In our new series, Millennial Success Stories, we ask millennials to explain how they made their homeownership dreams a reality in the competitive real estate market. First-time homebuyers, Vanessa, 30 and Julian, 37, share how their real estate journey led them to Calgary, Alberta.
We have always wanted to own a home—we felt it was a milestone and we were excited to do it together. While we both rented in the past, owning was a goal of both of us, so we decided to start saving and make this a priority and something that me and my partner, Julian, would do together.
Enjoying our content? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to get real estate market insights, news, and reports straight to your inbox.
Julian and I traveled to Calgary a few times and we liked the vibe and pace of the city. There’s no traffic, and no one ever seems to be in the rush. Plus, I love the proximity to nature. In less than an hour, I can be hiking in the mountains. Also, I’m a big fan of country music and Stampede City has a lot of it. Once Julian scored a great job here, that sealed the deal for us and we started the process of looking at homes.
Moving Across Canada for a Better Quality of Life
Growing up, we had certain expectations: go to post-secondary school, get a good job, find a partner, and buy property. But we were both raised in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and like most millennials, we quickly realized it wasn’t financially possible to enter the real estate market there as first-time home buyers. For context, the average price of a single-family home in Calgary is $582,000. Meanwhile, homes in the GTA are over the $1M mark. Prioritizing homeownership meant leaving behind everything—friends, family, and the career opportunities Toronto offers.
Ultimately, Julian and I wanted a quieter life in a more affordable city without the burden of a huge mortgage. Opting for a cheaper (but more beautiful) location felt challenging but ultimately very rewarding. It also helped that we received a lot of support: my workplace was understanding and thankfully I was able to keep my job in public relations and work remotely.
How We Found Our Perfect Calgary Dream Home
A former coworker of mine had relocated to Calgary the year before, so I reached out to him for a recommendation, and he gave us the name of his Realtor. From there, we began our search.
When we started looking for a home, we focused on finding a two-bedroom townhouse in a central neighbourhood that was close enough to downtown to enjoy some nightlife, but also quiet enough to get a good night’s sleep. The second bedroom was important because we wanted our guests to be comfortable during their visits.
Finding a Realtor that you trust is so important, especially when you’re relying on them to help you find a home in a different city. He was a fantastic real estate agent and a fantastic person – never put pressure on us to do any specific thing. We always had a ton of options and information. Back home, Julian and I loved setting filters up on real estate websites and constantly being pinged when a dream home was available. If other people are in the same boat, my advice is to ask locals what they think of areas when you visit a restaurant or coffee shop. People love to chat about their cities, and we found that people were sincere when we asked for their opinions.
Moving to Calgary From Toronto: Our Honest Opinion
Overall, the hardest part about moving is that we miss our families, but we had to prioritize our own lives and well-being over the privilege of being close to them. At the same time, we are so thankful we moved—not only for affordability but also for the pace of life Calgary offers.
We’re so happy here. While our first house might not be our forever home, we definitely plan to stay here for a while. Alberta is filled with so much beauty and the slower pace of living provides a sense of peace we never had in Ontario. We never want to leave.
Looking for your first home? Whether you’re planning to relocate or looking for a place close to home, we can help! Give us a call today to speak to a Realtor who can help make your homeownership dreams a reality.
