7 Must-Know Facts About Infill Homes in Calgary
- January 31, 2022
- By Cody Battershill
What is there to know about infill homes in Calgary? Lots, to say the least, which is why some real estate agents (like us) have created entire guides for inner city infills to help buyers along the way in their next transaction.
Regardless of what type of home you’re looking to purchase, it’s always a good idea to do ample research on the segment you’re interested in. After all, doing your due diligence when making a move in the real estate market is in your best interests no matter what anyone says.
With all that in mind, here are several facts you should know about infill homes in Calgary (and infill homes in general) that should be of interest to you. Also see:
#1 - Infills are typically always in high demand
Calgary infill homes are always in high demand. There’s only a limited amount of real estate to go around in the inner city, and only so many old construction properties are available for redevelopment at any given time.
Many developers are also keen to build new condo and townhome projects. Some inner city communities have the appropriate zoning to allow for these types of developments, resulting in even more competition between themselves and infill builders and/or buyers.
High demand in a specific segment is always a good thing for homeowners when the time comes to sell (if it ever does). But then and again, many infill residents tend to stay for the long term because of the countless benefits an inner city lifestyle brings.
#2 – Infills come in all shapes, sizes and prices
One of the reasons why infill homes in Calgary are so appealing for buyers is the fact that many are fully customized from the ground up. Unless an infill home builder chooses to build the same builds in different communities (this does happen), it’s not often where you’ll see two infills with the same features inside and out.
Given their highly custom nature, this provides potential infill buyers with a full spectrum of choices. The uniqueness of infill exteriors often extends inwards to the interior, making every home showing as exciting as the last.
Most infills are high-end in nature as well, leading to the inclusion of custom features such as sauna showers, hot tubs, wine closets, theatre rooms and others of the sort. Custom elements like these can tickle the fancy of nearly any prospective buyer and make one infill stand out from the rest when shopping around.
Also, different types of infills such as attached and detached styles provide buyers with many options (often attached infills are more affordable than their detached counterparts, for obvious reasons). Meanwhile, some infills are built with legal suites in the basement, offering the homeowners a means of a secondary source of income.
With such a huge variety to choose from, we always recommend prospective infill buyers to take their time and shop around as much as possible before signing on any dotted line.
#3 - Architectural guidelines are different
Architectural design guidelines provide a design framework for home builders to ensure their product harmonizes with the surroundings while demonstrating a high standard of quality.
Older inner city communities in Calgary do not adhere to the same architectural guidelines you’ll see set forth by developers in suburban neighbourhoods. You may see two newly constructed infill homes in Hillhurst, for example, with completely different architectural designs.
This opportunity along with the demand for new inner city homes are two main reasons why custom home builders are snatching up as many inner city lots as possible. Redevelopment allows them to create a totally custom product that appeals to a wide range of potential buyers.
#4 – Infill construction can boost community appeal
Infill home construction can sometimes increase the average value of homes in a given community. In many instances, they may even raise the average selling price of comparable real estate in the area.
These new homes also boost curb appeal and brighten up streetscapes with fresh paint and stylish design. And, in many instances, buyers of these types of properties are urban families looking to live, work and play near the city centre.
Communities like Altadore, West Hillhurst and Bridgeland, for example, are well known for their family-friendly atmospheres, where neighbours all know each other and the kids are friends too. What’s not to like about that?
#5 – Infill homes cost more than suburban counterparts
I think it’s a given that buying an infill home in Calgary will cost you more than purchasing a comparable home in a suburban community.
Typically, infill homebuilders can charge anywhere from $225 to $400 per square foot for an infill home depending on its features and specifications.
With that cost comes several pros including quick-and-easy access to the city centre, proximity to amenities, ample access to schools and public transportation to name a few.
#6 – Infills are safer for you and better for the environment
Choosing to buy an infill home is in a sense better for the environment as it doesn’t require any additional land development. This allows Calgary to grow without expanding its borders – a good thing if you know how long it takes to drive from one end of the city to the other.
According to some sources, infill construction also has shown to improve regional air quality and results in fewer vehicle-related accidents as people rely less on cars for transportation.
Additionally, the right kind of infill project can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making them a healthy and climate-friendly development all around.
#7 – Power power power lines
This is one fact about infill homes you should get used to. Not many people like to discuss it, but you should be aware that because of the age of inner city communities in Calgary, most have power lines which are strung up on posts along back alleys.
There’s not much you can do about those power lines either. But hey, at least they are almost always in the back alley and don’t obstruct frontal yards and views.
Some backstreets have had the power lines adapted to be put into the ground, but this isn’t always the case and costs a lot of money to do.
Ask an Inner City Expert
Are you planning on a move to an inner city community? If so, you'll want only the best service and advice from an expert real estate agent, one who knows infill homes inside and out.
If you don't have a real estate agent in mind to help you with your transaction, be sure to check out our complete Calgary REALTOR® Interview Guide to help you with that process. Our guide will help point you towards finding the right real estate agent for the job.
These questions should combine with online research on a neighbourhood expert and client testimonials when making a final decision on what agent you will use! The best of luck!
Questions about Infill Homes in Calgary?
As highly experienced inner city real estate specialists and REALTORS® in Calgary, we guarantee to provide you with the best services and advice while making sure you have all the information needed to make the best decisions.
Call us anytime at 403-370-4180 or send a message below for a quick response. We are looking forward to helping you accomplish your real estate plans!