Investing in Alberta Real Estate | Edmonton
Alberta’s capital city presents investors with a compelling opportunity. The city boasts consistently strong population growth, a resilient economy, and a favourable rental market — all contributing to its appeal for real estate investors seeking positive returns. Beyond its economic strengths, the city offers residents a vibrant lifestyle, with access to cultural attractions, outdoor recreation, and a high quality of life that continues to draw people in.
As Canada's sixth largest metropolitan area, Edmonton is an equally attractive choice for individuals looking for opportunities in a market that hasn’t faced the same affordability challenges as many other major centres across the country. Even though market changes, Edmonton has remained one of Canada’s most affordable cities.
High Renter Income
Edmontonians enjoy a high median renter income, the seventh highest earning urban centre in Canada (66,600), and 42% higher than the National median (66,600 vs 46,900) as of 2019.1 This high renter income translates into strong affordability metrics, with the median renter paying a lower portion of their income towards the total average rent.
Population Growth
The city has also seen robust population growth over the past few years, with 28.7% total growth from 2011 to 20222, which strongly outpaced the national average of 11.10% and the Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal average of 10.33%3 over the same period.
Diverse and Stable Economy
The city enjoys a diversified economy supported by stable sectors such as government, healthcare, education and agriculture, with a growing tech workforce, which ranked 5th in North America for tech job growth from 2017 to 20224. Major industries include energy and sustainability, technology and innovation, agriculture and agribusiness, health and life sciences, manufacturing, education, retail, and government.
Operational Excellence and Strategic Growth in Edmonton
For Avenue Living, Edmonton is a market in which we already have a strong presence, enabling us to seamlessly integrate new acquisitions into our established management platform. Our operational efficiency is bolstered by strong local partnerships, which enhance our ability to deliver value to residents and investors alike while optimizing property performance in this dynamic market.
Culture and Recreation
Edmonton is home to top-tier Canadian post-secondary institutes, including the University of Alberta, MacEwan University, Concordia University of Edmonton, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and King's University. Primary and secondary education is equally robust, with the Edmonton Public School Board admitting 100,000 students across 212 schools and additional educational options with private, charter, and religious schools.5
There is an extensive system of parks and trails, including the North Saskatchewan River Valley Park system, which follows the North Saskatchewan River. One of the largest urban parks in the country, it has over 160 km of pathways, providing residents with endless opportunities for walking, hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities.
The greater Edmonton metropolitan area offers its residents a blend of vibrant urban living and natural beauty. As North America’s northernmost city with a population of over 1 million residents, it is home to a multitude of activities and attractions. From world-class museums and galleries like the Art Gallery of Alberta and the Royal Alberta Museum to easy access to the Canadian Rockies to North America's largest shopping mall, there is always something for residents to enjoy.
Sources:
(1) Statistics Canada, Canadian Income Survey 2012-2019, Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics 2006-2011. This data supplemented by CA/CMA and CSD data supplied directly from StatsCan. Last updated: March 2021
(2) Historical Alberta municipal population growth (2011-2022). Alberta Regional Dashboard: https://regionaldashboard.alberta.ca/#/
(3) Historical Canadian, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal population growth (2011-2022) https://www.canadapopulation.net/
(4) CBRE. Scoring Tech Talent - North American Report (2023). Table 10: Tech Talent Workforce Growth Rates (2017-2022) https://www.cbre.com/-/media/B0F5FC7061FD4A82ABB5BB55193BDAED.ashx
(5) City of Edmonton official website. Home | City of Edmonton
