New Home Cochrane

Calgary Herald Fireside Special Feature

Janssen Homes Fireside Available Homes Special Offers Cochrane

These days, home and community mean everything. They are our safe harbour and shelter from the storm. La Vita Land, the developer of Fireside of Cochrane, strives every day to deepen the connection between home and community and to deepen this connection with its residents.

The Fireside neighbourhood, on the west side of Hwy. 22, has been under development since 2010. La Vita Land has ensured Fireside has every amenity that new home buyers want in a community, and more. This includes everything from preserved natural spaces, walking trails and views, to a school, shopping and playgrounds. It also features a variety of home types, including townhomes for first-time buyers and move-up homes on larger amenity lots.

Phase 6 of Fireside, which was released in 2018, marked the first release of estate-sized lots in the community. At widths of 38 feet to 44 feet, the lots are wide enough for two-storey front-drive homes with double- or triple-car garages, as well as bungalows with double-attached garages. Two pie-shaped lots, adjacent to a brand new park and preserved wetland, are among the available homesites in this phase.

Pam Goldfeldt, marketing manager for La Vita Land, says the size and location of the lots in Phase 6 is unique.

“We won’t have homesites like this again for quite a few years in Fireside. This is an opportunity for a buyer to move up to a larger home on a much larger lot,” she explains.

The builder group in Fireside consists of Calbridge Homes, Janssen Homes and NuVista Homes, which are building home styles in all price points.

Fireside has a variety of home types available, including single-family, front-drive homes. SUPPLIED

All three builders in the community have front-drive floor plans, specifically for the distinctive lots in Phase 6 starting in the low $500,000s — a price point that compares favourably with a similar house and lot in the city.

While larger homesites are available in Phase 6, there are many prime options for street towns, duplexes, laned and move-up homes in Fireside, with prices starting in the low $300,000s.

Calbridge’s Vantage townhomes in Fireside have bungalow and two- and three-storey units priced from the $190,000s.

Clearbrook Meadows of Fireside offers bungalow villas by Calbridge Homes. This exclusive 28-home enclave offers a low-maintenance lifestyle, perfect for downsizers, and start in the mid-$400,000s.

“Interest rates are virtually at a record low, creating a fantastic opportunity to get into a new home,” Goldfeldt says. “Whether someone is upsizing or downsizing, there is a great variety of product and prices to truly suit anybody.”

As getting out to walk is vital in these times of physical distancing, Fireside’s 13 hectares (32 acres) of parks and pathways make it easy to find the space you need to enjoy the outdoors. As well, a new park with community garden plots, where residents can grow their own food, is scheduled to open this summer.

Fireside School, a K-8 public facility, is within walking distance of every residence and a high school is located in the next community over. The local commercial plaza, The Embers, has a new pub, pizza restaurant and café, a gas station and select services for residents.

Vibrant downtown Cochrane is just down the hill from Fireside with local shopping, a community health centre and town services.

As the builder group in Fireside promotes its products online or works with new home buyers on a personal, one-on-one basis, La Vita Land ambitiously plans for the future of Fireside.

“We will have new show homes this fall, being built as we speak. It’s full steam ahead and we’re excited to watch them take shape,” says Goldfeldt.

Visit firesidecochrane.com for more information.

This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of La Vita Land.

Fewer Homes On The Market Could Mean Bargains For Covid-19 Buyers

Janssen Homes Cochrane Discounts

Fewer homes on the market could mean bargains for buyers still on the hunt during COVID-19

Real estate market has slowed to a halt, leaving buyer's market during COVID-19 pandemic.

Buying or selling a home in Alberta is becoming increasingly challenging. Some Alberta realtors are seeing sales plummet due to social distancing measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic, just when the spring market is normally heating up.

"My phone isn't ringing as much and there's really no showings," said Brad Van De Walle, a Calgary-based realtor who has been in the business for more than a decade. "Realtors that I'm talking to are in tears because they don't know what they're going to do." Some clients are taking their homes off the market.

"Even with social distancing, we found a lot of people don't want their homes to be shown over fear the virus might come in their home," he said. Some realtors are turning to video conferencing or FaceTime calls to take clients inside a home, or only taking clients to vacant properties.

In the midst of the current slowdown, some people still need to sell quickly — and that could be good news for stable-income buyers. Calgary-based mortgage broker Josh Tagg said there are many factors to take into account such as unpredictable interest rates and the day-to-day uncertainty that comes with the pandemic.

"We will likely see a downward movement in prices, and we'll see sellers who really, really need to get out," Tagg said. "As a buyer, you'd have a stronger negotiating position." With open houses now banned, most listings are being marketed online, said realtor Steve Kabachia.

"We're definitely seeing higher traffic for people browsing online," Kabachia said. "The number of people saying they're ready to buy is down a bit, but those that are ready to buy, they're really committed."

Kabachia said the increased online traffic means that for sellers, it's more important than ever to make sure a listing is well presented with staging and photos. "We're seeing how important it is to have good quality photos," Kabachia said. "Making sure that people who are looking online can see how the space works, the dimensions of the room, and how the space can be used."

Van De Walle said the next 60 days will significantly impact the future of the market. "The benefit of doing it now, is because people are fearful," he said. "Like, look at the stock market. The reason why the stock market went down is because everybody went and pulled out their money. So, if people are sitting here and they have to sell their house and they're worried about not being able to afford it, you might be able to catch somebody and you might be able to catch a good deal right now."

Here at Janssen Homes we’ve got multiple special Builder’s Offers and Discounts on our available homes and upcoming builds. Contact us today to find out more about our special offers and promotions.

Buying A Home During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Calgary+Herald+Willows+of+Cochrane+Janssen+Homes.jpeg

From virtual showings to online notaries, the homebuying process is finally going digital

Coronavirus might be forcing the long-predicted digital revolution in the real estate transaction

Boston-area realtor Melony Swasey was in the process of closing on a home when the spread of COVID-19 forced state courts to close without notice. Court buildings hold many registries and deeds needed to record the sale of a house.

“We weren’t sure as of first thing in the morning whether we were going to be able to complete the closing,” she said. “We were able to record the closing electronically because our attorney has that technology. The state was allowing limited electronic recordings yesterday so ours got through.”

Situations like this are playing out all over North America. Canadian real estate professionals are having to find innovative ways to finish transactions that were already underway and create a path forward for future sales.

Some consider the traditional real estate transaction to be an antiqued process that relies on redundant paperwork and in-person meetings for things like notarizing paperwork, appraisal, inspection, and final walkthroughs. None of those elements allow for easy social distancing.

Fortunately for the real estate industry and future home buyers, digital technology can solve these problems. The industry has been slow to adopt these technologies, relying on dated traditional methods, but COVID-19 has turned digital technologies from a novelty into a necessity, and it could end up being what finally forces the real estate industry into the digital age.

“We’ve been working on a lot of these technologies and integrating them into our business [prior to the pandemic],” says Ben Nicholson, chief operating officer of homebuilder Janssen Homes. “We always felt like this was where the industry was going long term. I think this situation has just created a catalyst to move forward even more aggressively.”

Virtual 3D home tours have become a staple of home shopping since the outbreak of the pandemic. Zillow allows sellers, agents, landlords, and property managers to create 3D home tours using a panoramic photo taken on a smart phone. The company reported a near doubling of the number of 3D tours created in the week after the pandemic took hold, and a one-day jump of 326 percent on March 20.

Janssen Homes has digital tools for people buying a custom home. Customers can design their homes and preview existing homes using a digital tools, look at a map of where their house falls in a community, and watch videos of the construction site as the build progresses.

As well agents that work with Janssen Homes are doing initial showings over video chat services like FaceTime or Zoom, and in-person visits by appointment are still available for all showrooms with additional cleaning precautions and one to one tours.

We’ve got lots of digital options available for both home buyers on available homes and building your next dream home. Contact us today and we can discuss the digital tools and options available via conference call or Zoom video call.

Showhomes By Private Appointment Only

webslide-01.jpg

In light of the current global situation our showhomes and our current available homes are now open by private appointment only. Our representatives are standing by and would love to help you book a private appointment to learn more about our offerings and building best practices.

To find out more about our floorplans and current home listings call (403) 614-6704 or click here to contact us, our representatives are more than happy to video conference or book a call.

Spring Kitchen Inspiration

Screen Shot 2020-03-24 at 5.39.00 PM.png

Since we’re all spending a little more time in our kitchens lately, we thought we’d show you one of our favourites. 😍 We love functional design that feels warm AND can seamlessly flow from meal prep to meal storage. Tell us what features you think make for the best kitchens. To find out more about this showhome or our current available home listings , please call (403) 614-6704 or click here to visit our contact page, our representatives are more than happy to video conference or book a call.

Calgary Herald Willows Feature

Calgary Herald Willows of Cochrane Janssen Homes

We were very happy to read this special feature of the Willows of River Heights in Cochrane, as well the glowing review when it come to the quality and attention to detail we strive for, here at Janssen homes. We’re proud to continue our tradition of being heritage builder in fantastic Cochrane communities like the Willows.

Cornering the market in the Willows of River Heights

CINDY STEPHEN, FOR THE CALGARY HERALD

Two young couples will soon bookend a new street in the Willows of River Heights, a community on the south side of Cochrane.

Tim and Katie Sargent have already moved into their new home at one end of the road, while Chris Schermuly and Jen Manjak are about to build theirs at the opposite end. Both couples, strangers until now, have a lot in common. Tim is from Australia, Schermuly is from England and both men fell in love with Canadian girls. And they each purchased a duplex on a corner lot from Janssen Homes.

For Tim and Katie, who bought a move-in ready spec home, being on the corner meant their home could have large windows on one side. A duplex was also an affordable option.

“It was important to find a house that was spacious with lots of natural light,” says Katie. “This duplex has almost 1,600 square feet. We feel we got really good value for money.”

Schermuly and Manjak, currently renting in neighbouring Fireside while their home is under construction, knew they wanted Janssen to build their new home. What or where to build was up in the air until they were out cruising show homes one day.

“We were at a home and looked out across the street and there was a lovely corner lot with a Janssen for sale sign. It was a builder we liked and a corner lot that would get lots of exposure,” says Schermuly, who envisions a thriving vegetable garden in his future.

The Sargents bought Janssen’s Oxford floor plan, a 1,596-square-foot laned duplex priced from the $350,000s. The two-storey home has three bedrooms, upstairs laundry, 2.5 bathrooms and an open main level.

“The main floor is my favourite. It has a very large island in the kitchen. It flows very nicely — it feels very homey,” says Katie.

Schermuly and Manjak like to entertain and preferred the open-concept Oxford, but Janssen’s Rundle model home was already approved for the site they wanted.

“The lot allows us to have a larger garden with sun along the side of the house. Really, it’s the location that will make it an awesome starter home for us,” says Schermuly.

The Rundle is smaller with 1,402 square feet over two storeys, priced from the $330,000s. Schermuly and Manjak made several changes, adding a fireplace, moving the pantry into the mudroom to make the kitchen larger and bumping the ceiling height in the basement up to nine feet.

The Sargents will take their time adding a garage off the rear lane, but Schermuly and Manjak have asked Janssen to build theirs.

Founded in 1964 by Gert Janssen, a German cabinet maker in Calgary, Janssen is a small volume family builder active in Fireside and the Willows, under development by La Vita Land, and Precedence by Tamani Communities. Sales manager Mike Reiter worked for Janssen in high school and university ,and as a realtor has found his way back to the company. He follows his father who worked in sales for Janssen for 30 years.

“I like to say that many builders have come and gone in Alberta’s boom and bust economy, but Janssen has thrived,” says Reiter. “They keep good people and that translates into a quality build.”

Janssen has several duplex homes under construction in the Willows and Fireside that can be viewed on request.

As well, there’s a single-family show home that profiles the builder’s base specifications.

“Sometimes, people just need to see what our style is,” Reiter says. “You can tell a Janssen home by some of the little details. For example, the shelving in the closets is made of wood instead of wire mesh. There’s no way a cabinet maker is going to allow wire shelving.”

Schermuly works in Banff, Manjak commutes to her job in Chestermere and the Sargents work in Calgary. But when they’re at home, they all agree that Cochrane offers a quiet, small-town lifestyle that can’t be found anywhere else.

THE DETAILS

COMMUNITY: The Willows of River Heights in Cochrane
DEVELOPER: La Vita Land Inc.
BUILDER: Janssen Homes
MODEL: The Oxford and The Rundle, two-storey laned duplex homes
SIZE: 1,596 square feet / 1,402 square feet both with three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
PRICE: From the $350,000s / the $330,000s
INFORMATION: The Janssen show home is at 227 Willow Place in Cochrane. janssenhomes.com

Is Cochrane a Good Investment?

Cochrane Alberta Janssen Homes, Home Builder

Is Cochrane a Good Investment?

The real estate market means different things to different people. For some, getting into real estate is about home ownership. These people are often eager to buy a home and start putting their rent money into their own pocket. They want to put down roots, make new friends and maybe raise a family in a welcoming community with great schools and amenities. If they plan to rent part of their home to help off-set mortgage payments, they may select a Cochrane community where secondary suites are legitimately allowed.

For others, real estate is more about getting into the market and anticipating equity growth in their largest personal investment. Sure, they want a home but equity growth is an important consideration they seek to maximize.

Over the past 10 years, Cochrane’s population has exploded; growing by over 82%. It’s been one of Alberta’s fastest growing towns. Cochrane is considerably more affordable than Calgary, often allowing you to get into an equivalently sized home for 10-20% less than Calgary.

Cochrane hosts a diverse real estate community with an extensive selection of developers and builders to choose from. In Cochrane, you’ll find everything from apartment style condos, to duplexes and unique live-work townhomes and single family homes ranging from affordable starters to large estate homes with 3 car garages. This growing town boasts a huge variety of lifestyle options at nearly every price point.

Aside from the variety of home styles available, at least part of Cochrane’s growth has come from the town’s progressive, educated and affluent population along with a like-minded municipal government who’ve made Cochrane a modern and attractive place to live, work and own a business. Did you know Cochrane has no business tax (although you do pay tax on property the business owns https://www.cochrane.ca/336/Property-Taxes ) and secondary suites are encouraged? This combination of desirable factors resulted in the rapid expansion of new residents, amenities and businesses who keep compounding the benefits of living in Cochrane.

How ever you approach the real estate market, Cochrane is a very attractive alternative to Calgary and worthy of a closer look!