Moving to Big-City Alberta? Follow These 3 Steps!

Moving from a smaller town to a larger city can be a big adjustment. From a city’s bylaws to neighbourhoods dynamics to lifestyle choices, here’s what you need to know.

By Brett Surbey | 4 minute read

Alberta is home to some of the most innovative metropolitan hubs like Calgary, which bring in thousands of residents from rural areas each year.

From the sprawling prairies to the Rocky Mountains, Alberta offers homebuyers a choice of scenery across thousands of square kilometres. The Energy Province also offers a choice of pace when it comes to lifestyle — from peaceful, small-town living to faster-moving city life.

With metropolitan areas like Calgary — and even smaller cities like Edmonton and Grande Prairie — moving to a bigger city can be a great opportunity to start a new chapter. While buying a home follows the same process regardless of where you move to or from, relocating from a rural area to bigger cities is an adjustment buyers should be prepared for.

Get to know your potential neighbourhood
“The first thing that I think people need to understand and think about is safety, where they’re going to live in terms of neighbourhoods,” says Karen MacPherson, a REALTOR® with Greater Calgary Real Estate and relocation expert.

MacPherson doesn’t view larger cities like Calgary or Edmonton as inherently unsafe, but says that “If you’re coming from a smaller town, you’re not used to the things that you see in a bigger city.” Families moving to a more populated area should look to neighbourhoods that prioritize safety and comfort, then look for neighbourhood attributes like proximity to amenities, for instance.

MacPherson grew up in a small town where you “didn’t have to lock your door,” so moving to a larger city was an adjustment for her. “Where there’s more people, there can be less personal accountability.”

Understanding the different types of neighbourhoods in a city can help homebuyers find a property that suits their needs and comfort level.

Be prepared for your priorities to change

In smaller towns where many amenities may be accessible within a short drive, that’s not always the case in a bigger city.

One of the first questions MacPherson asks her clients when they come to the city is where they work and how long they are willing to spend on their daily commute. “When you [come to a] sprawling city like Calgary, Toronto, or somewhere similar, you [need to ask homebuyers] where do you want to live in the city and what’s important to you?” she explains.

For families moving to a city with kids, they need to juggle even other priorities in addition to their work commute, neighbourhood and lifestyle choices. They need to figure out what school they want their children to attend and what sports they want to play, for example.

When MacPherson moved to Calgary, her son played for a hockey team in the city. “That’s how I got to know the city — because we drove all over,” she recalls. “What could be easy in a smaller town can also be easy in a city, if you’re in the right place,” MacPherson says. 

Pay attention to the small things

Between restrictive covenants in neighbourhoods, rules about recycling or garbage bagging, and parking considerations, cities come with plenty of bylaws. You’ve got to be aware of those things,” MacPherson advises.

MacPherson recalls a time she was showing a property to a client who was new to Calgary. He was late to their appointment because he couldn’t find parking near the area. These seemingly small things can make a move from a small town to a big city more challenging.

Keeping tabs on new rules and ways of living in a city isn’t just about living in the present. City residents need to be aware of developing changes too. MacPherson shares her experience buying a townhouse in Calgary years ago, which was across the street from an empty lot. The agent she was working with assured her the area would remain green space, but the city had other plans. Five years later, that green space became a seniors’ residence.

“Sometimes those [changes develop] more quickly than you [realize],” she adds.