The purchase of your first Edmonton home is an exhilarating and monumental event. However, many homebuyers are unaware of the “hidden”, one-time expenses that come with buying a home. When you budget for a real estate purchase, you should have a good understanding of what investments will have to be made alongside your down payment. Doing so will allow you to prepare properly, save accordingly, and make the acquisition of your new Edmonton home much less stressful.

Edmonton Home Inspection

While not mandatory, it is often recommended to have a home inspection done prior to closing the deal on your new home. An Edmonton home inspection allows the buyer to better understand the condition of the house, including its structural integrity and mechanics. Doing an inspection before closing a sale means that potential issues can be brought to the seller’s attention before it becomes the buyer’s responsibility. Additionally, knowing that there are no major defects to surprise you in the future may provide more security for your lender.  

Legal Representation

You will require legal assistance to facilitate the transaction between yourself, the bank, and the seller. Only a portion of this cost will pay the lawyer’s fee, while the remainder will be used to execute the title transfer and all other details regarding the purchase (disbursements). Legal feels will vary depending on the complexity of the transaction. 

Adjustment Costs

Adjustment costs refer to the costs that the previous owner prepaid (property taxes, utility bills, maintenance services, etc.). You as the buyer may be required to reimburse the seller for expenses they may have already been paid in a prorated fashion. This cost is dependent upon the possession date. 

Property Appraisal Fee

In order to determine the value of the property you’re purchasing, and whether or not it meets its lending criteria, your bank may hire an independent appraiser to assess the property. This, of course, depends on the type of property being purchased.

Estoppel Certificate Fee

If the property you’re purchasing is a condominium or strata unit, an estoppel certificate allows you as the buyer to know if the previous owner has any unpaid condominium contributions. Outstanding payments and associated interest owing on unpaid condominium fees are carried with the unity and not the owner.

Land Registration

Before the sale closes, you have to register the property’s title under your name. This is also referred to as a land transfer tax, deed registration fee, or property transfer tax. 

If You’re Buying a Brand-New Home

Often only associated with the purchase of a brand-new home (not just new to you), you will likely have to pay goods and services tax (GST) on your home purchase. 

Home Insurance

As a condition of getting a mortgage, oftentimes the lender will require proof of home insurance before approving a loan. The cost of your home insurance policy will vary depending on your personal assets, the features of your new home, and the type of policy chosen. 

A general guide is to have an additional 3%-4% of the purchase price as cash-on-hand. Keep in mind, the estimates of these costs will differ based on the type of property you are buying and what kind of services are available to support your purchase. If you’re unsure of what fees will be associated with your first home purchase, consult your real estate agent. They are on your side and are eager to ensure you are making a quality investment. 

Our TruHome real estate agents take great pride in facilitating your purchase by making sure you’re well-informed before any documents are signed. We are always happy to aide our clients – especially if you’ve chosen us to help you find your first TruHome! 

Whether you’ve moved into a new home and have to find a place to put all your belongings, or you’ve been in your home for years but can’t find anything anymore, optimizing your garage space can save a lot of stress. Your garage offers important square footage and should be treated as such, but you’re not alone if you open the door and think “I don’t even know where to start…”

We can’t fix up your garage for you, but we can offer a few tips to help get you started:

Decide what you want to use the space for

Establishing your list of priorities for how the garage should function is step number one. Are you using it primarily as a car park with a bit of extra storage space? Is it a workshop and utility closet all in one? Will a part of it be turned into a home gym? Whatever the case, you should identify what wants and needs can be met with the space that you have. Start by grabbing a piece of graph paper and a pencil to make a to-scale drawing of your space so you know how much room you have to work with after you fill it with all the essentials. 

Declutter

This is a big step. We know. However stressful it may be, it is just as satisfying. Sorting through old sporting equipment, neglected hobby projects, tools that haven’t seen the light of day, and that old patio furniture you keep saying you’ll brush the cobwebs off for next season, is the second step in regaining garage space. Unless it holds sentimental value, serves a true purpose, or brings you some kind of joy, get rid of the extra clutter so you know what has to be organized. Who knows, you may even part with enough stuff to put on a garage sale (we won’t tell anyone if you secretly want to show off your new and improved garage). 

Pick the proper storage and garage mechanics

Once you know what items have to find homes in the garage, it’s easier to find storage solutions to match. First you have to decide on an organizing system. Some of us like clear bins so we can see everything in them without have to search high and low. Others like closed cabinets to hide the clutter and keep everything organized. After you’ve decided how to organize, find a system that works for you and the people that have to access these things. That might be labels, sections of the garage for certain activities, or a color-coded filing system that would impress Sheldon Cooper. 

Another part of optimizing garage use is making sure the mechanics of the garage work as they should. This includes door hinges and handles, lighting, heat, surrounding foliage, and more. If you can’t even access the garage, what’s the point of making it functional?

Use vertical and overhead space

An often-underused area of space is the wall space that’s just out of reach. Hanging floating shelves or adding a few extra stackable shelves to your storage system can produce new indoor real estate you didn’t have before. Storing the seasonal gear or “dangerous goods” (washer fluid, paint, etc.) keeps them out of the way but still accessible. We’ve also seen many functional garage spaces with racks that hang from the ceiling to hold life jackets, snowboards, and other equipment that’s hard to store. 

Make it a welcoming space

You won’t use your garage to its fullest potential if it’s not a space you want to spend time in (even those 3 minutes to get the winter gear of out storage or to flip a breaker). Maybe this means adding extra light sources (adhesive, battery-operated lights if you don’t want to re-wire), insulation for warmth and sound absorption, or paint to make the space look bigger and brighter. Whatever the case, part of regaining your garage space is making sure you actually want to go in there to access the things you need. 

As the needs of you and your family change over the years, consider tackling the garage every 2-3 years to make sure it’s still functional for you. Who knows, your most recent garage update might be the thing that seals the deal for you to list your Edmonton home with us at TruHome. Homebuyers love a practical garage!

As soon as you move into Parkview you will feel like you have lived there all your life – the whole community becomes your family, and everyone will be waving to you on their morning walks. 

Parkview is a mature, west-end neighbourhood bordered by the Edmonton’s River Valley to the east, 149^th Street, 87^th Avenue/Buena Vista Road, and MacKenzie Ravine. Those familiar with the area know that it is also informally split into two sub- neighbourhoods: Valleyview (east of 142^nd Street) and Parkview (west of 142^nd Street).  

HOMES

With original homes dating back to the mid 1950s and brand-new infill homes, no two houses are alike. Parkview attracts residents in all stages of life: new families, retired couples, young professionals, and all those seeking an authentic community. It is also refreshing to see the community turn over after a few decades, as children who used to live in Parkview are now moving their own families back into the neighbourhood.

Real estate opportunities in Parkview consist predominantly of single-family homes, many with new upgrades and all with lots of character. However, there are also opportunities for semi-detached homes and walk-up apartment style condos. Because of its desirable location, many new homeowners are opting for the trendiest infill homes with less square footage to maintain but just as much pizazz. 

If you’ve ever gone for a Sunday cruise or detoured your bike ride to Valleyview Drive, you’ll be familiar with Parkview’s well-admired luxury homes. Known for boasting some of the west-end’s most fabulous properties, there is no shortage of “ooh-ing” and “ahh-ing” at Parkview houses. All equally as memorable and inspiring as the next. 

As the years pass, more and more irreparable mid-century homes are being replaced with infills or grand modern homes, a testament to the neighbourhood’s dynamism. But if you’re someone who loves the originality of old character homes, you’ll be pleased to see many homes with their original foundation, finishings, and flare. And if you’re lucky, you might run into someone who is the original owner of their home and would love to have you over for tea to tell you about the history of the neighbourhood.

SHOPS

As most of the neighbourhood can confirm, the hottest place to be is at the Valleyview Shopping Centre on 142^nd Street. Home to the famous IGA and neighbourhood’s social hub, Rebel, this shopping centre is where you’ll run into your neighbours and catch up with old friends. We’ve been advised not to wear our pyjamas there as it’s rumoured you’ll always see someone you know! 

A hat’s off to Parkview wouldn’t be complete without giving mention to Andy’s IGA. As a family-run business, Andy and his family have served Parkview and surrounding areas for countless years. As a strong supporter of the community’s youth and events, Andy’s IGA offers a warm welcome every time you go. The superb customer service, delicious doughnuts, and newly paved parking lot are reason enough to go back every single day. As a Century Hospitality Group restaurant, Rebel is a gathering place for family and friends in the community, offering an innovative selection of menu items. Whether it’s for brunch on the weekends or drinks after work, their casual but upscale dining experience will quickly convince you to become a regular. Fun fact: the manager of Rebel used to own and operate the Italian restaurant that occupied that space before – talk about commitment to the community!

COMMUTING

If the style of the homes, the culture of the neighbourhood, or the nearby amenities don’t win you over, Parkview’s proximity to every major commuting route will seal the deal. Here are some of the highlights:

• 8 minutes from downtown Edmonton
• 5 minutes from the Whitemud (and subsequently the Anthony Henday)
• 10 minutes from the Yellowhead
• 20 minutes from the University of Alberta campus
• 30 minutes to Edmonton International Airport

You’re never far from the action when you’re located in Parkview, including on foot or other! With maintained sidewalks, side roads, and trails, getting around via alternative methods of transportation is convenient and accessible. 

SCHOOLS/RECREATION

Parkview is a great community to support families with school-aged kids. Right in the heart of the community sits Parkview School (elementary and junior high) and St. Rose Catholic Junior High. However, there are numerous schools in surrounding neighbourhoods including St. Francis Xavier, Archbishop MacDonald, and Ross Sheppard High Schools, Crestwood School, and St. Paul Elementary. For families with young children, Parkview Community League also offers Preschool and Kindercare programs. The Community League hosts community soccer teams, has tennis courts in the summer, and floods a community skating rink in the winter. 

Living up to its name, there is no shortage of green space, parks, and places for outdoor recreation in Parkview. If you don’t feel like making your way down to the Buena Vista Dog Park, the Valleyview Drive off-leash area is easily accessible, offering a complete view of downtown Edmonton and the University of Alberta. This is also a great road for a family bike ride, to catch the Canada Day fireworks, or to watch the full moon rise over downtown every month. In the summer (post-COVID, of course), you may want to take your lawn chair to the lookout points to be serenaded by summer concerts in Hawrelak Park as the music drifts up the valley. 

You’re also walking distance from Hawrelak Park so you’ll never have to fight for parking to attend Edmonton’s Heritage Days, the World Triathlon, or a casual park day picnic on the weekend.  

As if anyone ever needed a reason to move into Parkview, we think there are many attractive qualities to Parkview and Valleyview. If you feel dazzled by the community and want to explore your residential options, reach out to one of our TruHome agents who will help you find the perfect home in Parkview – there is no shortage!

In honour of National Pizza Month, we asked our team of pizza fanatics to share their favourite places to get a slice in Edmonton. There is no shortage of pizza places in Edmonton, but here are a few to help satisfy those cravings: 

Sepp’s

As one of the more recent additions to the pizza scene in Edmonton, Sepp’s has taken over the University area by storm. If you’re looking for the perfect New York-style pizza pie, look no further. They don’t do in-person dining but are experts in take out and delivery. Plus, their pizzas make delicious leftovers, so order that second pizza. Our recommendations are the Apulo (if you haven’t had honey on your pizza before, you’ll be converted after this!) and the Funghi.

Campio

Gracing downtown Edmonton with deep-dish pizzas since 2018, Campio take’s the lead for creative pies. The PB&J (pineapple, bacon, and jalapeños), and the Big MacDavid (a Big Mac inspired pizza named after a local legend) are fan favorites. If you’re dining in, take advantage of their brewed in-house beers.

Rosso’s Pizzeria

Centered in one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city, Rosso’s serves pizza made with organic, locally sourced, and fresh ingredients. Some of our go-to’s are the Soppressata, the Dolce Emma, and the Kale Saltati.

Blaze

With no additives, chemicals, or frozen dough, Blaze gives the city customizable pizzas in eco-friendly packaging. With their assembly line, you can decide what to put on your pizza. 180 seconds in the fast-fired’d pizza oven and then you’re good to go! Great for if you’re in a rush or want something with all your favourite toppings on one crust. 

Bianco

Great pizza tastes even better when you feel like you’re eating it at your family’s home. Authentic ingredients, passionate people, and a lot of love make these pizzas at the top of our list. We recommend the Burrata pizza or the La Famiglia. 

Whatever pizza cravings you might have, there’s a pizza place in Edmonton for that. And we can confidently say our TruHome agents have tried them all!