In the spring of 1912, 30 British immigrants who were unable to obtain green time on any of the city's golf courses decided that they needed to build another course to accommodate the growing popularity of the sport in what was the young city. They formed a group, elected Justice Short as their first president and began searching for suitable land. After viewing many Calgary areas, they decided that the rolling hills and natural spring-fed lands of Riley Acres, on the city's northwest outskirts, would be an ideal location for a new golf course. According to the History of St. Andrew's Heights by former resident Audrey Miklos, the owner of the land, H. Riley agreed to lease a quarter section of his estate for $1,000. It was the beginning of a yet-to-be named golf course, but also the pro... 02/28/2008

Living green finally meets you were you live!  If you choose to live in Homburg-Centron Teamworks' new project Oslo at Kia towers.  Located on the corner of 11th avenue and 12th street S.W. urban chic meets environmentally responsible living in this condo building.  While staying true to the look and feel that is expected from new condominiums this building is being built with sustainable living in mind.  A concrete and steel construction using 75% recycled steel with a conscience effort to reduce waste on the construction site.  Now all this is great, but what will you enjoy when you take possession?  These units will come with energy star appliances, high efficiency lighting fixtures with compact florescent bulbs all set up to motion sensor switches.  Floor to 9' ceiling low-E double ... 02/25/2008

Have a little one ready for 3-year-old or 4-year-old preschool next September? You won't want to miss registration for the 2008/2009 South Calgary Community Preschool program. Regular (first-time) registration will take place at 7pm on Monday, February 25 at the SCCA hall (there is generally a line-up by early afternoon!). New for 2008/2009: Children will have to be 3 or 4 by December 31st to enter the Three or Four year old programs. New boundaries are also being applied due to increased demand for this program. Inquiries can be forwarded to the Preschool Registrar via info@southcalgarycommunity.caVolunteers RequiredIf you have given any thought to joining the SCCA, we have some key positions that really will need filling come June's AGM. If you are interested in this community and wan... 02/24/2008

The Economic Research Center studies recessions.Between 1962 and 2007 the following countries have been in recession x% of the time:Germany - 37%Japan - 18%Italy - 18%US - 13%Britain - 10%Canada - 8%What is a recession?A recession occurs when an economy grows at less than 0 ... or negative ... over two quarters.Germany has been in a recession 37% of the time over the last 45 years.Some believe that when the US sneezes, Canada follows. Not true. The US has been in a recession  13% of the time - while Canada has only been in a recession 8% of the time.My friends, this will pass. The US will climb from the recession that they may ... or may not ... be already in. Canada may slow along side the US ... but Alberta's economy is way too strong ...  for us to slide into a recession.Along with m... 02/05/2008

Braving the arduous waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Thomas Edworthy landed on the banks of Canada from Devonshire, England nearly 150 years ago in 1872. At the young age of 16, he worked on a farm in Muskoka, Ontario for 11 years before coming west to settle in Calgary.After arriving in Calgary he met the woman who would become his wife, Mary McArthur Ross, the widow of Alex Ross, who was Calgary's first photographer.Along side his neighbour John Lawrey, Edworthy soon established a profitable garden market in a piece of land south of the Bow River, and supplied fresh fruit and vegetables to railway crews and homesteaders.After discovering large deposits of sandstone in his property, Edworthy operated three large quarries for the construction of many of the buildings in Calgary's downtown ... 02/01/2008

I have done a lot of renovations over the past few years. I still don't pretend to know how to do it right.Currently I have someone laying flooring in a rental property in Altadore, Calgary, AB. I hired him as he is a friend, and I've seen his work.  It is nothing stellar ... but fine for my rental properties. I was shocked when he asked me two weeks ago if I had any work. (Finding trades in Calgary who had time to work over the past three years has been very difficult. It seems as things are slowing.)He knows I'm busy ... and while I could do the work myself - I don't enjoy this work. (Actually, I couldn't really do this work. I should be honest.)He calls me about three times each day to update me on the progress ... and to tell me the most recent problem.Yesterday, I told him that I h... 01/28/2008

I've recently read the "Four Hour Work Week" by Tim Ferris. Tim is a big promoter of Outsourcing your life.This evening, I posted two ads, in my first attempt to outsource my life ... and hire independent contractors. The below ad was posted on Craigslist. It's a fun attempt at trying to get some help with supper. (I'm amused ... and will look forward to ANY response!)I also posted a project on elance.com ... looking for someone to help internet market vacant rental properties.Hello. We are a local family who love Indian and Asian vegetarian food. We are looking for a cook experienced in this wonderful cuisine to prepare delicious, fresh, healthy, authentic Indian/Asian vegetarian meals for us. If you've cooked a curry once or twice or need to follow recipes, this position is probably n... 01/21/2008

Please welcome Keith Vincent, a new Active Rain member from Calgary, AB! Keith is a Realtor with Maxwell Westview Realty in Calgary.  I met him online while searching for information about real estate in the Calgary region of Alberta.  Keith is an experienced Realtor in Calgary with a reputation of high performance and integrety while using innovative market strategies.  And yes, he answers his phone! Keith was so quick to respond to my emails and questions with useful information about the Calgary real estate market that I already consider him my complete real estate resource in Calgary.  I told him about Active Rain and invited him to join - and he jumped right in!  View Keith's Active Rain profile@  http://activerain.com/vinceke  Keith is already a proficient blogger, so I am expect... 01/19/2008

I study the economic fundamentals on buying Calgary, Alberta real estate nearly everyday.Yesterday I attended CREB's (Calgary Real Estate Board) Forecast 2008 Conference and Trade Show. Our feature Speaker was Diane Francis, broadcaster, best-selling author, and editor-at-large for The National Post. Her expertise is interpreting the impact of national and international events on the business community. Francis draws a clear picture from the pitfalls and opportunities facing Canadian businesses.She's a believer in Real Estate ... and believes that North America is the most safe, secure, and can do entrepreneurial place on earth.  In my region ... British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan are the last of the great safe oil plays left in the world.Calgary is, and will continue to be, th... 01/17/2008

The stats are out ... and Single Family Homes in Calgary appreciated 16.62% in 2007. Condo's increased by 20.41% ... for combined appreciation of 18.62%! The year-to-date average price of a single family Calgary metro home in 2007 was $472,230, and the year to-date average price of a metro condominium was $316,370.The year-to-date median price for a home was $421,000, an increase of 16.62 per cent from the 2006 year-to-date median price of $361,000. (Creb.com)These are amazing stats.March and April was a Sellers Market ... where multiple offers and high prices were the norm. May through July showed a balanced Market. Since August it has been a buyers market where there has been a huge inventory of homes ... and serious price reductions.While we are still in a buyers market ... the stats... 01/04/2008

The northeast is in celebration mode ... the McKnight Westwinds CTrain opens on Monday.Serving residents of Saddle Ridge, Martindale, Taradale, Westwinds, Castleridge, Falconridge and Coral Springs, the 2.8 km extension of the northeast LRT (light rail transit) line to McKknight Westwinds will provide easier acces, shorter feeder bus rides, and plenty of new parking spaces.This transportation improvement will tie in with other recent transportaton improvements, such as:The widening of Metis Trail and Mcknight Boulevard 36th Street interchange;Eventually another extension of the LRT to SaddleridgeConstruction of the Loiver Bowen Maintenance Facility - used for maintenanceo of the Light rail vechiles.*** I looked at an investment property in Martindale just yesterday. It has a basement su... 12/14/2007

The International Avenue BRZ (Business Revitalization Zone) has beenworking hard along side University of Calgary's faculty of environmental design ... in improving the physical environment of the 35-block strip known as 17th Ave SE.One of the first projects is about to see the start of construction. Bella Casa is a four-storey building with 92 condos built atop retail bays on 54 St SE. It is located close to Sobey's and Elliston Park.Bella Casa will do much in marking the beginning of the changed 'face' of 17th Ave SE. It will be ready for occupancy in summer 2009. 12/14/2007

I'm middle aged. Life has been good. Life in real estate (as an investor and agent) has been great.I've been considering my chosen profession.I love this business. I love helping others create wealth by buying real estate. (That could be a first time home owner, a boomer choosing a recreation property, or an investor looking to increase their real estate portfolio.)I've been selling real estate for 6 years. I originally thought I would sell real estate until I found something else to do. I've been successful as an agent and investor. In 2006 I was part of an elite group of agents, making the MLS Million Point Club. At the same time, along with partners, I've been buying an average of one property per month since moving to Alberta in 2003. (We put tenants in the property, pay down the mo... 12/14/2007

I recently sent out a spread sheet designed by someone else ... that had a formula on GRM.While it is one of many ways to begin due diligence on an potential investment property, I prefer to use a simpler method. I like to calculate using "The 10% rule".I divide potential annual rent into purchase price. When I started buying Calgary real estate in 2004, I would consider any property that yielded 10% and more. Today, I will consider any property that yields 6% or more.The Gross Rent Multiplier or GRM is a ratio that is used to estimate the value of income producing properties.  The GRM provides a rough estimate of value.  Only two pieces of financial information are required to calculate the Gross Rent Multiplier for a property: The sales price The total gross rents possible.  If this i... 12/07/2007

Altadore Elementary School, 4506 16 St SW, Calgary, is hosting an open house on Tuesday, Dec 4, at 1:30. My son went to this excellent school and enjoyed:Community involvementmusicroboticssmall class sizes,naturalization play groundsocial responsibilityphysical educationinquiry-based learning.If you're looking for a great community school ... this is one of the best. 12/05/2007

The South Calgary Community Association is looking for dedicated folks to volunteer to help keep the ice this winter. Please call 244-5411 or email info@southcalgarycommunity.ca for more info. 12/05/2007

Did you know that in Calgary, Albeta, there are over 35 Condo projects which are all scheduled to be completed by 2010. This will put an additional 5,000 condos on the market by the end of 2010.I'm not sure pre-construction speculation is a sound investment strategy!However, buying a good solid 'used' condo (with cash flow) ... around these projects ... would be a great investment strategy.If you are going to play in the pre-construction condo game ... buy existing properties. 12/04/2007

Did you know that in Calgary, Albeta, there are over 35 Condo projects which are all scheduled to be completed by 2010. This will put an additional 5,000 condos on the market by the end of 2010.I'm not sure pre-construction speculation is a sound investment strategy!However, buying a good solid 'used' condo (with cash flow) ... around these projects ... would be a great investment strategy.If you are going to play in the pre-construction condo game ... buy existing properties. 12/04/2007

The Edmonton Journal reported that Home renters use the below 3 strategies to find a home: 90% begin with internet searchesMany drive the neighbourhoods they want to rent in ... and look for signs.Less than 10% use the classified section of the newspaper.The Lesson ... if you have rental properties ... use online advertising such as:www.Rentfaster.cawww.homerent.cawww.kijiji.cawww.craigslist.cawww.gottarent.ca  12/04/2007

My blog is mostly good news stories. I try to personalize it. Sometimes it is better than other times. My property manager called today ... asking if I wanted the good news or the bad news first.The good news ... we got rid of the tenants in Penbroke, SE, Calgary ... who owe me about $9,200. The bad news, they left with all the stainless steal appliances.I don't think I've had such bad luck in buying one property per month over the last 4 years.I'll get over it.ps. I paid $380,000 for this up/down single family home with a detached garage in August 2007. It was appraised at $398,000 when I sent the bank to appraise it. It's probably worth only about $345,000 in todays market, sans appliances. However, I'm not selling until at least 2010. I'll be fine. It's still a good life.  :) 12/03/2007