20 hours Ago By Andrea Cox
An airy and open indoor-outdoor floor plan with ample outdoor space seems to be the trend for 2025, say Calgary’s top single-family builders. “There has really been a shift towards more intimate indoor-outdoor spaces, especially in the inner-city where people are essentially laminated to their neighbour,” says Fatima Nasser, president and co-founder with her husband, Moe Abbdullah, of Urban Indigo Fine Homes. “We’ve also noticed that there has been a huge demand for detached single-family homes with larger backyards.
” The team at Jayman Built would agree. Stephanie Myers, vice-president single family at Jayman Built, says that Jayman’s designs are really focusing on family-friendly living and third-floor development with outdoor space also in big demand. She notes that the Calgary market has balanced out over the past six months, which bodes well for sussing out the perfect home and lot.
“We’re seeing healthy sales numbers in the first quarter. So, there’s a lot of opportunity for those looking to get into the market and given the balance market, it is also a good time for those looking to make a move up,” says Myers. Both Urban Indigo Fine Homes and Jayman Built recently won top accolades at the 2024 Building Industry and Land Development Association Calgary Region Awards, each picking up the coveted Grand Award for Single Family Builder of the Year.
Urban Indigo stepped up to take Small Volume Single Family Builder of the Year, while Jayman Built earned Large Volume Single Family Builder of the Year. A Grand Award is a top-achiever award of distinction presented in seven categories. Jayman Built and Urban Indigo Fine Homes have each worn the crown multiple times.
“We’re really proud to be recognized,” says Jayman’s Myers. “The commitment that the Jayman team has made with floor plans and model evolution, show home designs, sales initiatives and overall customer experience has pulled industry recognition and led to some very happy homeowners. Winning the Builder of the Year award is an honour.
It recognizes the dedication, innovation and craftsmanship that we bring to every home.” Jayman Built not only received a Grand Award this year, but also collected 17 finalist nods and nine additional category wins, including Best New Single Family Home Award for its Bentley 24-2 design in the category $641,000 to $690,000. With its attention to detail and practical and elegant floor plan, the Bentley 24-2, a four-bedroom, 2,411-sq.
-ft., three-storey home, features multiple floor plan options including a main floor bedroom with ensuite, expanded dining room or kitchen, and a flex space or home office. One of the model’s most popular features is the third-floor loft space with a large bedroom, three-piece bathroom, large bonus room and an ample outdoor terrace.
Additionally, the lower-level can be developed into a secondary suite with a separate entrance, a feature that Myers says is also at the top of many buyers’ wish lists. “The addition of a secondary suite can definitely help with the mortgage and with supplementing income,” says Myers. Jayman Built currently build single-family homes in several communities in the city, including Ambleton, Belmont, Cornerstone, Glacier Ridge, Legacy, Mahogany, Rangeview, Seton, Wolf Willow and Heartwood.
It also has multi-family developments in University District, Les Jardins Condos next to Quarry Park, and in Mahogany Park Place Townhomes and The Streams Estate Condos. Similarly, Urban Indigo Fine Homes, in addition to winning Small Volume Builder of the Year Single Family, also showed well at the BILD Awards, winning three Best New Home Awards for its thoughtful and artfully elegant custom home designs in the categories of $541,000-$590,999 (Ellie), $591,000-$640,999(Evelyn) and $991,000-$1,150,999 (Alabaster). “We build a few homes a year.
It’s our passion. We’ve never set out to be the biggest builder; we rather just try to set the bar, building one thoughtfully and intentionally crafted home at a time. Our intention has always been to pour ourselves into each build.
Our clients become part of our family,” says Fatima Nasser. She and her business partner and husband, Moe Abdullah, also work part-time in the health care industry as nurses, Nasser in cardiology and Abdullah in the ICU. Urban Indigo’s three winning homes are located across the city — the Ellie and the Evelyn, both custom builds, are located in the inner-city community of Altadore, and the Alabaster, a 4,300-sq.
-ft. spec home, was constructed on an oversized mountain-view lot backing onto a pond and green space in Elbow Valley. “I had free reign with the Elbow Valley home.
We really wanted it to have an intimate feel. We added great herringbone features, large windows throughout the home, a double-island feature and all of the custom mill work was done on-site,” says Nasser, adding that she considers lighting to be one of the most important elements of the home. “It’s truly the gem of the home.
I think that people can elevate their home with their lighting package. Go big or go home. Don’t be afraid.
Put chandeliers in closets, in powder rooms. It’s OK. It will add a touch of elegance throughout.
” She also says that browns are the new grey. “That’s really come through with a vengeance, as have organic materials — true linens, rattan, definitely a warmer feel.” The recipe for success is definitely working.
“The home had multiple offers and sold within the first weekend. We also received three very personal get-to-know-me letters from potential buyers attached to their offers, which was a beautiful touch. It was really hard,” says Nasser.
Going forward for 2025, Urban Indigo has land and projects on the go in Watermark, Aspen, Altadore and Killarney..
