BALANCING COST AND LOCATION
First-time homebuyers find satisfaction with home at Oakmont Townhomes development in St. Albert
The learning curve can be steep for first-time homebuyers as they search for a home that can meet their needs and fulfil their wishes. But after climbing the curve and finding a place to call their own, every new buyer wants to be satisfied they made the right the decision.
Amy and Rafal Klonowski recently purchased their first home in the new Oakmont Townhomes development in northeast St. Albert. They demonstrate their satisfaction in the way they talk about their new home and the memories they plan to make there.
“We were looking for a place of our own, and St. Albert can be a bit challenging for a first-time home buyer,” said Amy, who grew up in St. Albert and will move back there from Spruce Grove.
“We looked all over St. Albert and found nothing else near this price point.”
Budget and location were the two most important factors for the Klonowskis, who are married with two young children, and Oakmont met both criteria.
We were looking for a place of our own, and St. Albert can be a bit challenging for a first-time home buyer.
As one of the first to purchase a home at Oakmont, the Klonowskis were able to select nearly any lot in the new development. They chose a home that faces east, offering sweeping views over the treelined Sturgeon Valley.
“We walked right in and they took care of us,” said Rafal, describing how the family’s housing search ended with a visit to the Oakmont sales centre. “It was an easy process and we’re really happy with our choice. And I think we were the third to secure a spot, so we were able to choose something with a great view that worked for us.”
The developer, Slokker West, broke ground on the project in May 2016. Oakmont will include three stages of development, offering two- or three-storey townhomes starting at around $260,000. A variety of floorplans are available, allowing for either two or three bedrooms, with square footage ranging from 1,094 to 1,704.
“As a single-income family, staying within our budget was very important to us,” said Amy. “We thought about buying an older house, but didn’t want to worry about costly repairs or renovations. At Oakmont everything is brand new and ready for us to move in.”
Oakmont will host a launch party on Saturday, April 8 from noon to 5 p.m. at 600 Bellerose Drive in St. Albert. The launch party will feature a show home walkthrough, letting prospective buyers ask questions about the development’s features and future plans. Outside of the launch party, the Oakmont presentation centre is open Monday to Thursday from 4-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m., and is closed on Fridays.
“There’s always demand for maintenance-free living in wellestablished communities like Oakmont,” said Peter Paauw, president of Slokker-West. “The pricing is ideal for first-home buyers, downsizers, retirees and anyone who plans to travel a lot. Maintenancefree living enables you to do that and pursue your dreams.”
Slokker West launched in Alberta in 2007 and has completed eight multi-family projects, with more on the way. In Edmonton, Slokker West has a number of developments in Griesbach, including Juno, Neptune and Victoria Crossing. The Klonowskis plan to move into their new home in November, and they’re already buzzing with anticipation of making it their own.
“Oakmont Townhomes had everything we were looking for,” Amy said. “We love the location and the views. It’s just perfect for our family.”