lauralil

Well it WAS, but having read this it kind of changes my mind slightly! It may help if I can get to know some families with young children and get more clued up.

I guess that children are fine, just me being the protective mother type and worrying about them adjusting to such a change in weather!

thanks for that info

lauralil

Fortunately other half is an electrician with a broad range of building skills....we have talked at much length about massive renovation though with 2 children I'm not entirely sure its possible. I know that we could cope with living on a building site but the children might not be so keen!

Haven't considered strata...I will have to check them out as I don't know much about them. There is such a huge difference in housing that in some respects I'm clueless....much research to take place!

JonboyE

I wasn't thinking about a massive renovation. More a lick of paint. That said, a new kitchen, 2 bathrooms, paint and light fixtures could easily be done for $20,000 if you do the work yourselves, and within a couple of weeks. You would get your money back, and more, when you sell if you've selected a good location.

Lots of useful information in the wiki ... http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Category:Housing-Canada

lauralil

Just trawling through it all!! Many thanks

Aviator

It can? Just getting some prices in for a new kitchen and its looking like way more than that for nothing over the top. Looking like we're nearer $50k for the kitchen and appliances alone.

JonboyE

I wasn't including the appliances. Cases, doors, standard counter-top and hardware for a medium size kitchen from Ikea is less than $10,000.

Bath, sink, vanity and shower hardware can be had for $2,000 in Home Depot.

It is not high-end stuff but it is perfectly serviceable and will make a huge different to a tired 60s or 70s home.

Edit: Fridge, stove and dishwasher - a budget of $2,500 is sufficient for white goods. Easily double+ for brand name stainless steel ones.

fatcat65

why not have a look at Cochrane its about 20 mins outside Calgary and although its a growing town it still has the small town feel and friendly people that you need to help you settle in. There are also many Brits in Cochrane... i call it 'Little Britain'. lol. Here we are only 1 hours drive from Banff and sunshine but I recommend Lake Louise. My husband and i are skiers and we used to travel over Europe every year skiing and I can honestly say Lake Louise is equivalent to the Tignes area, albeit not as big, but for slopes and conditions its fab and its only just short of 2 hours drive from Cochrane! I love the fact of no rain here and yes the winters can be cold but its true you do get used to it and its not the same cold as the UK, we had -40 the other week but you just get your ski jacket on and your snow tyres and carry on. My kids don't complain either so its not that bad. Its true also we get so much sunshine, its so bright and sunny today it makes you want to sunbathe! Perfect skiing weather. I couldn't live in Calgary or the city limits but i love Cochrane and its housing prices have dropped alot this past 12 months. We have no crime here, well none that you hear of anyway and there are some great shops here too. Its only 15mins drive to the Malls which have everything you need. Check it out you won't be disappointed as we are surrounded by the Rockies with fab views which you don't really get closer to Calgary.
The downside is that we have no public transport other than the commuter bus to the city in a morning so driving is a must...a pain yes but you get used to it. Good luck with what ever you decide.

Almost Canadian

Unless they are only interested in terrain parks, which the OP said she was. I can't imagine a better hill or place to be in Alberta, B.C. for evening access to such facilities within the City limits

Almost Canadian

If you live on an acreage I apologise for what follows but, if you live in a cookie cutter house on a residential "community" in Cochrane, please explain to me how your life is different to those that live in such communities in Calgary (except the slightly shorter commute to the Rockies)

fatcat65

ha ha, yes i do live on an acreage, but Cochrane does have a small town feel and you can walk down the street and know people!!

lauralil

EXACTLY! haha

We're used to the icy slopes of UK domes....so ice on a hill with park features every night is our idea of heaven! That way we get to practise rails, boxes and kickers and head out of the city for loads of powder!

Just spent the last few hours researching calgary and its certainly looking a lot better and have read about the winters and they don't seem so bad either.

ann m

It's the ten minute break in the views of all the other cookie cutter houses that makes all the difference!

Going up Highway 1A gives you time to take a breather, look to your left and absorb the views - and then open the door to your own cookie cutter house and feel somehow distanced from the city hub-bub.

But I totally get where you are coming from and agree for the most part. Access to public transport is the downside here. Otherwise, it's lovely! And maintains that oft-lamented "community" feel that we all seem to hanker for

el_richo

How long does it take to get from Calgary to the ski slopes of the Rockies?

Edited to add - Google maps are my friend. Cochrane to Canmore looks to be about an hour. I'd go with that choice for you, personally. House prices look ok for your budget too.

http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetail...ertyId=8757488

Almost Canadian

I do envy you. Although, believe it or not, it is possible to know people living in communities within the City!


I think Cochrane is great so I certainly wouldn't bad mouth it. As you know, we live in the south of the City, overlook Spruce Meadows and have an uninterrupted view of the Rockies that will never be obscured by new buildings (thanks to Spruce Meadows).

twotoast

Hmmmm. Calgary is certainly not 'typically brown for most of the year' at all. it is true that spring is very brief, but there is a terrific 6 month growing period where plants and trees grow very quickly - I am an avid gardener, and as long as I use plants suited to the climate/soil etc, I can easily get the same growth as in the UK. it is odd to see spring bulbs blooming in the summer though! Generally, I would say that the grass is very lush and green during the 6 months - and for the majority of the rest of the time, everywhere is covered in snow!

Does it really matter where you want to live at this stage? Why not get your application in and then spend some time coming over and visiting so that you can see for yourself?

Good luck with wherever you choose