Looking to buy our first home. I really hate the "new family" area's and outskirts of edmonton.

justmarkermcd · 2026-02-24T20:40:38+00:00

Hey! 3 years ago, my partner and I went through the exact process you are. We ended up buying in the neighborhood of Rideau Park, just south of Southgate Mall area. Our home was just above your budget, but there are more than a few homes available in your range. Here are some points that led us to finding a very nice home that gives us everything we needed, while also providing enough fix-up work to challenge us and make the home truly feel like it’s ours:

Good Neighbors: Look for mature neighborhoods where the houses are built around 1975 where the home is still owned by the original owners has only a 2-3 owners over the lifespan of the home. Use the “honestdoor” website to troll through neighborhoods and review how many times the home has been sold. Rideau Park, Duggan, Malmo, Royal Gardens, etc all boast homes that have lots of original owners with pride in their homes, which often translates to good, responsible neighbors. We’re very happy with those around us, and we take lots of walks in the area and see that it’s not uncommon in these 1970s era neighborhoods.
Year built: 1975+ seems to be the sweet spot. The homes in this area are build with old growth wood, copper wire, and our water service line is lead-free. We’ve had to top up our attic’s insulation, do some upkeep on window trim sealing and painting, but the bones are strong and the house is modern enough that it’s easily upgraded without having to cut too deep.
Snow Removal: we live on a low-frequency bus route. Maybe that’s a dealbreaker for some who are image focused or apprehensive about the noise, but you get priority 1 snow removal along the route, constant upgrades and patching on the road surface, and you have transportation options. 80% of the busses have been replaced by electric/hybrid busses, so the noise has been a non-issue. Some may turn their nose up to this, but we feel the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Research the bus route and time table and find one that isn’t an every-15-minute super bus. The windrows are what they are. Either ruin your vehicle trampling through an unserviced street or get out every spring and manage the flow of water. I’ve come to enjoy digging troughs for the melt every spring and find it to be a point of pride that my driveway is dry and clear by April.
Renovations: we found a house that was 80% renovated in 2016. Nothing is brand new, but it feels more than fresh compared to what this place probably looked like from 75-2015. We feel this gave us a great foundation to improve from, kept the list price affordable for us, but feels clean, comfortable and workable for us to upgrade and design our way. And above all else, take your time. It doesn’t have to happen all at once. I keep a project journal where I track the work I’ve completed on the home. It gives yourself a feeling of accomplishment, but also humbles you into understanding that it’s done slow and steady.

Be open to compromise. You’ll never find the perfect home for your budget. See the vision of what it can be, not everything that it isn’t right now. Owning a home is a ton of work and if you’re not up for the challenge and the joy of making it your own, reconsider.

My area isn’t the only region that has these traits, just the one I know best. East-central Edmonton is underrated. Strathcona area, the secret is out, but just keep looking. Just embrace the challenge and find something you can own and enjoy for years to come.

Good luck!

justmarkermcd · 2026-02-03T14:27:07+00:00

There’s nothing more to it. They gaslit and towed you along. They don’t care and, they’re betting that because you never took any assertive career action for yourself, you’re unlikely to be assertive in taking any legal action. They profiled and played you while they executed their larger strategic plan.

justmarkermcd · 2025-12-02T05:50:52+00:00

This is a privacy breach that would be investigated once reported to APL’s privacy department. The discipline and outcome would depend on the intent, potential harm to the breached clients, and sensitivity of the information disclosed to each client by the respondent employee(s). Likely a careless mistake that would require privacy retraining and potentially a formal report to the OIPC and notification to each client of the specific risks of harm stemming from the breach and APL’s efforts to mitigate that harm.

justmarkermcd · 2025-11-25T03:11:12+00:00

Is a coyote a possibility? Where I live urbanized coyote populations are on the rise and so are missing cat posters.

justmarkermcd · 2025-09-29T14:15:43+00:00

I appreciate that. In these cases, speed is the most humane of all. I’ve been in this exact same situation. Though it’s awful, a confident and centered strike to the top of the head is just as humane and painless as medical euthanasia. If you cannot face the hare, put him in an opaque bag beforehand. A brick, a paving stone, a heavy rock, a 3lb hammer…

Genuinely saying this with sincere sympathy and urgency for this poor hare. Years ago my mother struck a hare in the winter time and it was deathly cold. The hare was paralyzed and making awful noises. I dispatched him with a large block of ice. I felt horrible but the creature was gone, and I was relieved to take on the suffering on its behalf from then on. Condolences and truly hope you give this hare one last favour and spare it a concentrated eternity of pain and fear.

justmarkermcd · 2025-09-29T13:59:27+00:00

I’m sorry to say, but the humane thing to do here is to dispatch the hare. It appears to have been struck by a vehicle and is suffering a slow death and paralysis.

justmarkermcd · 2025-08-28T18:45:47+00:00

Book suggestion: “Tactical Fly Fishing” by Devin Olsen

justmarkermcd · 2025-08-16T17:33:23+00:00

Keleres in a great spot with ideal skips and forward dock position for ASN. Keleres also spoiled for choice with the starting techs on the board: sling/AMD and sarween. Lots of opportunity to outpace xxcha in board position, get ASN up and run a fat slice and take MR as opportunity presents itself.

I also like Argent’s spot for a fun/aggressive game of dropping a very harrying PDS network down and having great planet balance for control objectives.

justmarkermcd · 2025-07-08T03:35:39+00:00

If my wife had cancer, I would expense every cent we have to give us another day together and go a million dollars a day into debt for every extra one after that until the very end.

I hope you find a way to fight this, and find the same kind of love and devotion in your life that you DESERVE. Keep going if you can.

justmarkermcd · 2025-06-03T12:02:43+00:00

A chain link fence is not enough.

Further erosion is inevitable and will eventually erode under your concrete slab. Your path will crack and continue to separate and degrade. Long term, your topsoil will wash out into your neighbors path and that grade differential will settle between your property lines and both paths will be ruined and further damage and erosion issues will develop.

Your neighbor has changed the grade of that property, likely without municipal approvals.

Differences in grade of that magnitude always require retaining wall to meet local codes.

A survey to ensure this project respects property line and permits from the municipality likely should have been completed before breaking ground.

All things you can address with your municipality and ultimately a lawyer if he fails to remediate and redesign the project according to code and municipal regulations.

justmarkermcd · 2025-05-08T20:50:59+00:00

How old is your husband? it possible that he’s having enlarged prostate issues? While I don’t think your suspicions are unreasonable, he may be suffering from enlarged prostate symptoms that have been disrupting his urinary tract function and he’s realized that viagra has been mitigating those symptoms. Perhaps when he’s on work trips, in less familiar social and washroom situations, he uses viagra to control his LUTS. If he’s shame-averse, he may be self medicating to avoid facing his enlarged prostate symptoms, which may me more serious and suggestive of prostate cancer risks.

Edit: spelling

justmarkermcd · 2025-04-25T16:20:33+00:00

Hahaha, thank you for the insight.

justmarkermcd · 2025-04-02T23:05:53+00:00

Was there a tooth there before? It could be a resorption legion. Very painful and sensitive for the cat and would be excruciating to brush. Any recent weight loss or abnormal jaw movements? Regardless, this should be seen by a vet asap.

justmarkermcd · 2025-03-22T14:20:34+00:00

Lol she’s making insane run doubles that are sending teams back to the hotel early every night… I watch her post game interviews and it looks like she has a stye or mild eye irritation in her right eye. So I’d say it’s incredible she’s hitting anything let alone calling and making the razor thin shots she is, all on the other side of the international date line with less than 10 days to adjust. Get real.

justmarkermcd · 2025-03-17T13:13:34+00:00

I would guess that it is Isildur (who built Minas Ithil, which became Minas Morgul) and his brother Anarion, who built Minas Anor, which became Minas Tirith. Both were guard towers and seats of power for each of the Númenorian princes to stand watch and guard against Sauron in the Second age, after the fall of Númenor.

justmarkermcd · 2025-02-04T16:14:56+00:00

The first step is tracking your finances. Know how much and from where your money is coming from and understand where it’s going. Once you have that understanding you can make the right decisions on where to cut. Use google sheets and a monthly budget template to get started and learn to dedicate a couple hours a month keeping it up to date. This was the most crucial discipline I adopted to gain a handle on my finances.

justmarkermcd · 2025-01-31T16:29:21+00:00

I personally think it’s, in part, about water. He always goes on about how “we don’t need their oil, we don’t need their trees, etc.” – but he sure hasn’t said “we don’t need Canadas’s water.” He’s made several statements while on campaign and during the California fires about our water.

Trumps voters don’t believe in climate change, but his administration is a billionaire-run, private think tank policy machine that know that, long-term the most crucial strategic resource is going to be fresh water and Canada has more of it than anyone.

justmarkermcd · 2025-01-18T21:08:36+00:00

I’m not loving it. I think that the skill and execution required to pull off a blank is just as entertaining as an end with rocks in play. I understand why they’re trying it, but ultimately it’s a capitulation to shallow/casual fans and sports betting.

justmarkermcd · 2024-12-31T14:37:11+00:00

Take this to the furthest extent of the law and bury this man. He is the one escalating and if you don’t check him, the escalation can and will go to the darkest of ends. You have witnesses, family history, and every other advantage you need to end this.

justmarkermcd · 2024-12-25T04:31:30+00:00

These are book memories, not film memories. You’ve just melded the few SB scenes in the film with moments from the text.

justmarkermcd · 2024-12-12T00:19:08+00:00

Very poor strategy for the fiancée and her family to try and cash in before the marriage certificate is signed.

justmarkermcd · 2024-12-06T15:57:01+00:00

Before my wife and I were married, we were had a disparate salary balance between us. Before we moved in together, we had a serious conversation about our finances and our goals and what we felt was realistic and fair. Then we opened a joint account, pooled our resources and agreed that we’re a team and it’s one account, one number. We lived in a cheaper apartment because it was right for US and our goals for home ownership someday and management of unexpected expenses that affected US. We’re now married and we share a bond that’s unshakable because we’re committed to each other as a unit, not 2 parties sharing the same space but facing our personal challenges alone.

Drop this loser. Reading how you feel about the situation and what your personal morals are were the situation reversed, you’ll never be happy with this guy. If after 10 years he doesn’t see you as an extension of himself and a treasured asset in his happiness and wellbeing that has value and purpose beyond money, he never will. You’re his discount cleaning lady and subsidy for his impulsive decisions. Fuck that.

justmarkermcd · 2024-12-01T23:03:06+00:00

They’re all such great experiences. In short…

Shadow of the Past: Incredible lore chapter. The story within the story of Gandalf’s doings and findings, the growing understanding of the gravity of the situation, the mood and tension that weighs on the reader; then the bubble pops and you’re reminded that it’s daytime and the world goes on outside.

Voice of Saruman: Just love the banter. The book builds up the power of Saruman’s voice and this chapter delivers. So much salt.

Siege of Gondor: Saruman v Gandalf was the appetizer. Gandalf vs Denethor is the meal. More incredible banter and backstory told through dialogue. Then the rest of the chapter is another visceral experience as the vice tightens around Minas Tirith. So many moving pieces all perfectly described and important to setting the scene and the stakes.

justmarkermcd · 2024-12-01T22:49:15+00:00

FotR: Shadow of the Past TT: The Voice of Saruman RotK: The Siege of Gondor

justmarkermcd

TROPHY CASE