I get this question more than any other: "Jennica, where should I be looking?"

And I'll be honest with you — there's no one right answer. East Regina has over a dozen neighbourhoods, and they all have different personalities. What works for a young couple who wants a short commute and walkable coffee shops is completely different from what works for a family of five who needs a big yard and a quiet cul-de-sac.

So I put together this quiz to help you start narrowing things down. It's not scientific. It's not going to spit out a single perfect answer. But if you go through these eight questions and keep track of your answers, you'll have a much better idea of which neighbourhoods deserve a closer look — and which ones you can probably cross off the list.

Grab a pen. Or just keep a mental tally. Let's figure out where you belong.

Question 1: What's Your Budget?

A) Under $250,000 — I'm working with a tighter budget and that's okay.

B) $250,000 to $350,000 — I've got some room but I'm not trying to stretch.

C) $350,000 to $500,000 — I want options and I'm willing to pay for the right fit.

D) $500,000+ — I want space, quality finishes, and I don't want to compromise.

This one sets the foundation for everything else. I'm very patient with budget conversations because the number you start with shapes which neighbourhoods are realistic. There's no point falling in love with a $550,000 home in The Creeks if your budget is $300,000. And here's the thing — some of East Regina's best-value neighbourhoods are in that under-$300K range. Don't assume a lower budget means you're settling.

Question 2: What Matters Most to You in a Neighbourhood?

A) Walkability — I want to be able to walk to grab groceries or a coffee without getting in my car.

B) Space and a good-sized yard — I need room to breathe, room for the kids, maybe room for a garden.

C) Newer construction — I don't want to deal with old furnaces, dated layouts, or surprise repair bills.

D) Mature trees and an established feel — I like neighbourhoods that feel like they've been around a while, with big trees and some character.

This question tells me a lot about what you actually value day to day. I'll give you all the options and we'll sort through what matters most.

Question 3: What Stage of Life Are You In?

A) First-time buyer — I've never done this before and I'm figuring it out as I go.

B) Growing family — we need more bedrooms, more storage, and a neighbourhood where the kids can ride their bikes.

C) Young professional or couple — we want something modern and convenient, not a project.

D) Empty nester or downsizer — the kids are gone and I don't need all this space anymore.

Every day is different in real estate, and every buyer's situation is different too. Where you are in life right now changes which neighbourhood makes sense.

Question 4: How Important Is Your Commute?

A) Very — I need to be within 10 minutes of downtown or the hospital.

B) Somewhat — 10 to 15 minutes is fine. I don't mind a short drive.

C) Not really — I work from home most of the time. I care more about the neighbourhood than how close it is to an office.

Where you work changes the math on a lot of these neighbourhoods. Take your time thinking about this one, because commute frustration is one of those things that builds up slowly.

Question 5: What Does Your Ideal Weekend Look Like?

A) I'm outside — walking trails, cycling, or heading to the park with the dog.

B) Shopping, restaurants, grabbing a coffee. I want things to do nearby.

C) I'm in the backyard — gardening, barbecuing, or just sitting on the deck doing nothing.

D) Community stuff — farmers markets, neighbourhood events, getting to know the people who live around me.

I always tell people to think about how they actually spend their weekends, not how they think they should spend them. Be honest with yourself here.

Question 6: What Kind of Home Do You Prefer?

A) Modern open-concept — big kitchen, open living area, clean lines.

B) Classic bi-level or split-level — separate living spaces, a good layout for families, and usually solid value.

C) Bungalow — everything on one level. No stairs if I can help it.

D) Condo or townhome — I don't want to mow a lawn or shovel a driveway.

This is more connected to neighbourhood than people realize. Certain areas in East Regina are almost entirely bi-levels from the 1980s. Others are brand-new with open-concept plans. I'll walk you through what's actually available in each area.

Question 7: What's a Dealbreaker for You?

A) No garage — I need somewhere to park and store things. This is Saskatchewan.

B) No walkable groceries or errands — if I have to drive 15 minutes to get milk, that's a problem.

C) Cookie-cutter houses — I don't want to live in a neighbourhood where every house looks identical.

D) High condo fees or HOA costs — I want to know exactly what I'm paying each month.

Dealbreakers are useful because they eliminate options fast. I'll be honest with you — every neighbourhood has trade-offs. Knowing what you can't live with helps us focus on what you can.

Question 8: How Important Is School Proximity?

A) It's critical — I've got school-age kids and I want them walking to school.

B) Nice to have — we might have kids eventually, or we just like the idea for resale value.

C) Not applicable — no kids, no plans for kids. I care about other things.

Even if you picked C, being near a good school tends to support property values. Families are always looking in those areas, and that demand keeps prices steady.

Your Results

Alright, look back at your answers. You don't need to have picked the same letter every time — most people end up with a mix. But see which letter you leaned toward the most. That's your starting point.

Mostly A's — Spruce Meadows or Richmond Place

You're practical. You want good value and day-to-day convenience. Spruce Meadows is one of East Regina's most affordable options, with homes in the $230,000 to $320,000 range. It's quiet, it's got decent green space, and it works well for first-time buyers. Richmond Place is similar — established, affordable, and close to schools.

Mostly B's — Wood Meadows or Parkridge

You're family-oriented. You want a neighbourhood that feels settled, with good-sized yards and nearby schools. Wood Meadows is a strong pick in the $280,000 to $380,000 range — established with mature trees and walkable to Victoria Square. Parkridge is right next door with a similar feel, plus easy access to schools and Arcola Avenue for errands. Both are the kind of neighbourhoods where you can settle in for 10 or 15 years.

Mostly C's — Greens on Gardiner or Eastbrook

You like things newer, cleaner, and more walkable. Greens on Gardiner is East Regina's most walkable neighbourhood — built around a mixed-use village centre with restaurants, shops, and services. Homes range from $300,000 to $500,000. Eastbrook is a newer development with contemporary builds and architectural variety. If you want something that doesn't need work and feels fresh, these two are worth a look.

Mostly D's — The Creeks, Woodland Grove, or Wascana View

You want space, quality, and a neighbourhood that feels a cut above. The Creeks is one of East Regina's top-tier neighbourhoods, with homes ranging from $400,000 to $700,000+. It backs onto Wascana Creek with excellent walking paths. Woodland Grove offers mature trees and established homes in the $350,000 to $550,000 range. And Wascana View sits on the southern edge with larger lots and prices from $400,000 to $600,000+.

Mixed Results — Riverbend or The Towns

If your answers were all over the place, that's completely normal. It usually means you've got a mix of priorities. Riverbend is one of the most versatile areas — homes from under $250,000 up to $400,000+, a mix of styles, and centrally located with good access to everything. The Towns is another good option with a variety of home styles and a range of price points. Both give you options without boxing you in.

What to Do With Your Results

This quiz gives you a starting point, but every situation is different. I've worked with buyers who were sure they wanted one neighbourhood and ended up in a completely different one once we actually started looking. That's normal. The neighbourhood you think you want on paper doesn't always match the one that feels right when you're standing in the kitchen.

If you want to talk through what actually matters most to you — your budget, your timeline, what your weekday mornings and weekend afternoons need to look like — I'm here. No pressure, no rush. Just an honest conversation about where you'd be happiest.

Jennica George, RE/MAX Crown Real Estate
306-581-1212

Winter (November Through March)

One thing that doesn't come through on a listing sheet is what a neighbourhood actually feels like to live in month to month. I've had buyers tour homes in March and assume the streets are always that quiet. Then I've had others visit in July and think every weekend is a block party. The truth is somewhere in between, and it shifts with the seasons. East Regina has a rhythm to it — things people do, places they go, events that bring neighbours together — and it looks different depending on the time of year.

I wanted to put together an honest, season-by-season look at what community life actually looks like on this side of the city. Not the tourism brochure version. The version where you're living here, raising kids here, and trying to figure out what to do on a Saturday.

I'll be honest with you — winter is long in Regina. We're talking five solid months where it's cold enough that your plans revolve around what's available indoors, with outdoor time mixed in when the weather cooperates. But east Regina handles winter better than you might think, mostly because of a few key facilities and some genuinely active community associations.

Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre

This is the anchor for winter life on the east side. If you have kids, you're going to know this building well. It's got an indoor pool with waterslides and a separate tot pool for little ones, a fitness centre, and an indoor walking track that gets steady use from November through March. The walking track is one of those things people don't think about until it's -30 outside and they need to move their body without freezing.

The Regina Public Library's Sunrise branch is attached to the same building. So a typical winter Saturday for families in Riverbend or The Creeks might look like swimming in the morning, grabbing books at the library, and heading home for lunch. It's not glamorous, but when it's -35 outside, having all of that under one roof within a five-minute drive is a genuine quality-of-life thing.

Riverbend Outdoor Rink

The Riverbend Community Association maintains one of the better outdoor rinks on the east side. They renovated it a few years back with a proper concrete pad and LED lighting, so you can skate in the evenings after dinner. It's free to use, and on clear weekend afternoons you'll see families out there with their kids learning to skate and groups playing pickup hockey. It's the kind of thing that doesn't show up in a home listing but shapes what winter feels like.

Trails in Winter

The pathway systems don't shut down when the snow arrives. The McKell Wascana Conservation Park trails near The Creeks are popular with cross-country skiers and people who just want a winter walk through actual prairie landscape. The Riverbend lake loop trail gets packed down by foot traffic and stays walkable most of the winter.

Indoor Community Programs

Most east Regina community associations run indoor programming through the winter. Yoga, fitness classes, craft nights, family movie events — the specifics vary by neighbourhood and by year. I'd encourage you to check with the community association in whichever area you're considering, because the difference between a neighbourhood with regular winter programming and one without can really affect how connected you feel during those long cold months.

Spring (April and May)

Spring in Regina is honestly a bit of a grind at first. April can still bring snow, the yards are brown and soggy, and everything looks like it's been through a war. But by mid-May, the turnaround is dramatic. Green shows up fast once the temperatures hold above zero, and the whole city seems to exhale.

Garage Sale Season

This one's more practical than flashy, but it's a real east Regina tradition. Several neighbourhoods run community-wide garage sales in May and early June. Parkridge, Spruce Meadows, and Wood Meadows have all organized them in recent years. It's one of those neighbourhood events where you end up meeting people on your street you've only waved at all winter.

Parks Coming Back to Life

The snow melts, the mud dries, and suddenly the parks fill up again. Parkridge Park, Riverbend's trail system, and the pathways through Greens on Gardiner all get their first real traffic since October. Spring clean-up programs run through the community associations too.

The Market Picks Up

Spring is when the real estate market in east Regina gets busier. More listings, more open houses, and more buyers out looking. Open houses are actually a decent way to explore neighbourhoods you're curious about — you get to walk through homes, see the streets, talk to agents who know the area, all without any commitment. Take your time with it. The Regina Farmers' Market also starts up in spring.

Summer (June Through August)

This is when east Regina is at its best, and I don't think that's an exaggeration. The long days — we're talking sunshine until nearly 10 PM in June — completely change the feel of the neighbourhoods. People are outside. Kids are riding bikes. Families are on patios and in parks.

Parkridge Park Spray Pad

If you have kids under 10, you'll probably end up at the Parkridge spray pad more times than you can count between June and August. It's free, it's well-maintained, and on hot days it draws families from across the east side. Parkridge is one of those neighbourhoods where the park infrastructure really anchors community life.

Trails at Peak Use

The Riverbend lake loop trail hits its busiest in summer — joggers, cyclists, families with strollers, dog walkers. On a warm evening around 7 or 8 PM, the loop is genuinely alive with people. If you live in Riverbend, you'll start recognizing the same faces and having those casual neighbourhood conversations that build over time.

Wascana Centre Events

Wascana View residents have the closest access to Wascana Centre from the east side, and summer is when that really pays off. Outdoor concerts, festivals, and Canada Day celebrations with fireworks and live music. The Dragon Boat Festival, folk music events, and the Wascana Farmers' Market all happen in and around the park.

Neighbourhood Life

Summer is block party and barbecue season. The community associations in Woodland Grove, Greens on Gardiner, and Riverbend tend to organize summer events — barbecues, outdoor movie nights, meet-the-neighbours gatherings. I've seen this with clients who move to east Regina in winter and then are genuinely surprised by how social their street becomes once summer arrives.

If you're near Greens on Gardiner, Acre 21 has restaurants with patio season that runs from May through September. Having a walkable spot for dinner without getting in the car is something a lot of families appreciate more than they expected to.

Fall (September and October)

Fall in Regina is short but it's probably my favourite stretch of the year. The air gets crisp, the leaves turn, and there's this brief window — maybe four or five weeks — where the weather is perfect for being outside without bundling up.

Back to School Energy

September brings a shift. The neighbourhoods get busier in the mornings with school drop-offs, the playgrounds after school are packed, and the community associations ramp up their fall programming. The neighbourhoods close to schools — Woodland Grove, Parkridge, Spruce Meadows — feel especially active during this transition.

Last Walks Before Snow

I always tell people to take advantage of October. The trails through McKell Wascana and Riverbend are at their most scenic with fall colours, the temperatures are comfortable, and the crowds thin out compared to summer. It's the last stretch where outdoor recreation feels effortless.

Halloween

This one matters more to families than people realize, and I've had buyers specifically ask about it. The cul-de-sac layouts in Parkridge, Woodland Grove, and Greens on Gardiner make them popular spots — houses are close together, there's minimal through-traffic, and a lot of families go all out with decorations. Kids are walking in groups, parents are chatting at the end of driveways, and the whole thing feels like the kind of neighbourhood event that happens without anyone having to organize it.

What This Means If You're Buying

I walk through all of this because the community and activity side of a neighbourhood is something you can't measure on a spec sheet. The same house in two different neighbourhoods can feel completely different depending on what's going on around it. I've seen this with clients over the years — the ones who think about how they actually spend their weekends tend to pick neighbourhoods they're still happy with five years later.

If you want to talk through what daily life looks like in any of these east Regina neighbourhoods, give me a call at 306-581-1212. I'm happy to walk you through the specifics and help you figure out which area fits your family best. No rush — I'm here when you're ready.

Riverbend — The Smart Entry Point

I've noticed a real shift in who's buying in East Regina over the last couple of years. It's not just families with kids anymore. I'm working with a lot more people in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties who are early in their careers, sometimes working remotely, and trying to figure out where to land. Some grew up in Saskatchewan and came back. Others moved here from Ontario or BC because they realized their salary goes a lot further when you're not paying $2,400 a month for a one-bedroom apartment.

Whatever brought you here, the question is the same: which neighbourhood actually fits the way you live? Not the way your parents live. Not the way a family of four lives. The way you live right now — whether that's walking to grab dinner after work, having a short drive downtown, or just wanting a place that doesn't feel like it was designed exclusively for minivans and hockey bags.

I'll be honest with you — Regina isn't Toronto or Vancouver when it comes to nightlife and restaurant options. It's growing, and it's gotten a lot better in the last few years, but I'm not going to pretend you're going to find a different cocktail bar on every corner. What Regina does offer is something those cities can't: affordable homeownership in your twenties with a genuine quality of life. That trade-off is worth understanding clearly before you start shopping.

Here are the East Regina neighbourhoods I'd point you toward if you're a young professional.

If you're looking to get into the market without stretching yourself thin, Riverbend deserves a serious look. Condos here start around $150K, and townhomes sit in the $200K to $300K range. For a young professional making a single income, that math works in a way that most Canadian cities simply can't offer anymore.

I've seen this with clients who are a few years into their careers and tired of renting. They're not looking for a forever home — they want something that builds equity, keeps their monthly costs manageable, and doesn't chain them to a massive mortgage payment. Riverbend fits that profile well.

The neighbourhood sits around the lake loop trail, which is a real draw if you're someone who runs, bikes, or just likes getting outside after work. Downtown is a 10 to 15 minute drive. The low maintenance factor matters too — a condo or townhome means you're not spending your weekends mowing a lawn or shovelling a driveway.

Greens on Gardiner — Walkability That Actually Means Something

I use the word "walkable" carefully because in most Regina neighbourhoods, it doesn't mean much. Greens on Gardiner is the exception. The Acre 21 commercial area is built right into the community — Save-On-Foods, restaurants, a pharmacy, and a handful of other businesses you'd actually use on a regular Tuesday. You can walk there in five or ten minutes from most homes.

Homes here run in the $500K to $600K range, so it's not an entry-level neighbourhood. But if your income supports it — especially if you're a dual-income couple or you're working remotely on an out-of-province salary — the lifestyle trade-off is real. You're paying more for the house, but you might find yourself eating out less, driving less, and generally spending less time in your car.

The community itself skews younger than a lot of East Regina. There's a certain energy to it — lit walking paths in the evenings, people out jogging, neighbours who are actually around on weekday afternoons because they work from home. The resale potential here is strong too.

The Towns — Modern and Connected

The Towns is one of the newer developments in southeast Regina, and it has a feel that appeals to younger buyers. The builds are modern — clean lines, open floor plans, the kind of layout where you don't feel like you're living in someone else's idea of what a house should look like.

The commute downtown sits around 10 to 12 minutes. I've worked with a few younger couples who chose The Towns specifically because it felt like a community that matched where they are in life. It doesn't have the established-neighbourhood feel of some of the older areas, and that's actually the point.

Spruce Meadows — The Affordability Play

If your priority right now is getting into the market at a price point that doesn't keep you up at night, Spruce Meadows is worth your time. The median home price sits around $239K, which is about 28% below Regina's citywide benchmark. For a young professional on a single income, that's the kind of number that actually makes homeownership feel realistic rather than aspirational.

The Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre is right there, which includes a pool, gym, and fitness programs. That's a real plus if you're someone who wants to work out without paying $60 a month for a private gym membership.

I'll be honest — Spruce Meadows doesn't have the same commercial walkability as Greens on Gardiner or the modern feel of The Towns. It's a quieter, more established area. But for the price you're paying, you're getting a solid home in a safe neighbourhood with amenities that actually serve your daily life. And from a financial standpoint, buying at $239K versus renting at $1,400 a month means you're building equity from day one.

Wood Meadows — Quiet Value With Walkable Amenities

Wood Meadows is a neighbourhood I find myself recommending to young professionals more often than you might expect. Homes here land in the $279K to $285K range. You're paying under $300K and getting a real house in a real neighbourhood.

The draw here is Victoria Square. It's a small commercial area within walking distance that has groceries, a gym, and a few restaurants. It covers the things you'd use day-to-day. The neighbourhood itself is quiet — I won't oversell it as some kind of social hub. But for a lot of young professionals I've worked with, that's actually fine.

Eastbrook — Something Different

Eastbrook stands out from typical east Regina neighbourhoods, and that's by design. The developers here enforced architectural diversity, so you'll see Tudor, Prairie, Arts and Crafts, and Modern homes all on the same street. It doesn't have that copy-paste subdivision feel. If that matters to you — and I've found it matters a lot to younger buyers who've spent time in cities with more architectural character — it's a meaningful difference.

The naturalized green space is the other thing that sets Eastbrook apart. Ducks Unlimited partnered on the development, with wetland habitats and 1.8 kilometres of trails connecting everything.

Richmond Place — Practical and Underrated

Richmond Place doesn't make a lot of headlines, and that's part of what makes it a good pick for young professionals who are focused on value over flash. Homes here range from about $310K to $380K. It's a quiet, established neighbourhood with solid bones.

I've worked with young buyers who initially overlooked Richmond Place because it doesn't have the marketing buzz of newer developments. Then they actually drove through it, looked at what they could get for their budget, and changed their minds. It's practical, well-maintained, and lets you buy into the market without overstretching.

The Remote Work Factor

A growing number of young professionals I'm working with don't commute to a Regina office at all. They're working for companies in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, or even the US — earning those salaries while living here. And the math on that is genuinely compelling.

If you're making $75K to $90K working remotely for a company in a bigger market, your dollar goes dramatically further in Regina. A $280K home here would cost you $600K or more in the GTA. For remote workers, the neighbourhoods with better walkability and amenities tend to win out. If you're home all day, having a coffee shop, gym, or restaurant you can walk to becomes more important than the commute time.

Good internet is a fair concern. The newer developments in East Regina generally have solid connectivity — fibre is available in most communities built in the last decade. If you're looking at an older neighbourhood, it's worth confirming what's available at the specific address before you buy.

A Realistic Look at What Regina Offers

Take your time with this next part, because I think it matters. Regina's food and social scene has improved a lot. There are good restaurants downtown and along Victoria Avenue. There are breweries and local spots that didn't exist five years ago. The Warehouse District has brought some life to a part of the city that used to be pretty quiet after 5pm.

But if you're coming from a city where you could choose between forty different restaurants within a ten-minute walk of your apartment, Regina isn't that. What you get instead is time and money. A 10-minute commute instead of 45. A mortgage payment instead of rent that disappears every month. I've seen a lot of young professionals make that trade willingly, and I've yet to hear someone tell me they regret it.

Where to Start

If affordability is the main thing, start with Spruce Meadows or Riverbend. If walkable amenities matter most, look at Greens on Gardiner or Wood Meadows. If you want something with a more modern, distinct character, Eastbrook and The Towns are worth your time. And if you want solid value without the noise, Richmond Place quietly delivers.

There's no pressure to decide quickly. If you've got questions — or you just want to talk through what's realistic for your situation — I'm happy to help. You can call or text me at 306-581-1212. No pressure, no sales pitch. Just honest answers whenever you're ready.

What Makes a Neighbourhood Good for Dogs

I get asked about dog-friendly neighbourhoods more than you'd think. It comes up in almost every conversation with buyers who have pets — and honestly, it's a question that deserves a real answer. Not every neighbourhood in east Regina is equally good for dog owners. Some have kilometres of trails right outside your door. Others have tiny yards and no green space within walking distance. The difference matters when you're out there twice a day, every day, rain or shine or minus 30.

I've walked through all of these neighbourhoods with clients. I've seen which ones have the wide-open spaces that dogs love and which ones look good on paper but don't quite work for daily life with a pet. Here's what I'd tell you if we were sitting down together.

Before I get into specific areas, it's worth thinking about what actually matters when you're a dog owner looking for a home.

Yard size is the obvious one. If you've got a large or high-energy dog, a postage-stamp backyard isn't going to cut it. But yard size alone doesn't tell the whole story. Trail access matters — can you step out your front door and walk for 30 minutes without looping the same block three times? Green space matters. Proximity to off-leash areas matters. Even the street layout plays a role. Cul-de-sacs with no through traffic are safer for dogs than neighbourhoods built on a grid with cars cutting through.

Then there's the practical stuff: how close is the nearest vet clinic? Are there pet supply stores nearby? What do the fences look like — do most homes have fully fenced yards, or are you looking at chain-link half-fences that won't contain a determined retriever?

I'll be honest with you — there's no single perfect neighbourhood for every dog owner. A retired couple with a calm lab has different needs than a young family with a border collie that needs to run. So I'm going to give you the real picture for each area and let you figure out what fits.

Riverbend — The Trail Walking Capital

If your idea of a good morning is a long walk with your dog, Riverbend is going to be high on your list.

The 3.9-kilometre paved loop trail around the man-made lake is the heart of this neighbourhood. It gets heavy use from dog walkers — morning and evening, you'll see dozens of people out with their dogs on this trail. In the winter, the paths get packed down by foot traffic and you'll still see dog walkers out there in their parkas and boots. It's one of those spots where dog owners start recognizing each other and their dogs, which creates a nice little community within the community.

Here's the honest part, though. Riverbend is heavily condo-oriented. A lot of the housing here is condominiums and townhomes, which means smaller living spaces and shared outdoor areas instead of private yards. Some condo buildings have pet restrictions — size limits, breed restrictions, or limits on the number of pets. That's something you'd need to check building by building before you buy. If you've got a small to medium dog and the trail access is your priority, Riverbend works well. If you need a big fenced backyard, you'll want to look elsewhere.

The Creeks — Nature on Your Doorstep

The Creeks backs onto the McKell Wascana Conservation Reserve — 171 acres of protected native prairie and wetland. For dog owners who want real nature, not just a manicured park strip, that's a significant draw. The trails along Chuka Creek wind through actual grassland and cattail marsh. It's the kind of walking that feels like you've left the city, except you haven't.

The neighbourhood itself is designed almost entirely with cul-de-sacs and no through traffic. That matters when you've got a dog that likes to wander to the end of the driveway. The lots in The Creeks are wide, usually 14 to 18 metres, and backyards are generous. Many homes here have fully fenced yards with enough space for a dog to actually run around. The price point is high — this is a luxury neighbourhood with a median above $900,000 — but if your budget allows for it and you want trail access plus private yard space, it's hard to beat.

I'll be honest with you, though. The Creeks is not close to much in terms of commercial services. You're driving to get to a vet clinic or pet supply store. It's a trade-off: you get the nature and the space, but you're in the car for errands.

Greens on Gardiner — Built With Green Space in Mind

Greens on Gardiner was master-planned with over 40 acres of parks and green space woven through the development. The walking paths are lit, which makes a real difference in the winter months when you're doing the 5 p.m. walk in the dark. The path system connects through the whole community, so you can do a proper loop without retracing your steps.

Lot sizes here are mixed. Some of the newer builds have smaller footprints, which means smaller yards. But many homes do have fenced backyards with enough room for a medium-sized dog to move around. The Acre 21 commercial area is right there for pet supply access, which is convenient.

The one thing I'd mention is that Greens on Gardiner is still developing. Some areas are fully built out with mature landscaping, and others are still construction zones. Construction noise and activity can stress some dogs out — worth knowing.

Eastbrook — Wetlands and Wide Open Space

Eastbrook was developed in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, and it shows. There are naturalized wetlands running through the neighbourhood and 24 acres of dedicated parkland. The walkways are designed to feel less like sidewalks and more like nature paths, with open space on both sides. For dogs who need room to sniff and explore, this layout works really well.

The lots in Eastbrook tend to be decent-sized for a newer development, and most homes have fenced backyards. The streets are relatively quiet — it's a residential pocket without much cut-through traffic.

I'll be honest — Eastbrook doesn't have the dramatic trail system that Riverbend or The Creeks offer. The walks here are pleasant but shorter. But for everyday dog ownership — the backyard, the quick walk around the block, the weekend trip to the park — it handles it well.

Woodland Grove — Big Lots and Mature Trees

Woodland Grove is one of the more established neighbourhoods on the east side, and that maturity works in its favour for dog owners. The trees are full-grown, providing shade in the summer that newer developments just can't match. The lots are among the largest in east Regina, and many homes back onto green space or park areas.

The street layout relies on cul-de-sacs and crescents, which keeps traffic slow and local. The mature landscaping and bigger properties mean most fences here are well-established too — you're not looking at builder-grade chain-link that's going to need replacing.

The trade-off is that Woodland Grove doesn't have a dedicated trail system. You're walking neighbourhood streets and sidewalks rather than a paved loop or nature path. But the tree canopy and quiet streets make it pleasant walking.

Spruce Meadows — Affordable With Decent Yards

If you're a dog owner on a tighter budget, Spruce Meadows deserves a look. It's one of the more affordable east Regina neighbourhoods, and the yards here are decent. Not massive, but workable for most dogs. The streets are laid out in quiet crescents that don't attract through traffic.

The Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre area is nearby for longer walks — there's a man-made lake with paved paths behind the building that works well for dog walking. Take your time with this one. Spruce Meadows won't wow you with dramatic green space, but for practical, day-to-day dog ownership — a yard, quiet streets, and affordability — it gets the job done.

Wood Meadows — 1980s Builds With Room to Breathe

Wood Meadows was built in the 1980s, and one of the best things about that era of construction is the lot sizes. These are genuinely bigger lots than what you'll find in most newer developments. The yards are substantial, the mature trees provide shade and privacy, and there's a settled, lived-in feel.

For dog owners, that extra yard space is a real advantage. You can actually have a proper fenced backyard where a dog can run and play without feeling boxed in. Victoria Square is nearby for pet supply shopping. If your main priority is yard size and you don't want to pay Creeks-level prices, Wood Meadows is worth considering.

Parkridge — Backyards and Community Feel

Parkridge is the kind of neighbourhood where people actually know their neighbours. That matters for dog owners, because it means the people around you are more likely to keep an eye out for a loose dog, less likely to complain about barking, and more inclined to stop and chat while you're out walking.

The backyards in Parkridge are generous. The mature landscaping means fences are established, privacy is decent, and there's enough room for a dog to be a dog. I've seen this with clients who move from newer developments into Parkridge — they're surprised by how much more space they get for their money.

Regina's Dog Bylaws — The Stuff You Need to Know

Wherever you end up, you'll need to understand Regina's pet bylaws. Dogs must be on a leash in all public areas unless you're in a designated off-leash park. The city does enforce this, and fines start at $100. You're required to clean up after your dog — carry bags, always. The east end is a bit underserved for designated off-leash areas, which is something to be aware of. Many dog owners on the east side use the trail systems and park spaces for on-leash walking.

All dogs in Regina need to be licensed. It's $35 per year for a spayed or neutered dog. If you're buying a home and planning to fence your yard for a dog, check the lot survey and any restrictive covenants. Some newer developments have rules about fence heights, materials, or placement.

Vet Clinics and Pet Services

East Regina has decent access to veterinary care. There are clinics along Victoria Avenue, near the Woodland Grove and Eastbrook areas, and along Arcola Avenue. You won't have trouble getting to a vet from any of these communities — most are within a 10-minute drive.

Pet supply stores are concentrated around Victoria Square (convenient for Wood Meadows, Woodland Grove, and Eastbrook), Acre 21 (right in Greens on Gardiner), and along Victoria Avenue East.

So Which Neighbourhood Is Best?

If trail access is your top priority, Riverbend's 3.9 km lake loop or The Creeks' connection to McKell Wascana Reserve are the two best options. If you want a big private yard, Wood Meadows, Parkridge, and Woodland Grove give you the most space for your money. If you want a bit of everything — trails, green space, and commercial access — Greens on Gardiner hits a good balance. If budget is the main concern, Spruce Meadows gives you workable yards and quiet streets at a lower price point.

Take your time with this decision. Walk the neighbourhoods yourself — with your dog, if possible. If you'd like to talk through what's available, I'm happy to help. No pressure, no timeline — just honest information. You can reach me at 306-581-1212 whenever you're ready.

Appreciation vs. Liquidity: Two Different Things

When people ask me which neighbourhood in east Regina is the "best," I always come back with the same question: best for what? Because the neighbourhood that gets you the highest price and the one that sells the fastest aren't always the same place. And both of those are different from the one that quietly holds its value decade after decade without anyone really noticing.

Resale value is one of those things that sounds simple but gets complicated fast. I've seen clients buy in a new development, enjoy the house for eight years, and then struggle to sell because every other home on the street looks identical and three of their neighbours listed the same month. I've also seen people buy a $300,000 home in an established area and sell it for $340,000 five years later with almost no updates — just because the neighbourhood itself did the heavy lifting.

I'll be honest with you: nobody can predict exactly what your home will be worth in ten years. But there are patterns. Certain factors — school proximity, lot size, build quality, how mature the neighbourhood is, whether the city is investing in infrastructure nearby — show up again and again in the homes that hold and grow their value. Let me walk you through what I see across East Regina right now.

Before I get into specific neighbourhoods, I want to clear up something that trips people up. There's a difference between a home that appreciates (goes up in value over time) and a home that's liquid (sells quickly when you list it). You don't always get both in the same place.

A home in a high-demand neighbourhood might sell in 19 days, but if you paid a premium to get in, your annual appreciation could be modest. Meanwhile, a home in an established area might take 45 days to sell but appreciate 15% over five years because you bought at a reasonable price and the neighbourhood matured around you.

Days on market is the number I watch most closely for liquidity. The citywide average in Regina sits around 50 to 60 days. Anything under 30 tells me buyers are competing for that neighbourhood. Anything over 75 and sellers are making concessions. Appreciation builds your equity. Liquidity means you can access it when you need to. Keep both in mind.

The Creeks: Fastest Sales in East Regina

The Creeks is in a category of its own. The median home price sits around $900,000, and properties here average roughly 19 days on market. That's about 75% faster than the citywide average. For a luxury neighbourhood, that kind of liquidity is unusual.

Why does it sell so fast? A few things working together. The Creeks has strict architectural controls, which means every home meets a certain standard of design and construction. You don't end up with a $900,000 custom build next to a $400,000 spec home — the neighbourhood protects itself from that kind of mismatch. It also borders an environmental reserve, which means the green space behind your house isn't getting developed into more lots in five years.

The buyer pool is smaller — not everyone's shopping at $900K — but the people who are tend to be serious and financially ready. That combination of strict standards, protected green space, and motivated buyers creates the fast turnover. I've seen this with clients who bought here early in the development. Their homes have held value well because The Creeks doesn't flood the market with inventory.

Greens on Gardiner: New Infrastructure Driving Growth

Greens on Gardiner is one of the newer communities in east Regina, and it benefits from something you can't manufacture: timing. Homes here typically range from $500,000 to $600,000, with days on market averaging 20 to 30 days. That's well under the city average and a sign that buyers are actively seeking this neighbourhood.

The Acre 21 commercial hub is a big part of the story. Having shops, restaurants, and services within walking distance of your house does real things for your property value. It sounds obvious, but a lot of newer developments in Regina are still waiting for their commercial amenities to arrive. Greens on Gardiner already has them.

New infrastructure investment is the other factor. When the city puts money into roads, utilities, and parks in your area, that investment tends to show up in home values over the next five to ten years. Greens on Gardiner is in that window right now — the infrastructure is going in, the commercial area is filling up, and the neighbourhood still has room to mature. That's a good combination for resale.

The one thing I'd flag: because it's newer, most homes here are similar in age and style. That means when you go to sell, your direct competition is your neighbour's nearly identical house. The homes that stand out — upgraded landscaping, a finished basement, a thoughtful deck — tend to sell faster and for more.

Woodland Grove: The Neighbourhood People Don't Leave

Woodland Grove is a different kind of resale story. Homes here range from about $435,000 to $550,000, and the neighbourhood has what I'd call extremely low turnover. Buyers stay 20 years or more. When a house does come up for sale, it doesn't last long — but opportunities to buy are rare.

What keeps people here? The neighbourhood is built around cul-de-sacs, which cuts through traffic and creates that quiet, contained feel that families with young kids want. The Tyndall stone perimeter gives it a distinct, established look. And the lots are generous by modern standards — you actually have a yard.

From a resale perspective, low turnover is a double-edged thing. On one hand, it means when you do sell, there's pent-up demand because so few homes come available. On the other hand, it means there are fewer comparable sales to point to when setting your price. Appraisals can be tricky when the last sale on your street was 18 months ago.

I'll be honest with you — Woodland Grove isn't the neighbourhood where you'll see rapid year-over-year appreciation. It's the neighbourhood where values hold steady through downturns while other areas dip. That kind of stability has real value, even if it doesn't make headlines.

Wascana View: Location That Doesn't Depreciate

Wascana View is one of those neighbourhoods where the land itself carries significant value. Homes range from $450,000 to over $600,000, and the neighbourhood borders 930 hectares of Wascana Centre — one of the largest urban parks in North America. That kind of proximity to permanent green space is something you can't replicate, and it protects your resale value in a way that other amenities can't.

A lot of the homes here are custom builds from the 1990s and 2000s. That means they've had time to prove themselves structurally — the foundation has settled, the grading is established, and you can see how the house has held up over 20 to 30 years. For buyers, that's actually reassuring.

The resale advantage comes from scarcity. The neighbourhood is fully built out — no more land to develop. When supply is fixed and the location is desirable, values hold even when the broader market softens.

Parkridge: Best Value Buy in East Regina

I talk about Parkridge a lot because it's one of the most underappreciated neighbourhoods on this side of the city. Homes range from $280,000 to $330,000. Most come with double garages and sit on mature lots with established trees and landscaping. And you're about five minutes from Costco.

For resale, Parkridge works because of the price-to-quality ratio. You're getting more house per dollar than in most east Regina neighbourhoods. When it's time to sell, your buyer isn't stretching to afford the place — fewer lowball offers, less negotiation stress.

The neighbourhood is mature, which means the infrastructure is already paid for and maintained. Sidewalks, drainage, street lighting — it all works. Newer developments sometimes struggle with grading issues or infrastructure that's still being finalized. Parkridge doesn't have those growing pains.

Eastbrook: Quiet Strength in Newer Builds

Eastbrook doesn't get the attention that some of the flashier east Regina neighbourhoods do, but it's got a solid resale profile. The neighbourhood features newer builds with good architectural variety. There are naturalized wetlands and about 24 acres of parkland woven through the area, which gives it a green, open feel.

For resale, that parkland matters. Homes backing onto green space or walking paths consistently sell faster and for more than comparable homes on interior lots. That's not specific to Eastbrook — it's a pattern across Regina. But Eastbrook has more of those lots than many other neighbourhoods its size.

Riverbend: Entry-Level Liquidity

Riverbend serves a completely different buyer, but it belongs in this conversation. Condos here start around $150,000, and townhomes range from $200,000 to $300,000. The 3.9-kilometre lake loop trail is a genuine amenity that buyers mention in almost every showing I do in this neighbourhood.

Resale in Riverbend is about volume and affordability. There's always demand for entry-level housing. First-time buyers, investors, and downsizers all shop here. That broad buyer pool means your property is liquid — it'll sell when you need it to.

What Actually Hurts Resale Value

Take your time with this section, because it matters as much as the neighbourhood you choose.

Deferred maintenance is the big one. A roof that's past its life expectancy, a furnace that's 25 years old, windows with broken seals — buyers see these and either walk away or submit offers $20,000 to $40,000 below asking.

Outdated finishes don't kill a sale, but they slow it down. Oak cabinets from 1997 paired with laminate countertops and linoleum flooring — buyers in 2026 know what things could look like, and they discount accordingly.

Poor lot grading is the silent value killer. If water pools against your foundation after a heavy rain, a home inspector will flag it and your buyer will either renegotiate or back out.

Overdoing renovations can actually hurt, too. I've seen homeowners put $80,000 into a kitchen in a neighbourhood where the ceiling price is $350,000. You won't get that money back. Renovate to the level of your neighbourhood, not beyond it.

Choosing Based on Your Timeline

Buying for 3 to 5 years? Prioritize liquidity — neighbourhoods where homes sell fast. Greens on Gardiner, The Creeks, and Parkridge all have strong days-on-market numbers.

Buying for 5 to 10 years? This is where appreciation matters more. Greens on Gardiner and Eastbrook are still maturing, which means values have room to grow.

Buying for 10+ years? Stability is your friend. Woodland Grove, Wascana View, and Parkridge have all proven they hold value through market cycles.

The Bottom Line

There's no single "best" neighbourhood for resale in east Regina. It depends on your budget, your timeline, and what kind of value matters most to you — fast sales, steady appreciation, or long-term stability.

If you want to talk through which neighbourhoods make sense for where you are right now, I'm always available for a conversation. No pressure, no timeline — just honest information about what I'm seeing in the market. You can reach me at 306-581-1212 whenever you're ready.

What Renting Actually Costs in Regina Right Now

I get asked this question more than almost anything else. Someone's lease is coming up, or they've been renting for a few years and they're starting to wonder if they're throwing money away. Or they've been told they need to buy right now or they'll "miss their chance." Both extremes bother me.

The truth is, renting isn't always a waste and buying isn't always the right move. It depends on your actual numbers, your actual situation, and what the next three to five years of your life look like. So instead of giving you a motivational speech about homeownership, I'm going to lay out the real 2026 costs for both sides — specific to Regina, specific to east Regina — and let you decide what makes sense for you.

If you want to browse what's actually available while you're thinking this through, here's a good starting point: East Regina homes for sale.

Let's start with where things stand on the rental side, because a lot of people underestimate how much rents have climbed.

A one-bedroom apartment in Regina is running about $1,100 to $1,200 a month in 2026. Two-bedrooms are landing between $1,400 and $1,600 depending on the area and condition. If you need a three-bedroom house — which most families with kids do — you're looking at $1,800 to $2,200 a month.

That's just rent. Most places don't include utilities, so add another $150 to $250 for power, heat, water, and internet. A family renting a three-bedroom house is often paying $2,000 to $2,400 a month total when you add everything up.

And here's the part nobody loves hearing: rents go up. Saskatchewan doesn't have rent control. Your landlord can raise your rent once a year with proper notice, and there's no cap on how much. I've seen rents jump $100 to $200 in a single year. Over five years, that adds up to a lot more than you planned for.

What Buying Actually Costs at Different Price Points

This is where it gets interesting, because a lot of people assume buying is way more expensive than renting. In some cities, that's absolutely true. In Regina — especially east Regina — the gap is a lot smaller than you'd think.

I'm going to use a 5% down payment with a 25-year amortization at around 5% interest, because that's what most first-time buyers are actually working with in 2026. These numbers include mortgage payment, property taxes, home insurance, and CMHC insurance rolled into the mortgage.

A $240,000 Home — Richmond Place or Spruce Meadows

Your mortgage payment lands around $1,350 a month. Add property taxes ($200–$250/month), home insurance ($100–$120/month), and you're at roughly $1,800 to $2,000 a month total.

That's about the same as renting a three-bedroom house. The difference is that part of your payment is going toward equity — you're building something you own.

At this price point, you're looking at neighbourhoods like Richmond Place and Spruce Meadows. These are established areas with schools, parks, and solid infrastructure. They're not new builds, but they're well-maintained neighbourhoods where families have lived for decades.

A $300,000 Home — Wood Meadows or Parkridge

At $300K with 5% down, your mortgage payment is around $1,700 a month. Total monthly cost including taxes and insurance comes to about $2,200 to $2,500.

That's higher than renting a two-bedroom apartment, but you're comparing apples to oranges at that point — you're getting a full house with a yard, a garage, and no landlord telling you what colour you can paint the walls.

Wood Meadows and Parkridge are the neighbourhoods that come to mind here. Both have walkable amenities, mature trees, and the kind of quiet streets that make life with kids a lot easier.

A $450,000 Home — Riverbend or Woodland Grove

At $450K, your mortgage is closer to $2,500 a month. Total monthly cost is roughly $3,000 to $3,300 once you factor in taxes and insurance.

This is premium territory. You're paying more than any rental in the city, but you're also getting a newer home in a neighbourhood like Woodland Grove with modern finishes, energy-efficient systems, and the kind of build quality that keeps maintenance costs low for the first ten to fifteen years.

Riverbend is a bit different — you can find condos and townhomes starting well below $450K, but the detached homes push into this range and up.

The Hidden Costs of Owning (That Nobody Puts on Instagram)

I'd be doing you a disservice if I just compared mortgage payments to rent and called it a day. Owning a home comes with costs that renters don't deal with.

Maintenance and repairs. The general rule is to budget 1 to 2% of your home's value per year for upkeep. On a $300,000 home, that's $3,000 to $6,000 a year — or $250 to $500 a month set aside. Some years you'll barely touch it. Other years your furnace dies in January and you're writing a $5,000 cheque you weren't expecting. It happens. I've seen it happen to clients who moved in six months ago.

Property tax increases. The City of Regina reassesses property values periodically, and mill rates can change. Your taxes might go up $30 to $50 a month from one year to the next. It's not dramatic, but it's not zero either.

CMHC insurance. If you're putting less than 20% down, you'll pay mortgage default insurance. On a $240,000 home with 5% down, that's about $9,120 added to your mortgage. It doesn't come out of your pocket at closing — it gets rolled into the loan — but it does increase your monthly payment. At $300K with 5% down, the premium is around $11,400. It's the cost of getting in with less cash upfront.

Things break. Hot water tanks last about 10 to 12 years. Shingles last 20 to 25 years. Furnaces last 15 to 20 years. If you're buying a 1980s home in Glencairn or Wood Meadows, you need to know where these systems are in their lifecycle. That's part of why I always push for a thorough home inspection — I don't care if the market is competitive. Skipping the inspection to save $500 can cost you $15,000.

The Hidden Costs of Renting (That Landlords Don't Mention)

Renting has costs too — they're just less obvious because they don't show up on a bill.

No equity. Every dollar you pay in rent is gone. After five years of renting a $1,800/month house, you've spent $108,000 with nothing to show for it. After five years of owning a $300,000 home, you've paid down roughly $30,000 to $35,000 of your mortgage. That's real money sitting in your home's equity.

Rent increases with no ceiling. Your landlord isn't locked in. I've talked to renters whose rent went from $1,400 to $1,700 over three years. That's a $300 monthly increase that you have zero control over. A fixed-rate mortgage doesn't do that.

Landlord decisions. Your landlord can sell the property. They can decide not to renew your lease. They can defer maintenance that affects your quality of life. I've worked with families who had to move twice in three years because landlords sold. Moving costs add up fast — deposits, movers, time off work, kids changing schools.

No customization. You can't renovate a rental. You can't knock out a wall, finish the basement, or build a deck. For some people that doesn't matter. For others — especially families who want to make a place feel like theirs — it matters a lot.

When Renting Makes More Sense

I'll be honest with you: sometimes renting is the smarter choice. Here's when I'd actually tell someone to keep renting.

You're new to Regina. If you just moved here for work, rent for a year. Get to know the neighbourhoods. Figure out where you actually want to live before you commit $300,000 to a specific street. I've seen people buy too fast and regret the location within six months.

Your job situation isn't stable. If you're on a contract, in a probation period, or thinking about switching careers, wait. Buying a home when your income is uncertain puts you in a stressful position. There's no shame in waiting until your paycheques feel solid.

You're actively saving for a bigger down payment. If you can put 10% or 15% down instead of 5%, you'll save thousands on CMHC insurance and get a lower monthly payment. Sometimes an extra year of renting while you save aggressively is worth it.

You might move within two years. Buying and selling costs money — realtor fees, legal fees, land transfer tax. If there's a real chance you'll leave Regina in the next year or two, renting keeps you flexible.

None of these situations are failures. They're practical. Renting can be the right tool for where you're at right now.

When Buying Makes More Sense

On the other hand, there are clear situations where the math and the lifestyle both point toward buying.

You've got a stable income and you're planning to stay three or more years. Three years is roughly the break-even point where the costs of buying (closing costs, CMHC, early mortgage interest) start getting offset by equity growth and the stability of a fixed payment.

You want to build equity instead of paying someone else's mortgage. That $1,800 you're paying in rent is building your landlord's wealth, not yours. At $240K, a very similar monthly payment starts building yours.

You want control over your space. If you want a garden, a fence for the dog, a finished basement for the kids — you need to own. That might sound simple, but I've seen how much it matters to families who've been stuck in places they can't change.

You've got your 5% down payment saved. On a $240,000 home, that's $12,000. On a $300,000 home, it's $15,000. If you've got that saved and your credit is in reasonable shape, you're closer than you think.

The 5% Down Payment Reality

I talk to people who assume they need 20% down to buy a home. On a $300,000 house, that's $60,000. Most people don't have that sitting in their savings account, and that's completely normal.

In Canada, you can buy with as little as 5% down — $12,000 on a $240K home, $15,000 on a $300K home. The trade-off is CMHC mortgage default insurance, which adds about 4% of the mortgage amount to your loan. On a $228,000 mortgage (the remaining 95% of a $240K purchase), that's roughly $9,120. It's rolled into your payments over 25 years, so you're not paying it all at once.

Is it ideal? No. Is it realistic and reasonable? Yes. CMHC insurance exists specifically so that regular people — not just people with $60,000 in the bank — can buy homes. It's a cost, but it's a cost that gets you into the equity game years earlier than waiting to save 20%.

Why Regina Is Still Accessible

I don't take this for granted. In Vancouver, the average home costs over a million dollars. In Toronto, you're looking at $800,000 to $900,000. Even in Calgary and Edmonton, prices have climbed well past where most first-time buyers can comfortably reach.

Regina is different. You can buy a solid family home in an established east Regina neighbourhood for $240,000 to $300,000. That's not a fixer-upper with structural problems — that's a liveable, comfortable home with a yard, a garage, and schools nearby.

The fact that buying and renting cost roughly the same at the $240K price point is something most Canadian cities lost years ago. It won't last forever — Regina's prices have been creeping up, and they'll keep doing that. But right now, for regular people with regular incomes, this is one of the few cities where the rent-vs-buy decision is genuinely close.

Where the Math Tips Most Clearly Toward Buying

If you're looking at east Regina specifically, here are the neighbourhoods where the rent-vs-buy comparison leans most clearly in favour of buying.

Spruce Meadows — With a median around $239K, your total monthly cost of owning is often within $100 to $200 of what you'd pay renting a comparable space. At that point, the equity argument is hard to ignore.

Richmond Place — Similar price range to Spruce Meadows, with established homes and quiet streets. The monthly math works out nearly even with three-bedroom rental costs.

Wood Meadows — Around $280K to $285K, you're getting a full house near Victoria Square Mall for about $200 to $400 more per month than a comparable rental. But you're building equity with every payment.

Parkridge — The $280K to $330K range here gets you a house with a double garage and a decent yard. Monthly costs are higher than renting an apartment, but you're comparing a house to an apartment — not a fair fight.

Glencairn — Around $300K with homes that have real space. The older housing stock means you need to budget for maintenance, but the purchase price keeps your monthly costs competitive.

The common thread: these are all neighbourhoods where homes are priced under $330K, and the total monthly ownership cost stays within striking distance of what you'd pay to rent a three-bedroom house. The further you go above $350K, the wider the gap gets between renting and buying — and that's when you need to be more intentional about whether the timing is right.

Take Your Time With This Decision

I'm not going to tell you to buy right now. I'm not going to tell you renting is a waste. What I will tell you is that the numbers are worth looking at — specific to your income, your savings, and the neighbourhoods you're actually considering.

If you want to sit down and run through the real math for your situation, I'm happy to do that. No pressure, no timeline. Just an honest look at what makes sense for where you're at. You can reach me at 306-581-1212 whenever you're ready to talk it through.

When Downsizing Actually Makes Financial Sense

I've sat at a lot of kitchen tables over the years with couples who've raised their kids, watched them leave, and are now staring down a house that feels too big. The furnace needs replacing. The property taxes keep climbing. There are three bedrooms nobody sleeps in and a backyard nobody uses. And still, the thought of selling makes their stomach drop.

That's normal. Downsizing isn't really about square footage. It's about closing a chapter. The doorframe where you pencilled in the kids' heights. The kitchen where Thanksgiving happened every year. The backyard where the dog used to run circles. Those things don't show up on a listing sheet, and they matter more than most people are willing to say out loud.

So if you're in that spot — knowing it probably makes sense to move but not quite ready to feel good about it — I get it. I've walked through this with enough families to know that the practical stuff and the emotional stuff are tangled together, and you can't just skip to the spreadsheet. Let's talk about both.

Not every empty nester needs to downsize. Some people love their house, can afford it, and want to stay. There's nothing wrong with that. But for a lot of people, the numbers start telling a story that's hard to ignore.

If your home is worth $450,000 or more and you're carrying it debt-free, that's a significant amount of equity sitting in a building you're heating, insuring, and maintaining for two people. A 2,500-square-foot home in Regina costs real money to run — property taxes, utilities, a roof that'll need replacing every 20-25 years, a furnace that doesn't last forever. Those costs add up quietly. I've had clients realize they were spending $8,000 to $12,000 a year just on maintenance, taxes, and utilities for space they weren't using.

Here's the math that usually gets people's attention: if you sell a home worth $500,000 and buy a bungalow or condo for $300,000 to $350,000, you've freed up $150,000 or more in equity. That money can go into retirement savings, travel, helping the grandkids, or just peace of mind knowing it's there. And your monthly carrying costs — taxes, utilities, insurance, maybe condo fees — drop meaningfully.

I'm not saying you should rush into anything. But if the house is costing more to maintain than it's giving back in daily life, it's worth running the numbers with an honest eye.

What "Downsizing" Actually Looks Like in East Regina

When people hear "downsizing," they tend to picture a tiny apartment. That's not what we're talking about. In east Regina, downsizing usually means one of three things.

Bungalows. A lot of empty nesters want to stay on one level. No more stairs, no more running up and down to do laundry. East Regina has some really well-built bungalows — both newer construction and established homes — that give you 1,200 to 1,600 square feet on the main floor. That's plenty of space for two people and enough room for grandkids to visit.

Condos. If you're done with yard work and snow clearing, condos take that off your plate entirely. You lock the door and leave. The east side has newer condo developments where your monthly fee covers exterior maintenance, landscaping, and sometimes even snow removal. Entry points start around $200,000 and go up depending on size and finishes.

Townhomes. These split the difference. You get your own front door, maybe a small patio or yard, but with shared exterior maintenance through a condo association. Townhomes in east Regina range from roughly $300,000 to $500,000 depending on the neighbourhood, and they tend to feel more like a house than a traditional condo does.

The right format depends on what you actually want your daily life to look like. I always ask clients: do you want a garden? Do you want to shovel? Do you want a guest bedroom or a guest suite? Those answers narrow things down quickly.

The Best East Regina Neighbourhoods for Empty Nesters

East Regina works well for retirees and downsizers for practical reasons. You've got the Pasqua Hospital and medical clinics nearby. The Aurora and Quance Street shopping corridors handle most daily errands within a 5- to 10-minute drive. And the residential feel out here is noticeably quieter than other parts of the city. It's not isolated — it's just settled.

Here are the neighbourhoods I'd look at closely.

East Pointe Estates — Affordable Condos and Low Maintenance

East Pointe Estates is one of the more practical downsizing options on the east side. The newer condos and townhomes here start around $207,000 to $250,000, which means you can sell your family home, buy here, and come out with a significant amount of equity freed up.

The Pilot Butte Creek pathway runs through the neighbourhood, so you've got a walking route right outside your door without needing to drive to a park. For shopping, you're close to the Aurora area — Costco, Landmark Cinemas, and the usual big-box stores are about five minutes away. Condo fees are reasonable, typically $150 to $200 a month, and they cover exterior maintenance so you're not up on a ladder cleaning gutters in October.

It's not a luxury neighbourhood. I'll be honest about that. But if what you care about is an affordable, low-maintenance home with good access to everything you need, East Pointe Estates delivers without pretending to be something it's not.

Wascana View — Established Prestige with Green Space

Wascana View is a different conversation entirely. This is Regina's premium residential area, and the homes reflect that — you're looking at $600,000 on the low end up to $1.7 million for the best lots. But for empty nesters who've built wealth through their home and want to downsize into something smaller that still carries prestige, Wascana View has options.

The neighbourhood borders 930 hectares of Wascana Centre parkland. Most Regina residents drive to Wascana Centre. People who live here walk. The streets curve along the Wascana Creek valley, and the five-finger greenspace design means walking paths weave behind many of the homes. For retirees who want daily access to trails, birdwatching, and genuine nature without leaving their neighbourhood, there's really nothing else like it in the city.

The homes are custom-built from the 1990s and 2000s — mature landscaping, solid construction, generous lots. Turnover is low, which means inventory is limited. If this is your price range and the setting speaks to you, it's worth watching the market patiently.

The Creeks — High-End New Construction, Minimal Upkeep

The Creeks draws a surprising number of downsizers, and not just because of the price tag (median around $900,000). A lot of retirees who've sold acreages or larger properties want quality finishes without compromising on standards. The architectural controls here require stucco, stone, or brick exteriors — no vinyl siding — and the lots are designed to be manageable. You're not taking on a half-acre of lawn.

The McKell Wascana Environmental Reserve sits right on the neighbourhood's edge — 171 acres of protected prairie and wetland with trails along Chuka Creek. The streets are almost entirely cul-de-sacs with no commercial traffic. It's consistently one of the safest neighbourhoods in the city.

For retirees who want a newer home that'll hold its value, a quiet setting, and access to nature, The Creeks is hard to argue with. Just know that it's car-dependent for errands, and inventory is tight — typically only about four homes for sale at any given time.

Spruce Meadows — Budget-Friendly Condos on the East Side

If your priority is keeping costs low and life simple, the east side of Spruce Meadows has newer condos built after 2020 that make a lot of sense for downsizers. You can get into the market here from around $200,000, which means you're potentially freeing up a significant chunk of equity from your current home.

The Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre is walkable from most of the neighbourhood — pool, gym, library branch all in one spot. That kind of daily access matters when you're retired and looking for routine and activity without driving across the city. The Prince of Wales Drive corridor handles groceries and errands, and the Aurora Shopping area is close by.

Spruce Meadows isn't flashy. It's not going to impress anyone at a dinner party. But if you want a safe, quiet, affordable place where the maintenance is handled and you can walk to the things you use every day, it's one of the best-value options in east Regina.

Greens on Gardiner — Community Feel with Walkable Amenities

Greens on Gardiner is the neighbourhood I mention most when empty nesters tell me they want to downsize but don't want to feel isolated. The Acre 21 commercial hub is built right into the community — Save-On-Foods, restaurants, a pharmacy, services — and most of it's walkable from your front door. That's rare in Regina.

There are newer bungalows and townhomes here in the $350,000 to $500,000 range that work well for two people who want space without excess. Over 40 acres of parks and green space run through the neighbourhood, connected by lit walking paths. For retirees who want to walk to the grocery store, stroll through green space in the evening, and feel like they're part of a community, Greens on Gardiner checks a lot of boxes.

The neighbourhood skews younger — lots of families with kids — so it's got an energy to it. Some empty nesters love that. Others prefer something quieter. It depends on what you're after.

Practical Tips for Making the Move

The decision to downsize is one thing. Actually doing it is another. Here's what I've seen work well.

Start sorting before you list. Don't try to pack up 25 years of a family home in two weeks. Give yourself months. Go room by room. Keep what matters, donate what's useful, and be honest about what you're holding onto out of guilt versus love. I've had clients rent a small storage unit during the transition so they don't feel like they have to make every decision at once.

Stage your current home for the market it's in. Your family home probably has personal touches everywhere — photos on every wall, the kids' art on the fridge, a craft room that only makes sense to you. A buyer needs to see themselves in the space. That means decluttering, depersonalizing, and letting the bones of the house speak. I'll walk you through exactly what to do and what not to worry about.

Think carefully about timing. The ideal scenario is selling your current home first, so you know exactly what you're working with financially. Then you buy. In a balanced market like Regina's, you usually have enough time between accepting an offer and closing to find your next place. If the timing gets tight, bridge financing or a longer closing date can give you breathing room. I've handled this enough times that we can plan it so you're not sleeping on your kid's couch.

Visit neighbourhoods at different times of day. Drive through on a weekday morning, a Saturday afternoon, and a weekday evening. You'll get a much better sense of traffic, noise, and the general pace of life. A neighbourhood can feel completely different at 10 AM versus 6 PM.

Run the real numbers. Don't just compare purchase prices. Factor in condo fees, property taxes at the new assessed value, utilities for a smaller space, and what you'll save on maintenance. I've seen people surprised in both directions — sometimes the savings are bigger than expected, sometimes the condo fees eat into them more than anticipated. Better to know upfront.

It's a Big Decision — Take Your Time

Downsizing isn't something you do on a whim. It's one of the most personal real estate decisions there is, because you're not just buying a new house — you're leaving one that meant something. I've sat with enough families going through this to know that it takes time, and there's no reason to rush.

If you're starting to think about it, even casually, it helps to have a conversation early. Not a sales pitch — just an honest look at what your current home is worth, what's available in the neighbourhoods you're considering, and what the numbers actually look like. I'm very patient with this process because I think you deserve to be.

You can browse everything available in East Regina to get a sense of what's out there. And when you're ready to talk it through, I'm here. Call or text me at 306-581-1212 — I'll truly listen to what matters to you, give you all the options, and let you make the decision that feels right.

I get a few calls every month from people in Vancouver, Toronto, or Calgary who've been quietly researching Regina. They've seen the housing prices online. They've done the math on their mortgage payments. And now they're wondering if it's real — if you can actually buy a four-bedroom home with a double garage and a backyard for what a one-bedroom condo costs them right now.

It's real. But there's more to relocating than just the price tag on a house. I've helped out-of-province buyers navigate every part of this move, from the initial "am I really doing this?" phone call to the day they pick up their Saskatchewan plates. So let me walk you through what moving to east Regina actually looks like — the good parts, the practical stuff, and the honest reality checks you won't find on a tourism website.

The Affordability Shock

Let's start with the part that makes people's eyes widen.

In the $300,000 to $500,000 range in east Regina, you're looking at a detached single-family home. Not a condo. Not a townhouse. A house — with a yard, a garage, and enough square footage that your kids don't have to share a bedroom.

At $350,000, you'll find solid options in Spruce Meadows, Wood Meadows, or Richmond Place — 1,200 to 1,500 square feet, established lots, functional neighbourhoods with schools and parks already in place.

At $450,000 to $500,000, you're into newer builds in Parkridge, Eastbrook, or Woodland Grove — we're talking 1,800-plus square feet, open-concept layouts, double attached garages, and modern finishes. In Vancouver, that money gets you a parking spot. In Toronto, maybe a deposit.

The property taxes are lower too. A $400,000 home in Regina runs roughly $3,200 to $3,800 per year in property tax. Compare that to what you're paying in the GTA or Metro Vancouver, and the monthly savings add up fast.

I'm not going to pretend Regina is Toronto or Vancouver — it's not, and it shouldn't try to be. But your dollar goes further here, and for a lot of families, that changes everything. You can browse all east Regina homes for sale to see what's available right now.

What East Regina Actually Looks Like

People who've never been here picture flat prairie and not much else. I get it. But east Regina has grown a lot in the past 15 years, and the neighbourhoods on this side of the city are some of the most well-planned communities in Saskatchewan.

The southeast quadrant has newer subdivisions like The Towns, Eastbrook, and Greens on Gardiner — built within the last decade with connected pathway systems, naturalized green space, and commercial hubs within walking distance. Then you've got established neighbourhoods like Woodland Grove and Parkridge, where the trees are mature, the lots are bigger, and the community has had time to settle in.

Schools are a big draw. Regina Public Schools and Regina Catholic Schools both have strong coverage in the east end, and you'll find French Immersion options at several schools.

Parks and trails aren't an afterthought either. Riverbend has a 3.9 km lake loop trail. Eastbrook has naturalized wetlands and over 24 acres of dedicated parkland. The Creeks backs onto 171 acres of protected environmental reserve. This isn't a concrete sprawl — there's real green space woven through these communities.

The Practical Stuff Nobody Talks About

This is the part that catches people off guard, so let me save you the confusion.

Driver's licence. You have 90 days after becoming a Saskatchewan resident to swap your out-of-province licence. SGI handles everything — bring your existing licence and proof of address, and they'll issue a Saskatchewan licence. Budget about $50 for the licence fee. Your driving history transfers.

Health card. This one's important. Saskatchewan has a three-month waiting period before your provincial health coverage kicks in. That means for the first 90 days, you're not covered under the Saskatchewan Health Authority. I always tell my out-of-province clients to either confirm their previous province will still cover them during the transition or look into interim private health insurance.

Vehicle registration. You need to register and insure your vehicle through SGI within 90 days. Saskatchewan uses a public auto insurance system — most people coming from BC or Ontario find the costs are comparable or lower.

Property taxes. Regina's property tax rate is competitive with most mid-size Canadian cities. The City of Regina sends out annual tax notices, and most mortgage lenders can roll property tax into your monthly payment.

The Weather — Let's Be Honest

I'm not going to sugarcoat this. Saskatchewan winters are cold. We're talking minus 30 with wind chill in January and February, and it stays below zero from roughly November through March. If you're coming from Vancouver, that's going to feel extreme.

But here's what I tell people: it's predictable. You know winter's coming, you prepare for it, and you get through it. Block heaters, winter tires, a good parka — these aren't optional. The good news is that Saskatchewan gets more sunshine hours than almost any other province. Even in January, you'll get clear blue-sky days. It's cold, but it's bright.

And summers? Summers are honestly one of the best-kept secrets about living here. June through August you'll get long, warm days — highs in the mid-20s to low 30s, sunshine until 10 PM, and enough outdoor festivals and lake weekends to fill every calendar slot.

Which Neighbourhood Fits Your Life?

Young Professionals and Couples

If you're relocating for work and you want something modern without a huge footprint, look at Riverbend, The Towns, or Eastbrook. Riverbend has condos and townhomes built around a lake with trail access. The Towns offers newer builds close to commercial amenities. Eastbrook has architectural variety and naturalized green space. All three are 10 to 15 minutes from downtown.

Families with School-Age Kids

Parkridge, Woodland Grove, and Creekside are the ones I bring up most often. Parkridge has mature lots, walkable schools, and strong value. Woodland Grove gives you established trees and cul-de-sac streets. Creekside is a newer option with family-sized homes. All three have the kind of streets where you'll see kids playing outside after dinner.

Downsizers and Empty Nesters

East Pointe Estates and Wascana View are worth a serious look. East Pointe Estates has condos and townhomes starting in the low $200Ks with walking trails. Wascana View offers a more upscale feel with park access and quieter streets.

Budget-Conscious Buyers

Spruce Meadows, Wood Meadows, and Richmond Place offer some of the best value in east Regina. Spruce Meadows has a median around $239K. Wood Meadows brings bigger lots and mature trees under $285K. These aren't flashy neighbourhoods, but they're functional, safe, and honestly priced.

Where You'll Work

Downtown Regina is 10 to 20 minutes from most east-side neighbourhoods. Government jobs are concentrated downtown and in the north end. The University of Regina campus is right on the edge of the southeast. The Global Transportation Hub and the industrial east end are easy to reach via Ring Road.

Remote workers are a growing group too. I've had clients come from BC and Ontario who work remotely and chose Regina purely for the cost of living. Their salary didn't change, but their mortgage went from $3,500 a month to $1,400. That math is hard to argue with.

What Surprises People Most

The community. Regina is small enough that you'll run into people you know at the grocery store. Your neighbours will introduce themselves. People wave. It's not performative — it's just how things are here.

The space. Not just lot sizes and square footage, but the feeling of space. Wide streets. Open sky. No bumper-to-bumper traffic at 7 AM.

The food scene. Regina's restaurant culture has grown a lot. It's not going to compete with Toronto's, and I won't pretend it does. But there are genuinely good local restaurants and craft breweries that surprise people.

The lack of mountains. If you're coming from BC or Alberta, you'll notice the flat horizon. Some people miss the mountains badly. Others find the prairie sky has its own kind of beauty.

Making the Move

If you're seriously considering this, come visit first if you can. Drive around the east side. Walk through a few neighbourhoods. Get a feel for the pace of the city.

Get your mortgage pre-approval sorted before you start looking at homes. And talk to someone who knows the neighbourhoods — the actual, honest differences between communities.

That's where I come in. I'll truly listen to what matters to you, give you all the options, and let you make the decision that fits your family. No pressure, no rush. Give me a call at 306-581-1212 or send me a message. I'm happy to answer whatever questions you've got — even the ones you think might be silly. They're not.

I'm not going to sugarcoat this. Regina winters are cold. I don't mean "bundle up and it's fine" cold — I mean there'll be stretches in January and February where the windchill dips to -40 and your eyelashes freeze together on the walk to the car. Snow starts falling in November, and it doesn't really leave until late March. Sometimes April, if we're being honest. That's five months of serious winter, and if you're buying a home in east Regina, it's worth understanding what that actually looks like day to day.

I've lived through enough Saskatchewan winters to know that the cold itself isn't really the problem. Most people adapt. What catches new homeowners off guard is how differently homes handle winter depending on when they were built, how they were insulated, and which neighbourhood they're in. That's the stuff I want to walk you through, because it directly affects your heating bills, your comfort, and how much maintenance you're dealing with from November through March.

The Reality of a Regina Winter

Let's start with the numbers so there aren't any surprises. Average daytime temperatures in January sit around -15 to -17 degrees Celsius. That's before windchill. When the wind picks up across the prairies — and it will, because there's nothing between here and the Rockies to slow it down — windchills of -30 to -40 are a regular occurrence. We usually get a few extreme cold warnings each winter where Environment Canada tells everyone to limit time outdoors.

Snowfall totals average around 100 to 115 centimetres for the season. It doesn't come all at once. You'll get a dump in November that sticks, a few more storms through December, and then January and February bring the cold and the blowing snow. Saskatchewan snow is usually dry and powdery, which means it drifts. A lot. If your house sits on an exposed lot with nothing blocking the north wind, you'll be shovelling your driveway more often than your neighbour who's tucked behind a row of mature spruce trees.

The short daylight hours are the other thing people don't always think about. By mid-December, you're looking at about eight hours of daylight. The sun sets before 5 PM. That's just the reality of living at this latitude, and it makes lit walking paths, indoor recreation, and a warm home feel more important than they might during a house tour in July.

How Different Neighbourhoods Handle Winter

This is where it gets practical and where I think I can actually save you some money and frustration. Not all east Regina homes are built the same, and winter is when those differences show up clearly.

In established neighbourhoods like Spruce Meadows, Wood Meadows, and Parkridge, you're looking at homes built in the late 1980s through early 2000s. These are solid houses, and most have been well-maintained. But the insulation standards from that era are noticeably different from what's going into new builds today. R-20 wall insulation was common back then. Current code calls for R-24 in walls and R-50 or higher in attics. That gap shows up directly on your heating bill.

I've worked with buyers who moved from a 2020s home in Greens on Gardiner into a 1990s bi-level in Spruce Meadows and saw their monthly gas bill jump by $80 to $120 during peak winter months. That's not a knock on Spruce Meadows — those homes are priced accordingly, and the neighbourhood is well-established with mature trees that actually help block wind. But it's something to budget for honestly.

On the other end, newer developments like The Creeks, Greens on Gardiner, and The Towns are built to modern energy codes. Triple-pane windows, higher-rated insulation, sealed building envelopes, and high-efficiency furnaces are standard. These homes hold heat better and cost less to warm, which matters when your furnace is running almost continuously for three months straight.

Riverbend sits in the middle — most homes date to the 2000s, so you're getting better insulation than the 1990s builds but not quite what's going in today. It's a good middle ground if you want an established neighbourhood with reasonable winter costs.

Winter Activities and Getting Out of the House

Five months is a long time to stay indoors, and most east Regina residents don't try. There's actually quite a bit to do if you know where to look.

Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre is the big one for this part of the city. It's got a pool with waterslides and a tot pool, a fitness centre, an indoor walking track, and regular programming for families. The Regina Public Library's Sunrise branch is attached to the building, so you can make a full afternoon of it with kids — swim, then library, then a snack. In the dead of winter when it's -35 outside, that place is a lifeline for families with young children.

The Riverbend Community Association maintains an outdoor rink that gets a lot of use from November through March. They renovated it a couple of years back with new boards, LED lighting, and a proper concrete pad. It's free to use, and on a clear Saturday afternoon you'll see families out there skating and playing pickup hockey.

The pathway systems throughout east Regina don't disappear in winter, either. The trails around Riverbend's man-made lake get packed down by foot traffic and are popular with dog walkers and cross-country skiers. The McKell Wascana Conservation Park near The Creeks has groomed trails that are genuinely beautiful with fresh snow on the prairie grass.

Practical Winter Homeowner Tips

Alright, here's the stuff nobody talks about during summer showings but that matters a lot once November hits.

Furnace maintenance is not optional. Get your furnace serviced every fall — ideally in September or October before the heating companies get slammed. A furnace inspection runs around $100 to $150 and catches problems before they leave you without heat on a -35 night.

Know the snow removal bylaw. The City of Regina requires you to clear snow from sidewalks adjacent to your property within 24 hours after a snowfall ends. If you don't, you can get a fine. For corner lots, this can be a significant amount of sidewalk. Some homeowners hire snow removal services — typical contracts run $400 to $800 for the season.

Window condensation is normal — to a point. When it's -30 outside and +21 inside, you're going to get some condensation on windows, especially in older homes with double-pane glass. Ice buildup on the inside of your windows or frost that doesn't clear is a sign of either too much indoor humidity or failing window seals.

Frozen pipes happen, and there are ways to prevent it. Keep your thermostat at a consistent temperature — don't drop it below 16 degrees even when you're away. Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls during extreme cold snaps to let warm air circulate around pipes.

Block heaters aren't optional. If you're new to Saskatchewan, your car needs to be plugged in when temperatures drop below -15. Most Regina homes have exterior outlets near the garage or driveway specifically for this.

Why Buying in Winter Can Actually Be Smart

I know it seems counterintuitive. Who wants to go house-hunting in -30? But winter has some genuine advantages.

First, there's less competition. Fewer buyers are actively searching from November through February, which means you're less likely to run into multiple-offer situations. Sellers who list in winter are typically more motivated, and the negotiating dynamic often shifts in the buyer's favour.

Second — and this is the one I really want you to think about — you get to see how the home actually performs in the worst conditions. Is the house warm? Does the furnace keep up? Are the windows drafting? Is the driveway a nightmare to clear? You can learn more about a home's real condition during a January showing than you ever would in July.

Which Neighbourhoods Have the Best Winter Infrastructure

For indoor recreation and cleared pathways, the area around Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre — which serves Riverbend, The Creeks, and nearby neighbourhoods — has the best access to winter amenities.

For low winter operating costs, new builds in Greens on Gardiner and The Towns are hard to beat.

For mature tree cover that actually blocks wind, Spruce Meadows and Wood Meadows have the advantage.

Parkridge is well-connected to major routes, which means city snow plows tend to clear the main roads quickly.

Winter in east Regina is real winter. It's not something you get through — it's something you live with for nearly half the year. The right home in the right neighbourhood makes that experience either comfortable and enjoyable, or expensive and frustrating.

If you want to talk through what winter looks like in a specific neighbourhood, or if you're thinking about making a move and want to see homes while the cold is doing your homework for you, give me a call at 306-581-1212. I'll walk you through everything and let you make the call that's right for your family.

Every year, I watch the same thing happen. February rolls around, the days get a little longer, and buyers who've been quietly scrolling listings all winter start to get serious. By March and April, the market shifts. More homes hit the market. More buyers show up. And things start moving faster than a lot of people expect.

If you're thinking about buying in East Regina this spring, I want to walk you through what that actually looks like — the good parts, the tricky parts, and the stuff that'll help you make a confident decision instead of a panicked one.

Why Spring Is Regina's Busiest Season

Regina's real estate market runs on a pretty predictable cycle. Winter is quiet — sellers don't love showing homes when it's minus 35 and there's ice on the front steps. But once the snow starts melting, listing activity picks up fast. January 2026 already saw new listings jump 23.57% from December, and that's just the warm-up. By April and May, you'll see the highest volume of new listings all year.

That's good news and complicated news at the same time.

More listings means more options. If you've been frustrated by slim pickings in certain neighbourhoods — and trust me, places like Parkridge and Woodland Grove have had barely two or three active listings at a time this winter — spring opens things up. Sellers who've been waiting to list finally pull the trigger. You'll have more to look at, more to compare, and a better chance of finding a home that actually fits what you need.

But here's the other side: more buyers show up too. The same warm weather that motivates sellers also motivates every other buyer who's been sitting on the fence. Competition increases. Homes that are priced right and show well can attract multiple offers. And if you're not prepared, you'll be watching from the sidelines while someone else gets the house you wanted.

That's not meant to stress you out. It's meant to get you ready.

Get Your Prep Done Before Spring Hits

The buyers who do well in a spring market aren't the ones who start looking in April. They're the ones who did their homework in February and March.

Get preapproved now. Not next month. Not after you find a place you love. Now. A mortgage preapproval tells you what you can actually afford, and it tells sellers you're serious. In a multiple-offer situation, the buyer who's preapproved has a real advantage over the one who still needs to talk to a lender. I say this to every client I work with — it's the first step, not the second.

And here's the thing a lot of buyers don't realize: what the bank says you're approved for and what you should actually spend are two different numbers. The bank might approve you for $450,000, but if that mortgage payment plus property taxes, utilities, and insurance leaves you with $200 at the end of the month, that's not comfortable. That's stressful. I'm very patient with this part of the process. We'll look at the full picture — not just the mortgage payment, but everything that comes with owning a home.

The Bank of Canada's been cutting rates and we're sitting around a 3.25% policy rate now, down from the 5% peak. That's making a real difference in monthly payments. If you ran your numbers a year ago and felt like you were priced out, it's worth running them again. The math might work now in a way it didn't before.

What Multiple Offers Actually Look Like

If you haven't bought in a competitive market before, the idea of multiple offers can feel intimidating. So let me explain what actually happens.

A seller lists their home. It's priced well, it shows great, and within a few days they've got two or three offers. The listing agent sets a deadline — typically 24 to 48 hours — and all buyers submit their best offer by that time. The seller reviews them and picks the one that works best for them.

That doesn't always mean the highest price. Sellers also look at conditions. An offer with fewer conditions — like one that's already been preapproved and doesn't need a financing condition — can be more appealing than a higher offer that's loaded with contingencies. Flexible closing dates matter too. Some sellers need a quick close, others need time to find their next home.

Here's my honest advice on multiple offers: don't let competition push you past your budget. I've seen buyers get caught up in the moment, offer $30,000 over asking because they're afraid of losing out, and then regret it three months later when the reality of that payment sinks in. Decide on your maximum number before offers go in, and stick to it. If someone outbids you, another home will come along. I've been through this with a lot of clients, and the right house always shows up when you're patient and prepared.

East Regina Neighbourhood Picks by Budget

One of the things I love about East Regina is the range. You've got neighbourhoods for almost every budget, and they're all on the same side of the city with access to the same parks, shopping, and schools. Here's where I'd point you based on what you're working with.

Under $300K

If you're a first-time buyer or you're working with a tighter budget, these neighbourhoods give you the most value without asking you to compromise on quality of life.

Spruce Meadows has a median around $238,900 — that's 28% below the city benchmark. You've got quiet crescents, Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre within walking distance, and a crime rate that runs about 40% below the Regina average. For the price, it's hard to beat.

Wood Meadows averages $279,900 to $285,000. The homes are mostly 1980s builds with bigger lots and mature trees. Victoria Square Mall is right there — groceries, gym, restaurants — so you're not driving across town for every errand.

Gardiner Heights sits in the $300,000 to $370,000 range, with entry-level options dipping below $300K. It's an established area with good access to shopping along Victoria Avenue East and nearby schools.

Richmond Place offers detached homes in the $310,000 to $380,000 range, though you'll find some options under $300K. It's quiet, it's practical, and the value compared to nearby premium neighbourhoods is significant.

The honest trade-off at this price point: you're buying homes that are 25 to 40 years old. That means budgeting $5,000 to $15,000 for near-term maintenance — furnaces, shingles, windows. Not a reason to walk away, but a reason to go in with your eyes open.

$300K to $500K

This is where the bulk of spring buying activity happens in East Regina, and it's where you've got the most choice.

Parkridge has a median between $280K and $330K and it's one of the best-value buys in the area. Double garages, mature lots, walkable to Henry Braun School, and five minutes from Costco. Comparable homes in Wascana View go for $50,000 to $75,000 more. That gap is real money.

Woodland Grove is one of the most private neighbourhoods in East Regina. The sweet spot for activity is $435K to $550K. Tyndall stone perimeter walls, cul-de-sacs with almost no traffic, and mature landscaping that took decades to grow.

Riverbend starts lower — condos from $150K, townhomes from $200K to $300K — but it belongs in this conversation because it offers a genuine entry point into East Regina.

Wascana View ranges from $450,000 to $600,000 and gives you some of the best trail access and views on this side of the city.

$500K and Up

If you've got more room in the budget and you're looking for newer builds, larger lots, or premium finishes, three neighbourhoods stand out.

The Creeks is Regina's luxury market. Median prices sit between $899,900 and $919,450, and there were only four active listings this winter. When something comes up here, you need to be preapproved and ready.

Greens on Gardiner is one of the most consistent performers in East Regina. Most homes trade between $500K and $600K, with some reaching into the $700K range.

East Pointe Estates has a wide range — condos from $207K up to single-family homes approaching $600K.

Spring Home Inspections: What You Can See That Winter Hides

Here's one of the real advantages of buying in spring that doesn't get talked about enough: you can actually see the property.

In January, everything's buried under snow. You can't assess the yard, the grading, or the drainage. You can't see the roof properly. Spring takes that guessing game away.

Grading and drainage. Look at how the ground slopes around the foundation. It should slope away from the house, not toward it. If you see water pooling near the foundation after a rain or snowmelt, that's a sign of potential basement moisture issues. Saskatchewan's clay soil makes this especially important.

The roof. Spring is when winter damage shows up — missing shingles, sagging spots, ice dam staining along the eaves. On older homes in neighbourhoods like Wood Meadows or Gardiner Heights, ask when the roof was last replaced.

Exterior walls and foundation. Look for cracks, staining, or areas where the siding has pulled away. After a Saskatchewan winter, freeze-thaw cycles can do real damage to concrete and masonry.

And please — budget for a proper home inspection. Don't skip it to save $500. That inspection could catch a $15,000 problem before it becomes your problem.

How to Stand Out Without Overpaying

In a competitive spring market, buyers always ask me: how do I get my offer accepted without paying way more than the home is worth?

Be ready to act. If you've done your neighbourhood research, you're preapproved, and you know your budget, you can write an offer within hours of seeing a home. That speed matters.

Keep your conditions clean. Having your financing already sorted so you can remove the financing condition makes your offer cleaner and more attractive to sellers.

Write a fair offer the first time. In a multiple-offer situation, you usually get one shot. Know the comparable sales in the neighbourhood, price your offer fairly, and be at peace with your number.

Don't chase a home that's already gone. If you lose out on one, it's not a failure — it's information. The right home shows up when you're patient and prepared.

The Bottom Line

Spring in East Regina is exciting, it's busy, and it rewards the buyers who show up prepared. The interest rate environment is more favourable than it's been in a couple of years. There's genuine variety across east side neighbourhoods — from $150K condos in Riverbend to custom builds in The Creeks. And the spring weather finally lets you see what you're actually buying.

If you want to talk through any of this — your budget, which neighbourhoods make sense for your situation, or just how the spring market works — I'm happy to walk through it with you. No pressure, no rush. Just an honest conversation about what makes sense for where you are right now.

You can reach me at 306-581-1212 whenever you're ready.

If you're buying your first home in Regina, east Regina is one of the best parts of the city to look — but not every neighbourhood here fits a first-time budget. Some of these communities have homes pushing $600K or $900K. That's not where you're starting. You need to know which neighbourhoods actually work with what you've got right now.

I work with a lot of first-time buyers, and the question I get most often is some version of "where can I actually afford to live that's not terrible?" Fair question. The answer is more encouraging than most people expect. There are five neighbourhoods in east Regina where you can get a solid home, in a good area, without stretching past what makes sense. Let me walk you through them.

What Can You Actually Afford?

Most first-time buyers in Regina are working with a purchase price somewhere between $250,000 and $400,000. That's not a guess — that's what I see on preapproval letters week after week. If you're putting 5% down on a $300,000 home, your mortgage payment lands around $1,700 a month on a 25-year term at current rates. Add property taxes, insurance, and utilities, and your total housing cost is roughly $2,200 to $2,500 per month.

That's doable for a lot of people, especially couples with two incomes. But it means you need to be realistic about what $300K buys in 2026. You're not getting a brand-new build with a double garage and quartz countertops. You're getting a well-built home in an established neighbourhood with good bones and room to make it yours over time. And honestly? That's a better position than most first-time buyers across Canada are in right now. Regina's affordability is a genuine advantage.

Wood Meadows — Best Walkability

Price range: $279,000 to $285,000

Wood Meadows is one of the most overlooked neighbourhoods in east Regina for first-time buyers. Homes here run 19 to 22% below the citywide average, and most of them are solid 1980s builds — three-bedroom bungalows and bi-levels with full basements, bigger lots than you'd get in anything built after 2010, and mature trees that actually provide shade in July.

The real draw is Victoria Square Mall right across the street. Groceries, pharmacy, restaurants, a few services — you can walk to your errands. That sounds small, but when you're adjusting to mortgage payments and trying not to drive everywhere, having a shopping centre within walking distance changes your weekly routine. Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre is close too, so you've got a pool, gym, and skating rink without driving across town.

The trade-off is the age of the homes. You're looking at original windows in some cases, older furnaces, and kitchens that haven't been touched since the '90s. Budget an extra $10,000 to $20,000 for updates over your first few years. But the purchase price gives you room to do that.

Spruce Meadows — Most Affordable Entry

Price range: $238,900 median

If the number on your preapproval is on the lower end, Spruce Meadows deserves a serious look. The median sale price here is $238,900 — that's 28% below the citywide benchmark. At that price, your monthly mortgage payment drops to about $1,350 with 5% down. That's breathing room most first-time buyers don't expect to have.

You'll find a mix of detached homes and condos here. The detached homes are mostly 1980s to early 2000s builds, and the condos offer an even lower entry point if you're open to that. Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre is walkable from most of the neighbourhood, and Arcola Avenue gives you quick access to groceries, gas, and the commercial strip along the east side.

Spruce Meadows isn't flashy. The homes are practical, the streets are quiet, and the neighbours tend to be a mix of long-time residents and young families who found the same thing you're finding — that the price-to-value ratio here is hard to beat. It's a neighbourhood where you can build equity without being house-poor from day one.

Parkridge — Best Family Value

Price range: $280,000 to $330,000

Parkridge is where I'd point first-time buyers who are also thinking about kids in the next few years. Henry Braun School is right in the neighbourhood — your kids can walk to school, which saves you the morning drop-off scramble. There's a spray pad, a couple of playgrounds, and the lots here are mature with big backyards. The kind of yards where kids actually play outside.

Most homes are 1980s to early 2000s construction. You'll see bungalows, bi-levels, and some two-storeys, typically three to four bedrooms with a finished basement. At $280K to $330K, you're getting more square footage per dollar than almost anywhere else in east Regina. And because the neighbourhood is fully built out, you're not dealing with construction traffic or waiting for infrastructure to catch up.

The community has a settled, family-oriented feel. Streets are wide, traffic is slow, and people know their neighbours. If you're buying with the next five to ten years in mind — not just next year — Parkridge gives you room to grow into without needing to move again when life changes.

Gardiner Heights — Closest to Downtown

Price range: $250,000 to $330,000

Gardiner Heights doesn't get talked about as much as it should. It's one of the closest east Regina neighbourhoods to downtown thanks to Victoria Avenue, which puts you on a direct line west. If your commute goes through the city centre, this cuts your drive time compared to anything further south or east.

Homes here are established — mostly 1970s and 1980s builds. You'll find detached bungalows and split-levels in the $250K to $330K range, which is firmly in first-time buyer territory. The lots are a decent size and the neighbourhood is quiet. It's not a place with a lot of foot traffic or commercial activity, but that's part of what keeps prices where they are.

Richmond Place — Quiet and Practical

Price range: $240,000 to $310,000

Richmond Place is another neighbourhood that flies under the radar. It's established, multicultural, and practical — the kind of place where people keep their properties well-maintained and don't fuss about keeping up with the neighbours. Homes are mostly detached, with prices sitting in the $240K to $310K range.

You're close to Arcola Avenue for shopping and services, and the neighbourhood has a settled feel that makes it a comfortable landing spot if you're transitioning from renting. It's not the newest or the trendiest, but that's exactly why it works for first-time budgets.

The Trade-Offs Nobody Mentions

I'd be doing you a disservice if I didn't talk about this part. Every neighbourhood on this list shares some realities that come with buying at this price point in east Regina.

You'll probably need a renovation budget. Homes in the $240K to $330K range are typically 25 to 40 years old. That means you might be looking at original windows, an aging furnace, or a kitchen that needs work. None of that is a dealbreaker, but you need to factor it in. I tell my buyers to keep $10,000 to $25,000 in reserve for the first two years. Not because something will definitely break — but because it might, and you don't want to be scrambling.

You're going to need a car. None of these neighbourhoods have walkable nightlife, and public transit in east Regina is limited. You can walk to groceries in Wood Meadows and Spruce Meadows, but for most other errands, you're driving. That's just the reality of living in this part of the city.

Older neighbourhoods mean older neighbours — sometimes. A few of these areas are in transition. Long-time residents are aging out and young families are moving in. That's actually good news for property values, but it means the vibe might feel a bit different from street to street. Drive through at different times of day before you commit.

None of these trade-offs should scare you off. They're just things you should know going in so you're not surprised later.

Where to Start

If any of these neighbourhoods sound like they might work, the next step is simple: get preapproved if you haven't already, and then let's go look at some homes. I'll walk you through what to watch for in older properties, what's cosmetic versus structural, and what your dollar actually buys in each neighbourhood. No rush, no pressure — just honest information so you can make a decision you feel good about.

Browse all five neighbourhoods on my site — Wood Meadows, Spruce Meadows, Parkridge, Gardiner Heights, Richmond Place — or check out all East Regina homes for sale to see the full picture. Give me a call at 306-581-1212 and I'll truly listen to what matters to you.

This is one of the questions I get asked more than almost anything else. A buyer will come to me and say, "I think I want something new," and then we'll walk through a brand-new home in Greens on Gardiner and they'll love it — but then they see what a similarly sized home costs in an established neighbourhood like Wood Meadows or Parkridge, and suddenly the decision isn't so simple anymore. Or it goes the other way. Someone set on an older home with a big yard falls in love with a new build's open floor plan and energy efficiency, and now they're rethinking everything.

There's no universally right answer here. But there are real differences in what each option actually costs, what you're signing up for, and what your daily life will look like. Let me walk you through it honestly so you can figure out which one fits.

What New Builds Actually Cost

The sticker price on a new build in east Regina can be a bit misleading — and I say that as someone who shows these homes every week. In communities like The Creeks, Greens on Gardiner, The Towns, and Eastbrook (the newer sections), you'll see listed prices that look competitive — until you start adding things up.

Most new builds come with a base price, and then the upgrades begin. Better cabinets, hardwood instead of laminate, a finished basement, upgraded fixtures, a deck. Those choices can add $30,000 to $80,000 depending on the builder and the home. Then there's landscaping — most new builds come with bare dirt. A basic front and back yard (sod, a fence, maybe a small patio) runs $15,000 to $25,000 easily. And don't forget GST. On a new build in Saskatchewan, you're paying 5% GST on the purchase price, which on a $500,000 home means $25,000 that doesn't apply to a resale purchase.

So that $480,000 new build can realistically end up costing you $550,000 to $600,000 once it's actually liveable. That doesn't make it a bad deal — it just means you need to plan for the real number, not the listed one. I always walk my clients through this math before we start touring new construction because the surprise can be significant.

What Established Homes Actually Cost

On the other side, an established home in a neighbourhood like Windsor Park, Varsity Park, Glencairn, Gardiner Heights, or Richmond Place typically gives you more square footage for less money. The median price in many of these neighbourhoods sits between $275,000 and $350,000, which is significantly lower than what new construction costs in east Regina.

But the purchase price isn't the whole story here either. Older homes come with a renovation budget — whether you plan for it or not. A house built in the 1970s or 1980s might need updated electrical, new windows, a furnace that's nearing end of life, or a roof that's got five years left in it. None of these are emergencies on day one, but they're coming. Budget $15,000 to $40,000 over your first five years for updates, depending on the home's age and condition.

No GST on resale homes though. And the landscaping is done — mature trees, established yards, fences already in place. You're not paying to build a yard from scratch. The total cost of ownership over five years can be surprisingly close between the two options, but the money comes at different times. New builds cost more upfront. Established homes cost more over time.

This is why I always tell my clients: get the home inspection. On an older home, it's not optional. It's how you find out what that real budget looks like before you commit.

The Maintenance Question

New builds come with a warranty — typically the Saskatchewan New Home Warranty through the National Home Warranty Program. That covers major structural issues for up to five years and some components for longer. It's genuine peace of mind, and for buyers who don't want to think about repairs for a few years, it matters.

But new homes aren't maintenance-free. I've had clients deal with settling foundations, drywall cracks, and builder-grade appliances that don't last as long as you'd expect. Warranty claims happen. They're not always quick.

Established homes don't have that warranty safety net, but the upside is that the systems have been tested by time. A 25-year-old home that's been well maintained has already proven itself. The furnace works. The roof held through two decades of Regina winters. You know what you're getting. The trade-off is that when something does fail, it's your problem and your chequebook.

Neither option is worry-free. You're just choosing which kind of maintenance reality you'd rather manage.

Neighbourhood Infrastructure

This is where new builds and established homes differ in ways people don't always think about until they've moved in.

In newer communities like The Creeks, Greens on Gardiner, and parts of The Towns, the infrastructure is still filling in. Schools are being built (there's a new high school planned for The Towns, but it's not open yet). Commercial areas are developing. Trees are saplings. Parks exist, but they haven't matured. Some sections are still active construction zones with trucks and noise during the day. That all changes over 5 to 10 years, but you're living through the growing pains.

In established neighbourhoods like Wood Meadows, Parkridge, Windsor Park, or Glencairn, everything is already there. Mature trees line the streets. Parks have real shade. Schools are operational and have track records you can evaluate. Shopping centres, medical clinics, and community centres have been serving residents for decades. You're not waiting for anything — you're moving into a finished community.

For families with school-age kids, this can be a deciding factor. Having a school within walking distance right now is different from having one that might be built in three years.

Resale and Long-Term Value

New builds in east Regina's growing communities have generally held their value well, especially in well-planned developments like Greens on Gardiner. The newer the construction, the more appealing it tends to be to the next buyer. But you're also competing with the builder when you sell — if they're still building in the same community, buyers can choose new construction over your resale.

Established homes in desirable neighbourhoods appreciate more steadily, and there's no builder down the street undercutting your price with a fresh product. Scarcity works in your favour — they're not making more lots in Wood Meadows. Over the long term, both options can be solid investments. It depends more on the specific neighbourhood and how well the home is maintained than on whether it's new or old.

The Honest Answer

There isn't one. I've had clients who were certain they wanted a new build, toured a beautifully maintained 1985 bungalow in Parkridge with a huge yard and mature landscaping, and completely changed their mind. And I've had families who swore they'd only buy established end up in Greens on Gardiner because the schools and pathways won them over.

What matters is your priorities. If low upfront maintenance, modern layouts, and energy efficiency matter most — lean toward new construction. If you want more space for less money, mature trees, and a neighbourhood that's already complete — established homes make a lot of sense. And if you're not sure, that's completely fine. That's what the touring process is for.

I'll give you all the options and we'll figure it out together. No rush, no pressure — just honest information so you can make the decision that's right for your family. You can start by browsing East Regina homes for sale, or reach out and we'll walk through both types of neighbourhoods in person. Sometimes seeing the difference is what makes it click.