Calgary New Home Buyer Tips & Advice

Buying a home is an achievable dream for most Canadians, and easily one of the most important financial decisions in any lifetime. There are several variables to consider before becoming a homeowner, including your lifestyle, your financial situation and your family’s needs. While points can be made on both sides of the renting vs buying debate, a few key advantages to buying a home instead of renting are outlined below.

You’re investing in your own future

The most obvious advantage in owning is that paying a mortgage instead of paying rent means you’re investing in your own stability while building financial flexibility. If their home increases in value, homeowners earn money on that appreciation when they choose to sell. A well-maintained home is one of the safest and best long-term investments you can make.

You can make your new home truly yours

It’s true – your home really is your castle. Owning a home means you’re truly in charge, so you can put your personal stamp on its features and finishes. As an added benefit, many improvements and upgrades can add to your home’s value, increasing your equity even further.

You’re building stability

A home is much more than four walls and a roof over your head; it’s a place where you can truly feel like you’re creating a stable base for your family. Consider the bigger picture; after you’ve paid off your mortgage, you can redirect money to savings, investments and ultimately, into retirement, while creating an enduring, secure place to enjoy the good life.

Start by thinking about ‘how much’ home you’re going to require, and how you’d like to live within it. If you love entertaining, consider a floorplan where the kitchen, dining, living and outdoor spaces are connected. If children are part of your future, you’ll want to plan on kids’ bedrooms and play spaces. How large of a yard would you like? Do you want an attached garage? It’s important to envision how you’re going to live, before you can decide where you’ll live, and balance that with how much you can afford.

Baywest show homes are the best place to begin your search – talk to our friendly team about your budget and wish list, then tour our homes to find the layout you love.

The sales team you’ll meet at Baywest’s show homes are real estate experts, so it’s not essential to bring a REALTOR® to help with your home purchase. Our team is happy welcome you for a tour, and will work with you one-on-one through the entire process of choosing, financing and personalizing your new Baywest home. Their skill and dedication to ensuring our homeowners have an exciting, easy and satisfying experience is the reason we are proud Avid Benchmark Award winners for Customer Experience.

Prefer to work with a real estate agent? We love REALTORS® and you are welcome to bring yours with you on your first show home visit. Together, we’ll bring your new home to life.

Choosing the right community is an essential part of buying any new home. Are there amenities like groceries, restaurants and essential services nearby? If school-age children are part of your family, look for appropriate schools in the vicinity as well as parks, playgrounds and greenspaces. Consider whether you’ll be leaving home for work every day; can you make the commute in a reasonable amount of time? Try to picture what life will look like in a neighborhood, then choose the one that offers you all the benefits you want outside your door.

Baywest builds in many of Calgary’s best communities, so you’re starting your search in the right place.

From start to finish, every aspect of your Baywest home is carefully considered and designed to be livable, personal and expertly crafted. We’ll work closely with you each step of the way to make sure every detail ¬– from your floorplan to your lighting fixtures – is just the way you envisioned it.

Learn more about the Baywest difference, including our collaborative Concierge Interior Design Service.

A variety of factors go into determining how much you can afford to spend on your new home; annual income, your available down payment, existing debt you’re carrying, and of course, your credit score. In addition to a mortgage you should factor in monthly living expenses, utilities and property taxes to ensure you’re painting an accurate picture of what you’ll be spending.

Use the helpful Mortgage Calculator on this page, or connect with our team today – we’re happy to explain the steps to securing financing for your new home.

Start by finding out your credit score; a higher score means it will be easier to get approved for a mortgage, and may mean your interest rate will be lower too. Next, inquire at your bank to find out about their fixed rate and variable rate mortgage options, and inquire about mortgage pre-approval.

We also welcome you to connect with our show home sales team – we’re happy to explain the steps to securing financing for your new home.

Comparing mortgage options will help you gain a better understanding of how much down payment will be required, but in Canada, homes under $500,000 require a minimum down payment of 5% of the total price, with the percentage going up after that. Your down payment will determine the home you can afford, the size of your mortgage and how much you’re paying each month, and how much insurance you will need.

Connect with our team today – we’re happy to explain the steps to securing financing for your new home.

You can secure a mortgage with your own bank or credit union. Alternatively, lenders across Canada can provide different options and rates, so it may be in your best interest to shop around. Mortgage brokers can help you find a lender or product that suits your needs; these services generally don’t charge you for the service, instead they receive a commission from the lenders.

The price of your Baywest home includes your chosen floorplan and its included interior specifications, our Concierge Interior Design Service, plus your selected lot and the GST.

Upgrades to further personalize your home are always possible – connect with the Baywest sales team at any show home to learn more.

Absolutely! Our professional show home designers set Baywest apart, and our Concierge Interior Design Service is included with your home purchase. Our design team’s insight and advice will help you choose flooring, tile, wall colours, cabinetry, and more. Their expertise will be your guide, helping you compare and select your options, ensuring your new home will be the perfect expression of your taste and vision.

Definitely. We offer a wide selection of home models, floorplans and exterior elevations in every community where Baywest builds. Once you select your preferred floorplan, you’ll find a collection of floorplan options to choose from, ensuring you can personalize your home with the layout that is the best for your lifestyle and needs.

Connect with our show home sales teams today – they’ll be happy to explain the options that will help you make your home uniquely yours.

Congratulations! Now it’s time to visit our show homes to experience a Baywest home in-person, and talk to our team of experts who can help you find the home that’s a perfect fit for your lifestyle and your budget. We can’t wait to be your partner in this exciting journey!

Yes! To help you transition from your existing home to your brand new Baywest home, we partner with preferred real estate agents to serve our clients. When you decide to purchase a new Baywest home and list your current home with one of partner agents, Baywest will pay your chosen listing agent’s commission.

We call this our Free List Program and it means you can SAVE THOUSANDS when you choose to build with Baywest, then list your existing home with one of our experienced REALTOR® partners!

Ask our friendly team for details – we’re here to help bring your new home plans to life.

From the moment you sign your purchase agreement to the day we hand you the keys to your new home, the entire Baywest team is dedicated to crafting and curating the home you will love, and live in longer. Our multi-step construction process involves you in selections meetings and appointments that will ensure we’re building the home you envision.

Because we build homes at varying sizes and in several communities, each home’s construction timeline is unique. Ask our friendly team in your preferred community for details – they’ll be able to provide an accurate construction timeline for your preferred home model.

In a hurry to make a move? Explore our current Quick Possessions to find a home available on a fast timeline.

When you build a new home with Baywest, we include a comprehensive service program through the Alberta New Home Warranty Program. There are diligent follow-up procedures in place to ensure your satisfaction and in addition to scheduled visits, we will promptly deal with any emergencies should they occur.

For more information, explore Baywest’s exceptional Service & Warranty program.