Prices for homes in inner-city estate neighbourhoods, including Mount Royal, Rideau Park, Elboya and Britannia for the January to March 2007 quarter, ranged from $1.3 million to $2.3 million.  “A one million dollar price tag in another part of Canada may be considered estate, but not necessarily here in Calgary,” says Louie.

The type of house and the lifestyle will affect where people choose to purchase upper-end homes. For those looking outside of Calgary’s city limits, in communities such as WestPark, Spring Valley Lane, or Monterra at Cochrane Lakes, for example, prices are ranging from $850,000 to $2 million.

“Westpark leads the way in the estate communities. We have awesome lots, starting at 58 feet wide and going up to one 115 feet wide. One of our lots is about a half-an-acre in size!” says Pat Lothrop, controller and marketing co-ordinator for Dundee Developments.

“Our lot sizes leave so much freedom to design a home and still have a great deal of space around these estate homes.  WestPark, located at the west end of Bow Trail on 85th Street, has just over one hundred lots.  “The area has a tennis court and a five acre pond with a beautifully landscaped waterfall with Rundle Stone brought in from Canmore. There is a large playground as well. WestPark has beautifully designed greenspaces, with many lots featuring walkouts backing onto the water feature. Some lots have mountain views as well.”

“In WestPark, there are high-end architectural requirements including stone or rock masonry, exposed aggregate and patterned concrete driveways, and no vinyl siding. There is an architectural committee at Dundee that reviews each home in detail for quality finishes,” she continues.

Lifestyle, Greenboro and Avi all have exceptional show homes open for viewing. “A special product is being offered by Avi:  a wide shallow lot (seventy feet wide) which allows the garage to be placed to the side of the home. The front elevations then can be enhanced and personalized.” This type of lot with home starts at $850,000, including lot and GST. Other homes in this development start at $950,000 including lot and GST.

Wentworth Estates, too, has very large lots. “They run close to 60 feet wide and up.

A Rundle Stone wall with iron driveway gates give people a statement of arrival as you enter into this established estate neighbourhood. Wentworth Estates is the crown of the established Wentworth neighbourhood!” There are approximately one hundred lots available. Beattie, Newcastle, Morrison, Greenboro and Landmark are the featured builders with homes starting at $950,000. “But the showhomes are valued over $1.5 million each,” explains Lothrop. “Newcastle’s show home has already sold for $1.9 million, which includes furniture and all the electronics, but it is still open for viewing.”

“West side amenities like C.O.P., Edworthy Park, the Westside Rec Centre, and abundant private and public schools make these neighbourhoods popular. Easy access to downtown and the mountain parks are also benefits of the west side. The brand new Springside Catholic Elementary/Junior High School is scheduled to open September 2007 and it is within walking distance to both WestPark and Wentworth Estates,” comments Lothrop.

At Spring Valley Lane, exclusively built by Legend Developments, Patti Salé, marketing coordinator says, “We have created a unique feeling here by combining nature and the serenity of the country with the convenience of living so close to Calgary’s core.” Located in Spring Valley Estates, one of southwest Calgary’s leading communities, mature trees, natural parkland reserves and panoramic views of the foothills and Rockies are abundant.

This gated walkout bungalow community provides a sense of security with a maintenance-free lifestyle because lawn care and snow removal are taken care of. “Lots range from 10,000-square-feet (approximately a quarter-of-an-acre) with frontages up to 110 feet.” 

The homes vary in size from 2,100- to 2,450-square-feet, which translates to over 4,900 square-feet of living space!

“We have a very high level of craftsmanship and the details that are often added on, we include them as standard,” says Salé proudly. “The extensive millwork found throughout the house in the built-ins, closets, and den are all crafted on-site. Wired-in sound systems with volume controls in each area, in-slab heated flooring, a steam shower, a security system, nine-foot ceilings on both levels of the home so the basement is bright and spacious, and eight foot solid wooden doors. We have 25 feet deep oversized garages, some being double, others triple, and irrigated landscaping with sandstone retaining walls.”

Prices start at $1.4 million including lot and landscaping, plus GST. There are seven lots remaining.

Located fifteen minutes from Calgary, MonTerra on Cochrane Lakes features a luxury lifestyle in one of the areas most picturesque settings. This exclusive development has panoramic views of Alberta’s Foothills and the Rockies. “The mountains seem like they are just an arm’s length away,” muses Steve Hobbs, Marketing Manager for Medallion Development. With more than 240 acres of lake and water features, MonTerra also includes a waterfall entrance feature, an extensive pathway system, and numerous tot lots throughout the development which all compliment the spectacular backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.

“Cochrane has become a very popular place for people who enjoy an active yet tranquil lifestyle and unlike the surrounding communities, MonTerra offers spacious lots that allow the residents to enjoy more social activities at home. We have a great mix of people moving into the community, with young professional families making up the majority of the community, as well as empty nesters who are seeking bungalow style homes that don’t overcrowd the lot. People are getting away from the hustle and bustle of the big city to the peaceful environment found here to spend more time with their families,” continues Hobbs. Many of the homes have substantial upgrades that allow for the personal touch within the homes but Hobbs adds that in comparison to the city communities, the lot sizes are substantially larger, ranging from 80 to 100 feet wide, for substantially less money.

In MonTerra, lots begin in the low $200,000s ranging up into the $400,000s, which allow purchasers to build in this community starting at as low as $750,000.

With five show homes to view, fine craftsmanship is exhibited by Spoletini Homes, Modena Homes, Brooklyn Homes, Crystal Creek and Astoria Homes. Hobbs goes on to mention that although there is a diverse group of builders, “We are extremely proud of their success in the industry, especially Astoria Homes who was awarded the Builder of Merit Award at industry’s SAM Awards this past April.”

In total, 850 homes are planned, with a school site and community centre proposed on the west side of MonTerra.  Currently there is limited inventory in Phase 1 for sale with Phase 2, consisting of 175 lots, being available in July of this year.  There are a number of unique features in MonTerra, but the variety of lots available throughout the community and with the type of terrain, it offers the buyers more selection than what they would get elsewhere. So whether it is a bungalow, two storey, a walk out lot, mountain view or backing onto to the lake, MonTerra has it all and all within minutes to local and city amenities.

Attention to detail, high-end finishes, a sense of exclusivity, the address; no matter where a person finally decides to reside, whether it be inner city or in the country, it is all a matter of choice and lifestyle. NL

For more information on these estate  homes in and around Calgary, click on:
www.chasethefox.com, http://www.cochranelakes.com,
www.legenddevelopments.com, and
www.medalliondevcorp.com.