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.
