It’s called the jewel-box of homes, something quaint with a fairy tale quality about it. The laned home has always had this appeal, with its big windows, sometimes even a veranda or a front porch, it carries a more striking street profile, and builders today are designing it to offer more versatility than ever before.

The laned homes – or homes with rear lane access – used to be the preferred starter home for first-time homebuyers, but today they have also become favourites of move-up buyers. And now, there are more models available to suit their needs.

Excel Homes Senior Marketing Manager, Kristina Plank, says they are introducing lots of exciting new designs for their line of laned homes coming out this year. “The biggest trend is SPACE. Families are looking for more space to live, entertain, and grow into. We have several new models that are bigger, with more room, and more living space, so everyone in the family has a spot to call their own,” she tells NextHome.

Morrison Homes says their laned home floorplans have become incredibly flexible lately. “For example, in models like the Nixon or the Arista, you can actually add a fourth bedroom upstairs. It’s perfect if you have a larger family or need space for guests. We also have plenty of designs that let you tuck in a den or a flex room on the main floor, which is a lifesaver if you work from home,” says Morrison Homes Marketing Manager, Max Conrad.

Aleaha Cole, Shane Homes Area Manager in the new community of Esker Park in the northwest, says the versatility of their laned home designs gives homeowners plenty of options.

“We offer plans with main floor bedrooms and full bathrooms, as well as side entrances and 1 or 2-bedroom legal basement suites. These features give homeowners more flexibility for multi-generational living, guests, or investment opportunities,” she says.

Why buy a laned home

A laned home has no shared walls, so less chance for noise transfer. A duplex still shares at least one wall, while a townhome usually shares two. There is more privacy and you own the land giving you more control without having to answer to a condo board. And no condo fees. Finally, they are usually more affordable than a front-drive home.

“A laned home sits in a middle ground between a larger detached home and a multi-family option like a townhome or duplex,” says Excel Homes’ Plank. “The main appeal is that you get many of the benefits of a detached home – privacy, ownership control, yard space, etc. – at a lower price point than a traditional front-drive detached house.”

“Since the garage is tucked away in the back, the front of the house gets to be the star,” adds Conrad of Morrison Homes. “You get that classic, welcoming look with big windows and a full front porch rather than a massive garage door taking up all the space. It really changes the vibe of the whole street.”

He adds that laned homes also get a much more functional outdoor setup. “There’s usually a nice private backyard or courtyard tucked between the house and where the garage goes, which is hard to find in multi-family setups. Plus, because it isn’t a townhouse, you generally don’t have to deal with strict condo boards. You have a lot more freedom to handle your own landscaping and really make the place yours.”

Cole says that laned homes in Esker Park give buyers the chance to own a detached home on a traditional lot, which she points out is becoming harder to find in Calgary. “Because the homes sit on their own homesites, buyers have more flexibility to personalize their home with options like added square footage, oversized detached garages, and extra windows for more natural light. They offer the privacy and space of detached living while still being a more affordable single-family option.”

Excel Homes

Excel Homes offers laned homes across nine communities in Airdrie, Calgary and Chestermere, with laned homes in Calgary starting from the high $500s, while those in Airdrie are from the low $500s.

Their 1,800-square-foot Berkeley is quickly becoming a fan favourite, Plank says. “It has a lot of space for you and your family to grow into.”

The home features a bright, open-concept main floor that seamlessly combines the great room, nook, and large kitchen. The open concept planbrings an abundance of natural light, she adds. There is also a main floor flex room towards the rear of the home that offers privacy for an office, or it can be turned into a main floor bedroom with a full bathroom for versatility. Upstairs features 3 bedrooms, plus a bonus room and laundry room for convenience.

“We have a brand-new Berkley show home in Princeton that is now open, as well as one in Rangeview Springs in the southeast.”

Excel also has a brand new laned home that was just released this spring, called The Harper. It features over 1,861 square-feet of living space, including 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. It is a balanced, family friendly laned home designed with bright, functional living spaces in mind. The main floor welcomes you with a versatile flex room off the foyer, ideal for a home office or an upgrade to a main floor bedroom. Upstairs, the second level offers comfort and connection with a central bonus room, convenient laundry space, spacious primary retreat (featuring a walk in closet and private ensuite) and two additional bedrooms.

Providing even more flexibility, the lower level can be developed into a complete basement or secondary suite with extra bedrooms for growing families, extended family living, or rental opportunities. New show homes coming this fall in Homestead (Calgary) and Bridgeport (Chestermere), stay tuned for details at excelhomes.ca.

Morrison Homes

Morrison Homes is celebrating their 65th anniversary this year, and one of the ways they are marking this milestone is by introducing a new laned home model: The Nova.

“The Nova is one of our newest models, and it’s been a huge hit because of how much it packs into 1,360 square feet,” Conrad says. “It really proves you don’t need a massive footprint to have a home that feels open and airy.”

What makes it special is the layout. It features a rear kitchen that acts as the heart of the main floor, naturally separating the dining area and the great room. This creates distinct living zones while keeping the whole space connected and bright. It’s an incredibly efficient design that feels way more spacious than the numbers on paper suggest.

Morrison Homes has laned showhomes in Wolf Willow, Sirocco and Liberty in south Calgary, and in Glacier Ridge, Rockland Park, and Cornerstone in the north. “As of May 2026, our laned homes generally start in the low $500s (including lot and GST), with the Nova starting in the $490s before GST,” Conrad says. Find out more at morrisonhomes.ca.

Shane Homes

Shane Homes is seeing a mix of downsizers and move-up buyers gravitating towards their laned homes, as it fits their lifestyle, Cole says.

“A big part of our process is getting to know our clients and understanding how they’ll actually use the space, whether that’s extra garage room for a workshop, storage for bikes and tools, or flexible space for family and guests,” she adds. “Buyers really appreciate being able to personalize their home around those needs.”

Shane Homes is the developer and sole builder in the young northwest community of Esker Park and their laned homes here have been a solid hit.

“The response to the laned homes in Esker Park has been very positive,” Cole says. “Buyers are really drawn to the opportunity to build a detached home on a traditional homesite with the ability to personalize it to fit their needs. The flexibility of the homes and garage options has been a major feature people are excited about.”

Laned homes in Esker Park are starting in the $620s, offering buyers the opportunity to own a detached home on a  traditional homesite with flexibility to personalize their home, she adds.

Shane Homes offers their line of laned homes in most of the communities they build in, with showhomes throughout Calgary, including communities in the SE, NW, and NE, as well as in Airdrie and Chestermere. Go to shanehomes.com for more.