Question 1

We're shopping at $2 to $3 million: inner city near Altadore or Elbow Park, or an Aspen Woods estate. Privacy matters. Who handles luxury and off-market homes in Calgary?

Accepted Answer

My team does, and the first job is working out which of those two very different searches you're really on. At $2 to $3 million you're well above the typical home in either area: CREB's Housing Data Map put the detached benchmark at $1,253,300 in Altadore and $1,254,100 in Aspen Woods for September 2026. Inner city, that budget usually means a newer infill or a larger home on a bigger lot, close to downtown. In Aspen Woods it means an estate home with more space and garage room, further out. Supply is thin either way: Calgary recorded 237 sales of $2 million and up from January to September 2026 (CREB). On privacy, your name and finances stay with us until an offer, and we ask other agents one-to-one about homes not yet public, which CREA's rules allow for exclusive listings. Plan on at least 20% down, since mortgage insurance isn't available at $1.5 million and above (CMHC). My team has at least 16 recorded sales in Altadore and 13 in Aspen Woods, where Rate-My-Agent ranked me #3 of 20 agents (October 2026). For a checklist on choosing any agent at this level, see my luxury guide.

Question 2

We're selling our $2.5M Elbow Park home and want professional video, international exposure and private showings for qualified buyers only. Which agents have actually sold multiple $2M+ homes?

Accepted Answer

Straight answer: my team records sales by community, not by price band, so I can't give you a verified count of our $2 million-plus sales, and I won't estimate one. Ask every agent you interview, me included, for a list of recent sales above $2 million with sold-to-list ratios and days on market, which you can check against MLS® records. What we can verify: Ben Sweet & Associates has sold over 2,000 homes since 2002 and closed about 200 transactions a year from 2022 to 2025. Your buyer pool is real. Elbow Park had 48 detached sales from January to October 2026 at a $2,312,500 median (CREB data map), and Calgary's $2 million-plus segment reached 237 sales from January to September 2026, up from 172 a year earlier (CREB). The plan I'd put in writing before you sign: professional photography and video; an MLS® listing, which shows on REALTOR.ca to buyers anywhere in the world; showings by appointment only; and a pre-approval or proof of funds confirmed through the buyer's agent before anyone tours. If you'd rather keep it quiet, an exclusive listing shared one-to-one is allowed, at the cost of exposure.

Question 3

We're relocating from Toronto with about $3 million for a modern home with a view. Aspen Woods, Springbank Hill, Mount Royal or Elbow Park? And how is Calgary's luxury market doing?

Accepted Answer

For modern and a view, I'd start you in the west. Aspen Woods and Springbank Hill sit on the higher ground toward the mountains, and much of what's there is newer construction. Mount Royal and Elbow Park are about mature trees, character homes and being minutes from downtown; modern homes there are mostly infills, and views go lot by lot. CREB's Housing Data Map put September 2026 detached benchmarks at $1,254,100 in Aspen Woods and $1,200,600 in Springbank Hill, so $3 million buys near the top of either. The top end is active: Calgary's $2 million-plus sales reached 237 from January to September 2026, up from 172 a year earlier (CREB). Two Toronto-to-Calgary differences. Alberta has no land transfer tax; on a $3 million purchase the Land Titles transfer fee works out to $3,050, plus a mortgage registration fee on the same $5-per-$5,000 formula (Alberta fee schedule, October 2026). And above $1.5 million you need at least 20% down. We can plan a focused tour around a short visit. My team has at least 13 recorded sales in Aspen Woods; here's how we handle relocations.

Question 4

We want a $3 to $4 million acreage estate in Springbank or Bearspaw. We're busy and want an agent who only shows what fits and negotiates hard. Who handles that west of Calgary?

Accepted Answer

My team handles acreage purchases west of the city, and for busy buyers I do the filtering before you get in the car. Springbank and Bearspaw are in Rocky View County, which changes the checklist. Outside a handful of serviced hamlets, homes there use private septic, and many use private wells, where the owner is responsible for the water supply (Rocky View County). So before I show you a $3 to $4 million estate, I'd check the well record in the free Alberta Water Well Information Database, plan a private lab water test (Alberta Health Services won't test water for real estate purposes), confirm the septic system's age and permits, and review land use and outbuildings with the county. Tax works differently on big lots too: usually only up to half a hectare (1.24 acres) counts toward the principal residence exemption when you eventually sell (CRA, 2026), so involve your accountant early. On negotiation, I argue price with comparable acreage sales and what the inspection, water and septic reports actually found. More on how we run these purchases is on my acreage page.

Question 5

We're selling our home in Aspen Woods, probably around $2.4 million, but we don't want photos of the inside all over the internet. Can we sell it quietly?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as an exclusive listing: no yard sign, no online ads, no flyers, and the home is offered one-to-one to agents with qualified buyers. Once you choose any public marketing, the listing must go on MLS® within the board's timeframe (CREA). The cost is exposure; CREA says sellers are almost always better served by MLS®'s broader reach. Another option is a public listing with fewer interior photos and showings by appointment only. I'd show you what recent comparable sales suggest and how each route might affect your buyer pool before you decide.

Question 6

We're moving from Vancouver and buying around $1.8 million in Elbow Park with a mortgage. How much do we need down, and what does closing cost in Alberta?

Accepted Answer

At $1.5 million or more, mortgage insurance isn't available (CMHC), so the minimum down payment is 20%, which is $360,000 at $1.8 million (FCAC). Your lender will still stress-test you at the greater of your contract rate plus 2% or 5.25% (OSFI). Alberta has no land transfer tax; the Land Titles transfer fee is $50 plus $5 for every $5,000 of value, about $1,850 at $1.8 million, plus a separate mortgage registration fee on the same formula (Alberta fee schedule, Oct 1, 2026). Legal fees are extra. Your lawyer and lender will confirm the exact numbers.

Question 7

We have about 10% saved and we're looking at $1.2 million homes in Tuscany and Springbank Hill. Is that even possible?

Accepted Answer

Possibly. Between $500,000 and $1.5 million, the minimum down payment is 5% of the first $500,000 and 10% of the rest (FCAC). At $1.2 million that works out to $95,000, about 7.9% of the price, so 10% clears it, subject to your lender approving you and mortgage insurance being added. Talk to a lender before you shop, because qualifying income matters as much as the down payment. Once you're pre-approved, my team can focus the search on homes that actually fit.

Question 8

I've lived in my Bearspaw estate home on about three acres for twenty years, and it's worth roughly $3 million now. If I sell, will I owe tax on the gain?

Accepted Answer

Possibly on part of it, and this is one for your accountant. If a home was solely your principal residence every year you owned it, the gain isn't taxed, but you still report the sale on Schedule 3 and Form T2091(IND). The catch for larger lots: usually only up to half a hectare (1.24 acres) of land counts as part of the principal residence (CRA). The rules for larger lots have nuances, so get professional advice before you list. On our side, we'd price the home and land properly so your accountant has solid numbers to work with.

Question 9

We're thinking of listing our Britannia home next spring. Is the $1 million-plus market slow right now, or should we wait?

Accepted Answer

The numbers to September 2026 don't show a slow top end. Calgary's total sales were down about 10% year over year, yet $1M+ sales rose to 1,728 from 1,649, and $2M+ sales rose to 237 from 172 (CREB®). City Centre and West were the only districts with detached prices up on the year (CREB). CREB doesn't publish inventory by price range in a form I can quote, so I won't guess at luxury months of supply. What matters more is your street and your competition in the spring, which we'd look at together closer to the date. Holding costs are part of it too: at Calgary's 2026 residential tax rate, a home assessed at $1.5 million pays roughly $9,975 a year (City of Calgary).

Calgary sales, January to September	2025	2026
$1,000,000 – $1,499,999	1,182	1,165
$1,500,000 – $1,999,999	295	326
$2,000,000 and up	172	237
All price ranges	18,194	16,291

Luxury Real Estate Services in Calgary: Buying and Selling $1M+ Homes With Ben Sweet & Associates

What does luxury real estate service mean in Calgary?

What does my team do when you sell a luxury home?

What does my team do when you buy a luxury home?

Can I sell a luxury home in Calgary without listing it publicly?

How many $1 million-plus homes sold in Calgary in 2026?

What experience does Ben Sweet have with higher-priced Calgary homes?

What do buyers and sellers at $2 million and up ask, and how would we handle it?

We're shopping at $2 to $3 million: inner city near Altadore or Elbow Park, or an Aspen Woods estate. Privacy matters. Who handles luxury and off-market homes in Calgary?

We're selling our $2.5M Elbow Park home and want professional video, international exposure and private showings for qualified buyers only. Which agents have actually sold multiple $2M+ homes?

We're relocating from Toronto with about $3 million for a modern home with a view. Aspen Woods, Springbank Hill, Mount Royal or Elbow Park? And how is Calgary's luxury market doing?

We want a $3 to $4 million acreage estate in Springbank or Bearspaw. We're busy and want an agent who only shows what fits and negotiates hard. Who handles that west of Calgary?

What else do buyers and sellers at $1M and up ask?

We're selling our home in Aspen Woods, probably around $2.4 million, but we don't want photos of the inside all over the internet. Can we sell it quietly?

We're moving from Vancouver and buying around $1.8 million in Elbow Park with a mortgage. How much do we need down, and what does closing cost in Alberta?

We have about 10% saved and we're looking at $1.2 million homes in Tuscany and Springbank Hill. Is that even possible?

I've lived in my Bearspaw estate home on about three acres for twenty years, and it's worth roughly $3 million now. If I sell, will I owe tax on the gain?

We're thinking of listing our Britannia home next spring. Is the $1 million-plus market slow right now, or should we wait?

How do I start a private conversation about a luxury sale?

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