Something interesting is happening in Alberta. For years, people talked about Toronto or Vancouver as the big investment markets, but in the last 3 years, Calgary has quietly become one of the strongest and most stable places to buy real estate. And it’s not just one area. Investors are flooding into inner city communities like Renfrew Mount Pleasant, and Killarney, while also buying new builds and rentals in Airdrie, Okotoks, Chestermere, Cochrane, and even Strathmore.
Its like Calgary and the whole region around it suddenly turned into a sweet spot for anyone wanting rental income growth and long-term stability.
Why inner city Calgary keeps winning
Inner city communities offer what renters want
close to work
easy lifestyle
coffee shops
parks
quick access to downtown
Renfrew
People love this place because its close to everything. Families, students and young professionals all compete for rentals here. Investors like that properties lease super fast.
Mount Pleasant
This one is full of infills, brand new duplexes, and legal suites. Investors love multi-unit plays here because rents are high and vacancy is low.
Killarney
If you walk through Killarney, you see new row homes, modern suites and renovated bungalows everywhere. Renters love the vibe, and landlords like the stable income.
Other neighbourhoods like Highland Park, Capitol Hill, Glenbrook, Bankview and Tuxedo Park are also becoming investor favourites because new construction keeps pushing land values higher.
The real surprise the towns outside Calgary are exploding too
Millions of Canadians have been moving for affordability and lifestyle, and that’s why the towns around Calgary are growing faster than expected.
Airdrie
Feels like its own city now. Huge rental demand, schools expanding and new build homes everywhere. Multi-family works great here.
Chestermere
People want lake living but with more space. New builds perform awesome, and long-term tenants stay for years.
Cochrane
One of the fastest-growing towns in the province. Tons of new communities and strong rental demand.
Okotoks
Great for families. Lower prices and very easy to rent out homes.
Strathmore
More investors are looking here now because entry prices are lower and rental demand stays stable.
When you combine Calgary’s job market with these small towns, you get a region that renters keep moving to year after year.
New-build homes are the biggest trend right now
Developers in Calgary figured out that investors want low-maintenance homes with rental potential. That’s why so many new build homes now come with
legal basement suites
separate entrances
soundproof walls
parking pads
energy-efficient systems
Communities like Hotchkiss Glacier Ridge Rangeview Homestead Ambleton, and WestCreek in Chestermere are turning into rental hot zones.
A lot of investors buy pre-construction because the value increases before the home is even done.
CMHC MLI Select is powering the Alberta multi-family boom
One of the biggest reasons Alberta is so hot right now is CMHC MLI Select. This program helps investors build or buy multi-family buildings with
longer amortization,
higher loan amounts
and lower monthly payments
This means apartment buildings in Calgary, Edmonton, Airdrie, Cochrane, and Okotoks have become way more affordable for investors.
Many new multi-family buildings popping up in north Calgary, southeast Calgary and Airdrie are using MLI Select to boost cash flow.
Final thought
What makes Calgary and nearby towns so special is that the growth is happening in every direction. Inner city neighbourhoods are modernizing. Small towns are filling up. New builds are everywhere. Multi-family financing is the best it’s ever been. And Alberta keeps welcoming thousands of people every month.
For investors, this is the closest thing to a perfect storm, and it’s just getting started.
