Marjorie and Doug McKay

May 2nd is the latest day for the ice to leave the lake in the 17 years we have lived on Chestermere Lake. In 2002 May 2nd was also the day the lake was thawed totally. The earliest was April 11th in 2005. I would much prefer the April 11th date. After the ice has thawed the Western Irrigation District can let in the water from the Bow River to bring the level of the lake up to operating level.

Chestermere is a very busy place right now. Residents on the lake are working to get their docks and retaining wall in ship shape. They are getting their boats serviced so they can be on the water as soon as possible. It is an exciting time in Chestermere. You would almost forget how great it is to live here over the long winter. But as soon as that lake starts to sparkle and shine, there is no place we would rather be!

Lakefront property is very rare in Southern Alberta, even rarer close to Calgary. Chestermere lake has lakefront homes that are only 30 minutes to downtown Calgary. Chestermere was originally an intermittent lake that ran from Shepard to where the town of Chestermere is now. This body of water was originally known as Kinneburg Slough before it was dammed in the early 1900's to be a balancing pond for the newly formed Western Irrigation District. Far from a slough now, the water for Chestermere Lake is diverted from the Bow River near where the Calgary Zoo is. The lake is 3.5 miles long by 1/2 mile wide.

You can water-ski, sail, windsurf, swim and fish at Chestermere Lake.

A complete town has built up around the lake. We now have near 12,000 residents and many different kinds of housing. There are one bedroom condos from the $350,000's 2 bedrooms from the $300,000 range. These units are in the Bay Club 2 separate apartment buildings right by the lake. There are townhouses available from $275,000 to $400,000. Single family homes not on the lake in the community run from the $400,000 range up to $700,000. Lakefront homes are running from $850,000 for a lot right up to $2,500,000 for a very high end home on more than one lot. There are many good homes on the market for around the one million dollar mark.

When you consider that you could combine your everyday home and your cottage in one, the advantages are many. You can enjoy this home everyday. There is only one home to maintain. As your principal residence any capital gains you earn is tax free. My favorite reason is that you don't have to pack and unpack and drive for hours every week end.

We have been lakefront residents for 17 years. We started out thinking about a recreational home, but when we saw Chestermere Lake we were sold. In fact we liked it so much that we got our real estate licenses so we could let people know more about the great lifestyle that Chestermere has to offer.

For more information on Chestermere Lake and to visit homes for sale there visit our website www.chestermererealestate.com

Just 5 miles from the city of Calgary, Chestermere often doesn't even get on the map! With over 12,000 residents it should be on the map. Chestermere Lake is a 750 acre lake that you can waterski, sail, wakeboard, skate and swim in.

We often have people new to Alberta stunned that you can live on a lake just 25 minutes to downtown Calgary.

You can, but it will certainly cost you more than just a few years ago! Lakefront appreciates more quickly than other types of property because there just isn't enough of it! We still believe Chestemere to be a great value when compared to other lakes, that are not near a major oil and financial centre like Calgary.

Of course there are lots of choices off of the lake, homes on the golf course, condo's by the lake and lots of homes built backing onto green space, and water features.

Take a look at this real estate show of all the great things we do in the town of Chestermere Lake.

311 permits to build new homes were given in Chestermere in 2007.  That number was down from 636 in 2006. 

In 2007 Shane Homes had the most number of permits at 45,   Lifestyle Homes had 44 with Reid Built close behind at 43.  Jager had 35 permits. 

Landmark 29, Truman Homes had 24.  Loinsworthe Homes had 17 permits. Greenboro had 13 permits. Douglas Homes had 8 permits.  22 home permits issued were for smaller builders.  

Much of the slowdown can be attributed as response to the Town of Chestermere’s inability to keep up to the demand for servicing to the lands being developed, rather than a lack of demand.  Although December was a slow month with only six residential home permits being issued.

With Rainbow Falls and Westmere being the most active developments in Chestermere the builders in these areas had more starts. 

In Chestermere we seem to have a lot of builders and out of town real estate agents marketing lakefront property that by our definition does not qualify as lakefront!

Chestermere is a 750 acre lake 5 miles out of Calgary that you can water-ski, sail, wakeboard and have fun, fun, fun. The thing about Chestermere that distinguishes it from other lake communities in this area is of course the size, (750 acres is about 720 acres bigger than Calgary's other lake communities.), is the fact that you can run a motor boat on the lake. Not having a dock or the ability to build one, is certainly a consideration in the value of the home.

If you are truly lakefront you have a boat lift at the end of your dock, you go out and drop the boat, and away you go. If you are not lakefront, you hitch your boat to your towing vehicle, tow it to the boat launch, wait your turn in line with all of Calgary and Chestermere, show your ID (Chestermere residents do not have to pay launch fees) and then back your boat down the launch, take it off of the boat trailer, (this will involve getting wet) move it to a safe place while you look for a place to park your vehicle. That should not be a major hassle, but there is not enough parking at the boat launch and there is no place to tie your boat. There are there bumpers along the concrete wall to protect your boat. Maybe it would just be easier to stay in bed!

Can you see why a true lakefront home would be more desirable, therefore more expensive?

If you are considering paying over $900K for a home in Chestermere and you are a boater, please contact us. We are Lakefront Specialists. We know the topography of the lake, we know which locations have natural sand, and deep water. We know all about the lake and the lake management with the water provider W.I.D. We have sold more lakefront homes on Chestermere Lake than anyone has. We have been lakefront owners since 1991. We water ski, sail, wake board, fish, swim, kayak, skate, and play on or in Chestermere Lake.

If you want to go it alone, or to deal direct with a builder, these are the addresses that are lakefront. Cove Road, odd numbers below 300, East Chestermere odd numbers, West Chestermere even numbers.