"Home Sweet Home" & Covid 19

During the pandemic, canadian homes became offices, movie theatres, classrooms, gyms, and staycation destinations. We spent more time at home and out of necessity, did many renovations and additions to our homes. According to a recent survey conducted by the Royal Bank of Canada in 2020, fourty percent of respondents renovated their property or intended to renovate thier homes during the pandemic. 

Home offices became essential workspaces and online schools. Backyard sheds, spare bedrooms, and attics were remodeled into home offices and schoolrooms. Garages and basements were converted to home gyms. Gardening became a new trending hobby for many Edmontonians and RV became a hot item for nearby camping.

During the pandemic, the demand for new homes with potential basement suites and side entrances skyrocketed. Houses with triple garages and acreages within a half-hour of our city also became hot items. Another increase in Edmonton home sales were near our river valleys in the Riverbend, Terwillegar, and Riverview districts.

Condominium owners fell short to make a profit in this pandemic. Unless your condo was priced to sell, it sat on the market for a long period of time. Many condo owners chose to rent out their units and take advantage of the low-interest rates to purchase a single-family detached house with still acquiring some residual income.

Griesbach - North Edmonton

Griesbach homes are situated on the former site of the Canadian Forces Base in north Edmonton which has now won the best community award on the local (CHBA Edmonton Region), provincial (BILD Alberta), and national levels. Congratulations to Griesbach developer Canada Lands for winning “Best New Community” for Griesbach at the national level! Canada Lands has won awards at the local level for the neighborhood, but to be singled out amidst all neighborhoods in Canada at the Canadian Home Builders’ Association National Awards for Housing Excellence is an astounding achievement. Congratulations to all residents for making this a beautiful community to live in.

Throughout the Griesbach neighborhood, there are several statues representing our Canadian Military heritage. This is one of the neighborhoods in Edmonton that is always aked about when our military members are on thier house hunting trips.  Learn more about each of these Griesbach statues below:

Major General Griesbach Parade

The Griesbach Edmonton community is named after Major-General William Antrobus Griesbach, a veteran of the First World War, Second World War, and the Boer War. Major General Griesbach stands to watch over the community named in his honor through a statue located on Griesbach Parade and Gault Boulevard. He is depicted riding a horse as he played a key role in establishing a militia cavalry unit based out of Edmonton called The Loyal Edmonton Regiment.

Griesbach was born in Fort Qu'Appelle in the Northwest Territories, the son of Henry Arthur Griesbach, a North-West Mounted Police officer who was transferred to command Fort Saskatchewan in 1883. William Griesbach left the rest of the family in 1891 in order to attend St. John's College in Winnipeg. Upon graduating in 1895, he returned to Edmonton and worked in a law firm and the Imperial Bank, then to study law.

Griesbach enlisted with the Canadian Mounted Rifles in 1899 to fight in the Second Boer War. During his service, he was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal and received four bars. Upon his return in 1901, he opened a law office of his own.

Griesbach's first bid for political office took place in the 1903 Edmonton election but was more successful in the 1904 election when he was elected to a one-year term as an alderman to Edmonton's first city council placing eighth. He resigned as alderman one year into his term in order to run for mayor in the 1906 Edmonton election. Griesbach was victorious, collecting more than sixty percent of the votes, becoming the youngest mayor in the city's history.

In 1906, Griesbach was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 19th Alberta Dragoons. He was promoted to captain in 1907. When World War I broke out, the Dragoons volunteered as a unit. In December of that year, Griesbach was promoted to major assigned to command the 49th Battalion. He was able to recruit 1000 men in eight days in January 1915. The unit served in various engagements, including the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the Battle of Arras, the Third Battle of Ypres, and the liberation of Mons.

In 1917, Griesbach was promoted to Brigadier-General and assigned command of the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade of the 1st Canadian Division. Griesbach was awarded the Distinguished Service Order twice and the Victorian Decoration for long service and during World War II, Griesbach was made Inspector General of the Canadian Army for Western Canada and was promoted to the rank of Major-General. He retired from that position in 1943.

William Griesbach was elected to the House of Commons of Canada as a Government member for the riding of Edmonton West in the 1917 election, defeating incumbent Laurier Liberal Frank Oliver. He served until 15 September 1921, when he was appointed to the Senate of Canada, which he served until his death.

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Benefits of New Home Buying

From lower upfront maintenance costs to design flexibility, new construction provide opportunities for home buyers. While some buyers are holding out for the right house to become available – one with historic charm, outdoor space, square footage, or whatever they’re seeking – others are skipping the search and going straight to new construction. Not only can buyers customize the home to meet most or all of their needs as well as their wants, negotiating the contract can be less complicated.

One of the biggest advantages of new construction is that homes are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. That means usually no bidding wars or competing against another buyer. Another advantage is in the province of Alberta, most home builders will supply the Alberta new home warrenty free of charge.

New construction homes are more energy-efficient and requre less maintenance. This is a bonus when it comes to paying the high costs of our heating bills. New construction can offer the advantage of new technology from electrical outlets in your garage to charge your vehicle to nest thermostats to control lights remotely. 

The biggest benefit of purchasing a new build is that you are the original owners and everything is sparkling new from your heating ducts and hotwater on demand units to your gleaming hardwood floors and granite counter tops. 

Downfalls of New Home Buying

There are usually quite a few item which arise during the inspection (builders usually have these issues completed prior to possession and allow you to do a walk-through prior to your lawyer forwarding the funds)

The completion date on your new home more often than not is delayed (sometimes by a few months). If you are anticipating a bak to back move - have a back-up plan just incase you are homeless for awhile.

Unless you have chosen a builder who is willing to work with you outside of the designated land plots, you will have to choose a builder who is already under an agreement with the land owner. Builders rarely allow buyers to bring in their own contractors during the construction process.

If you are buying new, expect to be waken by the noise of construction workers and their big trucks. Prepare for a few flat tires caused by dropped nails. And expect your neighborhood to be dusty until construction is complete.

Normally in Edmonton, builders will complete the rough and final grade landscaping for you. But it will be your responsibility and cost to complete the sodding, fences and sometimes the deck.

The largest downfall of buying new is cost - price per square foot - new homes are more expensive.