Real Estate Blog

Your home's exterior is extremely important for keeping your entire home safe and protected. There are many different things you can do to keep your home's exterior in the best condition possible for the longevity of your home and also for the appearance of your home. Here are a few tasks to consider.

Clean Your Gutters

Some people neglect their gutters which can be a big mistake. Your gutters can become clogged and overflow causing damages such as flooding. Clean your gutters by hand and then use a hose to rinse out any leftover debris while also making sure the water flows through possibly. Also, check your gutters for damage and promptly fix any that are damaged.

Check Your Roof

Inspect your roof for any damage or debris. Check for curling

Light Up Okotoks has become a much-anticipated event that kicks off the holidays in a most brilliant way.

Celebrate the season with a few thousand of your closest friends at Light Up Okotoks on Nov 20.

Residents will gather downtown on Friday night when the streets of Okotoks will become a virtual winter wonderland.   Activities for young and old are planned for the evening.

About Parking

As in past years, residents are encouraged to come early because parking is limited.  However, downtown Okotoks on a balmy evening in late fall is not that far away from many Okotoks communities.

Elizabeth Street, McRae and North Railway will be closed to traffic from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm.

Scheduled Events

• There will be lots of merriment for

If you are looking to eat a great meal while enjoying a spectacular view then look no farther than The Ridge House. They offer a full menu ranging from delicious appetizers to mouth-watering seafood. There is something for the entire family to enjoy and the atmosphere is like none other. Here's what you can expect when you dine at The Ridge House.

The View

The Ridge House is nestled on the Crystal Ridge Golf Course with jaw dropping views of the beautiful Rocky Mountains and the rustic terrain of Crystal Ridge. When you are not enjoying the views of the mountains, you can enjoy watching the lush green golf course where you can sometimes watch golfers in action.

The Restaurant

Not many restaurants offer versatile seating arrangements for large

Based in Alberta, The Canadian Brewhouse has several locations throughout Alberta as well as in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Aside from their normal menu, they offer brunch and seasonal menus. They are also home to one of the most diverse menus of beer and alcohol.

Unwind at the Brewhouse

Nothing beats good food, good friends, and good drinks! Eat, drink, and be merry by visiting The Canadian Brewhouse. Their menu really does have something for everyone. Patron favourites include the:

• Braised Beef Grilled Cheese Sandwich: It’s a best seller that comes in a healthy portion and uses the restaurant’s famous braised beef. BBQ sauce and cheese top this Texas toast sandwich off with perfection.
• Alexander Keith’s Bluenose Fish: Craving

Acting on complaints from Okotoks gardeners concerned with the large numbers of urban deer munching on valuable plants, town officials conducted a deer count earlier this fall.

On September 15, more than 50 volunteers fanned out across town to see how many deer were within town limits. Okotoks was divided into districts, with each team of volunteers counting within a set boundary.  The count was quick in a bid to avoid counting the quick-moving deer herd twice.

During the one hour count, the teams discovered 51 deer within the town limits with another 15 just outside for a total of 66 deer. Deer are found in every neighbourhood in Okotoks, not just in the outlying neighbourhoods.

This number will act as a baseline number so the town can monitor

Okotoks residents will breathe a little easier in 2016 with new and reduced speed limits in their neighbourhoods.

Town councilors approved a motion to lower the speed limits in most residential streets in Okotoks to 40 km/hr.  That includes some of Okotoks main thoroughfares, such as Elizabeth, McRae and North Railway Streets.

Streets in Okotoks communities with a posted 30 km/hr restriction and back alleys that have a default speed limit of 15 km/hr will remain as posted with no further reductions.

Some of Okotoks busier streets, such as Northridge, Southridge, Milligan, 32 St and Big Rock Trail will retain the 50 km/hr speed limits.

When will it take effect?

The new 40 km/hr residential speed limit was voted upon and is effective

Consideration of purchasing a home in an Okotoks subdivision will require many factors. You will want to know how much money the budget will allow; that will require finding a dependable lender. You also need to decide on a floor plan and what you desire on the interior of the home. However, some other options will include what type of scenery such as whether you want to have a natural setting or if you want to share a privacy fence with a neighbour. These are a few options offered by Okotoks Subdivision.

Cimarron offers up to 1/4 of an acre with a variety of lot prices. The Sheep River Pathway winds through the community and is an excellent choice if you enjoy running, biking, or a leisurely stroll. John Paul II and St. Mary's Elementary are

What an adventure awaits you at Cahoots Bar & Grill! It is time to enjoy some fantastic food and brew. With all the specials in store for you, it is simply irresistible. Grab all you friends and meet at the grill for a few cold ones. You will be sure to find something to tickle your fancy!

Weekly Specials

Check out some of these weekly specials. Monday night is wing night; for a pound you only pay $6. Also, the fabulous Butterfly Shrimp for 35-cents as in-house specials (with a beverage order) all day. You can order an ice cold/ 18-ounce draft pint for $4 all night? Don't forget, you can choose from 30 different sauces for the wings and shrimp. Wow, what deals they are!

Tuesday brings Burgers Most Wanted night featuring eight specialty burgers

Student enrollments are up at all schools in the Foothills School Division.

The increase in numbers year-over-year has been easily accommodated and reflect healthy grown in the communities in which the schools serve.  Foothills School Division is the public education body in the Municipal District of Foothills

The division recently reported that 129.5 more full-time students are registered in Foothills schools, with Okotoks schools experiencing the most growth.  The numbers reflect current student populations compared with the numbers from September 2014.

The assistant superintendent of the school division is pleased with the increase.  Allen Davidson told the Okotoks Western Wheel that finding more space for students is more desirable than

Not only will new windows improve the appearance and energy efficiency of your home, it will improve the resale value.  If you look at real estate listings in your older neighbourhood, take note of how many homes have indicated that there are new windows throughout. 

How old are your windows?

If your home was built before 1980 it might be a wise investment to start replacing them.  Do one at a time or replace all the windows all at once and don’t worry about window replacements in cold weather.  The amount of time your window frame will sit empty between removing the old one and replacing the new is less than an hour. That’s not enough time for your home to cool off if your are replacing windows in the fall and winter.

If you are an experienced