Country living is a dreamy idea for many urbanites, but most people who decide to live the dream and move to a residential acreage soon discover that there are elements they never anticipated. 

If your acreage is not serviced by a municipal water supply, a water co-op or utility company, you most likely have a well.   A well must be drilled by a licensed driller and properly cited.  It should be easily accessed for cleaning, testing, repair and maintenance. 

Proper management and upkeep of your water well are essential for its longevity and efficiency. Conducting regular water testing is imperative for the safety of your potable water supply.

Water well shock chlorination is a simple treatment used to disinfect groundwater wells and inactivate harmful bacteria within the well and distribution system. It is a relatively inexpensive and straightforward procedure to control iron and sulphur bacteria in wells. Well shocking involves adding a large amount of chlorine to the water in the well and pumping it through the distribution system. The chlorinated water is left in the system until it is completely disinfected. It is highly recommended hiring our licensed experts for the job.

Have your well tested at least once a year for the presence of bacteria. You may not be able to see, smell or taste these contaminants, but they could still be there.

Additionally, have your well water tested occasionally for possible inorganic and organic chemical contaminants.

The best times to sample your well water are:

• in early spring just after the thaw

• after a long dry spell

• following heavy rains

For more information on water testing, visit:

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/Testing-Your-Drinking-Water-in-Alberta.aspx

Private well owners also have a legal responsibility and a vested interest in properly managing their water wells and protecting groundwater for future generations.

Allow us to seamlessly connect you with one of our trusted local experts, ready to assist you.

Harmony offers a unique and upscale living experience with a variety of features, amenities, and benefits. The community boasts access to generous amenities and activities for all stages of life— lake, beaches, playgrounds, parks, golf course, trails, and more. 

Set against the backdrop of the picturesque Rocky Mountains, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding natural landscape. Proximity to both Calgary and the Alberta foothills, giving residents easy access to both urban conveniences and outdoor recreation.

Amenities offered in Harmony:

Lake Life

Swim, fish, paddle or relax on a sandy beach; Harmony’s 40-acre lake (and upcoming second 100-acre lake) welcomes residents to enjoy summer with gorgeous Rocky Mountain views.

Golf

The Mickelson National Golf Club and LaunchPad offers a full-service clubhouse with dining options, events, and golf amenities, making it a social hub for the community.

Walking and Biking Trails

A network of trails for walking, cycling, and jogging, promoting an active lifestyle while allowing residents to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Parks and Green Spaces:

Extensive parks, natural areas, and green spaces perfect for relaxation, picnics, and family activities.

Benefits of Living in Harmony:

Serene and Peaceful Environment:

• The location offers a tranquil escape from the bustle of city life, with the added benefit of easy access to Calgary for work and urban amenities.

Luxurious Living with Privacy:

• Harmony offers a high-end, private living experience with large homesites, designed to cater to those seeking a peaceful and spacious lifestyle.

Proximity to Nature and Outdoor Activities:

• Residents can enjoy numerous outdoor recreational opportunities, from hiking and biking to skiing and mountain adventures, all within a short drive.

High Quality of Life:

• The combination of luxury homes, well-maintained green spaces, active lifestyle options, and a tight-knit community environment contributes to a high quality of life.

Access to Calgary's Amenities:

• Only about 15-20 minutes to Calgary and 25-30 minutes to downtown Calgary, residents benefit from easy access to all the city's conveniences.

Strong Community Feel:

• The development is designed to foster a close-knit community with various opportunities for social interaction, events, and family-friendly activities.

Safety and Security:

• The quiet, rural setting and community-oriented nature provide a safe environment for families and individuals alike.

Real Estate Investment Potential:

• With the upscale nature of the development and its location in the desirable Springbank area, properties in Harmony are likely to retain or increase in value, making it a solid real estate investment.

Harmony offers a blend of luxury, nature, and community with a focus on active living, outdoor activities, and premium homeownership, making it an appealing choice for those seeking an elevated lifestyle in Alberta.

Nestled on a picturesque ridge beside the renowned Glencoe Golf Course, Stonepine offers breathtaking views of the Elbow River Valley and the majestic mountains beyond. This exclusive gated community seamlessly blends the elegance of luxury living with the serenity and open space of country acreage.

Stonepine is thoughtfully designed for those who value a relaxed and healthy lifestyle. With 72 meticulously crafted coach-style and individual manor homes spread across 65 acres of prime land, the community combines sophistication with a strong connection to nature.

Residents of Stonepine enjoy maintenance-free living, with shared upkeep of common properties and amenities. This allows homeowners the freedom to come and go as they please, confident their community is beautifully maintained year-round.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Stonepine features a large park area with a paved path, perfect for hiking, biking, or jogging in the stunning Elbow River Valley. The peaceful surroundings and thoughtfully designed amenities make Stonepine a haven for those seeking both comfort and an active lifestyle.

Discover the unmatched charm of Stonepine—a place where luxury, convenience, and natural beauty come together in perfect harmony.

Conserving Nature. Enhancing Lifestyle.

Elbow Valley offers a unique blend of rural serenity and urban convenience, making it a natural choice for those seeking luxury living near Calgary. Nestled within breathtaking parkland just 20 minutes southwest of downtown, Elbow Valley has been twice recognized as Canada’s Community of the Year and four times as Calgary’s Community of the Year.

This private estate community combines the beauty of nature with city-standard services and easy access to all the amenities you need. Living here means coming home to an impeccably crafted home surrounded by the tranquility of lakes, trails, and natural preserves. With a lifestyle that feels like "living at the cottage," Elbow Valley offers something truly special.

Unmatched Amenities for Every Lifestyle

At the heart of the community is the Residents Club, a hub of activity and connection. Enjoy countless recreational opportunities, from tennis and pickleball courts to the beach and Boathouse, where you can kayak, paddleboard, or relax while the kids enjoy the lake slide and play areas. Spend evenings around the fire pits, play Frisbee on the grassy areas, or shoot hoops on the sports court.

The Clubhouse hosts a vibrant calendar of events, including book clubs, mom-and-tot groups, fitness classes, and community celebrations like the annual Stampede Breakfast, Christmas parties, Easter Egg Hunts, and more. Whether you’re trying yoga, kickboxing, or sailing lessons, there’s always something to keep you active and engaged.

Nature at Your Doorstep

Elbow Valley is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with over 20 kilometers of nature trails and paved multi-use paths weaving through the community’s scenic landscape. Three pristine lakes offer year-round recreation:

• Elbow Valley Lake for summer swimming

• Fisherman’s Lake, stocked annually for fishing

• Clearwater Lake for pleasure skating in winter

Trail systems meander through unspoiled natural preserves, offering tranquil escapes just steps from your home. Relax on benches, explore play areas, or enjoy on- and off-leash spaces for your furry family members.

Connected and Convenient

Despite its peaceful setting, Elbow Valley is close to life’s necessities. Westhills, Aspen Landing, and Discovery Ridge shopping centers are all within minutes, and the community is part of the Springbank school district with nearby private school options.

Elbow Valley is more than a community—it’s a lifestyle that blends luxury living with a deep respect for nature. Discover the possibilities and make Elbow Valley your next home.

Real estate transactions almost always require a current Real Property Report (RPR).

An RPR is a legal document an Alberta Land Surveyor prepares. It’s basically a high level drawing of the property, the boundaries, and the buildings and structures on it, so buyers know exactly what they’re buying.

An RPR contains:

• legal description and municipal address of the property

• date of land title search and date RPR was done

• Certificate of Title (land title) number and names of registered owner(s)

• location and description of all buildings and structures (e.g. decks, fences) with dimensions, directions and distances from the property boundaries

• location and dimensions of any visible encroachments (i.e. buildings or structures that are too close or even beyond the property line)

• designation of adjacent properties, roads, lanes

• evidence of municipal compliance (i.e. the RPR has been reviewed by your municipality and adheres to all municipal bylaws and regulations. They usually stamp and date compliance directly on the RPR)

• illustrations of any easements that affect the property (an easement is an agreement between the property owner and some other party (usually your municipal authority or utility) for them to utilize part of your property as needed)

• Certified Land Surveyor’s duly signed certification and opinion on any concerns

• copyright of the RPR to the land survey company

Sellers

The typical seller representation agreement used in Alberta requires sellers to provide a current RPR to the buyer, unless otherwise agreed to by the buyer. In most transactions, a buyer’s lender and lawyer require a current RPR to complete the transaction.

A current RPR allows everyone involved to know if there are any issues with encroachment, easements or non-compliance with municipal bylaws.

A current, compliant RPR allows sellers to:

• meet the requirement of some seller representation agreements and purchase contracts

• know the location of the property boundaries and improvements

• know the measurements and distances for the property and improvements

• know any issues with the property or adjacent properties

• receive advice from a real estate professional concerning any property issues

• address compliance issues early in selling process before a sale

Existing RPRs

If you have an existing RPR, you can sign a Statutory Declaration or Affidavit stating the existing RPR is accurate and the property hasn’t changed since the RPR was prepared.

If there have been changes, you can contact the surveyor to see if they can update the existing RPR. If there have been changes, only an updated RPR with a compliance stamp can confirm the property complies with municipal regulations.

Your real estate professional can also help you find a surveyor if the one on the existing RPR is not available.

Compliance

Surveyors are responsible for completing the RPR, but they do not determine if the property is compliant. You have to go to your municipal authority, in person, to obtain a compliance stamp.

Before the municipality stamps your RPR, it will look for non-compliant issues, including:

Encroachment

If a structure encroaches on adjoining property, you and the adjoining owner may enter into an encroachment agreement. In order to do so, the owner of the other property has to agree to allow the encroachment. The parties register the agreement on their property titles. If the adjoining owner doesn’t agree, you may have to remove the encroaching structure.

Relaxation

If a structure is too close to the property boundary or over an easement or utility right-of-way, your municipality may grant a relaxation to allow it to remain. This will usually require a relaxation permit, for which your municipality will have to conduct a further review and may require additional information such as photos of the structure and an extra permit fee. If the municipality does not grant the relaxation, you may have to move or remove the structure. As part of the sale, the buyer or lender may require a holdback of part of the purchase price or mortgage proceeds until you have a relaxation permit.

If you cannot resolve non-compliant issues before the sale closes, title insurance may be an option to enable the sale to close on time.

Buyers

Most standard residential purchase contracts require the seller to give the buyer a current RPR with a municipal stamp of compliance. Your lender will typically also need an RPR for your financing.

Benefits to buyers include:

• knowledge of the exact property boundaries

• knowledge of issues with the property or adjacent properties

• knowing if a property can have further developments or improvements

• a current RPR on hand for when you sell (as long as you didn’t build anything new in the meantime)

Typically, sellers are responsible for resolving RPR issues before the sale closes.

An RPR should be available to you before you write a purchase contract. If it isn’t, your real estate professional can advise you of your options. You, or your lawyer, must have a reasonable opportunity to review the RPR before the property title transfers and the purchase funds are advanced to the seller.

Alberta residential real estate licensees must use the Residential Measurement Standard (RMS) when measuring residential properties. This measurement standard helps consumers easily and accurately compare different types of residential properties.

What is the purpose of the Residential Measurement Standard (RMS)?

The RMS gives consumers and industry professionals accurate and consistent property measurements, which they can use to compare properties and determine their suitability. Proper application of the RMS ensures real estate professionals provide reliable and verifiable property size and dimensions.

The RMS offers a consistent means of representing a property’s above grade space. Among other things, the RMS sets out what parts of a property can be included in its measured-area. For example, if a room has a dormer with a ceiling height of only 4 feet, is it included as floor space? What about finished basements that are entirely below grade? The RMS information benefits consumers because:

• sellers want their property size accurately described

• buyers want to ensure the property size meets their needs

• buyers and sellers want to be able to compare the size of different types of properties

  
  Residential Measurement Standard Principles

• Real estate licensees must use the RMS when measuring and advertising properties.

• Identify if the measurement system is metric or imperial, and apply it consistently. Measurements must be calculated to within 2% of the RMS size.

• For detached properties, measure the property using the exterior wall at the foundation.

• For semi-detached and townhouse properties, measure the property using the exterior wall at the foundation. If the thickness of the demising wall(s) cannot be determined the thickness of an exterior wall shall be used.

• For apartment style condominiums, measure the interior perimeter walls (paint-to-paint) at floor level. An additional area representation may be made assuming exterior measurements.

• Include floor levels that are entirely above grade and exclude floor levels if any portion is below grade. Below grade levels may be measured, but the area must not be included in the RMS area.

• Include all additions to the main structure and conversions if above grade areas within the structure if they are weatherproof and suitable for year-round use.

• The property must have a minimum floor-to-ceiling height of 2.13 metres (7 feet). If the ceiling is sloped, the area with a floor-to-ceiling- height of at least 1.52 metres (5 feet) is included in the RMS area, provided there is a ceiling height of 2.13 metres (7 feet) somewhere in the room.

• Include extensions from the main structure that have a minimum floor-to-ceiling height of 1.5 metres (5 feet), such as cantilevers, bay and bow window, and dormers.

• Exclude open areas that have no floor, such as vaulted areas.