Didsbury Home Report - June 28th, 2010
Three-Year Jail Sentence for Man Convicted in Mortgage Fraud
The alleged “ringleader” of a $3.9 million mortgage scam will spend three years in prison. Eugene Chamczuk, age 40, received his sentence June 23 from Richard Marceau, a Court of Queen’s Bench Justice. The Athabasca resident must also repay $1.3 million to organizations such as the Canada Housing Trust and Mortgage Corporation, CIBC, TD Canada Trust and Genworth Financial.
A proposal from the onetime builder’s defence team for a conditional sentence involving community service was shot down by Marceau. However, he removed one year from the prison sentence following the defendant’s guilty plea last November.
Marceau said that with the 32 separate acts of fraud, many of the people Chamczuk paid $5,000 to act as “straw” buyers lost their savings and experienced serious personal problems. Because these individuals accepted money from Chamczuk, and because several produced fraudulent affidavits, Marceau did not award restitution to them.
Also, Marceau said, a vast quantity of funds that was paid by mortgage companies is apparently gone.
Chamczuk and co-defendant James Steinhubl once owned a company called Canadian Best Homes Ltd. The mortgage scam took place between 2000 and 2002 in 31 pieces of residential property the company owned in the Empress and Warburg areas. The straw buyers who participated in the fraud were tricked into providing their names and credit histories for $5,000 fees. The buyers did not realize they would be responsible for the resulting fraudulent mortgages. After the mortgage payout, the money was paid by the lenders and insurance companies to Canadian Best Homes.
Steinhubl’s trial recently ended, and a judicial decision is scheduled for August.
Didsbury Property Report - June 2nd, 2010
Fairytale Reunion Possible Thanks To Persistence and Facebook
Facebook is a networking device that is often associated with chatty teens or with people who have a complaint to make and no one else to make it to. Post it on Facebook and vent to the world and chances are someone will listen and respond.
But Facebook is also used by businesses to advertise product, by people looking for employment, for those looking for compatible partners and even by enterprising individuals looking for lost family members. Sometimes these members are even found.
That is what happened to Jordan Luft, who grew up with his adoptive parents on a farm near the town of Didsbury. When he was 21, with the blessing of Doug and Connie Luft, he contacted the Alberta Adoption Registry to see if there was a record of his birth parents. He was rewarded with a huge envelope that started him on the journey to find his parents.
After searching through the internet he found his father Heath Reichle and even phoned him. But after a missed phone call Jordan decided he wasn’t ready. About a year later he ended up looking for, and corresponding with, his birth father. Since then he has met his birth parents and his eight brothers and sisters that live only three hours from his farm.
Jordan also ended up in a book called “Facebook Fairytales: Modern Day Miracles to Inspire the Human Spirit” by author Emily Liebert.
Didsbury Real Estate Report - April 23rd, 2010
May flowers ahead
Spring storms and the Canadian prairies. They're like salt and pepper, peanut butter and honey.
Fourteen degrees at lunch, minus one at supper. Wind with gusts up to 94 kilometers per hour and the next morning, snow as deep as 60 centimetres.
That was the story in Southern Alberta earlier this month.
The snow and slippery roads resulted in major disruptions to traffic on Highway 2. Over 50 vehicles were involved in a major accident at the Olds overpass. Also, a tanker truck overturned near Crossfield, The QEII was closed over night while a crew cleaned up the mess.
In Calgary, up to 50,000 people were left without power as winds knocked down power lines. Power was also out for a period at the Calgary International Airport causing the cancellation of several flights. Most power was restored by later in the evening.
Another casualty was the planned opening of the Carstairs golf course. The course, located just north of town on Highway 2A, was forced to halt preparations for their mid-month opening pending a melt and clean-up from the storm. Course officials took a philosophical outlook to the delay, noting that the extra moisture will help them in the long run.
Southern Alberta farmers agreed – the extra moisture will help germination at seeding time.
Didsbury Homes Report - March 25th, 2010
Bullet Trains on the Alberta Prairies? Sounds Almost Like Science Fiction
High speed rail between Edmonton and Calgary? Perhaps. Perhaps not. There are pros and cons to the issue and the debate is expected to continue. There is time to carry on the discussion, since there is no room in the current provincial budget for the project and Alberta is not expecting to be in the black budget wise for over three years. But there is always the private sector.
But will Alberta find a contributor or contributors that would be willing to pour billions of dollars into such a venture? It is expected that the high speed train system would cost somewhere between $3 billion and $20 billion, depending on the model train selected. That is a lot of money to connect Alberta’s two major cities along a route that mirrors Highway 2.
On the other hand, putting in a rail service that could travel 300 kilometres an hour and make commuting simpler and faster has possibilities. People could live in Calgary and work in Edmonton and only be an hour away from their jobs. There would be less traffic on Highway 2, resulting in less pollution and an easier go of it for those who do choose to drive.
But what would such a modern, high speed piece of machinery do to smaller communities that make their living supporting those that drive the Highway 2 corridor? What would happen to them if no one stopped in their town to buy gas or a meal? What about that wide Alberta prairie landscape? How would the rail line affect the wild creatures that live on it? Would the railway line be at ground level or above? How will the route affect landowners that own property along Highway 2, be it agricultural or other wise?
Alberta’s population is growing and there is no doubt that new age transportation methods, such as high speed bullet trains, will be making their appearance sooner or later. But there are many questions to be answered. Best to answer them now, before the project is begun.
Didsbury Property Report - February 23rd, 2010
Home Buyers Not Overly Concerned About Tighter Lending Rules
Proposed changes that might affect the ability to obtain a mortgage have moved some buyers into action. Conor Murphy, a 26-year-old who is buying his first home, has stepped up the process of finding the right place. Murphy and his wife, Katherine, are going through the motions of obtaining a pre-approved mortgage, and are seeking a house in the $300,000 to $400,000 price range.
Although he has heard speculation regarding homes being overpriced right now, he is not particularly concerned. Murphy said that he has been analyzing the real estate market since last fall, and believes that average home prices in Calgary have risen some $10,000 to $15,000. He commented that he is willing to take that bit of possible over-pricing into account.
Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced on February 18 that he would initiate controls to subvert a housing bubble, and to keep the market more stable. Although his proposed changes will not inhibit the ability of most consumers to obtain a mortgage, they could restrict the amount of mortgage that buyers might be able to negotiate.
Prospective buyers wishing to apply for a mortgage backed by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation must take a credit test. In previous years, lenders needed to make sure that a buyer could make payments on a three-year mortgage at a fixed rate. Potential buyers will now be assessed on their ability to make payments on a five-year fixed rate loan. The credit test will be required even if the homebuyer wants to obtain a mortgage with terms that might enable lower payments.
Didsbury Real Estate Report - January 26th, 2010
Cutbacks May Threaten Independence of Developmentally Challenged Citizens
People who have developmental disabilities have difficulty handling the responsibilities of every day life, yet they cherish their independence just as much as anyone else. Cutbacks announced by the Persons with Developmental Disabilities board may severely curb that independence.
One organization that relies on such funding is the Drayton Valley Beehive Support Services. This firm offers life coaches for those developmentally challenged individuals who are able to live on their own with just a little bit of help. Their clients hold down jobs, live in their own apartments and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment. The coaches are there to help with budgets, banking, grocery store visits and offer reminders about when its time to pay bills.
The proposed budget cuts might severely limit the program causing concern not only for those who have found a measure of independence, but for their families. Some of the people in the program are in their forties and fifties with parents well into their senior years. Lack of funding might mean some individuals having to move home, or if that is not possible, to go back to the group living situation that many have just escaped.
These monetary cuts could mean the loss of part time jobs, of opportunities to socialize, of a measure of independence that many have fought hard to achieve. Developmentally adults have to work twice as hard as the average person just to accomplish everyday tasks. Those who have achieved even the slightest bit of independence deserve it.
Didsbury Homes Report - January 11th, 2010
Real Estate Industry Sees Good 2010
The 2009 year began with great uncertainty in regards to housing prices and market activity. Although prices remained dramatically low during the first quarter of the year, the prices rebounded to record highs during the summer, and gained considerable strength into year end.
The solid strength in the market was attributed to the record-low interest rates and the pent-up demand of inventory. Not to mention, housing prices finally made sense, and buyers had their pick from thousands of homes on the market. With considerable buying, demand and supply have seemed to stabilize at relatively fair prices.
With great uncertainty in 2009, every effort was made to ensure that activity in the housing market would be successful. Now, with a new year ahead of us, there will still be challenges because it was not easy to create such a opportune marketplace in 2009.
The huge demand may subside with a rush to get ahead of any changes in interest rates coming out of Ottawa. The finance minister has made it known that he thinks the area's market is too hot, and he is prepared to step in to slow it down.
Hints at a rise in interest rates is great news for the Canadian economy, but it may not translate into great news for the real estate market. First-time home buyers will have to show more signs of strength to create any great demand that cannot be met with present inventories. Home sales are expected to be balanced in 2010, with no great price fluctuations in either direction.
Didsbury Property Report - November 29th, 2009
Fourth Annual Jazz Fest in Didsbury
The Zion Evangelical Missionary Church recently hosted the fourth annual Jazz Fest for school bands from across the region. Student bands bussed from as far as Airdrie and Chinook’s Edge to come and participate in the event.
Musical director of Didsbury High School, Kirk Wassmer, claims the event was a great success. The event gave music students the opportunity to play their instruments and receive constructive criticism from someone else, outside their normal learning environment. It gives the students a better perspective on how well they are preforming in comparison to their peers.
During the two-day event, professional musicians gave the teenagers tip for improving their performance skills. The guest bands and clinicians also preformed for the students, jamming on stage to demonstrate techniques. They then hosted a concert that night to generate money for next year’s festival.
It is very valuable to the young students to have the ability to hear such highly-skilled musicians play and have them give tips.
Didsbury Realtor Report - November 4th, 2009
Didsbury High School to Get Track
Didsbury High School is one step closer to realizing its dream of a rubber track, after the school district voted to give the school the final $100,000 that it needed to complete construction on the infield. The the process can begin to start putting rubber on the track. As one person put it now the students have a field to play on.
The problem dates back to 2007 when the track was first laid. Because the ground is leveled everytime that it rains the infield turns into a giant soup bowl and water collects, this would in effect not allow the students to use the field during the rain periods.
In order to fix the problem there will have to be a mix of soil and clay dumped into the area, to help level it off along with installing at least one drainage system that will allow for the infield to drain properly. Since 2007 the school has been able to do a little bit here and there as the money has become available. With this last bit of funding the school will finally be able to fix the problem and allow the track team to have a place that they can call home.
As it currently stands the scorer and football teams are left without a field to play on, Finally we will be able to pull the goal post out of storage one school official was quoted as saying. "It should have been leveled … rather than made so one end was higher than the other. They needed a track, not a ski hill," she said. "It was no good, we hate to see things like this happen." We knew that when they were placing the infield something didn’t quite look right she went on to say.
Many people at first were not that concerned about the problem as they saw no real issue. Until the first big rain then it looked like a giant swimming pool. “The students shouldn’t have to suffer because of an oversight from the construction company” one official said Now that the field will be fixed the right way it will make the students have more school pride as they will now have a field that they can call their own. One student said that he is looking forward to showing all the other schools in the area that Didsbury school is not a joke, we are for real and people will be forced to see that.
School officials hope to have the project completed in time for the next 2011 football seasons, however if not then they will have to wait one more year before attacking their opponents on the field. But all the students are stoked as to the project seeing as though it will give them a home field advantage against their opponents.
Didsbury Real Estate Report - October 5th, 2009
Local Farmers Contribute to Charity
Larry Mullen did someone unusual last week. He joined a group of farmers who contributed a portion of their harvest to Third World Countries. As the combines congregated on the hill in past years, Mullen never wanted to contribute, but this year, he decided it was the right time.
Whereas in years past, the charity harvest gathered up to ten combines from the surrounding area, this year there were only about five. Despite the low turnout, the harvesting went much quicker than if one farmer were harvesting on his own.
Willard Stauffer, the organizer of the charity harvest, expressed his constant amazement at the unity and joy that the farmers experience when contributing to a cause like this, even if it meant no income and lower profits. After eight years of doing this, Stauffer has seen the community change as people became aware of the needs outside their own area.
90% of what the farmers harvest is sold for cash. The cash is then contributed toward overseas programs that distribute food or build sustainable developments, mostly in agriculture and irrigation. The program is just one of many Canadian farm charities that operate on over 200 farms across the country. Combined, the farms raise nearly $50 million to send to the needy overseas.
Didsbury Homes Report - September 5th, 2009
Town of Didsbury Looks For New Avenue To Manage Waste
Didsbury is looking for a second chance at persuading the provincial government to authorize a new waste system after last weeks proposal was turned down. Officials in the area were trying to convince Alberta Environment that using a continuous flow plant would be the best way to manage waste in Didsbury. While the county has being using the same system for over 60 years now, it’s become apparent there is a better way of doing things these days.
The hope is that a new plant using this technology can replace the old one in a green environmentally friendly way. The old method of using lagoons for waste release all sorts of gasses into the air and push the town to shop for more land as Didsbury expands.
It’s unclear how much it will cost to build or lease a new plant, but it most certainly will beat the cost of twenty one million needed to increase the lagoon system. While the stage is early, it’s becoming more and more apparent that the old system will be topped out when the population reaches around 5000, where it is currently sitting at around 4700.
While it is all being sorted out by the powers that be, residents are being told to use different things like rain barrels to lengthen the life of the lagoon system.
Didsbury Property Report - August 18th, 2009
Weather Doesn’t Stop Didsbury Residents From Attending Rodeo
Around 500 brave souls came out for the rodeo last weekend, in spite of some horrible weather conditions. The goal, to watch entrants compete for the top prize in the local Didsbury rodeo. Battling mud and rain, the combatants gave the crowd what they came for, a great show,
There were about 300 less fans than last years event, but most who went this year said they had an amazing time.
It’s amazing to watch even the small competitors, with youth interest in the rodeo growing every year. Maybe this is why spirits weren’t dampened by the rain, how can they be when someone three years old is competing and not complaining about the conditions.
Unfortunately for the little ones the midway had to be canceled this time time around. But there still was a number of activities children could take part in, including watching their peers try to snag some mutton. Their was a lack of volunteer spirit this year, but who can blame them with the conditions that were on hand.
All in all, Didsbury put on another fine event!
