Our real estate marketing company is proud to announce the newest addition to our professional team – Mellisa Hollingsworth.

To be honest, we were a little intimidated by her at first. Mellisa, a 3x Olympian is one of the most decorated Skeleton athletes in the entire world. For those that don’t know what Skeleton racing is, it’s one of the fastest (winter or summer) Olympic sports in existence. Athletes explosively push their sleds before diving on and sliding facedown/headfirst down a frozen track to forces up to 5g, reaching speeds over 140 km/h! Mellisa is a Canadian Champion, an Overall World Cup Champion and when she nabbed the Olympic Bronze Medal in 2006 she become the first Canadian to win an Olympic medal in the sport of Skeleton. Her accolades read more like the list of accomplishments of ten athletes.

Of course, we got over our intimidation pretty quick, as Mellisa is one of the warmest people you could ever meet. Admirable is her true identifier, and we are honored to have her on the team. Today we take a look at why you will want our newest team member by your side when buying or selling a home in Central Alberta.

How Mellisa Hollingsworth Will Apply her Background and Credentials to Your Real Estate Needs

Unwavering Dedication

You don’t become an Olympic champion without applying a level of dedication that 99.9% of the global population could never match. Mellisa has taken her athletic drive and dedication and applied it to her latest craft – real estate marketing. Now a consummate professional in her field, she has been able to translate that dedication to her clients. With Mellisa going to bat for you in your home sale or purchase you gain unwavering commitment to the accomplishment of your goals.

Speed

The Dusty Smith team just got more efficient at selling your home by a g-force of 5. If you’re selling a property you don’t want to sit on it for too long, handcuffing your wealth when it could be better used in a new investment. Speed is in Mellisa’s nature, and she works efficiently towards the sale of your home.

Strength

It takes thick skin and vigor to not only catapult facedown on an icy track but to do so at a globally competitive level with the whole world watching. Imagine how this kind of strength will translate to negotiations (in your favor) for buying or selling your property!? As a seller, Mellisa’s inherent gift will work to sell your home at (or very near) your listing price. As a buyer, your opportunity to negotiate a price that suits your budget while getting additional concessions in the process multiplies exponentially.

Loyalty

Mellisa has represented her country with pride on the world stage for over 12 years. She was also born (Lacombe AB) and raised on a ranch right here in Central Alberta. She has had numerous opportunities come across her path to take her anywhere in the world she pleases but her allegiance remains where she is growing her exciting professional career. This commitment to her roots not only speaks to character, it speaks to the simple fact that Central Alberta is a great place to live. Allow Mellisa to help you build or maintain your own foundation in this Canadian paradise. Her loyalty to you will be unmatched by any other real estate firm in the region.

Humble

For all of her amazing accolades and attributes Mellisa is as down to earth as can be. She conveys the friendliness, warmth, and sense of community that this neck of the province is known for. When you have Mellisa at your side you not only gain an accomplished Realtor, you gain a friend.

Call the Dusty Smith Team at 403-347-0744 for inquiries regarding your home purchase/sale anytime or (click here).

Hot Property Communities in Central Alberta to Watch for in 2016

image: courtesy of Meridian Beach

Pay no mind to the media hype surrounding the Central Alberta economic impact on the real estate investment market. Exciting things are happening for 2016, with four burgeoning communities catching the eye of prospective homeowners and investors from near and far. While property developments continue, catching up with the demand, even more rousing is the overall growth of these communities. Whether your are considering a new place to live, or are looking to capitalize on this growth to maximize personal wealth and revenue streams, the following areas are hotbeds to watch for in the year ahead.

4 Communities You Should Consider for Your Next Home Purchase in Central Alberta

1. Gull Lake

This recent article (click here) regarding the reasons to buy a home in Gull Lake speak for themselves, but allow us to gush further about this trending Central Alberta community. Gull Lake is on fire, with new property developments such as Meridian Beach making headlines in major provincial media. Gull Lake developers are accommodating prospects looking for a home and vacation property investment alike. The Raymond Shores and Sandy Point developments are gaining feverous interest from those considering RV resort communities while luxury beckons from the country lakefront of Westlake Estates. Being the hub of outdoor recreation in Central Alberta has drawn a slew of complementary businesses and activity providers, ensuring continued growth and development of Gull Lake as one of the freshest resort communities in Canada.

2. Sylvan Lake

Before Gull Lake garnered national attention Sylvan Lake was the see all be all as the hottest resort community in the country. This quaint yet growing geographic hotspot isn’t slowing down anytime soon with 2016 projections looking monumental. Developments such as The Slopes of Sylvan Lake in particular are garnering attention from its use of expansive green space, eye-catching architecture, and energy efficiency. Buyers in neighboring metropolises are taking notice. A recent quote from developer Chris Artibello in the Calgary Herald sums it up in layman’s terms quite well:

“You can go up there for a weekend, it’s 90 minutes away. You are 10 minutes from two different boat launches and you’re five minutes from all the groceries and shopping, beach front and all that sort of stuff.”  (Calgary Herald, May 2015)

Amenities aside from “resort life” are accommodating residents more than ever as well, including new enhancements to the educational system (HJ Cody high school in particular) and medical services (including a new medical imaging centre in early 2016). From lakefront to rolling hills, a property to match your needs is situated in Sylvan Lake.

3. Blackfalds

Blackfalds is home to one of the newest and most exciting community developments in Central Alberta. New property developments (click here) along Arrowhead Close, Morris Court, and Paramount Crescent perfectly convey what new buyers can expect. As with the communities above (Gull Lake, Sylvan Lake) the municipality of Blackfalds too is making big strides to accommodating residents. One look at the 2016 Blackfalds budget (here) evidences that arriving and existing residents/visitors will enjoy new and/or enhanced parks, outdoor recreational facilities, historic site restorations, and roadway/trail improvements.

4. Red Deer & Lacombe County Acreages

Red Deer and Lacombe are staples in the Central Alberta buyers’ market. But this longstanding reputation doesn’t make the scene any less exciting. It is within the acreages that prospective builders, homeowners, and investors are striking gold. With each urban community (Red Deer and Lacombe) growing and becoming more densified, the outlying county areas are becoming hotbeds for home development. The expansive acreages, developing properties, and bungalows located along the regions’ highways and the likes of Range Road (click here) are attractive to those considering a multi-generational family home and lucrative for those seeking an investment property.

2016 is going to be a big year for buyers of Central Alberta homes. Contact the Dusty Smith Real Estate team anytime at 403-347-0744 and allow us to serve as your concierge to the flourishing communities detailed above.