Whether it’s a downtown tower, an inner-city mid-rise or a lifestyle-connected four-storey condo in the suburbs, single-level apartment style living offers a rich, fulfilling option for new home buyers. And they are the hottest in Calgary’s new home market these days, with more opportunities rising all over the city.

Apartment condos have always been thought of as a perfect first-time homebuyer opportunity, but they can also be a comfortable nest for seniors, retirees, and empty nesters. And more families are getting into condos these days, as well.

Condos, are after all, are the most affordable new home option in any market. But there is more to their appeal across so many demographics than just affordability.

Why buy a condo

Affordability, maintenance-free, lock-and-leave lifestyle, and a generally centralized location for most apartment condo developments are the most compelling reasons to get into one.

“Apartment condos are a great place to start your homeownership journey, invest, or right-size due to the ease of maintenance, consolidation of bills/payments, and the A+ locations that Logel Homes builds in,” says Reilly LePage, Sales & Marketing Director at Logel Homes. Their newest offerings include Waterside in Mahogany and Seton West both in the booming corner of the southeast.

“An apartment condo is the perfect stepping stone into homeownership,” says Luc Withell, Area Sales Manager for Partners Development Group. “It allows you to build equity while learning the ins and outs of owning a property, all at a lower entry cost compared to detached homes.”

Partners offers the Lawrie Park condo development in Okotoks, and their new The Vintage condos in Upper Greenwich promises upscale multi-family living in the northwest.

Mike Selinger, Cardel HomesRegional President, Alberta, says apartment condos not only offers affordability and a maintenance-free lifestyle, but they also create communities in themselves with the amenities they offer.

“Many condos offer shared amenities that can enhance your lifestyle without the added cost and effort of maintaining them yourself,” Selinger says. “Condos also often provide enhanced security features, including secured parking and building access, offering peace of mind to residents.”

Most of today’s condos also have accessible locations close to public transportation, shopping, dining, and entertainment options. “This can be a significant advantage for those who prefer a vibrant, walkable lifestyle without the price tag of a more urban downtown location,” Selinger says. Certainly, their new Metro One development in Silverton in the southwest will have all that and more.

Condo living

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when deciding to buy an apartment condo. First, is they usually always come with condo fees. Second, smaller living spaces and shared walls can take a bit of getting used to, especially for downsizers who are accustomed to living in larger single-family homes.

Cardel’s Selinger says it’s common for prospective buyers to feel apprehensive about condo fees which are sometimes seen as an additional burden. “While condo fees might initially seem daunting, they are an integral part of ensuring a high-quality, convenient, and secure living environment. By understanding the purpose and benefits of these fees, prospective buyers can feel more confident in their decision to embrace the condo lifestyle.”

LePage agrees. “Essentially, the benefit is a consolidation of expenses that you’d be paying when renting or owning a single-family home. The upside is that a professional management company is there to negotiate on your behalf for all condo contribution inclusions, there is bargaining power in volume, not so when you’re a single homeowner in a detached home.”

What can affect condo fees is the maintenance of extra amenities, Withell says. “Although amenities like pools and large gyms are attractive, they have higher maintenance costs associated with them. A Lawrie Park we’ve opted for smart outdoor features such as a community garden, basketball area, and walking paths—all of which add value but don’t require high ongoing maintenance costs.”

To address concerns, Selinger notes a few things.

• Transparency: Prospective buyers will receive a condo disclosure package that includes a detailed breakdown of what the condo fees cover. Understanding exactly where the money goes can provide reassurance and highlight the value received in return.
• Financial Health: Reviewing the financial health of the condo association, including the reserve fund and any outstanding debts, can offer insights into how well the community is managed and whether the fees are being used effectively.
• Comparative Analysis: Comparing condo fees with the costs of maintaining a single-family home can reveal that the fees often cover a wide range of services that would otherwise be out-of-pocket expenses.

Calgary’s latest

Cardel Homes, Logel Homes and Partners are some of the most renowned condo developers in the city. They all have the reputation in building not only the most affordable but stylishly functional multi-family complexes in town. Their past developments have retained their resale value and stood the test of time, and their latest offerings bring more opportunities to new homebuyers than ever before.

Cardel Homes

Cardel Homes introduces its ambitious multi-family development in the southwest, Metro One in Silverton.

Selinger says Metro One will have all the aspects of what drives the Cardel brand: the project’s unique Silverton location, exceptional product design, the proven Cardel quality standard, a focus on healthy living, the right price position, and a memorable customer experience.

“Metro One is the first condo development by Cardel Homes within the master planned community of Silverton where Cardel is both the developer and builder,” he says. Metro One has 4 buildings and are 4 storey wood frame. Each building has been distinctly designed with Cardel’s own modern vintage architecture and total 304 units. “We will continue with the Metro Series of Cardel Homes condos with an additional 8 sites in Silverton totalling over 1,500 units.”

Interior styles have been curated by Cardel’s award-winning design team, Selinger says, bringing the best of their North American experience to Cardel’s fresh new take on new condo living. “Metro One also has a brand pillar dedicated to Healthy Living that will include benefits for homeowners relating to Comfort, Quiet and Security. This will be demonstrated through features such as energy efficiency, air quality and reducing VOCs in materials used.”

Metro One will offer seven floor plans that range from 554 sq. ft. to 1060 sq. Ft. They will consist of one bedroom, one bedroom + den, two bedroom and two-bedroom corner suites. Prices start from the $300,000s. Sales will launch early this fall. Find out more at cardelhomes.com.

Logel Homes

Logel Homes is one of the most awarded muti-family developers in the city, and it’s easy to see why. Under the leadership of new president, Brayden Logel, the developer is aiming for more, with several current developments across the city, and in Canmore.

Their latest is Waterside at Mahogany, the first condo development in this popular lakeside community in the southeast in ages. Its popularity stems from its location just steps away from the bustling Mahogany Village Market and Auburn Station Shopping centre. Easy access to the 64-acre Mahogany Lake, the biggest in Calgary, is the cherry on top.

But the in-house amenities are just as plentiful. “We’ll have a beautifully appointed interior courtyard with gas fire pits, a separate bocce court, and nearly all plans have large extended balconies. These are some of the best elevations we’ve done. Plus, homeowners will have full access to the lake and Mahogany’s HOA facilities.”

Waterside at Mahogany will have 639 units across eight 8 buildings. There are 21 floorplans from 472 to 1,298 sq. ft. “Some plans are larger than your traditional bungalow,” LePage says.

Logel also just launched Altitude, the latest condo development by the multi-award-winning developer in Canmore.

Located in Three Sisters Mountain Village, Altitude brings top quality, affordable multi-family living options in the scenic town at the foot of the Rockies.

It’s a major development featuring 24 townhomes with double garage parking, 215 condos in four buildings, with 14 floorplans and heated underground parking. The 6.8-acre lot is surrounded on two side by an environmental reserve and is adjacent to a municipal reserve and playground. For more about Logel Homes’ developments, go to logelhomes.com.

Partners Development Group

Partners has a hit on their hands at Lawrie Park condos in Okotoks and they aim to follow up the success with the release of Vintage in Upper Greenwich.

Lawrie Park is the perfect way to enter the housing market in Okotoks. The development consists of four condo buildings, each four storeys, with 52 units in each building (208 units in all). It is in the growing community of Wedderburn in Okotoks’ north end which presents scenic views of the nearby Rockies.

Withell, an Okotoks resident himself, says the tranquil nature of the surroundings is unbeatable and coupled with their affordable pricing, Lawrie Park is a very enticing choice.

“The best thing is access,” Withell says. “We have brand new amenities within walking distance like shopping, Starbucks, restaurants, and more. We are also on the north side of Okotoks so heading to Calgary for work or play is super quick. A small town feel combined with gorgeous mountain views from our buildings, you would be hard pressed to get a better value.”

Lawrie Park will have four, 4-storey buildings all with beautiful exterior designs and popular, varied layouts for each buyer’s needs and taste. Units range from 526 – 1,128 square-feet with either one- or two-bedrooms. Prices start from the mid $200,000s.

The Vintage will be comprised of 270 residences distributed across four elegant five-story buildings. The buildings are wood-frame construction with a concrete topper between floors to enhance soundproofing and minimize noise transfer.

“The development is designed to offer a balance between privacy, community, and accessibility, with easy access to nearby shops, shopping, the canal, Bowness Park and walking paths,” Withell says. Prices are from the $300,000s. More information at partnershomes.ca