Posted on: 15-07-14 09:07:12
Hello,
I am from Pune, India and will be coming to Calgary in next month on work visa with my wife and 15 months daughter. Duration will be around 18 months to 2 yrs and will work in SE Calgary.
I have lived in Toronto for 1 and half year before.
I am looking for some information regarding areas/locations to find apartments with some basic requirements:
-1 BHK
-Close transit access
-Safety
-Preferably Indians living around and nearby indian grocery store.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Anil
Quote:
Originally posted by anil_bisen
Hello,
I am from Pune, India and will be coming to Calgary in next month on work visa with my wife and 15 months daughter. Duration will be around 18 months to 2 yrs and will work in SE Calgary.
I have lived in Toronto for 1 and half year before.
I am looking for some information regarding areas/locations to find apartments with some basic requirements:
-1 BHK
-Close transit access
-Safety
-Preferably Indians living around and nearby indian grocery store.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Anil
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It becomes difficult to locate a good place without a budget or giving us a few parameters to use.
There are One BR Apartment for rent for a sum of $540 and goes as high as $900 so the median rental of $750 will be an excellent choice.
Here in Canada One BR will always have a Hall and a Kitchen and also a Living Room. Some have a Bath and a Half. So, for $750 you can expect to get into one with a Bath Attached and a Half close to the entry.
You may have to make use of a Cab for your first Grocery run, unless you get your own basket with wheels. On any other occasion, you can use the buses or the local transport for small items. A montly pass is a must if you are commuting daily. But do get to learn to drive and get a license.
At the low end rentals, you will see all of the people you are looking for, including Bangladeshis, Sinhalese, Fijis and Malays. Check the mail boxes for the names and details at the entrance or the foyer. You have been here before, for 18 months.
Just in case you get stuck with the lease for the first year and did not like it, please tell the super that you might get a transfer and will give him sufficient notice prior to getting out or breaking the lease. See if he will agree to it before you sign it.
Currently all the big grocery chains carry Indian spices and veggies. It is an improvement over the previous years. If it is just for a single item, pay what they ask for instead of making a special run to the specialty stores.
The cost of rentals have gone through the roof in Calgary. So, if you find the 1BR Apt. for $750 grab it, even if you have to walk a short distance to get to the local transportation. Also, contact the employer for suggestions.
FH.
Quote:
Originally posted by anil_bisen
Hello,
I am from Pune, India and will be coming to Calgary in next month on work visa with my wife and 15 months daughter. Duration will be around 18 months to 2 yrs and will work in SE Calgary.
I have lived in Toronto for 1 and half year before.
I am looking for some information regarding areas/locations to find apartments with some basic requirements:
-1 BHK
-Close transit access
-Safety
-Preferably Indians living around and nearby indian grocery store.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Anil
You should first contact the company that is sponsoring you to help with your move here. Since you are coming for a short period, you may need to consider a furnished place instead of purchasing all the items and discarding later unless you have other long term plans. In my company, it is common for people to come from India on assignments for 1 to 2 years and this is what they all do.
Winters in Calgary are brutal. Unless you are planning to have a vehicle, it is better to stay near transit access. SE Calgary is relatively large area. Without knowing the exact location of your work, it would be difficult to suggest any areas. Apartments near Chinook mall, apartments around Sommerset area and also the down town areas are some popular destinations that I see people stay. I think in Calgary, anything less than $1000.00 for a 1 bed room unfurnished apartment is hard to find. If you need any further information, let me know.
Good luck and All the best.
Take a look at rentfaster site for rentals in Calgary:
http://www.rentfaster.ca/calgary.php
Use the ZipCode of work and from there using google map figure out the commute time and transit availability. Calgary has a good transit system specially C-Train, NE is the Indian area but there is no direct C-Train from NE to SE. You will have to come to downtown, as gktauras said take a location near somerset or chinook both are good.
For crime in the localities, check:
http://crimemap.calgarypolice.ca/
If you are not sure, I would say take a basement accommodation initially and from there on you can visit and go for apartment. Usually apartments have lease of 6-12 months, the rents quoted are for 12 month lease. For 6 months it is $50 additional, there is a building in downtown on the C-Train route were lots of Indians live.
I would suggest that stay in DownTown, if your wife is not working then atleast she can go to the indoor garden in TD mall in winters.
I have lived in DownTown and can vouch there is hardly any crime, but then again I was back home by 7-8pm even on weekends.
DownTown snow is cleared daily but as you move away snow clearance is not good.
For urgent Indian groceries, there is a Indian grocer in 123, 10th Ave SW. Though bit expensive for urgent needs he is handy.
Thanks Full house, gktaurus and Crish. This will help.
My work location zip code is T2H 1K4. I am trying to understand Calgary transit system. Based on my experience in Toronto, I know that finding apartment at right location is most apartment. Rest everything falls in place once you start living there.
I will further explore Downtown, Chinook and Somerset areas.
Thanks for help guys.
Look for accommodation in:
a) Fairview
b) Kingsland
c) Acadia
All are near to your work, the transit time will be around 15-20 mins. But be ready to shell around $1200 for 1 BHK.
