YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS FIND RIGHT FIT IN SETON
Semi-attached Wicklow model checks off all the boxes for hard-working couple
When young entrepreneurs James Galvis, 28, and Jesica Oviedo, 21, found their dream home last January, they weren’t sure the deal was going to go through.
Galvis, who has more than a decade of experience in the construction industry, had just started his own business, JEG Construction, which specializes in dry concrete precast finishing.
“Because I had just started my own business, we had to wait for the mortgage approval and it was stressful. To be honest, there were nights we couldn’t sleep,” Galvis recalls.
But after a month of back and forth with the mortgage broker, they got the call.
“We were just about to walk away from the deal and then we found out we were approved. We were so happy,” Galvis says. “It was so worth all of the stress.”
The couple recently took possession of their new semi-attached home — the Wicklow, a threebedroom, two-storey urban chic design by Brookfield Residential in Seton’s urban district. It’s part of a collection of innovative designs that offer flexibility in upper floor configurations from dual master plans to three bedroom designs with upstairs laundry and a bonus room. Ample square footage — the Wicklow starts at 1,585 square feet — and room to build a detached double car garage are a few other pluses.
“I could really see that the duplex had so many features of a single family home. It’s open and bright with really high ceilings and we really liked the way that they organized the space,” Galvis says.
The elevation can best be described as urban farmhouse, with staggered facades and generous front porches. The juxtaposition and layering of textural materials — stone, wrought iron, metal roofs, natural fir beams, wood soffits, and cement siding create visual interest inspired by European streetscapes.
It’s a look that resonated with these multi-lingual go-getters. Galvis speaks Spanish and English, and Oviedo speaks French, Spanish and English.
The two are both originally from Columbia, but met for the first time in Calgary four years ago. It was love at first sight.
Eventually they moved in together, first with Galvis’ parents and then into their own place, a condominium in Legacy.
“Buying a house was always in the back of our minds, but it took us some time to save money,” Galvis says.
When the couple began renting, the urge to buy became even stronger.
“We were paying $1,350 per month just for our rent. It was too much. We knew we could get our home for that amount, and we would be paying for something that was ours,” Oviedo says.
Last December they began their search in earnest.
The couple loves to entertain, so first on their must-have list was a welcoming floor plan that could accommodate large groups of people.
It also had to be family and pooch-friendly, with a fenced yard that would offer ample space for their puppy, Coppito, to romp. As Oviedo does the accounting for the company, a home office was a necessity, as was a light and bright ambience. Location was on their list, as was being close to amenities and major highways, as Galvis often is on the road for work.
“Seton’s really like a mini town. Everything that we need is here. We’ve got the VIP Cineplex and the new YMCA, and restaurants and shopping. Plus, Deerfoot and Stoney are right there,” Galvis says.
As soon as they looked at Brookfield’s designs, they were sold. They chose a three-bedroom plan, with upstairs bonus room and an opento-below feature, adding several upgrades to make the home theirs, including a gourmet kitchen with stainless steel chimney hood fan, quartz countertops, and vinyl plank flooring.
Future plans include developing the basement and building a twocar garage. Front landscaping was included in the price.
Nada Nosal, community manager for Brookfield Residential in Seton, says selection, flexibility and price point are what makes these homes stand out.
“These homes provide all of the luxuries and space of a single-family home, but at a lower price point,” Nosal says.
The couple’s happiness with their home purchase shines brightly, so brightly that their best friends built a home three doors down from them.
“Everyone who comes to visit can’t stop talking about the house. They just love it,” Galvis says.