How I Made $210K Investing in Calgary Real Estate In 1 Year
Real estate investing is often about patience and long-term growth. But occasionally, the right combination of market fundamentals, smart strategy, and timing can produce extraordinary results.
In this case, one Calgary investment produced a $210,000 profit in just one year, representing a 778% return on investment.
Here’s the story behind that investment — and the real estate fundamentals that made it possible.
Why I Invested in Calgary Real Estate
When evaluating any real estate investment opportunity, I always start with core investment fundamentals.
Before even looking at a city’s growth projections or headlines, I ask three key questions:
Are prices currently undervalued?
Is the capital required to enter the investment reasonable?
Does the property generate positive cash flow?
When I began analyzing Calgary several years ago, it checked all three boxes.
Depressed Prices Created Opportunity
At the time, Calgary real estate prices were significantly lower compared to many other major Canadian markets. That created a classic investment scenario: buy low and position yourself for future growth.
Low Capital Requirements
Another major advantage was the relatively low deposit structure on pre-construction properties.
Many projects required only 5–10% deposits, meaning investors could enter the market with $15,000 to $50,000 in capital.
This allowed investors to build exposure to the Calgary market without committing large amounts of upfront capital.
Positive Cash Flow Potential
Perhaps most importantly, many Calgary investment properties were capable of generating positive cash flow — something that can be difficult to achieve in markets like Toronto or Vancouver.
Calgary’s Strong Market Fundamentals
After confirming the real estate fundamentals, the next step is evaluating the city itself.
Calgary stands out for several reasons:
It is the fourth-largest city in Canada.
Calgary’s economy ranks among the largest in the country.
Alberta’s population is projected to grow 48% over the next two decades, compared to 24% in Ontario.
Calgary has some of the highest wages in Canada.
These factors signal strong long-term housing demand.
Population growth, employment opportunities, and high wages all support future real estate appreciation.
Building My Calgary Investment Portfolio
Based on these fundamentals, I began investing in Calgary real estate in 2019.
My first purchase was a pre-construction condo, which allowed me to secure a property with a small deposit and benefit from future appreciation.
Over the next three years, I expanded my Calgary portfolio to include three investment condos.
These condos ranged in price from approximately $270,000 to $589,000, with deposits between $13,000 and $15,000.
Closings for these properties were scheduled between 2023 and 2025, positioning them for future market growth.
The Investment That Generated $210K
While building my Calgary condo portfolio, another opportunity emerged in March 2021: a pre-construction single-family home with a legal basement suite.
Here were the key details of the investment:
Purchase Price: $525,000
Deposit: $27,000
Build Time: Approximately one year
Closing: March 2022
Property Type: Rear-drive single-family home with a separate basement rental suite
One of the most compelling aspects of this property was its rental potential.
The expected gross monthly rent was $3,700.
Even at a 5% mortgage interest rate, the property was projected to generate approximately $1,000 per month in positive cash flow.
The One-Year Value Increase
When the home was completed in March 2022, the Calgary market had strengthened significantly.
The property was now worth over $700,000.
Rather than renting it out as originally planned, I decided to explore selling the property.
The response from buyers was immediate.
The property received three offers, with the highest reaching $735,000.
The Final Numbers
Here’s how the investment performed:
Purchase Price: $525,000
Sale Price: $735,000
Total Profit: $210,000
And remember — the initial deposit required to secure the property was only $27,000.
That resulted in a 778% return on investment in just one year.
Why I Chose to Sell the Property
If you follow my investing philosophy, you know I often say “never sell real estate.”
But in this case, several factors made selling the right decision.
Lower Transaction Costs in Alberta
One advantage of investing in Alberta is the lower closing costs compared to Ontario.
For example:
Alberta has no land transfer tax
Development charges are lower
Other closing expenses are reduced
If this same property had been purchased in Ontario, closing costs could have been nearly $58,000 higher.
Preparing for Another Investment
Around the same time, I was preparing to purchase a $3 million home in Toronto.
To complete that transaction, I needed to reposition capital within my portfolio.
Sometimes investors need to adjust their holdings to support larger opportunities.
Managing Property From a Distance
While I own several rental houses locally, managing a house remotely presents additional challenges.
A property located two hours behind in time and a 4.5-hour flight away introduces additional complexity.
Given the strong appreciation on the property, selling allowed me to convert that growth into capital for future investments.
Maintaining Exposure to Calgary
Importantly, selling the house did not mean exiting the Calgary market.
I still own three Calgary investment condos, meaning I continue to benefit from the city’s long-term growth.
In fact, I remain actively interested in future Calgary investment opportunities.
The Real Estate Investing Lesson
This investment wasn’t based on speculation or luck.
It followed the same approach I use for every property purchase:
Prioritize strong cash flow fundamentals
Evaluate long-term market growth potential
Project conservative appreciation of 3–5% annually
In this case, Calgary’s market exceeded those expectations.
By applying traditional real estate investing principles, the result was a $210,000 gain in just one year.
Final Thoughts
Calgary continues to present compelling opportunities for real estate investors, particularly those looking for:
Lower entry prices
Positive cash flow
Strong population growth
Long-term appreciation potential
For many investors — including those based in Toronto — Calgary has become a powerful way to diversify portfolios and build wealth through real estate.
Working with experienced Wealth Builder can help you identify properties that have the strongest potential for long-term appreciation and investment value.
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Alexander J. Wilson
#2 Individual RE/MAX Agent for Closed Sales in Canada 2024 and 2025
#1 Individual RE/MAX Agent for Closed Sales in Canada 2022
Member of RE/MAX Circle of Legends
Broker Owner
RE/MAX Wealth Builders Real Estate
Email: alex@remaxwealth.com
Office: (416) 652-5000
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