Here, you can shop if you need to, stroll the pathways or just kick back in your well-designed new home – perhaps, the Raleigh by Elite Homes in the northeast community of Saddlebrook.

Saddlebrook is just east of Saddlecrest, located along 68 St. NE, just north of 80 Ave. The area is quickly becoming established and Saddlebrook is expected to be completed within a couple of years, meaning that today’s buyer will not be living in a construction zone for very long.

Amenities include a fully landscaped pond, pathways and green space; shopping in Saddletowne Circle which now includes a Shoppers Drug Mart, with a Safeway proposed for future development; a future YMCA; banks; a library; and a nearby Superstore and Co-op.

Plus, access to the area will only get easier. The ring road will pass right by after it is constructed in a few years, and in 2010 the northeast line of the C-Train will reach Saddletowne Circle.

The highlight, however, is the pace at which Saddlebrook moves. This quiet community is the perfect place for the beginning or burgeoning family, or anyone who craves some peace at the end of the day. Says Jason Gauvreau, Saddlebrook Area Manager for Elite Homes: “It’s a nice, little, quaint, family community.”

The Raleigh, Elite’s Saddlebrook show home, fits this pace perfectly. This well-designed starter home is big on features, and no space is wasted. “I was shocked at how cute and how space-effective it was,” says Travis Burnside, Sales Manager for Elite Homes. “It’s a good size and has all the things you’d want.”

The 1460 square foot Raleigh offers three bedrooms and two and a half baths on two floors, plus unfinished basement.

The home is extremely welcoming from the time you step in the front door, with an open, yet cozy, main floor layout. Hardwood floors and chic design elements spread out before you, with the kitchen immediately drawing your attention. Here, an island offers plenty of work space and a walk-in corner pantry plenty of storage space. Maple cabinets complement the darker-toned countertops and tile backsplash, creating a modern, homey effect. There is space for dining and a front living room with built-in desk.

An archway leads to the back hall, where the powder room and back entrance, which leads to the deck, are located.

Stairs lead up from the front entrance to the second floor, where three bedrooms, the main bathroom and the laundry closet are located. The master suite overlooks the backyard, and features a walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom. The main bathroom, along the upstairs hall, boasts lots of space to spread out, with a full-length vanity. And just outside the two other bedrooms lie the laundry facilities, another highlight of the home’s layout.

“The Raleigh has been one of our most popular plans out there, because it has all the features of a big home: pantry, island, main bath, upstairs laundry,” says Burnside. “It’s extremely nice.”

Prices for the Raleigh start in the $330,000s.  NL