As a home buyer, you’ll make many decisions about the home itself — the Home Style, the floor plan, finishes, fixtures, and so on. At the same time, you’ll also need to take a big-picture view of where the home is located, and the impact on your daily routine.
So, how do you find an ideal community that is conveniently located and fits your lifestyle? Here are some factors to consider as you explore potential options:
YOUR WORK COMMUTE
The time you spend travelling to and from work every day is a critical factor in this decision. Here are some commuter-related questions to consider:
- How would your new commute be different from your current one, in terms of distance, complexity, and traffic? Will you depart from home (and return) at the same time as you do now?
- Do you work remotely from home? If so, commuting may not be required every day.
- Are public transportation options available? You can quickly research Edmonton Transit Service routes online using their Trip Planner tool.
- Does your job require frequent air travel? If yes, it may be beneficial to choose a community close to the Edmonton airport.
OTHER DESTINATIONS
Assess your new home’s proximity to the important people in your life, such as friends and extended family. You will also want to calculate how easy (or difficult) it would be to reach other locations you regularly visit, including child care, schools, recreation facilities, health services, banking, shopping, dining, and entertainment. Here are a few suggestions to guide your research:
- Plot out important destinations in Google Maps, to get a bird’s-eye view of your frequently visited spots.
- If you are considering a specific Qualico community, each community’s website offers a comprehensive map of nearby public services, retail locations, and points of interest. To view it, click on the “Explore our Community” tab and select “Convenience Map.”
- Use your preferred traffic or navigation app to evaluate the traffic patterns in the area at specific times of day, such as rush hour.
- Do a test drive of the route, noting the major intersections and any traffic issues.
- Visit the community at different times of the day to get a sense of how busy it is during rush hour, school pick-up time, evenings, and so on.
IN-COMMUNITY AMENITIES
We take pride in creating communities with unique outdoor amenities that will appeal to families, such as playgrounds, parks, multi-use trails, picnic areas, splash pads, community gardens, skating surfaces, and basketball courts. With all this variety, we’re confident that one of our communities will suit your interests and needs.
If being close to nature is a priority for you, our communities are purposely designed to provide a scenic backdrop for your home. For example, your front door could be steps away from an environmental reserve, ravine, storm pond, or creek. Many of our communities are also in favourable locations to access trails, parks, and the North Saskatchewan River valley.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
What’s planned for the surrounding area can affect your daily routine and your home’s value over time. If the community is still in its early stages, it’s worth looking into what is planned for the development such commercial amenities, schools, parks and even future road connections that can make access to your community that much easier. Each of our communities’ websites offers a map of the long-term plan for the area. You can access these maps under the “Discover More” tab and selecting “Community Lot Maps”.
EDMONTON OR SURROUNDING AREA
Within the city limits, we have many beautiful and inviting communities that may be a perfect fit for your busy lifestyle. Here, you’ll have shopping, services, entertainment, sports facilities, and health care all within easy reach. Click below for more information about our Edmonton communities:
Northeast Edmonton
Southeast Edmonton
West Edmonton
Alternatively, you may be seeking a small-town lifestyle with the convenience of nearby big-city amenities. If so, consider widening your search to include Edmonton’s bedroom communities. Click below to view our communities in the Greater Edmonton Area:
Spruce Grove
Leduc
Beaumont
Fort Saskatchewan
Stony Plain
Sherwood Park
Devon
As you work through these considerations, you’re sure to arrive at the community that matches your commuting and lifestyle needs. For more information about all the Qualico communities in Edmonton and the surrounding area, please visit our website.