“It’s really an even split now, with 50 per cent (of buyers) from Calgary and 50 per cent from Airdrie,” says Marion Murray, sales and marketing manager at Hopewell. “We’re finding Sagewood is really popular among couples aged 25 to 44, many who are choosing the community before they have kids, as a great place to raise a family,” she adds.

Those planning to put down roots in Sagewood have more than a dozen show homes awaiting them — from a half-dozen offerings by Innovations by Jayman and Sabal Crafted Homes displayed with charming rear-lane parking access, to
another pair each of front-attached garage styles from Beattie, Landmark, McKee, and ReidBuilt Homes.

A trip through the plethora of show homes in handsome Heritage, Colonial Ranch and Prairie-inspired styles is a true event, and well worth the 20-minute drive from Calgary. Beginning with Sabal Crafted Homes’ jewel boxes, visitors can tour the eyecatching bi-level Ion, followed by its larger, two-storey neighbours, the 1,356-squarefoot Stylus and 1,422-square-foot Synergy respectively.

Next door, Innovations by Jayman features a trio of models all decked out for the viewing — from its bi-level beauty, the Echo, which starts around the 1,000-square-foot-mark, but can boast basement development, to a pair of two-storeys, the 1,174-square-foot Delta and 1,318-square-foot verandahdonning Verve.

Innovations and Sabal are selling in the area from the $180,000s, including lot and GST — and even a front landscaping package — offering first-time and move-up home shoppers a chance to get into their own home without laying down a lot of green.

Move-up styles are also plentiful in a second show home parade for Sagewood.

“The builders really know Airdrie well and are offering quite a bit of choice,” says Murray.

First up is native Airdrie builder, McKee Homes, showcasing a pair of bonny twostorey models — the Westport IV and the Limavady III, each around the 1,400-squarefoot mark. Next door, Landmark’s Maplewood and Firwood offer buyers another duo of choices they can craft in Sagewood, both double-attached-garage gems in the 1,800-square-foot range.

Would-be buyers seeking a peek at something more palatial will be at home in ReidBuilt’s King show home, spanning 2,008 square feet and including a bonus room over the garage, while the Auburn 2 offers stylish quarters on the
smaller scale, at 1,622 square feet.

Next door, one-level living is showcased in Beattie’s Aspen III — a 1,004-square-foot vaulted ceiling bungalow including optional basement development — while the Excalibur IV wields 1,798 square feet of functional living space over two elegant storeys.

Move-up, front-attached garage abodes from McKee, Landmark, ReidBuilt and Beattie Homes are now being built in Sagewood from the $220,000s including lot and GST, says Murray.

It wouldn’t be a Hopewell community without a trademark bronze statue symbolizing family values as a fixture in the area — this time modelled in the likeness of executive vice-president Paul Taylor’s son, Gordie, with a soccer ball in tow — a fitting pick given the community’s proximity to Monklands Soccer Park.

The community is also master-planned around a series of stormwater ponds which are circled by pathways, while a tot lot and school site planned for Sagewood also add to the community’s family appeal.

Sagewood will be home to 800 families before its completion, which is expected some time in 2007. “There’s not a lot of time left — in the new year we will be marketing a portion of our final phase,” says Murray.

Show home hours are Monday through Thursday 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends and holidays from noon to 5 p.m. To get to Sagewood take Hwy. 2 north to Airdrie, exit left at Big Springs Road, head right on 8 St. and left on 1 Ave. and follow the signs.