Established neighbourhood VS. Up & coming neighbourhood

Buying a house in Airdrie is a HUGE commitment. It is more than picking the features you will love for years to come like the dream yard, or the number of bedrooms. Just as important as the house itself is the community that the house is located in. There are three major pieces to choosing your home.  The home itself, the land that it is on and the community that the house is located in.

How do you know which neighbourhood will suit your family now and in the years to come? Whether that is an older, established neighbourhood or a new, upcoming neighbourhood, it is important to truly know the benefits of both types of neighbourhoods.  

Today we are going to explore two neighbourhoods in Airdrie, Alberta.  Bayside and Meadowbrook.  Bayside is a newer neighbourhood in Airdrie and Meadowbrook is a more established neighbourhood in Airdrie.  

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF WHEN CHOOSING A COMMUNITY FOR YOUR HOME

Before we look at each community, let’s cover some questions that you should be asking your realtor when looking for your home.  

Question One|  gHow are the schools in the community?  If you have or plan to have a family, this is a great question to ask.  You want to ensure that your children have access to a great education.  You will also want to know the distance of the schools and if they are located in the community itself or in another community. 

Question Two|  How safe is the neighbourhood?  Airdrie is a safe city to live in overall but this is still a great question to ask your realtor.  No one wants to buy their dream home in a neighbourhood that isn’t safe so be sure to ask.

Question Three|  Does the neighbourhood have an HOA?  HOA’s can be beneficial but for some homeowners, they can feel too restrictive.  Depending on how you feel about HOAs will depend on if you want to buy in a community that has one.

Question Four|  What is the projected growth rate of the neighbourhood?  This will help you decide if you want a newer neighbourhood or one that is already established.  Knowing the projected growth rate in a newer neighbourhood will help to see if it will increase the value of your home as well.

Question Five|  When you enter a community, pay attention to what you see, smell and hear.  Ask questions when you are with your realtor.  Visit the neighbourhood on your own and at different times of the day to see what it is like through various parts of the day.  You want to make sure that you love the community day or night.  

Question Six|  How social is the community?  Is it important to you to keep to yourself or would you rather have a community that connects with each other?  

Now that we covered a few simple questions to ask, let’s break down the two different Airdrie communities of Bayside and Meadowbrook.

THE COMMUNITY OF BAYSIDE IN AIRDRIE, ALBERTA

Bayside is a community in the SW area of Airdrie, Alberta.  It is located just 25 minutes to the Calgary downtown core and is close to many different amenities in which we will talk about.

The community of Bayside is ranked as the #4 community in Airdrie, Alberta.  It is also ranked as the #52 community in all of Alberta. (Source; Area Vibes)

One of the main features of Bayside is that it is the community that is nestled along the canal system in Airdrie.  Some of the homes give you direct access to the canals and allow you to enjoy the benefits of living on the water.  If you enjoy being on the water in both winter and summer, Bayside may be the community for you.

A few of the many benefits of living in Bayside are…

1. Family-friendly.  The neighbourhood is filled with families that love to spend time outdoors.  Whether they are out in their backyard on the canal or they are in the front riding bikes and drawing with chalk, Bayside is family-friendly.  

2. It has a great pathway system.  Do you love spending time in the outdoors?  Bayside has great paths that follow the canals or throughout the community.  Grab your bike or put on your walking shoes and get out and enjoy the pathway system.

3. The business district is incredible.  Not every community can say that they have a business district but even better than that, Bayside has two of the BEST restaurants in it.  It is home to both Sorso Wine Bar & Lounge and Tacos & Tequila Mexican restaurants.  The business district also includes 7/11, a gas station, a medical clinic, banking, massage and physio, pizza places and more.  All of this is within minutes of your home.  Use the pathway system to head out for a night of tacos, pizza or live music.

Overall, Bayside is a great option if you are wanting to be close enough to Calgary but have the benefits of living near or on the water.  It is still a growing community so if you are wanting to be a part of a community that is still expanding, Bayside should be on your list of communities to check out in Airdrie.

THE COMMUNITY OF MEADOWBROOK IN AIRDRIE, ALBERTA

Meadowbrook is a more established and older neighbourhood in Airdrie, Alberta.  If you are looking to stay away from new construction then this is a neighbourhood that you should check out.  Meadowbrook is located in the SE of Airdrie.  Meadowbrook is located about 26 minutes north of Calgary.  

The community of Meadowbrook is ranked as the #9 community in Airdrie, Alberta.  It is also ranked as the #118 community in Alberta. (Source; Area Vibes)  

A few of the many benefits of living in Meadowbrook include…

1. An assortment of restaurants close by.  Meadowbrook is within driving or walking range to many different restaurants. No need to travel across town to have a dinner out.

2. You are close to two big grocery stores.  Save on Foods and No Frills are close to Meadowbrook and allow you to stay close to your community to do your food shopping.

3. The median age of people in Meadowbrook is older than Bayside.  If you are looking for a quieter neighbourhood, Meadowbrook is a great option.  It is still family-friendly but it does have an older population.

4. Genesis Place is a close drive for when you are looking to spend some time as a family swimming or looking for a great gym to work out at.

5. It is an already established neighbourhood.  No need to worry about new builds or construction.  

6. There are mature trees.  Since this neighbourhood is already established, you have beautifully lined streets with big trees and ample yards.

Each community in Airdrie has something special and unique to offer.  I only shared a handful of the benefits for each community.  Whether you are looking for an up-and-coming community or one that is already established, Airdrie has what you are looking for.  

Contact me today so that I can help you find your dream home in a community that you can love for any stage of life that you are in.