Hey Jason: Is a New Home Really Worth $110K More Than a Similar Resale?

Published July 2026 | By Jason Todd, Calgary REALTOR® | Rangeview and Copperfield

People ask me this all the time.

How much more do you pay for new?

Fair question.

I pulled two recent MLS® sales in southeast Calgary that line up on the features buyers actually compare. One is a new-build listing in Rangeview. The other is a 2006 home in Copperfield.

Same style. Same bed count. Same ensuite. Same double attached garage. Same unfinished basement. Both have central air. Living area within about 70 square feet.

The new one sold for $760,000. The older one sold for $650,000.

That is a $110,000 higher purchase price on the new build.

And the bill does not stop at the sale price. Using each home's MLS tax assessed value and Calgary's published 2026 residential tax rate, the Rangeview home lands at about $5,416 a year in property tax. The Copperfield home lands at about $4,419.

So on this pair, new costs more to buy and more to own each year on tax.

Side by Side - New vs Existing

I matched on the checklist, then compared sold price and estimated property tax. Tax estimate = MLS tax assessed value x Calgary's 2026 residential rate of 0.0066499 (City plus provincial education).

Source: MLS® sold data, Pillar 9 / CREB®. Tax estimate uses MLS Tax Assessed Value x City of Calgary 2026 residential rate 0.0066499. Actual bills can differ after City assessment updates.

*House numbers shown as XX. Street, community, sold prices, features, and assessed values are from real MLS® sales. Exact civic addresses are withheld for privacy.

Purchase Price and Property Tax Both Run Higher on New

On the feature sheet, these homes look close. On the money, they do not.

The Rangeview new build sold for $110,000 more. That is the upfront hit.

Then property tax follows assessed value. The new home's assessed value was $150,000 higher ($814,500 vs $664,500). At the 2026 rate, that works out to about $997 more per year in tax on the new build.

Over five years, that tax gap alone is roughly $5,000 before any rate changes. Add the higher purchase price, and new is clearly the more expensive path on this pair.

What do you get for that? A newer home, modern finishes, and a newer community. The Copperfield resale gives you a bigger lot (about 3,961 vs 2,486 sq ft) and a lower ongoing tax bill in an established neighbourhood.

One pair is not a citywide rule. It is a clean example of how new can cost more on day one and keep costing more on the tax bill.

Who This Matters For

If you are buying, budget for both numbers. The list price gap is obvious. The tax gap is easy to miss until the first bill arrives.

If you are selling an older southeast home, do not price against the newest showhome as if buyers ignore tax and lot size. Price against homes with your year, your garage, your basement, and your size.

If you are selling new or nearly new inventory, the premium has to make sense beside real resale comps, including what those buyers will pay in tax each year.

Jason's Take

In this pair, new cost about $110,000 more to buy and about $1,000 more per year in property tax.

That is the point. New builds are often more expensive on purchase price and on the annual tax bill, because assessment tracks with value.

Send me the two homes you are comparing and I will pull sold price and assessed value beside each other. No hard sell.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much more does a new home cost than a similar resale in Calgary?

It depends on the match. In this southeast example, a Rangeview new-build sale at $760,000 compared with a similar Copperfield resale at $650,000. That is $110,000 more for new on purchase price alone.

Are property taxes higher on new builds?

Often yes, once the home has a full assessment. Tax follows assessed value. On this pair, the new home's assessed value was higher, so the estimated 2026 tax was about $5,416 vs about $4,419 on the older home.

How did you estimate property tax?

MLS Tax Assessed Value x Calgary's published 2026 residential rate of 0.0066499 (City 0.0038906 + provincial education 0.0027593). Actual bills can change after City updates.

Should I buy new or an older home in southeast Calgary?

Buy new if you want modern finishes and less early maintenance, and you are fine with the higher price and usually higher tax. Buy resale if you want a lower entry price, often a bigger lot, and more budget left for upgrades.

Can I use this $110,000 gap for my house?

No. Use it as a case study. Your premium depends on community, size, garage, basement, assessment, and timing. I will pull comps for your address if you want a real number.

More in the Hey Jason Series

What Is My Home Worth?

Is My Tax Assessment What My House Is Worth?

How Do You Come Up With My Listing Price?

Why Did My Neighbour's House Sell For More Than Mine?

All Hey Jason articles

Connect

Comparing a new build to a resale in Rangeview, Copperfield, New Brighton, or McKenzie Towne? Send me both addresses and I will line up sold price and assessed value.

Connect with Jason