Happy Canada Day to you all! Here’s hoping you all have a chance to get out and celebrate our wonderful country in some unique way today – even without the crowds and fireworks this year. We have much to be thankful for, even during times of uncertainty and stress.
While Calgary may not have much planned for Canada Day festivities this year, many people are taking the opportunity to have neighbourhood (socially distanced, of course) barbecues, parades and even lawn concerts to mark the occasion. If COVID has taught us anything it’s how to appreciate our own communities even more, as we sure have been spending a lot of time in them lately.
So in that spirit, and because we often profile Calgary communities, I’d like to write a bit about the southeast community of Chaparral. Established officially in 1995 as the City surged southwards, it’s located just south of Stoney Trail and is bordered east by the Bow River Valley, to the south by 194 Avenue SE, and Macleod Trail to the west. The interesting thing about Chaparral is the variety of home style and price points. It has three distinct sub sections within the community of 13,500 (2016 Census); Lake Chaparral, Chaparral Valley, and Chaparral Ridge.
In the heart of it is the centerpiece – a 32-acre artificial lake and a 21-acre park with two waterfalls. Green space and bike paths abound and there’s lots of off-leash room for dogs to wander. Bordering the lake, you can find $1 million+ homes that have their own private docks.
But Chaparral isn’t exclusive. Further out from the lake are a wide variety of 2-storey, split level and bungalow homes, the majority of which were built in the 1990s. You can find homes in the low 400’s all way up to premium prices.
People have figured out that Chaparral is a destination neighbourhood, as the lake and community association offer a wide variety of sporting, arts and cultural activities year –round. The community spirit is high and people tend to stay in Chaparral a long time. With two elementary schools, close access to shopping as well as Deerfoot and Stoney Trails, it’s well positioned for working families, as the average Chaparral household has 3.2 people and a meridian income of $137,640.
The benchmark price for a detached single-family home as of the first quarter of 2020 in Chaparral is $466,767. Since 78 % of all homes there are single detached, that’s a significant number. The average days on market is 61 and there are currently 3.65 months of supply on the market, which has been holding steady, even during COVID.
So, if you’re looking for a safe, involved and lovely community to move into, consider Chaparral as a real southern gem.
Enjoy this week and the sunny days ahead. We look forward to reconnecting with many of you soon as the weather continues to improve!
-Bob
