Duplex homes in the $400,000 range, including lot and GST.
For Cochrane residents who want affordability and simplicity in their homes but are not ready for a condominium or communal space, Douglas Homes’ lineup of home designs at Greystone might hit the sweet spot where price and privacy meet.
Douglas is Cochrane’s highest volume builder, and its experience with the area’s home purchasers provided exceptional insight into the wishlist for homebuyers also looking for affordability. Douglas is among the first six homebuilders announced for Greystone.
Affordable homes are not just for first-time buyers
Douglas Homes initially aimed their entry-priced duplex homes at first-time buyers, but they are also in high demand with near-retired 50-to-60-year-old homeowners sizing down, and desiring fresh, bright and stylish space finished to a high standard.
“They are letting go of huge square footage that needs cleaning, maintaining and costly repairs or renovating. Our nearly-retired buyers want to ‘right size’ as easily as possible,” said Derk Patton, who is Douglas Homes’ area sales manager in Greystone of Cochrane. Duplex homes with rear lanes will be initially priced in the $400,000 range, including lot and GST.
If townhomes and condos are ruled out, it’s usually because the buyer is used to autonomy in a large house, said Patton. They’re not ready for densified communities or underground parking.
“These buyers want more peace and quiet, and want to avoid getting disturbed by neighbours down the hall,” he said.
But if the homeowners’ children are adults who moved away, and parents are only using two or three rooms of their house, they are smart to let the space go to reorganize finances for retirement. Selling the family home is an opportunity for easier low-maintenance square footage.
Outdoor gear is easily stored in detached garages
But smaller doesn’t mean sacrifice. Elbow room for outdoor entertaining is possible in private fenced yards. Homebuyers are also as excited about building a bigger garage as they are about the new house. Garages can be constructed up to 24 ft. by 24 ft. for full-sized trucks or weekend toys to be parked inside because as retirement nears, more free time for leisure means gear and vehicles for the mountains and outdoors.
Meanwhile, premium finishing has become an expectation among all buyer groups, and so Douglas Homes’ 1,469 sq. ft. three-bedroom planned Cascade model will include 9ft. main floor ceilings, overheight windows and 42-inch tall upper cabinets, quartz countertops, engineered hardwood, fireplace and upper laundry.
Ready for move-in starting August 2023
A selection of quick-possession models will be pre-built by Douglas so that first residents of Greystone don’t have to wait for construction.
They could purchase and move in by August 2023 or get move-in dates from 60 to 90 days, compared to waiting up to 16 months for construction after purchase.
A second style of duplex models that Douglas will release in Greystone are a popular style featuring front-attached garages, priced in the $500,000 range, including lot and GST.
Greystone’s excellent walk score earns big points
Douglas Homes builds in numerous new communities in Cochrane, but Greystone is differentiated because it is an “infill” area with an excellent walk score, said Patton. Greystone is uniquely situated downtown but surrounded by hills and the river.
“People are attracted to water and nature … we’re excited about the interconnected access and expanded pathways and closeness to the river,” he said.
Subhead: Residential and commercial land zoned in Greystone
Meanwhile, Greystone will live up to its promise to be a “Live-Work-Play” community where residents can leave cars at home and walk to work or leisure. In Greystone’s 140 acres, a portion is zoned as a business park for offices and commercial bays, plus there’s a major shopping region and a novel main street with eclectic storefronts you might expect on a small town main street.
A major grocery store, gas station, liquor store, plus a hotel will be in handy distance from the popular Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre. Greystone’s community plan also includes sports fields to be added near the recreation centre, with a pickleball facility sized for tournaments, tennis courts, and baseball diamonds to benefit all Cochrane residents, but easily accessed a short walk from Greystone residences.
As a well-respected name in the industry, Douglas Homes has been building new homes in well-loved, highly desirable communities in Alberta since 1989