“I started a new job and my second day there, I found out we were expecting,” says Amy.

The couple saw an advertisement for Royal Oak that caught their attention. They were immediately attracted to the condominium’s exterior, but were more interested in the living space and whether it would meet their storage needs.

“I sort of said, just go buy one, and leave me out of it because I’m the nervous one in terms of spending,” admits Reid. “When we came to look at the home, I took Amelia for a walk.”

There was a draw system for viewing the project. Amy describes, “You chose a number, and that was the order that you got to speak to the salesperson. They only had nine homes available and lots of interested people. We were the first ones there, but we picked lucky 13.”

There was only one three-bedroom at the price they were willing to pay. They wanted the first block because of the long driveway.

Reid explains, “We’ve got an old pickup truck and I want to be able to work on it. We also have a little Honda and didn’t want to park anything on the street.”

Fortunately, when their number came up, they were able to put a deposit on the home of their choice. Amy noticed it was more spacious than other homes in the same square footage.

They kept the home basic and simple to keep it as affordable as possible. They did upgrade the flooring in the bathroom and kitchen/dining area. The standard features were luxurious enough: Kohler faucets, kitchen track lighting, black Bosch appliances, brick-style chocolate tile backsplash, black door handles on cupboards, and black countertops.

Their condominium is within walking distance to all their shopping needs. Reid is at the University in less than a half hour, and because he works the summers in Kootenay National Park collecting data, he’s a half hour closer to commute. Being a private pilot – Springbank airport is also close by. ”We like to ski, go hiking, biking, and hunting in the fall for me.”

With having a little one, Reid being a PhD candidate, and Amy being a teacher, there’s a lot of work at night, plus the additional work beyond the 40-hour work week. That’s why no maintenance was another buying factor. They also looked at the cost, with Reid being funded through scholarship and Amy on maternity leave. They wanted a reasonable mortgage. They were actually pre-approved for more – enough for a single family home.

“When you start looking at it, what more do we really need?” says Reid. “All you hear about is debt, debt, debt. Having lived in an apartment, this place is huge.”

Their advice to others is to use your gut feeling. A pre-approved mortgage saves a lot of time and lets you know what price range to shop. You might be nervous, but you will know which home is right for you.  CL