Chestermere
 

Hi all

Just seeking general opinions on Chestermere? Closer to Calgary than Cochrane, Okotoks and Airdrie? And the houses look nice and much cheaper there. Would be there with my wife and 2 kids (3 and 5 years old)

Thanks!!!!

:thumbsup:

Re: Chestermere
 

We thought of living there when we first reccied Calgary and surrounding areas, then we heard of the big problems it has with drugs and didn't look at it again.

As has been said before, you need to work out where you will be working to be able to make a decision based on location. Of the other areas you have mentioned, my preference would be for Cochrane, if I wanted to live outside of the city but then I prefer the city. Each to their own;)

Re: Chestermere
 

We discounted Chestermere after reading some online posts by high school kids out there. They seemed pretty miserable and bored, and I am wondering if the facilities are keeping up with the rate of expansion of the town.

There has been a lot of development in the past few years. I don't know for sure now, but the fact that the houses ARE cheaper there can be an indication of their desirability. :unsure:


You do need to look into it more, probably, but nobody but yourselves really know if it will suit you or not.

It may well be just what you are looking for, especially as your kids are younger, and maybe by the time they reach high school age the town will be better established as far as facilities.

Re: Chestermere
 

Much cheaper? Let me just read that again... no, that's what you've typed.

Chestermere is sort of an upper middle-class area, they have the lake and people want to live there to give their boats something to do. Not cheap by Alberta standards.

Bit of a bum commute I thought, because you're on 16th Ave which means tons of traffic and tons of traffic lights.

Has the reputation of being one of the best high schools in the area.

I wouldn't say it's posh, if you're posh by Alberta standards you live in Mount Royal or more likely buy a McMansion in the northwest in Rocky View county (as the name implies) to get your view of the hail storms, er, rockies.

But it's definitely upmarket.

Re: Chestermere
 

Huh? There was a shootout there between two passing cars as I recall. There's no drugs problem in Chestermere. Well, no more than anywhere else has and I would say less than most in fact.

Re: Chestermere
 

I know a number of police officers and I also know a number of Crown Prosecutors. They have indicated to me that it is a bad spot for drugs, particularly among teenagers, twentysomethings.

I haven't heard anything about shootouts but then, as I don't live there, I wouldn't expect to. I have no axe to grind. When researching in England, we thought we would like it, when we reccied it, we decided against it. I am sure others love it. Each to their own and all that.

Re: Chestermere
 

So do I (well cops anyway). When the economy was going like the clappers there was this trend towards drug dealers being in wealthy areas, there was an infamous shootout in Kensington for example, but no-one would say it's a drugs area. Saying Chestermere is an area with "big problems" with drugs makes it sound run-down or something, that is not the case at all.

StatsCan on Chestermere

Median family income, value of house, etc. are way higher than Alberta or Calgary. I'll be interested to see what the 2011 census comes out with.

Re: Chestermere
 

I was thinking more about teenagers consuming drugs rather than it being a drug dealer's paradise.

Re: Chestermere
 

Only because they're wealthier teenagers if in fact it's more common there.

Re: Chestermere
 

I must admit I too thought Chestermere was a cheaper option (guy at work bought there for that reason). I also thought it had slight gang /drug issues. I remember a doorstep shooting?

I honestly don't know why anyone wwwould move that far from the mountains. i also don't like the powerlines

Re: Chestermere
 

The houses around the lake are definitely upmarket. Maybe the newer communities are cheaper? I haven't looked recently.

When I was looking I was disappointed that I couldn't seem to find anything to indicate the school having a good name, in fact, rather the reverse.

This was some years ago now however and times change. But there is still the factor of the overall rate of growth and whether the infrastructure is adequate to accommodate it.

I thought the area around the lake looked like a wonderful place to bring kids up, but we couldn't afford a lake-side property, and so I consoled myself that they were probably consumed by mosquitos anyway! :p

Re: Chestermere
 

Bit of a nothing place really. Not a good commute. Not a great location. Can't imagine there's much to do out there. Great hockey arena though with a great little bar upstairs. Also, a few gang connections there in recent years and more than it's fair share of grow-ops etc. I've visited a friend there but wouldn't consider living on that side of Calgary. Just doesn't appeal for many reasons.

Re: Chestermere
 

A quick look on Realtor.ca or MLS.ca as some still call it reveals 161 properties for sale in Chestermere. :blink:

Realtor .ca Chestermere properties for sale.

For an area that size that is one hell of a lot of property for sale. Does that tell us something? I don't know.:confused: What I do know is I would be one of those that would have no desire whatsoever to live there.

Re: Chestermere
 

I think if you are going to come all this way to Canada, and to Calgary specifically, the least you can do is give yourself a mountain view, or as near as possible when driving around your neighbourhood. :p

Re: Chestermere
 

I remember watching something about schools in the area on CTV a couple of years back and everyone seemed to think Chestermere High School was one of the best in the area, if not the best.

There's a dentist I go to there occasionally, always seemed upmarket to me. Prices on realtor.ca seem higher than average.

Yes, I agree, it's not as upmarket as some of the stuff in the NW and out in Rocky View in the same area, and as soon as you get far enough away from the lake prices drop quickly. It's about living by a lake and being able to get into the centre of town easily.

As for infrastructure being under stress, welcome to Alberta, you could say that about anywhere in the province really.