Calgary Real Estate Listings of Bungalows
Find Calgary bungalow homes for sale below. Browse single-story homes perfect for families, retirees, and those seeking convenient, accessible living.
In the diverse and evolving housing market of Calgary, the bungalow has long been a beloved and sought-after home style. Characterized by its single-story design, the bungalow offers a level of simplicity, accessibility, and practicality that appeals to a wide range of buyers. While often overshadowed by the more dramatic appeal of two-story homes or modern multi-level structures, bungalows maintain a strong place in Calgary’s real estate landscape. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, a retiree, or a growing family, the bungalow style offers unique advantages—and some challenges—to consider when buying a home.
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What Is a Bungalow?
A bungalow is typically defined as a single-story home, with no additional floors above or below the main living area. This design makes bungalows particularly attractive to buyers who want the convenience and accessibility of living on one level. Historically, the bungalow style rose to prominence in the early 20th century and became a popular home design throughout the mid-1900s. Over time, the bungalow evolved, but its key feature remains its one-level layout.
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Understanding the Bungalow Home in Calgary, Alberta: Pros, Cons, and Who It’s Best For
In Calgary, Alberta, the city’s architectural styles showcase a distinct mix of practicality, heritage, and modern living, shaped by its unique climate, geography, and urban development. Among these styles, the bungalow holds a timeless charm. Known for its single-story layout, the bungalow has become a staple in Calgary’s housing market, offering a blend of simplicity and functionality that appeals to a variety of homeowners. But what makes a bungalow unique, how does it compare to other home designs, and what are the benefits and drawbacks of living in one? In this blog, we’ll uncover the defining features of bungalows, explore their advantages and challenges, and examine why this type of home continues to attract buyers in Calgary.
Structure of a Bungalow Home
Although bungalows can range in size, from compact designs ideal for small families or couples to expansive luxury homes, they generally share common features, including:
Single-Story Layout
The most distinguishing feature of a bungalow is that all living spaces are contained on a single floor.
Low-Pitched Roof
Bungalows typically have a low, often sloping roofline that can feature extended eaves, helping with rainwater runoff and shading.
Wide, Covered Front Porch
Many bungalows incorporate a welcoming front porch that spans the width of the home. This is especially common in traditional bungalows and adds to the home’s curb appeal.
Open Floor Plans
The layout of a bungalow often features open spaces, particularly in the kitchen, living, and dining areas, allowing for better traffic flow and natural light.
Basement or Crawl Space
While the main living areas are on the ground floor, bungalows often have a basement or crawl space for storage or additional living space, such as a home office, recreation room, or guest bedrooms.
Why Are Bungalows Popular in Calgary?
Bungalows hold significant appeal in Calgary for several reasons, making them one of the most desirable home styles in the city. Calgary is known for its sprawling suburban neighborhoods with large lots and relatively flat terrain, which is ideal for the wide, horizontal design of the bungalow. Additionally, Calgary’s cold winter months and the city’s emphasis on practical living make the single-story layout especially appealing for many buyers.
Flat Terrain and Suburban Living
Calgary’s vast suburban developments and relatively flat geography lend themselves well to bungalows, especially in communities like Edgemont, Lake Bonavista, and Silver Springs, where larger lots are common. The bungalow layout allows for easy construction on these expansive lots.
Accessibility
With an aging population in Calgary, there’s been a growing demand for accessible housing, and bungalows meet that need perfectly. There are no stairs to navigate, which is a major plus for seniors, those with mobility issues, and families with young children.
Lower Maintenance
For homeowners who are interested in maintaining their property with less hassle, bungalows are an attractive choice. They often require less exterior maintenance than multi-story homes, with fewer areas to clean and maintain.
Expansive Yards
A bungalow’s wide footprint generally means the property has larger front and backyards, perfect for families, gardeners, or anyone who values outdoor space. These yards also make bungalows ideal for hosting gatherings or having a personal retreat.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Living in a bungalow offers several key benefits that make it an appealing choice for certain homeowners in Calgary. Let’s take a look at the advantages of bungalow homes:
Single-Level Living
For many people, one of the biggest selling points of a bungalow is its single-level living. This design makes the home more accessible and comfortable for people at different stages of life. Here are a few reasons why a single-story layout is advantageous:
- Accessibility: Bungalows are ideal for seniors, people with disabilities, or anyone who may find stairs difficult. There’s no need to navigate multiple levels, making everything from bedrooms to bathrooms easy to access.
- Convenience: Young children or people with mobility issues won’t need to worry about staircases. Parents of young children especially appreciate the fact that they can be close to their little ones, no matter what part of the house they’re in.
- Safety: Without stairs to climb, there’s less risk of falls, which can be an important consideration for families with young children or aging parents.
Open Floor Plans and Spacious Layouts
Many bungalows feature open floor plans, which create a spacious and airy feel. With fewer walls and divided spaces, bungalows tend to have better natural light and more flow between rooms. Open spaces are also easier to renovate or customize, making the design more adaptable to the homeowner’s needs.
- Natural Light: Since bungalows have larger windows compared to multi-level homes, the layout typically lets in an abundance of natural light, brightening up the interior.
- Flexible Layouts: The wide, open spaces make it easier to modify the floor plan to fit your needs, whether you’re adding an office space, a home gym, or an extra bedroom.
Lower Heating and Cooling Costs
Because bungalows are smaller and have only one floor, they are often more energy efficient compared to multi-story homes. In Calgary’s colder months, this can result in lower heating costs, as there are no upper floors for warm air to rise to. The single-story layout also makes it easier to maintain consistent temperatures throughout the home.
Easier Maintenance
Since everything is on the same level, bungalows typically require less upkeep in terms of exterior maintenance compared to multi-level homes. There are fewer roof lines to clean, gutters to maintain, or windows to reach, which can make managing a bungalow more straightforward.
- Roof Maintenance: The roof in a bungalow is generally simpler to maintain and repair compared to a multi-level house.
- Yard Space: Bungalows often come with larger front and backyards, which are not only great for outdoor living but are also easier to manage on a single level.
Better for Outdoor Living
With their expansive yards, bungalows offer ample outdoor living space. Many Calgary homeowners enjoy large patios, decks, and garden spaces, especially given the city’s long summers and active outdoor culture. The single-story design allows for a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, making bungalows excellent homes for those who love to entertain or spend time in their yards.
Suitable for Future Renovations
Bungalows are highly adaptable. As your needs change over time, it’s easier to renovate a bungalow to accommodate a growing family, convert the attic into a bedroom, or finish the basement for extra living space. These homes offer a lot of flexibility as your needs evolve.
Cons
While bungalows are often ideal for many buyers, they do come with their own set of challenges. Let’s explore some of the drawbacks of bungalow living:
Limited Vertical Space
Reduced Storage: Without the option of utilizing the second floor, bungalows may require more creative solutions for storage, whether it’s building additional storage units in the basement or the garage.
More Land Required
Bungalows often require larger plots of land compared to multi-story homes. While this can be an advantage in terms of outdoor living, it can also mean higher land costs, especially in Calgary’s more sought-after neighborhoods.
Reduced Privacy
Since all rooms are located on the same level, privacy can sometimes be an issue, especially in homes with an open floor plan. For example, the separation between the living and sleeping areas may not be as distinct as it would be in a two-story home.
Potential for Limited Resale Appeal
While bungalows have broad appeal, they may not be as in-demand among certain buyer demographics. For instance, large families or those looking for multiple levels of living space might opt for a two-story home instead. Additionally, bungalows tend to be less efficient in terms of maximizing the use of a small lot, making them less desirable in dense urban areas where land is at a premium.
Who Is a Bungalow Ideal For?
Bungalows are best suited for first-time homebuyers, retirees, empty-nesters, and anyone who values accessible, single-story living. They’re also ideal for:
- Families with young children or older parents who need to be close to all areas of the home.
- Seniors or people with mobility issues who prefer not to navigate stairs.
- Homeowners who want to prioritize outdoor space and enjoy.