Real Estate Blog

Okotoks has always been a progressive town, ready to embrace new technologies and green energy. Net-zero is now the new goal, where a home creates as much energy as it uses and it is indeed a lofty and noble goal.  It can also be pricey to retrofit your home with things like solar panels or geothermal technologies.  You will get your money back, at some point but not for a while.

However, there are a few energy-efficient hacks you can consider as you move towards a net-zero home that are more cost efficient as you work towards living a greener life.

Here are some expert-recommended ideas to help you get started on your path to energy efficiency:

Unplug your appliances

Tie a string around your finger, set an alert on your phone, put post-it

This Monday it will become pretty quiet at the Okotoks Air Ranch.  At least until October. Hopefully.

Residents of the neighbourhood outside of the town and community stakeholders were contacted earlier this month by Bryce Medd, manager of the Okotoks Air Ranch.  They were informed that the site would be closing on April 18 and by 6:00 pm that day, any remaining aircraft would have to be gone.

Some of the reasons for the closure include the inability to meet various Transport Canada regulations that apply to the tiny airport.  Things like wildlife around the airport and stricter requirements for registered airports that have been introduced since the Air Ranch was opened are some of the concerns that precipitated the closure.

Medd told Okotoks

Lack of moisture over the winter and little rain this spring has caused desert-like conditions here in Southern Alberta.

Landscape companies are getting a jump on spring clean-ups, with the sound of lawn mowers and power rakes humming in every neighbourhood.  Even the old-timers are watching the budding leaves on cotoneaster hedges and lilac trees throughout Okotoks and wondering when the last time was they saw such an early spring.

Plants are about a month ahead of schedule and many are stressed because of the lack of moisture.  Soil isn’t as spongy as it usually is when the garden is waking up. Bulbs are popping up, crocuses blooming and even peonies and rhubarb are waking up after a long winter’s nap.

But is it too early to water?

This is

It’s been five years since Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) had an increase in funding from the Provincial government.    Now an increase last fall has allowed the Okotoks FCSS to provide more than $225,000 other service providers and organizations in the Okotoks area.

In all, 15 organizations and groups took turns presenting their case in front of the FCSS Advisory Committee.  After deliberation, it was Okotoks town council that took the committee’s recommendations and approved dispersal of the funds.  All organizations contribute to the health and wellness of children, adults and seniors in Okotoks within the social services framework.  As Okotoks continues to grow, the demand for services does too so the increase funding was welcome

It’s the envy of Southern Alberta and it’s located just south of the Town of Okotoks.  It’s the Crescent Point Regional Field House and even though it’s only been open for a year it’s already operating at near capacity.

Operated by Nustadia Recreation in cooperation with the Foothills-Okotoks Recreation Society, this field house with indoor lacrosse floors, soccer pitches, running track and meetings rooms is used by everyone, even groups from Calgary who drive anywhere from 20 to an hour to the facility.

The Society recently reported its year-end activity for its first 12 months of operation to municipal councils in the Town of Okotoks and the Municipal District of Foothills.  The field house was operating at 82% capacity during its peak hours

In the next 20 years, nearby DeWinton might be absorbed into the City of Calgary if an upcoming annexation proposal is approved.  Since DeWinton is to the immediate north east of Okotoks, the sprawling suburbs are inching every closer to the Town of Okotoks.

The City revealed a proposed plan for future growth recently at an open house at DeWinton’s community Hall.  The draft showed the proposed boundary changes, which could extend southward past Highway 552X reaching to 290 Avenue SW which is very close to the overpass to Okotoks at Highway 2 to 64 Street East.

This draft proposal was put together after the City of Calgary garnered feedback from local residents following several public meetings conducted in the Fall 2015.  At that time, four

Residents of the Okotoks neighbourhood of Cimarron have traffic woes just like many other Canadian communities.  Vehicles speeding through otherwise quiet streets; too much vehicular traffic and impatient drivers taking short cuts through the neighbourhood enroute to urgent matters elsewhere in town.

Some streets in Cimarron, such as Cimarron Blvd, are so busy at peak times that some residents can’t get out of their driveways in a timely manner.  At a recent meeting organized by the Town of Cochrane, Cimarron home owners shared their experiences with wild traffic.

Short cuts through the neighbourhood were experienced more by residents of Cimarron Estates. This is because motorists use Cimarron Estates Drive as a shorter way to get from Southridge

Spring is on its way, but in here in Southern Alberta that frequently means it’s time for more snow. March is typically when we get the most snowfall, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start planning outdoor projects.

Like the roof.  Now is the time to get estimates, line up your roofer and pick what sort of roof you’d like to have.  You don’t have to go with ordinary, run-of-the-mill asphalt shingles.  Have a look at what other roofing materials are on the market.  New materials that stand up to the worst of Alberta’s weather and that will add a bit of character and pizzazz to your home.

So what comes first, the roofer or the material?  You might have a reliable company in mind, perhaps the people that did your neighbour’s roof.  On time, on budget

Okotoks residents aged 15 and older looking for work are always welcome to check out the Okotoks Career and Employment Centre at 87 Elizabeth Street.

It’s just one of the many employment centres located throughout the provinces, offering a variety of services to Albertans looking for a new career or embarking on a job hunt.

Whether you need to refresh your resume, write a compelling cover letter, learn how to fill out applications on-line, check out the library or use a computer or fax machine, the Okotoks Career and Employment Centre is there to help.  Individual counselling is available or you may want to consider joining the job club to network with other people who are also looking for employment in the Okotoks area.

Come in anytime

Whether you’ve scrimped, sacrificed and saved or whether money fell from the sky – you’ve got your down payment. 

It was easy, and now you’re out house shopping.  It’s exciting, it’s daunting, it’s fun and stressful – all at the same time.  Here are a few pointers from those who have gone before you.

Don’t over-extend yourself

You’re so lucky.  Not often in the course of history have mortgage interest rates been this low.  This might widen the playing field when it comes to looking at your monthly payments.  It could mean the difference between a 900 square foot starter home and a home large enough to hold your family (if there’s one in your future).  You mortgage lender may tell you that on paper, you qualify for a certain level of debt.  But