Saddle Up in Strathmore

Situated just 25 minutes east of Calgary, Strathmore's roots harken back to the earliest days of the province.

Back on July 28, 1883, when Canadian Pacific was laying the foundations for the nation, crews laid a record-setting 10.2 kilometres of track, ending at the south side of the then-unnamed hamlet. With the railroad tasked with naming the hamlets that sprang up along the line, it's thought Strathmore owes its title to a Scotsman named James Ross, who was prone to monikers from his home country.

The century that followed would see the construction of the town's irrigation system, necessitating a 6.5 km shift of the entire town, and the development of a world famous demonstration farm designed to act as an instruction tool for settlers.

The town still maintains those pioneer roots to this day. Home to the annual Heritage Days Stampede, Strathmore's annual answer to Calgary's "Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth" which includes their own version of the famous Running with the Bulls.

Those roots along with the town's picturesque prairie setting will be displayed on a national scale this September when the community plays host to the 2013 Tour of Alberta. Featuring 15 international cycling teams, the event will be broadcast live in Canada and around the world. Strathmore will be the start community for Stage 3 of the race, which circles through the Canadian Badlands and finishes in Drumheller.

Along with presenting plenty of options for recreation, Strathmore provides buyers with an alluring combination of affordability and access. Located with easy driving distance of Calgary, the price of the average home in the town compares quite favourably to those in Calgary. Year-to-date, the average sale price of a single-family Strathmore home sits at $308,498 while a single-family home in Calgary cost an average of $449,643 in 2013.

"As the single-family market in the city of Calgary sees tightening supply levels, particularly for homes priced less than $500,000, consumers looking for affordable homes are likely to consider either the condominium market or surrounding areas. This should support sales growth in surrounding communities this year," said CREB® Economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

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