Anthem’s Down Payment Advantage: Buy a New Pre-Construction Home For Less Money Up Front
When purchasing a pre-construction home, most Alberta homebuilders require a minimum 5% down payment at the time of purchase. While that percentage may seem modest, in today’s real estate market it can translate into a significant amount of cash required up front.
For many buyers, coming up with that initial down payment, on top of everyday expenses and additional moving costs, can be one of the biggest hurdles to building a new home, even when long-term affordability isn’t an issue.
At Anthem, we take a more buyer-friendly approach. Our down payment structure is designed to require less money up front, helping ease early financial pressure while making building a new home feel more achievable and flexible.
It’s a thoughtful approach that reflects our commitment to an exceptional homebuying journey, and one of the reasons people continue to choose Anthem when building a new home in Calgary and Edmonton.
How Down Payments Are Typically Calculated on Pre-Construction Homes in Alberta
For most pre-construction homes in Alberta, builders calculate the required down payment based on the total purchase price of the home. This typically means a 5% deposit on the first $500,000 of the purchase price, and 10% on the remaining balance.
The total purchase price generally includes:
- Structural options and design upgrades selected at the time of purchase
- The land cost
- The base price of the home
| Typical Pre-Construction Down Payment Structure | ||
| Land Cost | $215,000 | |
| Base Home Price | $450,000 | |
| Options & Upgrades | $50,000 | |
| Total Home Price | $715,000 | |
| Down Payment Terms | 5% on $500,000 | $25,000 |
| 10% on $215,000 | $21,500 | |
| Total Down Payment | $46,500 | |
As options and upgrades are added, the total purchase price increases, and so does the required down payment. As a result, buyers:
- Need to commit more cash early in the build process, often a year or more before the home is completed.
- Tie up savings earlier, leaving less flexibility for moving costs, emergency funds, or other financial priorities.
- Reduce or compromise on design selections simply to manage up front costs.
- May feel pressure to finalize design decisions before they’ve had enough time to fully explore their options.
What Makes Anthem’s Down Payment Structure Different
With Anthem, buyers can purchase a brand new, pre-construction home with a flat 5% down payment calculated only on:
- The land cost
- The base price of the home
Structural options and design upgrades, whether selected at the time of purchase or later during the build, are not included in the down payment calculation. Instead, those costs are settled later, either through financing or as part of the cash to close. Additionally, Anthem’s down payment remains at just 5%, even on homes priced above $500,000.
This distinction may seem subtle, but in practice it makes a meaningful difference in the amount of cash required up front.
Typical Builder vs. Anthem: Down Payment Comparison
Below is an example comparing how a typical builder and Anthem calculate the down payment on the same $715,000 pre-construction home:
| Typical Builder | Anthem | |
| Land Cost | $215,000 | $215,000 |
| Base Home Price | $450,000 | $450,000 |
| Options & Upgrades | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Total Home Price | $715,000 | $715,000 |
| Down Payment Terms | 5% on first $500,000 10% on remaining balance | 5% on land cost + base home price |
| Total Down Payment | $46,500 | $33,250 |
The result is the same home and the same ability to personalize, but with $13,250 less required up front when building with Anthem.
Anthem’s Advantage Grows with Design Personalization
To further illustrate how Anthem’s approach benefits homebuyers, the example below shows varying design budgets on a property with a combined base home and lot price of $665,000.
Down Payment Comparison at Different Design Budgets
| Base Home + Lot | Design Options | Total Home Price | Typical Builder Deposit | Anthem Deposit | Up Front Difference |
| $665,000 | $15,000 | $680,000 | $43,000 | $33,250 | $9,750 Less |
| $25,000 | $690,000 | $44,000 | $10,750 Less | ||
| $50,000 | $715,000 | $46,500 | $13,250 Less | ||
| $75,000 | $740,000 | $49,000 | $15,750 Less | ||
| $100,000 | $765,000 | $51,500 | $18,250 Less |
While the final cost of the home remains the same, Anthem’s down payment structure offers greater benefit as structural upgrades and design options increase. On a $665,000 pre-construction home with $100,000 in options, buyers put down $18,250 less at the outset compared to a typical builder.
This structure allows buyers to fully personalize their home around their lifestyle, preferences, and priorities, without the added pressure of finding more cash early in the build process.
In cases where structural options and design upgrades exceed 10% of the purchase price, an additional deposit may be required at the time of sale. This scenario typically applies to highly customized homes. For most buyers, this threshold is never reached, but it’s included here for transparency.
Why Anthem Stands Out in Calgary’s New Home Market
With rising living costs and multiple expenses to plan for, buyers are increasingly focused on preserving flexibility with their money. By calculating the down payment on the land and base home price only, Anthem shifts some of the early financial pressure to later in the build journey, when buyers are often better positioned to manage it.
While this deposit structure is more common in Edmonton, it remains uncommon among Calgary homebuilders. That distinction is one of the reasons Anthem stands out in the Calgary new home market, particularly for first-time homebuyers or those with stable incomes but limited up front savings.
For many buyers, this approach can mean:
- Making confident design choices, without needing to scale back personalization to manage up front costs.
- Buying a home sooner, without stretching savings to meet a higher initial down payment.
- Keeping savings invested longer, since pre-construction homes often take a year or more to complete.
- Preserving emergency funds for longer, providing greater financial security throughout the build process.
Understanding Your New Home Budget
It’s important to note that understanding your new home budget goes beyond the initial down payment alone. Looking at purchase price, down payments, and lending options together helps buyers plan with confidence and make the most of Anthem’s down payment structure from day one. Online affordability and mortgage calculators can be helpful tools to:
- Explore different home price scenarios
- Compare financing options and payment structures
- Plan next steps at your own pace
Trusted resources such as the CMHC Affordability Calculator and Mortgage Calculator provide a helpful starting point as you explore what building new might look like for your budget.
Anthem’s community sales team can also walk through personalized scenarios for your home and community, clarify upfront requirements, and connect you with trusted mortgage specialists as needed.
Visit Anthem Showhomes in Calgary and Edmonton
Anthem builds in 12 communities across Calgary and Edmonton, with more than 25 showhomes open to explore across Alberta. Visiting a showhome gives you the opportunity to:
- Ask questions about timelines, down payments, and available options.
- See home designs, layouts, and finishes in person.
- Understand how different homes and communities fit your unique lifestyle.
Our sales teams are here to answer questions and support you throughout your new home search with clarity and confidence, in a relaxed, no-pressure environment.
Explore Anthem’s Showhomes
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