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First Time Buyers
Buying your first home in Calgary is one of the most significant financial decisions you'll make. Saunders & Co. provides first-time buyers with the expert guidance, market knowledge, and personal support to navigate the process with confidence — at absolutely no cost to you.
Before you start viewing homes, you need a mortgage pre-approval from a Canadian lender or mortgage broker. Pre-approval tells you exactly how much you can borrow, locks in your interest rate for 90–120 days, and signals to sellers that you're a serious buyer. In Calgary's competitive market, offers without pre-approval are rarely accepted.
Make two lists: non-negotiables (specific school catchment, minimum bedrooms, garage) and nice-to-haves (finished basement, south-facing backyard). Understanding your priorities ensures you make decisive decisions when the right property appears — and avoid buying the wrong one out of frustration.
Community selection is as important as the home itself. In Calgary, your neighbourhood determines your children's schools, your commute time, your access to parks and amenities, and the long-term trajectory of your property value. Saunders & Co. will help you narrow communities to 2–3 that match your needs and budget.
Buyer representation in Alberta is at no cost to you — the seller pays both agents' commissions. There is no reason not to have your own expert advocate. Your agent provides market analysis, identifies value opportunities and red flags, writes competitive offers, and negotiates on your behalf throughout the process.
In Calgary's active market, well-priced homes often receive multiple offers. Your agent will analyze comparable sales, assess the competitive landscape, and help you structure an offer that wins without overpaying. The conditions, deposit amount, and closing timeline all factor into offer strength beyond just price.
Once your offer is accepted, you'll typically have 7–14 days to complete a professional home inspection, review any strata documents (for condos), and confirm your financing. Your Saunders & Co. agent will guide you through every step and help you navigate any issues that arise from the inspection.
The Canadian federal government offers several programs specifically designed to help first-time buyers enter the market. Understanding and leveraging these programs can meaningfully improve your purchasing power.
Contribute up to $8,000 per year (lifetime $40,000) and withdraw tax-free for your first home purchase. Contributions are also tax-deductible, making the FHSA one of the most powerful savings tools ever created for Canadian first-time buyers.
Withdraw up to $35,000 from your RRSP tax-free for a first home purchase. The funds must be repaid to your RRSP over 15 years. Couples can each access $35,000 for a combined $70,000.
A federal government shared equity program where CMHC contributes 5% (existing homes) or 10% (new builds) toward your down payment in exchange for a shared equity stake in the property. This reduces your monthly mortgage payments without increasing your down payment.
Alberta does not have a land transfer tax (unlike Ontario and B.C.), which saves first-time buyers thousands of dollars compared to buyers in those provinces.
For budgets of $350K–$650K, these Calgary communities offer the best combination of value, community infrastructure, and long-term appreciation potential.
From $280K
McKenzie Towne
From $350K
Legacy
From $280K
Walden
From $300K
Seton
From $300K
Shawnessy
From $320K
Somerset
Free Home Valuation
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Confidential · No obligation · No automated estimates