Why First Place Program
Alisha thought that it would be years before she could afford her own home.
But at 23 years old, her dreams are becoming reality. She’s graduated from the nursing program at Grant MacEwan University and put a deposit on a new town home in Bearspaw.
Alisha is a busy young woman who enjoys a number of interests. Travelling, camping, singing and enjoying live theatre are some ways she likes to spend her spare time.
New Beginnings
Now working as a Registered Nurse in pediatric surgery and medicine at the Stollery Children’s Hospital, Alisha is entering a new phase in her life. “I’ve wanted to be a nurse since I was eight years old,” she says. “It’s my passion to work alongside children and their families at such difficult times in their lives. Nursing is a very rewarding career.”
As her graduation drew closer, Alisha started to think about the next goal on her list—buying her own home.
“When I was on one of my clinical placements for school, which happened to be at the Grey Nuns Hospital, I noticed some townhouses being built just across the street.
“This got me thinking about homes and when I would eventually have one of my own. I saw that there was a show home open for the town houses, so I went in just out of curiosity.”
It was there that she heard about the First Place Program, and she went online to learn more.
Choice
Alisha purchased a lot with the Manchester 3 floor plan, which offers 1,362 square feet of space. It’s one of four available floor plans.
She’ll be living in a development built by Landmark Homes, a builder known for high-quality projects and “green” construction practices.
Bearspaw Crossing Homes feature energy-efficient appliances that are good for the environment and help reduce utility costs for homeowners.
Location
Although Alisha currently lives in southeast Edmonton with her mother and brother, the Bearspaw location appealed to her.
“The location of these homes is perfect as there are many important amenities close by, such as schools, banks, shopping, restaurants and transportation,” Alisha notes. “Because I work at the Stollery Children’s Hospital, I need an easy way to commute to and from work. The Century Park LRT will be just a few minutes’ drive from my new home, which is fantastic, especially with all the shift work I do as a nurse.”
The neighbourhood is four minutes from the Henday, and close to grocery stores, medical services, Southgate Centre and South Edmonton Common. If she doesn’t feel like cooking, there are several restaurants where she can pick up some dinner or spend time with her family and friends.
Alisha soon discovered other benefits to moving into an existing neighbourhood. She loves to read, and the Whitemud Crossing library is nearby. She likes walking, and she’ll be close to Blackmud Creek Ravine and several parks.
“The scenery where these homes are being built is beautiful, with the Bearspaw Lake very close by and a greenbelt with a baseball diamond just outside my front door! The neighbourhood seems to be quiet and the people seem to be really friendly.”
Independence
The City’s First Place program teams with banks and builders to develop attractive townhouses on undeveloped building sites in existing neighbourhoods.
First Place homes sell at market rates, but portions of the mortgage related to the land cost are deferred for five years, providing an attractive level of affordability. Owners cannot rent out the property for the period of the deferral, and the condo board ensures a high standard of exterior maintenance.
“The City of Edmonton and Landmark have made it easier for first time home buyers to qualify for a mortgage by deferring the cost of the land,” says Alisha. “Young adults like me who have only been in the ‘real world’ for under a year can have the opportunity to purchase their own home.”
“This home means independence and an exciting new milestone in my life,” says Alisha.
