Michael Podwalski and his wife Kate relocated to Calgary from Ottawa three years ago and purchased a starter home in upper Cranston, practically sight unseen.

The experience worked out exceptionally well. So last year, they commissioned the builder, Cedarglen Homes, to build their dream home in Cranston's Riverstone.

When an opportunity arose to expand their financial portfolio and leap into real estate investment, the couple went with Cedarglen Living, the multi-family arm of Cedarglen Homes, purchasing a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condominium with an east-facing balcony at Seton Park Place in Seton's new urban district.

When it came time to purchase his first home, finding a neighbourhood with a pulse was at the top of the list for 31-year-old entrepreneur Tyrell Dasilva. Dasilva, who owns several businesses, leads a busy life and wanted to find a home in a walkable community with access to great music venues and quaint mom-and-pop stores. He found it at i.D. Inglewood, a 19-unit, four-storey condominium project located on Ninth Avenue S.E.

Ashley McCallum found a home with character in the Beltline

Ashley McCallum loves history and character-filled older homes. So when it came time for this 35-year-old to find her first home, she immediately gravitated towards inner-city areas with more than a century of history. Although her first preference was a single-family home with a yard – her beloved eight-year-old bichon, Molly, loves playing outside – it wasn't in her budget. After months of searching, she found a lovely one-bedroom apartment in the Beltline on the second floor of a four-storey walk-up. The light-filled space features crown mouldings, century-old hardwood flooring, big windows and all the interesting nooks and crannies that come with an older home.

Marlo Giannaccari and Chris Roche rang in the new year with new Windsor Park duplex

Marlo Giannaccari, 33, and Chris Roche, 31, began their home search two years ago, armed with a strong vision of their dream oasis. Location was top of mind, as was a modernist design approach and lots of room for their two adorable pooches, Pinot and Bronco. The couple had been living in Marlo's Windsor Park townhome, but they wanted to create a home of their own together. Eventually, they found a four-bedroom, two-storey, new-build duplex in the inner-city neighbourhood of Windsor Park. They moved into their light-filled abode in December, just in time to celebrate the new year.

Sheila Darragh is searching for her next home, after a quick sale left her scrambling

Sheila Darragh is a woman in transition. Her husband recently passed away, and, finding herself alone in a big home, she knew it was time for a change. She placed her single-family, bi-level home on the market and it quickly sold, leaving her scrambling for a new home in an area with a strong sense of community. Over several weeks, she looked around the city, toured several neighbourhoods, compared home styles and visited showhomes. Nothing felt quite right, until she visited a friend in Cochrane. She fell in love with the quaint feel of the town. But with a rapidly approaching possession date, allowing her little time to suss out a new home purchase, she's decided to rent in Cochrane while exploring the market.

Minerva and Glenn Kraushar plunged head first into homeownership in family-friendly Evanston

Eight years ago, Edmontonians Minerva and Glenn Kraushar tied the knot and then travelled south down the QEII to begin an exciting new adventure in Calgary. Glenn was beginning medical school at the University of Calgary and Minerva was finishing off her marketing degree. While in school, the couple bounced from rental home to rental home, their lives contingent upon the whims of landlords.

Couple nearing retirement secured lifestyle close to family and amenities with new-build condo

Dragica and Ron Presiloski are nearing retirement and looking to move closer to family. The couple is still working full-time – Dragica in dentistry and Ron in commercial water treatment. They've been living in Regina for several years, where they own a condo, but their son and his wife reside in Calgary, as do most of the couple's extended family. So, it was a natural progression for the Presiloskis to begin their home search here.

For Patricia Kan and Sam Schnitman, finding the right designer made their dream home a reality

Whether it's adding a few pops of colour and some fabulous artwork, or completely redoing the interior aesthetic, a designer can make all the difference when it comes to creating a polished look. That's why Brazil natives Patricia Kan and Sam Schnitman, who moved to Calgary three years ago, turned to Katie Rioux of DWK Interiors when it came time to furnish and decorate their new home in Mahogany. The couple wanted a family-friendly design for their three girls, aged 10, 14 and 21 – one that would highlight the home's stunning views of the surrounding wetlands. Rioux utilized neutral shades and soft textures, highlighted by pops of "bling" in the fixtures and hits of soft turquoise, creating an elegant and warm ambience that's perfect for cozying up by the fire or entertaining large groups.

Finding the right home in a welcoming community

When Chris and Carly Dykstra sold their home in Victoria's Oak Bay neighbourhood last spring, they debated what their next step would be. They had lived on the West Coast for close to 10 years, raising their three girls who are six, 10 and 11. But when push came to shove, the Dykstra family decided to move back to Calgary, where Chris had started his career and the couple's two eldest girls had been born. They found their perfect home, one that would accommodate three children, three Golden Retrievers, a cat and a bunny – a 4,500-square-foot, open-concept, custom home in the family-friendly neighbourhood of Watermark in Bearspaw.

Sumeet and Shweta Singla were drawn to Shawnee Park by promise of a new community within an established area of the city

Sumeet and Shweta Singla lived in the southwest community of Evergreen for over 14 years. They loved the location, the schools and their friends in the neighbourhood, but the couple and their 14-year-old daughter were ready for a bigger home.