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!