Latest and greatest: Five Airdrie new-build housing developments

For buyers seeking new-build homes, these Airdrie communities have much to offer.

Courtesy Brookfield Residential

Chinook Gate - Brookfield Residential
Chinook Gate is Airdrie's newest community, launching just last year. At final build out in 2027, it will host more than 2,200 residents in 750 homes.

The community includes 11 acres of green space, and Brendan McCashin, Brookfield's senior development manager, says Chinook Gate's southwest-Airdrie location – close to Calgary and to 55-acre Chinook Winds Regional Park – is a huge advantage. Plus, he adds, Airdrie is "a great little city."

Affordability is a huge draw, with houses for $50,000 to $100,000 less than comparable ones in Calgary. Current homes (built by Brookfield, Excel Homes, McKee Homes and Avalon Master Builder) include duplexes, and front- and rear-garage homes, starting in the $300,000s.

Courtesy Apex Developments

Hillcrest - Apex Developments
Launched in 2010, Hillcrest is in its final phase (90 per cent sold) and will feature 900 homes at completion.

The southwest-Airdrie community is close to Calgary and 10 minutes from CrossIron Mills. Hillcrest itself features two parks, a pathway system and a K-8 school scheduled to open in January 2020.

Morgan Gowland, Apex's development co-ordinator, says lower land prices and developer incentives have meant strong spring sales in Hillcrest.

Three single-family, front-drive-garage opportunities remain from the $420,000s; single-family, laned homes start from the $290,000s; front-drive-garage and laned duplexes start from the $320,000s; and front-drive-garage townhomes start from the $310,000s.

Courtesy Qualico Communities

Ravenswood - Qualico Communities
Designed to feel like a small, European village – with traditional architecture, 2.6-kilometres of pathways and six community parks – Ravenswood in southeast Airdrie began in 2010. It is now about 90 per cent complete (two final phases still selling) with roughly 900 single-family lots and 80 townhomes. Laura Field, Qualico's marketing co-ordinator, says the community's advantages include proximity to schools and retail/entertainment, as well as quick access to Calgary and the airport.

Duplexes start from the $340,000s, laned homes from the $370,000s and attached-garage homes from the $435,000s. The builder group includes Broadview Homes, NuVista Homes, McKee Homes, Emerald New Homes and Pacesetter Homes.

Courtesy Westmark Holdings

Cooper's Crossing - Westmark Holdings
Cooper's Crossing's first showhome parade happened all the way back in the fall of 1999, but with an expansion to 320 acres, completion of this new-look community is expected within five years.

Currently, 3,622 residents live in 1,143 dwellings here, but an additional 213 lots and three multi-family sites are yet to be developed, says Paul Gerla, WestMark Holdings' development manager.

Homes range in price from the $350,000s to over $1 million, including townhomes, paired homes, single-family homes with rear-lane or front garage, and estate homes.
Gerla says these prices are at least $40,000 lower than comparables in Calgary.

Courtesy Mattamy Homes

Southwinds - Mattamy Homes
Southwinds launched in 2015 right next door to Mattamy's first Airdrie development, Windsong, with 1,200 housing units expected at completion. It's currently halfway done, with phase eight releasing this fall. Mattamy's senior marketing manager, Karla Schultz, says besides the quick Calgary commute, advantages include big-town amenities with a small-town feel and lower house/land prices – "there's more house for your dollar," which has attracted young families and first-time homebuyers.

Southwinds, where Mattamy is the sole builder, has single-family homes (with attached single- or double-car garage), and rear-lane townhomes with double-attached garage, priced from the mid-$200,000s.