Realtors
Sterling Homes extends a warm welcome to all realtors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. To represent a client on their purchase, you must be present during their first visit to the showhome and complete our realtor registration form. Realtors are encouraged to be present for all showhome appointments thereafter to assist clients with the purchasing process.
Homes with purchase prices under $550,000 will require the government minimum of a 5% deposit. Homes over $550,000 will require a 10% deposit unless otherwise stated. Deposits may be split into a maximum of three step payments. Ask our team about down payment options, or browse our Without The Wait homes, which only require a $20,000 deposit.
New communities may or may not have an HOA (Home Owner’s Association) based on the developer of the area, and fees will vary based on the services provided. We suggest connecting with our area sales teams, or referencing community websites to know if there is an HOA, and/or what the cost is.
The short answer – both? Having a pre-approval is a great step to being proactive in your home search, and highly encouraged. This will allow you to have a good idea of your budget, affordability, and help educate you on the financing process prior to buying your home. Once you take the next step in your new home journey and write a purchase agreement, you will need to obtain a firm mortgage approval to move forward with buying your home. To learn more, reach out to one of our experienced lenders here.
In the mortgage world, there something called a new construction or builder rate-hold, that can range anywhere from 6-18 months, dependent on the anticipated time it will take to build your home, and what timeline you feel comfortable locking in your interest rate at. Our experienced Area Managers & Associates are happy to give you guidance on this, as well as your mortgage rep can help you make the best decision based on your circumstances.
While you are welcome to use any mortgage rep/broker that you are comfortable with, we highly recommend checking out one of our experienced mortgage reps. One great benefit to this is that they can offer special rates only available to Sterling customers! They’ve also worked with us for several years and know the new build process well – making it seamless for everyone (especially you!). We partner with reps from all the major banks, as well as several brokers, because we know options are important. Find all our lender partners here.
A down payment will be required to start the process of building/buying your new home. The amount of deposit required can vary depending on the value of your home, and it may be optional to split this deposit into several step payments. For more information on deposit structure, feel free to connect with one of our showhome teams or our online sales specialist here, or check out our blog about ways to save for a down payment.
We know that no one wants to buy a home and right before moving in, be stuck with extra costs. That’s why we cover our clients legal fees to make this exciting time as stress-free as possible. We only ask that you utilize our lawyer and one of our several lender partners to ensure the process is seamless and efficient leading up to possession of your new home.
Budget and affordability vary greatly from one person to the next and can fluctuate at different stages of people’s lives. This is why we highly recommend obtaining a pre-approval prior to starting your home search. This way you will be educated and prepared to decide on a home that fits your requirements, but more importantly your budget. A mortgage specialist/broker will be able to crunch some numbers for you based on your income, down payment, current home, interest rates etc. and provide you with a pre-approved mortgage amount, knowing that when you apply for a full approval that you are highly likely to get approved at this amount.
We know attaining home ownership can feel out of reach for many, based on a variety of different circumstances. This is why it is so important to educate yourself and be aware of all your options. One size does not fit all, and the same applies with the path to home ownership. One great option can be to add a legal income suite to your home. Legal Suites can be added to any style of home (single family, attached garage, detached garage, duplexes, etc.), and are a great way to up your affordability by using the rental offset from the suite. Sound like a lot of jargon? Click here to learn more.
In addition to leveraging income suites, mortgage reps and brokers have various tools at their disposal that help them work with customers of all circumstances to achieve home financing. We suggest reaching out to one of our recommended lenders for more information on how to start your homebuying journey.
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A pre-approval is not required to write a purchase contract, however it is strongly encouraged for clients to obtain a pre-approval prior to starting the purchase process. A mortgage approval will be required within 10 business days of writing of the purchase contract, to proceed with waiving conditions.
Sterling is proud to offer the industry standard commission of 3.5/1.5% on new home sales.
A variety of upgrade packages and interior personalization options can be selected and added with the area sales team at the showhome. Our team will work with you and your customers to price and select the right options to add into their purchase contract or choose during their interior selections process. If customers have opted for a presale home, they will later visit our trade partners, and browse our product ‘lookbooks’ to personalize their home. Or, if they have chosen a quick possession home, rest assured our designers have hand selected curated interiors they will love.
Customers will be provided with their pre-possession walkthrough time and date a minimum of 35 days prior to their anticipated possession (not applicable to quick possession homes). Typically, pre-possession walkthroughs will occur approximately one week prior to their scheduled possession date. Our warranty team will review the home in depth with the customer, note any deficiencies, and educate the customer on caring for their new home. All deficiencies noted at the walkthrough will be addressed by, or shortly after possession.
We do not allow assignment sales. The individuals on the purchase contract/title must take possession of the property upon completion, and it cannot be resold during the build process.
Customers may proceed with scheduling a home inspection prior to their possession, and at their cost. They will be required to sign our Home Inspection sign-off stating the home is built to Alberta Building Code standards, Alberta Government’s New Home Buyer Protection Program guidelines and will be reflective of the show home. Any potential issues discovered by a home inspector are subject to the three quality assurances listed above.
Due to the more detailed nature of the build process, we require our contracts and documentation processes to be utilized when a client is purchasing a home from us. This helps us to educate and set expectations for our mutual customers and contributes to their overall experience.
Yes. Realtors will be emailed a copy of the purchase agreement, and waiver of conditions from the Sterling Homes Sales Administrator once signed by the builder.
Because of the detailed nature of construction, pre-occupancy, and key release walkthroughs, only individuals on the title/purchase contract of the home may attend walkthroughs. Feel free to reach out to our team with any questions regarding these stages of the build process.
Realtors may invoice any time after their receipt of the Purchaser’s Waiver of all conditions from Sterling Homes. All Commissions or Referrals will be paid to the original Realtor’s Brokerage within 15 working days after their invoice is received by Sterling Homes, provided a minimum of $20,000 deposit is received at waiver of conditions. If the deposit is less, commissions or referral will be paid at closing.
Yes. All Calgary and Okotoks communities offer legal suite options (lot dependent). At this time, we cannot accommodate legal suites in Harmony, Cochrane, Airdrie, Langdon, or Chestermere.
The cost for standard basement development varies depending on the home model and lot type. For example, homes of larger square footage, homes built on a walkout lot, or those with an added legal suite will have higher basement development costs based on the required structural changes and materials. Average basement development costs start at $40,000-$60,000+. Precise pricing can be obtained by reaching out to the area sales team in your community of interest.
Yes. A 3-piece plumbing rough-in is included standard in all Sterling Homes.
Landscaping is not included standard with our homes; however some communities include front yard sod, and/or a tree. For specific information on landscaping inclusions, please contact an area sales team.
Within our communities we have a mixture of both conventional and zero-lot-line lots, with some communities exclusively selling one lot type, and others having a combination of the two. If you are looking for a specific lot type, our area sales teams, or our Online Sales Specialist can help streamline your search.
A PDF of our standard specifications can be found here.
We pride ourselves on building a home that is personalized for the customer and their family’s needs. For that reason, we include the features we know are most important, as well as different layout options within each of our models. If customers still feel there is something missing from their dream floorplan, we will work with them to make minor customizations that suit their requirements.
Customers will receive a courtesy call several days after possession to ensure they are settling into their new home, and will have a 1-month, 5-month, and 13-month inspections booked with our warranty team to address any questions/concerns. Customers may also reach out to our warranty team at any time via the form on our website for assistance. Warranty Form.
Sterling Homes is a builder registered under the governing body in the province – Alberta New Home Warranty (ANHW), and adheres to their warranty guidelines, however we also offer an extended 7-year building envelope warranty, going above and beyond the ANHW standards. We operate our own in-house warranty department and program based on these guidelines to make warranty a breeze for our homeowners. All warranty-related inquiries and concerns are handled through our warranty team so customers can focus on what’s most important, enjoying their new home.
Our build time is approximately 9-12 months. Customers will be given a 3-month date range for the possession timing of their home and will have an updated week-of completion date just over halfway through the process.
Yes. All listed prices include GST unless otherwise stated.
Due to privacy and confidentiality, we will not share sale prices of previously sold quick possession, presale, or model homes. All purchase offers are reviewed by the builder on a case by case basis, and prices will not be adjusted based on previously sold Sterling Homes.
Amenities vary across communities, so we encourage you to visit our community specific pages on our website to learn more. Or connect with our team in your community of interest for information and updates on current/upcoming amenities in the area. View all communities here.
Yes. Builder standard appliances, including: stainless steel refrigerator, dishwasher, OTR microwave, and electric stove are included in our standard options. Homes with upgrade packages, i.e. Executive Kitchen or Spice Kitchen, will include additional and/or upgraded appliances as included in the customer’s purchase documents. Washers and dryers are not included as standard, but may be added if desired. For more information on what is included in appliance packages, including model specifications, please reach out to our team.
Allowable changes to a quick possession home are dictated by the stage of construction the home is currently at. We encourage you to connect with our team to determine what changes may be possible for a particular home. Because houses are constantly progressing; (even with no visible change), materials are ordered, and trades scheduled in advance, time is of the essence and changes may not be approved.
Absolutely! A common misconception about building a new home is that you will have to sell your current home before you can start the process. If you will be financing your new home, there are several options for how you can structure your mortgage approval. Some of these include a condition to the sale of your current home or utilizing your current home as a rental offset to be able to carry both mortgages for rental purposes. We get it, this jargon can be confusing, so we recommend talking to one of our recommended lenders as one of your first steps so you can understand your options.
Still not convinced? Check out our ‘Without the Wait’ homes that offer guaranteed possession timing and deposit structure – just like resale homes!
Currently, our anticipated build time is 10-12 months. We know timing is important, and we do our best to help you prepare for your move/new home. You will be given a 3-month date range for the possession timing of your new home and will have an updated week-of completion date just over halfway through the process.
No sweat! This is exactly why we created our Quick Possession and ‘Without the Wait’ programs – so we can provide the home you need, when you need it. We thoughtfully curate these homes with our customers’ values in mind, so that we can provide you a home that meets you where you are. Or, if you know building isn’t for you and you don’t want to make all the decisions, leave it to us and choose from one of our curated quick possession homes.
At Sterling Homes, we are happy to work with realtors, however you are not required to have a realtor to purchase a new home. Our experienced team can educate you on everything you need to know about new homes, as well as the buying process, and assist you in finding the home that is the best fit for you. If you prefer to work with a realtor, we simply ask that they accompany you on your first visit to the showhome to register you as their client.
Architectural Controls will be budgeted for in the purchase contract to account for costs associated with changes required by the developer. The allowance budgeted for in the contract will be based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, community design, lot type, lot location, home model, etc. If architectural requirements exceed the budgeted amount, the customer will be responsible for these costs. However, if the architectural requirements fall short of the budgeted amount, the remainder will be credited to the customer. For ease of setting expectations, appropriate architectural controls budgets are included within our starting prices.
Promotions and incentives are time limited, and subject to change at any time. Realtors are encouraged to help clients with market research to arrive at an informed decision based on market value. Offers over and above current promotions and incentives are subject to a counter-offer from the builder.
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