Welcome to Vulcan
Vulcan's Starship Enterprise
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Golf course properties
Lots of interest in lots available by the golf course. Looks like people want to be ready for the golf course next spring!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Election results
The Town of Vulcan has a new mayor, Tom Grant. The amazing stat about the election, however, was that almost 80 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot. There are several new faces on town council so expect some new, fresh ideas.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Live Long and Think Big!
The town of Vulcan is trying to get the opening for the new Star Trek movie! Are they going to get it? Well, it's making the news! Keeping Vulcan in the news! There was even a piece in the evening news last week about the influx of people moving down from Calgary. Some good publicity for a little town of 1700 people!
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Back to school
Summer holidays are over and time for the students to head back to school. And still time to work on that golf swing! Yes, get out and hit the greens. The golf course is still in great shape and very inviting!
The real estate market is still strong in Vulcan. Houses do not last long on the market, and the vacancy rate for rentals is next to nothing. Purchasing a rental property could be a very wise investment. And be sure to check out the lots for sale by the back nine of the golf course. FORE!
The real estate market is still strong in Vulcan. Houses do not last long on the market, and the vacancy rate for rentals is next to nothing. Purchasing a rental property could be a very wise investment. And be sure to check out the lots for sale by the back nine of the golf course. FORE!
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Fire bans
Just to let you know that the County of Vulcan has issued a fire ban thanks to the hot dry weather we have been having. The sun is great for those who love the heat, but not so much for the vegetation. Enjoy your long weekend and be safe out there too.
Friday, July 20, 2007
HOT MARKET!
I listed a 4 bedroom house on Friday. Had a showing Saturday. Offer on Sunday, but that collapsed. Showings on Monday. Three more Tuesday. Two offers Tuesday and we sold above list price!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Spock Days Another Success
Spock days was another success this past weekend! We had lots and lots of people out, checking the Klingons and other space creatures. With the Space Station (tourist centre) opening up its new exihibit, it was a great time to show off.
There is still a very limited supply of houses on the market in Vulcan. Even little one bedroom houses, less than 500 square feet are being snatched up! Vulcan and it's surrounding towns and villages are still a very affordable alternative to big city dwellers.
There is still a very limited supply of houses on the market in Vulcan. Even little one bedroom houses, less than 500 square feet are being snatched up! Vulcan and it's surrounding towns and villages are still a very affordable alternative to big city dwellers.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Spring has arrived!
The grass is getting greener and the golfers are out and about! Lots of new construction by the golf course too!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Population Explosion?
This article is from the February 21, 2007 Vulcan Advocate:
Population explosion predicted in county
Niall McKenna
Wednesday February 21, 2007
Though he’s nearing retirement, Harold Magnuson is working harder than ever.
As the primary real estate agent for lakefront property development around Lake McGregor, about 25 km east of Vulcan, Magnuson -- along with several local business people -- is predicting tremendous population and economic growth for the County in the next decade.
There are fewer than 20 homes built on Lake McGregor Country Estates, which overlooks Lake McGregor just west of Lomond and is nestled in a valley once known as Snake Coulee. About 90 per cent, or 182 lots, of the current phase of the estate have been sold.
Two other developments on Lake McGregor -- Milo Estates and a development on the east shore -- total 43 residents; Little Bow Resort, south on Travers Reservoir, totals 150 residences and has been completely sold out.
“This lake is going to have 2,000 to 4,000 homes in the future,” said Magnuson of Lake McGregor.
If this holds true, this could easily double the size of Vulcan County, an estimation that has excited Vulcan’s business community.
Fulton Beck, owner of the Vulcan Petro-Canada, said sales at his convenience store leapt almost 15 per cent last year, compared with 2005. While he recognizes growth in oil and gas development as a contributing factor, Beck said many customers are travelling back and forth from their lakefront homes.
“I think the lakefront property development -- over the next 10 years -- will have the biggest impact of anything in the Town of Vulcan,” said Beck.
He added that Vulcan would be wise to develop new businesses to respond to this growth potential.
Those who have already built lakefront houses have certainly pinpointed Vulcan as a key destination.
John Prudence, a Calgary marketing consultant, was one of the first to build property in Lake McGregor Country Estates.
“When we saw Lake McGregor, we were astounded that so much had been spent on the community recreation facility,” he said, referring to the estate’s tennis courts, boat dock and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
“It was all in place, just waiting for people to buy lots.”
At the same time, Prudence said he and his family, who spend weekends and at least two months a year at their lakefront home, travel to Vulcan regularly for fuel, groceries and other supplies.
“I like it because it’s a true Western small town experience,” said Prudence.
Indeed, Magnuson said the lakefront properties are filling a niche among Calgary and area residents eager for weekend and retirement property closer to home than property in B.C.
“(For B.C. travellers), leaving on a Friday and coming back Sunday, you’re spending all your time on the road,” he said.
Magnuson said if more families choose to live full-time in lakefront developments, arrangements will also have to be made to accommodate spaces in schools and on school buses.
But further development on Lake McGregor faces a huge stumbling block -- water. While there is a licence to extract water from the lake for the current phase of housing, a future licence looks unlikely for the time being. Alberta Environment put all water licences in the Bow basin on hold last year.
Because the purpose of the lake is primarily for irrigation, Magnuson said the provincial government might be unwilling to free up water for residential purposes.
“It’s very frustrating for me to see Calgary grow… and they’ve got a right to the water,” said Magnuson. “But we can’t get water rights.”
Water levels in the lake also affect recreation. If the level is too low, boating may be banned outright, although new property owners are made aware of this when purchasing.
Magnuson’s company -- Magnuson Realty -- is completing a proposal for phase two of Lake McGregor Country Estates, which will require County approval.
He said the County is supportive of increased growth of lakefront housing, but does not want to see it reach the scale of Lake Chestermere, a lakefront community east of Calgary that has grown into a tightly-developed town of over 8,000 people.
Meanwhile, there are no plans to develop the eastern shore of the three-year-old Twin Valley Reservoir, which Vulcan County administers. According to County administrator, Gary Buchanan, provincial government regulations will not allow housing near the water’s edge, meaning that any development will have to be well back of the reservoir.
The Municipal District of Willow Creek, which administers the western shore of Twin Valley, received an application for a housing development two years ago. The MD rejected it, according to Willow Creek development officer, Sharon Shearer. There have been no more developments proposed since then.
Vulcan County is now the process of redeveloping its area structure plan for the McGregor, Travers and Little Bow reservoirs. The new plan will govern future lakefront developments while safeguarding the reservoirs’ original purpose -- irrigation.
Population explosion predicted in county
Niall McKenna
Wednesday February 21, 2007
Though he’s nearing retirement, Harold Magnuson is working harder than ever.
As the primary real estate agent for lakefront property development around Lake McGregor, about 25 km east of Vulcan, Magnuson -- along with several local business people -- is predicting tremendous population and economic growth for the County in the next decade.
There are fewer than 20 homes built on Lake McGregor Country Estates, which overlooks Lake McGregor just west of Lomond and is nestled in a valley once known as Snake Coulee. About 90 per cent, or 182 lots, of the current phase of the estate have been sold.
Two other developments on Lake McGregor -- Milo Estates and a development on the east shore -- total 43 residents; Little Bow Resort, south on Travers Reservoir, totals 150 residences and has been completely sold out.
“This lake is going to have 2,000 to 4,000 homes in the future,” said Magnuson of Lake McGregor.
If this holds true, this could easily double the size of Vulcan County, an estimation that has excited Vulcan’s business community.
Fulton Beck, owner of the Vulcan Petro-Canada, said sales at his convenience store leapt almost 15 per cent last year, compared with 2005. While he recognizes growth in oil and gas development as a contributing factor, Beck said many customers are travelling back and forth from their lakefront homes.
“I think the lakefront property development -- over the next 10 years -- will have the biggest impact of anything in the Town of Vulcan,” said Beck.
He added that Vulcan would be wise to develop new businesses to respond to this growth potential.
Those who have already built lakefront houses have certainly pinpointed Vulcan as a key destination.
John Prudence, a Calgary marketing consultant, was one of the first to build property in Lake McGregor Country Estates.
“When we saw Lake McGregor, we were astounded that so much had been spent on the community recreation facility,” he said, referring to the estate’s tennis courts, boat dock and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
“It was all in place, just waiting for people to buy lots.”
At the same time, Prudence said he and his family, who spend weekends and at least two months a year at their lakefront home, travel to Vulcan regularly for fuel, groceries and other supplies.
“I like it because it’s a true Western small town experience,” said Prudence.
Indeed, Magnuson said the lakefront properties are filling a niche among Calgary and area residents eager for weekend and retirement property closer to home than property in B.C.
“(For B.C. travellers), leaving on a Friday and coming back Sunday, you’re spending all your time on the road,” he said.
Magnuson said if more families choose to live full-time in lakefront developments, arrangements will also have to be made to accommodate spaces in schools and on school buses.
But further development on Lake McGregor faces a huge stumbling block -- water. While there is a licence to extract water from the lake for the current phase of housing, a future licence looks unlikely for the time being. Alberta Environment put all water licences in the Bow basin on hold last year.
Because the purpose of the lake is primarily for irrigation, Magnuson said the provincial government might be unwilling to free up water for residential purposes.
“It’s very frustrating for me to see Calgary grow… and they’ve got a right to the water,” said Magnuson. “But we can’t get water rights.”
Water levels in the lake also affect recreation. If the level is too low, boating may be banned outright, although new property owners are made aware of this when purchasing.
Magnuson’s company -- Magnuson Realty -- is completing a proposal for phase two of Lake McGregor Country Estates, which will require County approval.
He said the County is supportive of increased growth of lakefront housing, but does not want to see it reach the scale of Lake Chestermere, a lakefront community east of Calgary that has grown into a tightly-developed town of over 8,000 people.
Meanwhile, there are no plans to develop the eastern shore of the three-year-old Twin Valley Reservoir, which Vulcan County administers. According to County administrator, Gary Buchanan, provincial government regulations will not allow housing near the water’s edge, meaning that any development will have to be well back of the reservoir.
The Municipal District of Willow Creek, which administers the western shore of Twin Valley, received an application for a housing development two years ago. The MD rejected it, according to Willow Creek development officer, Sharon Shearer. There have been no more developments proposed since then.
Vulcan County is now the process of redeveloping its area structure plan for the McGregor, Travers and Little Bow reservoirs. The new plan will govern future lakefront developments while safeguarding the reservoirs’ original purpose -- irrigation.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Vulcan newspaper
The Vulcan Advocate is the local newspaper for Vulcan and the County of Vulcan. It can be viewed online at www.canoe.ca. Keep up-to-date on the local news and events. Vulcan also has a tourist information booth. Stop by and get your picture taken by the Enterprise and with Captain Kirk and Spock.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Welcome to Vulcan and County of Vulcan
Live long and prosper! Welcome to Vulcan! I am a real estate broker and my office is in the town of Vulcan. Magnuson Realty Ltd. has been serving Vulcan and County, actually all of Southern Alberta for over 25 years. We market residential, agricultural, commercial and recreational properties. You can view our listings at www.magnusonrealty.com, www.homesacrosscanada.com, and www.mls.ca.
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