Every city strives to be a place that people can call home. Even with rising market costs making home ownership increasingly difficult, Calgary remains a city that lets you set down roots and watch them grow.
In 2025, Calgary experienced a surplus of new and resale properties that helped balance market conditions. The increased supply of homes for sale took pressure off home prices, levelling the playing field for buyers, and strengthening Calgary’s reputation as a place where home ownership is relatively attainable.
“We’re in a market where there’s still very strong demand for all product types,” says Ann-Marie Lurie, chief economist at the Calgary Real Estate Board. She points to how people in Calgary consistently buy homes, year after year despite market fluctuations, and the availability of lower-cost properties as being one of Calgary’s biggest assets.
“I think where Calgary differs, especially compared to some cities, is that we’re still relatively affordable,” she says.
Reductions in government regulations also help drive business across industries, which is projected to improve Calgary’s economic prospects for the rest of 2026. That, along with falling mortgage rates and policies like The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy, which aims to increase housing supply and affordability until 2030, are helping keep home ownership a viable option.
“A lot of what we are seeing in policy is trying to encourage a shift towards new home ownership,” Lurie says. “We’ve seen that happen here before because [Calgary] can build at levels that are far more affordable than some of the other centres.”
Here are some key factors that local builders and developers are considering to keep buying a home attractive and affordable.
Location, location, location
As Calgary continues to grow up and out, accessibility to amenities and the location of services are more important than ever. Reilly LePage, director of sales and marketing at Logel Homes, explains the appeal of well-situated, high-demand areas that the market considers “A” locations.
“Home buyers are looking for something within walking distance [to amenities and services] to really sync up the condo lifestyle with walkability,” he says.
For condo builders like Logel Homes, an “A” location lowers demand for indoor amenities like gyms and common lounges, making built-in services less necessary. This can be seen in communities like Sage Hill Walk and Meridian Seton that are close to shopping centres, recreation facilities and restaurants.
“It means that we don’t have to put a lot of amenities like pools and gyms in our buildings,” LePage explains. “The reason why we do this is [to keep] condo fees reasonable. All of those amenities sound great on paper, but nobody uses them; you just pay for them.”
Instead, in some developments, Logel Homes focuses on exterior building design and surrounding areas like bocce courts, outdoor kitchens and barbecue areas. These features can set condo developments apart (though they aren’t included in every development).
Connection and access
Calgary is a car-centric city. So it’s no surprise that many Calgarians look for communities with access to major commuter roads or public transit, or want to live close to their workplaces.
There’s also a noticeable uptick in homebuyers seeking communities with proximity to services, nature and gathering spaces. Taza Development Corporation‘s residential developments are near Buffalo Run, its community hub for retail, restaurants and recreation.
“Taza’s current focus is on creating complete, connected experiences through Taza Park and Buffalo Run, where homes, services, retail, dining and gathering places are designed to work together in a way that supports everyday life,” says Maureen Henderson, vice president of Taza Development Corporation.
Another way developers address community connectivity is through the concept of a garden-to-table community. In Calgary’s deep southeast, Rangeview incorporates urban agriculture into the neighbourhood with community gardens, orchards and greenhouses. These provide locally grown food, encourage conversations around food accessibility and, most importantly, offer a way for neighbours to meet, gather and interact organically.
“New garden-to-table communities really give opportunities to people who are like-minded to meet and connect,” says Terra Davidson, sales manager for Baywest Homes, a builder in Rangeview.
Long-term living
Many homebuyers want flexibility and features that support long-term living. Long-term living looks beyond starter homes, instead shifting to “forever” homes where buyers can set down roots in a home that will adapt to changing lifestyles and work needs. Changing demographics, including the rise in remote work, the aging of the population and younger people staying in their family home longer are driving the need for long-term living adaptations in new communities.
Those demands can be met through thoughtful and flexible home design. Taza Development Corporation aims to address the changing needs of Calgarians in its residential developments in Tsuut’ina Nation, off the city’s west side.
“Modern communities need to support a broader range of daily activities than they did even a decade ago,” says James Robertson, president of Taza Development Corporation. “Flexible layouts, improved connectivity and adaptable spaces allow homeowners to use rooms differently as their needs change.”
Similarly, Trico Homes is working towards including more aging-in-place options like bungalows in communities like Creekview, Ambleridge and Heartwood, as well as including main-floor bedroom and full-bathroom options in all of its two-storey properties.
“What we started doing is making sure that all our floor plans have a main-floor bedroom option for the aging population, so that they’re in a position where they can still purchase a two-storey,” says director of sales for Trico Homes, Carmen De Luca. This gives homebuyers the option to purchase a longer-term home at a more affordable price point.
For downsizers, condo and apartment living continues to meet long-term living needs. These multi-family housing options are often suitable for aging in place, with single-floor layouts, elevators, underground parking and walkability to amenities and services. And smaller square footage means less maintenance.
Condo builders are also required to address accessibility in new builds, with accessible bathrooms and widened doorways that accommodate mobility challenges. Builders like Logel Homes will also oblige additional requests, providing wheel-in showers and safety features like grab bars.
Sustainability
Sustainability speaks to both environmental responsibility and long-term value for homeowners. Buyers are increasingly interested in cost-reducing, energy-efficient features, but they still want all the comforts of home and a closeness to nature.
In turn, developers are incorporating spaces like wetlands, environmental reserves and storm ponds that manage runoff into existing ecosystems to respect and maintain natural environments.
“Sustainability is closely connected to the concept of stewardship of the land,” Robertson says. “The goal is to create communities where people can live comfortably while respecting the landscape. Taza wants to design places where residents feel connected to each other, the landscape and the cultural history of the land.”
When it comes to home design, sustainability also means energy-conscious features and services. At Logel Homes, buyers may find energy-return ventilation systems and hydronic base-floor heating, which ensure energy efficiency in all new builds. Logel also has high-end, energy-efficient packages like stainless steel
appliances and wall-mounted fireplaces.
Some builders, like Trico Homes, offer solar and EV charging for electric vehicles. Trico also partners with smart-home technology companies to provide home-automation features like window and door sensors for added efficiency and safety.
Multi-generational families
Calgarians continue to embrace multi-generational living, a reflection of shifting lifestyle choices, cultural preferences and a need for affordability.
Homebuyer demands are becoming more complex, with multi-generational buyers looking for accommodations with multiple bathrooms, dual entrances, multi-functional living spaces and accessible features for safety and mobility.
“When you add in multi-generational living and different life stages, it’s very important that we create housing choices that reflect the diversity of the population,” says Robertson.
For instance, Taza offers a range of villas, townhomes and condos in Taza Park so homebuyers have the opportunity to enter the market through different housing options to suit different families.
Trico also offers multi-generational buyers an opportunity to enter different segments of the housing market. Choice is the major “want” for home buyers, especially when it comes to accommodating affordability and additions like secondary suites.
“Adding a secondary suite to the basement allows a homeowner to qualify for more on a mortgage, and we’re seeing a lot of people really lean into that,” says De Luca. “Buyers like the opportunity for that extra investment piece in their home.”
Baywest Homes considers room count important, adding more bonus rooms and flexible spaces to new builds. Most new Baywest homes also have side-door entry, so home buyers can add a legal suite later on.
Ultimately, homebuyers want to future-proof their purchases, so adaptability and sustainability are top of mind. Even with rising prices, Calgary buyers can still enter the market and benefit from the city’s strong housing market value. The long-term trajectory of home ownership in Calgary remains a tried-and-true investment.
Fast Facts
According to a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation spring 2026 survey
Calgary has had four consecutive years of record housing starts (single-detached, semi-detached and rows), surpassing Toronto for the first time in 2025, thanks to a strong economy and record migration.
Calgary ranks second in the country in rental and missing-middle housing development. “Missing middle” refers to gentle- to-medium-density housing like accessory suites, multiplexes, row homes, stacked townhouses and low-rise apartments, which are often under-represented in new housing supply.
