The Rise of Walkable Housing

Believe it or not, today's most wanted features of a home - marble counter-tops, a walk-in closet, a bonus room - are actually not what some buyers are looking for. To some, it's all about the walkability of the property and the close proximity of available amenities in the surrounding area.  So what does walkability actually mean? Walkability is the extent to which a location is compatible to the presence of people living, shopping, enjoying, visiting, or spending time in an area.

In an age where the demand for metropolitan transit systems and autonomous vehicles are rising, there's no denying people desire more convenience in terms of getting around within their everyday life. People are starting to ditch their motor vehicles and are moving towards public transportation and on-foot travel as walkable urban and suburban areas are readily growing. Millenials are increasingly becoming multi-modal and moving to communities that provide robust public transportation and amenities that are in close proximity. Being walking distance to grocery stores and entertainment facilities isn't a burden for those who get around with their feet.

House hunters today are becoming more car-averse with the rise of fitness culture heavily influencing people to undertake a more healthier lifestyle by walking, running, or biking on their daily commute.  At the same time, the growing number of new residents moving away from smaller urban areas - where walkability has already been firmly established - have shifted their focus to cities that offer larger walkable neighbourhoods and a greater number of amenities at their disposal. 

To some, grabbing coffee right next door from where you live is a blessing. To others, its a simpler way to drive business. To everyone, it's just convenient.

MHA Properties offers a number of quality apartments to those who are captivated by the idea of walkable housing with easy access to an abundance of amenities and entertainment. For more information, visit our website here to find a home that's right for you.

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Eight Storage Tips For Small Space Homes

As more millennials pack themselves into urban apartments & townhomes, the need to get creative with modest living spaces has become paramount. Even with limited square footage, there are plenty of design hacks to maximize the space you’ve got.

But as design experts will tell you, smart storage should be one of your biggest concerns as you furnish and accessorize a small space home like an apartment. From taking inventory of your belongings to tricking out the closets with organizers of every description, here’s a few tips to make use of your small storage spaces.

·       Take Stock Of Personal Belongings And Your Living Space - Before investing in new furniture, assess how much of your existing stuff you are going to keep. If you buy new items, let go of something old that will become redundant or useless. Then determine how much that purchase will impact your space requirements.

·       Look For Multi-Purpose Furniture - There’s no shortage of smart, space-saving furniture on the market to help maximize a room’s comfort and utility. Clever, ready-made items are good investments, as they improve functionality.  Stick with tried-and-true combinations like kitchen tables that double as desks, or an ottoman with storage space inside.

·       Maximize Closet Space - If your apartment has closets, be prepared to utilize them to the fullest. Install a “second tier” hanging rod inside the closet for items like pants or shorter sweaters. If your closet has high ceilings, take out the existing rod and move it further up to maximize space below. And, purchase an organization system, that can be moved when you do, to help sort and store every type of personal effect.

·       Shred Old Paperwork - Not every form, statement, and tax record needs to stay in your filing cabinet or kitchen drawer forever. Review your paperwork every month and purge yourself of old bank statements, pointless receipts, magazines you thought were interesting, junk mail that seemed vaguely relevant at the time and all those many other disposable documents that clutter up your kitchen or master suite. Shred any documents with key personal information to avoid identity theft when throwing out personal documents.

·       Pare Down Utensils  - You’ve accumulated several dozen kitchen utensils in your culinary career: can openers, corkscrews, pans and more. Pare down the collection and use drawer dividers to keep the remainder in order. Say “NO” to a million fun and frivolous coffee mugs and glasses. And, you likely don’t need to take grandma’s hand me down plates and cups when she downsizes unless you are willing to get rid of something else to accommodate them. Keep one or two mugs for every coffee or tea drinker, and donate the rest to Goodwill.

·       Think Vertically - Walls do a lot more than hold the ceiling up. You can add storage by hanging bicycles from the ceiling and installing shelves higher up along the perimeter of a room. In the kitchen, free up drawer and counter space by hanging pegboards for utensils and magnetic strips for knives.

·       When You Buy Something, Toss Out Something - In addition to ruthlessly pruning your belongings, keep an eye on how much you buy in the first place by always getting rid of something before you buy. You’ll save space and a lot of money using this process. 

·       Get Rid of Mystery Electronics - Admit it. You’ve got a drawer where black mystery cords, chargers, and oddball electronic bits go to die. Free that drawer up for better uses, or at least get rid of the ones you know for sure are “dead” or have become obsolete.

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Westland Park Townhomes: Fort Saskatchewan

Situated on the shores of the North Saskatchewan River, only 17km northeast of Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan has an idyllic country-style setting with a convenient location, plus all the amenities of a big city. Fort Saskatchewan’s combination of a great community, recreational facilities, education, business and career opportunities are just a few of the qualities that make this a great place to live. 

Several large industries operate plants here, including Dow Chemical, which has given back to the community by establishing the Dow Centennial Centre, a popular venue for concerts and performances. Having been established by the North West Mounted Police in 1875, the community of Fort Saskatchewan is steeped in rich history! 

Westland Park townhomes are located in the quite, secure neighborhood of Pineview. The home layout offers 3 levels of living space and includes 1 ½ bathrooms. Newly upgraded and freshly painted, we have suites that feature spacious living areas with beautiful luxurious carpeted floors throughout. The beautiful complex sits on 15 acres of beautifully landscaped lawns, stunning mature trees, and colorful flower beds.  

Whether you’re looking for a 2 or 3-bedroom home, you are sure to find a perfect match at Westland Park Townhomes by MHA Properties. Each home has three levels plus a generous private fenced yard patio, storage shed and one energized parking stall. With lots of amenities like schools and Sportsplex Arena close by it is perfect for you and your family. Sorry, no pets allowed!

Visit our website to request a viewing today!

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Great Tips For Decorating Your Home This Holiday

Christmas time is the mother of all decorating holidays -- you only need to venture outside to see giant red ornaments and bedecked trees everywhere.

Here are some gorgeous (and inexpensive!) ways to decorate your apartment, townhome or other home styles for the holidays. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, it's impossible not to be drawn into the wonderful giving spirit that December brings and the sense of seasonal happiness and goodwill that is felt everywhere.

* Use Color Wherever Possible - The best way to make a small room feel festive is to go big in color. Even if your home has a relatively natural color palette, adding a few vibrant red pieces will shock your design system in the best way possible.

* Display your holiday cards on the wall along with pops of greenery. Even if you don't have much floor space, chances are you still have lots of available wall space.

* Bring the Outdoors Indoors - Want to add warmth to your home without adjusting the thermostat? Consider using natural elements in your decor. Whether it’s pinecones or a branch you pick up during an afternoon stroll through the park or around the grounds of your community, bringing the outdoors inside is another great way to honor the season and create a warm ambiance without going over the top. And, that fresh pine smell is absolutely the best!

* Window Dressings - If you prefer to keep the holidays outside, start with the main windows. If you’re tight on space, decorating outdoors can be a good idea. You can use garland, swag lights, center a winter wreath or a holiday banner that spells out something festive. Hanging panel curtains outside the window pane with a solid holiday color like red, blue or green can also dress up space.

* Add a Small Tree - This might seem like the most obvious tip, but just having a tree or even decorating a moderately sized house plant can make a huge difference. Make an adventure of it by chopping a small one down on a farm (make sure you receive permission from the landowner or visit a local tree farm), or pick up an artificial tree if you prefer an eco-friendlier decor.

* Wrapped Presents - Some wrapped presents can also make your home feel festive. Display gifts on a shelf or under the tree with beautifully wrapped paper, bows and trimmings as an easy way to add color, pattern and decorations, rather than stuffing them in a closet until it’s time to gift give.

* Twinkle lights hung from the ceiling and around doorways are perfect when space is at a premium. Hang them on your walls or drape them on things you already have for a festive touch that takes up virtually no space. 

MHA Properties would like to wish you and your family all best wishes for a joyous holiday season and a very happy and prosperous new year!

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Discover The Tranquil Beauty Of Fort Saskatchewan

Westland Park complex sits on 15 acres of beautifully landscaped lawns, stunning mature trees, and colorful flower beds. Situated just steps away from North Saskatchewan River, residents of Westland Park in Fort Saskatchewan find that the location provides easy and convenient access to Highway 15.

A variety of restaurants can be found within 5 miles of these townhomes, including Subway, Boston pizza, Mucho Burrito, Domino’s Pizza and many more. Also, Buster’s Pizza & 7 Eleven are just across the street. Shopping is easy too, with Walmart, Canadian Tire, The home depot, Safeway, Doller Store and Cornerstone Shopping Center a short distance away.

Westland Park Townhomes offers spacious two and three bedroom options ranging from 962 to 1102 sq. ft. Each unit has three levels and private fenced yard. These three level units include full basement, 1.5 bathrooms, stove, fridge, washer, and dryer. Each townhome features updated carpeting, abundant kitchen cabinets, patio, storage shed and one energized parking stall. Decorative touches include modern lighting and soothing, neutral color schemes. 

There is ample outside parking for tenants and visiting guests. The on-site manager is available 24/7 to respond to emergency calls from tenants. Westland Park is, however, not a pet-friendly community. 

The spacious grounds are well maintained and have mature trees. These beautifully landscaped grounds offer tenants the opportunity to take a leisurely stroll, visit the playground or access a biking or walking trail. 

Currently, residents of these townhomes attend the Win Ferguson Elementary School through grade 6. Students in grades 7 through 9 attend Rudoplh Henning Junior High school, while grades 9 through 12 attend John Paul II High School. 

These are just a few of the many reasons why the beautiful townhomes at Westland Park are a great place to live. Give us a call at 780.998.3880 or visit : WestLand Park to find out more!

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Great Family Living Starts In An MHA Townhome Community

Looking for a great home to rent in Alberta? Check out our five popular townhome communities located across the province. These family focused neighborhoods are professionally developed, beautifully landscaped, secure communities that feature mature natural surroundings, walking paths, amenities like oversized parks and playgrounds and private management that ensures better safety and that your every care is quickly and efficiently addressed.

These homes are also located in established areas of their respective cities never more than a few steps from superb shopping, schools, entertainment, sports and recreation centers and public transit.

MHA Properties offers homes for every kind of household and lifestyle including family communities with amenities or sleek urban towers for those desiring chic downtown living.

The goal of MHA Properties is to provide our valued customers with a living experience that is nothing short of a love affair. This starts with clean, healthy, beautifully maintained living space featuring premium finishes and fixtures, lots of space, comfortably sized rooms and prompt efficient maintenance when required.

For more information on MHA Properties’ townhome communities or any of its other developments please visit our website at mhaproperties.ca.  

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