Starting a new job? Maybe you're just looking for a fresh start. There are as many reasons to buy a new home as there are areas in which to buy.

Deciding to buy a home in Calgary can be an exciting prospect. Because it's such a vibrant area, Calgary real estate can offer a lot for a reasonable budget. Like all cities, there are some neighbourhoods that are better than others.

In March 2017, over 5,495 homes were on the market in Calgary. Figuring out which homes in a sample that size can be overwhelming. One way to narrow down your choices to find the right place to live is to choose a neighbourhood.

This guide will provide you with information about some of Calgary's best neighbourhoods. Kickstart your Calgary real estate search in one or more of these great neighbourhoods.

Why Calgary Real Estate?

Searching for a new home can be a stressful process. Knowing what various neighbourhoods have to offer, and where to look, can help alleviate some of that stress. Depending on where you are in life, you might be seeking different amenities.

Maybe you want to be downtown. Perhaps you'd prefer to be close to the city while enjoying the quiet that suburbia provides. The great news about Calgary is that it has a lot to offer. Each neighbourhood has its own unique personality. For example, you might be seeking some of the following qualities or amenities:

• Affordability and investment value
• Schools
• Shopping
• Restaurants
• Cultural centres
• History
• Recreation
• Convenience

With so many goals and almost 200 neighbourhoods, there's a place in Calgary for everyone.

Let's take a look at some of the best Calgary neighbourhoods and what they have to offer.

Albert Park/Radisson Heights

There are two key features of this area that make it stand out. Affordability and increasing value. While Albert Park/Radisson Heights isn't known for fancy or brand new housing, it is a great place to start or to rent out properties.

You can get a home in this neighbourhood for as little as $350,000. If you want to invest in real estate, consider starting by checking out this neighbourhood.

Beltline

If you're looking for convenience, nothing beats this neighbourhood. With plenty of markets, coffee shops, and more, this area can more than meet the need for convenient living.

With a population just over 20,000, there are plenty of people to meet. Beltline is a great neighbourhood for social butterflies. In addition to convenient shops and entertainment, Beltline offers easy access to public transportation.

Brentwood

For great schools and a suburban feel, Brentwood's a great place to live. The benefit is that even though it's a quieter lifestyle than Beltline, it's still close enough to downtown to feel convenient.

In addition to schools -- including the University of Calgary --, Brentwood boasts recreational centres that include a sports complex and a park complete with hiking trails. It's a great neighbourhood for school days and weekends.

About two-thirds of the homes are owner-occupied, which speaks to how great it is to buy in Brentwood.

Hillhurst

For art and culture, there's no neighbourhood like Hillhurst. While it's a bit pricier than other neighbourhoods -- about twice the cost of Albert Park --, this Calgary real estate combines the best of art, small-town vibe, and city convenience.

In addition to the arts, Hillhurst offers a wide variety of dining options for those who like to try multiple restaurants. Foodies delight in Hillhurst.

With its history -- Hillhurst is one of Calgary's oldest neighbourhoods -- and frequent festivals, this is a vibrant place to live and enjoy life.

Signal Hill

Whether you love to shop because it helps you hit your daily pedometer target, or whether you subscribe to retail therapy, Signal Hill is for the shoppers. With boutiques aplenty, this neighbourhood offers plenty of retail adventures. This growing community is a popular choice for spenders and window shoppers alike.

Arbour Lake

Maybe you love water sports. Jet skiing, boating, and in the winter, ice fishing. Or perhaps it's just the appearance of the water that catches your fancy--the way the sunlight dances on ripples and waves can be entrancing and beautiful.

Though not Calgary's least expensive neighbourhoods, Arbour Lake is more affordable than Hillhurst. Yet, it offers a stunning place to live.

Southview

If you're dying to live in Calgary but need to save money, Southview offers comfortable bungalows for an affordable price. With plenty of low-income housing, Southview is a great place to get started in Calgary.

The fact that this neighbourhood is well kept makes it a great place to look for a new home. There are other neighbourhoods, like Falconridge, which offer low-income housing and nothing else. Those areas are not well-kept and provide few additional amenities to residents.

For this reason, we recommend Southview to our clients who are seeking a low-income solution.

Searching for Your New Home

With so many neighborhoods to choose there are many that can suit various needs. We've chosen to highlight those communities which meet particular requirements or desires to help you start your Calgary real estate search.

The most important thing you can do is to make note of those amenities or community features which matter most to you, and then visit the communities themselves. Spend a day in each neighborhood you're considering to get to know its atmosphere, personality, amenities and the people who might be your future neighbors.

It's important to remember that not every community is going to have every amenity. Look at geographic convenience and nearby neighborhoods. It might be possible to find a home in one neighborhood that's close enough to another so that you can enjoy the offerings of both communities.

If you're ready to start looking at homes in Calgary, or you want to know more about the neighborhoods we've included in this guide, we welcome you to contact us today.

We're eager to help you find your next home, as well as get the most out of living in the Calgary area.