Calgary Construction XXVI

[jc_yyc_ca]

Originally Posted by accord1999

I've been scraping listing data and this property has gone through a number of price cuts; from $174,500 to $169,500 on July 20, to $154,000 on August 1 to $149,500 in early September, and relisted on December 8 at the current price. Since it's been at this price for over 2 months, people must have concern about the fees and probably will need further price reduction if it has any hope of selling.

Those condo fees are quite high for a building like that with no amenities, but speaks to my example about how condo fees are only going to go up. This exactly proves my point that people have to would have to be dumb to buy into an apartment condo.

[jc_yyc_ca]

Originally Posted by accord1999

Though a lot of communities now have mandatory fees as well to pay for the community facilities and parks. IE Cranston:

https://cranstonra.ca/membership-information/

Yeah, most new neighbourhoods have these nowadays, but I think if you’re paying 400 or $200 per year it really isn’t very much we’re talking 10 or $15 a month, And many of the neighbourhoods use that money to plant trees and flowers etc. Also, the money is used for community facilities so isn’t necessarily a bad deal.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by accord1999

Though a lot of communities now have mandatory fees as well to pay for the community facilities and parks. IE Cranston:

https://cranstonra.ca/membership-information/

Oh right. We have those also. I think we pay about $20 per month (annually $250). It provides extra landscaping, a community centre with sports equipment, a couple rooms incl kitchen, a skating pond, Christmas displays, subsidized programming like dance classes, arts programs, computer classes for seniors, and so on. In fact, I remember suggesting something like that for the Beltline years ago (which could have been an avenue to partially support rehab of the Enoch Sales house). We've had several gatherings over 40 people at which point our own home's spaces get a pinch cramped, so we use the common facilities. I think I take that stuff for granted but it is a huge deal. At least 4-5 birthday parties have been there for us!

[BlaineN]

@Suburbia @suburgatory, you guys need to stop this back and forth stuff. Move on.

[X_ting_on]

Condo fees aren't as high as $779/month most instance. That amount is exception of the rule. Normall it's 300 up to 500 bucks, and the fees includes also security cameras and cost of dump waste, also trim flowers and garden. Single house owner pays to the city around 35 bucks a months for pickup of recycle etc and have to do yard work himself.

Originally Posted by jc_yyc_ca

HOA is more of an American term. Sometimes it’s used here in Canada, as witnessed by the realtor ad in suburbia’s post, but most people here in Canada simply say condo fees. Usually the fees cover water, heating and shared amenities like a gym. Sometimes they cover electricity, but not very often.

The thing people need to remember about condo fees is that you will pay them forever. And the other thing to be aware of is that condo fees usually go up, they never go down. If the building is charging $779 for condo fees now you could easily be paying 1000 in the future.

[X_ting_on]

Originally Posted by rotten42

Just when I thought your posts couldn't get more retarded.

However suburgatroy is correct. All of the items he listed has to be paid for by home owner if you live in a single family home. It's not retarded.

[X_ting_on]

Originally Posted by suburbia

Thanks Western Spaghetti. I didn't know what it was either and am happy Corndogger asked the question. I just saw on the Realtor.ca link that HOA was X amount monthly and so used the same word without known more details.



That's funny and sad at the same time. Yeah, with that one $140K unit that had $719 HOA per month, they were indeed looking to corndogger any new unsuspecting owner LOL!

Oh, and LOL means Laugh out Loud

Here is condo in the Beltline, nice new building, and condo fees are 475 bucks/month
https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/20151...-1111-10-st-sw-beltline-calgary-beltline

That is the normal fee.

[jc_yyc_ca]

Originally Posted by X_ting_on

Here is condo in the Beltline, nice new building, and condo fees are 475 bucks/month
https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/20151...-1111-10-st-sw-beltline-calgary-beltline

That is the normal fee.

It's because it's a new building. Look at the condo fees of any building older than the year 2000, I bet there is nothing less than $600/month. That's the equivalent of adding another 150K to your mortgage.

[Suburgatory]

Originally Posted by jc_yyc_ca

It's because it's a new building. Look at the condo fees of any building older than the year 2000, I bet there is nothing less than $600/month. That's the equivalent of adding another 150K to your mortgage.

Water, recycling, gas, security, more expensive insurance. That’s the equivalent of adding another 150k to your mortgage.

[Tobyoby]

Originally Posted by jc_yyc_ca

It's because it's a new building. Look at the condo fees of any building older than the year 2000, I bet there is nothing less than $600/month. That's the equivalent of adding another 150K to your mortgage.

Suburgatory beat me to it, but did you not ready anything from his earlier post??

Originally Posted by Suburgatory

How much do you spend per month on natural gas? $75+/-?
How much do you spend per month on water? $40+/-?
How much do you spend per month on wastewater/drainage? $55+/-?
How much do you spend per month on waste & recycling? $25+/-?
How much do you spend on insurance? 3 times that of a condo?
How much do you pay for your alarm system?
How much $ and time do you spend on lawn care, snow shoveling, yard maintenance?
How much did your lawnmower, snow shovel, rake, leaf blower, broom, etc. cost? How much did you pay for space to store it?
How much did your fence cost? How much will it cost to regularly stain or paint?
How much do you spend on furnace, hot water heater, water softener and other maintenance?
How much will it cost to repair and maintain the rest of your exterior?
Your roof is going to cost $10k minimum to replace.
How much does your elevator cost to maintain? Don't have one? Hmmmm
When you go away the person you keep asking to take in your mail and check on your house hates you.

A few hundred a month in condo fees ain't looking so bad.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by jc_yyc_ca

It's because it's a new building. Look at the condo fees of any building older than the year 2000, I bet there is nothing less than $600/month. That's the equivalent of adding another 150K to your mortgage.

I live in a building that was built before 2000 and the condo fees are nowhere near $600. We also have a healthy reserve fund. We're also self-managed which I think makes a huge difference. If it wasn't for the City forcing huge water treatment, sewage, recycling, etc. increases on people I don't think our condo fees would have gone up much at all.

[Tobyoby]

Originally Posted by rotten42

Just when I thought your posts couldn't get more retarded.

There is absolutely nothing stupid about suburgatory's post.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by X_ting_on

Here is condo in the Beltline, nice new building, and condo fees are 475 bucks/month
https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/20151...-1111-10-st-sw-beltline-calgary-beltline

That is the normal fee.

You're right. I'd say 200% the property taxes is about standard.

I don't think that is just Beltline though - likely all over the city for condos.

The problem really is the risk of mismanagement and the risk of a special assessment from left field where the terms of payment are fully outside your control.

It also boggles my mind that for $475 fees per month in addition to ownership cost, you get a 10' x 10' master bedroom. My 5th bedroom is bigger than that!

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

I live in a building that was built before 2000 and the condo fees are nowhere near $600. We also have a healthy reserve fund. We're also self-managed which I think makes a huge difference. If it wasn't for the City forcing huge water treatment, sewage, recycling, etc. increases on people I don't think our condo fees would have gone up much at all.

The challenge this Globe and Mail article (from earlier today) points out is that the fees rise, and that they rise well beyond the rate of inflation. Apparently the average currently in Toronto is $641 per month:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-est...ondo-fees-continue-to-outpace-inflation/

[topdog]

Thanks for posting. I heard on Reddit that SRC had poached you and some of the others with cash. So you’re saying that’s not the case?

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

Apologies for sidetracking things, but I wanted to speak to this since it is about me, and wanted to clear up any confusion. It's my own business, but I don't mind clearing the air.

1) I did not go over to SRC for money or corporate bucks. I was posting pics there for free, as I had been doing at SSP, SSC, and Emporis. After posting for a while SRC approached me and asked if I'd like to be their dedicated representative for the Calgary area.
Someone to interface with developers and architects, do building tours and various ground breaking ceremonies, etc... on their behalf. They pay me a monthly stipend for doing so - it's about what most of you make in 3 to 4 hours of work, so I no I didn't do it for the corporate bucks, and wasn't chasing greed. I do it because I like the building tours, and ceremonies and such.

2) I do not get paid to be a moderator in the forum or to upload photos, or anything else to do with the forum. That's a hobby.

3) I do get paid to write articles for them on a per article basis, as do some others who also write articles for them. Each article pays around what you make in about an hour of work, so it's definitely for enjoyment and not for money.
Here are samples of the articles. They usually take at least an hour or two, sometimes longer. Definitely not in it for the money.
https://calgary.skyrisecities.com/news/2...rary-lives-calgarians-great-expectations
https://calgary.skyrisecities.com/news/2019/02/courtyard-33-gets-green-light-city-hall
https://calgary.skyrisecities.com/news/2...12-months-progress-calgary-cancer-centre

4) I didn't leave because of any particular members. I did feel like SSP was going downward, and I couldn't stomach the Canada section and constant hate on for Calgary. But members weren't the primary reason I was at SRC. I never really packed up and left, just that the other site was refreshing and a good opportunity to start something new, and was enjoying it.

That is all. If anyone has any specific questions feel free to PM me.

[YYCguys]

I’m ready to follow the exodus from here over to SRC with all the shenanigans going on here at SSP. It’s not a pleasure to read the Calgary Construction Page anymore. I get more pleasure out of reading almost any other Canadian city’s thread than I do this one.

[Suburgatory]

Originally Posted by topdog

Thanks for posting. I heard on Reddit that SRC had poached you and some of the others with cash. So you’re saying that’s not the case?

You can choose who to believe. Reddit, or the man himself.

[MrBigStuff]

Has anyone taken a look at the webcam still pics of the new cancer centre construction site lately??
It's poking well above grade now - lots of concrete poured.

[Bad Grizzly]

So basically a quitter then.

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

Apologies for sidetracking things, but I wanted to speak to this since it is about me, and wanted to clear up any confusion. It's my own business, but I don't mind clearing the air.

1) I did not go over to SRC for money or corporate bucks. I was posting pics there for free, as I had been doing at SSP, SSC, and Emporis. After posting for a while SRC approached me and asked if I'd like to be their dedicated representative for the Calgary area.
Someone to interface with developers and architects, do building tours and various ground breaking ceremonies, etc... on their behalf. They pay me a monthly stipend for doing so - it's about what most of you make in 3 to 4 hours of work, so I no I didn't do it for the corporate bucks, and wasn't chasing greed. I do it because I like the building tours, and ceremonies and such.

2) I do not get paid to be a moderator in the forum or to upload photos, or anything else to do with the forum. That's a hobby.

3) I do get paid to write articles for them on a per article basis, as do some others who also write articles for them. Each article pays around what you make in about an hour of work, so it's definitely for enjoyment and not for money.
Here are samples of the articles. They usually take at least an hour or two, sometimes longer. Definitely not in it for the money.
https://calgary.skyrisecities.com/news/2...rary-lives-calgarians-great-expectations
https://calgary.skyrisecities.com/news/2019/02/courtyard-33-gets-green-light-city-hall
https://calgary.skyrisecities.com/news/2...12-months-progress-calgary-cancer-centre

4) I didn't leave because of any particular members. I did feel like SSP was going downward, and I couldn't stomach the Canada section and constant hate on for Calgary. But members weren't the primary reason I was at SRC. I never really packed up and left, just that the other site was refreshing and a good opportunity to start something new, and was enjoying it.

That is all. If anyone has any specific questions feel free to PM me.

[Bad Grizzly]

Originally Posted by Suburgatory

You can choose who to believe. Reddit, or the man himself.

Buddy, this is the Internet I don’t believe the man himself anymore than I would somebody from Reddit. Who’s to say either way?