New Construction Specialist

Buying a New Build in Calgary & Area, With a Specialist on Your Side

Buying new in Chestermere? I help buyers compare the home, lot, inclusions and written builder terms before deciding.

The showhome rep works for the builder. I work for you, on lot selection, upgrade priorities, builder negotiation, contracts, timelines and warranty, across Calgary, Chestermere, Airdrie, Cochrane and Okotoks. Builder-paid compensation may cover your buyer-representation fee; I confirm the arrangement, and any amount you could owe, in writing before you proceed.

Book a Free New-Build Call Browse New Builds

Contact me before your first showhome visit or online registration so we can check the builder’s representation rules.

Free tool · 90 seconds

Which community and builder actually suit you?

Compare communities and builders using your budget, timing and home preferences. No email is required to see your matches. Confirm project availability and the details that matter to you before deciding.

5.0 on Google · 4 reviews, checked September 29, 2026 Read all reviews →

Why Bring Your Own REALTOR®

The Showhome Is Beautiful. The Rep Still Works for the Builder.

A new build is one of the biggest purchases you'll ever make, made off a floor plan, a contract, and a lot map. Here's what having an independent specialist on your side actually changes — and why checking the builder’s registration rules before your first visit matters.

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Clear Representation

Confirm your services, fees and any builder contribution in writing. Registration and payment policies differ by builder and project.

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Lot Selection

Walkout vs corner, backing greenspace vs a busy road, sun orientation, grading, premiums worth paying. The lot is the one thing you can't change later.

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Upgrade Trade-offs

We compare structural choices, installed costs and what can be changed later. Costs and resale effects vary; no upgrade return is guaranteed.

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Contract & Deposit Review

Builder contracts differ from resale. I walk you through deposit stages, timelines, spec-change clauses and what protects you before you sign.

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Builder Relationships

I work with buyers across Calgary-area builders and communities, and I keep an ear to the ground on incentives, quick-possession deals and promotions.

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Walkthroughs & Warranty

I help you document deficiencies at the pre-drywall and final walkthroughs and understand your Alberta New Home Warranty coverage.

How I Help

I Know New Builds, Lots, Upgrades and Builders

This is a segment I focus on. Dig into any part of the process below, or just book a call and I'll walk you through it for your situation.

The complete new-build guide

Start here: how buying new construction really works in Calgary and area, and why it's different from resale. Read the new-build buyer's guide →

Choosing the right lot

Lot type, orientation, grading, what's planned behind you, and which premiums pay off. Read the lot selection guide →

Upgrades: worth it vs skip

Where to spend with the builder and where to save. Read the upgrades guide →

Process, contracts & warranty

Deposits, timelines, walkthroughs, possession and Alberta New Home Warranty. Read the process guide →

First-time buyer building new?

Unlike a resale home, a new build carries 5% federal GST. If you qualify as a first-time buyer, the First-Time Home Buyers' GST Rebate can return up to $50,000 of it on a home priced at or under $1,000,000 — a federal program figure, not a market statistic, and worth confirming with your accountant or the CRA before you rely on it. It stacks with the FHSA and the RRSP Home Buyers' Plan. Estimate your GST rebate on the calculator → · How the rebate works →

How representation is paid

Builder-paid compensation may cover your buyer-representation fee. It is not universal: it depends on the builder, the home and its registration rules, and there is no standard commission in Alberta. I confirm the arrangement, and any amount you could owe, in writing before you proceed. On some new-build purchases I can offer cash back at closing, case by case. Whether it applies, and how much, depends on the builder, the home and the compensation the builder pays. It is set out in our written agreement before you proceed, subject to KO Realty approval, and must be disclosed to your lender. Before you visit or register →

New-build buyer rebates and cash back in Calgary

Ask about a case-by-case buyer rebate, or compare Full Support with approved independent professional costs included in the agreed package price. Before you visit or register with a builder, we compare the written scope, costs and representation rules.

Buyer Rebate / Cash Back

For a buyer who values an eligible rebate and prefers to arrange independent professional services separately.

Keep the agreed search, comparisons, visits, negotiation, contract/deposit guidance and possession coordination. Independent legal review, inspections and any condominium review are separately arranged and paid for under the written scope.

Cash back is considered case by case, not at a universal rate. It depends on qualifying compensation and written terms, subject to KO Realty approval and required lender/lawyer disclosure.

Full Support

For a buyer who wants more coordination and approved independent professional costs included in the agreed package price, with no rebate.

The proposed professional scope is one independent lawyer’s builder-contract review, two independent inspections and one applicable condominium-document review. Approved quoted costs are included in the agreed package price for that purchase.

Confirm providers, actual quotes, scope, payment, caps/exclusions and cancellation terms before agreement. Intended inspection stages are pre-board/pre-drywall and post-construction/pre-possession; builder access and any alternative are agreed in writing.

Both choices retain required representation and the guidance already promised. The difference is the expressly agreed coordination and professional-cost funding, not a lower standard of negotiation or care.

A REALTOR® buyer rebate, a builder incentive and a government GST rebate are separate. Compare their terms and eligibility separately and avoid double counting.

Independent professionals perform their own work. Coordination does not guarantee builder performance, defect detection, warranty coverage, a rebate or a purchase outcome.

Can I get a buyer rebate on a new build in Calgary?

A rebate may be available case by case. Availability and amount depend on the purchase, qualifying compensation and written terms, subject to brokerage approval and required disclosures. There is no universal amount or guaranteed rebate.

What changes if I choose Full Support?

The expressly agreed coordination and approved professional-cost funding change. Required representation and the guidance already promised stay in place.

Is a buyer rebate the same as a GST rebate?

No. They are separate arrangements. Review the specific terms and eligibility with the appropriate professionals and avoid double counting.

Talk through your new-build plans How new-build buyer rebates work Compare the complete offer

Builders

I Work With Buyers Across Calgary's Major Builders

I represent the buyer, not any single builder, so my advice stays independent. I've worked closely with builders including Genesis Builders and Shane Homes, and I regularly help clients purchase across the major builders active in Calgary and the surrounding towns, giving you an honest read on reputation, product and value for the ones you're considering.

Worked Closely With

Genesis Builders

I've worked closely with Genesis Builders and know their communities, floor plans and buying process, so I can help you move through a Genesis purchase with a clear picture of what to expect and where the real decisions are.

Worked Closely With

Shane Homes

I've worked closely with Shane Homes, one of Calgary's long-established builders, and can guide you through their models, upgrade choices and contracts with an experienced eye, so nothing catches you off guard.

Considering a specific builder?

Tell me which builder or community you're looking at and I'll give you a straight assessment, and compare it against the alternatives. For a neutral overview, read my guide to Calgary's home builders. Builder names are trademarks of their respective owners; references here are informational and do not imply endorsement.

Where I Cover

New Communities Across Calgary & the Surrounding Towns

From Calgary's newest communities to the fast-growing towns, I help buyers compare value, commute and lifestyle honestly. Explore the areas I serve:

Chestermere Airdrie Cochrane Okotoks NE Calgary All Neighbourhoods

For the full map of where new construction is happening, read my guide to new communities in Calgary, Chestermere, Airdrie, Cochrane & Okotoks.

New build or resale

Compare the home, not just the headline price

Compare similar home types, sizes and locations. Include taxes, lot premiums, finishes, association fees and the cost of waiting for possession. A city benchmark and a mixed-type asking-price median are different measures, not a discount calculation.

Current MLS® inventory and dated community snapshots · Published CREB® market statistics · Representation and builder questions

The search includes recently built resales as well as builder listings. Confirm advertised availability, incentives and contract terms for the specific property. Days on market alone do not establish negotiating room.

The New-Build Process

From First Showhome Visit to Possession Day

Register Me First, Then Tour

Loop me in before your first showhome visit so I can represent you. We talk goals, budget, timeline and which communities and builders fit, then tour with a plan. Go in with a real ceiling rather than the builder's "from" price: what can I afford gives you the number the stress test allows, and the mortgage calculator shows what the payment looks like at a given rate and amortisation. Posted rates are illustrations, never an achievable rate — a licensed mortgage broker gives you the real one.

Pick the Right Lot & Model

We evaluate lots for orientation, grading, what backs onto them and premiums, and match the floor plan to how you actually live. This is where good decisions save you the most.

Structure the Purchase

I review the builder's contract, deposit schedule and clauses, advise on upgrades that hold value, and make sure incentives and the GST rebate (if eligible) are properly reflected.

Through the Build

We track the construction timeline together and I keep you informed on milestones, spec selections and any changes, so there are no surprises.

Walkthroughs & Deficiency List

At the pre-drywall and final walkthroughs I help you document every deficiency in writing so the builder addresses it before possession.

Possession & Warranty

Your lawyer handles closing and holdbacks; I make sure you understand your Alberta New Home Warranty coverage and stay available long after you get the keys. New-build closings carry costs resale ones do not — GST on the purchase, builder administration and utility hook-up fees, and often a longer gap between rate hold and possession. Price them before possession week with the Calgary closing-costs calculator, and if you may qualify as a first-time buyer run the GST rebate estimate alongside it.

FAQ

New Build Questions, Answered

Comparing homes or written quotes? Use the full-cost comparison worksheet. Planning a mortgage-helper suite? Read my legal basement suite guide.

Do I need my own REALTOR® to buy a new build in Calgary?

No, you can buy directly from a builder. The sales rep at the showhome works for the builder, not for you. An independent REALTOR® represents your interests: comparing the home, lot, inclusions, price and alternatives, reviewing the contract, watching your deposit and timeline, negotiating the terms that are available, and preparing for the walkthrough. Builder-paid compensation may cover your buyer-representation fee; I confirm the arrangement, and any amount you could owe, in writing before you proceed. Registration policies differ by builder, so talk to me before you visit or register.

When do I have to register my REALTOR® with the builder?

Before your first visit or online registration, if you can. Registration rules differ by builder, and some apply from your first showhome visit or online registration; some builders may not recognise an agent added afterward. If you have already visited or registered, note the builder and community, the date, whether an agent was named and whether you signed anything, and ask me to check your actual options. I will not suggest hiding an earlier visit or registering again under different details.

Which upgrades are worth paying the builder for?

Generally, structural choices you can't easily change later are worth doing through the builder: extra bedroom or bathroom rough-ins, a 9ft basement, a side entrance for a future legal suite, and electrical or plumbing rough-ins. Cosmetic finishes like flooring, lighting and backsplash are often cheaper aftermarket. The trap is over-upgrading past the community's price ceiling. We compare the quoted costs, practical benefits and alternatives; spending more does not guarantee a higher resale price. More in the upgrades guide.

Is a new build covered by warranty in Alberta?

Alberta generally requires new-home warranty coverage of 1 year for labour and materials, 2 years for delivery and distribution systems, 5 years for the building envelope and 10 years for major structural components. Exemptions can apply, including authorized owner-builders. Check the specific home in the provincial public registry and confirm coverage, exclusions and claim deadlines with the warranty provider. I help coordinate walkthrough and deficiency documentation; I do not provide the warranty.

Should I buy new or resale?

It depends on your priorities, and it is worth doing as arithmetic. New builds offer a fresh home, warranty and the ability to choose finishes, but they carry 5% GST, wait times, closing-cost surprises and a community that is still a construction site. Resale offers established neighbourhoods, mature landscaping and often faster possession. The comparison point is CREB®'s September 2026 Calgary benchmark — $739,400 detached, $412,400 row — and whether the build you are quoted beats that on the things you actually care about. If you are not yet sure buying is the right move at all this year, start with the rent-vs-buy calculator rather than a showhome. I'll walk you through the honest trade-offs for your budget and timeline rather than push you either way.

Which towns around Calgary have the most new construction?

There's active new construction across Calgary and the surrounding towns: Chestermere (Chelsea, Dawson's Landing, Kinniburgh), Airdrie (Bayview, Chinook Gate, Southwinds), Cochrane (Fireside, Heartland, Greystone) and Okotoks (D'Arcy, Wedderburn). Each offers different value, commute and lifestyle trade-offs. I work across all of them. See the new communities guide.

Run It Yourself First

The Six Numbers Worth Having Before You Walk Into a Showhome

Showhome sales offices are built to make the decision feel emotional and fast. These are free, they run in your browser, and none of them ask for your email. Bring the answers with you.

What can I afford Mortgage payment calculator New-home GST rebate Calgary closing costs Rent vs buy All free tools & calculators

I am a REALTOR® and a licensed property manager, not a lender, lawyer or accountant. These calculators are general information built from published figures: financing goes to a licensed mortgage broker, GST eligibility and tax treatment to a CPA or the CRA, and contract and title questions to a real estate lawyer. Nothing here is a rate you are guaranteed to get.

Then use the hub: the 90-second builder-and-community quiz, the Calgary builder directory, live quick-possession inventory, and — if you are weighing a new build against buying a lot or an older house to redevelop — what a Calgary lot can actually be built on today, which is a separate question from anything on this page and is worth checking against the current rules rather than an older article. Already comparing two or three specific homes or written builder offers? Request a personal comparison of the actual terms instead of guessing from headline prices.

Free Consultation

Thinking About a New Build? Let's Talk First.

Tell me what you're considering and I'll follow up within a few hours. If you haven't visited a showhome yet, even better, that's the ideal time to loop me in.

Plan your next home decision

What clients say

From clients who bought new construction. Each card says who wrote it and where it was posted.

★★★★★

He even took time to meet with our parents and take us all to finalize homes.

R. A.Home buyer · Review excerpt · Detached home · ChestermereGoogle ↗