Silver Springs/Scenic Acres

In a recent survey, Alberta's homebuyers ranked as the most family focused in all of Canada.

The National Home Buyer Preferences Survey conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights, said 19 per cent of Alberta homebuyers placed family-oriented neighbourhood as the number community criteria, more than any other province.

With 19 per cent of Albertans ranking this as their top priority for community selection, the appeal of established family-friendly neighbourhoods as Silver Springs and Scenic Acres is obvious.

"There's lots of things [to like] about the area," said Jeremy Gukert, president of the Silver Springs Community Association. "The community is about 30 years old now, so we do have a lot of people that were original buyers of their homes... Their houses are starting to come up for sale and a lot of young families are looking to buy."

Situated alongside the picturesque Bowmont Natural Area – known to locals as "the ravine" – Scenic Acres and Silver Springs are in many ways the very epitome of family-friendly communities. With several schools in the area, plenty of shopping options and greenspaces galore, the two northwest neighbourhoods provide residents with everything they could ask for.

"The lots here offer bigger yards than the inner city, and there are some pretty spectacular views as well," said Gukert. "It seems like lots of young families are moving in."

The survey also revealed that in addition to living in family-oriented communities, buyers place plenty of importance on the ability to move in to a fully finished home.

The survey showed Canadians rank a move-in ready home where the sellers had already undertaken renovations as their number one homebuying priority (25 per cent), while location (23 per cent) and having enough money left over for personal expenses (23 per cent) are also top considerations.

"Canadians are united in wanting move-in ready homes, which is valuable information for those planning to sell," said Don Lawby, President of Century 21 Canada Limited Partnership. "Now 'prime location' isn't just defined by convenience, as lifestyle considerations are equally important in a neighbourhood."

Along with established familyfriendly communities, the area offers breathtaking views of the majestic Rocky Mountains, with the attractions and amenities of Canada Olympic Park just a short drive away.

Improvements to Stoney Trail and Calgary's transit system mean that whether they choose to drive or take transit, area residents can rest assured they won't be without options.

Since acting as a showcase for the 1988 Winter Olympics, Canada Olympic Park has remained a year round attraction for locals and visitors to the area alike. As well as being a training ground for world-class athletes, the park is host to almost 300,000 ski and snowboard visitors every winter. With the second largest ski school in Canada, and the only half-pipe located within North American city limits, there are lessons available for a variety of skill levels.

One of Calgary's largest natural environment parks, Bowmont Natural Environment Park contains over 165 hectares of forest, grasslands and river habitats with hiking trails and picnic tables for families to enjoy. The park was created in the early 1980s, and takes its name from a contraction of the names of the nearby communities of Bowness and Montgomery. The park is currently undergoing trail improvements and habitat restoration aimed at enhancing the biological diversity in the area.

With over 300 acres of rolling hills and valleys with elevation changes, Silver Springs offers a true test to golfers of all abilities. Originally designed by Colorado course architect Dick Phelps, the championship par 72 golf course winds itself through the coulees and plateaus of northwest Calgary. With four sets of tees ranging in yardage from 5500 to 7000 yards, golfers of all skilllevels will find the course a challenge.