Lethbridge Real Estate - Riverstone in West Lethbridge

Riverstone is a high demand new construction neighborhood in West Lethbridge.  The homes are architectural appealing and the neighborhood has a nice design with a school and parks in the center of it.  The location is nice and the quality of the homes and nieghbors is great.  There are currently no new building lots available in this area, but there are a few new and several resale homes available.

If you would like more information on Riverstone, or on newer homes located in Lethbridge, get in touch with me.

University of Lethbridge Real Estate

Are you coming to the University of Lethbridge?  Are you sending your kids?

Are you amazed by the rental market in Lethbridge yet?

Many people attending the University of Lethbridge discover that real estate located near the U of L is prime rental property and has consistent and solid demand.  This is the key reason that this type of property makes a great investment, both for those attending and also for anyone who is looking to become a landlord.

There are many types of properties available close to the U of L, including:

condos

duplexes

apartment condos

single family homes

and properties with basement suites

Depending upon your personal situation, a different type of property may suite your needs.  Here is a video I made discussing Lethbridge real estate located near the University of Lethbridge.

Where is the best place to live in Canada?  Well if you are not interested in living in the declining economies of the East, the answer is Lethbridge, Alberta.  According to a recent article in Moneysense Magazine, here are their results from recent surveying across Canada.

Ranked 11th out of all cities in Canada, Lethbridge ranks as one of the most affordable, comfortable, and temperate places to call home.    Here is the complete list of ranked cities.   Lethbridge is still an undiscovered gem for investment and relocation.

Lethbridge Real Estate - OPEN HOUSE

Saturday March 20, 2010

This fantastic family home is located at 22 Heritage Court West, in Lethbridge Alberta.  I will make a post later this week with a google map to the property for those who are unfamiliar with the area and might want to come see it.  If your looking for Lethbridge real estate listings, keep watching.

The great home features a total of 4 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms.  It is fully finished up and down and is in immaculate condition and repair.  The home is one of the few that is not only in move in condition, but is actually better than new.  Drive by this home and call me.

The open house is set for Saturday March 20, 2010 however it may be possible to arrange a 'sneak a peek' for qualified buyers.  Give me a call.

*be sure to ask me how you could purchase this home with payments UNDER $1000/month.  Seriously, this is an insane bargain!

I am asked by both clients and real estate professionals on a weekly basis for information and advice regarding basement suites.  This is a very serious issue here in the Lethbridge Alberta real estate market as our basement suite marketplace is prime for investors who are looking for maximum return on their real estate investment, and also for home buyers who wish to supplement their income and help make their mortgage payment with a little revenue out of a secondary suite in their property.

So, as a matter of interest and public benefit, here is a link and the original text of the Alberta Fire Code which governs these suites.  It is pretty important to read it and understand it before buying or selling a property with a suite in it.  It is also very important the all real estate professionals familiarize themselves with the code prior to listing, marketing, or showing such properties as they may accidentally walk into some liability due to being uninformed.  I did write a similar post on these suites which you may be able to dig up with a little effort, or you could just give me a call directly if you need some assistance.

So here it is.  It is pretty dry reading and unless you have the personality of a lawyer or a rock (sorry rocks), your likely going to be speed reading and skipping lines before you get one third of the way through it.  Enjoy.

Robert May

Lethbridge Fire Code for Suites

Requirements of the Alberta Fire Code 2006 Section 2.16 Secondary Suites:
1. 2.16.2.1. Height of Rooms and Spaces
1)Unless acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction, the height of rooms or spaces in
a secondary suite over the required minimum area in accordance with Table 9.5.3.1. of
Division B of the Alberta Building Code 2006 shall be not less than 1.95 m.
2. 16.2.2. Bedroom Windows
1)Except as permitted in Sentence 9.7.1.2.(1) of Division B of the Alberta Building Code
2006, each bedroom within a secondary suite shall have at least one outside window that
meets the requirements of Articles 9.7.1.2. and 9.7.1.3. of Division B of the Alberta
Building Code 2006.
3. 16.2.3. Exit Stairs
1) Exit stairs shall have a clear width of not less than 860 mm.
4. 16.2.4. Landings
1) Landings for stairs shall be at least as wide as the stairs and not less than 900 mm in
length.
5. 16.2.5. Handrails and Guards
1) Handrails and guards shall conform to the requirements of Subsections 9.8.7. and
9.8.8. of Division B of the Alberta Building Code 2006.
6. 16.2.6. Public and Exit Corridor Width
1) The clear width of every public corridor and exit corridor shall be not less than
860 mm.
7. 16.2.7. Unenclosed Exterior Stair or Ramp
1) Where an unenclosed exterior exit stair or ramp provides the only means of egress
from a secondary suite and is exposed to the hazards of fire from unprotected openings in
the exterior wall of another dwelling unit, the openings shall be protected in conformance
with Articles 9.10.13.5. and 9.10.13.7. of Division B of the Alberta Building Code 2006.
8. 16.2.8. Exit Doors
1) Every exit door or door that provides access to exit from a secondary suite shall be
a) not less than 1 980 mm high,
b) not less than 810 mm wide, and
c) permitted to swing inward.
9. 6.2.9. Means of Egress
1) Except as permitted in Sentence (2), each dwelling unit shall be provided with at least
one exit that leads directly to the outside.
2) Dwelling units may share a common exit meeting the requirements of
Article 2.16.2.10.
10. 16.2.10. Protection of Exits
1) Every exit, other than an exit doorway, shall be separated from adjacent floor areas by
not less than one layer of 12.7 mm thick gypsum wallboard or equivalent material on
each side of the walls. (See Appendix A.)
11. 16.2.11. Dwelling Unit Separations
1) Dwelling units shall be separated from each other by not less than one layer of
12.7 mm thick gypsum wallboard or equivalent material on the ceiling and on each side
of the walls. (See A-2.16.2.10.(1) in Appendix A.)
12. 16.2.12. Protection of Public Corridors
1) A public corridor shall be separated from the remainder of the building by not less than
one layer of 12.7 mm thick gypsum wallboard or equivalent material on each side of the
walls. (See A-2.16.2.10. (1) in Appendix A.)
13. 16.2.13. Furnace Room Separations
1) A furnace room shall be separated from the remainder of the building by not less than
one layer of 12.7 mm thick gypsum wallboard or equivalent material on the ceiling and
on each side of the walls. (See A-2.16.2.10. (1) in Appendix A.)
2) A door shall be provided to each furnace room.-
14. 16.2.14. Heating and Ventilation Systems
1) For an existing secondary suite, a single heating and ventilation system may be used to
serve both the secondary suite and main dwelling unit.
15. 16.2.15. Smoke Alarms
1) Smoke alarms conforming to CAN/ULC-S531, “Smoke Alarms,” installed in
accordance with Subsection 9.10.19. of Division B of the Alberta Building Code 2006
shall be provided in each dwelling unit.
2) Smoke alarms shall be installed by permanent connections to an electrical circuit and
wired so that activation of one smoke alarm will cause all alarms within both dwelling
units to sound.
3) Smoke alarms shall be installed in areas that are common to both dwelling units and
connected in conformance with Sentence (2).
16. 16.2.16. Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Smoke Alarms
1) Smoke alarms required by this Section shall be inspected, tested and maintained in
conformance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Lethbridge Real Estate 

Lethbridge real estate and mortgage blog providing direct access to local Lethbridge Realtor and mortgage broker.  If you are shopping for a forclosure, bank owned, repossession, fixer upper, distress sale, or court ordered sale, you need to be in my direct call list.  If you are interested in selling, you need to make your home available to my cash money investors who are actively seeking houses and land in Lethbridge.

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The University of Lethbridge’s 2008 fundraising results show that a healthy $7 million was raised to support more than 200 separate areas on campus – from scholarships and bursaries to research projects and equipment purchases that will make a significant difference to students and researchers.

“Despite challenging economic times that have had an impact globally, the U of L has had one of the best years ever, thanks to our generous contributors,” said President Bill Cade. “Our dedicated donors made this year such a success, and we are truly grateful.”

“There is no doubt that as times get tough we need individuals and private businesses to show leadership and confidence through continued investment in our community," Cade added.

"The support provided to the University is a great example of this leadership. We are building something very special here at the University of Lethbridge – something our community can be proud of. I think the support we received this past year shows they are already proud.”

In 2008, more than 3,200 gifts were received from alumni, friends, students, and current and retired employees, with 69 per cent of those gifts destined to help students directly through student awards.

Donor generosity also enabled the University to obtain more than $3 million in matching funds from the Government of Alberta through the Access to the Future Fund.

Since 2005, more than $9 million has been directed toward the University of Lethbridge for scholarships, bursaries and support to the institution as a result of the province’s matching program.

Generous University of Lethbridge supporters featured in the 2008 Donor Report include:

- Glenn Varzari, a local Chartered Accountant, and his spouse Janice Varzari, a U of L Senator, member of the Alumni Honour Society and a counselor with Lethbridge Family Services, who supported the new Markin Hall building project for the Faculty of Management and School of Health Sciences. Their gift was matched by both the Chartered Accountants Education Foundation and the Access to the Future Fund.

- Calgary-based oil and gas entrepreneurs Darol and Evelyn Wigham, who have supported the University for many years with scholarships, bursaries and books for the Faculty of Education library. Their most recent gift helped researchers at the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience acquire specific equipment for a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facility.

- Internationally renowned Canadian operatic tenor -- and U of L Honorary degree recipient -- Dr. Ben Heppner, whose benefit concert in Lethbridge established an endowment for U of L music students. More than $50,000 was raised for an award that will encourage students to pursue the performing arts.

- Charlene Janes, a staff member in the U of L International Centre for Students, who has established a bursary for international students. Charlene is one of more than 280 U of L faculty, staff and retirees, who have contributed towards Supporting Our Students 2008, an annual campaign to raise money for student awards.

- Nexen Inc. and Imperial Oil, which gave to support water research initiatives. When matched through the Access to the Future Fund, their support resulted in a combined $1 million investment in water research at the U of L.

A Downloadable PDF file of the 2008 Donor Report is available here

A printed copy can be requested by contac ting the University Advancement office, A735 University Hall (403) 329-2582 / advancement@uleth.ca

Here are a few of my favorite past articles from my Lethbridge real estate and mortgage blog you might have missed or wish to recommend them to a friend.

Common Financial Problems - Avoid these financial mistakes
Get Your Credit Score UP - Invaluable insight into your credit score
Mortgage Guidelines Get Tighter - Harder and harder to borrow money
Is Your Mortgage Company Out of Business in 2009? - What to do when your bank goes broke
What is wrong with MLS - Is your info being abused?
Survivor - Real Estate Edition - Let's vote a few more off the island

Robert May is a Realtor, as well as the broker and owner of Rainbow Realty of Lethbridge Alberta. He is also a licensed mortgage associate and financing expert with Canada First Mortgage of Calgary Alberta. He has been in the real estate industry since 1993 and offers full MLS real estate services to Lethbridge and surrounding area, as well as mortgage financing, refinancing/renewals, preapprovals, and home equity financing to Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. He can be found online at www.LethbridgeLoans.com

Let me share my 15 years experience in the local Lethbridge real estate and financing market with you! It is the first step towards making a profitable real estate decision.

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