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Helping Calgarians achieve home ownership dream

News Release, November 28th, 2011

Attainable Homes Calgary and Unity Builders Group partner together to bridge the housing affordability gap for moderate income Calgarians.

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Treo’s making Calgarians’ dreams come true

CALGARY SUN - FIRST POSTED: SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2011 01:43 PM MDT

With a program that can help thousands of hardworking Calgarians achieve the dream of home ownership, Attainable Homes has taken a big first step with the Treo at Beacon Heights, a 258-unit, apartment-style condo.

"The Attainable Home Ownership Program is designed specifically to help middle-income Calgarians to be able to own homes," says Sharon McCormick, executive director of Attainable Homes Calgary.

"This helps people get out of rental accommodation and able to get into home ownership."

The attractive, three-storey buildings have appealing features on the exterior, as well as a spacious, private balcony for each apartment.

"The first phase is currently under construction, featuring condos ranging in size from 630 to 924 square feet," McCormick says.

"There are eight two-bedroom and five one-bedroom floor plans to choose from and each unit comes with one underground, heated parking stall."

The standard features within the home are high quality with luxury touches, including granite countertops, ceramic tile floors, European walnut cabinetry, 9-ft. ceilings and a modern, contemporary style.

"The quality you see in the units is outstanding," she says.

"This is market housing - people who purchase here are selling their homes on the market, so it's important that they are competitive."

The Treo will be developed in four phases, with the first phase already under construction.

Located in Calgary's beautiful northwest, the complex overlooks spectacular Symons Valley and is close to numerous amenities.

"You're walking distance to Beacon Heights shopping centre, with shops, services, restaurants, medical clinics, dental clinics, everything you need," McCormick says.

"There are walking paths in place for easy access."

Those who can take advantage of the program are those whose dreams of home ownership are still elusive, or many years away, as the average price of a home has rapidly outshot the median income of Calgarians.

"Home ownership is associated with many positive social and economic benefits," she says. "Allowing middle-income Calgarians to own a home earlier creates greater stability for them."

For Calgarians earning an annual household income between $53,000 and $80,000, the Attainable Home Ownership Program provides qualified buyers with a 10% down-payment towards their home.

At the Treo, built by Cidex Developments, introductory pricing is offered until June 15.

"The average (condo) price in Calgary is $285,000," McCormick says.

"Our average is $225,000. That's a lot of equity already existing in the homes. "For our home buyers, the ability to start building the equity in their home, it's about financial stability for their future and for their children's future."

FAST FACTS
BUILDER/DEVELOPER: Cidex Developments Ltd.
AREA: Beacon Heights
PRICE: Intro pricing ranges between $182,000 and $265,000, including GST, until June 15
DIRECTIONS: Head north on Deerfoot Tr. Take Beddington Tr. exit and head west. Turn left onto Stoney Tr. Turn right onto Shaganappi Tr. which becomes Sherwood Way. Turn left onto Sherwood Blvd. Alternatively, take 16 Ave. N.W. or Crowchild Tr. west to Stoney Tr., turn right on Stoney Tr. and follow to Shaganappi Tr.
HOURS: Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m.
CONTACT: Call 403-265-9935 or visit www.attainablehomescalgary.ca

City unlocks door to owning home

CALGARY SUN - FIRST POSTED: SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2011 05:43 PM MDT

Two of the first purchasers of the Attainable Home Ownership Program in Calgary were all smiles on May 5, when they received the "key" to their new home from Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

Tyler Nixon and Laura Kapteyn are exactly the kind of couple Attainable Homes Calgary is looking for to be a part of their program.

Both work at the Centre Street Church and will be married this summer, but they thought homeownership was a long way off.

Secret's out on affordable home purchase program

By Valerie Fortney, Calgary Herald May 6, 2011

It sounded too good to be true. When Tyler Nixon heard from a friend in March that for only a few thousand down he could buy a new condo in a growing northwest Calgary neighbourhood, he was "sure it was a scam."

On Thursday, the 24-yearold Nixon and his bride-to-be Laura Kapteyn join a crowd of supporters and media at the site of their under-construction home in Beacon Heights.

Although they've turned from skeptics into believers, their delighted expressions read like they still can't quite believe their good fortune.