Calgary is a wonderful city full of excellent opportunities for employment, entertainment, recreation and lifestyle.  With a current population of approximately 1.5 Million people, there is no question that Calgary is growing quickly!

Following the Covid pandemic, inbound migration to Alberta began to rise significantly, with 2022 and 2023 showing incredible growth and interprovincial migration.  With home prices relatively more affordable in comparison to most of Canada, Calgary has become a top destination for individuals and families looking for new opportunities.  

Calgary offers endless opportunities for entertainment and lifestyle – however the 2023 real estate boom has raised concerns about still being able to find an affordable home.  In reality, there are plenty of great options within Calgary (and surrounding areas) for almost anyone.  But the overall market conditions can vary quite drastically depending on your individual goals and needs for a home.  

While this is too much information to cover on this page, if you simply email us to request our 3 Free Reports, one report is 100% focused on how to navigate the current (quite competitive) real estate market.  The report breaks down current factors and market conditions for various types of properties and also (this is very important!) different price points within the market.  

While lower priced homes are definitely quite competitive, there is a turning point in the market right now where there are some incredible opportunities to buy amazing homes without nearly as much competition!  At your convenience, just send us a quick email and we’ll send you some helpful information.

Airdrie is a beautiful city located only a few minutes North of Calgary’s city limits.  With a current population of approximately 80,000 people, it is considered to be one of the best bedroom communities around.  Airdrie offers all of the conveniences of Calgary, while continuing to provide an excellent feeling of a smaller city and a more tightly knit community.  

While Airdrie used to offer some significant pricing advantages over Calgary, recent migration from Ontario and BC have definitely offset some of those opportunities – and prices have climbed significantly.  Regardless, Airdrie still offers a noticeably different living experience than that of the big city of Calgary and it’s a beautiful, safe place to call home!

On a nice day without any significant snow or icy conditions, the drive from Airdrie to downtown Calgary is less than 30 minutes.  Interestingly, this makes it a quicker drive than it would be from many communities in Calgary!  With plenty of green space and walking paths, Airdrie is definitely a great option to consider!

Cochrane, Alberta is a small city located a short drive from the Northwest corner of Calgary.  While the drive to downtown Calgary is slightly further than Airdrie (approximately 35-40 minutes) this city offers a unique environment all its own.  With a slightly closer proximity to the mountains, Cochrane has a small town city feel that you really need to experience yourself to truly understand!

With a current population of approximately 35,000 people you can have the convenience of being close to Calgary while living in a noticeably different lifestyle a little bit closer to the mountains.  Cochrane has a great variety of restaurants and social opportunities – and has house pricing often quite comparable to Calgary and Airdrie.

Okotoks, Alberta is located about 15 minutes South of Calgary – easily accessible from the main highway.  Similar to Cochrane (but VERY unique in its own ways!) – Okotoks currently has a population of approximately 35,000 people.  

Okotoks is a very popular bedroom community for those looking to work in Calgary but live in a smaller town.  With close proximity to several different recreational areas within the mountains, Okotoks has a beautiful, small town feel while also offering all of the conveniences of the big city.  

Pricing in Okotoks can vary quite a bit depending on the details of the home (same as with anywhere else) but it offers a nice mix of older, classic designed homes and newer modern construction – all within a unique setting.  Our thoughts on Okotoks are similar to Cochrane – you really need to go visit to feel the environment yourself!

Strathmore, Alberta offers some very different options and opportunities than those available in Airdrie, Cochrane or Okotoks.  With a slightly further drive (approximately 30 minutes straight East of Calgary), Strathmore has some excellent homes available at a noticeably lower price than Calgary.

While many communities within Calgary currently have fairly average condition homes selling for over $600,000 – last year we were viewing some gorgeous homes in Strathmore (with TRIPLE GARAGES and HUGE YARDS) for very similar prices!

In today’s work environment, with so many people working from home offices or only coming into the office a fraction of the time – the option to buy a bigger house with a better yard (just a little bit further from town) can really have some benefits!  

Additionally, with the recent completion of the Calgary Ring Road (formally named Stoney Trail) – anyone coming into Calgary from Strathmore has easy, convenient access to any part of Calgary.  

One key advantage and potential opportunity with Strathmore (and certainly with the other 5 towns mentioned in our report) is that properties are more likely to stay on the market just a little bit longer with less competition.  In many situations that provides the opportunity to negotiate on price, but EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT – gives you the option of including a home inspection condition and financing condition with your offer. 

* This information is covered in much more detail within our 3 Free Reports and it is highly recommended that you read this information in detail.  Please just send us a quick email to request this information and it will further prepare you for the Calgary and area real estate market in 2024.