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The Sarasota Team

Why Cobalt Beach?

By NEW
4 Cobalt Beach Front Exterior3 WEB

If you follow us on our social media (@sarasota.homes) you have probably seen us mention our Cobalt Beach Townhomes. Well guess what, our original 4 showhomes are SOLD and our brand new showhomes will be ready to tour through next month!! And today we’re here to share more information about them, and why they should be at the top of your list if you’re considering to move, or even looking for an investment opportunity!

Located right off of St. Albert Trail, you can be in direct walking distance to Canadian Brewhouse’s rooftop patio, Landmark Cinemas, Empire Salon, Oxygen Fitness, Save-on-Foods, and more!! And not only that, but you will also get exclusive access to Jensen Lakes beach club and amenities.

Jensen Lakes is St. Albert’s very first beach community. Enjoy Jensen Lakes throughout the year with four-season activities, 5.0 km of pathways connecting you to three naturalized ponds, the beach, and two different schools all in one community. The community beach club will offer a variety of free and paid community events/programs such as yoga, karate, summer camps, swim lessons, and also the availability to be rented out for you to host your events in! (birthdays, meetings, etc.)

BUT the real deal is… at Cobalt Beach, you get to enjoy all of this while you live completely maintenance-free. Enjoy this beautiful community and everything it has to offer without having to worry about shoveling your driveway in the morning, or mowing your lawn in the warmer months. You can live the urban fast-paced lifestyle, while also being able to walk down to the beach and unwind and relax on the weekend. This is definitely the best of both worlds.

Our units have a variety of floor plans available ranging from 1250-1800 square feet, with options for double cars or single car attached garages. The floor plans offer homes with 2 to 4 bedrooms, stylized bathrooms, and even den options to suit your home office or guest lounge needs. Personalize your home with 4 stylish designer packages available to choose from, or have the ability to customize your options if desired. You can check out our designer packages below!

If you’re not looking to move, but all of this sounds like a great investment opportunity, you’re right!! We get so many inquires of individuals looking to rent a unit out, and the demand is definitely high. With mortgage rates being at record lows, you do not want to regret missing out on this opportunity! Own for as little as $663 bi-weekly (that’s cheaper than rent!)

Contact us at 780-460-5996 to book an appointment to view the units. We can’t wait to show you all the perks of Cobalt Beach.

The Power of Investment Properties

By NEW

Investing in Your Home is The BEST Investment You Can Make!

If 2020 has taught us anything – it’s the importance of adapting to navigate through our ever-changing world! One way that we are seeing more and more people adapt in the real estate world is by investing in an income property.

This could be developing a legal basement suite in your own home, or having a separate home as a rental property (our Cobalt Beach townhomes are perfect for this!). Interest rates are at an all-time low right now (we’ve seen them as low as 1.53%) which makes now an incredible time to purchase a home! The additional income from a rental makes housing affordable for first-time homebuyers or as a great investment opportunity.

Let’s crunch some numbers…

We have a single-family home, 146 Joyal Way in Jensen Lakes, with a full legal basement suite (complete with separate entrance!) listed at $674,900. It’s right across the street from the lake, 2 schools, trails, and exceptional amenities including a movie theatre… the location is unbeatable! But what’s even more exceptional than the location is the COST of living there with a basement suite. Let’s take a look:

We call this set up the “mortgage helper!” If you were to purchase this home with the minimum 5% down, at an interest rate of 1.7% over 25 years… your monthly mortgage payment would be $2624.90. To a first time home buyer, this may seem intimidating, BUT with the full basement suite rented out at $1500 per month, that leaves just $1124.90 per month from your own pocket! It would be challenging to even find a condo to rent at that price, which means you could potentially collect even more rent per month! PLUS you are having someone pay down a wicked amount of equity for you!  And if you really wanted to “get crazy,” you could still save that monthly amount you would pay without the rental suite, and set it aside to pay down your mortgage a little faster! Who wants to live debt-free? We all do!

What a great investment! This is why we always try to educate our clients on the power of a rental property… it’s an amazing way to get ahead, especially when you take the time to actually work through the numbers. Having a rental property is way more beneficial than many people think!

If you would like to view either this home at 146 Joyal Way or our Cobalt Beach townhomes for yourself, visit us Monday – Thursday from 3-7PM and Saturdays + Sundays from 12-5PM or call us at 780-460-5996 to schedule a private showing.

2021 Colour Trends | Benjamin Moore

By NEW

2021 Colour of the Year: Aegean Teal

Our pals at Benjamin Moore named their 2021 colour trends last week – and we are so excited about them! We’ve started to see vibes of their colour of the year, Aegean Teal 2136-40, come through already in some of our custom client homes!

Jewel tones make magnificent accent colours to pop throughout the house – but when they’re muted + earthy like this, you can use them as more of a neutral (full rooms, cabinets, etc.) They feel warm and tranquil rather than bold and overpowering. We’ve included some of our favourite inspirational spaces using these tones – we’re so excited to see more big colours like this! And if anyone has tuned into Netflix’s latest binge series, Dream Home Makeover, by Studio McGee – you’re probably feeling extra excited to try your hand at a renovation this winter.

The other colours listed in the Benjamin Moore trend palette follow the same vibe – warm + earthy. We’re particularly fond of Silhoutte, Kingsport Gray, Foggy morning + Rosy Peach! They have a really cool colour picker on their site where you can see each of these shades used in a room. Check it out here! 

We’re looking forward to all the design updates the new year will bring… we’re seeing a return to more natural woods + textures, warmer colours, and even more mixed metals!

*All inspiration photos shared from pinterest.ca 

Watch the full video on the 2021 Colour Trends by Benjamin Moore below!

Showhome Spotlight: 146 + 148 Joyal Way

By NEW

Have you ever wished that you lived on a beach? Or do you prefer more of the urban lifestyle while being walking distance from the grocery store, restaurants, etc… What if I told you that you can have both?! Welcome to St. Albert’s very first beach community! Conveniently located right off St. Albert trail, Jensen Lakes offers both an exclusive beach club with opportunities including your own personal dock, boat rental, tennis courts, and more. All while you have a movie theatre, restaurants, and grocery stores located near enough for you to walk to! Talk about the best of both worlds! We are here to deliver the spotlight on 2 of our showhomes located in Jensen Lakes being 146 & 148 Joyal Way. Check them out below!

The Layton: 148 Joyal Way

The Layton is one to impress you with its timeless elegance. After entering the house, your eyes will be in awe as you’re brought to the home’s open concept plan and open to above ceilings. Paired with our white walls and grand living space, a white textured stone fireplace followings the windows from the floor all the way up to the ceiling. You notice the gold hardware in the kitchen, paired beautifully with the clean white quartz countertops and taupe coloured kitchen cabinets. The sink also delivers with a front apron style, topped with a beautiful gold accented faucet. The storage in the mudroom and pantry leaves you with endless possibilities, while you transition from the white hexagon tiles to oak hardwood in the kitchen. You picture yourself in the upstairs bonus room, reading a book while watching the yellow and orange hues from the sunset pour into the home from its many windows. You then make your way into the master bedroom, and imagine soaking in the ensuites free-standing soaker tub and entering the large  walk in closet to start and end your day. Two additional bedrooms both with their own walk in closets, a second floor laundry, and a basement made with it’s own custom bar seals the deal on this being your new forever home. Come visit if you’re ready to fall in love.

 

At Sarasota Homes, our Design Team strives to create the home that perfectly matches your lifestyle. Call today – your dream home awaits.

The Sandkey: 146 Joyal Way

The Sandkey exhibits nature’s beauty as you walk into an open-to-above foyer. Notice  your eyes flow from the floor all the way up to the ceiling, watching a custom wooden feature grow tall against the wall while blooming with greenery. Walking into the kitchen, your fingertips will trace the quartz countertop paired with contrasting grey cabinets and black hardware. Your feet will walk over our vinyl plank flooring into a great room that is being poured in with natural light. As you make your way upstairs, feel your toes sink into the plush moonbeam carpet while you come across two bedrooms, a second floor laundry, and a tucked away master bedroom and ensuite with double floating vanities. The basement will have you thinking of its bedroom, full kitchen, full bath, and separate entrance for a long time after your visit. Come check it out for yourself to believe it.

 

Written by Zeenat Dhami

Most Requested Sarasota Finds

By NEW

This blog post is here to deliver! You asked, and we answered! Our design and staging team do a flawless job when building and staging our homes, which is why we are here to share some of our most requested items with you. The following items listed received lots of love and inquiries, so we have listed the items and the company where they were brought from for you guys to enjoy. Happy shopping!

 

Staging Finds:

Some of our favourite shops to hunt for perfect staging pieces are Urban Barn, Wayfair, and St.Albert’s very own local Simone and Ivy just to name a few! If you are in the market of listing your home, reach out to our team because we offer free staging to all of our listers! Contact us and let us transform your space into one of our showhomes for the real estate market!

Lighting Finds:

Lighting is a feature that can really make or break a room. If you’re tired of seeing your 80’s brass chandelier and want to revamp your space, take a look at our top favourites below! Light fixtures are a great way to add an accent in the room without touching the walls, or spending a large chunk of money on new furniture. Give it a try!

Paint Finds:

Whether you’re thinking or repainting a bedroom, office, or your whole house… Check out our popular paints below! ‘OC-25’ is one of the best off-whites to give a room or home that white look without the starching cold white feeling. ‘Silver fox’ is a great paint choice if you do not want the room to be white or matching the rest of your house, but also do not want to steer too much into the colour wheel. Whereas ‘Old Navy’ does a great job of adding that accent pop that livens up a space!

 

Written by Zeenat Dhami

Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2020: Classic Blue

By Cobalt Beach | Jensen Lakes, Designer, Interior Design and Decor, Jensen Lakes, NEW, Sarasota Homes, Sarasota Realty, Showhomes | Jensen Lakes

Have you ever wanted to add a pop of colour to your space but are stuck on which one? Pantone has been announcing their Colour of the Year for over 20 years now. Influencing fashion, homes, décor, and design, the Colour of the Year for 2020 is their “Classic Blue”. Providing peace, trust, and tranquility to the space, the “Classic Blue” can be incorporated in multiple ways into your home this year!

Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, a blue hue will provide a sense of peace to you and your loved ones amongst the morning chaos! Check out the picture above, showcasing one of our Cobalt Homes (which is now listed and up for grabs!) with its blue storage cabinets and overall serene feel.  Having the kitchen island provide a pop of blue will help bring some energy into the space without it feeling too overwhelming. This can be incorporated through the islands backing or the bar stools.

As seen in one of our popular showhomes “The Layton” in Jensen Lakes, the large tufted blue ottoman centered in the room brings a vibrant yet elegant feel into the space. This is a great way to make a focal point! A custom blue sofa is also a great way to incorporate some blue into the living room as a different option while making your space feel unique as well. Whether you use this room to relax and spend some quality time with your loved ones, or to binge watch your favourite Netflix series… blue is the right colour for you!

A couple of other options could be to add a blue/navy accent wall into one of your bedrooms. An accent wall is a great designer tip (as it does a great job of making it seem like you really know what you’re doing!) And it gets to be a lot easier to coordinate the rest of the room around it with more minimal décor/accent touches.

And there you have it! Whether it’s for your kitchen, living room, or bedroom… blue is the new black; It can be incorporated in a variety of ways within your desired space. If you wish to save yourself the stress that comes with a new house or trying to make your current listed house look like a showhome, Sarasota Realty will provide free staging if you list with us! Contact us at 780-460-5996 for more info.

 

Written by Zeenat Dhami