therefore expensive. If they were not gentrified already, they are becoming gentrified now. I'm thinking of neighbourhoods like Roxboro, Elbow Park, Hillhurst, and so on.
There also are large, expensive houses on large plots of ground beyond the city limits, e.g., Springbank.
The close-in SE quadrant, which is adjacent to industrial areas, is considered to be less desirable.
The NE quadrant, which suffers from airport noise and is interspersed with commercial zones and big box stores, also is considered to be less desirable.
On the whole, the more desirable quadrants of Calgary are the NW, the SW, and the far (or "deep"
SE.
>>>>>>Using the MLS website i notice that Calgary is split into 4 areas , A,B, C and D.<<<<<<<
Those are the designations on the MLS map. In everyday conversation Calgarians never use those designations. Calgarians refer to the quadrants. In fact every street address in Calgary ends in NW, SW, SE or NE, and that suffix tells you the quadrant in which it's located.
>>>>>>I would like an idea of the commuting time between Cochrane and Airdrie<<<<<<
Assume 40 minutes if driving conditions are good.
>>>>>>as well as what kind of property pricing and standards to expect<<<<<<
You can find out prices from the MLS website. As for standards, I don't have the foggiest idea how to answer that question. I don't know what your reference point is. House construction methods in Cochrane and Airdrie are similar to those in Calgary.
>>>>>>Would you reccommend staying in the outskirts of the City limits apposed to within ?<<<<<<<
When you say city limits, I don't know if you're referring to Calgary's city limits, Cochrane's city limits or Airdrie's city limits.
Generally speaking, I think the city limits make little difference. It's the commuting time from your place of work that makes the difference.
If you have only yourself to consider, it probably will make sense to live in Airdrie. Certainly it would make your commute short and easy, and that counts a lot with me.
If you have a spouse or partner who also will be looking for work, and if there is a chance he/she may work in Calgary, it may be best to "split the difference" and live in a far out NW neighbourhood in Calgary. I know a couple in that position. The husband works in Airdrie. Apparently his commute via back roads is only about 20 minutes. The wife works in downtown Calgary. I am guessing her commute is 40 minutes on a good day.
>>>>>>Is there more desire to stay in Cochrane rather than Airdrie ?<<<<<<
Amongst people who work in Calgary and commute from an outlying town, I think Cochrane is considered to be slightly more desirable than Airdrie. That's because Cochrane is a bit closer to the mountains. I wouldn't like to live in an outlying town and commute to work in Calgary, so neither Cochrane nor Airdrie appeals to me. But the fact that you'll be working in Airdrie changes the equation in your case, I would have thought.
>>>>>>I will be visiting Calgary early next year for 5 days to do some 'sightseeing' and speak with a Realtor . Can you offer any advice please ?<<<<<<
(1) Practise travelling from a given neighbourhood to your place of work during morning rush hour and/or in the other direction during afternoon / evening rush hour. Driving times can vary enormously during peak versus off peak times.
(2) If a real estate salesperson shows you round a neighbourhood during the day, visit the same neighbourhood at night under your own steam. Get out of your car and walk around the neighbourhood to get a feel for it. Atmospheres of neighbourhoods can differ during the day and at night.
When it comes to real estate salespersons, I can recommend Mike Leibel:
http://www.calgarymike.com/
Hope that helps.
Middle and upper middle class areas are scattered throughout the city. For example, Varisty Acres and Varsity Village are midle class, but nearby Varsity Estates is upper middle class. The same is true of Oakridge and Oakridge Estates, and so on. Any time you see the term "Estates," assume it is an upscale neighbourhood.
Mount Royal is Calgary's "snob district." It is located close-in, outside of the downtown core but near the downtown core.
Because Calgary is growing so fast and commuting becomes ever less comfortable, other close-in neighbourhoods are becoming increasingly desirable and therefore expensive. If they were not gentrified already, they are becoming gentrified now. I'm thinking of neighbourhoods like Roxboro, Elbow Park, Hillhurst, and so on.
There also are large, expensive houses on large plots of ground beyond the city limits, e.g., Springbank.
The close-in SE quadrant, which is adjacent to industrial areas, is considered to be less desirable.
The NE quadrant, which suffers from airport noise and is interspersed with commercial zones and big box stores, also is considered to be less desirable.
On the whole, the more desirable quadrants of Calgary are the NW, the SW, and the far (or "deep"
SE.>>>>>>Using the MLS website i notice that Calgary is split into 4 areas , A,B, C and D.<<<<<<<
Those are the designations on the MLS map. In everyday conversation Calgarians never use those designations. Calgarians refer to the quadrants. In fact every street address in Calgary ends in NW, SW, SE or NE, and that suffix tells you the quadrant in which it's located.
>>>>>>I would like an idea of the commuting time between Cochrane and Airdrie<<<<<<
Assume 40 minutes if driving conditions are good.
>>>>>>as well as what kind of property pricing and standards to expect<<<<<<
You can find out prices from the MLS website. As for standards, I don't have the foggiest idea how to answer that question. I don't know what your reference point is. House construction methods in Cochrane and Airdrie are similar to those in Calgary.
>>>>>>Would you reccommend staying in the outskirts of the City limits apposed to within ?<<<<<<<
When you say city limits, I don't know if you're referring to Calgary's city limits, Cochrane's city limits or Airdrie's city limits.
Generally speaking, I think the city limits make little difference. It's the commuting time from your place of work that makes the difference.
If you have only yourself to consider, it probably will make sense to live in Airdrie. Certainly it would make your commute short and easy, and that counts a lot with me.
If you have a spouse or partner who also will be looking for work, and if there is a chance he/she may work in Calgary, it may be best to "split the difference" and live in a far out NW neighbourhood in Calgary. I know a couple in that position. The husband works in Airdrie. Apparently his commute via back roads is only about 20 minutes. The wife works in downtown Calgary. I am guessing her commute is 40 minutes on a good day.
>>>>>>Is there more desire to stay in Cochrane rather than Airdrie ?<<<<<<
Amongst people who work in Calgary and commute from an outlying town, I think Cochrane is considered to be slightly more desirable than Airdrie. That's because Cochrane is a bit closer to the mountains. I wouldn't like to live in an outlying town and commute to work in Calgary, so neither Cochrane nor Airdrie appeals to me. But the fact that you'll be working in Airdrie changes the equation in your case, I would have thought.
>>>>>>I will be visiting Calgary early next year for 5 days to do some 'sightseeing' and speak with a Realtor . Can you offer any advice please ?<<<<<<
(1) Practise travelling from a given neighbourhood to your place of work during morning rush hour and/or in the other direction during afternoon / evening rush hour. Driving times can vary enormously during peak versus off peak times.
(2) If a real estate salesperson shows you round a neighbourhood during the day, visit the same neighbourhood at night under your own steam. Get out of your car and walk around the neighbourhood to get a feel for it. Atmospheres of neighbourhoods can differ during the day and at night.
When it comes to real estate salespersons, I can recommend Mike Leibel:
http://www.calgarymike.com/
Hope that helps.
Oct 17th, 2006 | 07:53 PM
#3
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,399
Likes: 0
As usual Judy has provided a wealth of practical information.
My 2 cents' worth...
Cochrane would always be, in my mind, been preferable to Airdre. It's closer to the mountains. It's surrounded by acreage properties where affluent people have located themselves to have a country atmosphere close to the city. It kind of has a well-off, cattle ranch and oil industry feel to it.
I think of Airdre as a typical "bedroom" community, with cheaper housing than in the city. It's traditionally attracted people who want a traditional, typical suburban home but who perhaps wouldn't be able to afford same within the city or even in some other bedroom communities.
Things may have changed since I moved away, and especially with this latest boom, but if you're trying to find a more "upper class" area then I suppose Cochrane would be more so than Airdre.... depending on the neighbourhood within the community of course.
My 2 cents' worth...
Cochrane would always be, in my mind, been preferable to Airdre. It's closer to the mountains. It's surrounded by acreage properties where affluent people have located themselves to have a country atmosphere close to the city. It kind of has a well-off, cattle ranch and oil industry feel to it.
I think of Airdre as a typical "bedroom" community, with cheaper housing than in the city. It's traditionally attracted people who want a traditional, typical suburban home but who perhaps wouldn't be able to afford same within the city or even in some other bedroom communities.
Things may have changed since I moved away, and especially with this latest boom, but if you're trying to find a more "upper class" area then I suppose Cochrane would be more so than Airdre.... depending on the neighbourhood within the community of course.
Oct 18th, 2006 | 01:01 AM
#4
Original Poster
Joined: Oct 2006
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Wow. Judy . That really is a wealth of infromation . It Helps a great deal and it gives me a good 'picture' of what to expect . As far as my question - << what kind of property pricing and standards to expect .>> in Cochrane and Airdrie. was referring to the type of typical build . i.e. large estates built by the same builder with a variety of sizes having families in mind or is the majority of houses individually built by independents to suit a full range of lifestyles. Taggie pretty much answered that one for me as well .
I DO have a wife who is currently doing her HND in Beauty therapies or 'Aesthetics' here in Scotland . so by the nature of her job , she will probably be working in the city at a 'Spa' centre ( unless you know of any others outwith the City? )
One major question my wife needs explained is .. Will her qualification be fully recognised in Alberta or would she need to attend a college/Uni. to attain a Canadian Equivalent?
I DO have a wife who is currently doing her HND in Beauty therapies or 'Aesthetics' here in Scotland . so by the nature of her job , she will probably be working in the city at a 'Spa' centre ( unless you know of any others outwith the City? )
One major question my wife needs explained is .. Will her qualification be fully recognised in Alberta or would she need to attend a college/Uni. to attain a Canadian Equivalent?
Oct 18th, 2006 | 06:26 AM
#5
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,501
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CazBud, if you are relocating to Canada from the UK, you absolutely need to get yourself over to the British Expats forum. There are heaps of Britons who recently have moved to Calgary or are in the process of moving to Calgary. They have faced or are facing exactly the same issues as you're facing -- choice of residential neighbourhood and equivalency of qualifications. At that forum you also will find answers to questions you may not yet have thought about, e.g., how to register with the provincial health care insurance scheme, how to exchange your UK driver's licence for an Alberta licence and on and on and on.
At the BE forum there are sub-forums on different countries : Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, etc. Then, within each country, there are another two sub-forums. One deals with immigration issues (work permits, etc.) and the other deals with lifestyle and cultural issues (everything other than immigration, e.g., housing, medical system, schooling, grocery shopping, how to fly your pet overseas, whatever).
As with most forums, it gets pretty tiresome for the old hands to answer the very same newbie questions day after day after day. Sometimes a person will come along and ask a question that had been asked only 2 hours previously. So it helps everyone out if you read through the forum a bit and use the Search function to familiarize yourself with some basic facts when you first arrive. Then, when you're ready to graduate from lurking mode, you'll be able to ask questions that are a little more foused.
Hope that helps.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/
At the BE forum there are sub-forums on different countries : Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, etc. Then, within each country, there are another two sub-forums. One deals with immigration issues (work permits, etc.) and the other deals with lifestyle and cultural issues (everything other than immigration, e.g., housing, medical system, schooling, grocery shopping, how to fly your pet overseas, whatever).
As with most forums, it gets pretty tiresome for the old hands to answer the very same newbie questions day after day after day. Sometimes a person will come along and ask a question that had been asked only 2 hours previously. So it helps everyone out if you read through the forum a bit and use the Search function to familiarize yourself with some basic facts when you first arrive. Then, when you're ready to graduate from lurking mode, you'll be able to ask questions that are a little more foused.
Hope that helps.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/
