Best bets in Calgary for the new homebuyers

New homebuyers are the lifeblood of the homebuilding industry, and right now the emphasis is on “new” as Alberta’s strengthening economy continues to attract not only the local, first-time homebuyers, but those who are new to the city.

Whether it’s a buyer from Calgary going into the market for the first time, or someone new to the city and wanting to buy a new home to settle in, there are ample opportunities around.

“We are getting a lot of buyers from B.C. and Ontario who are finding that buying a home here is a lot more affordable,” says Trico Homes’ Ali Tahir.

“Affordability is one of the largest factors. We have seen first time buyers and newcomers to Canada choose Calgary since they are priced out of some markets such as the Vancouver and Toronto areas. We have also seen many people upsizing their homes from those same areas since they can afford a larger home in Calgary for a much lower cost.”
Ryan Doherty of Pen Lake Ventures, which has been developing multi-family homes in the inner city, says he isn’t surprised that Calgary is being noticed by new homebuyers from other provinces, only why it has taken this long.
“Calgary is urban, entrepreneurial, innovative, outdoorsy, fresh, and vibrant. It has a very attractive lifestyle and new homes here are a lot more affordable, and it’s starting to catch on through eyes and minds of those outside looking in,” he tells Calgary New Home + Condo Guide.

Zoey Ledingham of StreetSide Developments agrees. “We are consistently ranked as one of the top cities in the world to live in and new homes remain affordable, what’s not to like?”

While Stuart Wen of Rohit Group of Companies in Calgary says the strong economy and new employment opportunities with higher salaries – such as in new sectors like energy, tech, and even filmmaking - tend to attract a lot of attention. “The lower cost of home ownership here is also a major factor.”

There are plenty of opportunities to own a first home in Calgary, and Calgary Home + Condo Guide is here to “guide” the reader in their search for their dream home.

The benefits of buying new

Buying a new home will always be the best option, especially for first-time homebuyers.

“A new home is covered by a 10-year limited warranty that is not available with a resale home. You also don’t have to immediately renovate if you don’t like the previous owner’s style,” says Rohit’s Wen. Rohit’s line of multi-family and single-family homes are popular with first-time home buyers.

“If you’re new to the city or country, I recommend looking for a home builder that makes the purchase process easy. What I mean by that is one that takes the stress out of buying the home. Having to make decisions about location, model, picking your finishes, buying appliances and window coverings, and worrying about landscaping can be overwhelming. The more turnkey the better. If you need a home quickly, then look for a quick possession home as all the headaches and decision-making for selections are done.”

Rohit has made a name for itself for exactly those reasons. Their line of apartment condos, townhomes, duplex, laned, and front-drive garage homes are about as turnkey as anyone can get with their designer-curated interiors.

“First-time buyers appreciate the lower cost of homeownership in Calgary, the purposeful designs that we offer and designer interiors. Ontario buyers are particularly attracted to Heartland and Sunset Ridge in Cochrane for their proximity to the mountains, the short commute to the city and the small-town charm.”

Rohit has a ton of offerings in and around the city, including new condos and townhomes in Dean’s Landing at University District, and Quesnay at Currie. Find out more at rohitcommunities.com.

Getting the home you want in Calgary

Trico’s Tahir, the area manager in the northeast community of Homestead, says buyers from other provinces, for the most part, can get the home they want in Calgary.

“Here in Homestead, we get two types of buyers from other provinces like B.C. and Ontario. We get first-time homebuyers who find that they can actually get out of renting and buy their own home here, and then there are the buyers who are able to sell their former home and afford to buy a bigger, move-up home here with the proceeds.”
But whether you’re new to Calgary or were born here, if you’re a first-time homebuyer, it is best to go with a new-built home. He points out that buyers may need to make a more sizeable investment when buying an older home just to ensure that they are getting the same level of efficiency, security and peace of mind that a new home can instantly give.

“A new home can be personalized from the start, so you know you’re getting a home that suits your life’s needs in the first place,” he says. “There are less compromises needed in a new home since you can pick a model and customization options to make it work for you. Trico does all the hard work for you.”

He says that at Trico Homes, buyers get exactly what they want, maybe even more, as the builder offers plenty of options to modify homes to fit particular lifestyles. “We can include a main floor bedroom with a full bath, a spice kitchen or a secondary suite for additional income.

Your home can be personalized to fit your family’s needs.”

In Homestead, Trico offers both laned and front-drive garage homes starting from the mid $500,000s. Tahir says sales have just started for the latest phase of the community, and demand is already very strong. Find out more at tricohomes.com.

Setting roots in a community of choice

Buying a new home means you get to live in a relatively young community, many already equipped with the amenities that one needs for a work-life balanced lifestyle.

StreetSide Developments is one of Calgary’s most recognizable townhome developers and they not only offer buyers a home and a style they want at a price they can afford, but a community they would love to set roots in.

Ledingham says that first-time homebuyers, especially those new to the city, can benefit from StreetSide’s online concierge program. “Our online sales concierge can direct buyers to a community that suits their needs where one of our trusted sales professionals can introduce them to their dream home.”

StreetSide Developments has townhomes in all quadrants of the city, but their offerings in the Springbank community of Harmony just west of Calgary fits all demographics from first-timers to downsizers. And buyers will find here a recreationally minded, active lifestyle with scenic views and quick access to the mountains and Calgary’s downtown. It checks a lot of boxes that homebuyers are looking for.

“StreetSide’s premium townhomes are Harmony’s entry point homes offering a rare lifestyle with lake access, a PGA rated golf course, and the soon to come Nordik Spa located in the future village centre,” she points out.

“We’re located just outside of Calgary offering a reprieve at the end of your day and easy access out to the mountains on the weekends, with Kananaskis country less than half an hour away or just one quick hour to Banff! We’re a vibrant community featuring events you won’t find in Calgary such as the Ironman and Airshow. Plus our community has access to some of the best schools in Calgary including the sports academy Edge High School. It’s no wonder we’ve been rated Calgary’s best community of the year five times running!”

StreetSide has two townhome developments here. Harmony Peaks offers maintenance-free townhomes from the $500,000s, while Harmony Park are luxury,no-condo-fee townhomes from the $600,000s. Go to streetsidecalgary.com for more.