Chestermere is but 10 minutes away from the eastern city limits of Calgary on Highway 1 and Langdon is a little further east on Glenmore Trail, both offer the utter freedom of small town life on the prairie that may be a world away from the busy city life, but in reality it’s a lot closer than you think.

Driving here is never a problem after all the infrastructure developments on Highway 1 and opening of Stoney Trail, it’s just 22 minutes to the downtown, and 15 minutes to the airport. Besides driving to Calgary from Chestermere or Langdon in the morning, you don’t have the sun in your eyes, and it’s on your back on the way home.

Dave Abbey, area manager for Reid Built Homes in the Estates of Westmere subdivision of Chestermere, says the community is everything he hoped it would be when he moved here with his family more than three years ago.

“My wife didn’t want to move here, so I made her a deal to give it two years and then if she still didn’t like it here we can go. It’s been more than three years and when I asked her about it again, she tells me we’re not moving anywhere.”

Abbey isn’t alone in his love for his new hometown, as Chestermere’s population has more than quadrupled over the last 10 years.

Langdon — a tiny hamlet just a few kilometres to the south — has also experienced a similar growth surge, as more people look to escape the city’s confines.

Here’s a brief description of the life you can expect in two of southern Alberta’s fastest growing areas.

Laid-back Langdon
The hamlet of Langdon had been more of a ghost town than lucky town prior to 1995, but now things are starting to look up as new development makes it one of Calgary’s best satellite towns.

Like much in life, timing is everything. When it comes to real estate developments, the time has finally come for the hamlet of Langdon.

The former prairie railway town in the Municipal District of Rocky View has been the site of decades-long development that has turned this once sleepy hamlet into a modern estate community offering all the latest amenities.
It’s Boulder Creek golf community is expected to launch its newest phase and business has been growing steadily.

“We’ve really seen a good spike in sales this year, and people are starting to look at Langdon as a terrific alternative to city living,” says Beattie Homes’ area manager Jennifer Underwood-Croston. “I just moved to the Boulder Creek community with my family, because we really believe in its potentials and its family-friendly nature.”

Dan House of the Caladan Group, which has been instrumental in resurrecting Langdon, says he plans to move here from the city as well. “Homes here are at least 20 per cent less than what they are in Calgary, and you get bigger lots, too,” he says.
 
More than just a lake town
The recreation-oriented lifestyle, the idyllic countryside and the lakeside living charm of Chestermere has made it one of the most appealing residential neighbourhoods in the Calgary region. But soon it won’t just be solely its resort town charm and 750-acre lake that will attract newcomers here, but its total family-oriented, ease-of-living package.

Sales are going fast and furious in the two areas of town where they have still have active show home parades: Estates of Westmere and Rainbow Falls. And the current phases for both are just about sold out.

“We have two lots left in the current phase (of Estates of Westmere), until the new phase is launched by end of March,” Reid Built’s Abbey says.

The estate community is still very affordable and gives better value than comparable communities in Calgary. “We have two storey homes starting at the 2,057 square-feet range and they sell for around the high $390,000s or low $400,000s,” he adds.

But there’s a lot of infrastructure development in the pipeline that will transform Chestermere into a town of tomorrow, including a massive new sportsplex and a new commercial development.

This Chestermere Sportsplex will be a 540,000-square-foot facility that will feature CFL regulation football field, a FIFA regulation soccer pitch as well as four regular soccer pitches, and more. All will be contained under one enormous air-supported structure that will probably be one of the biggest in the country.

“We’re going to see a big explosion of growth here, price of homes will go through the roof,” Abbey says. “Right now, $500,000 will get you a 2,200-square-foot up to a 2,400-square-foot home with all the bells and whistles, but when these new developments are in place, who knows where home prices will end up?”  NL

New Chestermere
subdivisions & builders
Rainbow Falls by Truman Development
Beattie Homes
Jager Homes
Shane Homes
Lionsworthe Homes (multi-family)
Truman Homes

Estate at Westmere by
Melcor Developments
Lupi Custom Developments
Landmark Homes Calgary
Reid Built Homes Calgary
Greenboro Estate Homes

Kinniburgh by Isle of Mann
Estate lots for custom homes

Langdon Builders
Stepper Homes
Beattie Homes
Carpenter Homes by Astoria
The Arbours of Langdon (multi-family)
Trico Homes