5 Calgary neighbourhoods great for first-time buyers
Calgary is the city you think of when you hear “Alberta”. It’s a place where urban sophistication meets rugged natural beauty, known for diverse neighborhoods and proximity to Jasper and Banff National Parks in the Rocky Mountains. Calgary blends western heritage with modern living, offering a dynamic mix of outdoor adventure and cultural experiences from the iconic Calgary Stampede to tranquil riverside pathways. As with most major Canadian cities, prices have been trending upwards, but there are still neighbourhoods for budget-conscious homebuyers.
Bridgeland-Riverside
Sitting on the north side of the Bow River, this neighbourhood is a popular area, often described as having a village feel right in the city. You’ll find a wide range of amenities and family-owned businesses nearby, like quirky neighborhood shops selling hard-to-find magazines, vinyl, gourmet foods and gifts. Cherry Tree Lane Toys is an especially popular spot for anyone with kids. Popular restaurants include Blue Star Diner on 1st Ave and OEB Breakfast Co., just around the corner. There are grocery stores like the Real Superstore south of the river but if you want to stay local, definitely check out Bridgeland Market, a combination coffee shop, bakery, grocery and deli.
One of the best parts of the neighbourhood is its park access. Tom Campbell’s Hill Natural Park provides hiking trails, an off-leash dog park and routes to the TELUS Spark Science Centre, while nearby islands in the Bow River have walking paths and the Calgary Zoo. Overall, walkers and bikers will appreciate Bridgeland-Riverside’s connection to the city’s 1,000 km regional pathway system. And while it’s easy to drive the rest of the time, there are several bus routes running through the neighbourhood.
For those interested in relocating, this neighbourhood has a mix of single-family, townhouses and condos, so there’s something for everyone. Check out the current listings and keep an eye on the market trends.
Sunalta
Another first-time buyer friendly neighbourhood along the Bow River is Sunalta, one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city. Just west of downtown, it’s a vibrant area with accessible amenities and tons of green space. Perfect for art lovers, residents have easy access to a number of performing arts venues and art galleries, including West Village Theatre, The Pumphouse Theatre and Contemporary Calgary. Close to the cafés, boutiques, bars and restaurants of 17th Ave, residents also have easy access to the Beltline and Kensington Village. For daily needs, Calgary Co-op Midtown Food Centre is nearby with a pharmacy and wellness centre, and a little further east is the Safeway Beltline grocery store.
Residents may want a car to get around the rest of the city, but Sunalta itself has good public transportation links with buses and the light rail. There are also lots of bikeways and footpaths throughout the neighbourhood, especially if you like walks along the river. To the northwest of the neighbourhood is a large green space with hiking trails, such as the Quarry Road and Douglas Fir trails, as well as the Shaganappi Point Golf Course, which locals say has some of the best views of downtown Calgary. Just down the river sits Cowboys Park, where during the summer you can skateboard, ride your BMX bike on an outdoor circuit, play beach volleyball and enjoy food trucks and live music.
If you want to live in Sunalta, there are a wide variety of homes available, ranging from small condos all the way to single family homes. Check out the new listings for the neighbourhood and keep an eye on market trends to get the best price when you’re ready to buy.
Taradale
Taradale sits in Calgary’s north-east corner. Though more suburban in character, its affordable home prices and easy access to downtown make it a popular neighbourhood for professionals, families and first-time buyers. It’s a newer neighbourhood with a lot of green space, walking paths, sports fields, playgrounds and picnic areas—all great if you’re sporty and love the outdoors. The west edge of Bear Park peeks into the neighbourhood as well, a popular spot for paved hikes or walks with your dog. If you’re more the indoors type, the Genesis Centre has a skate park, library, a YMCA, an indoor pool, soccer fields, basketball and badminton courts. Unsurprisingly, it’s a popular area for growing families, and there are more than a dozen schools nearby, including one with French immersion.
You will need a car for daily activities, but there is a light rail stop in the northwest corner of the neighbourhood that runs directly downtown and a reliable bus system that can take you from the Genesis Centre to Bear Park every six minutes. When it comes to nearby shopping and dining, you’ll find a number of quick and affordable options, like Shoppers Drug Mart, A&W, Tim Hortons and Subway.
Taradale is a fairly new neighbourhood with development starting in the late 1980s, but you’ll find a blend of apartments, townhouses and single family homes. There are listings all over the neighbourhood, and often several near water features. Take a look at the latest listings to see what’s available, and keep track of the local market trends.
Panorama Hills
Another more suburban neighbourhood with lots of green spaces and good transportation links is Panorama Hills. Located north of the city right by Stoney Trail and Tsuut’ina Trail/Highway 201, it also has easy access to Calgary International Airport if you’re a frequent traveler. Development began in the 2000s, so there are many planned parks and green spaces, including Hidden Valley Park, which overlooks Nose Creek. Farther down the road sits Nose Hill Park, one of Calgary’s largest urban parks, which has hiking trails, biking paths, and amazing views.
Panorama Hills Village features its own retail hub with essential services and stores, including a Save-On-Foods grocery store and several dining options like Tamarind East Indian Restaurant and Golden Jade Palace Seafood and Dim Sum Restaurant. In the nearby Country Hills Town Centre and Harvest Hills Crossing you’ll find everything from Starbucks to Home Depot to a Landmark Cinema movie theatre. And while you’ll likely need a car for day-to-day transportation, there are bus system connections concentrated in the southern part of the neighbourhood to get you to other parts of the city.
Panorama Hills has homes available across the neighbourhood and the surrounding area, with options ranging from condos to single family homes. Check out our listings and see how the market is trending.
East Village
East of downtown, tucked on the banks of the Bow River, you’ll find East Village. Once an industrial area, this neighborhood has been updated into a modern community. Living here means being close to nearly everything downtown Calgary has to offer and an endless list of things to see and do. The National Music Centre and the Calgary Central Library are two of the most important landmarks in the area, plus East Village shares its north-west border with Chinatown and on its eastern edge you’ll find Fort Calgary, a historic site and park where the city’s first settlement was established. These days it’s an event space that hosts everything from workshops to movie screenings. If you’re a cyclist, you’ll love the Calgary RiverWalk, a promenade along the Bow River with wide pathways, public art and seating areas to sit, relax and take in the view. Sports fans will enjoy easy access to the Saddledome and if you’re a Calgary Stampede fan, bring your cowboy hat, as the venue is nearby as well. If you’re a foodie, remember to visit the Simmons Building for its artisanal bread at Sidewalk Citizen Bakery and coffee at Phil and Sebastian. Head further into downtown to access the CORE Shopping Centre, an indoor mall with high-end retailers, department stores and local boutiques. This area also boasts Glenbow Museum, the Calgary Tower and the Arts Commons performance centre. For day-to-day needs, The Real Superstore in the north of the neighbourhood carries all the essentials. Overall, East Village is a great spot if you’re not a driver, with the C-train, buses, biking and walking paths all easily accessible.
This is a popular area so supply can be limited, but there’s more availability the closer you get to downtown. While it’s mostly a condo neighbourhood, anyone looking for convenience and urban living, should check out the listings and get familiar with the market trends.
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