Airdrie is the small town just north of Calgary with a big heart. During the first 4 months of 2012 sales here outpaced Calgary's as people flocked here to call it their new home. Examining the year-over-year statistics, Airdrie has experienced a sales growth of 38%, and why not? Homes here cost an average of 20% less than they do in Calgary, which is attracting many buyers that don't want the big city life but still want to be close enough to the action.

Airdrie is only about 10 minutes north of Calgary and homes in the area have easy access to Edmonton and Red Deer's northern hubs. Amenities include parklands, wellness centers, shopping centers, parklands, schools and recreation centers.

Young families especially are calling Airdrie their new home. It is a safe and secure area to raise a family and the lots for homes are generally bigger than what you would find in Calgary. The single-family homes are often newer as well, which is definitely considered a plus point by many up-and-coming young families.

Strong growth is occurring in storefronts and a total of 1680 new industrial, retail, home-based business and commercial licenses were issued in 2011. Businesses are keeping pace with the new growth surge to provide the amenities needed for this new influx of singles, families, seniors etc. With multi-family and single-family units to choose from, there is something in Airdrie for anyone. There is a wide selection of properties available right now in this small, warm community.

Employment opportunities continue to increase and growth is also occurring in the number of accessory permits being issued for decks, detached garages and the like.

Combined with this growth lies low interest rates and fair housing prices. The average cost for an Airdrie single-family home is $356,900. While this is a 3.5% increase over last year, it is still 8.5% lower than the peak levels that were seen in Alberta in 2007.

Why are people flocking to Airdrie in droves?

People are looking for choice, reasonable house pricing, a warm inviting community and a thriving area to live in. A growing community sets the pace for a better future and that is exactly what many of these new residents are looking for.