First-time home buyers · Calgary
Your first purchase should feel like a decision you understand, not a race to keep up.
I’m Moe Jarrah. I’ll help you set a comfortable budget, compare Calgary homes honestly and protect the conditions that matter before you commit.
Start here
We begin with your timing, your priorities and a payment you can live with. Your lender confirms the financing; I help make sure the properties you tour are worth your time.
A mortgage approval is a ceiling. Your comfortable monthly budget is the number that should guide the search.
Calgary buyer snapshot
These citywide figures give you a starting point. The price and pace of the homes on your own shortlist may look different.
More listings may give you more options, but the right home can still move quickly.
Current figures are temporarily unavailable. See Moe’s Calgary market update for context.
Checking the latest available CREB® housing summary…
The real budget
Purchase price is one number. Ask your lender for a written payment scenario and build a cash-to-close estimate with your lawyer before deciding what to offer.
Pre-approval helps define a range, but the lender still reviews the actual property, your finances and its conditions before final funding.
First-time buyer programs
Some federal tools help with savings, taxes or the cost of a qualifying new home. Eligibility definitions and deadlines differ. Confirm the rules with your lender or tax professional before relying on a benefit in an offer.
An FHSA can allow eligible buyers to make deductible contributions and qualifying tax-free withdrawals toward a first home.
Check your eligibility and available contribution room with CRA.Eligible buyers may draw from an RRSP toward a qualifying home, with repayment obligations. An FHSA and HBP may be used for the same purchase if each set of conditions is met.
Check current withdrawal limits, timing and repayment rules.Eligible first-time buyers may be able to claim this federal non-refundable tax credit after purchasing a qualifying home.
It does not replace the cash needed to close.Eligible first-time buyers of a new or substantially renovated home may qualify for a federal GST rebate. An ordinary resale home is a different purchase.
Have the builder and your tax professional confirm pricing, eligibility and how the rebate is handled in the contract.The right kind of home
The best first home is not always the newest listing or the largest floor plan. Compare the full cost, condition and resale flexibility of each property type.
Look closely at roof, windows, furnace, grading, utilities, insurance and repairs you will manage yourself.
Ask: What major systems may need work soon?Some townhomes are condos with shared fees and bylaws; others are freehold. The legal structure changes what you maintain and pay.
Ask: Is it condominium or freehold, and what does the fee cover?Review fees, bylaws, insurance, reserve fund, minutes, planned work and special-levy risk before removing conditions.
Ask: Is the corporation prepared for future repairs?Calgary reality check
Market conditions can differ across neighbourhoods, price ranges and home types. For any serious property, we compare recent nearby sales and current competition instead of relying on a citywide headline.
Before conditions come off
The right checks depend on the property and your offer. We decide which professionals and documents you need before you become firmly committed.
Have a qualified inspector assess the property where appropriate. Price known defects and understand what an inspection cannot see.
Send the accepted contract and property details to your lender promptly. Pre-approval alone does not guarantee final funding.
Review bylaws, budget, financials, reserve fund, minutes, insurance and levies with an appropriate condo-document reviewer.
Have your lawyer check title and closing documents. For applicable homes, review the real property report, permits and any suite claims.
The offer
A strong offer is clear about more than price. We discuss deposit, possession, included goods and the conditions needed for that specific home. I explain the deadlines and what happens if a condition is not satisfied.
We go through the written offer and buyer representation terms, including how compensation works, before you sign. Conditions and deadlines should be clear in writing.
Confirm appliances and other included goods in the contract. Review possession timing, any tenant arrangements and property-specific disclosures.
Your first-home roadmap
You will know what happens next, who needs to act and which dates matter.
Discuss timing, budget, property type and the areas that fit your life.
Review financing, down payment, payment comfort and cash to close.
Compare suitable homes and review recent local sales before choosing.
Set price, deposit, possession, inclusions and useful conditions.
Work through financing, inspection and applicable document reviews by the deadlines.
Arrange insurance and utilities, sign with your lawyer and prepare for possession.
Your starter kit
Start with what you need today. You can learn about financing, try a payment scenario or browse homes without committing to a search.
See what to ask a lender and how to think about your comfortable payment before booking viewings.
Explore payment scenarios, then ask a mortgage professional to confirm rates, qualification and full ownership costs.
Browse homes that fit your budget and save questions about a listing to go through with me.
First-time buyer questions
Not always. Some buyers qualify for an insured mortgage with less, subject to purchase price, down-payment rules and lender approval. Your mortgage professional should confirm the current options and total monthly cost.
No. A lender still needs to approve the specific property and confirm your finances and conditions before funding. Avoid changing jobs or taking on new debt without first checking with the lender.
The deposit is money delivered under the purchase contract to show your commitment. It is normally credited toward the purchase price at closing, but its due date and handling depend on the offer. Confirm the amount and timing before signing.
Some eligible buyers can use an FHSA and the Home Buyers’ Plan for the same qualifying home, provided they meet both sets of rules. Tax credits and new-home GST rebates have separate eligibility tests. Check your plan with CRA, your lender and a tax professional.
They answer different questions. An inspection examines accessible physical condition; condo documents explain the corporation’s finances, bylaws, insurance and planned work. We decide which conditions and professionals fit the property.
Review the builder contract, possession terms, warranty coverage, GST treatment, what is included and the status of permits or completion. New-home contract and rebate details deserve a careful review with your lawyer and lender.
When you are ready
You do not need to have every answer before reaching out. We can start with your questions, your budget and the kind of Calgary home you hope to buy.
Moe Jarrah · REALTOR® · Century 21 Bravo Realty · Certified Condo Specialist. Program eligibility, financing, tax and legal information must be confirmed with the relevant professional for your purchase.
Moe Jarrah
Cell: (403) 630-5327
moejarrah@gmail.com
INFO & SERVICES
CENTURY 21 BRAVO REALTY
3009 23 St NE
Calgary, AB T2E 7A4
Office: (403) 250-2882
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