CHESTERMERE WINTERFEST Saturday, February 14th, 2009 The Chestermere Winterfest is an annual community event celebrating the fun and flurry of winter activities. This year's Winterfest will be held at Anniversary Park & the Chestermere Regional Recreational Centre. Winterfest is full of fun activities for every one of all ages. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: JUMP START YOUR MORNING! Pancake Breakfast: 7:30am - 9:30am - Recreation Centre Ice Fishing Derby: 10:00am - 2:00pm - Pick up Registrations at Town Hall Fishing Derby Awards: 3:00pm - Lounge - Recreation Centre CRCA SOUTH FIELD - ARCTIC VILLAGE - 11:00am - 4:00pm Hot Toddy Hut - Cozy fire pits and warm beverages Polar Bear Dip - Call Town Hall @ 403-207-7050 for early registration Dip Times - 12:00pm / 1:00pm / 2:00pm / 3:00pm Olympic Torch R... 02/02/2009

As goes the market in Calgary, so does it go in Chestermere.  That means it is a buyers market right here in Chestermere! The Calgary market had 550 sales in single family homes in January, although this was  up from 449 sales in December it was nothing to boast about as this was down from 1,083 in January 2008. In Chestermere we had 5 MLS listings that were sold in January.  In January 2008 we had 14 sales.  An additional 6 listings were pending at the end of the month.  These pending sales give us optimism that the market will return to a more normal pace for February.  In the meantime motivated sellers have been competing to make their homes the next to sell.  First time homebuyers have a choice of 19 homes (not condos) priced  between $289,000 and $379,900.  If a condo would meet yo... 02/02/2009

89.4 %   of lakefront homeowners have signed up to purchase the land between their property and the shore of the lake (as of 02/02/09).  The town had a condition that purchase was to proceed if 80% signed up.  With this issue resolved Chestermere will  be one of the few places where lakefront properties can actually own the land right to the shore.  Having this issue resolved will bring stability to the lakefront market, as it will take away the uncertainty over what was to happen with that strip of land that was being used by lakefront property owners.  02/02/2009

LOW JUST GOT LOWER! Amazingly, this already great value just became a fantastic value! $998,000 for a stunning cedar log bungalow backing onto Chestermere Lake. Only 30 minutes to downtown Calgary you can water-ski, sail, fish or swim before and after work. Ths home has a generous great room plan that has recently been updated with maple hardwood floors, granite counters, new fixtures and new carpet and paint. Wide open plan with large dining area, spacious kitchen, generous great room and the master on the main floor. There are 3 bedrooms above grade in the walkout. Enjoy the morning sun on the front deck and watch the sun set from your West Facing deck. Lots of room to entertain on the deck, covered patio or dock. Nicely landscaped and well-kept home. NOW PRICED FOR QUICK SALE. 01/16/2009

Instant gratification! Get all the goodies now, for less than it would cost to build this home on a lesser location. You will have the best view in Rainbow Falls; on the pond with a view of the mountains! Enjoy your fully developed professionally finished basement now! Don't wait to enjoy the benefits of a professionally landscaped yard it is already done! Don't cry when you look at upgraded appliances, just enjoy your high performance kitchen now. Don't worry about decorating or where everything will go-- the colours are great and the window coverings and storage units are included. Waiting for the market to go down? You will miss this beauty, as she is priced to be a great deal now....This home also has Central air and a triple car garage. Don't hesitate, give in to instant gratificat... 01/16/2009

Chestermere Lakefront Owners Can Purchase Land Adjoining Their Lots. In Chestermere Lake there has been an ongoing dispute regarding the ownership of the land between the lakefront owner's lot and the waters edge.  When the land was sold the buyers understood they were getting the land to the lakefront, however when the land was surveyed, it was not surveyed to the waters edge.  The WID came back to the lakefront owners and offered to sell them the land under various conditions and prices.  Sometimes the WID threatened lakefront owners that they would knock down boathouses and docks if the owners did not purchase the land.  It has been most unpleasant and most unsettling to existing and potential lakefront owners.    Now the Town of Chestermere has stepped in and offered to buy the land... 01/12/2009

Chestermere Lake has a community food bank and it's own charity fund to help residents having a hard time.  Christmas with Dignity is a local charity helping out Chestermere and area families who need help.  Some may think that there are no families with needs in this upscale neighbourhood.  In good times and in bad no community is immune from hard times.  A family came into the Chestermere FCSS office just before Christmas.  In this family the father was disabled and unable to work and the mom was working for a company that went bankrupt leaving her without a paycheck for the past two weeks she had put in.  Thanks to the generosity of Chestermere residents Christmas with dignity was able to help.  Many other families like this received help, and will continue to do so throughout the ye... 12/29/2008

Want to Carry The Olympic Torch For Chestermere, You Have to Apply To The Royal Bank. The Royal Bank of Canada is the official sponsor of the Olympic Torch Relay.  They are running a contest that runs from  November 21, 2008 and closes on July 15, 2009. As part of the contest they ask contestants to make a pledge to make Canada a better place to live. The torch is scheduled to be going through Chestermere on January 19, 2010.  If you would like to participate visit the website http://www.carrythetorch.com. Good luck. 12/14/2008

I popped into the library the other day, and they now have specialty coffees available.  You can meet a friend and have a visit by the fireplace at the library.  Now that is nothing like the library that I grew up with.  Chestermere's library is a place to meet friends, a place to watch a movie it is not the sterile place that we have in our minds.  So next time you want to meet a friend for a coffee and a relaxing visit check out the library. 11/27/2008

 It only makes sense that Chestermere would be chosen, as we are only 5 miles from Calgary and right on the Trans Canada Highway.  We will have three torch bearers from our town.  Chestermere has three Olympic heros that I know of.  They are Cary Mullen, Alyssa Hatton and Joshua Riker-Fox.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if they could carry the torch for Chestermere and Canada. Cary Mullen World Cup Downhill Champion World Downhill Speed Record Holder- 97 mph (151 km/h) in Kitzbuhel Austria m Member of the Olympic Hall of Fame Two-Time Olympian Silver and Bronze Four time North American Champion Leader of the National Ski Team for over a decade Chestermere resident Alyssa Hatton Japan Special Olympics - Won Two Bronze and One Silver Medal in Skiing, February 2005. Chestermere High Graduate Jo... 11/27/2008

Today Doug was showing homes in Chestermere.  Out of 7 homes that he showed only one had an actual feature sheet. The rest had nothing. not even a black and white print off.  Nothing.  Come on!  How much effort is it to put together a feature sheet!  I know that you have not had so many showings that you just can't keep up. We always print off a sheet to give to our clients  on other realtors listings.  For our listings we put together a 4 or 5 page colour booklet for the homebuyer to take home.  We think that if they can remember the home they are more likely to buy it.  It works rather well.  Perhaps some of you will try it.   11/22/2008

A Library Membership Gives You Access to More Than Books.  Recently our public library participated in an application for a grant.  The grant application was successful.  Then town council decided that half of the amount should be granted to the community centre.  One councilor was quoted as saying "I have nothing against the library but" He went on to say how much more relevant the community centre was than the library.  He obviously does not recognize all of the great things that our library brings to our town.  The Chestermere Public library in one year has 4,000 members. Thankfully Coucliller Bergen pointed out that the Library did not have the ablility to charge for its programs the way the community centre does.  Thankfully the library got one half of the funds.  A library is a pl... 11/22/2008

The Chestermere real estate market has fewer listings than we had at the peak.  185 listings were active so far in November. There are 3 pending sales. There were 7 sold listings. First time home buyers are getting into the market with the lower end of the market being most active this month with an average sale price this month has been $413,000. The high sale price this month was $499,000 and the low price of $374,900.  There are some great bargains for homebuyers available right now.  There have been many price reductions and there is a great selection of homes available.  11/20/2008

Marjorie and Doug McKay with RE/MAX Lakeside in cooperation with the Chestermere Public Library are pleased to present the following free movie selections. The public library is located in the basement of the town hall (North West end of the lake, big brick building. ) Admission is free to library members. A donation to the Chestermere Food Bank would be greatly appreciated  Movie Schedule For The Balance of November and December Friday movies 2:30     Nov 21 Hell Boy  Nov 28 The Mummy Tomb of the Dragon Empire December 5 Momma Mia December 12 The Nightmare Before Christmas  December 19 Beverly Hills Chihuahua     Saturday Family Movie   NOON     November 22   Fievel Goes West   November 29   Rescuers Down Under December 6th    The Secret of Nimh   December 13 The Fox and The Hound Dece... 11/20/2008

Chestermere Will Have Pre-release Movies Starting In November.  In a partnership with the Chestermere Public Library, Marjorie and Doug McKay are pleased to announce the acquisition of licensing rights through Audio Ciné Films Inc.   This license will allow Chestermere Library to host public movie presentations.  This license also includes the rights to pre-release films, prior to the films release for public sale.  Marjorie and Doug have also donated a movie projector and screen for the movies to be displayed on.  They will also provide funds to acquire a release weekly as they become available. The multi-purpose room of the library will now be able to be used for a variety of events.  The first movie will be WALL-E on November 7, The Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian will be shown ... 10/19/2008

Marjorie and Doug McKay are moving their real estate practice to RE/MAX R.E. Lakeside. We have run our own brokerage for 6 years and have enjoyed our association with MaxWell Realy. We cannot say enough good things about Dick Oakes and Ron Stanners the founders of MaxWell Realty. Changing companies is about practicality. We want an office in Chestermere as that is where 90% of our business is. We want to work in an office that understands Chestermere. Office space in Chestermere is very difficult to obtain. We have also found that the paper work involved in running a brokerage is taking more and more time. As top sales people that is not the best use of our time. RE/Max R.E.Lakeside has an office at 300 Merganser Drive in the West Creek Shopping Centre. They have a full time broker and ... 07/20/2008

Lake view and end unit with extra parking space in the Waterside at Chestermere Lake. This 2 year old townhouse has generous rooms, 3 bedrooms, built in desk, single attached garage with extra space for parking in front. This home has been handled with kid gloves and is as new. Nice accent colours enhance the neutral decor. The kitchen has a generous island to gather around and a window over the sink. There is a 3 piece ensuite bath in master bedroom. There is a full basement with a washer and dryer that are included. The great room has a gas corner fireplace and a great view of the lake. 06/17/2008

Just 5 miles from the city of Calgary, Chestermere often doesn't even get on the map! With over 12,000 residents it should be on the map. Chestermere Lake is a 750 acre lake that you can waterski, sail, wakeboard, skate and swim in. We often have people new to Alberta stunned that you can live on a lake just 25 minutes to downtown Calgary. You can, but it will certainly cost you more than just a few years ago! Lakefront appreciates more quickly than other types of property because there just isn't enough of it! We still believe Chestemere to be a great value when compared to other lakes, that are not near a major oil and financial centre like Calgary. Of course there are lots of choices off of the lake, homes on the golf course, condo's by the lake and lots of homes built backing onto ... 02/10/2008

311 permits to build new homes were given in Chestermere in 2007.  That number was down from 636 in 2006.  In 2007 Shane Homes had the most number of permits at 45,   Lifestyle Homes had 44 with Reid Built close behind at 43.  Jager had 35 permits.  Landmark 29, Truman Homes had 24.  Loinsworthe Homes had 17 permits. Greenboro had 13 permits. Douglas Homes had 8 permits.  22 home permits issued were for smaller builders.   Much of the slowdown can be attributed as response to the Town of Chestermere’s inability to keep up to the demand for servicing to the lands being developed, rather than a lack of demand.  Although December was a slow month with only six residential home permits being issued. With Rainbow Falls and Westmere being the most active developments in Chestermere the builde... 02/09/2008

In Chestermere we seem to have a lot of builders and out of town real estate agents marketing lakefront property that by our definition does not qualify as lakefront!Chestermere is a 750 acre lake 5 miles out of Calgary that you can water-ski, sail, wakeboard and have fun, fun, fun.  The thing about Chestermere that distinguishes it from other lake communities in this area is of course the size, (750 acres is about 720 acres bigger than Calgary's other lake communities.), is the fact that you can run a motor boat on the lake.  Not having a dock or the ability to build one, is certainly a consideration in the value of the home.  If you are truly lakefront you have a boat lift at the end of your dock, you go out and drop the boat, and away you go.  If you are not lakefront, you hitch your... 02/02/2008