Infills are a great housing option for buyers who want the excitement and convenience of living in an established, inner-city community, but the comfort and contemporary features of a newer home. This fusion of old and new, historic property and recent builds, mature streetscapes and sleek design is what defines inner-city living for many people. When you are exploring buying an infill in Calgary’s vibrant city centre, here are a few things to consider.
If you are looking for an infill or any inner-city home,
partner with a team of Realtors® that specializes in inner-city living.
Contact the Tanya Eklund Group by calling us or reaching out online.
What Is An Infill?
Many of Calgary’s older, inner-city neighbourhoods contain numerous infills: newer construction homes built on lots where the original home was torn down. Infills have been around for many years, but have grown in popularity since the early 2000s. Because many home lots developed before the 1970s were larger than we see in today’s suburban neighbourhoods, these lots are coveted for redevelopment. Infills offer the best of two worlds: current building practices and design in an established, walkable, dynamic community.
Things To Consider When Looking For An Inner-City Infill
Neighbourhood
Each of Calgary’s inner-city neighbourhoods has a unique vibe and signature amenities. Choosing one or two (or more) communities that have the features that are right for your family will help you optimize your infill search. Do you want an easy commute to work? Are you looking for really great schools? Is amazing dining and entertainment a top priority? Are you an avid cyclist or runner? Whatever amenities you need to make your inner-city living experience the best it can be, you can find them in Calgary’s core. For help deciding which community is right for you, read Choosing The Best Inner-City Neighbourhood.
Home Style
The next step is figuring out which style of infill is right for you. Typically, infills can be categorized two ways:
- Attached (or Semi-Detached): these infills contain more than one home (usually two (duplex) or four (fourplex)) that share common walls.
- Detached: these infills are single-family, stand-alone homes.
Attached or semi-detached homes can be more affordable than detached because of shared building and development costs, but floor plans are often narrower and outdoor space can be smaller. If you choose an attached infill you will share a common wall and possibly an attached garage. Ask your Realtor® to investigate any soundproofing and fireproofing that was completed when the home was built.
Parking
Some infill homes have garages or driveways, but many don't. This means that if you drive, you will need to park on the street. Street parking in some inner-city neighbourhoods is limited and you may need to apply for a parking permit if your street is zoned. When you are shopping for an inner-city infill, consider your parking needs or the compromises you are willing to make. If you don’t drive, check out access to public transit.
Is Inner-City Condo Living Right For You?
There are many benefits to buying an infill home in the inner city including contemporary housing in an established mature community, walkability, diverse populations, abundant and convenient amenities and services, access to green spaces and kilometres of river pathways, and more. If you know that inner-city living is the right choice for you, and that an infill house is the place you want to call home, partner with an inner-city Realtor® who can help you navigate the process of finding the perfect one.
The team of Realtors® at the Tanya Eklund Group specializes in inner-city homes because we, too, live here, work here, play here, and raise our families here. A team of inner-city specialists is your best resource when looking for the ideal infill in Calgary’s downtown core. The Tanya Eklund Group team specializes in more than just the inner city, we are a dynamic, full-service team with extensive knowledge of the entire Calgary real estate market. We have cultivated a network of buyers, sellers, and support players so we can guide you through every step of the process with the most skilled professionals. And we are masterful negotiators ensuring that every offer is fair and favourable for our clients. Reach out to our team at (403) 863-7434 or through our contact form and let’s talk about what home means to you.