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.
